The Others...
Well, the Iplehouse BJD's mostly. The rest have worked themselves into the Dolltown Community stories.
And we do our best to keep these to JUST the bjd's. However...that's not easy here in Dolltown...
And sometimes the blog posts here are a little more...adult. Well, all our Iples ARE adult-ish.
The Others Own Blog...
Christmas Dresses for the Iple BJD's!
New dresses!
Surprise! We got the three Iple girls the prettiest lace dresses for Christmas!
Were they happy? Oh yes!
When I hunted through their clothes for Christmas dress up, there was so little I had to borrow from the Ellowynes and from the Little Darlings!
The Iplehouse JID girls have been borrowing clothes, and wearing the same thing for ages.
I have looked for bjd clothes now and then, and have not found styles I like, that fit my girls.
So I got in touch with a dress designer I have admired for years, Jodie Joseph.
Her lace dresses for the pretty Ellowynes have been on my wish list for a long time. Then I noticed her doll line had branched out...
Less than two weeks after initial contact, these gorgeous jewel toned dresses showed up in our post box....
But first, let's look at what these girls went through during the Christmas season, from scrounging for clothes, to hair makeovers, to make up brush ups.
Violet helped the Little Darlings get ready before Christmas. Now, we love sockwear, but for Christmas? Violet Raven has a socktube around her midriff. Christamsy, Violet!
Tights made for Crissy, 2 coats from the Disney Toddlers (pretty nice actually!). And Odelle is wearing a beautiful brown Iplehouse coat, from their site when they still have a few JID clothes to choose from...
We love this black Yuri wig on Violet, but the other two...
Tania Aira has gone through so many looks. This one we do like, but it never stay put...
Cordelia Odelle has never settled on a look...
This Ellowyne red do was close, but...
I'm in love with this long platinum look on Aira. I think this is the one for wearing with the pretty dresses coming.
And after trying all the unattached Ellowyne girs' wigs, there was an inspired switch up. We'll show you our Ello another day, but this is a keeper for Odelle!
Thanks to the Ellowynes' beautiful wardrobe, we found some pretty clothes to keep the girls happy over Christmas! That Christmas dress is a stunner on Odelle!
One of the amazing Ello designers from eBay...
Just find a nice red ribbon to snug up that small Iple waist.
From Christmasy, to some fun finds at a local store for the girls to try on, we waited...
And the surprise dresses arrived.
On a dark snowy night, they arrived in time to lift our spirits.
The girls were over the moon...dresses actually made to order. Just for them!
Violet Raven
Tania Aira
And Cordelia Odelle...in first a beautiful teal, then an ivory lace.
Beauties!
Our thanks go out to Jodie from Jodie Creations, for her creative and beautiful work.
And for our wonderful collaboration in bringing these ideas to reality!
Look at the smiles on these faces! Well, imagine...
The Iplehouse Girls in Dolltown
Our Iple girls are meeting up in the City Park for a little downtime.
They have been helping the Dolltown children all year!
Hosting our Easter party, looking after the girls at the beach in the summer, setting up the Christmas dress up in the Playroom...
I am thankful for the help! I have been pretty busy this year and the children like to stay busy having fun!
I have an idea of how to show my gratitude to these pretty Iple girls. Excited! More on that later...
Violet waits for her friends in the chilly park...
These girls borrowed warm clothes from the Little Darlings and our Disney Toddlers.
And found some Sasha doll tights!
Tania Aira joins Violet on the park bench, and they shares stories of the childrens' dress up fun.
Cordelia Odelle arrives with a report that all the little girls are ready for photos.
And Vikka arrives with surprising news!
There is a new plan for the setting of the Christmas photo shoot,
and it is completely unexpected!
Okay girls! Better get the the room ready!
Violet and Vikka disappear.
Then Odelle heads off muttering about decorations in the attic, and just Aira was left on the park bench.
What's next, Aira? Maybe you could check the Little Darlings?
Get Ready for the Dolltown Beach Day!
Almost ready for the Dolltown Beach Day!
Our Monster High girls have volunteered to be the Lifeguards....
What?
They are as thin as a twig!
They can't stand the sun!
How did this happen?
Who was in charge of getting our volunteers for the day?
I have got to ask how they ended up as our life saving unit for kids bigger than they are.
And did they take the course?
Aira arrives to explain.
Once again Aira is taking charge of a Dolltown event!
I am so impressed with our Iples, getting all involved.
You mean it was you, Aira, who recruited the Monster Highs?
