2020 Update

Hello Dear Readers,

How is everyone? I hope everyone is safe. I've been doing quite a bit of isolation and wanted to check in with everyone. I'm not sure if anyone will read this since I haven't updated in ... forever, and you all might have moved on.

I'm not even sure how possible it is to read the blog with pretty much all of the blog posts in draft form. I promise to go back and restore them, eventually, but there's a lot of them so that's a pretty big undertaking.I would like to edit some of them and I know a couple projects got dropped along the way, so I would like to finish those, but I don't know when I will find the time.

I am still working. Since March I have been working from home and I really like it. The long commute to and from work was really wearing on me so I've been a lot happier working from home. I was taking strides to work from home before this all happened, but I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it. There's some things I prefer about going into the office, but overall my life is a lot better when I don't have an hour commute to and from work each day. I recently got asked if I would like to step up in another aspect of the job that I am hoping it will make the job more enjoyable. I am actually training this week, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

I have also been working on eBay. Oh boy, have I been working on eBay. I've been trying to get 12 new listings done each week. I have been doing a lot of listing and a lot of selling. I spent a huge chunk of today packing up eBay sales. Still pretty low end in terms of price point, but I am making a profit and the most important thing is I am having things move out. I am really focused on selling what doesn't spark joy and keeping what does spark joy. I am still working on clearing out the things I bought to take pieces from (usually shoes), but I have sold some vintage dolls. There's still a long way to go and quite honestly once eBay stops giving me free listings for every week, things will slow down, but I have really upped my selling game. It really is becoming a part time job again. Here's hoping I can keep working from home full time and I can keep giving it the attention it deserves. I'm not going to lie and say it's fun, but I need to keep it it so I can get space and get my money back. It's a long term project, but each sale gets me a little bit closer to my goal.

Normally I follow this with if I could keep shopping, but I have been incredibly good when it comes to shopping lately. Since I have been working from home, my spending has dropped considerably. I think this is for two reasons, I am doing less retail therapy and when I home I can see how much stuff I already have. My shopping hasn't stopped completely, and I have bought a couple dolls including some expensive ones, but things have really changed. This month, I have bought two dolls for myself (I have to add that disclaimer since I am being a shipping liaison for an international friend). And my spending has not picked up elsewhere. I bought a fat quarter of fabric, and I think two doll outfits from Walmart and that's it. I spent less than 50 dollars this month on doll stuff. Which frankly, is absolutely unheard of.

I have even been doing some sewing. It all started with the fabric I bought. I found at Walmart some fabric with little cars and trucks on it. I thought it would be super cute for Joe since he now collects cars and trucks. I wanted to make a button up short sleeve shirt for him. I was working with a pattern, but I am not sure what I want to do with the collar. I am not sure if I want a button up or an open collar. So that project is on hold for now while I think about it. However, instead of stop sewing altogether, I just shifted gears. Several months back I bought a doll. I found her locally at an antique mall. I pretty much know nothing about her. I believe she's from the early to mid 1950's and is totally unmarked. I think she's a no-brand doll. She is made from hard plastic and has what I think is nylon hair (wigged). All that mattered is that she was cute and only five dollars. Ironically, this is the same store (and even floor) where I found Chatty Cathy. She was also 5 dollars I think and that was the doll that started my sewing journey. Anyway, I bought the doll. She still hasn't been cleaned up. I did a little work on her wig, but when a chunk of hair came out, I stopped. However, she's not nude anymore. Let me show you the doll and the dress:

No shoes, because if you're not Barbie, you don't get shoes around here.

The dress pattern is from Cherylwood. I did change the neckline slightly and lower the hem, but other than that it's her original pattern. The fabric and trim were things I had on hand. There are a few things I would change if I made it again, but I made something! It's been like a year since I sewed anything. Not sure if it will lead to a new boon of sewing, but I at least showed myself I can still sew. And I think she looks pretty cute.