Liebster Award

I thank Nikki who were kind enough to give this award to me ♥



The rules:

- Thank the person who presented you the award and link back to their blog.
- Post the award image on your blog.
- Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter.
- Nominate 5-11 blogs with less than 200 followers.
- Create 11 questions for the nominees to answer.
- List these rules in your post.
- Inform the people you chose of their nomination by leaving a comment on their blog and link them your post.

The questions Nikki made:

1. Have you become friends with anyone thanks to this hobby?

Yeah, though it's fairly recent, but this friendship seems to be of the lasting kind.

2. Which of your dolls do you resemble the most? Tell me about them?

I actually don't know. Someone once said to me that I reminded them of Riku, DOT H Ducan, but that's years here. So, can't say.
Personality wise, hmm, well, my personality is kinda split up among them all but I guess I see myself the most in Liam and Karim. Liam because of his dressing up in big frilly dresses and feminine looks and Karim because he is going through some of the same things as I am just with a different cultural and religious background.

3. Which dolly trend should just die already? Why?

I don't know, I don't involve myself that deeply to even want to follow trends or fads going on in the hobby, so whenever people whine about this or that should stop or is boring all I do is shrug and continue onwards. Everything has been done before, it will always resurface in either e new guise or as the same old. Who cares.

4. What company makes the best clothes in your opinion?

FreedomTeller, there's no doubt in my mind or heart. The quality absolutely blows me away and so what if I could have gotten an SD from Luts for the money spent on a full set of clothing along with shoes and jacket, it was worth every penny and then some! I would wish I had money to blow as I want to order just about everything from there.

5. What is the next doll on your wishlist?

Sorta Jack Frost, again, a DF-A Wen. Again as he did get home last year but then I fell over DF-A Wen and couldn't but see Jack Frost and DZ Joe didn't really cut it no more after that. Reason I say sorta is that I'm just about there, just don't have no credit card linked to my PP because I'm waiting for a new one, I'm waiting for someone to transfer some money to my account which I am them to transfer to my PP. and this is quite the rant already.
Else, hmm, think a DollLeaves Oscar, but not sure as this year I'll take a break and only be bringing home bodies for the remaining 3 floaties.

6. What is your favorite creative thing to do in this hobby?

Sewing, painting, making furniture, can't really say photography as I am slacking off lately, but I do love taking pictures as well.

7. Do you have a doll couple? Please share a bit about them?

There are several couples here. Riku and Matthew who're the proud fathers of Michel, Oliver and Gilbert. Liam and Bastian who might just end up getting engaged making Liam stepdad to Bastian's sons Lucas and Victor. Harry and Draco who got custody over Silas. Darren and Taffy ended up together after Taffy clinging to his senpai in his quest of making Darren be happy. Sasha and Dmitri who share forbidden love being twins. Nathaniel having a soft spot for Minoru and the affections being returned, budding love right there for you. Ayumu having a mad crush on Ayden and being too shy to confront the guy about it ending up as a couple because Ayden got enough of Ayumu's puppy eyes following him whenever he was near. 

8. Do you have anyone you really admire in this hobby?

I don't really have any specific people I could name, I've never had. But who I truly admire are the artists making these dolls, have all the respect in the world for them, they really are some amazing people. Doesn't matter if the sculpts aren't to my liking or not. Turning ordinary clay into miniaturized realistic looking little beings of resin, slaving over them for months, or even years, to bring people joy everywhere, anywhere in the world. Simply amazing.

9. How do you feel about mods on rare/limited heads?

Go for it? Your call really. 
I've done it myself on Nathaniel, LeekeWorld Eiden, sanding his lips, nose, opening his eyes a wee bit more and sanding his cheeks and chin some. Also Derek, AngellHeim Zion, don't know how rare he is, but still, the sculpt aren't made no more so I guess that counts? Anyway, sanded his nose down a bit as I didn't like how pointy it was. Oh, and DZ Joe, don't see many of him around and they don't make that sculpt no more either, sanded his lips a bit and cheeks as well. Recently dyed a SOOM TG Necy not giving a flying fuck how many or how few of that sculpt is out there. None of these guys are going anywhere anyway.
So yeah, people can do whatever.

10. What is the worst thing ever happen to you in this hobby?

I don't know, can't really think of anything I'd consider as being the 'worst thing ever happening' to me. I've not really run into much of any obstacles. The thing I can think of didn't really turn out to be the worst anyway as everything sorted itself out in the end. RingDoll was discontinuing their RingKid Dylan and I didn't know. I was so keen on getting him home I didn't know where to put myelf and it was like a blow to the gut when the dealer wrote back to me that they had refunded my payment. After pleading and talking back and forth RD agreed to cast one more of him just for me and I felt like the King of The World right there I tell you.
But yeah, there's really not anything considered to be the worst happening to me, perhaps the benefits of never involving one much in anything?

