song+ Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5 (feat Christina Aguilera)
book+ the manual that came with my tarot deck
quest+ getting in touch with Moose
upper+ my ideas are flowing with minimal struggle
downer+ Kyu had a miserable birthday mostly due to his lousy attitude
attire+ khaki pants and a purple tank
drink+ Dr Pepper
before i start, i'm curious enough to ask: has anyone else had trouble getting in touch with Moose this week? i've called something like four times over two days, and texted a few more times. no response to anything at all. i'm annoyed, and vaguely worried. me reaching her isn't life-and-death, but i've never had so much trouble with it. i have some things of hers i'd like to return, and a few errands that'd be more fun to take care of with her along, but i can't get in touch with her. so yeah- annoyed, and vaguely worried.
update: finally got in touch with her. apparently it was a hiccup between our phones because Metro sucks like that.
i know i'm late posting again this week, but i was distracted by productivity, then being sick. Saturday, Sunday and Monday i was focusing on this brainstorm i had for 30 unique doll outfits. i wanna do one for each of the 22 major arcana of a tarot deck, then the knight and queen themes for each suit. i have ideas for a few of them, but capturing them on paper is proving trickier than i figured it'd be. i've drawn up Strength and Stars designs i'm satisfied with, and i have Moon and Sun in my head, but Moon is proving especially tricky because the simplicity i want for it is eluding me. i'll get it right though, i'm sure of it. the best part (besides the challenge) is that i'm sure i'll be able to sell them for a decent profit, and quite a few can be done from materials i already have on-hand. others may require purchasing more, but i'm not worried about any of that yet. i got sidetracked by working on my Dark Elves Monday night (i found a box of Witches and a box of Witch Command while cleaning, so i put them together), then i was sick for most of Tuesday, but today i think i'll be back to working on hammering out the designs. i wanna get Moon done so i can work on Sun, then probably Tower and Judgement. i have vague ideas for Death and the Fool also, but they don't feel quite solid yet, so they're lower on my list. for this project i'm planning to design for all my girls, so i'll be working across my entire span of sizes, though i'm doubtful i'll have very many done at Puki scale. working that tiny is a nightmare, it's why Vanille only has the one outfit so far, every attempt has driven me crazy with the level of focus and detail involved.
i think the most attractive thing about this project is that it's very satisfying for me creatively, and the themes i'm going with are chosen based on who'll look the best wearing my idea, but the designs themselves don't really suit the styles of the girls that'll be modeling them, so i won't be tempted to keep them. xD i think that even selling them for my conservative estimate of value will make enough to help Kyu with a few things that need doing. if i'm right about what i think people would be willing to pay, that's even better and i can make even more. i'm not doing this solely to make money, but it is a secondary concern. i'm very picky about the quality of things i buy, and i think that anything i sell should meet those same guidelines,. i'm figuring that it'll take considerable effort (and all the patience i posses) to produce 30 outfits that are fully lined with uniform nigh-invisible stitches, but doing so will allow me to (in good conscience) charge a little more for the finished product. i don't know what market there is for somewhat arbitrarily-sized outfits representing (mostly) the major arcana in tarot, but one thing the doll hobby has taught me is that there's really a market for just about anything imaginable.
i did mean to post yesterday after realizing i'd missed Monday, but between being lain up ill, and trying to convince Kyu that the birthday well-wishes (despite his facebook status asking everyone to ignore his birthday) weren't malicious taunts designed to make him miserable. he was feeling melodramatic and angsty, and also having a panic attack over turning 25 and having nothing notable to show for his efforts in life thus far save for a mediocre job and apartment. his relationship with me doesn't really count as an achievement apparently, maybe because it reaches back to before we had to pretend we were ready to grow up. xD in any event, he seems to be doing marginally better today. since birthday wishes are unlikely to come a day late, the odds of him aiming a swearing rant at a co-worker are likewise diminished. yeah, that happened yesterday.
so yeah, stuff's going on, but nothing earth-shakingly important. the rest of this week is likely to be spent alternating between tarot costume designs, packing away more upstairs (because the moving thing is kinda up in the air at this point), and placating Kyu when his mood swings get in the way of productivity for either of us in any outlet (which happens more than i generally care to talk about). i wonder what it'd mean to anyone if i said that sometimes dealing with Kyu's abrupt mood swings from jovial to despondent (since i'm the only person he feels will listen when he tries to talk them out) are harder on me than watching my father lose his mind a little more every day before my eyes was. i love Kyu, just as i love Poppa, but there are times that I CAN'T BE THE STRONG ONE. i need to feel like i can fall apart too, and trust someone to just hold me, with no expectation that i'll pull myself together quickly, or efforts to reassemble me on their own. i just need that serenity that comes in the wake of a breakdown, then faith that i'll get past it. it doesn't help that no advice i offer Kyu is ever acted on. he says "tell me what do do" and i give everything i can, then he says "i can't do that" and nothing changes because he's afraid of success.
