The New Arrival

Susan: (muffled voice) Hey you two, let me out!

Audrey:  What if she is mean?

Hammie:  yeah, she could be a sinister sister!

Hammie:  She might take all our toys!

Susan (still muffled and now irritable) If I don't get out of this box, I will not be able to tell you a secret!

Audrey:  hurry Hammie, get her out!  I want to hear the secret!

Hammie:  she's a robot monster!

Audrey:  I can hear her breathing.

 Husband:  Here, let me cut the tape, you are too little to use scissors.

Susan: (gasping)  FINALLY!

Audrey:  You look all grown up!  I thought I was going to have a sister I could play house with!

Susan:  This is just my temporary look.  I am going to have a spa treatment!

Susan:  I will look much different when done.

Later that night:

 

Olwen: I am so tired!  I want to go to bed now, please.

Next morning:

Hammie: (who is facinated by Olwen's braids) You look like Rapunzel!

Olwen: Really?  I like that idea!

Olwen:  I get to have a new wardrobe today.  I will be so tired again.  It takes hours and hours.

Hammie:  How long is hours and hours?

Audrey:  Lots of minutes!

Olwen:  I see you got freckles!

Audrey:  yeah.  I am all freckly!

Audrey:  So what was the secret you were gonna tell us?

Olwen:  The secret is that I am your sister and we are now a family!

Hammie:  Can I climb up your braid?

The Nisse Family

Hammie

Olwen

Audrey

Susan is Here

I finally had a chance to see Susan for the first time yesterday!  I even sliced a deep gouge in my thumb trying way too quickly to get the box open!  Husband had to take over!  lol  The seller had sent a printout birthday card!  I was so touched by that!

Initial reaction:  OMG!  She is so tender!  So fragile and delicate looking.  She came with plastic brown eyes and a pink wig that was much prettier in person than in the seller photographs.  She was very pale, almost white, with a beautifully smooth skin.  Her fingers are long!  I was struck by how they were beautifully smooth and delicate.  Her faceup was standard, with the typical black eye liner that stands out because there is no shading softness and her brows are that awful orange I have seen before.  I changed her eyes to a pale colour, but that didn't suit her, and then to the intense blue I had originally bought for Hammie and they fit her perfectly, much better in size than a few other eyes I tried from my "eye" box.  Her lips are a very delicate pink and so is her blushing on her lower cheeks.  What is wrong with the face up is that there isn't any subtle shading to bring out her lovely face sculpt.  I have been studying her face and will pick up something from Hobby Lobby today to soften and enhance what I see.

Her body poses beautifully!  She is the best MSD poser I have ever had!

The pink wig was lovely, but when I pulled the hair down, I could see that she would look more childlike in braids.  I could not find my bag of wigs, instead I found 2 old MSD wigs I had from when I had Prudence.  I tried on the silver wig and liked it.  I made two quick braids and liked the look.  With the blue eyes, she looks great.  I will wait until the wig and eyes I ordered have been tried to make a final decision.  It's very possible the eyes and shoes won't arrive in time and if that is the case, I will have to go with the silver and blue look.  Still, the problem with the wig is that it has no warmth, and I would like to see her with different shades before being sure.

Her body is very slender, but she does have large breasts.  I noticed when I put on a jumper I had made for Prudence, that it was too tight in the bust.  I will be taking the breasts off with a dremel sander today.  I gave it a lot of thought yesterday, you know, thinking about changing her value, and would I possibly ever want to let her grow up, sort of thoughts.  She hasn't got shapely hips, and other than being very tall for 12 years old, I think that the immature bustline will be the right look for her.  Braids and bangs definitely change her age immediately:

 

I found a few items of clothing for her, but none of them seemed to suit her.  She will need a very particular look I can see.  What that is, I am not sure. Shoes are going to be very difficult.  The two pair I found are way too large and so are the boots.  Again, I have no choice but to deal with it, perhaps very thick socks will help keep them on.  She has narrow, petite feet.

I spent a lot of time with her last night and delighted in getting to know her.  I can't wait to complete her makeover and sew her wardrobe!

The Sinister Sister

Hammie: I HATE these flippy things!

Audrey: You are suppose to snap them!

Hammie: Then YOU snap them!  I can't!

Audrey: It's cause your fat!

Hammie: I'm telling you said that!

Hammie:  I'm not fat!  Only girls are fat!  (stamping his foot)

 Me: What's the matter Hammie?

Hammie:  I don't want flippy things on me!

Me:  Here, let me roll your sleeves up.  You have thick wrists is all.  I have some news for you both!  Olwen is coming to live with us.  She is also a Nisse so she will be our sister!

