Okay, I've launched the Great Deboxing Project or the DAF Streamlining Project. I will open up the dolls and action figures I want to keep; sell or donate the others. I'm setting aside the plastic components from the paper/cardboard parts of the packaging. (Figure I'll check with a recycling group - should have started there with my offer - to responsibly process unwanted material.) But here's a snag: where to place the newly deboxed dolls and action figures? Where will their homes be?
The boxes protected the figures. At least from dust. How to protect them now?
I've got one IKEA Detolf glass cabinet. Can't afford more of those at this time. Plus the one I put together was tiresome to put together. So the second one I had, I kept in its box only to have it broken by the next to the last movers. (Those charmers hid the broken Detolf cabinet box behind several other cardboard boxes so it was a while before I found out the damage they had done. Grrr.) What else?
Three plastic shelving units - the kind some people use in garages - and one Sterilite four-drawer plastic chest. Some of the doll boxes (Fashion Royalty, Susie, Mixis) can be used to store those dolls on the plastic shelves. A few Mattel boxes can also be retained for that purpose.
I have several plastic bins, too. Problem there is that I can't seal the dolls or action figures in because the plastics might mess up. The different chemicals might cause melting or mold or something BAD in my figures. Can't have that happening. So I am thinking, thinking, thinking about the "home" problem.
Any suggestions or advice welcome. As/when I come across solutions, I'll post them here.
2 comments:
I can share my solutions to the fig storage problem.
I have a bunch of dolls that I want to keep out and easily accessible. They are the cast of LHF. I have some on a display shelf over my desk, some on a bookcase and my very favorites on my desk. Yes, they do collect dust. However, if I really want to remove the dust, I can use some compressed air [at computer supply stores], wipe them carefully with a damp cloth [a chamois cloth for cleaning glasses is good], or just blow on them.
I keep some dolls in a set of plastic drawers. They've been through the usual changes in humidity and temperature that Boston life entails. And they haven't had any problems.
When moving, I packed my dolls in shoe boxes, which are just big enough for 1:6ers with some room for padding left over. I wrapped them in bubble wrap or tissue paper for more protection. I usually placed 2 or 3 layers of dolls in each box, unless they were particularly fragile or important, in which case they got their own boxes.
Also, I know that extra dolls can be such a horrible burden on your limited amount of space, so I know it's not much, but I can always help you create more space in your house by taking any extra dolls off your hands. It's a dirty job, but someone has to take one for the team!
Thanks, E.A., for your suggestions. I can see working out a system where my favorites/most popular characters are set at shelf levels easily accessible. I'll put more details about that in a follow-up post.
As for your more than generous offer to house some East Philadelphians - at first, I laughed out loud. Who amongst them would leave East Philly willingly? Then again, you never know ;-D I'll keep your most gracious offer - heh heh - in mind.
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