#1: August 2004
Base: Pixel Cuteness (site closed)

The one that kicked it off. I was hesitant about jumping in with the whole BOTM, especially when I saw the first base. It's a really great base, but miles away from what I was comfortable using. And then I realized that this was the point. So I went all out and created a character I wouldn't normally doll. Her hair looks like fresh-pressed vinyl, but I kinda like the nose ring.

#2: September 2004
Base: Pixie & Shadow's Haven

Back when FF was in the throes of Cinderella, I dolled a royal ball-like couple. This is probably the first profile base I ever attempted.

#3: October 2004
Base: Kaligoddess (site closed)

A modern Cinderella. I drew the dress six times over before settling on this one. I felt it looked boring, so I used some PS brushes to give it a bit of snazz.

#4: November 2004
Base: Lilacblizzard Dollz

This pose seemed to beg for skates, even if I can't draw an antique/fae skate blade to save my life (hopefully it won't come to that!)

#5: December 2004
Base: Dollified

Nervous about taking on a realistic base, I went really crazy with the hair and changed its colour four or five times before settling on a neon green.

#6: January 2005
Base: Pixelated Pixelations (site closed)

Partly based on a picture book illustration and partly based on playing cards, this is the Queen of Hearts to go with the Alice In Wonderland forum theme. This is one of my favourite BOTMs - I was really happy with the way she turned out!

#7: February 2005
Base: Shirley's Dollz

I really have to revisit this beautiful base and make a new doll for it, because I totally didn't do it justice with this attempt. It was one of those deals where I started, finished and submitted all in one night. I think some sober second thought would have helped here!

#8: March 2005
Base: Enchanted Playland

A fantasy-style base and a Beauty and the Beast theme at FF led me to attempt The Beast. I consulted a whole whack of fairy tale illustrations and was inspired by a recurring theme: the sad contrast between beautiful regal outfits and a monstrous visage. Ehrm . . . . don't think I pulled it off here (needed more detail!), but I kinda like the wilting rose.

#9: April 2005
Base: Pseudo

Not only did I kill three birds with one stone (contest example, BOTM, doll-I-was-going-to-do-anyway) with this doll, but she turned out rather well to boot! Based on a plate from La Galerie Francaise de Femmes Célèbres, this is Lady Valois.

#10: May 2005
Base: Oops I Arted
NOT ADOPTABLE (gift)

If it weren't for BOTM, I wouldn't have had the courage to touch a) such a good-looking base and b) a child-like base, but a long overdue visit from my sister (who is an avid gardener and has a grey tabby named Jingles), inspired me to make this for her.

#11: June 2005
Base: Ambrosia Dreams (site down)

I can't believe how long it took me to do a Moonie doll. Say hello to Sailor Pluto.

#12: July 2005
Base: Tropicallili

This doll marked a) one whole year of base challenges at FF and b) my first ever mermaid. Can't! Do! Scales! . . . so I overcompensated with a purdy background. I like the reflection in the water, even if it appears as if the mermaid is standing straight up. Mermaid magic!

#13: August 2005
Base: Devilishly Delicious Dolls

I was driving down Aiming-For-A-Mermaid Street when I became distracted by a shiny object and ended on Doll-An Approximate-Resemblance-to-a-RL-Friend Boulevard instead. Sometimes mental detours can be a good thing.

#14: September 2005
Base: zvaella

The process: a) decide on a Little Mermaid prince subject, b) go here and stare at the beautiful, romantic depictions of the "love at first sight moment", c) gaze longingly out the window all afternoon and sigh 'til I'm lightheaded, d) doll my best approximation of a maritime prince. If only he were a real boy.

#15: October 2005
Base: Elfieville (no site)

If I keep at these Base of the Month challenges, I just might lose my spine-tingling fear of dolling profile bases. Maybe. In another 50 dolls' time. For some reason, I was completely disinclined to draw hair, so I raided one of my favourite inspirational sources (Galerie Francaise de Femmes Célèbres) for some funky, hair-obscuring medieval headgear.

#16: November 2005
Base: Dazed Journey

At this point, 16 BOTM challenges in a row had challenged my want/need to stop dolling until January '06. So I arranged a glitzy, Vegas-style boxing match with the BOTM Brute in one corner and Kid Sabbatical in another. KS suffered a TKO three seconds into the first round.

The resulting doll is far less messy. I still need to fix the shading, though (thanks for the pointers, Teri!)

#17: December 2005
Base: Just Vicki (site down)

I posted this exactly two minutes before the monthly deadline, so yes . . . a little rushed. This is Sleeping Beauty kinda sorta how she appears in a beautiful, illustrated book of fairy tales I've had since I was small enough to hide in kitchen cupboards.

#18: January 2006
Base: Sabbiness (site down)

I don't know why; I just did. This phrase sums up most of my motivations, from cooking with lemons, to dolling things that may or may not make sense. Anyway, she's a rabbit, I'm a rabbit, and bunnies are cool (though, admittedly, it'd be cooler if they could spit like llamas) and . . . there you go.

P.S. - Attention all retail outfits: having Valentines and Easter items for sale simultaneously is mindbending and just plain WRONG!!!

#19: February 2006
Base: Min's Muse

It's almost, but not quite, Min's Muse. Since Min has a special squooshy spot reserved for drows, I thought I'd make her something drowy. Tried a new hair technique that turned out alright. Next item: trying to perfect the elusive collar . . .

#20: March 2006
Base: Loreleiz Dollz

Why a nun? It could be that I was once again disinclined to draw hair. Even more likely is that I have no idea whatsoever. Lesson learned from this doll: performing an internet image search using the keyword of "nun" can be a potentially disturbing experience.

#21: April 2006
Base: Shirley's Dollz
NOT ADOPTABLE (avatar)

After blowing my first attempt at a Shirley-made base during the 7th BOTM challenge, I think I almost get it right 14 BOTMs later. The clothes (in the new FF forum colours) need a bit more work, but the hair turned out much, much better.

#22: May 2006
Base: Hambunny Haven

FF BOTM #22 featured a base I've always wanted to use, but couldn't figure out how. Actually, I was still figuring that out three-quarters of the way into this doll. I think it's a benefit to most dollers to have a plan before they actually start dolling. Otherwise you'll end up doing something silly, like redrawing a small pattern fourteen thousand hundred million times. Also, I think it's obvious that the effort is unfocused. Or maybe it's another failure of imagination. I'm telling ya: clothing coordination and I have a very tempestuous relationship.

#23: June 2006
Base: Pixel Pieces of History (site down)

This was turned in at the absolute last minute and I think it shows, which is kind of cruddy, because this is a great base and I really wanted to do it justice. I took a cue from the base creator and made something historical. The hat would probably look better without the gold thingie, but I was going for historical accuracy . . . I just couldn't get the perspective right. Don't ask me about the colours. I just don't know - but I do apologize to your retinas.