Alyrenee's Copious Spare Time

Wee...once again, something I do in my Copious Spare Time. This is an audio drama podcast called Buffy between The lines. This episode takes place in between season five and six...during the summer. Check out all the episodes...they are really great fun. I wrote episode 9 and its Anya-based with a surprise ghost from the past...listen here!

Oh...I am loving the costumes on Maryanne in the new Masterpiece Sense and Sensibility. Maryanne has a swell pink Spenser coat in one scene and I love the hair band around her hair. They have been keeping her in easter egg colors. I must make one of those coats... The actor playing Edward is tre' dishy.

So I am doing the MS Walk on May 4th..walking for my brother in law Mike...Currently I am $75 dollars away from meeting my $800 goal...so hook me up yall. Click to sponsor!

That's right. You heard me. The Gaymart at 3457 N Halsted Street in Boystown/Chicago has a fabulous action figure selection. I popped into the Gaymart this afternoon looking for a severed ear prop (don't ask) and ended up browsing for a half hour. I somehow manage to forget about this place until I find myself in there and trying very hard not to blow my credit limit. Tons of DC figs, some Marvel, Stargate, Battlestar, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Muppets, South Park, Macfarlane, Statues, and Busts...its plastic geek heaven. They had the Harry Potter Tonks bust that I have been coveting and my beloved Zatanna bust...which may be coming home with me next week as an opening night present ( Dreamlandia is opening on monday). They had several series one Stargate Figs too...which I might break down and buy so I can build a gate. Plus they had the Black Ops Jack...and who can resist a pocket-size MacGyver? I know I can't... So little money, so little space, so many toys.

I just caved and ordered the DC Stars Poison Ivy from Dollmarket . I'll warn you, many people have had problems with this store..thus far my dealings have all been positive. I could not resist the sale price on this one. I really need to have all of these DC Stars Tonner Character Figures . It's a sickness. Dollmarket also has a good price on Miss Gulch and Prince Charming if you are in need. Sadly I seemed to miss the uber cheap price on the basic black tyler...I would have nabbed her for a body substitute.

Several outfits are on sale at Cleabella . I am quite tempted by the Butterfly Clue outfit. I think it would look swell on Ellowyne. They are also coming out with REALLY affordable resin versions of Clea and James with glass eyes later this year. Priced at just under two hundred dollars, with period underwear and styled wigs. Very tempting... I will wait for the photos to decide, but that seems like a steal of a price. They also sell the popular Room With a View magnetic display set and lots of accessories. I also highly recommend the adorable ice skates set. I have it and LOVE it.

So this show I am doing, Dreamlandia , has a character covered with homemade tattoos. So in order to ease the makeup process, we thought stamps and tattoo ink pads would be a faster way of getting the job done. So i went to all the usual rubber stamping places around town and found NOTHING but rainbows, teddy bears, birthday cakes, and flowers. Finally I stumbled upon this place, Sideshow Stamps . They have a swell retro selection and lots of fun designs. I went crazy and ordered a ton thinking if I did not use them for the show, I would keep them for myself. They have a sweet grab special right now and I am a sucker for the grab bag. Collages to follow shortly.

Woot! Finally some new Buffy swag. I am sooooo getting this. I am wondering if it would be good for fashion dolls or BJDs...I cannot wait to test it out! Now, Factory X adds the miniature version of the Slayer's Scythe from the highly popular Buffy the Vampire Slayer prop replica series. The Miniature Slayer's Scythe was created referencing the full 1:1 version produced by Factory X. The original Factory X 1:1 Scythe was crafted by using Joss Whedon's personal souvenir prop scythe as reference. The collectible miniature Slayer's Scythe is 10.5 inches long and weighs less then 1 pound, making this Slayer's Scythe a must have for every office desk and serious collector of Buffy prop replicas. This handsome piece makes a great letter opener or simply protection for those that hunt the night. Retails for $22.95 and scheduled to ship in June! On sale for $19.99 from Time and Space Toys and use the FREESHIPPING code along with one instock item in your basket to get it

Use the discount code EWE to get $13 off. Offer ends April 1st. Its a real cute little outfit.

