New Special Creation!

   A special project came into my hands back in early May of last year. If you recall I was tasked to create an alien monkey from a TV show back in these posts... Fast forward to now, and the very same person wanted me to create a similar unique creature only he had imagined I could do for him!

The original look of the monkey body.

In May 2025, Robert contacted me proposing an idea of sorts. At the time, I had become a full time babysitter to my third grandchild. So of course, I had no time to do any restorations or commissions. I didn't want to begin one either knowing I may not be able to complete it. So, I politely declined and he was of course sad about it but very understanding. Throughout that day I could not stop thinking about it, and so I decided, perhaps I could try...

I wrote Robert back and said, that to him, but also that it would take a lot of time and I needed to know whether there was a specific date the new friend had to be completed. Sure enough, he was in no rush and even gathered all the materials I would need to help this new creature come to fruition! By late June of that year, the box with the plush arrived along with all the items to help make him.  Summer of 2025 was busy as I had a family trip and lots of things happening as well. So, I didn't revisit the project until Mid August. 

Removing the seams on the fabric.

Sewing on the scale fabric.

 I finally began the project of taking what had originally been a monkey plush with black fur, just like Bloop's original body and removed the rubber face and the fur. The monkey's body was a bit more simple, I just had to cover with it the green fur Robert had given to be sort of a suit on the body and add some scaling fabric to its chest and more fur to its hands and feet. The face would need to be recreated completely. So by September, I had finished the scales on the chest and the limbs fur. Now all I had to focus on the rubber face. The new creature's face was somewhat a bit more tricky to do. Because I had to work with the fact that I had no pattern to start with. You see when I had completed Bloop, I had the pattern set aside when she was completed back then, I somehow misplaced that very same pattern. So, I had no choice but to recreate a pattern all over again for this creature. It took time and days when I didn't have to babysit my grandchild. So it was just finding the right timing to complete the face once I got the pattern done. I made sure the rubber face was prepared and ready along with the ears.

The original pattern for the head and the rubber face, after being removed.

  

The rubber ears and fur cut out from the recreated paper pattern.

After new fur is sewn onto the rubber face. I had to replace the eye lock that was missing.

First attempt at the creature...

By October of 2025, I had finished the creature. At least, I thought I was! But upon inspection by Robert, he saw that it wasn't up to the specifics he had imagined. The ears weren't flushed with the face, the top of the head was a bit too pointed, and the face wasn't framed properly. Robert sent me a photo of Bloop and a drawing of the look for the creature he had imagined. So, it was back to the drawing board for me! I didn't revisit the creature until December, mostly because I was expecting my fourth grandchild and was off island for that trip! I tried my best to get the ears just right, but it still didn't work out. So, I was stumped! I had to sit there and really brainstorm about what was going on and how I could get it to work out like my first creation. At first, I thought perhaps it was the ears that I was given. Maybe it was too soft, pliable and needed help to keep it sturdy. But that wasn't the only issue. I realized later that it was the pattern I had created for it! Instead of two sides of the pattern I had only cut out one side of it. So I immediately fixed that issue and sure enough, along with wires and the two sides, that ultimately helped the ears in more ways than I had hoped for, Yay!!

I sent photos of the now second attempt of the creature, Robert gave his review of it and it was still not quite what he had hoped. The creatures face wasn't fuller and the fur didn't frame the face properly. I was angry at myself for the creature not being up to par for him. So, I had to ask myself, "Okay, what in the world is wrong here?" Robert had shown me the photo of Bloop and a drawing he made of the new creature and talked about Bloop's face details. I looked and looked, at his photo of Bloop and this creature... Then, it finally hit me!! That's why!!! Duh!! 

I realized it was the fur pile!! "What the heck is that, you ask!" Well it's the length of the hair on the fur, for those of you who don't know. The one he had purchased at the start of the project was only a one inch pile. I needed a longer hair pile at least three inches long to be exact. This was what I had used for Bloop's black fur. So I was able to find some examples for Robert to get. Sadly, my usual go to shop for my furs didn't have the color I needed to match this plush. Ugh. Luckily, Robert was able to find some and he immediately purchased it and had it shipped to me. Yippee!!

