A catalaoging of my present projects....

I did complete the Taeyang outfit that was the subject of my last post. By the time I was finished with the kilt (which took me several hours) it was getting late in the evening, so I opted not for the more detailed shirt I had originally planned on, that would have echoed the strap and chain theme of the kilt, and instead went with something simple. Like a painted tee shirt. I will go into more detail on that when I get some good pics taken of the outfit. In a nutshell, I absolutely love what I made!

I feel it would be good for me to actually sit down and write out a list of all the projects I have going on right now. They are, of course, in various states of progress.

1. The lingerie for my friend's doll line. I really need to get this done, as they have ordered the fabric, which will then be passed on to me! This will have some funky sort of bolero number going on, which will be interesting to make. I'm kind of excited for that particular challenge!

2. I am super excited about this one: The Bitty Bitsu project! This has been stretched out a little while, between both of us being sick (brutal freaking flu season) and the holidays, but it has finally now officially begun! I was on fire the other night, and ended up drafting 7 patterns out of 11. Yeah, it was awesome, and I'd sure love to have another burst of whatever creative juice that was. I haven't had a chance to run all of them yet in the test fabrics, but mostly there. After that,  I'll need to make the right adjustment, and can get to the actual sewing! This is a project I am just so happy to have - I love the challenge of making tiny things as detailed and real looking as possible, so thank you sweet customer for choosing me!

3. MH stuff...I started a dress for an Abbey that is pretty complicated, and haven't gotten much past the bodice. I've just set that on the back burner for now. I need to finish the second Abbey themed dress, but am lacking the glittery silver snowflake buttons that I envision, which I can hopefully find!

Then there's the Slo Mo project. I have the Ghoul Spirit 5 pack Slo Mo, and whoever came up with that horrendous outfit should be found and captured by the dolly fashion police. I came up with a concept of bondage pants for him in a charcoal, with straps going from his pants, both in the front and the back, and attaching to his straitjacket inspired shirt, which will be in grey. The pants are done, sans snaps. Once I get the shirt done, I will do a post on just that.

4. My AG 20's project. I am putting my curly topped blonde (#56) Aggie Mae, in 20's era clothing. I so love this era, and finally have THE doll for it! I started this outfit maybe, by now, a couple of weeks ago, and have to finish the dress, and sew the sash. I somehow managed to cut out a waistband an inch too short, even though I had just measured my doll's waist. :/ I have no idea how I did that. So, I need to take that out, which will be pretty quick and simple. I just need to actually do it.

5. An AG Addy dress from one of the books. I am super duper excited about this one, and so lucky she went with me, as someone else had contacted her first. She really knows her stuff, and like my friend who I met when I took a commission for MG book/ paper doll reproductions, she wants to work off of historical photos to adjust the design. This one hasn't gone too far yet. We will be starting the actual design process hopefully soon. So while I am not actually working on this one yet, it is still something I have in the works to think about.

6. The Akhmel Alien Project. Also for the same friend as project #1. I am working off of a tape form, and this doll is very, very tiny. I haven't really done much on this one, as the doll is presently being painted by an artist. I need some measurements taken, and I sure hope the doll artist knows how to properly measure her. I want to get started on it, but am wondering if it would be smarter to wait until my friend has the doll actually back in their hands, and I know I can trust them to measure correctly.

Today in Hobby Lobby, they had their cotton prints 30% off, and I found 2 pieces I just had to get for my '50's AGs. My Maryellen still has no dress. I have made 1 50's pattern, which, while I really like it,. I've made more than one dress off of it already. So I would love to make another style of dress for ME. While sitting in the car today at the laundromat, I found a design which just goes so well with the yellow floral print I got today. I will wait a little while to start on another pattern. Unless I go on a late night binger after getting a good amount of work on commissions done. Though tonight I need to finish organizing the AG disaster that I started on last night. We'll see how it goes!

Sewing for TaeYang...

