When I look in my window / so many different people to be

Sooomed!

2009-11-06T10:55:08Z

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! ^_^

Good week for me, Fio and Seiji

2009-09-06T14:27:20Z

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.

Box Opening

2009-05-11T12:47:52Z

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.

The box!! Note the wax seal.

Inside the box. An envelope with a little bird stamp. Crinkly white shredded packing paper.

Box contents. In the envelope, three cards - Virgil photo, Virgil drawn, and a little card that says:
May this child to
find it's true beauty
by your hand.

I am such a sucker for this kind of thing. ^_^
Oh, and the boy himself, of course, out of his bubblewrap..

Close-up of the head. He is pretty awesome!

Headcap. P Power!

Resin Comparisons follow...

Pluto/Volks is a no. Blushing would help, but the body is a bit too chunky.

Pluto/DoT is a no. She is way too pink.

Has DoD resin changed since Dec '07? Does anyone know? Cos Pluto Dolls was adamant that DoC was a decent match. Maybe she simply meant proportions.

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.

Tsubaki

2009-04-27T13:31:42Z

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 slippery slope...

2009-02-07T13:46:01Z

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-visiting

2009-01-31T14:03:49Z

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...

What are you doing, boy?
Now officially named Tenser. Yay for decisions!

discardtheold 's Vyv

Aleana <3 <3

Chaaarlie!! <3

Bella

hiritai /bluemana 's twins Hiko and Maki

Kostya

bankevair 's Cupcake

Sivi (clamwings )

Sivi and Ophelia

Orlando (muffinbitch )

Yay Alice!
Poor Alice! I couldn't get a decent shot of her despite taking 47 million shots. So this sepia one is going to have to suffice.

Eli and Shadow and Arinette and Amity and Kitten (muffinbitch )

Kitten

Arienette and Amity

Eli

Eiji <3

Del

Lucien (muffinbitch )

That boy is still doing what he's doing!

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

Mina, home and hale

2008-08-29T11:41:09Z

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 visit!

2008-07-16T14:28:15Z

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

The adorable Satin and my as yet unnamed Jado. She still needs eyelashes. THEN I'll name her! ^_^

Satin and Zero <3
They have this whole adorable big-brother-little-sister thing going. So cute!

Satin her adorable self. Helene's face-up is just perfect, too!

P'shoot continued

2008-04-22T11:56:26Z

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

Reki Break

2008-04-22T03:43:47Z

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.

I think I am going to have to cave and get her a tinybear wig. This one looks so good on her but it's not hers, and it's not purple.

The goods which gelfling256 order cancelled

2008-04-04T10:21:09Z

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

Hoppy post-Easter

2008-03-28T13:25:20Z

My Easter story is under the cut.

Rini: Finally Easter is over. All that clap-trap about rebirth and all the cute little furry animals - gah! How sickening! I know what Easter is really all about - stuffing yourself on chocolate. Well, now it's my turn! No-one wants this egg - it's mine now!

Rini: All I need to do is get it back to my room....

Voices: Put down the egg!

Rini: What? No way! ... Who is that, anyway?!

Voices: Put down the egg!

Rini: !!

Rini: W-what do you want?!

Voices: The egg is ours!

Voices: We are the Bunnies!

Rini: !!

Rini: S-stay back! We can come to an agreement....

Bunnies: The egg is ours. You will not escape us.

Rini: Heeelp!!

... and we haven't seen Rini since!

Omake:

Bunny 1: She's fallen over again.

Bunny 2: She's spent most of the photoshoot this way.

Rini: Fools! One of you help me up!!

Credits:

Thanks to all family members who saved up their bunnies for me. You may now eat them!
Thanks to blu-tak. This photoshoot would not have been possible without you!!

Hiritai and Photoshop

2008-03-10T11:39:38Z

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!! :)

Shall, finally

2008-03-08T09:14:45Z

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!!

Ted

2008-02-22T12:03:07Z

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.

gelfling256 @ 2008-02-06T21:40:00

2008-02-06T10:37:20Z

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

I Had Fun!

2008-01-26T10:57:56Z

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!

Shall

2007-12-26T13:31:58Z

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.

Christmas Gorram Cheer!

2007-12-18T09:14:43Z

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!!!!

Meet and Reki

2007-11-19T03:43:45Z

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! :)

As promised

2007-09-01T10:18:12Z

Here she is, but she's slow to load so she's under the cut.

The Last Doll Ever

2007-08-31T10:33:12Z

So, who maxes out their credit card on dolls? Well, it wasn't quite like that because there was a heap of one-off stuff on the card before the doll purchase, but it was the little resin one who pushed it over the edge.

Scary.

So I hereby announce: No More Dolls!
(don't worry - I have more than plenty!)

