Progress...

Having finally made a decision about what to do has actually made some difference to how I feel. All but six dolls (apart from those in two cabinets) are now currently in my sewing studio, waiting to be boxed up - which will be once the Sailor has gone back to sea...I want to spend as much time with him as possible over the next week before I fly to USA and he sets off back to his ship.  Of course I know when I get back and have to tackle this area I am going to feel overwhelmed once again...but won't worry about that for now.

I have kept six up at the house - two of my 'special' dolls (introduced yesterday)  that just sit (currently reading to each other), Peggy Sue, Henry and my two Bluefairy dolls,Ruby May & Olive June, (whom being new, deserve some attention!).  Hazel Bleuette is in her special box, so she will come out as and when I do any sewing challenges if I feel so inclined. 

I do have my shelf of Makies - I haven't quite decided yet whether to pack them up or not - they don't take up a lot of room and are fairly unobtrusive, plus I currently have one I am working on as a project...  The Hittys still live in their 'Cottage' in the conservatory - again I don't 'count' them as they are out of the way.

Our living space already looks so much clearer and I feel I can breathe again.  Today I started sorting through all the soft toys/teddies that live above our wardrobe...they don't take up room as such, but I just feel I don't 'need' most of them anymore. Hubby apparently has to approve my 'to go' pile...which means, knowing him, most will end up back on top of the wardrobe!

I even sold one of my dolls the other day so that was good too!  Plus have sorted out at least two to find new homes for, so it is a start.

So this post isn't picture-less.... a picture of Ruby wearing her new purple jacket knitted the other week.

'All Over Dolls'

I think I am 'all over' dolls....yes, that is probably a bit of a shock to some who may read my blog, but I have been feeling like this for some time now on and off - probably about a year - so have decided to do something about it.

I am not going to act rashly immediately and get rid of them all...I don't think I could anyway as I am not very good at letting go.  Instead I am going to box them all up and put them in storage for a while to see how I feel in say six months time. If I still feel the same and haven't missed them I will sell them.

I will keep a core group out - a maximum of 10, but hoping to keep the number around about five if I can - probably a hard call, but this will be a good indication of exactly how I feel. So there will still be the odd blog post here and there as it takes my fancy, but I think I really need to take a break and refocus and to work out exactly what I want and how I feel and where to go from there.  

I may introduce a few dolls that arrived in the last month. Why?  I ask myself did I have new arrivals knowing how I felt?!  Perhaps the 'buzz' of something new in the hope that it will stimulate and excite, but it rarely has and if it has only for a very short period of time.  I know some of the 'whys', continual pain is always a big factor, the subsequent feelings that come along with this, and the longing to return to NZ and missing my parents is another - and so I 'compensate' for these things by a continual 'search' for something that will distract me, but this isn't really working, the pain is still there, the loss of my music is still there and the deep seated longing and 'home sickness' is still with me.

So I could probably write more, but won't for now.

If you could only have three?

I have been having a big sort through my dolls recently...I am feeling rather overwhelmed by everything the dolls including so trying to have a big de-clutter session.  It all started with the kitchen which is now wonderful - it took over a week to clear, clean, de-clutter and repaint.  I have now started on my sewing studio which also houses dolls, books and music...and to say the job is huge is an understatement.  It seems I am making more mess and it is even harder to get in there now!  Part of the problem being that I have to put everything back in at the end of each day in case it rains.  It did last night - it chucked it down.  I want to be able to enjoy the things I have and use/play with them rather than have them tucked away in boxes unreachable.  So it is time to downsize.  Dolls I have had for a long time but no longer hold any interest for me need to go.  Well that isn't strictly true, I do still like them, I just feel I don't need to hang on to them any longer and by doing so will hopefully be able to focus on the ones I want to.  So far I have sorted about 30 dolls to go which are currently on my 'For Sale' page.  I will gradually list them on my Etsy site or on Ebay.  

Which got me thinking:

If you could only keep three  five dolls, who would they be and why?

I know which three five it would be for me....although of course it would be hard.

Henry, my travel companion who has been to Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand and the USA with me.  Henry is a Sasha Gregor doll who was made by the Trendon factory in Stockport, England in 1971. He has only been with me a few years, but has really wheedled his way into my heart from the moment I saw him.

Peggy Sue, is another who hasn't been with me very long, but is a firm companion and I have a lot of fun with her.  She is a wooden Schoenhut doll who I stripped back to bare wood, and as such has become very personal to me.

Hitty Madge, is my small doll I carved - the first I ever carved in fact.

Linda, is my 'walking & talking' Palitoy doll from the very early 70s that I got as a child.  I am not sure if she was bought for me by my Grandparents or my Parents - I must ask to see if Mum or Dad remember.  

?

Of course I hope I never have to make these crucial choices!  What a difficult thing that would be.  I think I could actually get them down to ten dolls, but after four it is more difficult choosing that fifth doll...would it be American Girl Doll Saige whom my son surprised me with last year?  Or would it be a Sasha doll?  That is where it becomes very difficult.  Whereas if it were ten, I could also include Saige, AG Chrissy who I am also very fond of and FOUR Sasha dolls, or perhaps a KnC .

So my extra six dolls would be:

AG Saige

AG Chrissy

KnC Bobby

Sasha - Stevie

Sasha - Amber or Emily whom my husband bought me.

?

Nope can't do it!  It is always difficult choosing that 'last' doll, especially when I look at them!

How about you?