11. What is the best thing ever happen to you in this hobby?

First thing popping into my head is meeting Nikki and slowly but surely forming a great friendship. Hope that I'll meet more people like her in the future.
Finding this hobby, obviously, and staying. Watching my little resin family of two grow to little over half a hundred. Having my sewing skills upped a few nudges or five. Seeing possibilities in next to nothing, turning cardboard boxes into furniture, grabbing for little flower petals in one of those New Year table bombs because even when drunk off your ass you still keep your mind on the resin, resin on your mind.

My questions are as follows:

1. Have your tastes changed in sculpts over the years?
2. Do you have pre-made characters for the dolls that you get home which must fit a certain description, or, do you get them home and let inspiration hit?
3. What do you do when you get hooked on a particular sculpt and want it home right here, right now but can't as you have to save or some other reason?
4. How many dolls are too many to you personally?
5. What are your thoughts on dolls with already pre-existing characters from movies/books/cartoons/ect.?
6. Acrylic, glass or urethane? And why?
7. How much does yellowing bother you? What is acceptable before you want something done to liven up that old yellow resin skin?
8. What are your thoughts on anthro BJDs vs actual animal BJDs?
9. How small is too small? How tall is too tall? Or does hight even matter to you?
10. Do you talk with your resin buddies while painting them, dressing them, just because?
11. Do you have a doll you love but will probably never have because finances or impossible to get?

I tag:
Nikki 
Tjassi 

I don't really know no one else -shrug-

Doll Goals 2016

As the year 2015 is fast coming to an end I thought I would write down goals for the coming year of 2016. Will be fun to see how much I will get around to finishing of all that is to be either bought or sewn, but I'm up for the challenge.

Riku

• Get some brown urethane eyes, his eye real colour being this colour and now cobalt blue. I hope being able getting home a pair from Vings whenever they open up shop again.
• Sew another wedding dress, because, why not? Have the most perfect fabric laying around for the purpose

Liam

• Finish his dress from last year
• Get a pair of brown urethane eyes from Vings home for him
• Get him more hh-shoes

Nathaniel

• Sew him a new set of gothic clothing
• Get him a pair of urethane eyes from Vings most likely

Draco

• Sew mediwizards robes
• Sew formal robes
• Get a suit from FreedomTeller along with shoes

Matthew

• Get a pair of red-brown urethane eyes from DollShe
• Sew either a blazer jacket or a waistcoat to match the wedding dress of Riku's
• Sew some casual clothing

Ayden

• Get brown urethane eyes
• Buy a suit from FreedomTeller along with shoes

Sasha

• More clothing
• Shoes
• Add a couple freckles to that pale face

Dmitri

• More clothing
• Shoes
• Add a couple freckles to that pale face

Darren

• More clothing
• Shoes

Ayumu

• More clothing
• Shoes

Alexander

• Finish all his facial modifications
• Paint him
• Sew some Elven robes
• Make a pair of shoes
• Get a wig

Joshua

• More clothing
• Shoes
• Get a pair of urethane eyes

Michel

• More clothing
• Shoes

Etienne

• Sew a proper set of clothing
• Shoes

Minoru

• Paint him
• More clothing
• Shoes

Ethan

• More clothing
• Shoes

Oliver

• More clothing
• Shoes

Shaun

• More clothing
• Shoes

Marcus

• Get him a body
• Sew him some clothing
• Get him a wig
• Get him a pair of eyes
• Shoes

Oleander

• Sew a spring, summer, and winter outfit
• Make some shoes for him

Bastian

• Either do something about his current wig or get a new one

Tristan

• Sew him a set of clothing
• Shoes

Victor

• More clothing
• More shoes

Silas

• More clothing
• More shoes

Xander

• Get a pair of urethane eyes
• Paint him
• Sew some Fairy-Kei clothing
• Shoes

Mo

• More clothing
• more shoes

Elliott

• Paint him
• More clothing
• More shoes

Jesse

• More clothing
• More shoes

Taffy

• More colourful clothing
• More shoes

Pitch

• Sew him his robe and trousers
• Make his scythe
• Perhaps a re-paint
• Do something with his wig or make one 

