Okay...

 I have to confess...

I have an obsession. And it's not my granddaughter or food or books. Or rather it's something other than my grandaughter, food or books. I do love my grandadughter with a passion and hey, how can you live without food or books? But it is something I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought would happen...

I have an obesssion with dolls. Oh, no not just any doll. That would be way too easy. I am obessed with Blythe dolls. I had never heard of these dolls until a friend (yeah, I still call her a friend, but I wasn't sure if it wasn't a curse she laid on me. I'm still not sure.) Now, for those of you, like me, who hadn't heard of Blythe, it is like a cult almost. Back in the 70's (and I'm paraphrasing everything and will probably get my facts wrong) Kenner came out with this 11"-12" doll that had a big head in comparison to her body. The reason being her head had an eye mechanism. When you pull the string at the back of her head her eyelids would close and then open up to different colored eyes, looking in a different direction. Four colors of eyes and three directions, forward and to each side.

Kind of creepy, you say? Well apparently most kids thought so too and Blythe was well on her way to obscurity when she was photographed and but into a book by a gal named Gina Garan. You can read the whole story here.    This is Blythe/ History    It's kind of amazing.

Anyhow,there are a lot of different styles of Blythe with varying makeup and hairstyles to tempt the collector. It seems that Takara (the Japanese company that now makes them) comes out with several limited editions a year. But really stinks about itis that for the most part, you can't buy them in the States directly from an Asian store as they will not sell to North America. What???? It's crazy I know. I still don't get it or know all the whys and wherefores of it all but what it basically means is that if you want a Blythe you just about have to know someone who has one to show you the ropes of Blythe purchasing survival.  And for the most part, stay away from evil bay.  If you should ever decide you want to enter this world, let me know.  I'll hook you up.   The first one's free (the hook up, not the doll).

I have to tell you, when I first saw one I didn't think much of it but then when you explore the world of Blythe and discover all the amazing stuff done to and with them (search for Blythe on Flicker and check out the custom ones and the remarkable photos and videos) ....it called to my inner creative child.

Of course, I could fall for a Barbie or something affordable. But no, I had to fall for the collector big bucks kind of doll. You know, the kind I hide when my granddaughter comes over. Maybe when she's older, say 25 or so.

And the there is the whole world of clothing your Blythe....augh, the doll has better clothes than I do. Oh, and did you want to take pictures of your Blythe? Well then you are going to need props....

As you can see, the list goes on.

So, here is a picture of my first Blythe, Lola, a Frosty Frock, when I first got her.

Here she is after I changed her makeup and carved her lips and nose and added some freckles.

Her current incarnation. I played with her eyes, changed the makeup, touched up some of the carving and gave her new eyelashes as well as playing with her eyechips.

Who knows how she will finally end up. She may just have her makeup done over and over as I learn something new each time. You've got to love her patience.

Did I mention that I had to get another Blythe as well? Oh, yeah, the short blond thing isn't really for me. So I needed Nastasha, Tash, as she is known to her friends, a Night Flower.

I am crocheting and knitting small clothes that I should have in my etsy store once I have them tweeked to my satisfaction. Got to help balance out the outflow a bit. And I like making them. A lot. It's fun to make tiny things.

Did I mention it's an obsession?

Oh yeah, if you don't watch it, I'll break out the grandaughter pictures.