Letters From BlogLand

To all of my Followers, Lurkers, Comment Writers and Searchers out there in Blog Land, I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Bright New Year.

This has been a very challenging year for me and for my family, as it has been for many I am sure. 

One of the challenges I am facing right now is Meniere's disease.  I have terrible vertigo and am spending my days trying to accomplish things all while being dizzy and nauseous.  It is not easy.

Currently I am in the process of re-vamping my etsy shop.  I am painting new back drops, painting furniture and making props.  It should return by Jan. 1st 2014. 

Recently I have had several people contact me through my etsy shop. 
Unless it is a short but sweet question or involves business on etsy, I would prefer you did not do this. 
I love it when you use the Comment section here- there is some really good stuff in the Comments on several of the Monster High custom tutorial pages where you can learn more about doll customization.  When you comment, and I publish it, it reaches a larger audience.

Also, unless I have used a technique myself, and can document it here in writing and with photos, I will not be posting what it is that you do yourself for your own customs.  I have my own sense of integrity about things of this nature and will not advise anyone to do anything I have not also done.  One should know what the results will be with certainty before telling you to try it.

Over the last 2 years I have put in a lot of time and energy to make this blog helpful.  My posts have slowed down recently as I have faced the challenges of just finding the time to do the things I need to do, let alone the things I like to do.

Lastly, to those of you who have said Thank You, who have told me they have gone on to do their own custom dolls - you have made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  I am grateful.

If you have photos of your doll customs you want to share, send them here: pb.maximus@gmail.com

Cheers, PB Ray

Yes, I know, not Monster High :)~  But these are some of my other girls ready for Christmas.

Non Doll Post

Dolls are fun.

 

Today's post is about being human.

 

The people of the Philippines are in dire straights.

 

Please Help if you can.

 

World Vision – First flight with relief supplies was today.

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?funnel=dn&item=2639566&go=item&section=10339&

 

Philippine Red Cross – Emergency Aid

http://www.redcross.org.ph/

 

Doctors Without Borders – ‘nuff said.

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/onetime.cfm?source=AUU1311LBD01

 

Habitat for Humanity – To repair and rebuild homes

http://www.give2habitat.org/member/jmoring/Rebuild-central-Philippines

 

 

 

Thank You.  Every little bit counts.

 

~PB Ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Bit More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I am at work on a custom Monster High doll and of course more fashions.  Stay Tuned :)

 

~PB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More, We Want More :)

More Monster High Fashion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers, PB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



New Fashions for Monster High

Eye Candy for September... so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the pieces that are finished and up in my etsy shop.  I have many more in the pipeline.  When I finish this round, I am headed back to making some new patterns and then more new things -- so stay tuned :) 

Cheers, PB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October Isn't So Far Away...

A Little Witch Craft

 

 

 

 

The leotard top needs a little something, but I haven't figured that out yet.

 

More to come :)

 



A Little Fun

A friend sent me this diagram:

 

 

 

I especially like the crying hole.

 

Anyone who sews has been there ;)~

 

 

Personal note: 

I am back home sewing again.  We have perhaps 1 or 2 more trips to clean up at Mom's house in California. New things should begin appearing in my shop soon.  Thank You to all who have sent me emails encouraging me and Thank You to friends and family who have made these last few months bearable, and even enjoyable in the face of all the difficulties we have encountered.  I shall be ever so grateful when we can again return to our kind of normal.

   

and,,, Fall is coming!  Yay!!!

 

Cheers, PB

Back To School

Monster Style

 

 

 

 

 

I finally made it back to my sewing machine.  This is has been a challenging 6 months :P 

 

First round of Back to School clothes for Monster High -- now in my shop on etsy - Yay!

 

Have you made your own clothes, your own custom doll(s) after spending some time here?  Do you have photos?  I would love to share whatever you have been doing out there in the custom lane. They do not have to be Monster High dolls, or Monster High clothing.  I hear from other fashion doll fans and would love to see what you have done too!

 

Please send your photos and descriptions to: pbvanchance@hotmail.com and I will post your good works here.

 

Wishing you all the best as we head into the last of summer and the beginning of fall.

 

~PB Ray

 

 

 



 

 

 



Shoes For Monster High's Nefera

Best Foot Forward

 

As anyone knows who collects Monster High dolls and have a Nefera in that collection, the poor girl came with one pair of shoes.  Her feet are larger than her sister's feet leaving those of us with Nefera dolls with just the pair she came with -- unless you bought her nude-- in which case you have no shoes for her.

I made a couple of pair of Nefera shoes for a friend and then thought maybe I should make some for my store on etsy.

Nefera Shoes I made for my friend.

 

 

Black and Gold Heels for Nefera

 

 

Turquoise and Black Heels for Nefera

 

Purple and Black shoes for Nefera

 

The heels I made for Nefera were made with cardboard, art paper, black vinyl, air dry clay, paints, glitter nail polishes and gloss sealer.

As I get bored doing the same thing over and over I made every pair with different style heels.

 

Nefera shoes will be in my etsy shop in a day or two.

 

Cheers, PB