2nd attempt by January.

It was now a new year, 2026 to be exact, and January already! Armed with the new fur, I began the tedious work of removing and re-cutting and sewing the new fur so that everything was ready. In February I decided to take a bit of a break as it was my birthday month. By early March, I was done with this new vintage style creature. The fur worked out way better than I had hoped. After sending Robert the photos of my third attempt at completing the creature and sharing back and forth. He noted that the face and framing of the fur still needed more work to look similar to Bloop. So, I knew at least I had gotten this far. Robert harnessed my skills even further and made the encouragement I needed to push myself to help bring this new creature to life!

Third attempt above.

 A week later by the end of March I had felt a lot more confident in this creature's look and immediately contacted Robert! Sure enough, he was pleased with the new creature!! I was so thrilled and thankful for all his encouragement and patience with me!! After what felt like ages, the new, "Sea Monkey" creature was completed!! I was so happy more so for Robert and for him to enjoy this amazing creation! If it wasn't for his belief in me and harnessing my talents I wouldn't have even thought my hands could create this awesome Sea Monkey!! Haha!

Sea Monkey Bloop!!

I couldn't wait for him to receive the Sea Monkey, so I immediately shipped him off. So I hope to update you all with a photo from Robert when this creature is where he is meant to be displayed!! 

If you have read this far, thank you and for sharing a part of my recent commission experience! 

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls 

Some People Want it to Happen, Some People Wish it Would Happen...

 ..."Others make it happen." ~ by Michael Jordan

     This week was a full week of classes for Sara. It is her Senior Year! I am both excited and anxious for her. Mostly, because she will have completed a milestone in life... Graduation. But it is bittersweet to know that my last child will go out into the world and hopefully make it a better place. 

Speaking of children...  

I was able to find another vintage Puppet Alice loose on the Bay! She sadly, took a month to get to me. Gotta love Ground Advantage, ugh! My plan was to get her a body and than clean her up and make her into a hybrid doll just like my other Alice...

Alice Puppet Before.

 

I have been asked by several doll collectors if they could buy my Alice. But of course at the moment she is not for sale. I love my Alice. So I decided to make another hybrid and I will offer her up for sale soon. This will be my 3rd Alice hybrid to date. The 2nd Alice was done for another fellow collector in New York and I believe she still has her. So, I ordered a body and cleaned up Alice3 to have her ready. When the body came, I transferred her and dressed her up. But when I put both Alices together, I noticed something wrong immediately?!!

Alice3 and Alice1 side by side after Alice3 cleanup.

 

The body was the smaller version, ugh!! I forgot that the bodies of this vintage doll I use comes in twenty or twenty-four inches tall. Shoot!! So back to the drawing board. I found and ordered a taller bod. It took another month. So yup, two months in, this venture would take me a bit longer to do. Darn! Notice above side by side, Alice3 is more tan than my Alice1. That's okay, she is still in lovely condition and she reminds me of "Momo" from "Peach Girl" manga series, and she has a lot more fuller hair than Alice1. Also, her eyelashes don't have holes in them! Alice1 does and I just repainted them. I may touch up Alice3's eyelashes.

By early August I got the 2nd body in. So off to work I began on my free days from babysitting. I dressed Alice3 up in a pink adorable lace and stripe number and added socks and gave her Chatty Cathy blue saddle shoes. She is just as lovely as Alice1 and Alice2!! 

Alice3 on the left and Alice1 on the right.

Sweet gals for sure! She will come with her original puppet dress washed, a pair of pajamas from the original doll body I used, the pink dress, socks and shoes she is currently wearing. I am definitely pleased with the way she turned out! I hope she will go to a good home and be loved by her new Mommy!!

I am so tempted to keep her!!

