Wednesday 14 December 2011

Baby, it's cold outside

...So we need snuggly boots >_< These were so much fun to make (although there was a LOT of fur to hoover up afterwards!). They are designed for your Minifees, to keep their toes snuggle all winter long :) Minifee Fur Yeti Boots

I also made two new tunic tops for Minifee :) I just love these fabrics!

Pink Camoflague Minifee Top

Rosebud Minifee Top

It's certainly been a busy few weeks, and I've sort of 'crashed and burned' this week: taken down by the common cold! It seems that everyday I am discovering some new, unwelcome symptom: it started with blocked ears, then weak muscles and shivers, yesterday I thought I was on the mend except for a sore throat, and today it seems to have lodged in my skull after keeping me awake since 5.30am with a tickle cough. Well, at least it's interesting ;) I hope you are all in better health, and looking forward to Xmas!!!

Lots of Love,
Amy xx

Saturday 10 December 2011

Virnando Agassi Photography

One of the things I love best about designing accessories is the amazing, creative people I have been fortunate to work with and get to know, even call friends!
One of these people is Virnando Agassi (known on Flickr as Agassi).
He took so many fantastic shots for my shop and even showed me how to edit-in the floral background. Thank you so much Agassi!

I will be adding new items from this shoot to my shop over the next week, but here is a preview, some of my favourites ;)


                                                     Black Bow Hairclips


                                                             Black and Fushia Floral Bow Clips


                                                                Lace Butterfly Headband


                                                       Pink Leopard Headband



                                                               Champagne Lace Headband

I am so inspired by Agassi's beautiful photography, that I asked him to do an interview for my blog :)

Me: How did you get into photography?Agassi: At first, I loved seeing models in magazines, their fashion and style made me want become a photographer and capture their photos..and then, I went to Photography and Graphic design college to study photography ^^
Me: How would you describe your style?Agassi: Colorful but soft, vintage and natural :)
Me: What inspires you?Agassi: Photos in Fashion Magazine,and my dolls :D


Me: And what advice would you give other budding photographers?Agassi: Composition in your photo is the important thing, so you need to balance color, light and the object to make the perfect photo, and I learnt a lot of photography lessons from searching Tutorials and videos about Photography on the Internet , there so many lesson sand tutorials you can get!

Please stop by Agassi's Flickr Stream to see more of his inspirational work.


Thank you so much for reading :)

Sunday 27 November 2011

New!!

I've been busy these past few weeks making these new things for my doll shop. I hope you like them :)








My other dolly-news is that I have persuaded my husband to help me to make a diorama for my Pullips! I am hoping to take lots of pictures of the process and blog about how we did it! I spent ages looking for the wallpaper, furniture, etc and am so excited to see how it will turn out!!

I have also been fortunate enough to work with photography company 'Posh Underground,' who took these amazing pictures for me! I have just released the two headbands in the following two pictures, and the third is a re-shoot of one of my headbands. I hope you like them! You can buy them here




And finally a sneak peak at two new headbands I will be releasing soon (along with others that I am particuarly excited about - especially those I am designing with real pearls). I am sending these all off to be photographed soon, so keep your eyes open for my new line ;)




Monday 21 November 2011

Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in my giveaway :)
and the winner is....
Va!!!
Please email me so we can discuss your prize :)
lilamy88@live.co.uk

Thursday 17 November 2011

Disney Princesses!

I recently found this amazing Japanese import fabric and thought it would make such cute accessories! I have always loved the Disney princesses, and I was so excited when I saw these kawaii versions! I think that Belle is my favourite Disney princess by far! I love how intelligent she is (when I was younger I tried to learn to read whilst walking to be like her!!!). She is also my favourite because I believe that, out of all of the 'perfect', Disney matches, hers is the most 'genuine'. She loves her prince truly for who he is, and not because he is super handsome, wealthy, or because he saves her from some terrible, undeserved fate (although one could interpret major character-flaws in anyone who falls in love with an actual beast!). *sigh* I love how they grow to love one another *sigh*. I'm reading Jane Eyre at the moment, and it has turned me into a romantic-fantasist! I feel like watching Disney movies now *hehe*
 I hope you like my new collection :)


