An Apology and A Reason

First, I want to apologize to all my followers out there.  I know I’ve been incommunicado for quite some time.  I have a reason.

About a month ago, I found out that the disc in my lower back that was causing me an increasing amount of pain had herniated.  Also, the disc right above it is bulging.  Due to work responsibilities, I am unable to have surgery until November.  Needless to say, I’m in quite a bit of pain and some days, it’s an effort to walk or just function.  To top it off, the pain seems to increase on an almost daily basis.

In an effort to combat this pain, I am in physical therapy three days a week.  While it seems to help some, today, as I am typing this, I’m propped on the sofa with a heating pad on my back and pain radiating to my knees and down to my left foot.

Since pain and work seem to consume my days, I’ve lost all interest in almost everything.  It’s a temporary condition (the pain has caused my bi-polar disorder to flair up too) I’m assured, but one that is frustrating none-the-less. 

To top this off, work has gotten increasingly stressful, along with my personal life.  Louisiana is in a budget crisis, and I work in higher education which is once again facing massive budget cuts.  I’m looking at having to run a department on quite possibly a smaller budget than I have had in almost 10 years!  Also, my mother-in-law whom I love dearly is driving me nuts because she isn’t working and is suffering from depression and self-induced problems (she wants to move in with us & she’s in her early 60’s!), and we have the cute new puppy at home that is stressful in and of itself.

My psychiatrist is adjusting my medicine accordingly and I’m in therapy to learn how to cope with all this too.  They are the ones that assured me this disinterest  is temporary and are helping me to less the effects the chronic pain & stress have caused. 

So, between physical therapy, a psychiatrist, a therapist, and support from my family, I hope to be able to handle the pain until I can have surgery in November.  In fact, it’s scheduled for November 5th.  Yes, I’m counting the weeks LOL!

During the 6-8 week recovery, I hope to begin crafting, creating, and blogging all the time again.  I really do enjoy this.

In closing, please bear with me.  I have lots to show you when I’m up to it (I’ve won a few on-line auctions and got some neat stuff before losing interest) and still have a ton of things I wish to accomplish when life stops throwing me curve balls.

Until later……………………..

It’s Been a While!

Hi everyone!  It’s been a bit since I’ve blogged, other than the about our new beagle (who at the moment is raising a ruckus because he is in his pen outside instead of inside with us).  For enquiring minds, he is doing just fine and is totally spoilt rotten. 
Okay, I wanted to share a few finds with you that will eventually end up on one of my Etsy sites.  Also, I hope to get some crocheted items up (supplies as I didn’t crochet them) for those of you that may have an interest in baby dolls.  Yes, these should fit (they are 11” shoulder to shoulder) and well made.  They may be vintage, but I’m unsure as to the age.
Okay, here we go (I’ll probably put these up on my other blog Epoch Junktique in a couple of days – you can ALWAYS contact me if interested in anything you see, either here or on the other blog).
Victorian sterling silver & glass cruet set:
This is complete and unbroken!  A rare find nowadays.  I’ll probably list it around $175.  Is awesomely gorgeous!
Junior Monarch Numbering System – has the numbering system too!

 
Only problem with this is the crank handle has been broken off, but I believe it can be fixed.  Just look at all the numbering punches there!  I’ll probably put a price around $75 or so on it.  I’m still pinching myself over this one.  Very rare find (for me at least).
Crocheted Baby/Doll Clothes:

Aren’t these just adorable?  Again, they measure 11” shoulder to shoulder and will probably price them around $10 per set.  VERY well made sets.  Some come with the hat and booties, others with a top, bottom, hat, and booties.
On a sad note, UPS screwed up and lost part of a shipment!  I had to file a claim but the items they lost are irreplaceable!  Old cabinet photos, old model airplane kits that were to be a gift to my brother, an old jade and wire tree I was salivating over, a vintage silk kimono, some old WWII memorabilia, and the list goes on.  The seller and myself are just absolutely sick over it. Apparently, the tape at the bottom must have gotten wet or something and pulled away from the box.  They retaped it, but by then the damage was done.  No telling who had my items now, but I hope they enjoy them like I would have!
Well, puppy lunch time.  Off I go!
If you are into miniature dolls, please don’t forget to check out the new link on my sidebar.  The MiniDollList.com is having a Camelot Court event.  It’s going to be awesome!
Until Later…………………………..

It’s Been a Busy Month

Sorry everyone that I’ve been missing this past month.  It’s been busy.  Work, son’s baseball, and now, a new addition to the family.  Nope, not a baby, LOL, as I’m not having any more kids, but a new puppy!

Let me introduce my son’s new beagle pup, named Mojeaux!  For all of you not from South Louisiana, it’s pronounced “mojo”.

Isn’t he cute?  He’s a Lemon Spotted Beagle.  My son wants to train him to be a rabbit dog, but as things are looking, he’s going to be a lap dog!  In two days he has been kennel-trained, though since he is only 7 weeks old, the house-training is ongoing.  When Mojeaux gets sleepy, all you have to do is say, Go to Bed, and he goes and curls up in his kennel!

So, it’s like having a baby.  Regular feedings, “mistake” cleanups, getting up twice a night (though that is son’s job right now), playing constantly, it’s all that. 