Next, this adorable 3D lenticular coin purse wallet of a Liddle Kiddle sleeping beauty and on the other side two plush bears posing with a ball. I found this in a lot overseas and of all places in South Africa!! I thought it was cool to mention, but it also took some time to get to me. Haha! 

My favorite side with the bears!

Than, while doing my usual searches, I found this book!! Just look closely... Do you see anyone familiar?! This book version of Alice in Wonderland has an Alice on the cover that resembles, the Eegee Alice!!! You can see why I chose to buy it. This book I got in from a seller in Canada! I will keep for now, especially since I can't find another so easily.

Alice w the book.

Below, I found this adorable Stuffed animal sleeping kitty in pink. She is in great condition and is already listed in my shop. Her bow is original to her. Sadly, no tag, but she is similar to Rushton kitties with out the rubber face. She's so sweet for sure!

Next, two lots of vintage goodies from Japan! Many of the items you see in the lot below are already listed in my shop. There's even a CD of Pink Lady's single, some Snoopy tin plates, and Halloween ornaments!! Most ready for adoption in my Etsy shop! Even the Sanrio Glico toy lot in the next photo! Some I kept, but most have been listed even a cool cube with Hello Kitty Christmas scenery that doubles as a marble game!!

Lastly, this adorable Pink and Black striped Peggy-ann dolly dress mip!! It says it can fit a 20 to 22 inch doll! Sadly, it does not, instead maybe an 18 inch doll. I was hoping it would fit Alice3. Ugh! Oh well, I have other dolls that may fit it. So far, it has been a good start to August, whew!

May you have good thrift finds as well my fellow collectors! Until next post! 

Thank you for stopping by! ~ ggsdolls

Internet Finds and More...

 This week, I worked on another rubber face cutie and here is how he turned out...

I decided to try yellow this time with the last bunny rubber face I had in my stash. And instead of using satin fabric for part of the ears, I used blue fur. I still used the chenille wires inside the ears and this time, I had sewn them into the seam between the ears and head. Which worked out really well. I added a rattle instead of the squeak sounders. He looks adorable, and I hope to add him to my shop later this weekend!

I also got a lot of happy mail on Friday!! Here's what came in, a retro TV shaker set, mini mermaid doll, a hug doll from Japan, a Lot of Lotte Licca doll accessories, and last a Lot of Kitty squeak toys. First, the hug doll. This one is quite unique and still mint in package. I fell in love with her eyes, they look a lot like the Pose doll eyes. I couldn't resist her and won her via Yahoo Japan. She has her original tag too. It is also from the Showa period, so she might be as old as my Bunka doll?

Next, this lovely Lot of Lotte Licca doll accessories and toy sets. I sorted through the Lotte items and will add these to my Etsy shop this weekend! Many cute accessories, including a lovely pet set. I will keep the shampoo bottles, pot with flowers, and tiny Glico box toy. I've always wanted a small version of that!! Yay! The Lotte items each come complete with Licca dolly stickers. There is a makeup case, a purse, a mirror compact, and a hanger with bag. So these will be added in my shop later...

The retro television set pair of shakers, are from 1988, as it says on the box. I've seen the original versions of these shakers sets, but I have always wanted this blue color. They make great miniatures in dollhouses too! So, I hope to use it with Tadie Muz or other similar sized dolls. Especially, in my scenic photos. They come with removable salt and pepper shakers at the top, and when you turn the knob, the shaker lift up by a plastic bar inside. Interesting! The cute vintage mermaid doll made in Hong Kong, I found after a commission for a friend. I might repaint her and then sell her... Not sure. Last, these toy squeak kitties in blue, pink, and yellow. Sadly, their squeakers are all disintegrated. I might try to fix them or redo their bottoms. They were mint in package, but I had to take them out because they were covered in the disintegrated particles, yuck.

They each come with a chain collar. The lettering at the bottom is also coming off and yellowed. I will have to see what I can do with them... More on them later.

I hope you all stay safe and well. Guam is going into lock down because of the spike in positive COVID numbers. Prayers to all...

Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls