Introducing a completely impulse adoption....

...it took a nanosecond.  I'd seen the design illustration, followed by the photographs and I thought she was very pretty - but too "pretty" for me.  Then I saw a real photograph on Dolly Adoption and that was that.....!!!  

Meet Meredith Taisie

Her colouring is gorgeous.  She makes me think of delicately painted porcelain.  And as for her hair colour - I'm discovering a real leaning towards pinky-toned hair, or as Junko Wong would have it "ash-pink".

Yesterday I made a dress for her and this evening I photographed her.  

I love what the evening sun does to her hair....

and here's Meredith looking at cloud pictures.

I thought there was a look of a middie in this picture.

Meredith's hair is super-soft, but tangles very easily.  Looking at the picture in the sun, and even above, it looks a little rougher than it is.  Her special blue eyechips are stunning though - and the lavender eye-shadow really complements her skin-tone.  As always - je I' adore!

Our First Foray...

...beyond the garden.

On Saturday afternoon we went for a lovely, long walk along the valley, down to the river.

Paige asked to sit in the shade for a little.

I love the way this girl's hair picks up the light.

I was hoping to get some shots of her paddling in the river, but it was too busy and there were too many dogs enjoying the cool water.  We did spend ages there, though, chasing tiddlers and sitting on the bridge cooling our feet in the fairly fast flowing water.  Where was Paige all this time?  Tucked away in her little bag (an unused drawstring shoebag) with her hairbrush for company!

We (I) need to get used to photographing Blythe dolls outside of my safety zone.  I've been accepted to host a Traveling Blythe .  I'm SO excited about this.  I'm already planning her trip.   

Jonquil

has found her look 

and again (love the mussed up hair).

The dress is Sugarmag and the boots are stock Simply Love Me (just spotted the pull-ring - lots to learn).   I do love Jonquil's pale colouring - and I think she's one of the few girls whose pink eyes actually suit her. 

I can't believe that a few short months ago I hadn't even heard of Blythe - and now - well, I guess I'm a collector (7 RBL's, 1 SBL, 1 EBL, 1 TBL and another TBL on the way).   I cannot believe how much I LOVE everything about Blythe!

A rose amongst the roses...

...truly.

I couldn't decide whether or not the roses were showcasing Jos, or...




Jos was showcasing the roses.




Yes, the curlers are out and no, there aren't any curls to speak of....




but her hair is so soft and shiny




that we don't mind one bit.

We then came indoors and put the roses into a bowl of water, next to the jasmine-scented candle.

  I count it fortunate that the only rose-bush in the garden suits Jos so well :)

Spa Day - Before!

From L-R above 

Isabella Swan (TBL), Paige (PDWW), DB, Jocelyn (PDS).

Having read and re-read all the info I could find on washing a Blythe doll's hair (and watching bits of a clip on YouTube), I decided to wash the girls' hair with the purest shampoo I could find in the house.  I'd already washed Iolanthe (CapChat) and Jonquil's (SLM) hair using only fabric softener and I was keen to try a different method.  Moreover, Isabella's hair was very thick and greasy, so I felt it needed a good shampoo.  Jonquil's hair felt frizzy and DB's hair felt very thick and stiff.  Paige's was also a bit lank.  Definitely time to hit the backwash - see below!

 Interestingly, Jos' and DB's hair is exactly the same shade of blonde - even though their releases are 4-5 years apart!

I took this shot to show Bella's gorgeous eyelashes.

 

And now, it's a waiting game.

 

 Jos is whiling away the time wondering whether or not to change her pull-ring.  (A freebie courtesy of JemGirlCreations - more of that deliciousness in another post!).

 

Introducing...hmm, not quite sure yet....

This Prima Dolly Winsome Willow won me over in her photograph - the sweetest little face.  Then she arrived and I took her out of her box.  I set her aside.  A few days later I looked at her and she looked back at me.  I changed her outfit and I set her down again. 

I really wasn't sure.  I then read Michelle's article  (a timely post if ever there was one) on bonding and I thought, "I just haven't bonded with this girl."   That was odd for me - I hadn't imagined that I wouldn't immediately love a doll that I'd CHOSEN to adopt - especially given that initial falling for the little face.  That then led to the question of what to do with her.  On some level I felt it would not be fair to the doll  (Blythe enthusiasts will understand this) if I kept her whilst feeling anything less than 100% about her!!  I couldn't quite contemplate letting her go, though.

Then the sun shone and I thought I'd photograph her....

I loved how the sunshine turned single strands of her hair golden and the subtle shadow play.  A subtle transformation - all indicative of her emerging personality.  Truly beautiful, in a gentle, understated way.  I also learned that she wanted to be called Paige.  So, I'd like to introduce... Paige Willow (here looking at cloud pictures)