La Tora's make over

Years and years ago (translation: 3 or 4 years ago) I purchased a Blythe clone doll, Basaak, for my daughter.  She was young, too young for a Blythe.  She ended up with 3 customized Basaak dolls.  La Tora is the youngest of the group which I purchased through Blythe Kingdom.

After many years of play La Tora was in bad need of a re-make over and hair treatment.

Left, "quitting while I'm ahead" philtrum, Right, "okay, let's try it" philtrum

I was not overly adventurous with carving.  I am still not overly confident in it.  I took a chance in carving her a more defined nose, philtrum, and lips.  As bizarre as it sounds, I observe the philtrum in actresses and "real life" people to demystify a feature I never thought about prior to Blythe.

Before photos:

After photos:

I kept the make up design basically the same.  The heart was upon request this time.  I couldn't get eye lashes back in to the slot this time.  La Tora got a new body also- an Icy body.

Factory vs. TBL

I know there are a million opinions and tons of information out there about Factory Blythe and TBL* Blythe.

Some call both Factory and TBL dolls clones.  Some feel that Factory are truly factory seconds and not fakes.  TBL are supposedly straight up fakes/clones*.

I have what are know as Factory dolls before and everything was interchangeable with Takara released Blythes.  I recently bought a doll that I feel is a TBL.

My observations:

Bigger eye chip sockets
Nose abnormalities
Larger eye holes
Better hair quality
Softer faceplate plastic
Poorer body

The eye chips did not fit Takara released Blythe! I tried RBL (Nicki Lad) and RBL+ (Mandy Cotton Candy).  This was a huge disappointment. Fortunately, I learned before buying any additional ones from Etsy that are possible TBLs leftovers after someone's custom projects.

I could not pin point the nose.  It was not a RBL and definitely not a SBL.  It was somewhere between FBL and RBL+, but even then there were details that were wrong.  I only snapped pics with RBL before starting to carve.

I have in the past had to carve out eye holes to allow additional space for decorative eyelids.  I didn't with this doll.  I see more of her eye mech at the bottom than normal.

The hair quality is really pretty amazing.  The scalps is thick with really soft saran/nylon/whatever [I am unsure of the difference].  The rooting job, the part line in particular, is different from Takara releases.   It isn't due to the declining quality of Takara releases, or the odd new bang/fringe style.  The part line goes farther back on the head and isn't quite as neatly finished at the end.

I am not good at carving.  I am easily frustrated.  I could not believe how easy the plastic carved.  It was like plastic butter.  At times I thought I over carved it was so easy.

The body is awful.  It is hot in my region.  I thought the heat made the leg plastic soft, but it never firmed up.  The hips are loose and seem to fan out at the top unlike other models of Blythe.  Also, the body and face do not match.

I wish now I would have taken more photographs, but I was anxious to start my project.  Here is some progress photos:

Final

I had planned to root a mohair scalp in natural white/blonde; however, I lost interest.  Her scalp looks decent with the face up and I might add other colors into it eventually.  I think she is missing an element on her face.  I will probably add a beauty mark around her left eye (my right).

*Taobao Blythe, coined by Dr. Blythenstein after the site purchased from, I think. 

*Clone can be interchangeable for fake.

How to make Sleepy Eyes for Blythe

Just a little quick how to bit for Sleepy Eyes.  This morning a friend on Ravelry asked some questions about how to make sleepy Eyes for Blythe or Icy.  As far as I know this is the same for all face molds:  BL, EBL, SBL, RBL, FBL; as well as, Icy dolls and clones.

First, what are sleepy eyes? Sleepy eyes is when the doll has 2 pull cords: one for opening the eyes and one for closing and changing the eyes.  **I did recently read that if you leave your doll asleep too long it can warp the eye mech.**  Nothing extra has to be purchased or anything.

This is the method that requires your doll's head to be open.  There are other tutorials out there that does not require opening.

Photo 1-

Pay attention where the pull cord is located once you open your doll's head.  That is where one of the cord will need to go again.  The second one goes in place of the spring.  I, personally, remove the spring.

Photo 2-

Once the new cords are attached on the inside, one cord comes out of the original hole and one comes out where the spring used to hang.  

I think some people have both chords come out the original hole.  This is your preference. 

I use 1/8th inch ribbon as my pull cords.  I have never had one break.  A tip to get it through the eye mech hole- Cut the ribbon at a sharp angle and then melt it, at an angle, with a cigarette lighter.  Then used a pin to poke it on through the hole.  Doing this also helps when thread beads onto the ribbon.

Also, be sure to use long ribbon and trim it later!