Now, I do have a LOT of auction finds to share with you, a miniature supply swap I was involved in (lots of goodies there), and just things in general, but will do that (hopefully) when I am on vacation next week.  Of course, son leaves to go visit relatives for two weeks, so I will have puppy duty to share with hubby. 

Maybe I can also get some crafting in – currently, I’m working on some miniature flowers, a dollhouse, a miniature “wicker” coffee table, and a couple other mini things as I can find the time.  I need to get some RL sized stuff created, my selling blog and my Etsy stores updated, plus I need a pair of round nose and chain nose pliers so I can get some jewelry made (got a few ideas in mind, though all I’ve ever made before are anklets).  Not enough time nor money in the day to do everything.  Sigh.

Until later…………………………..

A Few Finds of Late

As I think I’ve mentioned, I’ve discovered On-Line LIVE auctions.  Here are a few of my wins as of late:

Vintage Pins – LOVE the White Dragonfly

Box of Vintage Dollies

Vintage Hollywood Ephemera of Grace George

And of Gladys George

Two French Cartoon magazines from 1907 – a little rough, put HEY, they are FRENCH and from 1907!!!

Of course, couldn’t pass up these fab synthetic pearls. What girl could?

There is MUCH more!  Talk about blew my budget, but with such goodies out there (and several Etsy shops and a selling blog to stock) what’s a junkin’ girl to do?????  Though I am staying away from the auctions this month.  Hubby is taking me junkin’ in New Orleans toward the end of the month and I want to make sure I have the funds available to enjoy myself.

I’ll be sharing more with you in the future. 

Until Later………………………..

Smiles~

Up For A Name Change?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away………………

EEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!

NO, wait a minute, this isn’t Star Wars!  This is my blog and I needed an update.   A blogland blogger name update that is.

Way back when I first started blogging, I was primarily hooked on dolls of any shape or size, as long as they were teenagers or older.  I’m not fond of baby or toddler dolls.  So, I gave myself the name of The Lone Dollier.  Being one of the very few people left within a 200 mile radius of me that was creating/costuming dolls (not counting reborns-ugh-sorry personal preference type thing I guess), I felt very alone.  Also, I was new to the blogging community and didn’t realize it helps to have uniformity.

Now, I have expanded my horizons and I not only costume miniature dolls, I also go junkin’, collect paper ephemera, love anything vintage, create altered tags, and work with miniatures of all types.  If you’ve noticed, I’ve even added a little tag line under the main name of my blog to reflect my expanding vision.

So, I’m thinking about a name change.  In two other arenas, I go by Tarnished Rose.  That’s my “professional” name if you will.  I’m just kind of melding my Etsy shop name, my Twitter name, and possibly my Facebook page all together with my blogger name.   I am now Tarnished Rose in blogland.  I now have a name that better fits my likes; things that are tarnished, not new, but still have that beauty to it, things like dolls that I make that may not be your typical “pretty” dolls, but have their own beauty, altered tags that are slightly grungy, you get my drift.

For now, I’ll keep the name of my blog the same.  Dolls, Etc., covers a LOT of ground and I do hope to get back to focusing more on dolls.  Now that I have a NEW AIR CONDITIONER in my studio!!! YIPPEEE! 

Now my studio is nice and cool once more!

 

 

 

Until Later……………………………

Smiles~

And The Winner of the Cavallini Stamps Is:

Okay, so I read through each entry (yep, sure did and thank you all!), printed them out, and assigned a number to each one.  In all, there were 79 entries (some people forgot to post a separate comment for posting on their blog).  I checked, double-checked, TRIPLE-CHECKED (as I wanted to be fair and correct) entered the numbers Into Random.Org and DRUM ROLL PLEASE
True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 79 Result: 48 Powered by RANDOM.ORG
The winner is:  LIZ – all the way in Indonesia!  WOW, don’t think I’ve ever mailed anything there.  Cool!  LIZ, I will be emailing you privately to get your mailing address.
You can visit LIZ at her blog, http://www.pintaliztiirene.blogspot.com/.  If I’m understanding her correctly, she just passed a big test and deserves a round of applause. 
THANK YOU all for entering this giveaway.  I had an awesome turnout, acquired a bunch of new followers, and got even closer to the next giveaway, which I will hold when I hit 200 Followers!  I’m sorry the drawing took so long, I have been so busy with my son’s All Star team that I finally had to take a break at work and do this before you all rioted on me!
Stay tuned, I have a TON of great finds from some estate sales and on-line auctions share with you.  Also, don’t forget, I have a second blog where I offer items for sale before I list them on my Etsy sites (which are also on a page of the blog).  The name of the blog is Epoch Junktique and I have some old toys and board games up for sale right now along with some of my altered tags.
Until Later…………
Smiles~

Bloggerette Sorority

Okay, I’m a baddddd Rusher.  I didn’t post my creation (thank you Zandra for reminding me)!  Sorry, life (aka son’s baseball team) got in the way.  BUT!!!!  I did get my project done.  I completed an altered tag.

 

I used a combination of Distress Inks, Vintage lace, Gauze, a “dirtied” silk rose, a Transfer of the photo we were to use (I have a secret potion that work great), and a Resin rectangle with “Dream”.  

Oh!  A picture of me.  AHHHH, ahem, cough cough,

I had to take one with the camera on my laptop.  AHEM, ummmm, I kept getting a glare on my glasses so they are on my nose. LOL 

Enjoy (tee hee)

Until Later………………………