Elin's Wigs and Her Twin

Before knowing there would be a complexion discrepancy, in preparation for my new 1/6 BJD, Elin's arrival, and in addition to the dress, socks, shoes, and undies that I ordered or won on eBay for her, I ordered two size 7 wigs made for 1/6 BJD/SDs.  These add to the other wigs she can borrow from other dolls.

One of the wigs, shown above, is wavy and too long for a doll this size. I wanted to tightened up the waves a bit and tame the ends so I trimmed, braided and boiled it. The plan was to have tighter curls after the wig dried and the braids were removed.

Braided wavy wig...

...was immersed in a cup of boiled water for about a minute.

Still not pleased with the end result, I trimmed the ends more and created two side ponytails. Elin #2 (the doll with the complexion that Elin #1 was supposed to have) laid claim to the new wig.  See her next wearing the permed wig before getting fully dressed.

Elin #2 wearing permed and slightly curlier wig styled in two side ponytails

The seller sent an auburn short pageboy wig along with Elin #2 which is too close to her complexion.  Elin #1 will enjoy wearing it when not wearing the Afro wig she prefers.  Both girls do model the auburn wig later in this post.

As agreed upon, the seller sent a dress for Elin #2 (shown in next photos) as well as a silicone wig cap and the auburn wig, mentioned above.   This was very generous of her since I only asked for a dress to compensate for the incorrect color of the first doll (and a discounted price on the second).

The girls took photos individually and together wearing and sharing wigs, which are shown below.

L-R:  Elin #2 wears the dress the seller sent for her and the boil permed wig.  The auburn wig seller sent is worn by Elin #1

Wearing same wigs as shown in the previous photo, this pose was too sweet not to share.

Elin #1 returns to her Afro wig.

Elin #2 wears a dark brown loosely braided wig that was ordered with the permed wig.

Wig swapping:  L-R, auburn pageboy, dark brown loosely braided wig

More wig swapping in this final photo where Elin #2 wears the Afro wig (that she decided to keep) and Elin #1 wears the wavy ponytails.

It is amazing that the seller's dress selection for Elin #2 is a perfect complement for Elin #1's navy blue coat dress.  Except for their complexions, these two sweet-faced girls are twins, but they prefer not to dress alike.

dbg

Patience Yields a New Look for Model 8

A new, more brown than auburn 1/6-scale doll wig arrived a couple of weeks ago, packaged in a pretty handmade box with a cute note card from Loanne of Tabloach Productions.  I could tell this wig and everything that accompanied it was made with love and care.  I also knew my patronage was appreciated.

At the moment of purchase, choosing a doll to wear the wig became a challenge because I have an extreme phobia about shaving a doll's perfectly good head of hair.  Cutting any doll's hair, even a dime... wait, I mean, a dollar store doll's hair is difficult for me.  This is more avoidance behavior than phobia.  I associate doll hair shaving with intentional doll damage.  Therefore, I avoid permanently altering a doll in that way.  Perhaps this is something I will overcome in the future, but right now, I choose not to do it.

Now, I did fall in love with this particular wig when I saw the online image on Facebook, which  appeared auburn.   Since 2001, when my grandson was born with a headful of auburn, actually fiery red hair, I have had an affinity for auburn haired black dolls.  Throughout his decade +1 years, Grandson's hair has become more sandy brown with red highlights and is now worn closely cropped, but I still love black dolls with auburn hair. 

I chose BB Model 8 from the "Denim Collection" to wear this wig because her original short gelled hairstyle did not require cutting for the wig to fit.  Since June 2011, she had worn a Limbe Dolls braided wig.  After initially trying on the Tabloach wig, which did not seem to work well for her, I replaced her true auburn braided wig and stored the Tabloach wig in the original box.

Viewing a similar Tabloach wig last week in a Chynadoll Creations post, prompted me to work with the new wig a little more.  I determined that Model 8's clothing may have been in the way of her new wig, so I removed the tunic and scarf  (part of a LIV, Liv'n Fab fashion) that she'd been wearing over her original black tank top and skinny jeans.  With that, she was already beginning to wear the wig well.  "Earrings... she needs earrings," I thought.  A quick trip to the beauty supply store's 99 cents earrings section yielded her modified "Basketball Wives" earrings. 

Prior to my modification, Model 8's new earrings had been nearly 6 inches long!  The above image illustrates the bottom 4 inches that I snipped off.

Wearing the new wig and earrings, I took several photos of "Jean" with and without the camera's flash.   Her best close-up and full-length photos are shown below.

Barbie Basics Model 8, Denim Collection, in new wig and new dangle earrings

Jean and I love her new wig!  All it took was patience on my part and the correct fashion and accessories for her to "work" it.

dbg

Follow my Dolls for Sale blog

Please visit and "Like" The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak I Listen

Twists and 'Fro

My initial plan was to use the black twists wig purchased from Limbe Dolls on GI Joe Heavy Duty, a.k.a. Lamont A. Morris (inherited from my son, seen on the far left in this image).  However, since I have decided not to redress Lamont in civilian clothing, for now, the twists wig would not be appropriate for his current military status. 

After scanning the doll room for a playscale male wig candidate, I spotted Rocawear Darren and tried the twists wig on him.  He and I both love the look.

Rocawear Darren with new black twists wig by Limbe Dolls

In addition to acquiring the twists wig from Limbe Dolls, I received from her a short Afro wig and two pairs of sandals sized to fit Power Team figures.  The sandals also fit GI Joe and Ken, specifically Sunsational Malibu Ken, a.k.a. "Afro" Ken. (A mint version of "Afro" Ken is seen on the right in this image).

Played-with "Afro" Ken

I inherited the above played-with "Afro" Ken from my daughter, who inherited him from my niece. I'm not sure which of the two girls converted his original curly Afro into this wrapped-looking perm. To add to his "to'e up from the flo' up" appearance, poor Ken was also dressed in outdated clothing when I retrieved him from my daughter's remaining box of dolls and incorporated him (as is) into my collection some time ago.  He's been in the doll room ever since, looking quite pitiful. 

"Afro" Ken in Afro wigged and redressed. I also made a bracelet and necklace for him.  The Afro wig and tan sandals are courtesy of Limbe Dolls.

Close-up of "Afro" Ken

Ken looks so much better with his Afro back and new clothes.  The formerly worn off-white V-neck sweater, brown corduroy high-water cuffed pants, and white shoes were not working well for him, at all.

"Afro" Ken and Darren extend their heartfelt thanks to Limbe Dolls for her creativity and so do I!

dbg

Model of Giving

It's so nice to realize you have been thought of for no special reason. The manifestation of the thought could be something as simple as a phone call from a long lost friend or relative, a handwritten letter that contains a small trinket, or other gift of sentimental value.  

On two consecutive days last week, I was blessed in this manner.  This blog is devoted to one such blessing.  

After a trip to the library with my husband to pick up a book I ordered, I made an impromptu trip to the post office (PO), which is usually relegated to one of my Saturday tasks.  Since we were out and he was driving in the 90-something degree Texas heat, as we left the library, I asked him to drive to the PO.  He did.  Upon arrival, he handed me the keyring, which contains the PO box key, and sat in the car while I checked my box.

In my box I found a puffy envelope with a Georgia return address. There was also a notification to pick up something from the inside that was too large to fit in my small PO box, and nearly a week's worth of unwanted junk mail.  With junk discarded, I went inside the PO, found it crowded, returned to the car where I handed Husband the keyring and said, "I have to pick up something inside.  The line is long.  Start the car so you won't get too hot."  He did and continued reading one of the books he borrowed.

Back inside, while standing in line to wait my turn to hand the clerk my package pickup notification, I opened the Georgia mail.  The contents caused a broad smile.  Wondering why I received such a gift, I read the handwritten note card and thought:  She's so sweet.  How thoughtful.  Me, a doll griot?  

After examining the intricate details and clever design of the item that caused the envelope's puffiness and my wide grin, I immediately wondered which doll would be the recipient of the beautifully handcrafted wig of auburn braids from Limbé Dolls.  By the time I repackaged the note card and wig for safekeeping until I got home, I was at the head of the line.  The PO clerk retrieved my package. I returned to the car and traveled home. 

It was not until this past Saturday that I realized which doll would be the perfect model for the wig.  Her already short hairstyle eliminated the need to cut another doll's hair to accommodate the wig.  

Enjoy the photo shoot below.  Click the images to enlarge in a new window.

The Chosen One before:  Barbie Basics Denim Model 008, Collection 002 (outside in the Texas heat)

Barbie Basics Denim Model 008, Collection 002 wearing auburn, mid-part, braided wig by  Limbé Dolls.

Close-up and gorgeous

From the back

Wardrobe change:  Wears tunic, scarf, and bracelet from Liv'n Fab* fashion

Striking another pose in new wig and Liv tunic

Back inside, the two front/side braids are tied in back for a more conservative look.

View from the back of the tied-back look

If asked, she will confidently say, "I know I look good!" 

Limbé Dolls' gesture of sending me a wig that I chose as my fave after reading and commenting on her Wigging Out -- Braids blog, models God's way of showing us through others he loves us.

Thank you, again, Limbé Dolls.  Thank you God for using her to express your love.

*The Liv tunic is not a perfect fit for Model 008 (who needs a name).  It does not properly close in the back, but Model 008's braids cover this fashion imperfection.  I think I'll name her Paulette.

dbg

Which Wig? And the Winner Is...

Cocoa in the most preferred wig

In the now closed poll, the brown short wig was the most popular of the 10 wigs from which Cocoa had to choose to wear with her new fashion.  I have now applied sticky-back Velcro to the undersurface of the short brown wig which attaches to the opposite Velcro applied to the top of her head.  This eliminates the need for a wig cap and provides a snug fit. 

Below, Cocoa illustrates the process and then strikes a few poses.

A square of sticky-back Velcro was attached to the crown of Cocoa's head immediately after her arrival in 2008.

Each of Cocoa's wigs has an opposing square of sticky-back Velcro attached to the inside.

Velcro meets Velcro

Cocoa's wig is firmly in place.  She strikes her first pose...

...then another.  Finally,

she takes a quick outside pose before returning to her place of display.

Thanks everyone for voting in the poll.  It was fun!

dbg

Which Wig?

Cocoa (a.k.a. Mirror, the first dark-skinned American BJD by Goodreau) is wearing "Denim Blues,"  designed by "Squarepeg" for a doll like Cocoa, who is "unafraid and unapologetic [for expressing her] individuality." 

After the fashion arrived, Cocoa tried on several wigs (10 to be exact!).  She is having difficulty deciding which one works best with her new outfit.  To help her decide, I created a poll.  Please view the slide show images and use the poll on the top right of the blog to help Cocoa determine which wig looks best with her new outfit.. 

Thanks!
dbg