** I assume no responsibility in the outcome of this tutorial.  If you use this as a guide, you do it at your own risk, or your dolls risk.** 

Sally's Patched Dress

Shoot! My photo is out of focus! 

This is Sally's first dress.

Eek, I am starkers!

I touched up areas on Sally using a Q-Tip.  It went well!  The ink is still drying on her stitches in this photo.

I am hoping to have her completely stitched up soon.  

Sally has been a slow project with painting and drawing. 

Pansy is saying good bye

For awhile now Pansy, Takara EBL Fruit Punch, has been unhappy here.  She is cute but I am feel less content with her.  Plus, I am feeling my Blythe family is getting out of hand.

I found a trade offer on Blythe Kingdom about a custom work for a trade of an EBL doll.  I jumped on it. I am sending Fleur, Simply Vanilla, on a spa vacation to China Lilly in Australia.  She will return home with face up, new lashes, 4 new eye chips (2 Brain Worm and 2 hand painted), custom pull cords and lip carving.

I am super happy with the trade.

Good bye, Pansy!

New addition!!

I got a middie!  She is super cute here is some photos:

Size comparison, Angelica Eve, Macaroon Q Tea Party, and Kitchen Queen.

She is perpetually sad looking.

Clothing by me.  I used the Puchi Collective patterns at a smaller ratio.

The poor girl doesn't have a name yet. 

I also purchased/traded a SBL Skate Date from a friend.  I am contemplating lip carving and other customizations.  

I am ordering Hujoo Pastels to use on my Hujoo Wawa. My pastel are just not working.  I am hoping to use them on my Skate Date also.  

Hopefully, finished photos of Sally will be coming up! I need to get her finished before starting any other projects.

Sally has stitches

Sally is starting to look like a rag doll.  This weekend I have had many opportunities to work on her.

Mab Graves necklace

She has received her final paint and I am beginning to draw on her stitches.  The good news is that they are drying and not smearing.

Face plate, socks, necklace and boots

Boots are Ruby Red Gallery.

Socks are made by me.

The body stitches are "organic" looking- a nice way of saying very sloppy.  But, overall I think that is okay.  I am not bothered by them.

Her wardrobe is growing little by little. Now she has socks to go with her boots and necklace.

The face plate is finished also!

Progress Report on Sally

Things have improved since my last update on my Sally the Rag Doll.

I scrubbed and cleaned off the majority of the Valspar paint and have successfully repainted her with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor.

My poor Sally is looking like the Black Dahlia in this photo.

I tried painting her lips last night and decided to give the face plate and body a fine sanding before attempting again.  I really don't like the glossy paint, but had no other option!

A friend of mine, who is a paper maker, is looking into some nice thick handmade artist paper.  All of my paper from my art student days have too much tooth.  I am needing nice smooth, stark white paper for the custom eyes.

I am really happy to see this project starting to come together.  Once my nylon hair came in I started preparing for the knot method of rooting all I was waiting on was the scalp.  Last night I determined it was dry enough so I started on the hair part with the strands.  Now I am sewing wefting on the bulk of the head. I nearly have been late to work twice because of the hair!

Coming soon are photos of my completed Nicki Manaj custom. Or, re-custom! One of my black Blythes now has a Nicki Manaj face up with a perfect pink wig!

ICY Doll

I purchased another so called Blythe Clone.  I guess what makes her a clone is the pull chord system.  I am not sure the reasoning.

She is an Icy Doll.

Whatever the case, I am pretty pleased with her.  I took some photographs to share with my Ravelry friends and I am going to add them here, also.

Photos with her goodies: Dress with arm pieces, shoes, necklace, earrings, purse, and purple dress.  A stand is included not pictured. The pull chord piece is plastic and says her name, Angela.

These eye chips are a nice purple color. Her lip color has a glittery appearance.

These chips are an ice blue.

Something unfortunately is that the stock clothing bled onto her arms.  This happened only on the arms.

Her box has wine bottles and glasses! I find this really funny!

On the box product materials is listed in English.

I read accounts of other Icy Doll's hair being thin. I do not find that this doll in particular.  Her hair is thicker than my Simply Mango and Guava Blythe dolls.  

Some other interesting facts I found on Flickr: 

Scalp system is similar to RBLs

Arms similar to Liccas (my biggest complaint, more in a second)

Legs is the 3 click system like Blythes in general.


The arms seem to be the weakest part of this doll.  I think if I try to shape them too often the wire inside could potential break through the plastic. I do not know how this compares to Liccas.

I will get some photos of this lovely lady soon in clothing.  I am renaming her also.  Angela just doesn't fit her.