Today is TaeYang day. AGs have gotten the most consistent attention from me lately, if anything could be said to be getting consistent attention. In the last few weeks I completed an AG Lolita dress, which still needs the bow trimming. I really need to find navy blue ribbon, which is proving to be an issue. The dress is light blue/navy blue geometric print on a white background. Very pretty. The dress really needs the darker blue ribbon as the light blue, which is readily available, just won't pop. Once I locate that, and finish the dress, it will have its own blog post. I also spent a few days picking at the same style of dress for my Pipos Baha, Honeysuckle. Her dress isn't entirely finished yet either. That one too will have its own blog post when I am happy with it.

So, back to TaeYang....I haven't sewn a stitch for this type of dolls in ages. I have 2 TaeYangs - Butler, who I have named Salem, and Albaric who has had that dreadful stock wig replaced with a fantastic dark purple fur wig, who I have named Crow. He has been clothesless since the wig swap, as too many other things needed my attention to really get a chance to work on him. Today though, is the day!

I spent some time this morning searching out what I wanted to make him. My previous plan, and one I still hope to execute, was more of a post-apocolyptic style. I even started tentatively working on the patterns. Today though, I was thinking I wanted to start out with just more of a basic goth look, while I figure out how to create a cowl shirt that looks right with that large head, ha ha!

Here are my inspiration pics:

http://www.rebelsmarket.com/products/men-s-black-long-skirt-punk-rock-maxi-gothic-kilt-for-men-136228

I love these a-line goth skirt/kilts. The chain detailing on the front is epic! I have some chain, I just need to see if it is small enough for 1/6 scale (I think it is.) If not, I have a thin chain in my coffin jewelry box that I pretty much never use that is pretty delicate. I can cannibalize that if need be.

Now, the shirt. I found many awesome examples, but nothing that truly speaks to me for the right feel I am wanting. It's winter, so it seems more kind to make Crow a long sleeved shirt, but I can't get past the impulse to make him a sleeveless shirt. I can always make him a mesh shirt to wear under it. Small holed mesh is actually warmer than one might at first think. No, it won't keep you cozy in 10 degree weather, but for a doll who rarely goes outside, I think he'll be just fine. :P The more I think about a mesh shirt underneath, the more I am loving it! I need to actually get my concept drawn out on paper instead of being only partly fleshed out in my head. I just know that I want to continue the chain detail, and the o rings that we see on the skirt, on the shirt somehow.

First thing though, is that skirt. Once I get that knocked out - which I can hopefully finish today, though that's pretty ambitious, considering I want to replicate as many as the details as scale will allow - and then I can give all my attention to the shirt.

Off to sew!

Anthro crew just grew!

Sometimes I think I am the luckiest person in the world. I like feeling that way. Sure beats the doldrums that can be too tempting to sink into.

After doing some sweet trading of BJDs and such that I wasn't really bonding with/enjoying, I totally lucked out and got some seriously awesome deals on some trades. :D For my unwanted loot, I got these Pipos dolls:

An old WS Heero
A new cherry pink Baha
A new caramel Baha
A caramel Ringo
And, my old WS cheese mouse back

I am beyond words. 5 more anthros!!! I just....am so happy. I love the anthros so much. Pipos especially. Though those Zuzus and DM Beans can so easily steal my heart.

So far, the pink guy's name is Punch. The caramel Baha might be Caramel Crunch. The Ringo or the white Baha I have no idea yet. My old white cheese mouse is going to be Ice Cream Cone. I like giving the mice cute food names. Though my first beige cheese mouse has the name Harold. I would love to change it, but he's been Harold for quite a few years now, so changing it isn't an option.