They are available to buy here

Tuesday 15 November 2011

New Shoes

Last week, Pandora and I both got new shoes!
I had a wedding to go to, so my lovely hubby bought me these shoes from Dorothy Perkins:


They are a gorgeous metallic gold and went really well with the metallic gold dress that I wore them with :)
I also wore this headband from my shop, which I think added a lovely finishing touch :)



I do regret that I didn't get a picture of my outfit *sigh* I was just in such a rush, and don't really like pictures of myself anyway >_<


Pandora got new shoes too!! They were sent to us as a trade from one of my lovely friends :)
They are from Nine9Style, and I cannot believe how detailed and stylish they are! They photograph perfectly! This picture actually made it onto Explore (on Flickr), which was a lovely surprise!



And here is one more shot of them because they are just so fabulous!



Friday 11 November 2011

New Skirt

I have just loved making these pretty skirts, and am so happy that you seem to like them too >_< I have received a few custom orders in other colours, so expect to see more of these soon! I am also able to make them in custom sizes (ie for LittleFee, Ellowyne, etc)

I am planning to make them in red, aqua, and aubergine in the near future!
To thank you for your wonderful support I'd like to offer you 10% off one of these skirts in my etsy shop with the coupon code: BlogSkirts1
If you're unsure of how to use coupon codes on Etsy, you can find out here :)

Thank you so much for visiting, I hope you like my new skirts :)


Wednesday 2 November 2011

Do You Read?

As English was my chosen course of study, and I now tutor English myself, reading has always been a big part of my life. Whilst I couldn't be described as someone who 'eats books,' I do enjoy reading as much as time will allow. My reading schedule of late has been, for want of a better word, 'blended.' By this I mean that I have been dipping in and out of classics, modern literature, and study books. A real chamelion you might say (although I'd reluctantly describe myself more as scatty).

One of my students is studying Great Expectations, so I have found myself gasping for breath before dipping back into the dreadedly epic Dickens. And, after finally coming up for air after what I can best describe as an emotionally plummeting dive into his world of loveable (if not occasionally two-dimensional) characters, colourful and imaginative plot (that takes more twists and turns than a trained Dolphin at sea world), it was a far more enjoyable experience than I had anticipated. I can finally talk about Dickens with excitement, and shed the shame I have held as an English student avoiding such a classic. Of course, I strongly recommend that you read this book! I personally became intrigued by Dickens's central character, Pip, and his emotional and revelatory journey of realising his 'Great Expectations,' and then realising that he has lost these in their very pursuit. It is a story of childhood, hope, love, and above all, of loss, against the backdrop of the sinister old-London that Dickens paints with unequalled skill. The well-known abandoned bride, Miss Havisham, whose house has been left to decay around her, is a character from the novel who has inspired many. Her tragic tale of lost love has been explored by Carol Ann Duffy in her poem 'Havisham'



HAVISHAM
MEAN TIME (1998)
 


Beloved sweetheart bastard. Not a day since then
I haven’t wished him dead. Prayed for it
so hard I’ve dark green pebbles for eyes,
ropes on the back of my hands I could strangle with.

Spinster. I stink and remember. Whole days
in bed cawing Nooooo at the wall; the dress
yellowing, trembling if I open the wardrobe;
the slewed mirror, full-length, her, myself, who did this

to me? Puce curses that are sounds not words.
Some nights better, the lost body over me,
my fluent tongue in its mouth in its ear
then down till I suddenly bite awake. Love’s

hate behind a white veil; a red balloon bursting
in my face. Bang. I stabbed at a wedding-cake.
Give me a male corpse for a long slow honeymoon.
Don’t think it’s only the heart that b-b-b-breaks.


Controversial? Yes, of course! But I am always fascinated by others' interpretations of literature.

