The best laid plans...

O.K.  So I'm back on this blog again today.  Wow, two days in a row!  Amazing!  I have to admit that this blog is part of a plan to better organize my doll collecting.  A few times a year I get it in me to put structure around my hobby so I feel like I'm putting the most into it for all the money I've "invested" in my collection.  Truthfully, its just another round-about way to justify my doll purchases. So here is the latest plan:

• Schedule regular updates of my previously abandoned blogs/journals:  "My Doll Diary", "B's Blog", and "Tiny Kitty's Doll Journal"
• Schedule regular clothing changes for my favorite dolls (daily, weekly, monthly, etc)
• Schedule regular display appearances for dolls which have been stored away.

Not listed in the above, but ever present in the plan are regular updates to my doll websites.  A few months ago I planned to update at least a page a day on my website.  For a couple of weeks, I did really well, then I just found myself too tired after work to keep up.  I need to get back to that.  A page a day may not seem like much at all, but truthfully on average a page takes approximate 30 to 45 minutes to complete, not counting the time previously taken to photograph the dolls.  That's alot of time for a single page!  I don't think people realize how much work goes into it.  Here is the list of the common things that need to be done:

• Find and select all photos for the page.  Usually includes company produced stock photos as well as photos I've taken of my own dolls.
• Resize photos for the website.  Normal digital camera photos are way too large.
• Copy photos to the Frontpage website folders.
• Upload photos to the webserver.
• Find an existing page on my site to use as a template.
• Enter filenames for all the pictures.
• Enter any additional text descriptions on the page.
• Preview page and make adjustments.

Phew!  I'm tired just thinking about it! 

Well, that's enough about the logical and technical details for this hobby of mine.  I promise that my future posts will be more fun and will include photos of my dolls and thoughts about doll things that I have seen or want.

Until tomorrow....

Maria

Finally back again!

Wow!  I can't believe that its been almost 5 years since I posted to this blog!  Not that I really posted much when I started it, but I did have good intentions.

It would be difficult to give a detailed update on the past 5 years.  Instead, I'll post a quick summary. 

Yes, I am still a doll collector.  That fact definitely hasn't changed.

I'm also pleased to report that I did eventually locate the elusive doll pattern listed in my last post.  Did I make the outfits in the pattern?  Well, not exactly.  I did start making the bridal gown, but I never finished.  The pattern is now locked in a fireproof safe in my house.  Also, I can now see why previous owners never made a copy.  It was printed on a large sheet of paper which was folded.  Similar to instructions found in sewing patterns. Very difficult to duplicate on 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper.

Other than that, I'm still buying new dolls and trying to track both the old and new ones on my website.  Of course, I'm still way behind with my updates, but I'm trying.

Anyway, I'm back on this blog now and my plan is to continue with my daily doll collecting thoughts.  Most of you will probably find them pretty boring, but there might be some gems of information that will help fellow collectors. 

Lets hope I keep up with this.  Wish me luck!

Maria