It happens to the best of us, I suppose, and I am not nearly the best. ^_^

For the second time, I have been overcome by a Soom tiny. This one's Alk. So I joined an Alk-and-Yrie split, and the nice person organising ordered the dolls before all the split parts were taken, just to speed along the excrutiatingly slow process of getting Soom to produce 'em. And now the DoA thread isn't allowed to be bumped despite it still being within the order period. Oops. Not quite sure I get why that is. I'm sure it closes some kind of cheaty loophole people were using to scam other people... or... something. I was never a rules lawyer is my problem. ^_^

So, in case anyone is interested, Yrie's eagley legs and feet are still up for grabs. The split thread is here.

Thanks all! ^_^

It's been a good week, doll-wise. Here are two good things about it.

For you, Cassiel, and for everyone else too. ^_^



My minifee Lishe came into sharp focus this week with the arrival of an amazing dress from St.Lunatic. Suddenly, the colour, the style all screamed steampunk, so steampunk it shall be. And I've named her! After years of "Lishie" she is now Fio.




A "light brown" Luts wig, a Thursday devoted to face-up and those amazing grass green DropRops and he's suddenly Seiji.

I posted this on DoA here.

Virgil from Pluto Dolls arrived today. He's an amazing MSD-sized boy head. There are not too many MSD boy heads that appeal to me I have to say, so this was a bit of an impulse thing. ^^;;;

The box opening is substantial, so it's under the cut.


( Cut I say!! )

Aaand now for gratuitous pics of Shal. Just two pics - no cut for you!


One thing about Shal is always that she has major flyaways. LOL


Pretty much the same shot. I like close-ups, but I felt the pose in the first pic said more about how she felt.

The occasion? A new wig from Cassiel from her new Ishki (YoSD Colin). It's very much like the wig Tsubaki came with, only black. Yay for black!

Just three images. No cut for you!





i can has treat?



ok, we share?


Thank you, Cassiel, for Japanese Snack of Awesome. I got about a half of it, but only because I was quick! Was going to take a thumbs-up pic of the other tasters, but they were fast-moving and already in trouble for messing with the tripod / lamp / doll so I thought it safer to skip it. Suffice it to say, the treat was an all-round hit! ^_^

The somewhat embarrassing  answer to a question I was asked last Saturday (thank goodness not 42):

1. Luts/CP Cutie Delf Cory (Miki)           
2. Luts/CP MNF Lishe modded on Serendipity Mini 14yrs Girl's body
3. Alchemic Labo U-noa Sist (Tomoyo)
4. Domuya Potpourri   
5. Bambicrony Ciao Bella Misty Blue Elf Pepe (Reki)
6. Volks KoTenshi Tsubaki   
7. Dollmore Elf Elly Girl - EomJi (Rini)
8. Domadoll Uni-Jado (Hana)
9. ShinyDOLL Kiki ~ stolen away by Diane!! ^_^   
10. LadySaiyuki Ted
11. Fairyland Puki Cupid   
12. Tinybear Mina (Minako)
13. DD-Anne Pei Yi   

Not quite included:

DoD Shall (Shal)
Volks School A SWD (Tenser)

Not yet included:

Luts Wintery

Floating:

ancient Luts Nanuri head
               
^^;;

A great time was had by me today, sprawled by the aircon surrounded by dolls. We totally missed the cool change I gather, but that's okay as it was fleeting.

I took a great many pictures, most of which were crap. Below are the ones that transcended crap. Whatever that means...

( Clicky for pics! )

Many thank-yous to kawaii_mon and everyone for making it fun! <3

A package arrived for me this morning while I was out dropping the Boy.

It was received with some trepidation at the front door as it looked as if an aeroplane had run over it.

When I came home and saw who it was from, I nearly cried to think of the damage I was going to find.

But no - inside the box, all was well. Better than, even. Because in the box was Mina.

Biccy visited today and brought Zero and Satin and we took some pics, swapped some wigs and eyes... and generally had a fun time.

My son is now set to marry her, I think because being thrown onto the couch repeatedly is so much fun!!! :)

Pics that came out worth a damn are

Given that I failed to capture Rini but otherwise did pretty well in the first shoot, I enlisted small helpers to help me set up a second. The light at this time of year in our back room is amazing, even after 5pm.

First, Shall - still without name. *looks meaningfully at partner*



Then Rini. She needs a new wig, but her head is so little that they're hard to find!



Thanks again to hiritai for the trick with sharpening the eyelashes. Even with my shiny new Photoshop CS3 and its Smart Sharpen, that extra work on Shall's eyelashes makes a world of difference in my view.

I'm feeling much better, btw. :D

I'm home sick today - home alone sick to be precise - so what better activity than to take a few pics.

The two things I meant to snap pics of didn't work out to be LJ-worthy, but I brought Reki down in to the room with natural light and she's almost smiling today! Maybe she's appreciating the fact I didn't drag her along to the meet on Saturday???

Anyway, two pics, one fine and one quite awesome - her eyes finally show their mettle.

