What I got for Christmas

Christmas has come and gone and, like many of you, I got some gifts under my tree. Like I've mentioned before, I get most of my gifts on January 5th which is one of the reasons why this post is coming so late. The other is that we had somewhat of a bumpy start of the year, but I'm trying to put my best foot foward. Although some of these aren't necessarily dolls or doll-related stuff, they're things I'm going to use in the future for crafts or other projects on this blog, so I still think they're somewhat relevant for this blog

Let's start with one of the things I was more excited about: craft paint. If you're a regular reader, you've probably seen me use Americana Acrylics in 90% of my craft projects. They color chart is so extensive, and you can find quite a few colors that will look very realistic on dioramas and doll furniture. I don't think that, quality-wise, they're the best brand that I've tried, but the other brand that I like has been discontinued. 

Just like last year, Mr. Monster got these from an online store called Mia Mandarina, which is a small business run by a lovely lady. On the package, she included a beautiful postcard with one of her original illustrations. I did make a list of colors that I wanted, with a second list of colors he could get in case he didn't get enough for shipping or they were out of stock of some colors. Even though I knew this was coming, I didn't know which colors would I get.

I did have to pick them online, which can be challenging because often, colors won't look in person the same they look online, but overall I'm quite happy with the selection. I wanted to pick blue shades that look similar to the ones in my house, which would be Blue Mist and Winter Blue.  However, I did try not to pick too many blues and teals, which are the colors I'm more drawn to, but instead I tried to pick colors that would be different to my usual shades. The only two that look too similar between them are the browns, Cocoa and Honey Brown (on camera they look identical though).

While I have swatched all of the colors, I still haven't had the chance to use them in a craft project. I've been thinking about making some sort of "review" on craft paints and make a list of some of my favorite Americana colors, so let me know if you would be interested in that. Also, let me know which of these new colors is your favorite. 

For doll photos, I got this small ring light. It is designed to be used on videoconferences, so it has a USB port to connect it to your laptop to turn it on. It also comes with a clamp to attach it to your screen. I had been mentioning for quite some time I wanted one of those mini ring lights that you can attach to your phone. Mr. Monster saw a good deal on this one, and got it even though it wasn't technically for a phone. I haven't played much with it yet, but I have tried using it attached to my phone. Unfortunately, it's quite bulky and had some trouble with it.

It also comes with a mini tripod, which i have used for a couple of these photos and it works fine. I will keep experimenting with it and I'll let you know my final thoughts. This might be a good alternative if you're not willing to invest in a big ring light. 

Now to the other thing I was more excited for: a sewing machine! I didn't expect to get one as a gift, so I screamed like an 8 year old when I saw it. I hadn't been doing any research on sewing machines, so I have no idea which one is the best. The one I got is the Singer Promise 1408, which, for what I can see on some online reviews, is quite beginner-friendly.  Mr. Monster saw a few reviews that said it was quite powerful for the price point, specially if you're a beginner or a casual sewer. On top of that, he managed to get it on sale, so that makes it an even better deal. Now I have no excuse to avoid making doll clothes.

Last, but certainly not least, I have two new dolls. On the left, we have the Stormtrooper Star Wars Barbie that, pretty much like the Leia one, went down on sale for a much cheaper price. Technically this wasn't a Christmas gift, but rather a graduation gift Mr. Monster made me, but I thought since I hadn't shown here yet, this was a great chance. 

On the right, we have doll number 2 from the new Barbie Looks line (the curvy one). I'm planning on doing a review on her anytime soon, where I'll explain my full thoughts on this doll and this line. From the first wave, this one was the only one I truly wanted, and I'm happy she's here. 

As I mentioned earlier, I've had not-so-smooth start of the year. Some people from our family, but also at Mr. Monster's job, tested positive for the you-know-what, so we have had to quarantine for a few days. This couldn't happen at a worse moment, since my mother-in-law recently had surgery and could really use some help that, out of safety, we haven't been able to provide. She's doing fairly well, and she has her husband with her, but I know she still needs an extra helping hand. I know this is a pandemic and something like this could eventually happen, but I can't help to feel demoralized by the situation.

Out of precaution, Mr. Monster's company has sent everyone to work from home, so I'll have him around for a few weeks. We've arranged one of the desks in the doll room for him to work, so I've moved my laptop to the dining room. I still can use the craft table for doll stuff, as far as it's not a loud activity (sewing or certain craft projects will have to wait). I'm not complaining though, I think it's important for him to have a separate space for work, that once he's done he can close the door and forget about it. 

I hope that you're all staying safe and that your year is going well so far. Let me know what you got for Christmas in the comment section. See you soon. 

Monster Crafts