Birdy comes to check if it's Beach Time!
Yep, Birdy! Go get the girls!
We'll wait!
Beautiful day... Lots of sun...
Aira goes to help the girls,
but doesn't notice little Lilac Moon's hug was a little...bare.
Lilac Moon! Where's your clothes?
You'll get a sunburn in all the wrong places!
Lucky Catrine is quick on her feet, and saves the day.
Well, that's a good start, Monster High girls!
Here they come!
It's Birdy and buddy Rosa!
We love our new bathing suits! These lucky girls got to wear them first!
Now we are all excited to get this photoshoot going!
Uh oh. Looks like we've lost the Lifeguards!
They heard us saying, "Photoshoot before swimming!".
I think they've gone to finish their favorite Monster High Movie...
Birdy and Rosa! Where are the rest of your Little Darling buddies?
Coming? Good!
Stay tuned for lots of little Darlings!
Little Darling Naming Ceremony
(Warning! A lot of talk before the ceremony begins... Context!)
Our newest Little Darling is receiving her own Dolltown name.
Now, what's the fuss today?
This has happened about a hundred times here in Dolltown!
Every time newbies have shown up they are named. Even some of our Originals, and our Vintage, received special Dolltown names...
This pretty April Norton painted Little Darling has even been in lots of stories already...but with different names! She's been here for a year!
We've been waffling, as you'll see in this April post...
Her given name was Marlee. But we couldn't have another "M" name. We already have a Little Darling with first letter m...Maggie! And since that is a kind of rule around here, we had to come up with a name that had its own initial sound. Like "D"! We have no LD "D's"!
So we called her Dove, then Desiree, with a wig change. How about Doris Dark and Doris Day for more wig changes! Hmmm. It didn't stick.
We called her Em a lot, because that's what she said her name was when she came.
"Em? we asked.
"Yes, Em for Magic."
Okay, that was a little confusing. But the magic thing stuck. You should be around her a little. (We have one story, around Spring time.... Whether it's trick magic or, you know, Magic, we don't know.) We've been curious and curiouser, as they say, as the year has gone by.
When she's around there is talk of angels, mermaids, garden fairies, butterfly wings...
And she keeps coming back to this flowy silver hair she came with, despite how cute she is in the other wigs/personas.
But recently we thought enough is enough!
The choice for her name must be made! This transforming from one name to another can't go on.
I've got to sort out this niggling feeling like we are missing something...
I'm good at this. Experienced. And I love curling up on a weekend, with a coffee, cruising name sites. Like 20,000 Names. And Nameberry. I scroll through lists, holding in my attention the doll I am naming: its look, its character, its voice in my ear...
Two days. Nothing. (And its the third or fourth time! For Em!) I mean, there's nice names, but there was a mood I was looking for. A meaning. A word. A soft sound...
Then I woke with "Whisper" in my mind. And then seconds later, "Gossamer". And that was it.
I had skipped the G's. She didn't seem like a hard "G" girl. She is soft, light, ephemeral in her being, to me.
And "Gossamer" is the name of the garden sprite (a lime whisp) that appears over my shoulder when I am in my garden. The name came to me several years ago, when I was told by a True Witch that the tiny sprite was there. If she hadn't told me I might have just thought it was that buzzing you get in your ear. But now I can see it. (You know, in my imagination.)
As a phonetician, I had allowed the sound of a letter to block the essence of a word.
Gossamer is super fine, delicate. Like Em feels. So...Gossamer is her name.
I won't go back and change the stories. But Gossamer she has always been and always will be.
Okay, now THAT sounds like a naming ceremony is in order, right? A celebration for finally coming to a decision. A meaningful decision!
And for Dolltown, if we are talking ceremony, that means the Iples have to be involved, so the invitation went out, and Aira was free. She gathered the necessary items for the ceremony, as you'll see.
(No candles. It's summer! And daytime!)
Okay, let's get this party started!
You won't see the rest of the Girls or other Dolltowners who attended.
Just Aira, Gossamer herself, and her bff Indira, who becomes a part of the ceremony. Yes!
We are ready in The Garden!
Aira is overseeing this special day. She has the gemstones and shells to mark the event.
Our new chair is perfect for the occasion!
I took the two girls to change for the ceremony. Tomi Jane dresses!
And on the way...a Stellar's Jay hopped right down beside our setting.
(Are Gossamer and the jay...talking to each other? Did she invite him?)
Aira, one of our three Junior Iplehouse girls, gathers just the right elements for these two girls.
