#lillycat loolou

[queenofsquids]

I put the Dikadoll Dobbie head back on the Sqlab body, and am now starting to test the theory that you can always squeeeeze one more onto the shelf right here 😂

[queenofsquids]

Maybe I just really need to change her eyes. She's so smol and charming in person, but I can't seem to photograph her as anything but spooky

[queenofsquids]

I don't notice a smell with any of my other dyed dolls, but this one has a distinct aroma. It's one I'm not familiar with and it's definitely synthetic-leaning. And it's weird that I like it? Every time I open the case with her in it I'm like oh yeah, she smells odd-good. I hope it's not unhealthy 😅 I'm fairly certain it's the dye, though it doesn't smell like dye in the pot, and I rinse and scrub after dyeing. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe her elastic??

[queenofsquids]

I'm absolutely exhausted from driving myself to work on projects this week. It's been a late late last few nights, but this evening I was finally able to dye this girl and she's gorgeous.

Earlier in the day I hacked off another 1/8" on her neck and got it sanded underwater. While the family watched a movie, I strung all her body parts onto the bakers cooling rack and set out all my supplies. So I was able to start dyeing as soon as the kids were in bed.

When I took her face out of the dye, I was kinda surprised to see this coppery almost metallic marbling on the surface. I actually thought it wasn't dyed enough yet at first, it looked like just the brown of her resin color coming through. But I gave her a quick scrub with rubbing alcohol and she turned a perfect black. So I made sure to scrub the rest of the pieces too. It's surprising how much excess dye is on the pieces even after initial water rinsing.

Before -> after alcohol scrub:

I'm so pleased with how pretty and velvety the color is.

Only her much-abused chest piece came out a bit multicolored due to the texture differences of the sanded parts, and the apoxie additions. Then the dye came off her nips a bit when I magic erasered the piece. But it didn't come off the rest of the apoxied chest? Anyway, gonna mull over what if anything I want to do to fix or cover it.

Altogether happy to see her like this now, and cannot wait to get her sueded and strung back together.

[queenofsquids]

The Dikadoll Dobbie head arrived and oh lord. I'm smitten. She's just so cute in person.

The package was apparently opened at the border, but all the parts arrived perfectly intact.

Her ears are basically the most perfect things. Please admire how their placement allows for wig caps to sit correctly and then the hair to fall naturally around them.

I am really pleased by how well she goes with the Lillycat Loolou, which was kinda the whole reason I got her 😅 Hooray!

I'm glad dollsahoy has pointed me in the direction of sanding boxes, because she is going to need neck hole expansion too. (Please look at her tiny teeth)

I am still focused very much on the Zaoll body mods. Next I will be shortening her neck, and rebuilding her chest a tiny amount. I really can't wait to get to the dyeing stage. I am not in the mood to sculpt over the course of days!! Want put in pot and take out cool, now, immediately!

And one more picture of Dobbie. So cute.

Um yes, small note, also Unoa Zero arrived, now the most expensive doll I own (I believe?). Just a small thing no big deal really 😅 Little more about her in next post mebbe?

[queenofsquids]

Take one of a bodysuit. Somehow completely missed on crotch length. Shoulders look opposite of delicate. Adjustments gotta wait for another night.

Also pile o half pearls I picked off the seam allowances cause boy howdy are they impossible to glide under the foot.

[queenofsquids]

Went ahead with hot glue and suede. It's messy, and irritating because all the little flecks and strings show up so bad against the black in photos. Maybe I will be ok with it tomorrow, but tonight I am a little frustrated. A couple of the trickier pieces also popped loose even with high temp hot glue.

She looks great all put back together though. This is really just the beginning of work on her, but it's satisfying to get to this step. Like completing something at least.

Oh yeah, and her head range is shockingly good, which I realized was all me since I shaped both head hole and neck top. *pats self on back* 😋

[queenofsquids]

It's painfully difficult to take photos of this girl with the iphone. I think I need to start looking for tutorials.

I had the thought that perhaps she'd photograph better with eyes in, but -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- no she did not. 👽

Anyway, I felt like just playing around without sewing tonight. So her collar is cut from faux fur with zero finishing just for fun. She looks cute in everything, I think!