Sigh where is the money tree...I would love to get the mohawk one...but with the tonner Convention, not to mention RENT coming up...no can do. So buy one vicariously for me. Fashion Victims They also have some sunglasses for sale. VERY PRICEY sunglasses mind you. I think its pretty cheeky to charge nearly $90 for DOLL sunglasses. You can fetch an entire Tonner dressed doll for that! No thanks. My Blade will have to squint.

I whipped up a plushy vampire stake out of some wood grain material I found. I am taking orders for these...if ya want one they are $10 each plus $2 for US shipping... Email me at alyrenee@NOSPAMgmail.com (removing the spam thing obviously). I can do paypal or money orders...and an order would take about a week to fill at the moment.

This is a pattern by Anne Modesitt ...I so love all her designs. I bought this one from her webpage . It looked intimidating but I have been enjoying it so much. A lot to keep you interested: laces, ribs, crossing stitches, etc. I think I have a handle on reading stitch charts now as well. So I am about half way there I think. I plan to do the optional sleeve pattern. This is worked up in the knit picks Andean Silk in mustard and I have an olive color to use as contrast at the bottom. I cannot wait to wear it.

More from the Parisian Fashion Doll Frontlines: There was also a Sybarite Duo Set called War and Peace. These dolls both featured new face sculpts and were made from french resin. Yves is in a 60's style a-line zip up Union Jack dress with blue eyebrows, red lips, and a short Twiggy platinum bob wig. The second, Patience, has a frizzy blonde wig with coral-toned makeup. Patience's dress seems to be a white lace up corset dress that leaves one resin booby to fend for itself with only a silver strap to keep the dolly nips warm. Yves has white boots and Patience some white platforms. The new sculpt has a Glen Close vibe to me...which does not exactly shout COUTURE FASHION DOLL to me. But what do I know? Buyers had to sign a "will not scalp" contract...that they vow to not resell the set for three years. Buyers had to sign them before even seeing the dolls! This is a fairly controversial move for Superdoll, but it seems like they live for controversy. Response fro

Head over to Mazarine Dolls to check out pictures of the new 16" ball-jointed fashion doll hailing from South Korea. The first doll available is named " Sweet Hot Isabel " and is made from resin with 14 points of ball-jointed articulation. Like the Sybarites and Kinetics, she is a wig doll with painted eyes. The company claims she can share clothing with other 16" size fashion dolls. She will be limited in edition size (around 20) and will cost $520 plus shipping with a deposit of $260 up front. The price includes the doll, outfit, wigs, and a bag. Once the ordering closes the dolls are expected to ship within 2 months. These are mostly handmade dolls according to the website. Th website can be a little tricky to navigate, FYI. But its filled with lots of neat info. There are size measurements of the doll, pictures of the sculpting process , and a message board . I think the doll is very pretty and the outfit is very cute. Its right in the same price range

The Paris Doll Convention was this past weekend. Pictures can be seen here courtesy of the fantabulous Gerda! There was a gorgeous Raven hair Ellowyne with cute bangs and a ponytail and smokey eye makeup called Paris Blue limited to 250. The Sybarite event doll for the Saturday evening banquet was a bright red wigged doll with hot pink eye makeup and a gold and pink evening gown called Epocholypse. There was also a Raven version in a black and silver gown limited to 20 available via a special drawing. Both have lovely face paint and the wigs are in a cute haute heidi braid look. The dresses are nice..but i am not a big fan of Superdoll's gowns. I love their unique sportswear looks more. I am the same with Tonner gowns as well. Some lucky ducks walked away with the new Sybarite Fashion Victim dolls. I am very jealous as these look FABULOUS. I so want that mohawk pink wig one.... They also had hand sets with different posed hands and I really hope they sell these in the f

Weee....I soooo wish I had room for Aquaman and Storm ...also wish I have the $299 is costs to buy him. But the shipping is free and its a darn huge box so that is a deal. I had the chance to buy the original one at the Orlando 2007 Tonner Convention but I couldn't afford it. This set, limited to 25 pieces, comes with the newer Aquaman with the Batman grumpy face and blonde hair and a microsequin fish scale top. I like the Arthur Curry/Aquaman that I have...but I do hope I can score one of the new ones at some point. Oh and I am dying for a triton...i wish Tonner would make one for him!