(Are those the pink flowerberries Rosa planted in her little garden?)
And Aira has something special in her hand for Gossamer...
What has Aira laid out? Rose quartz heart for love.
Crystal for clarity (at all ceremonies!)
And Aira has chosen the warm pink flowerberries and rhodonite gem sphere for Indira.
And for Gossamer, the mother of pearl shell and a little amethyst sphere.
(The girls call the gem spheres scattered around Dolltown, "rock balls".)
Here's Indira, dressed in Tomi Jane pink, ready. For what, she's not sure, but it all looks nice!
In our afternoon dappled shade, Indira receives her pretty gem and flowers.
And Aira puts her gentle hand on Indira's head as she says her name.
A blessing? Or is she just smoothing her hair? Or petting her like a cat?
And here's...Gossamer, in my favorite Tomi Jane dress.
(Oh come on, you say that for all of them!)
Aqua, like Gossamer's eyes.
If you look closely, you'll see a gold and silver chain in Aira's hand, and on it an amethyst pendant.
Hey! that belonged to my mother!
She would be a grand dame for Dolltown, if she was still with us.
(An eye for fashion and definitely magic.)
Okay, I'll go for that... Good move, Aira!
Aira puts the chain around Gossamer's neck.
And mutters a few words as she says her new name, her Forever name.
Then Gossamer is given her gem sphere and shell.
The girls sit to pay with their treasures.
The amethyst sphere matches the pendant.
Gossamer says, "A fortune telling ball!"
Hmmm, have you had one before, we ask?
"Not one of my own!" she says.
"And mother of pearl is like a mother's love.", she says.
Oookay now. We may have tapped a whole new dimension of action in Dolltown.
(The Iples keep their magic pretty close to their chests, so to speak. As do all the Others...)
When I think about it, Dolltown itself is magical.
I mean, there's a crossing of dimensions when the dolls arrive. We just don't think about it much.
It's all so natural... In the doll world.
Why are the girls looking at me. Are they reading my mind? About Magic? Dimensions?
Oh, no, it's okay.
I was talking out loud...
Nice toys, girls!
On the left...
That's a wrap, Aira.
Thank you.
I'll leave a little gratitude herb for your work here.
And yes! Can we do it again?
Looks like there's a line forming. Dolltowners who want their own rock balls now...
On the right...
"Gossamer" is something super fine and delicate - like a spider web or the material of a wedding veil. The original gossamer, from which the meanings come from, is the fine, filmy substance
spiders excrete to weave their webs.
A dress can be gossamer-like, if its fabric is so sheer as to be see-through, or almost."
So, as our ceremony ended, I headed over to water my pink climbing rose, and found some gossamer catching rose leaves between the branches.
(Real gossamer is not easy to see, of course, being so fine and delicate!)
I'm outta there, not so fond of spiders.
Iplehouse Juniors, and Jack, in the Garden!
The Iplehouse Juniors! And Jack!
In the Garden sunshine!
That's a sight we don't see often. They are so careful of the sun rays...
And we don't often see Jack (below), the step brother to the Iples. So to speak. Relationships in the bjd world are so complicated.
We do our best here to just accept these beauties for who they are....
And speaking of "who they are". Aira is wearing the smooth long blond bob again today, but she's says she is settling in soon. And we'll get to see the look she has picked. She changes up so often, we can't keep track!
From the left, that's Boris and Violet Raven, and Tania Aira and Daniel.
True Iplehouses...
And Aira in a favorite do of ours.
And Iple Junior Cordelia Odelle is cozying up to Jack, our handy guy.
We don't see Jack in our photos often. He's shy of the outside world.
So we respect that, but he is such a lovely boy. All the girls think so.
Not only does he know how to handle a wrench, but he hums...
We snap a few shots, before he slips away.
Shy and delicate skin...
Raven had to get out of the bright sun. Daniel is gone already.
Just a few moments in the sun for these two is perilous!
But Boris can handle it.
So I took him around for a few more photos...
So photogenic.
I love it when the Iples come out to play...
Odelle also was up for more photos in the sun!
Odelle knows how to choose the best settings!
Okay! A summer interlude with the Iple Juniors and Jack.
How fortunate!
They have all disappeared, back to Dolltown Abbey I imagine.
Where there is lots of shade in their beautiful Rose Garden!
Dolltown Spring Celebration 2019!
Birdy! Look how fun this is!
Bunnies and baskets! Foil covered chocolate, tins of goodies! Flowers and Iple Odelle!
And in the background, the stunning Dolltown Abbey, where the Iples and their "people" live. No wonder we don't see them very often!
For today, or until the Spring Celebrations end (sometimes their events go on for days!), the dollies will celebrate...eat, play, love!
Where's your buddies, Birdy?
"Nice!", Birdy says.
We agree!
"I saw a dove, with a message! An invitation!", says Birdy.
"Did you send it?", she asks Odelle...
The action starts, Rosa arrives.
Then Tink and Xennia, eyeing the candy...
Okay, with the arrival of Pearl and Anna Zoey, and then Chantal and Fig, the party starts!
We can hear more dollies arriving...
Uh oh, has Xennia already discovered the little golden bunnies are really chocolate delights?
Dolltown Spring Celebration...Get Ready!
So, the Iples invited the Dolltowners to a Spring Celebration!
The Dolltowners love it when the Iplehouse BJD's get involved with the Dolltown goings on. And an invitation!
How special!
The Little Darlings, who received the message, wondered who would show up...the boys? Lee? Asa herself?
It's the girls! Here's Cordelia Odelle...and Tania Aira and Violet Raven come too.
And they are gathering Spring decorations...
The Dolltown Abbey Meadow, where lots of play goes on.
A bench for relaxing. And Spring things...
Odelle has taken charge.
She is feeling "all that" because of this new lux wig she's wearing.
(Tink's out of control braids have been brushed into these luxurious curls!)
And Aira, beloved by all the children, is pitching in...
Violet Raven brings golden bunnies, always a hit at Spring Celebrations.
Until they are gone!
(After it's discovered that they are delicious chocolate under the gold!)
We all love these Iple girls!
They are obviously useful as well as beautiful!
And how smart to enlist the Paola Reina Amigas!
These cuties have decided to pursue chef skills, and are always in the kitchen!
So the Iples have invited them to the Dolltown Abbey Spring Celebration as official caterers.
They have been practicing their chocolate and candy making skills....
And the piece de resistance, a huge candy ice cream cone. Yum!
The three amigas have changed out of their chef clothes...
Undeen is looking very springish in her purples.
And Ling and Kwilla in their pastels..
They leave a basketful of Spring delights...
Off they go, back to prepare something more substantial for a real dinner.
Ham? Turkey? ...Rabbit?
Ready for the Little Darlings!
Ready for some chocolate!
Girls in the Pink Room
It's Oiya in the Pink Room!
She's in a dreamy mood, in her satin dress...
Oiya usually is in jeans and a shirt, ready for exploring. But for our Valentine event, Oiya was given the pink satin dress to wear and loved it! All the Dolltown children had a wonderful time and when Valentines Day was done, they all scattered.
But Oiya came back to the Pink Room one more time. And so did little Vera, here in her lime green tights.
So we sent bjd Aira to keep an eye on them and they had a lovely time with the fringed scarves, silk flowers, and gemstones, giggling about boys and Valentines.
Hey! That's not a girl! That's Jack with Aira here.
What's up, Jack?
It's time to close down the Pink Room, he says.
Time to change for the next Dolltown event.
Something outdoorsy, I bet.
Oiya has already run off to find her jeans!
Tink - Think Pink...and Yellow and Purple!
Before we finish up our yoga sessions with Indira and bff Desiree...
Look at this!
It's Tink in a pink wig....
Well, the pink is underneath the yellow, turquoise, and purple.
It's not the first time Tink has changed her 'do. But it has been a long time. Lately her pigtails were getting out of hand, and when I took off her pigtail wig to fix it, Tink took the opportunity and popped on this rainbow bubble.
It's so cute!
And it goes so well with the art at our "Art of Sound" Gallery show.
Like this piece behind her called "Crescendo".
And this "Jukebox" piece. And vintage sound board...
Hey! It's Lilac Moon!
Lilac Moon got to be a part of the exhibition!
Dolltown submitted a diorama with our red piano and drum set.
Our BJD's (ball joint dolls) get to stay for a whole month, entertaining our gallery guests.
We tell the visitors to imagine the music...
Tink and Lilac Moon have fun with the colorful instruments, and explore the displays.
Lilac Moon shows Tink her favorite painting with the musical notes, with purples the color of her eyes. Then the girls try the old vinyl records...
Listen! Old vinyl records...
Fun! Memory lane...
Okay Tink! Say goodbye to your friends and get back to Dolltown!
Xennia and the girls are ready for their yoga session.