Lucas

• Sew more clothing
• More shoes

Huang

• Sew more clothing
• Get him some shoes

Jamie

• Sew him more clothing
• Get him some shoes

Zacharias

• Sew more clothing
• Get him some shoes

Min-ho

• Sew a proper set of clothing
• Shoes
• Perhaps a re-paint would be in order

Fabian

• Sew him more clothing

Bernard

• Sew him more clothing

Danny

• Paint him
• Sew him some gothic attire
• Get him some shoes

Kean

• Formal clothing
• More shoes

Gilbert

• Sew him a jumpsuit
• Sew little bloomers

Pino

• Paint him
• Sew him some clothing
• Get him a wig

Guiliano

• Get a pair of urethane eyes
• More clothing
• Shoes

Cody

• Get him more shoes
• Sew some more clothing in general

Derek

• Get him something Mori-kei clothing of sorts
• Body blush and add some freckles on that pale body

Kenny

• Make him a little chemist set

Luke

• Sew a jumpsuit
• Sew little bloomers

Harry

• Sew him Auror robes
• Paint him
• Sew formal robes
• Get a suit from FreedomTeller

Merida

• Sew her dress
• Make her bow and arrows
• Sew her some traditional Scottish mens wear with a modern twist to it 

Toby

• Get him some shoes
• More clothing

Hiccup

• Paint him
• Sew his leather clothing
• Make his peg leg

Evan

• Get him a body, SpiritDoll Elegance
• Paint him
• Sew him some Elven robes

Karim

• Get a pair of urethane eyes
• Paint him
• Modify his chest and sculpt him a penis of brown apoxie clay
• Sew him Yemeni mens traditional clothing along with making him a daggar

Kaleb

• Get his body, a SpiritDoll Proud body
• Get him a wig
• Paint him
• Sew him some clothing
• Get a pair of urethane eyes

Jack Frost

• Get him home! He'll be a DollFamily-A Wen on their type 4  body
• Sew him his clothing
• Make his staff
• Paint that purdy face

I know much of it is the same, but there will be plenty of variation in any case. I also have a sofa bed I want to make for them, have the foam and everything home for it. Would also like to get an airbrush home if I have the money at my disposal. But well, we'll see wont we.

SD sized fer-dress and jacket

I know I had other plans for this fabric already, but seen as I didn’t have funds at the ready to bring home another 3-4 yards I thought why not sew another fer dress? Made one back in late ‘11 and, to be honest, while it does look good, isn’t really up to par.

As with any piece of clothing you start off with making a pattern and pin it to your fabric.

I know that the side pieces are a bit too long but that will be adjusted once they are sown together. 

To keep everything in order I put all the front and back pieces together with needles, also a great way to see how it will get to look all stitched together.

Getting those sewn together you can really get to admire the pattern. Had I had more that one yard to do with I would really have done everything I could to have the pattern be on point consistent. BUt this isn't all that bad either when half of the bottom of it will be covered up by ruffles anyhow.

Here I am adding, what would that even be called, well, a piece of fabric at the top of the dress, here sewing around the arm opening. Afterwards I would sew the shoulders for to then able folding that piece of added fabric to make some clean arm openings. I hope this makes some kind of sense >>

Anyway, that done this is the result. The collar still needed to be closed up and all of the edges inside the dress needed hemming along with the bottom of the dress. Then ruffles needed to be made and attached, a zip to be sown at the back of the dress, the collar to be closed up, and an a-line tulle skirt to help keep the shape of the dress some.

Sadly I have no progress of this one, but I wanted there to be a jacket of sorts. Something looking like the one going with the original fer dress. Didn't really stick to that as it soon took on a life of it's own.

Everything is made from an old second hand woolen skirt. The hood from the waist part of the dress and everything else was the skirt part. I didn't use any patterns but what my head could conjure when I cut the fabric. I once saw to fit the main part of the jacket and once for the hood, else not. I'm amazed how it turned out really.

So, the seams on the inside of the dress needed hemming which was the first thing I did sitting down in front of the machine.

Thought adding some lace at the bottom of the dress would be a neat little detail even though it would end up being covered by ruffles.

All them pretty ruffles, one dayer after the other..

Until almost finished. Didn’t have near enough from the ruffles I had already made but had some spare fabric and everything worked out in the end.

And it got to look a little bit like this. The arm holes and collar had yet to be sown shut and it needed a zipper in the back.

And one to see how it would look with the wool jacket on top which here still needed a snap attached and some ribbon at the hood to be able closing it up some. Absolutely amazing if you ask me!

Having sown the ruffles onto the skirt along with adding the zipper in the back and closing the collar and armholes it got to look like this

And the tulle petticoat which I have no progress pictures of as it was made on a whim.

