Getting to Know Ygritte

 Earlier this week my SartoriaJ order from April containing two female dolls, Yvonne and Elf Juliet arrived. I had ordered Yvonne in the discontinuation sale as I really love my larger Yvonne head and I was afraid I would later regret not getting her if I missed out. I've been taking the time to play with them both, Glenna (my Elf Juliet) will get her own posting at a later date either here on on my Glade blog. I haven't quite decided where she fits into things. Ygritte, my Yvonne is definitely a member of the shifter crew though and therefore more contemporary. This shot was the first wig I tried on her right out of the box. It's an Iplehouse blended wig, but the fibers don't hang naturally, which bugs me.

I may try to boil wash the wig later to see if I can get rid of some of the fullness and the annoying curve at the ends.

I wasn't 100% happy with the Iplehouse two toned wig, so today I went digging in my wig stash and found a blonde wig I purchased from SartoriaJ a while ago and decided to try it on Ygritte. She really came alive for me in this wig. I think it's a keeper, although it was extremely hard to get to stay on. It seems to be too small. I had to do a lot of tugging to get it to stay in place. This isn't the first time I've had that happen with a SJ wig. It's a bit frustrating.

I redressed Kieron also this morning and as Ygritte was waiting to get her time in front of the camera I saw them standing together and thought Hmmmm...............wasn't what I originally planned, I originally thought about Ygritte for Lobo (my Amber Beige Jude), but I decided to photograph them together anyway to see what I thought. Definitely some dolly chemistry going on. I'll have to see how things play out.

After photographing them together though, I think my plans may have gone awry again and Lobo may still be searching for his "one".

Cozy Knits

I recently received this beautiful pale pink scarf in the mail from a friend, and thought it was a good excuse to get one of my girls out for some new pics. I chose Cali to model today. 

Cali paired her new scarf with a beanie hat that I had crocheted quite a few years ago and a sweater from Dollmore.

I love knit pieces for the dolls. It adds realism to their wardrobe. I really should get my crochet hooks and knitting needles back out and do a few more things for the girls, and guys too. Of course its been so long, I'll need to watch YouTube to refresh myself on how to do both!

Appreciation of His Body's Namesake

 I've been in a bit of a 1/6 doll mood over the past few months and my mini resin crew hasn't gotten much appreciation. As the year draws to a close and I need to make a decision as to whether or not I wanted to add another SJ doll to my crew, I decided to get one of the guys I have out for some new photos. Kieran (Jarrad) arrived earlier this year and I haven't done much with him yet. He is the only SartoriaJ guy I have on the Zeus body. I got inspired this morning to configure a toga-ish covering for him and get him in front of the camera. The body is truly a work of art and I like it with minimal clothing much better than I do clothed. Zeus body indeed, very aptly named.

His biceps are really quite something (as is his whole body really). A real work of art.

His facial feautres are quite strong as well, and he has a very strong nose, as you can see in his profile here.

SartoriaJ's face up artists really do a wonderful job as well, especially with the facial hair. One of the reasons I'm contemplating the new guy on offer for the holiday season by SartoriaJ (Matias) is the wonderful bearded face up they offer him with. I wasn't that drawn to him in his larger size with the non bearded face ups. I wasn't that drawn to Jarrad in his clean shaven incarnation either, but I do love this bearded face up for him.

Melancholy

 I haven't spent much time with my mini crew the past few months, as my interest swung back to the 1/6 dolls in a big way. I've missed photographing my guys though, so decided to get Zayn out for some new photos this morning. There is just something really special about the Iplehouse sculpts, especially their men, that speak to me in a big way.  Add Lyn Raftis' artistic magic, and you get an amazingly handsome piece of art. Zayn, the Arvid sculpt, is one that Lyn worked her magic on, and he amazes me every time I photograph him. He's got quite a bit of a melancholy feel in this first shot.

And his nose............Arvid has one of the best nose sculpts out there in resin male land IMHO.