Use the code TCS03 to get $5 an Ultra Basic Raven , Blonde , or Red Tyler featuring the all new face sculpt. The doll comes with a boring white body suit, no shoes, and no stand. They seems to have side-glancing eyes on some of them...which means you have a decent chance of getting a wall-eyed doll..but they are geared towards repainters so its a risk you take. The offer expires 4/1/08. Warning: I have heard shipping is a bit steep though for multiple dolls... I am thinking about getting the red head...its a deep fire red and she might be nice for the Convention Fire and Ice Competition Category. I had planned to use my City Kit with the bright red waves...but I want a new Tyler to try a repaint...so it seems like a good excuse. And if you did not know already, you can get bendy wrist replacement bodies for your old girls by calling the Tonner Doll Hospital 845-339-2960. I believe they are $38 and they have the tan and pale tones in stock. I might invest in some to put on som

So like I don't have ENOUGH to do....I am planning to get a table at the upcoming Tonner Convention and sell some doll clothes and maybe a few repaints. I am trying to get all the tax-y paperwork done but the Illinois business website is not being cooperative. I have already made the patterns...now to test them and then sew up a storm. Lots of fun modern pieces though. Things I always wish someone would make so i decided to do it myself. I might also do some groovy couture hats as I love to do millinery. I am working out a few sweaters to knit...but that takes more time and not super cost effective. Its a bit scary...but I think I can sell at least enough to pay for the table and get my name and work out there. I also plan to enter the competitions again and hope that I return home with all my girls this year (stupid doll-stealing jerkface!) Right now I have things planned for Agnes, Ellowyne, Tyler, DC Stars, and Evangeline. I also want to make some basics that would fit th

I drew these last year I think? Its a Dress Me Up Buffy and all of her most memorable fashions. I plan on doing a bunch of these and have started on Willow as well. If I find someone selling these...I WILL hunt you down and stake you. But feel free to print them out and have fun coloring them for your own personal use. I have been working on coloring them in photoshop...but I am not done yet. Then I plan to make magnetic versions for my fridge!

So I got a sweet gig for the Society for Contemporary Art for the Art Institute of Chicago making costumes for four characters performing at the benefit event. The party was held in the former Carson Pirie Scott building downtown and the theme was 'deconstruction'. So I designed the costumes for the four characters (Architect, Singer, Painter, Sculptor) using unconventional materials such as tarping, tyvek, thermoplastic, cable ties, and sporting equipment and combined those modern elements with fashion elements from the Belle Epoque. With the help of my two stitchers/crafters Melissa Heischberg and Ilda Marrerro, we created these costumes from scratch adding in a few store bought basics like overalls and trousers. I then painted the pieces and added architectural elements to them. I am quite pleased with the results...

Joker's WILD about Harley Sale**! Limited Time! $40.00 off Joker with the purchase of the NEW Harley Quinn ! Enter Promo Code JW-032108 at checkout! **Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or coupon. Ends 3/21/08 at midnight Tempting...very tempting. I have been dying to get Harley...and I love the Joker's outfit. I have been thinking of remaking a Matt doll as a more handsome Joker...or perhaps the Joker could be helped with a little resculpting and painting? I know he's accurate to the comic...but I would love a sexy Joker. I would also love to make a sexier Harley outfit. I want them to look like the awesome Alex Ross Tango with Evil painting...