Tune in for my Diva Craft Lounge Interview!

I've been traveling so much, the girls and I have barely had time to change. I just got back from four days in Michigan for work, followed by Illinois for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) summer trade show and preview. Later this week it's back to Michigan and then Ohio Sunday and early next week. Gotta love the Midwest! Thank goodness I do.
But Wednesday July 30 it is Home, Sweet Home, as I will be interviewed at 3:05 p.m. Eastern time by the famous Diva Danielle of Diva Craft Lounge on Blogtalk Radio. You can go to her Web site at http://www.divacraftlounge.com or by clicking the headline above. From there you'll click the link to listen to the show. You can also register at Blog Talk Radio so you can type in live chat or call in. Don't be shy! I know Miss Vicky won't! Vicky http://www.cut-it-up.com is the one who mentioned me and my Blythe it Yourself (BIY) column for ZNE Dollz http://www.znedolls.com to Danielle. Also on the show after me is the proprietor of The Valley of the Dolls store in Los Angeles.
And wonder of wonders in this big dolly world, I got to meet Danielle Sunday at CHA in the Unity Stamp booth and see her new line of Diva sayings stamps for them as well as Unity's cool wood and acrylic stamping block cassette combo- a super idea. I also met some other famous folk at CHA. Check my art blog http://lillysoflondonish.blogspot.com to find out who.

Blythe, Art & Vintage

I'm always trying to tie these three together: Blythe, art and vintage. From the looks of the framed print above, you can see someone has done it with much more talent and style. Miss Surprise on etsy http://www.misssurprise.etsy.com often sketches out outfits for the ultra cool Eurotrash of Finland http://www.eurotrash.etsy.com before she goes about making the clothes and helmets she sells. I have no idea why American Blythe collectors call knitted hats "helmets," but it makes us feel ultra cool, too.

Eurotrash is so of-the-moment and hard-to-get that her audiences around the globe check the international time converter and set alarm clocks for wee hours just to try to bid. She loads her etsy store about once a month, and I last saw about two dozen (not cheap) outfits and hats sell in less than three minutes.

I didn't even know about Miss Surprise or her role in the fashion process, but I accidentally found a set of three of her prints on etsy and promptly snatched them up. I chose the frame and mats above for the print I kept, and I gifted the other two to Miss Vicky http://www.cutitup.com, Re-ment habit supplier and to Angela http://www.geminiangelart.com. The scene above is the lavender and sage setting atop the armoire in my office. The girl on canvas and the single cat on the easel were both painted by me.

Speaking of etsy, the crocheted throw pillows pictured above on the lovely green faux leather (plastic) couch were made by me for my etsy shop http://www.hpsgsmith.etsy.com. I got the idea from crochet-covered focal beads or buttons used (usually just one) to close a shawl, stole, cape, wrap, etc. They're the perfect size for Blythe-looks like something they might have purchased at "Pottery Blythe"- you know, that cool store.

I even shared a tutorial for making my little pillows (so much for making my own cool million) on ZNE Dollz http://www.znedolls.com at http://chelise.typepad.com/zne_dollz/2008/02/groovy-little-p.html. Now everyone can have tons of tiny pillows, but why make them when you can get them from me on etsy http://www.hpsgsmith.etsy.com? It's the American way.

The top photo is just Olivia (GR) in her $1 vintage dress and a Supergirl comic, courtesy of the US Postal Service, back when stamps were 39 cents.

What We Did on our 4th

The girls changed clothes, which was a big accomplishment for a holiday weekend. Gwynyth remains ever the glamour-puss, continuing to rock vintage Skipper until the money runs out. Lilly, Jolene, Maggy and Violet went cas, hoping for a good fireworks display or perhaps to be hat models for my upcoming crochet run. I hope to have my etsy store http://www.hpsgsmith.etsy.com stocked with some Blythe goodies by the end of July. I thinking crocheted hats and throw pillows. I just loaded it with some 'real people' stuff, in case you're interested.

On the 4th of July...Equality for all Doll....Heads

My little collection grows....

Happy Fourth of July!

So glad we are free to blog, free to collect strange dolls, free to buy vintage Skipper on ebay, free to do absolutely nothing. Celebrate!