I just missed out on an opportunity of getting Prunella MIB for $85..! Next month I will remember to have some money left the last week before next paycheck… lesson learned!
There will hopefully be another chance, though – and I shouldn’t be too sad, being that I have arranged to bring home Oren, Craziia and a custom Trunk in October (payday Wednesday, woot!). There may even be another girl headed my direction, in desperate need of some TLC. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Today I’ve sorted my stuff so far into boxes, click the picture to get to Flickr where I’ve left notes to explain what you see:
My significant other has wholeheartedly agreed on redecorating one of our rooms to put all things hobby and creativity related away from the living room area and into a more thought-through system. We will make a wall-to-wall desk – most probably even make it a corner desk (L-shaped) – the legs will be drawer sections, where the kids can keep their gazillion LEGO bricks, drawing paper and other stationery, I can keep my dolls’ accessories and fabrics for sewing, and my partner can keep his model sets and such. I will finally be able to have my sewing machine available and not hidden away at the bottom of some closet (out of sight, out of mind). That, and how the LEGO will no longer cover most of our living room floor, is my main motivation to get this done..! These are also good parts: we will have decent working light, with lamps hanging from the ceiling along the full length of the desk(s), we’ll have adjustable chairs (especially important for the kids – right now they are doing their homework at the living room table, and the height between the chair and the table just isn’t right for them), and we’ll be able to leave what we’re working on, without worrying about needing to put it away because of unexpected guests.
There’s only one problem, and that is what we’re going to do with the 10-12 boxes of toys that are currently filling up most of the room… Somehow, I don’t think the kids are motivated for yet another clean-out (we just had one last week, I managed to make them let go of 3 boxes). A shelving system will solve most of the problem, but there will still be at least 4 large boxes which need a place to be. Our two sons have definitely inherited their parents’ collector genes, it’s hard to let go of cherished items..!
Speaking of, I’ve actually been very good myself lately in letting go. It’s as if this new doll hobby has sparked a motivation to finally let go of stuff that I’ve kept “just because”. Like the nearly 100 CDs I just removed from my music collection! Next will be my computer books, they are headed for the shelves at work first thing Monday morning. Physical therapy text books will have to go (I am not returning to that choice of career), as will y/a books with girly themes. My comics are not going anywhere, though! 16 years of Donald Duck & Co, 5 years/complete series of Calvin and Hobbes, MAD, The Far Side – loads more, all in holders or binders..! Board games and hobby books are also staying. Heck, we’ll have a hobby room before long, the books can go onto shelves there, right? I have a box of English crime and suspense pocket books too, from my last round of cleaning out. I’ve never gotten around to hand those to the used books store; their opening hours are not what you’d call regular, and you’re lucky to find someone there.
If only shipping from Norway wasn’t as expensive – I could’ve made a fortune on eBay.. at least made up for a few of my own purchases..! *whistle*
Doll collector since the summer of 2008, never really played with dolls as a kid. Discovered Blythe and Pullip... (
It is really tough to let go of the collector bug. It’s kind of refreshing when you unload a bunch of things though!
I hope you’ll post lots of pics of Oren! She gorgeous so I’m really jealous ^_^
I really wish I had a hobby room! Right now, I just have a corner of my bedroom dedicated to my hobbies and it works well enough.
Yeah, I know what you mean about letting go, although I’ve found myself putting less and less emotional value to my belongings over the last few years. When asked which items I’d try to save in case of fire, I was kind of at loss – there wasn’t really anything I was that attached to (I have insurance, right?). This has changed now that the dolls have arrived – even though they all can be re-purchased, they’ve quickly become my “babies” and no longer just a stock doll.. Same with the things I’ve gotten for them, like outfits and furniture – I’d definitely try to rescue those things!
I will definitely post pics of her!
The way our rooms are now, I could’ve done the same – our current bedroom is quite long and has room for a hobby corner. It’s the same room we’ll transform into a hobby room, and then we’ll take the kids’ playroom as the master bedroom (it has a small bathroom attached to it, so it was supposed to be a bedroom all along). The reason why we’re simply turning a whole room into a hobby room like this, is that we don’t really have a place for the kids to do their homework, or to draw or play with miniatures/LEGO. Now, they’re all over the living room, and it’s going to be sooooo nice having all of that “mess” removed from sight. You can only fight colouring pencils, drawing paper and tiny LEGO bricks for so long, meaning most of the time our living room looks like it’s been bombed. :P With lots of drawers I’m hoping that it will be easier for everyone to put things back after playing, and to keep things somewhat tidy even during play. Our 9 y/o is a creative soul, his production of drawings and building of LEGO figures is of an amazing volume.
Maybe later, when the kids are older, we’ll feel like having some rooms to ourselves, but right now everything at our place are in shared spaces – all the computers are in the attic next to the TV, the kids share their sleeping room, and now we’ll have a shared hobby room. I’m really looking forward to it!
I so need to buy a house where I’d have enough rooms. I’d love to get myself my own hobby room with my computer, movies, books, painting & drawing stuff. Now I have a little messy corner in our living room and I hate it. I’m such a perfectionist and a clean freak that I make myself mad sometimes to keep everything organized, when it’s just impossible. I have a small table next to my computer where are stacks of my stuff.. bleugh. Actually your doll hobby made me remember that I used to own over 100 Barbie dolls when I was a kid, I’m pretty sure my mom has even kept most of them. Would you be interested to take any accessories/clothes/other stuff *IF* my mom still has them somewhere and we can find them? (I’m remembering that you use Barbie clothes/stuff for your dolls or am I wrong?) Of course I’d take photographs and sent them first, so you’d know what to expect :D
I know what you mean about the expensive shipping. I’ve been trying to sell out some My Little Ponies for ages it seems but because of the shipping no one is really interested. Can’t really blame them though, it IS expensive;) Congrats on getting a hobby-room though! I’m actually a little jealous! hehe:)
I would _love_ to have a look at that! I am especially looking for plain t-shirts/tops, other than that my dolls’ style is casual – some classy/mature, some girlish – which means that I am steering clear of princess like gowns and other costumes. Accessories sound cool too, please do post pics if you manage to dig your dolls out again!
I’d actually rather have large and fewer rooms than many rooms. If we could’ve had the TV, the computers and the hobby stuff in the same room, that’s what I’d prefer. However, our house is a three floor building with a handful of smaller rooms on each floor, so we have to spread our activities a little. I’d love to rearrange the inner walls, but I reckon a more realistic take on it is to look for a new house. I’ve heard it said that you have to build/live in three houses before you get it right, exactly how you want it. Only two to go! :P
Thanks! And yeah, it’s sad that it’s as expensive to have something sent by post from Norway… It’s rather costly just sending stuff nationally, as well. :(
Great! I’ll ask my mom about those and go digging there myself too, hopefully I’ll get some photos for you next weekend! :)
Erm.. so rent apartments doesn’t count? since this would be our first owned apartment but we’ve lived in 4 rent apartments :D Building a house would be nice but so expensive and nerve wrecking I’m sure!