While I really haven't felt the need to buy many new resin men in this size this year, in the coming year I do want to make a point to photograph and enjoy the amazing dolls I have in this size range more.

And I still do want to add an FID size Rex to the mix, as somehow I've never gotten around to adding him in FID size and he's one of my favorite Iple sculpts. If I don't get around to updating this blog again by the end of the year, I wish a very happy holiday season to all those out there in dolly land, and an amazing 2023.

Goddess Attire

 I ordered quite a few of the Iple and SartoriaJ outfits in my holiday orders. Carina's FID default outfit was one I received. This morning I thought it was about time I put it on one of the girls for some photos. I thought Reaghan could wear it well, so she was chosen.

It's a gorgeous outfit with embroidery detail along the hem (which I know you can't see really well here), lots of jewelry (3 bracelets, belt and hair piece) and flat sandals.

The hairpiece is a nice weight that helps it to stay put when you put it on. I'm thinking my elves will be able to wear this outfit well too.

The collar is attached to the dress, but it is beautiful. Very happy with this purchase.

Yes, Shirtless Again

I haven't quite been able to make myself put a shirt on Kieran (SartoriaJ Jarrad on the Zeus 52cm body) since his arrival. I'm still trying different wigs on him to try and figure out what looks the best. Today I think I have found a keeper, Monique Gold Lovely wig in brown black. He's a shifter, and the facial hair and long hair work for me.

And the Zeus body certainly is easy on the eyes.

While I had Kieran out I decided to get my other two SartoriaJ guys in the normal resin colors out and take a pic of all three of them together. Lobo (Jude on the far left is on the athletic body and is in amber beige resin), Kieran (Jarrad on the 52cm Zeus body is also amber beige resin) and Joshua (Joshua on the 51cm Athletic body is sonorran beige resin.

I've been a pretty staunch Iple supporter over the years, but with the host of issues other folks have had with them recently regarding face ups, I've found myself throwing my dolly dollars in SartoriaJ's directly more and more. Jude has always been one of my favorite sculpts. I still can't believe they decided to discontinue him. I hope I don't kick myself later for not getting another human version of him before he was discontinued. I may have succombed to another Elven version this week when he was released. Shhh..................don't tell, lol.

I've always really liked Joshua's sculpt too, and have to admit I'm really curious to see his Elven version later this month.

Kieran's Look

 I think I finally settled on a look for Kieran, SartoriaJ's Jarrad on the Zeus body, that sits well with me. He may wear other brown shades as well, but I think the brown suits him better than the stark ebony. It matches his eyebrows and beard better I think.

With Lobo, who I haven't decided if they are cousins are brothers.

And one last semi profile shot of Kieran.

Mr Ripped

 My SartoriaJ Jarrad that I ordered on the Zeus body last December finally arrived today. I wanted to try the Zeus body, even though I had my reservations that it might be a little "too" big for the head sizes, but in person I'm pleasantly surprised that it's really beautiful. His head doesn't appear pin headed at all to me. It has much more definition than the athletic body. I'm very happy with it. His sculpting is beautiful.

My biggest issue so far has been finding a wig I like on Kieran (what I've decided to call him). So far this Leekeworld long wavy wig is my favorite choice, although I think I'd really like a style in a dark brown shade over true black for him. I REALLY hate that Monique went out of business. Jarrad's head has proved to be like Jude's as well, it doesn't really fit into a 5/6. I've had to go to a 6/7 and those are a little big.

My other wig choice I tried was a 6/7 Monique Jojo that I had on hand, which I wasn't overly fond of. The bangs were too full and I couldn't get them out of his eyes. I love these eyes for her (Masterpiece True Aque size 7/8mm) , and I want to be able to see them in him.

