Renaming My Blog

In my last post, I mentioned that I might just delete this blog.  But, I really don't want to do that.  I have been thinking about where I want this blog to go, and I don't want to limit it to just one thing, such as knitting or crocheting.  I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I want to without thinking that it's a certain type of blog and I really need to be talking about what it's about.  So, for awhile at least, I'm going to just talk about whatever the heck I want to talk about and not worry about it.


I recently read about a lady from Tasmania who takes used Bratz dolls, erases their faces and repaints them so that they are more little girl friendly.  The idea behind this is that the Bratz dolls are very sexualized and just give girls an image to aspire to that is not really for little girls.  So, this lady takes used Bratz dolls that she has bought at thrift stores and repaints their faces and they look so much better.  The name of the Facebook page is Tree Change Dolls.  When I first saw this and what this lady is doing I was very intrigued.  She has been very generous in telling others how she does what she does, even posting some DIY videos on Youtube.  There is also the original video telling all about what she is doing.


After reading all about this, I was very intrigued and as with almost any artistic thing I see that intrigues me, I wonder if I can do it myself.  So, I decided to go to my local thrift store and see if I could find some used Bratz dolls.  I couldn't believe  my luck.  I found about 10 dolls total for about .50 each.  They didn't have clothes, but that didn't matter because I had planned on making more modest clothes for my dolls, just like Sonia did for hers.  I can knit and crochet and can sew a little, so I managed to create a little knitted sweater and some pants and a skirt for my dolls.  The hair on some of the dolls I found was in great shape, but a few of them it was matted terribly.  In that case, I just tried to comb it out and what was unmanageable, I just cut it and tried to style it.  Here are a few pictures of my dolls.

I forgot to take before pictures of the first Bratz dolls that I repainted, but I do have one before and after pictures that I took.

I have really enjoyed this project.  I have not repainted any more at this time, but I hope to in the near future.

Writing Poems About People

I've been toying around with the idea of just deleting this blog because I can't seem to keep it up and I wasn't sure that all that many people are reading it.  I saw in my stats, that I have had 821 views.  Not recently, I don't think, but over time.  That made me feel better.  So I think, for a little while, that I'll keep it up and see how it goes.  If it looks like I have a lot of people reading it or viewing it, then I'll continue it, if not, then I'll just delete it.


I had another blog that I've had for about 10 years or more.  It was a knitting blog.  I crochet and knit and do lots of sewing kinds of things, but I didn't keep that up very well either.  I don't know why I can't seem to write here every few days at least.  I guess I feel like I need to have something really interesting or profound to say like other blogs have.  I've seen some really awesome blogs.  Wonderful photos, great content.  I think I might be just a little intimidated, thinking that my blog will never be as interesting as the other ones.  But, I think I'm not going to worry about that any more.


I get lots of emails every day and I get emails from some writing websites.  Today, I received a really interesting one from Creative Writing Now.  The subject like was "Writing Poems About People."  That title really intrigues me.  Here is part of the content of that email:


 If you're looking for poetry ideas, try writing a
> poem that paints a portrait of another person.
>
> In "The Bean Eaters", Gwendolyn Brooks paints
> a portrait of a couple by showing their habits and their
> home:
>
> -------
> THE BEAN EATERS
>
> by Gwendolyn Brooks
>
> They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair.
>  
> Dinner is a casual affair.
> Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood,
>  
> Tin flatware.
>
> Two who are Mostly Good.
> Two who have lived their day,
> But keep on putting on their clothes  
> And putting things away.
>
> And remembering ...
> Remembering, with twinklings and twinges,
> As they lean over the beans in their rented back room
> that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
> tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.
> -------
>
> In the next poem, Brooks portrays a group of young men,
> using their voices to express who they are:
>
> -------
> THE POOL PLAYERS.
> SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.
>
> by Gwendolyn Brooks
>
> We real cool. We
> Left school. We
>
> Lurk late. We
> Strike straight. We
>
> Sing sin. We
> Thin gin. We
>
> Jazz June. We
> Die soon.
> -------
>
> The next poem, by Adrienne Rich, describes a woman
> embroidering in a way that gives an idea of the woman's
> whole life:
>
> -------
> AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS
>
> by Adrienne Rich
>
> Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a
> screen,
> Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
> They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
> They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
>
> Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her
> wool
> Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
> The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
> Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.
>
> When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
> Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
> The tigers in the panel that she made
> Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
> -------
>
> You could write a poem about someone you know, or about
> a famous or historical figure.  Or you might invent a
> story about someone you see in the street.
>
> Think about...
>
> - what details capture something essential about the
> person you're portraying (the way Rich's description
> of Aunt Jennifer's hands suggest a larger
> picture).
>
> - what activity you should show the person engaged in
> (the way these poets show their subjects eating beans,
> playing pool, and embroidering).
>
> - what setting you should use as the background of your
> poem (e.g., a rental apartment or a pool hall).
>
> You can write the poem in your own voice, or try
> writing it in the voice of the person you're
> portraying.
>


I think this is a really good idea and a great way to get some ideas for poems.  I think I might try it.