Dolls: My First Smart Doll (Unboxing)

I rarely share doll unboxings, but this one is truly special to me and this is also my first Smart Doll.  I spent a long time saving up and waiting before finally deciding to make the purchase.  

Besides focusing on life and family responsibilities, I also took my time choosing the doll because I wanted to feel connected to it.  The cost was on the higher side, which is why choosing the right one was important to me.  

Smart Doll is designed by Danny Choo. Smart Doll is known for its high quality and unique style.  The doll is handcrafted by the creative team at Mirai Inc, which makes it extra special.  Each doll is unique and has a sense of life and personality because it’s handmade.  What I appreciate about Smart Doll is that it cares about the well-being of its creative team and its dedication to transparency, so customers can be sure their purchase matches the company’s values and commitment.

More about Smart doll at their official website - https://shop.smartdoll.jp/

The purchasing experience felt a little different than what I'm used to, but overall, it went well and I'm happy with it.

The package arrived yesterday while I was at work, and by the time I got home, it was already nighttime.  After a quick dinner and some tidying up, I finally got to unboxing!

Inside the shipping box was a Smart Doll carry bag holding the doll and a separate reusable box for the accessories.

This image shows the arrangement of the doll and reusable box inside the Smart Doll carry bag.  The doll is positioned kneeling to make shipping package as compact as possible.

The doll comes with a sports bra and underwear; and is protected by plastic wrapping and bubble wrap.  The reusable box contains the care guide and the doll’s accessories—including the wig, the telescopic doll stand that comes with the doll, plus any separately purchased apparel or optional parts.

I’m planning to make clothes for her, but to start, I also got her an outfit (SD Post Apocalyptic Uniform), shoes (SD Chelsea Boots – Vinyl Navy Black), and some option parts (SD Option Hand Pack 1 for Girls).

All set to dress her up!  The official website also has a Knowledge Base section, which is a great resource for Smart Doll unboxing-especially helpful for first-time buyers.

Meet Smart Doll Mirai (Anime Style)! Her skin tone is Cinnamon.  For now, she’s just relaxing after her journey—I'm still getting the hang of posing her.

Here’s a closer look at her face-up—oh, I love her so much!

It's way past bedtime, bye for now and thank you for reading! 🌸

Dolls and Crafts: Crochet Over-the-Door Plush Doll Organizer

It's been a while since my last post.  While I truly enjoy sharing my thoughts, projects and hopefully inspiring others, but some important things have to come up with my family that needed my focus.  Things are looking up now, and I'm grateful to be back.  I'm happy to start sharing again.

One of the most meaningful things that happened recently was our visit to our home country- after 12 years.  It was such a special time reconnecting with family and friends, and the experience has left me feeling grounded, inspired and filled of happy memories that I will truly cherish.

During our visit, I took advantage of the opportunity to add to my doll collection since the items there are much more affordable and accessible.  For example, plush doll blind boxes - which I'm sure most people are familiar with.  I picked up a few and am taking it slow, not necessarily aiming to complete the set since there's always a chance of getting duplicates. But to be honest, they're really cute and kind of addictive.  I just need to be mindful of storage because they can quickly become clutter if not planned for.  

I have been debating whether to buy a ready made storage or get creative and make my own. I ended up choosing the latter - I crocheted an over-the-door organizer to both display and neatly store my plush dolls.  The original pattern was actually for a striped blanket, I modified it to size and added pockets. Then adorned it with crocheted buntings decorated with crocheted flowers, leaves, triangles, and butterflies.

(this image was also shared in my Instagram account)

Here are the materials and resources I've used for the project:

• 100% cotton handicraft yarn (Bernat or similar, I preferred 100% cotton for this project since I find it sturdier)
• US H-8 (5.00mm) crochet hook
• plastic hooks
• repurposed wooden hanger for hanging the organizer

References for the patterns (from my favourite books):

• Striped Crochet Blankets by Haafner Linssen - Havana pattern (Please note that I have modified the pattern to the size that will fit the door where I planned to hang the organizer)
• 500 Crochet fun designs & projects for blocks, triangles, circles & hearts by Hannah Elgie & Kath Webber (for the crochet buntings)

All in all, the project was fun to make, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the rest of your week! 💮

Home: Hobby-Craft Area

The past long weekend allowed me to clean and re-organized my hobby-craft area. The furniture and storages are mix of pieces that I re-purposed.  Having the TV serves both as a computer monitor and entertainment helps maximized the small space.  Then I added some live plants and displayed some of my collection for inspiration and joy.  

My hobby-craft area

one way I find useful in keeping doll accessories in good shape and sorted is by re-purposing a photo storage box.

It doesn't need to be fancy or big, but having a space dedicated for hobby allows me to work on activities I find enjoyable - such as crafts, reading, taking photographs of collection like below images.

    

meet MGA Shadow High Doll - Heather Grayson

I took photos of her in my hobby area after giving her some TLC - I washed her hair to remove the creases and factory product, then refreshed her hairstyle.

Thanks and I hope everyone a great weekend 🌸

Home: a place to enjoy the weekend

 I returned at work this week after my Christmas vacation.  I should be feeling energized and excited but somehow I felt exhausted and uninspired.  Although my mind was focused and kept finishing my tasks on time, I was struggling.  I find it too busy.  I am very organized at work but the loads are too much that still I end up rushing just to get things done.  It is the reality but I am fully aware of how work is very important as it also gives oneself a sense of purpose and meaning.  I know for sure that I need to stop feeling this way and do something about it rather than dwell in the negativity.