Next time I must tell you about my more 'modern' reads ;)

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Let's Make Every Day a Bow-Tie Event!! ^_^

Bows, Bows, Bows!
Yes, I've become a little obsessed lately...
I wanted the title to say 'Make Every Day a Black-Tie Event,' but since not all of my bow-ties are black, this didn't make as much sense as I would've liked :)
I started sewing bows for my dolls. and I just couldn't resist making them for my other (for humans) Etsy shop. I love making headbands, but the material I get most excited about spending every last penny on is fabric. Bows give me an excise to buy lots of cute and pretty fabrics!!

Here are my latest Bow-Tie Necklaces


1) Leopard Print Bow-Tie
2) Sugar Sweet Floral Bow-Tie
3) Vintage Black and Pink Floral Bow-Tie
4) Classic Black Bow-Tie

They are all £5.99 and available here
I am also offering my lovely blog readers a coupon code to get 10% off: blacktie1

I really hope you like my bow-tie necklaces >_<



Sunday 30 October 2011

My New Girl

And my new girl is.....
A Dal Coral >_<
Did you guess it would be her?



I am really chuffed with her so far. Just look at that gorgeous outfit! I hope I can make one so lovely someday! I am not as disappointed in the Dal body as I expected to be either. It is a bit fragile and flimsy, but her poseability isn't too bad. I do hope to get her onto an Obitsu at some point though!
I'm thinking of calling her Flora or Barbara (shortened to Bunny). What do you think?

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Giveaway

Hey Evereyone, it's been a while since I've done a giveaway, and I'd like to do one now to celebrate the arrival of my new doll!!

She will be here sometime next week, but I'd like to run this giveaway until Nov 20th :)

The prize will be your choice of the following:

                                          Daisy Chain Headband:


                               Sugar Sweet Floral Bow Ring (I can also make this as a hairclip if you'd prefer)

Leopard Print Bow Ring (or Hairclip if you'd prefer)

Cute Kitty Button Bow Ring

If you are a dolly lover, you can choose to have the bow made as a hairclip for your doll :)

And now for .... the RULES
Compulsory:
♥ Visit my shop and post your favourite item in the comments box here (please also post your email addy so that I can contact you)
♥ Follow this blog

Additional Entries:
♥ Become my fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BlushingDoveBoutique (1 additional entry)
♥ Visit my other shops and post your favourite item here (1 additonal entry per shop visited)
♥ Add my Etsy shops to your favourites (1 additional entry)
♥ For doll lovers: guess who my new doll is (3 additonal entries and a 50% discount in any of my shops for the person who guesses correctly!)

PLEASE REMEMBER to include your email address with your entry so that I can contact you if you are the winner. Winner will be selected at RANDOM on Nov 20th

If you want to play 'guess the new doll' to win a 50% discount and 3 additional entries, rules are as follows:
♥ Game closes when I announce my new girl here next week
♥ You may ask questions (which I will answer here) but you are only allowed to guess the doll once. Please ask questions on the 'comments' box of the previous post titled 'New Girl'. It could get mighty crowded here otherwise!!
♥ Additional entries will be awarded once you make your one and only guess (not each time you ask a question)
♥ Prize will be awarded to the first person who guesses: company, doll, and type/ mould
♥ If noone guesses all three correctly, the prize will be awarded to the person who has the closest guess (company and doll at least)
♥ If I've already told you, sorry you can't play :( But good news because this means that I really love you ;)
♥ Don't expect this doll to be in my Flickr faves, that's dirty rotten cheating (yes, you shall be forgiven)

... Let's play! ;)



New Girl

oooh, I've don't it again! I've just bought another doll! I wasn't exactly an impulse buy, I've been watching her on eBay for a while and her price was good compared to other sellers' prices (also the seller was in the UK - take that customs!). Well, her auction was ending last night and I decided to place a bid whilst I was on the train (before it went underground and all hope was lost). I checked my emails when I got home and I'd 'won' her *booohyahh!!* *happy dances*. Of course this 'winning' still meant that I had to pay, so I am now officially skint again. But my doll family is expanding, along with my smile :P Any guesses as to who she is??

Who's That Girl?