Aaand just wait until I have a lovely sunny day to snap a pic or three of my winsome new arrival. :)

"Doll people"

2007-08-26T23:42:15Z

I had a great time Saturday at the meet at RMIT. Thanks to everyone there who made it that way!! The place we were supposed to meet was locked, but it only took a short wander round to find everyone. Unfortunately there was some filming happening there so we had to move. After an abortive attempt to locate another courtyard (I take partial responsibility, but it was Too Sunny!) we ended up in the cafeteria.

I hope we didn't lose anyone entirely. bicceh found us eventually when she finished work. Yay Biccy!

I brought my Lishe ("Lishie" for the day) and Rini my Banji. I did not bring a camera. Next time....

There were many wonderful dolls there - more than I can list. midspace had brought his Rainy dolls and someone had brought a Catsy! (maybe taru_sama ?) I even got to see a DOT Shall in person and am tempted to buy one for my other half for Christmas. It's the only doll he really covets. But SD-sized dolls are so heavy! I also saw more Bambicrony dolls and think I could buy ALL the headmolds. Oh, putting aside the cost and space considerations, that is! ^^;

"Lishie" got roped into a funny photostory with two DOC Yens brimming with attitude - you can see it here thanks to sefieslj

The majorly funny thing that happened is that somehow Daniel, God of Posing, got inundated with an entire harem of girl dolls. Someone did a headcount and got 20 girl dolls. Next time I'll have to bring all boys, neh? Here is the progression, thanks to Hooli.

Whenever you go somewhere there seems to be a high percentage chance you'll run into someone you know from a completely different area of your life. Well, it happened to me this time. A family friend was walking past and stopped briefly to chat.

"And you're here with..." he said, surveying the scene.

"Doll people," said I, glibly, realizing that this didn't begin to explain what he was seeing.

"Doll people," he repeated, nonplussed. "Well, give my best to your family..."

I'm sure I'll be hearing more from him in the near future.

Glass eyes for U-noa

2007-07-10T23:55:56Z

Bliss from DoA has sent me some glass eyes for my U-noa to try with the eye mechanism. Here's the lowdown.

The eyes
Top is the original acrylic eye. Bottom is the new eye, a blown glass "sleep" eye. Note its thinner "stem" and larger hole.

The mech
Inside my U-noa's head, you can see the eyes in place within the eye mech. I use eye putty to hold those little metal rods snuggly in place. Makes a bit of difference when you pull the faceplate on and off - bits don't fall out all over the place.

The eyes within the eye mech
You can see the eyes sit pretty much the same. Which is good. Left is the new eye.

Attaching the lever
I've put on the part that allows the eyes to actually move from left to right when the head is closed. See the problem? The acrylic eye's stem is just the right thickness for the groove in the lever part. The new glass eye's stem is narrower, so it'll rattle around a bit. The larger hole through the eye might also allow extra (unwanted) movement.

No problem - I can use eye putty to fill the groove and the thinner stem of the glass eye will stick in it, preventing unnecessary movement. (No pic of this - the sun went down AND my camera battery died.)

Now view the eyes in situ when the faceplate is put back on.

I'm finding the new eye sits just a fraction higher that I would ideally like, but I'll fiddle with my eye-putty filler in the lever groove and see if its position can be adjusted a little. All in all, not too bad. I'm not sure if these eyes are standard glass-blown sleep eyes (12mm) or if Bliss ordered something specific. But it's looking promising!

Here's Tomoyo with her odd eyes. Just so she can regain the dignity she lost having her head off and opened up. The glass eye is on her right.

Lishe hybrid is a-go

2007-07-05T13:36:54Z

My modded Lishe head had her Serendipity body arrive a little while ago, but it needed some adjustments as the elastic used was so thick that the knot would not go down the neck hole, which I needed it to do if I was going to attach the Luts/CP neck mechanism, snagged from a nice girl via DoA. The neck donut Luts sends you to adapt your Luts/CP head to another body is, shall we say, entirely inadequate.

I ordered some thinner elastic from Dollmore but when it arrived it also was too thick. So I decided to restring with the knot in the widest body cavity, which turned out to be the thigh. Not easy to do! I used one of my spare Bambicrony head S-hooks as the one that came hooked through the neck mech was woefully to flimsy to hold two loops of such heavy-duty elastic, and the one that came with the body was super-huge. Just a little modification was needed so the larger curve of the S fit snuggly in the neck mech without hanging down too far and the smaller curve sat in the neck with a bit of room to spare so neck movement isn't too impaired.

I'm not particularly looking forward to taking her all apart when the warmer weather comes to sand/coat her, and then reassemble, but at least now I know it's possible, right?

I have finally got a bit of a better understanding of what my camera can do, and with a tripod and looong exposure, you can see how nice she came out, despite how pale and wan the sun is at the moment. She's wearing a Mio top and jeans that Tomoyo never quite got to liking, and socks and hairclip by Her Delicate Strength. The wig is the sister to Tomoyo's from Reve en Poupée, in a different style but same copper/dark copper blend.

Oh yeah. I bought another doll. This was to be my Christmas doll - a Domuya Potpourri - but she is being discontinued in mid-August and is half-price from now til then. I figured I'd beat the rush....