This puts my anthro collection up to 16 dolls! This makes me so happy. I had my collection up to 14 anthro dolls back before I had to sell most of them to help fund a move back a few years ago. I have even more now! :D Here's my total count:

5 Pipos PI - the above mentioned Heero, 3 Bahas (including my ancient WS Baha, Honeysuckle,) and Percival (Bao the Posteman)

3 Jr PI - Caramel Ringo, GS Ruth named Webster, GS Rooney named Jellybean

5 cheese mice - beige named Harold, Indigo named Blueberry, violet named Grape Jelly, peach named Confetti Cake, and white named Ice Cream Cone

1 Delf Romantic Wolffy named Vlady

2 DM Beans - pink Chopin named Roseus, and WS Davinci named Harvest Moon

I had decided a few weeks back that I wasn't going to keep any of my human (or human-ish) tinies. I have a Soom red skinned Trachy, who I traded for sometime last year, a WS 5star Jesse I named Lucian, and a 5 star Aiden who's body I used for the Luts Halloween Event Pumpkin head (which was not put up for sale.) Getting them out last night, I think I am going to go ahead and keep them. We'll see how that goes, but I am happy with the thought right now.

I will have some fun figuring out my new dolls' personalities, their stories, their clothing. :D

I really have been neglecting this blog. It's hard to find anything that seems worth blogging about. Maybe its been the shades of sickness that has been aggressively hanging over my household since the 1st week of December. Between everyone there has been throwing up, and respiratory woes to boot. What a ride that month was. And January dawned while still dealing with the lingering symptoms.

Beyond all the above drama, things have been going on as they had been. We haven't been flea marketing much lately. The last time we went - maybe a month ago? - I was delighted to find a set of pots, pans, and a couple of mixing bowls the perfect size for Nora, my AG Ruthie. Not sure how old they are, but they have definitely seen some years. I'm excited at the thought of putting Nora's kitchen together for her as soon as I have the appropriate space. My plan is to get ME's fridge, hunt down for a great price the retired Kit stove, and see what else can be added to making it as functional of a dolly kitchen as I can manage. I haven't cleaned the dishes up yet, but when I do I will snap a pic and post it.

I have really been focusing on blogging on my AG blog. And then a couple of days ago, I decided to start a blog for my BJD stories. It has felt soooo good getting these out of my head and onto a blog. While my stories don't have the pics I would love to add, I am still enjoying myself a whole lot. Probably another reason this blog has been neglected. I have been spending my blogging time elsewhere. My dolls' worlds are so much more interesting than mine!

In other news, that really isn't news, is my Target does not yet have the 35th anniversary ponies out yet. :( We checked yesterday, and nada. There wasn't even a spot for them yet, so I didn't bother tracking an employee down to see if they were in the back. That will happen on Monday. :) I cannot wait to see them in person. From just from looking at pics online, Cotton Candy is my favorite of the set. This might change when I see them. Not that it matters - I will be getting all of them eventually!

35th anniversary MLP?

I've been avoiding facebook for the most part over the last week and a half. Somehow feverish dreams when I was sick made my stomach turn at the thought of looking at it. I did venture over there this morning and saw this post:

https://www.mlpmerch.com/2018/01/35th-anniversary-g1-ponies-appear-at-target.html

We're getting 35th anniversary MLP! I am super excited about this. I think when I get these, they will stay in their packaging. I am not someone who prefers their things in boxes, but what truly makes these special IS the packaging. I hope my Target gets them in soon.

I am trying to find pics of any of the original 6 in their '80's packaging to see how similar the anniversary packaging is to the original, but I cannot find a single picture! Surely, some collector somewhere has a pony still in the packaging. I might have to ask on a fb group or on the MLPArena.

I know there were complaints that we already got these ponies as anniversary releases back in the G3 line, but who cares? The packaging for the 25th anniversary were for 3 sets, and while cool, these are singles!!! I'm definitely not complaining here. I can't wait to see them in person!

Ha, seeing these makes me regret not having my retro SSC still in their boxes. I still have Angel Cake in her packaging, and I will probably keep her that way. I can always see about buying singles of every doll who was opened and keeping them in their packaging.