Lindsay is featured  in 2 interviews this months and she well deserves to be under the spotlight. She has so many talents she demonstrates in her Blythe hobby that I don’t even know where to start: she is a photographer, a customizer, a fashion stylist, not to mention a miniature and decor expert of course.  Jennifer Lynn, Blythe blogger and friend, who writes in Blythopia, just featured Lindsay as the Photographer of the month. I had decided a while ago to interview Linz, aka Ellewoods2007, from the angle of her job and passion: Interior design, like Gina and Angela. I feel very pleased and honored to have on my blog today one of the most talented and famous Blythe interior designers, and definitely one of the most glamorous Blythe friend I have ever met!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Lindsay and me at BlytheCon 2011 in Portland. I  feel so fortunate I could meet Linz in person!

Photos: Ellewoods2007. Claudette – The Diva arriving at the Deluxe Hotel in Portland for BlytheCon 2011.

Hi Linz! Can you introduce yourself?

Hi Fanny! You know me as Lindsay or ElleWoods2007 on flickr (the name if you didn’t know is based on one of my all time fave movie characters from Legally Blonde) although I am a redhead like you!!  I live in a city called Rancho Cucamonga here in Southern California. I earn my dolly money working as an Interior Designer and have been designing “big people” interiors for over twenty years now… I love my job and I’m so thankful to be very busy but sometimes I wish life had a pause button!!

Photo: Elle woods2007. Linz at work.

How and when did you discover Blythe?

Interesting story as I’m sure everyone’s intro to Blythe must be. The love story between me and Blythe began at an FAO Schwartz store at the Grove in Los Angeles California where I was shopping for a birthday gift for my young niece when I stumbled upon the most fascinating doll. It was a Hollywood selling for about $70.00 (I know!). Well, I picked her up and just stared at her…I wanted her!! But the grown-up in my said “Why are you looking at a doll for yourself at this age?” I put her back and continued shopping for my nieces birthday gift. The memory of that little glamorous doll with the big head would haunt me for years until one day while surfing the Internet I stumbled upon a picture of that doll!! It wasn’t a Hollywood but a customized mohair redhead, but I’d know those eyes, the allure of this doll and that big head anywhere!! I found out the name of the doll…”Blythe”…so simple, so sophisticated and quirky.

I copied the picture I had found and posted it on my Myspace page with a caption “I’ve always wanted a Blythe doll.” Well, an old girlfriend from high school saw the post, bought me an Ashton Drake and left it at my Mom’s house with a note saying how sorry she was for being so awful in high school. She was a “mean girl” that was super popular and made me popular by association but treated me horribly. I tried to rekindle the friendship thinking she had changed…she hadn’t but Blythe changed my life!! I thank her for that!!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Zukin – Linz is an amazing fashion stylist and thanks to her great taste, the girls have a wardrobe to die for!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Zukin as a Samurai… is simply amazing!

When and why did you start to collect Blythe dolls?

After receiving the Ashton Drake doll, I finally “had” one of these dolls myself and went on a journey to find other people with this crazy love for Blythe! I found TIB forum, eBay, Etsy and so Blythe found my pocket book as well!!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Happy shoppers!

She is worth every cent I’ve spent on her (no regrets). She makes me feel young, happy & alive, introduced me to photography and a slew of the most amazing and fabulous people that one could only dream of having as friends in one lifetime.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Darling Diva playing Marylin. From the cocktail book Vogue Women by Georgina Howell. Photo of Marilyn Monroe shot by Eve Arnold, 1960.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. RRE Custom playing Princess Margaret. From the cocktail book Vogue Women by Georgina Howell. Photo of Princess Margaret shot by Cecil Beaton, 1951.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Mitten playing Faye Dunaway. From the cocktail book Vogue Women by Georgina Howell. Photo of Faye Dunaway shot by J. Schatzberg, 1968.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Star Dancer playing Catherine Deneuve. From the cocktail book Vogue Women by Georgina Howell. Photo of Catherine Deneuve shot by David Bailey, 1967.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Disco Boogie playing Farah Fawcett and skating!

How many dolls do you own and where do you store them?

I own thirty five (I think)…I just tried counting the other day. I have all the molds except for a Kenner which I dream of one day having a side part blonde one. They really make themselves at home and are scattered throughout the house but mainly reside in my home office perched all around me ready to bring a smile to my face!!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. The office/dolly room.

I know I hope I’m not the only one but I’ll put them back after a photo shoot or re-dressing them and will later discover the expression on their face staring at another Blythe with either shock, happiness, jealousy, love or just unimpressed overall…these discoveries are laugh out loud moments for me!! It is what makes Blythe so special; the range of emotions and expressions they possess and surprise their human owners with as opposed to Barbie’s perfectly fixed happy Stepford wife blank gaze.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Carol – G♥Baby custom: Bond girl.

