Minnow is in Plastic Fashion (dress) and a mouse helmet (by me/chelleshocks).

I have been spending money on me lately. A new jacket, pretty things to wear, and mascara that cost more than… well, let’s just say that it cost more than the last few nail polishes I had bought combined. And, if you knew anything of my cosmetic buying habits, you would realize that it’s saying something. I started thinking about the last new Blythe that I had welcomed into the family and it was Cameo, who arrived back in August. Before that, it was Minnow from November of 2013. Large gap! I think that’s what starts to happen when the family starts to get a bit…. big.

Cameo is in Plastic Fashion (dress).

Have you gotten any new dolls lately? Share!

I am a huge fan of buying myself birthday gifts. After all, nobody knows me better than me, right? And when I buy myself a little something (early, usually), I don’t need to wait until the actual date to unwrap it – unless I make myself. I’ve found that as I get older, the more likely I am to just buy what I want (and need) because of the fact that I can.

This year, I bought myself more than a few Blythe-related books and a kitty ball-jointed doll (that I’ve received far too early in advance) – and I’m definitely okay with that. Nothing says “happy birthday” like spoiling yourself early! When asked by the family members that note the fact that I’m getting an awful lot of packages in the mail, I just smile and say that the dolls got me a little something for my birthday, just for fun.

Do your dolls get your birthday gifts?

I am all for simplicity this year. For myself, I am reusing cat ears because there is nothing non-Halloweeny about turning myself into a cat. For my dolls, it’ll be something super simple after utilizing  a hair tie, and a paper towel.

Ooooooooooo!

I may have used Photoshop as well… Any guesses on who’s dressed up as a ghostie this year?

What are your dolls’ Halloween costumes this year?

Meets for the Vancouver Blythe Bunch usually consist of the following:

Chatting

Eating food that everyone brought

Oohing and ahhing over dolls

More eating

More chatting

Arranging dolls together for a big group shot (sometimes)

More chatting

And did I mention eating?

Sometimes, if it is a themed meet, there may be a contest (e.g. Halloween costume, ugly Christmas sweater) or a swap (e.g. for Valentine’s, Christmas) and these are also super fun because it involves seeing how creative some other people are, and just how enthusiastic (and competitive!) people get for prizes. We’ve done meets at each others’ houses, in lovely parks (when the weather is good – it does rain quite a bit when it isn’t the summer in Vancouver), and at tea houses. There’s something fun about getting together with a group of friends, and to chat about dolls and eating fun stuff.

What do you do at meets?

I’ve been asked this once or twice or dozens of times. Some dolly enthusiasts seem to think that other dolly enthusiasts have similar buying and selling patterns as they do. For instance, I used to get more than a few messages asking if I was selling my redheaded Kenner, Emmalynn.

She’s beautiful and lovely – and most definitely not for sale.

“Yes, I am wonderful, aren’t I?”
Emmalynn is wearing Plastic Fashion.

But it doesn’t stop people from asking me I’m selling her (or another one of my dolls). Or even just asking if I’m ever going to sell a doll.

Honestly, at this point in my doll collecting, I find selling a bit needless for me. I’m not in a position right now where I need to sell a doll, nor am I constantly thinking that I want to sell a doll. So I don’t because I currently don’t need to nor do I want to.

When I’m asked if I’m selling a particular doll, my usual responses are usually “Thanks for asking, but she is not for sale” or to just choosing to not respond at all. I don’t feel rude for doing the latter because the original inquiry was unsolicited. If I had listed a doll for sale and ignored the messages that resulted, I would feel incredibly rude. However, none of my dolls are available now (or in the foreseeable future) so I don’t feel that it’s necessary to respond sometimes. That and sometimes I’m overcome by a sense of laziness, which adds to it.

Do you get asked if you’re selling any of your dolls? How do you respond?