A few weeks ago I canceled an order I'd put in with a doll company as the item I was looking for was no longer going to be available. The order had previously sat for well over a month, paid for, confirmed... not shipped....

When at last I spoke to a real person they were helpful and said no problem - the order will be canceled now. Great stuff!

Now, today, I get an e-mail that goes (somewhat) thusly:

Dear gelfling256

The order which it receives in 2008/01/22 was canceled.

Order number : [ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ]

- The 'Cancel order' with lower part is same case.

- It pays, until about prearranged date does not become the payment not to be and the case which the manager cancels.

- Before the payment is confirmed, the customer direct cancellation one case.


I think it means I'll be getting my money back soon! ! XD

My Easter story is under the cut.

I read a nice tutorial by hiritai on DoA about making eyes brighter in photos. I tried it on the Shall pic from the last post. What do you think? I think hiritai rules. :)

Oh, also, I think I need to upgrade my Photoshop. A Sharpen tool?! Yes please!! :)

Finally FINALLY I'm posting some more Shall pics. helene_in_melbo did a WONDERFUL face-up and new eyes (special golden brown) came in the mail this week from Ginarolo on DoA. Now, if only I was a better photographer!!

Well, my Ted is finally somewhat ready.

I did his face-up entirely with pastels and watercolor pencils - just like Helene would. So, anything you like, credit Helene and anything that you don't... it's all my doing! :)

He's kind of in borrowed gear right now - Shall's default acrylic eyes, Tomoyo's default fur wig and some leftover cheesecloth I didn't use making an herb bag for a roast the other afternoon.

Two pics - enjoy!

Him: Who the h3ll are you?
Me: Try to be nice, okay?


Me: What's wrong now?
Him: I wouldn't expect you to understand.

He's going to be so much fun to work on! He's a Ted - my Dragon boy!

Did I mention I had fun today? Well I did! And those other two did as well. Let's do it again next week!! :)

Thank you Helene and "Corney"... and everyone!!

Now Shall is off having her face-up redone it seems somehow appropriate to post up the pics I took of her recently with my new daylight-temperature lights. There's even a halfway decent one of Reki before she finally spat the dummy and threw off her wig. She's really quite grumpy at the moment. I'd say it was that she's not very fond of her wig but I put on a different one (a nicer one!) today and she STILL seemed grumpy!

The look on my sweetheart's face was priceless when he opened this package. I was sure he'd guess the contents from the box size and shape but come to think of it we haven't had any SD-sized boxes in the house before (and may never again) so perhaps I was worried for nothing.

We dressed her up Christmas Day after the kids headed out to be world-saving anime characters and build Star Wars icons with LEGO, and I stole a wig cap from Kiki for her this morning. Late afternoon she was finally photographed - not by me - and this is the photo I was allowed to use. I'm glad my sweetheart feels about her as I do about my dolls. :D

We're already discussing wigs and eye colour choice, and I've promised I'll get him some Enchanted Eyes - as they're so great in Reki - during the next order period.

So, I ordered my sweetheart a gift when I got my tax return, and on the website it says "8 weeks to prepare" and there was NO WAY it was going to make it by Christmas, but... but... it's shipped today! It's gonna make it!!

I spent the last week trying to add to the order something that had come back in stock on the website, but the customer service people are - um - Korean and were obviously struggling with my request. Finally it got all sorted out and the the wire transfer got through to them yesterday and I save the shipping I wanted to save (but lose the telegraphic transfer fee, which was actually still significantly less) and now... I really am so pleased it's gonna work out alright.

Because I had no present back-up plan whatsoever. It was going to be a totally lame note "something's on the way - expect it mid-Jan". NOT very Christmas cheery!

I'm just going to go have a little lie down now...

I expect if he reads this he can guess what it is. But I'm betting he won't read it. I'm betting YOU can guess what it is. If not, you'll hear more after the red guy does the coming-down-the-chimney thing at our place.

Yay!!!!

Another post-meet post.

Yay! I had fun on Saturday!

Many beautiful dolls and wow - you couldn't ask for a more perfect wedding couple. The outfits were gorgeous and the flower girls soo cute!!

sefieslj's Rhin was completely stunning in rl and I was soo pleased to hold Moggie's little Dollzone gift fox. Oh for bigger pockets and better sleight-of-hand! ;) Elizabeth's daughter was pretty cute too - it was lovely to see proof that my own girl might sit through a meet sometime in the not-too-distant future. I hope Cathy's little one settled, finally, somehow - poor little one.

It was lovely talking to everyone. We will meet again! Yipee!

I've been hard at work making my Pepe ready for this meet as the main problem my dollies have is nothing to wear.

The wig was the hardest part with the silver Leekeworld one I'd ordered specially being simply too big, even with a silicone wig cap to help it stay on. Such a pity, as I don't know who else would wear this particular wig, though it'll fit Tomoyo and others for sure. SO I reverted to my modded Monique Trix wig (thank you rattimoth for the know-how) and I think it came out pretty good.

No pics from the meet from me, though Sefie and Annie-chan did a great job there. Just this shot of Reki in her outfit. See? I name them eventually! :)