It may surprise many of you (some of you?) but I’m actually fairly shy. I’m much better on one-on-one situations than large groups, which is why BlytheCon Portland was so overwhelming for me, and why I wasn’t able to actually be all chatty with a lot of people. Hopefully it is different this time around, because I will know more people this time around. Although, now that I think of it, last time I knew exactly zero people (well, I knew them online, but not in person). So… Things are different this time. Quite a bit different!

I am so glad that we’ll have name tags, and I do hope it isn’t too awkward to try to crane my neck around to see names because I won’t already know everyone’s faces. I try, but honestly… there’s just so many people to know! I probably know dolls better than people’s faces (sad, but true!). I was quite overwhelmed last time – there were so many people! dolls! vendors! So many things to see, new dolls to experience. Now that I think of it, I didn’t even have my first Kenner back then! Things sure have changed since then, it’s rather mind-boggling, now that I’m thinking of it.

What will I be doing differently this time in Seattle? Hopefully I will…

• Ask more questions when I’m at vendor tables! Last time I was so overwhelmed I barely spoke to the people running the stalls (so embarrassing…)
• Say hello! I found out after the fact that there were people that I knew online that I hadn’t spoke to. Not this time (hopefully!).
• Chat with new-to-me people. This may be the hardest part, because being shy doesn’t go well with attempting to be personable and and introducing myself to people. But I’m going to try.
• Not be a socially awkward penguin. This may still happen. No promises.

And hopefully if you are attending, you will say hi to me if you see me?! Maybe…?

I have a confession to make – I binge shop when it comes to Blythe and Blythe things. Actually, now that I think of it, it’s really not much of a confession at all, is it? Blythe has been a pretty big part of my life the moment that the silver-haired Sophie came into my life. I often go through phases where I buy a lot of stuff, then a long, peaceful lull where I play mix-and-match with what I have, I do crafts and make things for the girls, and play with all of the dolly shoes that I have – and I have quite a bit. I really do love dolly shoes, for a while all I was buying was doll shoes. Squishy boots, vintage flats, more shoes, all the shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes!

You’d better bring me back a lot of stuff this time, missy!

In less than two weeks (oh-em-gee), I will be having quite the binge shop! I’m looking forward to learning about new-to-me brands, and getting to see the products made by people that I’ve already ‘met’ online (or in person!). It’s always very exciting to meet new people, and to shop at the same time! I always look forward to meeting new people, especially when they also love Blythe as well!

Do you binge shop for Blythe?

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Sponsorship costs are purposely kept low to keep advertising accessible to people in the doll community.

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There are two spots currently available for the month of August and all sponsorship funds from now until July 2015 will be donated to BlytheCon Vancouver 2015!

Small – 2 spots available for August ! (160×160 pixels)

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If you’d like more information on how you can advertise on BlytheLife, click here.

Hello, my wonderful fans! Have you missed me? Because I have missed you! Today I am here to talk about why having sisters is okay sometimes okay. When I’m not tapping away at the keyboard of the laptop to “talk” to all of you, I live with a bunch of sisters, both older (Kenners) and young (Middie, Petites). It is hard sometimes to have so many siblings because it means that there is more sharing involved. And do you know how much I like to share? Not at all.

Shoes stolen from Belarus.

The nicest thing about having siblings is that when they move in, they bring a wardrobe with them, and shoes! Shoes are the best part of getting new sisters, because it means more shoes for me. It’s not that the shoes don’t fit my sisters, they do, but it’s kind of an unspoken rule that the shoes become mine the moment that they arrive. There is, essentially, a “shoe fee” for becoming a new sister here. If you want in, you’re going to have to bring me a new pair of shoes! The best sister arrival ever was Belarus (Love Mission) because she brought me two pairs of shoes. I learned from the very beginning to collect a shoe fee. The worst sister arrival was when Primrose and Lillian arrived. Not only did they pretty much show up naked (and without legs, to boot!), they didn’t bring shoes with them. The only saving grace that they had was the fact that Michelle was all obsessed with them (ugh) and bought a lot of shoes after they had arrived. Best thing ever. I confiscated all the shoes for my own closet, of course.

In earnest, I sorta like my sisters. Sometimes. Sometimes they’re okay. If Michelle brings anyone new home, they’d better come with some cute shoes. I’ll take some nice ankle boots, preferably black leather with a cute slouch look.

Sophie is a mostly stock Cappuccino Chat that came to live with me in June 2009. She loves shoes, new clothes, playing with her hair, fashion, magazines full of fluff and shopping. She aspires to be a model and would like to model for some of the ‘great’ dolly fashion houses one day.

Back when I was a baby doll blogger (so, 2011), I attended BlytheCon in Portland but I hadn’t even thought of making Moo cards or business cards or any kind of promotional “me” item at all. It was a total derp moment. Not only that, when I was introducing myself, it was a lot of “Hello, my name is Michelle. My screen name is chelleshocks” rather than “Hello, my name is Michelle. My screen name is chelleshocks, I also write BlytheLife” because… why not? Baby steps, I have since learned! I’ve found, through online interactions and even with people that I’ve met in person, that more people tend to know BlytheLife than my username. And with the upcoming convention that I will be attending, I did not want to make the same mistake that I had made 3 years ago.

The problem for me was to determine where to have cards printed at. Did I want to go the popular route and get Moo cards? What images would I get printed? Would Sophie shank me in my sleep if the majority of the photos that I used did not heavily feature her? (The answer is yes, by the way, yes she would. With a dolly-sized stiletto.) I couldn’t decide if I was going to go with regular business card-sized cards, or with the mini Moo cards. So I did what any self-respecting person does, and I Google’d it. Specifically, I did an internet search on online printer reviews. I didn’t need to order cards from everyone because someone else had already done the leg work for me! And that deserved a teeny tiny pat on the back. And also the world’s smallest violin being played for thinking that. Regardless, I did an internet search, found several blog posts from people waxing about the pros and cons of several major online printing companies.

A lot of good things were said about the Moo cards – both mini and not. I knew from experience, having collected many of these cards, that the card stock is thick, the colours is vivid, but looking on the website also revealed to me that the price was high for a small amount. When I figured out the cost per card, it was a bit cost prohibitive to get a bunch for handing out. That is one of the primary reasons why I decided against getting Moo cards. If I had the money, I definitely would have gotten them. But for a simplistic design, where there were no photos, I think I was okay with going with another online printer.

Then in comes VistaPrint. They happened to have a well-placed Facebook ad at the time that offered a discount on their standard business cards and free shipping. True, their shipping rates are flat-rate, but I am a sucker for free shipping. So I ordered some cards, got their standard shipping.

I ordered on July 3rd, and the email said “You can expect to receive your order in 14 Days.” My order was shipped July 10th and arrived July 15th. So, if we were to assume that they meant 14 days, total, it arrived two days early. But if that was 14 business days, that would have been July 23rd. Either way, it arrived early, well packaged, and I’m quite pleased with the quality! Lines are crisp, the colours are great, and I’m pleased that I’ll have something when someone asks me at BlytheCon if I have cards to swap. True, they’re not as dainty (and oh-so-adorable) as the mini Moo cards, but for the price (and savings on free shipping!), I am more than okay with that!

Savings on cards mean that I could put more money towards other things to bring along to BlytheCon. But more on that later…

Do you have cards – either for a business or just because? Where do you get yours printed?