I remember seeing a poem displayed in my doctor's office.  It's a poem about not giving up.  I took a photo of it because it's a good reminder and I just love appreciating the little things around me.  The line that drew my attention is "...Rest if you must, but Don't You Quit!..."

Plaque of the poem in my doctor's office

Hmm..."...Rest if you must, but Don't You Quit!..."  maybe a good break would help me reset this feeling.  So instead of planning to head outside and be elsewhere this weekend, I decided to stay home.  Sounds not so much fun, but for some reason it allowed me to enjoy the things I love to do... and end up having real fun.

Getting organized... for me, a clean and organized home is always a good place to feel cozy and relaxed.  My family helped me put away the Christmas decorations and clean our home.  I also cleaned my fish tank.

My betta fish is happy in his clean tank

I cooked! Weekdays are always hectic and usually I come home late not giving me enough time to cook.  I find sharing homecooked meals with the family brings warmth and comfort.  So I got into my apron and get cooking.  I made a pasta dish that reminded me of my childhood back home - A Filipino-style baked macaroni. It is similar on how Mac and Cheese is made, the difference is that a sweet savoury meaty sauce is added.  We enjoyed it.

Filipino-style Baked Macaroni

I took care of my plants.  I find caring for plants meditative and relaxing. Plants makes a home cozier by adding a touch of natural beauty.  Seeing plants thrive offers excitement, hope and inspiration - be it a sprout of new leaf or a plant reblooming...

Here are images of my mini orchid.  A month ago it rebloomed with flower buds and now, all are in full bloom.

All these made me happy just by being at home... I feel relaxed too... The negativity is replaced with positivity that will surely make me feel energized and inspired.

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy the weekend as well! 💮

Dolls: LOL Surprise OMG Sketches

 I love dolls from MGA Entertainment since Bratz and recently I got hooked in starting my LOL Surprise OMG doll collection in 2020.

Meet Sketches...  She is an LOL Surprise OMG Core Series 6 fashion doll.  Her distinct style is very artistic that matches her name.  The dolls height is at 10 inches (approximate 25 cm).  According to her box description she is unexpected BFF (best friends forever) with another doll in the same series, Melrose.  At first, I was wondering why unexpected? But then, reading on the official store website made me understand why...

"The latest LOL Surprise OMG fashion dolls are unexpected BFFs, celebrating the differences between friends that make each other stronger. Even though they are different, they both love what they love, and they’re all about being your authentic self no matter who you’re with." - credit: details from the LOL Surprise official store website

Unboxing Sketches... I find her packaging really pretty, but I appreciate my dolls even more when they are outside their boxes which allows me to enjoy taking photos of them.

Overall look of her first outfit and her stand.  The dress is made of soft mesh fabric that have cool details and colourful prints.  Btw, I love the stand, it really functions well with the doll.

Underneath her main dress is another surprise dress that goes well with her plastic jacket, hat, shoes and accessories.

 

A closer look of her face. Her beauty mark is a pink heart under her left eye.  Mine has an extra - an excess paint line near her beauty mark which I think goes well with her theme being artsy.

Her beautiful multi-coloured hair is why I fell in love with her.  I washed her hair to remove the factory hair product to make it softer.  The perm is still good even after washing.

Her eyewear is colour Silver with details at the temples.

She has a chain-style plastic earrings and necklace.  The purse is similar to a spray paint can (reminds me of Krylon spray paint that I used for my scaled model projects back in university).  Her shoes is clear plastic with splashes of paint.

A closer look of her nail polish colour, ring, purse and main dress that has a thumb hole - so cute!

Details of her journal and poster

"3 Rules of Art: 1) Use ALL the colors 2) Make it personal 3) Listen to ur heart, not the critics"

She's a Virgo

Thank you for reading and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!  

Gardening and Recycling

Started gardening a couple of weeks ago and all seems to be growing alright.  I love container gardening as it gives me more freedom to rearrange.  Plus, it also helps me control since some of these are invasive.  

These are all easy care plants.  In the photo above (from top left to right bottom):  Campanula, Red Viola, Hostas, Purple White Violas, Yellow Ice Plant, Coleus, Asiatic Lily 'Tiny Bee', Hot Portugal Peppers & Asiatic Lily 'Red Velvet', Sedum 'Voodoo' and Sweet Woodruff

Then last weekend, I did a quick fix project.  Instead of discarding my old birdhouse, I decided to repair, clean and repaint it.  I also decorated it with collected miniatures.  It's a good thing to recycle.

This time, I will just place it inside the house together with my indoor plants.

Happy Weekend!

Catching up

It's been a long time since I got the chance to update my blog.  I was going over my posts and the last time I did was in 2014...  Life has been very busy and challenging at times, but I would say, all good.  I was able to enjoy my hobbies from time to time but didn't have the energy to write.  While being encouraged to stay home because of the pandemic, my thoughts is just to remain positive and find ways to be productive.  From here, I wish everyone are staying safe and healthy... 

Before I go, I would like to share a photo of Quinn where I practised working on a combination of waterfall and standard braid hairstyle.

Quinn (ADG Blythe Doll Pretty Paisley)

Have a good weekend and take care!