We will keep playing until I can pin him down. A parting profile shot. His nose reminds me a little bit of Joshua's, and a little bit of Iple Leonards

Lobo Just Because

 Some new Lobo shots, just because I felt like photographing him today. Each time I get him down to change his clothes and appreciate him I wonder why in the world SartoriJ decided to discontinue such a stunning male resin specimen. One of my favorite male resin sculpts, hands down. Sometimes I wish I would have gotten a peach cream version of  him too, but it wasn't in the cards, I wanted both Naomi and Yvonne in the 45cm size, and I didn't have either of those sculpts yet, so they won out over another Jude in peach cream in the end.

Philip and Dan both remind me a lot of Jude, so maybe I'll have to add one of those sculpts the next time they are available. 

And Jay told me they are still planning on releasing the elf version of Jude at least one more time, so I'll prepare myself to add him when he becomes available.

In the meantime, I'll just enjoy Lobo and his fog  gray brothers.

The Color Red

 Red was my Dad's favorite color and I have to admit it has become one of mine as well. I love red clothing for my dolls, and I love dolls with red lips as well. When I saw this dress on Elenpriv's site on Etsy, and I saw that it came in FID size, I was a goner. I ordered several weeks before the war broke out in Ukraine, and all the sanctions against Russia began. Elenpriv is in Russia. Have to admit I was pretty skeptical that I would recieve my items in light of all the issues going on in that part of the world, but was pleasantly surprised when they did indeed arrive a couple of weeks ago. I have a gray Elle coming with red lips, and I really wanted this outfit for her, but in light of her taking a cross country trip to get to me. (Once she cleared customs in Chicago, instead of coming to Ohio she made a trip out to Portland, OR...........WHAT THE HECK USPS????) Anyway, I see this morning she left Portland, so hopefully she is on her way back to Ohio. Sigh..................but I digress. On to the pictures of Reaghan modeling her new dress by Elenpriv.

Reaghan is usually a redhead, well dark auburn, but I decided to change her wig to wear with this dress. I don't like it as well as her normal wig, but fun for a change.

A New Look for Zayn

 Zayn let his hair grow out! LOL! I've been wanting an "alternate" look for Zayn for a while now. I finally ordered a different style wig for him from Chewin and it came in recently.

You can see him in his "original" wig I had gotten for him at other points in the blog, or on the sidebar in the doll bios. 

I like the longer locks on him for something different. I don't get this guy out near enough. His character isn't as fleshed out as some of my others I guess that is why I don't reach for him as often as some of the other guys.

He's so handsome though! Lyn did f wonderful job (as she always does) on his face up. Gosh I miss her painting.

Another New Look

 Edan wasn't the only one that got a new wig this week. I had originally bought this wig with my Ebony Dane (Nox) in mind, but when I tried it on him I couldn't get used to it on him. I was just too used to him in his dreads and in this one he wasn't "Nox".  So since Chewin makes the wigs specifically for the head you request the wig for, the wig went to my only other Dane, Javier. I'm actually not quite sure what I think about it on Javier either, as I've kind of gotten used to him with longer hair, but I played a bit anyway.

I think part of my problem is the curls are a little too "high" at top. The more I see it on him the more I get used to it, but he probably won't use it all the time. I'll have to play around and see if it fits any of the other guys.

Or if not, I guess it would give me an excuse to get another Dane down the road, maybe in realskin or dark brown this time, lol. I do love the sculpt.

Short Styles

 It is so hard to find good short wig style for the guys in the mini size range. I try to get Chewin wigs for my guys if possible, but it isn't always possible. I had been eyeing Iple wig style IHW_SSS083 for a while now, so last time I ordered some items I added a couple of colors in this style to my order.  I ordered the Sepia color with Edan in mind, and finally got a chance to try it on him today.

I like the style on him quite a lot. The only thing I don't like about the wig is it has a black elastic mesh cap. I don't understand why the wig manufacturer's use black anymore with all the known staining reports. I will have to order him a wig protector from DDE or Marsha.

I do like the style a lot. It is a little less "shaggy" than the Monique "Red" wig I had on him previously. The bangs don't cover his eyebrows.

I also ordered the pearl gray color with my incoming Dylan in gray resin in mind. I may have to go back and get the other available colors as well.