(Wait til your buddy Xennia sees your rainbow 'do!)
Little Kish and Iplehouse Violet at Christmas
Our Kish, from beloved doll designer Helen Kish,
came to the Magic Library at Christmas time with her little friends.
After her friends left Kish stays to admire the decorations and imagines she is Clara in the ballet The Nutcracker.
Pretty Iplehouse Violet comes to see the tree and visit with Pink Nutcracker and the other Christmas characters.
And spends a sweet moment with little Kish.
Off Kish goes!
It leaves us wondering...where are other Iples?
We haven't seen them for ages!
Are they off on an assignment?
Time for some questions to be answered. Hey Violet!
The School Room is Ready! Teacher is Here!
Dolltown teacher, Sky, is ready for students!
She had help setting up the Magic Library as a schoolroom, from Jack and Priscilla.
The piano is here! Learning blocks, books, an abacus for counting, the alphabet...
Sky has been in Dolltown since close to its beginning. And she slid into the teacher role when we noticed her calming and persuasive effect on the children.
That was important! The children are so active, noisy, and...in charge!
We do wonder if she has a special power.
So many here do...
Sky has befriended Jack, an outcast in the doll world, but not in Dolltown.
He is safe here, but we don't expose him often to the "real" world.
Because he has to be excluded from lots of the bjd stories and action here in Dolltown, he is often alone, and wanders the Dolltown streets.
Sky, with her soft heart, has felt the loneliness he feels.
As an OOAK (one of a kind) she knows what it's like to be a singleton.
And she has reached out to him, befriended him, and even invited him to stay with her in town.
Some newbies think they are family! No wonder! Look at the two of them!
Jack has never had a grandma.
He feels happier than he has in all his years here in Dolltown.
The Iples do their best to make him feel at home at Dolltown Abbey,
but he is very conscious of his illegitimacy.
Once, he even said he was off to the Wall... the north Wall, not the...oh nevermind.
While setting up the schoolroom for the younger children,
Sky discovered that Jack has never been to school. He has gaps...
Still counting on your fingers, Jack?
Boy, did you hook up with the right dolly!
Sky has work to do!
She sends him off to gather the children.
And Priscilla arrives...
Priscilla is still packing around her little dolly.
Look how happy she is (the dolly, I mean!)
Priscilla, have you named your little dolly yet?
Patty, Peony, Paloma...?
A hug! Wow, you are one lucky girl, Priscilla!
Your little dolly loves you regardless of your...um, your...face?
I'm sorry, but what can I say?
You were born that way!
We have only seen you smile once...
She's gone. We heard her muttering about finding a baby name book. Awww...
Ready and waiting.
Time to ring the bell!
Go for it, Sky!
The Black Raven
The girls think they have seen the black raven again. Well, we followed a raven-like shadow to the Dark Tree, and sure enough, just as we thought....
Just as we thought...Raven Violet.
Our Iplehouse from Dolltown Abbey, across the meadow.
We always see her on Halloween!
Can't wait to tell the kids.
Time for Some Garden Play! Come On, Little Darlings!
Jiyoon's the early bird today. The sun is shining, the flowers are out....
The Little Darlings are finding their shoes and toys, ready for some garden play.
In the meantime, Indira and Fig make it in to the garden.
Fig finds Jack getting a little fresh air too! A little mingling...
But it's time for play, isn't it? Surely the other girls are ready?
We'll go check...
Some more of the Others...
Sophia, our muse, lives in a photo frame...
Boneka is love struck, and beyond flexible...
Silent Sam communicates telepathically...
Terra is an Elemental living in the woods...
Ethereal Sky attracts with magnetic empathy...
Lads from another universe, perhaps someone's parallel universe.
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Meme Dreams
One imagines that an original thought, that creates a good vibration, spreads.
Thank you to family, friends, and associates for the inspiration,
the dollies,
and their accoutrements that make this site possible.
Hiya Dolly Stories
Meaningful, educational, or just for fun stories!
Ana's Aphabet Book
Here's our super cute book! Available on Amazon! It has several Dolltown characters, all helping kids to learn the basic sounds of English. A is for Ana...
Invites, etc
Check out my other site:
Meme Dreams ...for random good ideas that I have run across, or people, links, resources
It's currently under construction, but in action!
And...
Go to Lani's Adventures, my venturous photographer daughter's website of her first trip to Australia and Tasmania
Check out Sol's channel on You Tube, for my son's antics on his Limber, and his YT video favs