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This is the time of year, I really dislike blogging, reading blogs, social media...and even TV, especially the commercials.
We are bombarded from all directions on the topics of: The NEW YOU, Diet in 2023, NEW Me in 2023, Clean, Organize-which I describe as discombobulize your life, yourself, your home---apparently everything needs to be redone, cleansed,---replaced---- and circumspect viewed under a microscope!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
I do have to admit---I simply take January off----off of everything, no resolutions, no new plans, just give myself some time to SPACE OUT! However---when you can't walk safely in your craft room and can no longer PLAY, it IS time to clean.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
No major changes, just tryed to get it back to USEABLE so the discombobulated tour begins here.
This corner holds the desk where I have the storefront to Vickie's and Trish's Garden Center---which is currently under construction which I will finish this week for their Grand RE-Opening after the drama last fall. Below this table are 4 huge bins of furniture, miscellaneous garden stuff, 6 vehicles and 3-4 fold out houses? Not even sure---did not pull all this stuff out!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Above this table is my Guy storage, paint sets, clay and sorted boxes of Beauty, Kiddies, Medical/Vet, Sports, and Ken stuff. I didn't even straighten this area, but SHOULD, it's on the list!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
This area really is the work area. The wet sink, is no longer wet. The pump we used for the drain is DEFLUNKED and is totally KAPUT! This involves 10 feet of pipe full of water before we can get to this. SO, I just walk 60 feet to the other end of the basement
to clean a brush!
The cord you see in the foreground, is from the ceiling and one of my clip lights. The set up on the right was a spontaneous doll shoot!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
I'm trying something new and stacking my girls with their hair hanging over. Honestly storing dolls for using and not just standing around in a gown--is a pain. Once the shop's all clean and I can get back into the stories---half of these will be placed in their habitats, and I'm going to figure out a better way to keep them not messed up.
My storage on the work desk here is organized not esthetically, but for usability.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
The tier tray on the left is for bits and bobs...and has ribbons at the top. The wall is full of stencils, pegs, and tool storage. Markers are in bins on the desk. The mini tip-out organizational boxes on the right are wonderful and hold all the small bits. On the right, pegs hold all my tapes, stickums, glues, small rolls of stuff in plastic bags. New packaging items are at the back with opened in the front. I go through miles of this in a year.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
My work surface is actually a piece of foam core covered in Contact paper, fixed to the desk. Under this surface I have my cutting board which just slides out to place on top when needed.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
The white tab is the handle to push or pull it out.
Under this table are more dolls, and specific collections of 'rooms/homes' for pop-up dioramas, power tools, tool box, paints/Glues, and all my plastic bits in a bin.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
This is my hardworking small shelf and is full of Papers/stickers/felt/washi tape collection. Most of which I buy in thrift stores, $$Store or on super %%% off sales. The round bin on the floor holds rolled contact papers, and vinyl stickum type products. I found some Grass like WIDE wrapping paper to use for outdoor scenes--SCORE!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
To the left are the drawers with Vickie's Vintage on top. It's almost time to spruce up the shop for Valentines Days, but Vickie's won't be open until Feb. 1....so I have a little time!
It's too early in Chicagoland for Spring clothes...that I will have to hold off for a bit.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Underneath Vickie's are 3 big actually organized Drawers! I did a good sort out last Spring, and it held pretty well for the year!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Anything you might need for running a vintage shop is in here, as well as mini jewelry, props, bags, packaging, and accessories.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Bottom drawer is for more merchandising props and gown storage.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Vickie's can be the most fun to refill, and switch things out.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
To the left is the table with the 'Resort Wear/Halloween Shop' to Vickie's which is in total turmoil and is getting a rebuilt due to the damage done by the 'strange happenings' last Fall.
Sometimes I write myself into a corner as far as having time to do everything needed to fulfill a storyline. I had to step back from all this---with the holidays and work that needed to be done in REAL LIFE...Sigh!
But---February 13th...Special on the Mystery!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Moving on to the left...
When you pull out the table of the basement shop---there is all this---stuff to be sold, family heirlooms or other wise known as all my 'mom's chit!' not to beconfused with 'my chit!'
Vickie and Joe's condo takes up two large shelves here. It's all set up for the next bit of story--a meeting about the reconstruction of the shop!
RESOLUTION: to make MORE permanent Dioramas on wall shelves.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
When you see these unedited photos, you can get a better idea of how much 'crap' it takes to do all this.
Below on the left is my shoe and accessory storage, as well as craft baskets full of specific things: fabrics, beading, more mini's.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
I really need to concentrate on selling more stuff this year---I guess that is another (GAG) resolution.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Across the room on the north wall is the Girls' townhouse. We have 5 gals living here. Right now Gilly is the only one home. This building will get paint in spring and lighting, I just redid the floors purple...I'm hoping more chairs show up at the $$ stores as these are quite nice and sturdy.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Above the Girls' house is lighting---batteries, battery lamps, electrical parts, and well a stable/horse, another beauty parlor, and more lighting fixtures and my radio.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
The old HFIM house is now two separate homes---right lower middle, Chris and Lara are talking about adding a third floor for more room---MAYBE???
Ken and Barbie on the lower left are working---from home, while Chelsea has a friend upstairs watching TV.
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
One area, I haven't freshened yet is the backyard---and it's a dump ground for the moment. I do my stories in real time, and we just got snow, so maybe.....just for some snow shots!
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Well this is about as clean as it gets! I had to straighten, so I could do some work on the 'Spooky Story'.
upcoming deadlines:
February 1: Trish's Flower Shop OPEN
Vickie's Vintage OPEN
Lower Level Resort shop DONE and OPEN
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
Now if I can just find all the stuff I NEED......ooops, this gives new meaning to Under the Table....LOL!
I didn't say it was totally CLEAN
JUST SORT OF!
WHAT PROJECTS/CLEAN UP
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?
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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi
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| barbieoldnewgreenredo |
You certainly are right Sandi, it takes a lot of chit to make fun pics:@) Thanks for the peeks, even though marked and somewhat organized, I still can't find what I'm looking for half of the time! No resolutions here, just plugging along...
ReplyDeleteGolly Lynn, I got the basement done, and Vickie's, but I have no idea where I put all the flower shop stuff, apparently not marked, so today will be a rummage day---who knows what it will look like, but I need to find my red roses for Valentines day for sure! LOL. Yes, doll chaos is almost as bad as RL chaos. I think I have my cookies issued fixed, now can I stomach all that will attack me on other sites! How much snow did you get??? It has dusted for 4 days now, and is finally building up to some inches----have to do that too in the garden area! YIKES, back to work, thanks for your support, Sandi
DeleteGosh I have three boxes of miscellaneous dolls that need to go--I have frankensteined so many, now, to get moveable bodies. I just wish they were all articulated. Thanks so much for visiting, and I do get quite a bit of blog traffic from your site, so thank you for that too. It is hard to build up steady visitors, it is more hit and miss. The story is fun---and challenging at the same time. My photos in black and white are so 'vintage' looking I can't wait to post some of it! Hugs, Sandi
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