davidd's A DOLL A DAY 2023

[davidd]

How many random items and pairs of shoes = 1 Amelia?? 

Good question. I did the math. Anywhere from twelve to twenty.

Which means that if I could resist a bit here and a bob there I'd soon enough have adequate funds in reserve when Amelia opportunities arise.

This has been the first such opportunity all year, and the first in two or three years in such excellent condition.

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22 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

Adventure Sindy at the Lodge

[Alliecat]

Neat fireplace. Is that another painted-styrofoam construction?

[davidd]

Neat fireplace.  Is that another painted-styrofoam construction?

Yup. It was supposed to be a "quick and easy" project, but these projects are never quick or easy. It's almost finished now... I think.

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23 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

Side-Eye Glance-Off Competition

Sindy has been the undisputed champion of the Annual Side-Eye Glance-Off Competition since 1963!

[Alliecat]

Is ANY project ever quick and easy.....?
I'd like to see one, right about now...
Sindy looks particularly disinterested in that fellow.

[davidd]

Is ANY project ever quick and easy.....? 
I'd like to see one, right about now... 

Oh, that's right! How is your deck project coming along? Any more injuries to report?

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24 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

Bratz Dollz on Store Shelf at Walmart

As is to be ekspected with the success of the Barbie movie, Mattel Barbie dolls and accessories are displayed prominently in retail stores.

However, Bratz dollz manage to remain stylishly competitive.

Well... maybe not competitive, so much. I mean, four different dollz make up the entire selection currently available.

But stylish, yes.

[Alliecat]

...so how many did you get...?

The main part of the deck is done. I have to make a mainland trip to get railing pieces; sigh.
Sooo thankful my knee turned out to be OK. I survived the rest of the work unscathed. Well, just really pooped by the end of the day. Since I did a lot of the work including cutting all the steps and risers myself, driving screws, and banging apart the old porch, I'd like to know who I send MY bill to. Given what Handyman Guy charges per hour, I can see I'm definitely in the wrong business!!!

[davidd]

...so how many did you get...?

Since I did a lot of the work including cutting all the steps and risers myself, driving screws, and banging apart the old porch, I'd like to know who I send MY bill to.  Given what Handyman Guy charges per hour, I can see I'm definitely in the wrong business!!! 

I got... none. Budget constraints remain in force.

Wait... you basically built the steps yourself? Building steps is really challenging! Like, really hard! If you can build steps, you can build pretty much anything! You shoulda done the entire deck yourself.

Are you thinking about doing the remaining section yourself, if and when you get around to it?

That's why the Smart Girls and I do most of the work around here ourselves. The times we've hired people, we learned that "hired people" charge a lot and a lot of what they do isn't all that complicated, and sometimes they even do things not-so-right. When it comes to building things, there's very little that a book or two, some YouTube videos, and some "figgerin'" can't figure out, especially if you are rebuilding something that you have to take apart first, so you can see how it's put together.

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25 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

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[Alliecat]

I am not sure I would hire Maxie as a makeover consultant.... 

Wait... you basically built the steps yourself? Building steps is really challenging! Like, really hard! If you can build steps, you can build pretty much anything! You shoulda done the entire deck yourself.

Are you thinking about doing the remaining section yourself, if and when you get around to it?

Just the steps & risers.  Handyman Dude #2 cut the stringers (because the one who helped with the porch didn't want to do it).  So it was basically just cutting a bunch of 10' boards in half 
If I HAD done it all myself, the edge guide would've been used on the circular saw and the top step would not be cut unevenly.  Also, the messy ends of the upper steps would be ... less messy 
And no -- the railing requires some fancy hole-drilling and angle cutting and angled holes and... nah.

Indeed you can learn a lot from the School of Youtube, and some of the people charging an awful lot of money for their time, do messy sloppy jobs.

[davidd]

I am not sure I would hire Maxie as a makeover consultant....  




If I HAD done it all myself, the edge guide would've been used on the circular saw and the top step would not be cut unevenly.  Also, the messy ends of the upper steps would be ... less messy.

You don't need a makeover consultant. You're a pirate (part time). I'm sure you know how to carry a knife... and look sexy in the process!

Sounds to me like you're talking yourself in to tackling more projects yourself. Turn your dolls loose on Amazon to buy some power tools and you'll be set!

(And yeah... stair railings are more challenging than the stairs themselves, or at least I find them to be so. I have no idea how to make railings that are rock-solid.

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26 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

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Two objectives with this photo (beyond mere wanton violence):

1. Participate in a "photo emulation challenge" on another forum – https://onesixthfigures.forumotion.com/t...allenge-ii

2. Try to compose a more "active" scene using dolls or action figures. My photos tend to be static. I want to convey a greater sense of "something happening" as opposed to "standing there."

[Alliecat]

Looks like tricky posing. Any chopsticks or knitting needles involved, or can he balance on his own?
I will have to look at that challenge when it's not midnight and I still haven't had supper

[davidd]

Looks like tricky posing.  Any chopsticks or knitting needles involved, or can he balance on his own?

I could not find the package of bamboo bbq skewers I have around here someplace, so I used a plastic drinking straw and a bent piece of wire.  

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27 August - A Doll A Day 2023:
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More Wanton Violence

[Alliecat]

Goodness. Looks like the gang at SCUHQ have gone crazy. Let’s hope they’re all just acting for the photos and will get together for a drink at the tiki bar afterward

[dargosmydaddy]

Sometimes they show up for good prices, less than original retail, for mint-in-box examples on eBay. But then add in shipping and... yeah, prices aren't so great.

I had to go look them up. Yes, they are cute. Maybe you will find one (or more!) at a good price 

There were some decent prices when I was looking on ebay (and really I prefer "gently used" because I really dislike the rigmarole-- and trash involved-- in unboxing dolls from their original packaging...), but I am trying to resist adding yet another type of doll to my collection. I will try to be content admiring others... we'll see if that works!


I am doing the same with your Sindy pictures (another doll I've been low-key coveting for awhile, but she's pricier so I should be safe).

[davidd]

I am doing the same with your Sindy pictures (another doll I've been low-key coveting for awhile, but she's pricier so I should be safe).

My "Sindy friend" on Flickr suggested yesterday that I should look for vintage Marx Sindy dolls on eBay. For a few years, Marx distributed the original Pedigree Sindy dolls in the States under the Marx brand. The Marx dolls are identical to the English Pedigree versions. My "Sindy friend" says the older ones have better articulation than the new issue ones that I'm using, and if one is patient, sometimes the prices are reasonable.

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28 August - A Doll A Day 2023:

Still More Wanton Violence

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One of my clever Flickr friends has already figured out the "theme" I've been developing in these pictures. It's quite exciting to have the "intent" behind a series of images be recognized, particularly as there is so rarely intentionality in what I do.

[Alliecat]

My eye keeps going to the apparently disembodied legs