Calamity Kim

For the Love of Blythe

I fell in love with Blythe a few years ago after seeing images of custom dolls on Flickr. I saved my pennies and begged a little, sure, I might have even whined until I got the first Blythe above on the left with pink hair and fairy gown.

Then it was a few months later I was cruising eBay and found the girl with brown hair who was being sold from a collector in the US- at a great price so I did a buy it now and she was mine! I immediately started making them some clothes and after having flashbacks to trying to make Barbie clothes when I was a kid I put them on the shelf and would say hello sometimes. Mostly they were sad and lonely and although they were patient, I was far too busy to play with them.

Recently I was doing eBay searches for big eyed deer and a new (to me) type of Blythe called Tangkou- which are taller and have ball joints like a Pullip doll. She is on the far right, also with pink hair. That leaves the purple haired witch called an Icy doll- she is like a Blythe clone.

You can see the difference in the Blythe (left) and the Icy (on right) in the nose and mouth and price! Blythes are anywhere from $95- $900 depending on whether they are retired, vintage or customized by an artist. I want to try doing a custom doll but needless to say am a bit afraid!

I love their eyes- they change color by pulling a ring or pushing a button at the back of the head and I think their little expressions are pouty and sweet. I am planning on making some clothes for my girls so that I can make more money to buy some doll parts- like face plates that I can sand and paint and practice on before I actually work up to altering one of my girls.

I just wanted to share this with you today- you can check out Flickr, Pinterest or Google for more Blythe info and images of her in fabulous hairstyles and clothing. The Icy dolls run about $35- $55 on eBay and the Tangkou doll is about $35-$95 and in my opinion is a great doll because of her poseability and resemblance to Blythe.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

xox,

Calamity Kim

Day 1 in the year 2012

 

Last night we stayed up late watching movies.

That's pretty unusual for us, but the neighborhood fireworks are a difficult lullaby and so after watching the old Hollywood Knights (Michelle Pfeiffer was a baby in that!) we watched Something Borrowed and it was sweet- a total chick flick but entertaining. I couldn't believe it was 2:30 when we finally went to sleep. We remembered to kiss each other a Happy New Year at about 1am.

I thought about the new year ahead as I drifted off to sleep and said a prayer for all good things to come.

Today was a beautiful day. The weather here is so perfect- warm, sunny, a good day for the beach. We talked about going, but decided after a late breakfast to just stay home and watch more movies. I worked on more paper dolls and played with the bunny. It was nice and low key- quiet- and restful.

 

This is Stu-he's an angora bunny my friend Lorene bought  for me  for Christmas and he is a constant source of amusement and affection as he hops around the house nibbling books and getting into mischief. He is about 11 weeks old now and will only get to be about 5-7 lbs. He eats a lot of timothy grass and if I could come up with a craft project involving rabbit poop I'd be a millionaire! He graciously gives us an above average daily amount- thank goodness there is no smell- it's just reconstituted grass! He goes in his litter box and is really very sweet.

I'm using some old pictures- I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to blog today, start a new year right. I'm also killing time until Hell on Wheels is on. It's a western on AMC, set back in the railroad building days and I must confess it has grown on me to the point that I have missed it not being on over the holidays. You know I love the wild west and love clothes from that era. I do have a rather bohemian poor gypsy magnolia pearl style and am going to dig out my linens and crochet laces to transform into clothes that reflect that.

I hope this year I can make some bloomers, pinafores, and felted dolls and get really good at binding books. I am cleaning out drawers, cupboards and closets to purge all the stuff I have saved in the hopes that "one day I would make something from it". If I haven't by now, then chances are I won't! I have high hopes of doing some indie craft shows this year and so I am aiming to come up with a product line and a website. Go big or go home, right? I am always dreaming of new things to make and there is never an empty day when I am not doing something- and I really want to get back to blogging it here too.

I wish you all a wonderful new year full of inspiration and JOY, as well as happiness and prosperity.

with love,

calamitykim

 

Where have I been?

That's me on the right, waiting at the dentist's office.

Last time it was me waiting for my husband at the dentist's office. This time it was me. Sounds of drilling. Hushed footsteps in the hallway reminding me of a library or possibly the morgue. Scheech! I have had 6 teeth removed in less than a week and am waiting for some replacement teeth to be made. Should be here in a few weeks. I hope the person making those partial plates is an artist. I hope they fit and are comfortable. I hope this is the only thing that needs repair this year. This is about all I can stand, I tell ya! Gum disease is no laughing matter.

However, laughter is the best medicine they say and I have been laughing every time I look in the mirror!

That's me on the right.

That's Mr Husband on the left.

We've both had some pretty miserable luck with our teeth lately. Maybe it was all those pies I baked. He likes to tell me that God smote me for use of bad language but it don't say nuthin bout no cussin in those 10 commandments!

Anyway....I have mostly been laying on the couch reading books like Art Cloth by Jane Dunnewold and Eco Colour by India Flint. I have been trying to learn as much as I possibly can about dyeing fabric and have plans to use some eco printed cloth in upcoming mag submissions.

 

 

I rusted this first and then bundled it up with some ferns and flowers and steamed it for a while. I love the marks from the steaming and you can see bits of faint prints from the ferns. The red hibiscus turned blue and you really can't make out the petals. I am so in love with this technique and have been reading India's website, Blog and joined her Group on Facebook for Found, Stitched, Dyed Junkies.

Mostly it involves preparing your fabric and then repeatedly trying everything and keeping good notes so you can go back and evaluate what works and what doesn't. It's not easy. I have also recently been dyeing using the fiber reactive dyes and have finally gotten to the point that I can almost  rely on what I may get using a prescribed method.

This month's new Quilting Art's Mag has several cool dyeing techniques I want to try including Ice Dyeing- similar to snow dyeing but using ice and it almost looks like the tray dyeing results. I find it all fascinating and I am excited about learning these new things, however I often wonder why I am never satisfied to just stop and get really good at one thing. I have to continue to learn and try new things and it's becoming somewhat obsessive with this eco dyeing. I want an exact recipe and it's just so variable and random based on water, flora, temperature, mordants, pots etc that I am really going to have to buckle down and spend some solid time writing and cataloging my results.

 

 

Oh, I just realized how wordy this post is becoming! I have a friend who tells me to be brief. You all have more blogs to get to and can't spend all day here, right? I am trying to keep a record of my dyeing adventures over at my Facebook account- Calamity Kim-

I'm going back to the couch.

It would really make me feel better to know your best dentist encounter so let me hear it.

xox,

calamity kim

Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas and I greet it with a big sigh of relief! Another one over! We survived it! In fact this year has been wonderful! We got to spend time with the grand kids and my stepdaughter and her husband, which was a gift in itself! We also had my son and his girlfriend for a nice visit and my brother and his wife. In between cooking and cleaning I got to play and laugh and watch Elf several times, so it was very nice.

I do tend to look back at the last year and after evaluating it, then I look forward to an all new year ahead with countless hours for strolling the beach, walking in the park, sewing and making stuff and enjoying new and exciting adventures as Calamity Kim, Granny Calamity, Wife, Mom, Guild President or just me. I have been so busy this year that the stress was unbelievable at times for someone who doesn't really work. Mostly I spent time making things for publication that I can't write or talk about.That really makes it difficult. I enjoy sharing things on here with you readers and I had a tough time making time to Blog last year.

Next year I plan to have my very own Creative Ideas Magazine that will be a collaborative effort with my friend Elizabeth. I am going to stay with my Flickr Quilting Group but instead of Row 10 it will be called BEE FF 2011. We will be making 2 blocks (12 x 12") and my month for next year is July. It's the only swap group I plan on doing but I will be more active in the Etsy Cottage Style Street Team next year and plan to sell lots of Shabby Chic Antique items as well as handmade things.

So, please know that I appreciate your kindness, your comments, your support, your humor and I look forward to another year with a whole lot more Calamity Kim.

Thank you for stopping by.

Merry Christmas,

Calamity Kim

 

 

taking the time to write a real letter

Did you ever get a letter in the mail that was just like a warm hug and a cup of love?

I have a friend that I write pen pal letters to and we carry on a long distance conversation that includes sharing good news and bad, sadness and joys, stickers and presents and generally anything that can be stuffed into an envelope or small box!

Saturday I received a box from her with a lovely long letter, an Alice in Wonderland rag doll and a mermaid that she had made from flour/salt dough. The inside of the box was cushioned with ribbons of all sorts and it was festive and sweet to open! I have to say thank you, Sara, for the thoughtfulness and kindness.

Alice and her fishy friend will fit right in to my crafty chaotic sewing room. I started cleaning up and throwing out and getting it more manageable this past weekend and am still working on it today. I am hoping that it won't take all day but it doesn't seem to be getting any easier as I go through this and that, trying to unclutter the room.

The mailman just stopped by and I got a great card from my friend Gina- thank you if you are reading this- I sent an email to thank you- what a nice surprise! She lives just down the road and I smiled when I saw the envelope. You sweetie!

I love getting cards and wish I would make time to write more people more often- it's one of the ways to get more cards.

It's a nice thing to do and it shows that they think you are worth the time spent to find a card and write it. I would love to do a fabric postcard swap someday, as the idea of receiving a fabric stitched postcard just rings my bells and blows my whistles! But for now I have to use my time wisely- I have work to do and must stay focused to meet those deadlines! Maybe sometime this winter I can set up a swap-we'll see come Feb- we could do it for my big 50th Birthday celebration.

So, I just wanted to put it out there- I keep all the cards and letters that I receive and sometimes I find letters in my drawers that were written by people that wanted me to know something or feel something when I read them and now I have to wonder why they did that when they didn't really mean those things. When you have it down on paper it should make it seem more real but sometimes its just words. I would like to send a few back to a certain person just to let her think about what she said and how it wasn't really true, but then, I might be poking the bear with a stick and I really don't have time or the energy for that.

Anyway, I'll get back to cleaning out and throwing away. Shaking it off and getting back to my happy place...somewhere in this mess is a sewing machine that needs some quality time with me.