Photo and custom: Ellewoods2007.  Zukin – Ahcahcum Zukin custom by Linz – After the prom.

Photo and custom: Ellewoods2007. Olivia – Saffy custom by Linz: Nothing comes between me and my Cashmere.

You are famous for creating amazing decors for your dolls. How did you start your first project and what was it?

Well, when I first came on to the Blythe scene I discovered This is Blythe forum and began posting pix of my dolls and after a short time I posted a photo story…then another and another. I then made up a soap opera that I called “Blythe Opera” with Claudette (my Darling Diva) my muse and star! So I needed furniture for the scenes and discovered that I could pretty much find anything my heart desired on eBay in 1:6 scale…it was over for my pocket book!! And naturally every room had to be elaborately designed for the tiny starlet’s!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Claudette – Darling Diva.

Photos: Ellewoods2007. Claudette’s master bedroom.

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Claudette – when the Diva wakes up in her bedroom.

I was never really crafty until Blythe and collecting furniture for them. It started with the frustration of not being able to find doll furniture that looked realistic. So, I went and got paints and just started re-painting plastic furniture. I also get creative with everyday finds like a silver candle holder used as the base of a dining table with a round scalloped mirror glued to the top. It is a curse though because I can never go shopping without looking at things asking myself “Is it Blythe size…can it be used for a prop?” Lol!

Photo and decor: Ellewoods2007. Not a single detail is left to chance and each decoe and set up made by Linz is simply stunning!

What are your favorite decors among the ones you have made so far and why?

I really love each one in its own special way. I have deep drawers and plastic bins full of furniture, home accessories and oodles of backdrops, floors & rugs that I pull from and pick out depending on my mood, the model and the overall inspiration for the shoot.

Photos and decors: Ellewoods2007. The Life of a Blythe: Spa, tea time with friends and a good night sleep!

I also have two huge room boxes that I commissioned someone to make for me…when I had the room boxes made, my imagination was bigger than my strength; they are a pain in the ass to move! I was also lucky to have gotten the 1:6 scale Kenmore kitchen set but have only done a couple of shoots with it…I’ve been wanting to do some more kitchen shoots for some time now but alas with a full time job sometimes working twelve hour days and helping my Mom out during my spare time I hardly have time for elaborate shoots with gobs of Re-ment. With that said, My personal favorites are the shoots I’ve done where I’ve had more time to pull out the Re-ment, accessories and basically pulled out all the stops and created those “wow” interior moments! I wish I had more free time so I could just play with my dolls and all their stuff!!

Photo: Ellewoods2007. The dollhouse.

What do you like the most with collecting Blythe and what makes you feel happy?

So many things. I love the feeling of getting a package for me and the dolls; the opening and touching of these tiny creations that have been made with love or are a found treasure. There is something about miniatures that is magical and special like another world that we have been privileged to have discovered! I love the photography aspect as well; capturing that “one” picture out of a hundred when you are downloading a shoot and have that “this is major” moment! I also love the completion of a custom when you finally snap the head closed and she is done. I love the inspiration that Blythe gives us all…in feelings, fashion and personal expression “life through art!”

Photo: Ellewoods2007. Minka – G♥Baby custom.

A friend on Flickr recently had to put her beloved pet down and she posted a picture of her mini-me customized Blythe sitting on a sofa holding a picture of her pet…tiny balled up Kleenex tissues were scattered everywhere from the tears the doll had shed. It was touching, sad and beautiful. Blythe is a deep doll that allows us all to express ourselves and keeps our childhood innocence alive and strong. I truly believe that the world would be a better place if every human on earth was sent a Blythe doll with a couple of outfits and a camera accompanied with instructions that the doll always had to be with them.

Photos: Ellewoods2007. Claudette’s new condo: stylish and chic.

What are your next projects?

Sometimes I feel like my head will explode with the ideas formulating in it! So many ideas and so little time…I have been collecting pieces for a fantasy garden theme complete with tiny elephant candles, balls made of white roses, chandeliers and tea sets. Ah…the joy of Blythe and the fantasy world she can transport us to.

Photo and custom: Ellewoods2007. Paris custom by Linz – The Flower girl.

Photo and custom: Ellewoods2007. Paris custom by Linz – Eye love you.

We love you too, Lindsay! A huge thanks for accepting this interview with such kindness and sharing your love for Blythe and life with her. It is always a treat to see your new pictures and gorgeous girls! As for your decors and the interior designs you made for the girls, they are so fantastic that each time you make me want the same for my house. I just adore the way every detail makes the whole set up even more realistic and beautiful. With the best wardrobe and the more stylish decors around them, your dolls are definitely very lucky girls!
Thank you again for making us dream and making the world more beautiful through your pictures!