Peak's Woods Design Competition

I thought I'd share my design entry with you. One of the original sculpts, Viyol, from ten years ago. Isn't she lovely? Fr more information about this contest, visit Peak's Woods today!

Why you need an ultra-fine black marker in your supply box

As most of my readers know, I welcome questions, comments and suggestions on this blog, and I have a new one to address today, thanks to new reader Barb. It is, technically, a correction to the book.

On page 56 of my book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners, I recommend adding an ultra-fine tipped black water-soluble marker to your supply list for new BJD owners. As you read through my tips and techniques, you may have noticed I neglect to mention how exactly this marker comes in handy.

I use a brush marker tip to correct fine mistakes. Here are a few ways in which this tool comes in handy.

Eyelash repair or replacement


Generally, I recommend a clear-drying craft glue when replacing doll eyelashes. Occasionally, even the "experts" among us will get a small glob of glue that doesn't quite dry all the way clear. In this case, the brush tip of the black marker will help cover those globs (once they have dried 24 hours) to blend them in to the rest of the eye. Simply dap just the tip of the brush marker to the glob of glue (I use reading glasses or a magnifying glass, while resting my hand on the table for steadiness), and allow the glue to absorb the color.

Light eyeliner repair


When working around a doll's head, I recommend using wooden tools, such as toothpicks or a rounded cuticle stick, when doing fine work such as eyelash repair. I have been known (as officially the clumsiest "expert" in the world) to accidentally ding a doll's eyeliner when replacing a doll's head, if I'm not paying attention or if it's in the middle of the night. If you accidentally do this with hemostats, even lightly, you risk removing the eyeliner or painted eyelashes.

The black water-soluble marker comes in handy for these tiny repairs. I only use mine for eyeliner, since I don't feel steady enough to touch up the delicate painted eyelashes. I recommend practicing on paper first.

Damage can usually be avoided by:

• working during times when you are fully awake and alert
• using a pipe cleaner to grasp the doll's S-hook when reattaching the head to the body, as shown in the book
• using only wooden implements around your doll's face, and very gentle movements
• not picking at your doll's face-up with your (painted) fingernails

Why I don't recommend Sharpies

While Sharpie markers come in many forms and sizes and are readily available, I recommend staying away from this type of marker for several reasons:

• These are permanent markers. You can't fix mistakes. Once it's there, it's there.
• The ink can bleed deep into the resin, as resin is porous. Even a think line can get larger and thicker over time.
• On most resin, there is no way to remove Sharpie. Even heavy sanding will not remove the permanent marker from resin. And sanding will ruin your face sculpt. Just don't risk it.

I hope you find this helpful. As always, I welcome your questions and comments!

Lovely Peak's Woods for sale!

This post is from Melissa, from our other blog. Contact her at the email below!

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I drive a Mini Cooper.

It should be assumed that as a direct result of the type of car I drive, I tend to drive on the more speedy end of the spectrum.

I got a speeding ticket this morning, and I need to find a way to pay for it. Sadly, the first thing that came to mind were my precious Peak's Woods girls.

So, if you are in the market for some lovely BJDs, here is your chance to get two stunning beauties at a great price. Through FDR, I am asking $500 for each.

Goldie:

Yami:

Each of these lovely ladies will come with a random wig and random pair of eyes. They need your love...and I need your money!

My New Year's Resolution - Stop Speeding!!!

If you are interested in either of these girls, please shoot me a message at melissa.metheney@gmail.com

Birthdays and the like!

Lati Yellow Bayer Alice full-set with kitty, my birthday present!

I'm 39 today (really, it's my first 39th birthday), and I have plans for 2012.

First, this will be the year of conventions. I'm very excited to say I'm already planning on attending some this year. If you haven't already registered for the IFDC, and while it's primarily a fashion doll convention, I will be teaching a seminar called Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners. Ms. Cholong of Boutique Doll (US Dollheart and Ruby Red Galleria rep) has ever so graciously agreed to provide some surprises for the seminar, and I'll be having some there, too. Please join me if you can.

Second, I'm going through my doll collections again. I'm hoping to piece together an article later today (or this week) about how I'd like my collection to refocus later today, but because it's mostly changing on the fashion doll side, I might be posting over at the Fashion Doll Review. 

Third, I'm planning a project in a brand new format. It's about 80% complete. I'm hoping to make it multi-platform, so it will be accessible to most (if not all) of you. I'm still working on that part. It's a fun project--not really educational--more "artsy," if I dare use the term--and I'm planning on a launch date in the middle of February.

Finally, my second BJD-related book has a name: The BJD Enthusiast. Is there anything you'd like to see in it, specifically? I welcome your comments, particularly if you think the Beginners book was lacking in an area. This is not a revision--it will be all new material, including professional, step by step face-up instructions, which are fabulous!

I can't wait for another new year, and I hope to be posting more frequently to this blog!

More Peak's Woods News...

Just a little bit, in the company's image on the home page, seen above (property of Peak's Woods of course!):

PW Monthly Fairy, the Fairy of the Sun, ShuShu will be given as a thank you gift

To me, a name and a theme is exciting!

Peak's Woods design contest and updates

There is a new design contest from Peak's Woods! This is the notice from the news board:

Hi, this is Peak's Woods.
We'd be happy to let everyone know that it's our 10th anniversary.
We are certainly sure that we could never made it here today without your love and interest.
For that reason we do thank you all for your great love and support towards us and
therefore we PW promise full of surprises and events to make your 2012 even more special.
Here comes the first event.
We PW are holding a PW Design Contest.
This design will be used for a mug cup that will be given to the customers as a thank you gift.
And it will also be on the PW staff T-shirt for all the domestic and international doll conventions.
Here are the details regarding the design.
*Design must be sent in JPEG format, 600 pixcels for printing.
*There is no limit in color.
*Design should include 'peakswoods.com'.
*Design should be sent to our Photo Gallery directly or email it to us
at "cjsdnjswkd74@hanmail.net"
*The winning images will be the property of PW.
*Grand prize : Any PW doll the winner selects
Prize for Fun idea
Prize for great idea
Prize for creative idea : Three winners above will be given PW monthly fairy(there will
be a notice regarding it soon)
*Contest Entering Period : Jan. 10 ~ Jan. 25
We are looking forward to many fun and brilliant ideas of yours.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
And remember this following event is for all the PW fans and fellows.
So please don't hesitate to enter and have fun with us.
We wish you all a grand new year~~~!!!

Also, the three Fairy of Fairytales heads form the limited edition Alice in Wickedland collection are now available as basic. The heads are $100 each, and $60 additional for a face up. The dolls are $252 blank, normal or white skin, with boy or girl bodies, and you can add $60 for a face up, $25 for blank rabbit ears ($30 with blushing), $20 for blank cat ears ($25 with blushing).

By the way, you all did notice "monthly fairy" in there, didn't you??

Happy New Year!

Super Lavin (Peak's Woods Lavin on a Soom SuperGem body, Volks gown), a photo by alington on Flickr.

Wishing you the best this new year!

Do you have any doll-related new year's resolutions this year? I'd love to hear them.

I have a few:

• Go through my doll collection and organize, sort through, concentrate on the dolls I really love, rather than kind of like. For me, that means a lot of selling and trading.
• Rebody a few of my Peak's Woods dolls into new and different bodies. I'd love to get a white skin DollChateau body for a white skin girl I have!
• Add some more YoSD and MSD girls to my collection--using the money I have from sales (or trades).
• Finish another book!

Ambitious, no?