Check out this awesome blog if you have time- I borrowed the blooming cactus from her website- it's written in French and I can't translate it but the pictures are pretty awesome!

happy august,

xo,

calamity kim

rusting up like the tin man

Slipping the bonds of the days expectations I go back to the bedroom and open the curtains. When I lay down I can see the breeze rifling through the leaves; the branches bounce and I imagine them laughing and pushing back as the birds sing and the turtles dry out in the hot sunshine.

Relaxing.

Taking a deep breath, letting the tightly coiled spring unwind, riding the spinning circle of thoughts to the center of myself.

Letting it go.

The last few weeks have been difficult.

Days full of things to get done, I come to a grinding halt today and just stop. I need to rest and think of nothing until I feel like working some more.

 A few weeks ago I had a severe pain down my leg and after a visit to the doctor I found that it was nothing but a pulled muscle, due to sitting at the computer (or sewing machine or spinning wheel) for long lengths of time with my left leg crossed (ankle on right knee) causing a strain. It's just a bad habit. My joints hurt.

Like when I put my elbow on the desk and rest my chin in my left hand. That caused a sharp pain in my shoulder blade up my neck. I was reminded how often I do these things, as I would sit, because the pain would stab, quick and sudden until I changed position. I decided to change my habits. A friend also suggested a ball chair.

 

So I got one and when I sit on it I can't cross my legs and I sit up straighter, using my core muscles to stay balanced. The ball can come off for exercises if I ever felt so inclined, which must be a bonus, but I haven't gotten that crazy yet. I do have a small trampoline that I bounce on a few times a day, to get my lymph flowing around and help speed metabolism and improve my immune system.

I have been walking more and sitting less. It's summertime and when it's this hot you sweat all day it seems and it's so nice to stay inside in the air conditioning. When you go for a walk it has to be early or late and I am just trying to work that in to my new routine.

I have been planning what to have for sale at Atomic Holiday Bazaar this year and what I want my display to look like. I have been making paper dolls and mermaids and I bought a vinyl banner for my booth. It's just like the banner on the blog except 3ft wide and the font is a bit different. I like planning and dreaming about what to make. It helps me get focused. Staying focused is a whole different subject.

I bought some more stamps to create some new art dolls and hope to make some 3 dimensional fabric dolls as well as some shrinky dink jewelry using scans of some of the mermaids. It's fun and challenging to digitally alter and print the dolls and I bought a huge dry erase board to write down all my projects and plans. I have examples to make for a big project and things I want to enter into local galleries and for publication. I'm working on aprons and getting thoughts together to make something for Apronology again.

So as I get some things finished I will show them here. I started a 5 week class last week at the Venice Art Center with Joanna Coke- doing mixed media altered boxes and am pretty excited about that journey. I hope all my blog friends are doing well and having a lovely summer!

stay cool and sweet!

calamity kim

What to do today

I know, it's still early, but I have crossed off one thing. I went to Mary Jane's FarmWebsite and signed up for a Farmgirl Chapter under the Calamity Kim Farmgirl title. Thanks Elizabeth for the nudge. We were discussing making badges for sewing, embroidery, knitting and spinning. Girl Scouts led to Farmgirls and naturally to Mary Jane and maybe making bags to put badges on.

Sometimes the ideas flow. All you can do it take your oars outta the water and hold on for dear life as the creative current washes you downstream.

Happy Wednesday!

Calamity Kim

Creative Baby Steps

I collect baby shoes.

Not every baby shoe, but mostly mary jane's or leather shoes that show some wear.

I have used them to make patterns and sometimes sew felted wool in to

tiny replicas from those patterns. I can't find a picture but when I do I'll add it here.

 

Martha Stewart has a nice PDF pattern template here that you can download and use. Here are the directions too for using her pattern.

If you love little sweet baby shoes with a dash of creativity you might want to check out the Etsy Shop Rubblearium which sells digital prints (and downloads) of adorable baby shoes and fairy gowns made from interesting and unusual materials by Catherine McEver.

I love the Wonder Bread shoe

and I really love the lettuce shoe

The baby shoe print made from sewing pattern tissue is nice.

It would look really great in my sewing room, don't ya think?

She has quite a few others that are fashioned from astro turf or bologna and you should use this link to go see them for yourselves.

I should also like to point out her embroidered Wonder Bread and give it points for originality and workmanship- that couldn't be easy- embroidering on bread!

and don't forget the fairy clothes- which is evidence that they do exist in my opinion!

I was thinking about taking baby steps this week and that's why I am sharing this. I hope to get back to a normal schedule again soon. I have spent a lot of time lately helping a dear friend move and working on Guild projects and a few other top secret projects. The weather has been delightful the past few days and I am enjoying the coolness and lack of humidity more than I can describe.

In fact I want to go for a walk and enjoy this new and refreshing morning. It's only 53!!!! Can you imagine? I can't! Not after last weeks sweltering 97 degrees in the shade!

53°F | °C

Current: Sunny
Wind: NE at 9 mph
Humidity: 65%

Mon

76°F | 59°F

Tue

83°F | 66°F

Wed

87°F | 68°F

Thu

88°F | 69°F

Wow!

This seems almost like heaven!

Love & Stitches,

Calamity Kim