And everything ready for the morning where I hope the weather will allow for me to go outside and shoot up a couple pictures showing all of this off properly. I can't believe I actually made this, I'm amazed at my own skill and how I've improved, totally wowing myself.

Anyway, this adventure took me some 25-30+ hours to put together in it's entirety. Hope you enjoyed!

I should be prioritising getting those trousers of Fabians sewn together and finished, right? I should actually be at least working on sewing them together at all at the moment, yeah?

WRONG!

I need to do this instead!

Like of course, I have to abandon the other sewing project for this, only natural, right? So, here it is, me, getting the utter brilliant idea of making another fer dress as the one I made some 3-4 years prior wasn’t really up to par. Sure, start another sewing project while you’re at it, one that isn’t something you’d finish up while drinking your afternoon tea.

I guess I just love piling one project on top of the other.

I’m brilliant like that.

Yes.

This must have been sheer luck!

So, after my dye job gone way wrong I had to remove it again. thought I could just simply rub it off as I didn’t much fancy leaving the resin soaking in acetone, but after only getting this far in about half an hour I gave in.

Slowly getting somewhere alternating between soaking and drying it off

Until I had the desired colour. Here with the headcap to demonstrate the difference in colour. It’s a bit more on the orange side though, but if light does this in photographs I won’t complain!

So onto the body, letting one part soak while drying of another

And all the while trying to get as close as possible to the desired colour.

Until finally I could go wash all of the parts in clean water and lay them out to dry. Turned out I was getting a tan Soom Necy afterall! Though I wont call it tan, I'd call it Honey Glow based on it being more orange irl.

Let’s make something Mori-kei inspired! - Take 5

Today it’s all about the shirt and waistcoat as I didn’t at all get around to touching the trousers, but hey, there’s always another tomorrow.

As with any shirt you always sew the shoulders first and decided to close the edges up to keep them from running.

From there it was smooth sailing getting the sleeves added.

Got to be as I had imagined, with a fair amount of puff to them.

The hem of the sleeves I hadn’t made long enough to be able adding little ‘runways’ while still having part of the sleeve sticking out. Had to get a bit creative there and that I did with a bit of lace

Checking that the length wat ay-okay it could all be sewn shut and he could try it on.

Added lace around the collar to be held up by some wide satin ribbon which will also be used around the cuffs on the shirt. Have yet to sew the ribbon onto the cuffs but that will be done while I also add snaps down the front of the shirt.

The waistcoat I didn’t get around to shoot as many pictures of of the progress itself. Was getting tired and hungry so taking pictures wasn’t the first thought running through my mind.
I found some fabric I believe to be thai silk with some lovely flowery embroidery in this nice dark green colour for the lining. Found it to go pretty well with the deep purple/plum of the waistcoat.

Had sewn the armpit holes shut here thus the weird shape. To hide away the seams I sewed them together right against right to have them be on the inside when turn right side out as can be seen in the picture underneath.

And yeah, didn’t document the rest, added some ribbon at the edges of the waistcoat and done.

The inside of the waistcoat. Sure, could have been done better, but I haven’t sown a whole lot of them so still need to finetune my skill there.

And a bonus, because he just sat there looking mighty impatient. My little Prince in white ♥

Up next; ¾ trousers. Stay tuned!

Let’s make something Mori-kei inspired! - Take 4

This 4th installment is all about getting the nightdress put together along with the underwear.

I started off by making the chemise and as good as my intentions were to shoot pictures of the entire progress it died as I was halfway done sewing it together. But I can talk about it some more later, on to the bloomers!

Made these in one piece for each leg instead of having to cut out four pieces as you usually do. Worked for me and you don’t have to do all that extra sewing nor are there seam lines down the outer part of the leg. Made little ‘runways’ for the elastic in both the waist and legs though it isn’t pictured above.

The bloomers where you can see the ‘runway’ where the elastic band is hidden and leaving enough room for there to also be a bit of ruffle at top and at the hem of the legs. The chemise I had thought to be big enough to let his arms and head through just fine, but was I wrong. Had to cut an opening down the back and the lace used for the straps here came in handy to make for some neat decor on the back along with closing it up with a bow

The nightdress, though I didn’t get a whole lot of pictures of this one either, took forever. Could perhaps have sewn the two front and back pieces together differently instead of sewing the two together to sew them onto each other afterwards. But done is done. Also had to add runways to the sleeves here as the fabric was too thin for the sewing machine to be able grabbing a hold of it along with the elastic.

Here the little guy is sitting with his almost finished nightdress, just a single row of ruffles to go and a snap in the back and lookit! All dolled up and ready for snoozytimes.

Up next; Waistcoat, shirt, trousers and socks! Stay tuned!