Other news :)
I found the cutest fabric ever!! I am usually NOT a huge fan of Disney's Marie, but give her a kawaii twist, lots of pink, and print her on fabric - and I am converted! Throw is a few (kitty shaped!!!!) macaroons to seal the deal and I'm sold!

Marie Fabric Close-up

The fabric came so quickly and I made this dress with it:

Disney Marie Dress

I also made this star dress, I think it looks so cute on Celeste ^_^

Star Dress

Both dresses are available in my shop: www.amylilley.etsy.com

And last, but by no means least, I made this critter for the most amazing swap with a very special friend:

For Wiebke

I hope you like my recent makes >_<

Thank you for looking xx

Monday 17 October 2011

Flirty Florals!

I have fallen for florals this Autumn!!
Here are my newest floral dolly-dresses:






Both are available here ^_^


And of course I want to introduce you to my newest girl, who I think is totally adorable! She is a Dollfie Dream, medium bust. I'd wanted one of these cuties since spying one on a fellow Dolly-Forum dweller's avatar. I saw those beautiful anime eyes and had to ask which ball-jointed beauty she was displaying. Of course when I heard that she was a Dollfie Dream I went straight to ebay. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw just how expensive they were - goodbye dreams of owning a DD. No matter how much money I save, I doubt I will ever be able to justify paying 1.000 + GBP!!
As I was browsing Flickr oneday, I saw this beautiful DD head for sale at a very reasonable price. With a LOT of kind help from the seller, I learnt that the expensive DDs I had seen on ebay were priced so highly because they are limited edition dolls. She helped me to locate a body, and all in all my gorgeous girl cost less than my Minifee - not bad considering she is a gorgeous 60cm (when I opened my first BJD - a puki - I swore I would never go bigger than a Minifee *sigh*)

She is still nameless, but I think she will settle for Sayuri. I like a name to mean something, and 'Sayuri' means 'Little Lily' in Japanese. I am 4'11 tall and my last name is 'Lilley', so there is a little significance there >_<

Well, here she is:


Outfit, as ever, by me and available here
Thank you so much for your visit xx

Sunday 25 September 2011

Dolly Fashion

I hope you've all had a good week :)
I am starting my uni course this week (I'm training to be a counsellor), so I'm a bit apprehensive and excited. I've also been reading 'Great Expectation' by Charles Dickens for a student who I tutor. As someone who studied English at university, I am ashamed to say that I am not as familiar with the Classics as I should be, but I have really been enjoying this novel. Dickens has a wonderful way of creating characters and weaving together a story that is at once gripping and engrossing. I highly recommend it :)

On a dolly-note, I have been enjoying Celeste, my new Pullip Clara, and have been making Pullip dresses for my Etsy shop. I hope you like them :)


Strawberry Dress

Pink Kawaii Dress


Be Happy

Sunday 18 September 2011

I was so excited this week as the lovely Pullip I adopted from a good friend on Flickr arrived! I wasn't sure what to expect as I'd never even seen a Pullip in 'the flesh' before, but she is lovely! So different from my BJDs, but I just adore her cute face and anime-look.
I have decided to name her Celeste. She is a partially customised Carnival Twin Clara. Here she is:

New Girl


I love her so much that I have decided to adopt another one of my friend's Pullips! I will keep her identity a secret for now, but she should be home before December. So excited!!! ^_^



Tuesday 6 September 2011

New Things :)

So I've been rather busy lately, sewing away for various projects, attempting to sew for my new doll shop, expanding my doll family, applying for a course, tutoring English, plus everyone we know seems to have cought wedding-fever and are deciding to get married (my husband and I have now been married for two years, so we're immune). I hope you've all been well, and will enjoy catching up with myself, my dolls, and my critters through these photos:

                                                                        
                          Here is a panda that I made for a custom order, I think he turned out super-cute :)



I also bought an adorable new doll from a new company called 'Elfindoll'. Her name is Sora, I hope you love her :)




I also feel I have been going a little mad as I decided that I wanted to make Minifee underwear. It's taken me ages, weeks in fact, but I'm finally happy with the patterns I have made, and will hopefully have these in my shop soon. Here they are: