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

Biccy visit!

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:28:15 GMT

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

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:56:26 GMT

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

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:43:47 GMT

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

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:21:09 GMT

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

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:25:20 GMT

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

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:39:38 GMT

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

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:14:45 GMT

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

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:03:07 GMT

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.

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:37:20 GMT

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

I Had Fun!

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:57:56 GMT

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

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:31:58 GMT

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!

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:14:43 GMT

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

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:43:45 GMT

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

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 10:18:12 GMT

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

The Last Doll Ever

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:33:12 GMT

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"

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 23:42:15 GMT

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

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:55:56 GMT

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

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:36:54 GMT

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....

No more dolls til Christmas

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:37:59 GMT

Okay, it better be true.

Rini

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:36:24 GMT

Rini is an EomJi Banji. She arrived at my house on Monday. She is such a tiny thing I'm sure no-one feels any more crowded here. I love her tiny dour face. She's checking out my (large-size) Dunny, a strange bear-rabbit creature who often lives on my desk. Having her here gives me consolation that I am no further along with my Pepe's outfit, no closer to finding good elastic to restring my MNF Lishe / Serendipity hybrid... and all the rest. :)

I braided her default wig and tied it with tiny cut-apart snagless rubber bands. Worked pretty well I thought and gives her more of a consistent Pippi Longstocking look. The wig shed a LOT when I was combing it initially - i'd heard this about these wigs - but hopefully it holds up a little better now, at least for a while....

Tomoyo in her element

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:57:27 GMT

A lot has been happening but I've been too busy to write about it.

Many cool things have arrived in the post for Tomoyo et al., and I have a Whole New Doll. Naked, though. I was considering the meet this weekend, but realized first that it was going to rain and everything was going to get soaked, and secondly, that unless I brought Tomoyo who everybody has already seen ad nauseum, I had Only Naked Dolls.

I'm determined to sew up a storm for my Pepe but it's such slow going as I have the sewing skills of a gnat. I have half-finished a simple white shirt, and that's about it.

Anyway, to cheer myself up, I unearthed a tripod last night and took a series of pics of Tomoyo doing her thing. Of the 20 or so shots, I think one really worked. but - hey - ain't that just life for you. At least it wasn't none. The outfit's by zolala, and I think Tomoyo has finally found her look.

There's one other pic in the series but it just isn't as good. I'll put it under the cut.

Holidays

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 11:26:23 GMT

Holidays for the kitlings means no holidays for me. But it's been a pleasant Easter so far - public holidays bring family visits and exciting day trips.

I've been scanning Y!J looking for that perfect something and am buying enough teeny tiny stuff to sink my wallet for quite some time. Mainly it's for my Pepe who has literally nothing to wear but there's something for Tomoyo too - every thoughtful intelligent girl needs her own guitar to further her indie singer-songwriter career.

Pics will likely follow.

S-hooks

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:01:03 GMT

I'm trying to replace the S-hooks in Tomoyo's wrists with some of my own devising. She's a 1.5 doll and came with curvy squat S-hooks, rather than long thin S-hooks like the 1.0 and the optional hands. And it affects wrist mobility and posing. And as I bought ten gazillion meters of wire for an aborted attempt to add S-hooks to my Bambicrony elf, I figured why not.

But I can't get the wire posts inside the wrists to budge! I need to remove them to take out the existing S-hooks.

I don't have needle-nosed pliers needle-nos-ed enough, and the tweezers won't grip enough. It's very frustrating!!!

Should I buy optional hands in order to get hands with better S-hooks already installed? There are a few days of the U-noa parts pre-order through Crescent Shop left in which to decide. But I'm not so interested in fist hands or pointing hands.

Or should I go hunting for needle-nosier pliers?

The other thing is... everyone's at BJDOzCon but me. 'Nuff said.

Face-up

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:51:25 GMT

With two blue and two purple pastel sticks and a swag of watercolor pencils, I've managed a face-up on my Pepe. I really really missed acrylic paints for the lips but I was too cheap to lash out on a tube of blue and/or purple for this one face-up. I'm starting to nail Helene's pastel plus eraser eyebrow shaping method. No eyelashes as yet, and I'm not sure about those 14mm dark grey eyes she came with. I have a pair of purple eyes on order, still 14mm although I considered 12mm also.

Oh yeah, I sanded and coated her as well, and she was much easier to do than Tomoyo. Whether I have more experience now or whether it was due to the quality or consistency of the resin or the more careful molding on the Bambicrony doll I can't say. I imagine it was a combination of factors.

I have also decided to style the black and purple Monique Trix wig I have laying about into braids and curls. I've discovered that these wigs have a certain amount of short hair hidden beneath the long to add bulk. And plaited, this looks very messy. So I've been going through the part of the wig I need to braid and trimming away all that short hair. Laborious to say the least. I'll try curling with cotton reels and bobby pins, and boiled water cooled for five minutes. Pics will come, as will verdicts!

Meet

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:40:32 GMT

Today was a doll meet at the Botanical Gardens. Familiar faces were present, but also new ones to keep me on my toes. Lots of beautiful dolls. My Pepe was something of a celebrity. By comparison, Tomoyo had a very quiet time, which suited her as she is a very quiet girl. I brought my Lishe head in case Helene came so I could show her how her tips had improved my face-up technique but she couldn't make it. I wish I'd brought by camera, but with two full dolls and a floating head to juggle, it was enough.

I saw the perfect wig for my Pepe, on a Yo-Tenshi. Black and curly, with braids at the front. From Cotindoll, said its owner. But I am having no luck finding one like it. So I think I will have to style my own - a scary thought. But thanks to rattimoth, I have two relatively low-cost Monique wigs just waiting for experimentation. Wish me luck! :)

After the meet we drove to Kew and crashed a fashion doll meet. I got to see Brian's beautiful dolls, which I'd been eager to do. And I got to demonstrate the neat-o eye mechanism on Tomoyo.

Rattimoth's daughter signed up for the navy - all very exciting to me but pretty ho-hum to a family steeped in military tradition. I do hope she's doing well. It makes me wonder what the future holds for my own little one.