Audrey:  Ay sister?  Is she mean?  Cinderella's sisters were mean!  I bet she is a SINISTER sister!

Hammie: (starting to get scared) I don't want a mean sister!  Why can't we have a nice sister?  (sniffling) What does SINISTER mean?

 Me:  Goodness, gracious, who said anything about being mean?  She is a very nice girl.  She can't wait to meet you both!  I want you both to be on your very best behaviour tomorrow, she will be feeling quite exhausted after her long trip!

Hammie:  Another sister!  I want a brother!  She might steal all my toys!

Audrey:  I want a sister!  Then we can have tea parties and play house!

Hammie:  Well, just don't invite me to your silly tea parties.  I wonder if she can play ball games?

Susan Susan Susan

One more day, and I will meet my Susan.

I had named Audrey, Audrey Susan in honor of my childhood baby doll.  With Susan taking on the namesake, I think I will give Audrey the name Audrey Bluebell and Susan the name Susan Silverbell.  Hammie keeps his name as Hamlet Abernathy.  I have an antique tiny silver bell that I will eventually give to her (I don't remember if I packed it with Evie's jewelry box or it is in mine) as her namesake.  Until then, I will find another bell for her, and a blue one for Audrey.  Lots of pictures, tomorrow!

Soon it's Susan Serious

We have our load to Colorado, it delivers late tomorrow night so we will drive down to the Springs afterwards and sleep at the place we park when on home time.  My parents will pick us up on Friday and that is when I get to see Susan for the first time.  Husband has a Serius (sp?) satellite radio waiting for him, so we have been calling Susan, Susan Serious.  lol.

I made a list this morning of what is going back to Colorado and I have Miriam, Nanny, Olivia and Aloe Vera and all their stuff.  Also, I will take back the small vintage suitcase that I love so much, as I think it would be easier just to keep everyone's clothes and shoes in zippered bags and in my suitcase.  I am still fussing over the storage at the end of my bunk.  Too many boxes, bags or suitcase can be stacked just fine, but what I dislike is having to unstack to get to something and then restack each time.  Some items like soft bags do not stay put for long.  I have a large suitcase at the end that seems to be working the best so far, as I can just tip it down onto my bed to access it.  But then EVERYTHING has to be able to fit in it.  That means inventory reduction!

Here is a photo.  The hanging bags are temporary, we just got a bunch of free avocados and I hung them to prevent bruising.  I have hooks along side of husband's top bunk to old various things, I put the basket up at night on the hook too.  Sometime I put husband's bread in a bag on a hook to keep from getting smashed.   The bag on top of the suitcase is my knitting (it's a canvas bag) the little suitcase to the right is Audrey and Hammies shoes and clothes, the blue one underneath is my shower case with shampoo and things for taking at shower. 

I want to get rid of everything except the large suitcase.  It holds a lot and doesn't interfere with me stretching out on my bed. 

I also made a list of what I need to buy (YAY SHOPPING!).  I think two quilted placemats from the thrift shop will make a good padding for the two cubbies, one for Susan and one for Audrey and Hammie.  I would like to put some stickers up, just to make it personal for them....something from the scrapbooking section at Hobby Lobby.  I don't know if they will stick, the surfaces here are slicked somehow.   I will be making some sort of starter wardrobe for Susan, a nightgown, slip, panties, stockings and a couple of dresses and a coat.  I hope I have shoes for her....I may have packed the MSD size in the POD.  I have at least a pair of black boots, so that will have to do until the Mimiwoo shoes arrive.  I have a lot to do in my 5 days off!

Oh, and I am going to reduce her breasts down.  I have been thinking about it and I think that the only problem I have with MSD's is that to my mind, SD is an adult.  In relation to Evie, Susan isn't a miniature teen, but a 12 year old.  Her body is not as adult as many MSD's it's thin and non-curvy.  The breasts are out of place on her.  I will check under her thorax and if the breasts are solid, I will be taking them off.  I have a feeling that is going to make all the difference in the world as to how I will relate to her, as a child, not an adult or teen.  I told husband about it and he grimaced.  He said I was gruesome! lol. 

I have been trying to decide on what to do with Nanny.  I do enjoy her and she is a very quirky character.  She can't fit into the cubbie (wide hips) and I really don't want the hammock up right now, as it is hard to tip down the suitcase.  Right now, on the truck she simply sits in the travel basket.  I need that basket when we need to leave the truck and Susan won't fit with Audrey and Hammie in it too.  So while it has been planned that she stay in Colorado on the next 5 week run (to visit Charlotte) I am not sure if she will come back on the truck again, even though it would be good for the children.

The same thoughts go for Aloe Vera.  I love having her around.  Miriam is another difficult one to take back, she seems to need someone present to feel secure.  I think I will make a space for the ones that stay in Colorado so that they can all keep each other company.  The one I feel so bad for is Lizzy, who got put in the POD when we were having to move our stuff from my mother's closet.  I had planned on putting Evie and Noah in there, but couldn't at the last moment.  So wrapped up was I in the emotional tug of that that I forgot Lizzy was put int here with all of Evie and Noah's clothing and stuff.  Poor dear, I hope she has enough gin to last until we go there again.  At least she has Evie's box stuffed with food and a box of books to read.  I am very worried about her state of mind by the time we have a home again.  She never was too bright.

Well, back to list making and dreaming about Susan and all she will bring to my happy little Nisse family.

Shoes, Eyes and Red Yarn

Here are the shoes and eyes I bought for Susan:

Now both Susan and Audrey have golden shoes for the holidays!  I hope they fit, I have such bad luck with tiny shoes.  I have a feeling that Susan will have a thing for red shoes.  there maybe a story in that someday.  Oh, and while it is a small picture, here is the wig:

See what I mean about the colour being called honey?  It looks more neutral to me.

Sunday should be the start of our home-time.  I am always feeling so antsy the last week of the run.  My mind is reeling with ideas for Susan's wardrobe and her look.  I really cannot tell by the seller photo's what she really looks like.  It seems she has brown eyes and the wig that is coming with her is dark pink with white tips.  I have always wanted to try a pink wig.  When I bought Evie, I was trying on wigs at DDE and loved this pale pink bob cut wig on her and almost bought it, but then I wanted her to look real and bought a mixed chestnut and blonde wig instead.  I find myself often regretting not going with my original instinct.

I think though, that the wig the seller also showed her in, a fawn coloured one, plus the wig at DDE being almost the same colour, is how I "see" her at this point.  I do have several other wigs and eyes to try at my parent's house, so even though I have bought a new wig and eyes, anything could happen.  She may not want my Susan idea at all, I am always thwarted in my ideas by my own companions!

Lets see, I have some lovely grey corduroy in  a very fine wale.  I have crisp white cotton, a fun cat pattern in black and white, and a ready made black dress from Alex.  I think that I will make a skirt of the cat fabric to go under the black dress and a top of the same fabric so that she has a set.  I have more of the red fleece fabric that I made Nanny's coat and hat of.  I want to make all three a coat and hat too.  Then I will knit scarves and mittens when back on the road.

The only thing I think I will need to buy is some red yarn.  Not easy to find.  Sigh.

Perhaps she is coming home after all these years.....

I just ordered DZ Fei 2 pairs of red shoes and one pair of gold and a pair of grey eyes.  They were all on sale, but yikes, it came to a lot of money, I hope I get a discount on the shipping.  I don't think I will see the items before I leave Colorado, as they are coming from Hong Kong, but I have had fast shipping from there before.  Then it will have to wait until Christmas before I get the items.

I still haven't found a name yet.  I decided I do not want to go with all danish names, name changing is so stressful.  I like Audrey and Hammie's names, it suits them.  So I looked at a lot of old fashioned names and sort of liked these:

Meredith
Rosemarie
Rose
Francine

But nothing felt right.  I'd put her photos on the side and look at her and say the various names and nothing......

And then this strange thought occurred to me.  I was thinking about her "honey" hair that I just bought and it reminded me of my companion doll when I was little.  I loved her so much.  She went every where with me.  She was so real to me that I believed when people saw me on the street with her in the baby buggy, they thought she was a real baby too. She even flew in airplanes across the continents and lived in different countries. Her name was Susan.  Here is the picture when I got her from Christmas:

Susan and me in front of my grandfather Mogens Vind, my grandmother Lis Vind on the right.

She had honey-ash blonde hair and tiny blue-grey eyes.  I have never seen her again in all my searches on the secondary market. I believe she may have been an Italian doll from what her face looked like, especially the eyes.  My daughter played with her for awhile too, but she went missing and we never found her again.  Where are you dear Susan?

While I was thinking of the colour eyes Fei would have with her honey hair, I thought of blue or grey eyes and sudden the thought of Susan morphing into Fei as an older child came to me.  As though my Susan was coming back to me!  I am such a fatalist,so I smiled when I thought about the only name my husband came up with when I asked him and he said Susanne, the Danish version of the name.  Hmmm....do I detect a note of fate?

When she arrives, I will see if this is the right thing to happen.  She will let me know. Please come back Susan!