it's not always bad, but lately it has been and i feel a building need to just get away from everything and stop feeling for a while.. but i can't do that. at this point in time i'm not depressed (i'm remarkably chipper all things considered), but i can feel that inky shadow trying to sneak up on me, and if Kyu can't get a handle on his bi-polar issues, mine will try to take control of me again. i can't let that happen, last year my manic-depression stole three months from me, where i was convinced i was doing something wonderful and when the smoke cleared i'd accomplished nothing tangible and had only left the house once a day to walk the dog (plus the one trip with mom to take care of state tax issues regarding home businesses). three months gone without me really noticing the days passing, i can barely recall any of that time. i don't want it to happen again. that sense of losing myself in that numbing void is too similar to what i saw happening to Poppa every day for years, i have to hold onto me, or i'll lose everything.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 79
song+ Carry You There- Hanson- Shout It Out (this is fantastic and everyone should listen to it!)
book+ Three Sisters trilogy
quest+ figuring out navy and silver on white for fur blushing
upper+ i feel creatively inspired
downer+ i have a ton of other things that take priority
attire+ denim skirt and Human Torch tee
drink+ water.
it's Wednesday and i just realized i have yet to post this week. oops. xD it wasn't really anything i planned, i just forgot to.
i think i've come around to the point where i'm ready t think about selling things i've sewn again. i pushed too hard last time and completely discouraged myself, but the idea of starting simpler than i did before, using my prior efforts differently is appealing. i'm not thinking i'll plunk down and make a bajillion doll dresses and sell them all in days, but i'm thinking i may play around and make a few one-off designs, take my time with them for the pleasure of it. things my girls won't wear except to model them, and then see what other doll owners think of the results. i realize that in some ways i'm way too picky about the quality of my work, and so i tend to think nothing i do is goo enough to sell.. the thing is, any time other people have seen a finished product i'm asked if i really made it, and then why i'm not selling, so i guess other people aren't so picky. so i guess i'm gonna play around and see what i turn out, then see what i can get for it. we'll see how that goes for me.
it's been a few weeks and i still haven't even started on the blushing and face-ups for Amelia and Althea. i haven't been in the right frame of mind to work on them and not screw up, and i don't wanna have to try for days to get it right, so it's been easier to wait for my mood to settle. i want them finished, but i wanna do it right, so i'm making myself wait. a big part of it is the difficulty i've had in the past getting a dark fur color to blend well into pale Soom resin. i want Amelia's hoof fur blushed dark blue and silver, and against the creme white, that'll be pretty hard. i know how i want it to look in the end, nut i'm unsure of my techniques to reach that point, so i'm still researching. xD Kyu thinks i should wait until we buy an airbrush (he wants one for painting his 40k army) but since i don't know how to use one at all, i really don't see how that would make anything easier.
another thing Kyu suggested was getting a second dog. lately Harley's behavior has been regressing (presumably in a bid for attention) and we've responded with more walks, more playtime, and stricter punishment when she misbehaves. but she's still convinced that peeing on the carpet is a surefire way to get our attention, along with barking when we're trying to sleep. Kyu thinks that another dog would giver her a different source of attention when we can't play with her. i think that Harley's already about the most pet we can fit in this apartment, feeding another dog would cost a good bit more than we spend now on dog food, training a new one would be hard with Harley likely to set a terrible example, and the odds of finding a second dog that fits the criteria i'd want in a second pet (a lab-mix of some sort, shortish hair, medium build, female, and free) are slim. we can't afford to buy a dog. dogs are expensive enough to take care of, all the cost-of-ownership stuff is too much, so for now i'm saying it's not possible. i can't deal with more than one misbehaving, mess-making, attention-starved dependent at this point in time. we'll just be using her kennel more and training her behavior a bit more insistently.
book+ Three Sisters trilogy
quest+ figuring out navy and silver on white for fur blushing
upper+ i feel creatively inspired
downer+ i have a ton of other things that take priority
attire+ denim skirt and Human Torch tee
drink+ water.
it's Wednesday and i just realized i have yet to post this week. oops. xD it wasn't really anything i planned, i just forgot to.
i think i've come around to the point where i'm ready t think about selling things i've sewn again. i pushed too hard last time and completely discouraged myself, but the idea of starting simpler than i did before, using my prior efforts differently is appealing. i'm not thinking i'll plunk down and make a bajillion doll dresses and sell them all in days, but i'm thinking i may play around and make a few one-off designs, take my time with them for the pleasure of it. things my girls won't wear except to model them, and then see what other doll owners think of the results. i realize that in some ways i'm way too picky about the quality of my work, and so i tend to think nothing i do is goo enough to sell.. the thing is, any time other people have seen a finished product i'm asked if i really made it, and then why i'm not selling, so i guess other people aren't so picky. so i guess i'm gonna play around and see what i turn out, then see what i can get for it. we'll see how that goes for me.
it's been a few weeks and i still haven't even started on the blushing and face-ups for Amelia and Althea. i haven't been in the right frame of mind to work on them and not screw up, and i don't wanna have to try for days to get it right, so it's been easier to wait for my mood to settle. i want them finished, but i wanna do it right, so i'm making myself wait. a big part of it is the difficulty i've had in the past getting a dark fur color to blend well into pale Soom resin. i want Amelia's hoof fur blushed dark blue and silver, and against the creme white, that'll be pretty hard. i know how i want it to look in the end, nut i'm unsure of my techniques to reach that point, so i'm still researching. xD Kyu thinks i should wait until we buy an airbrush (he wants one for painting his 40k army) but since i don't know how to use one at all, i really don't see how that would make anything easier.
another thing Kyu suggested was getting a second dog. lately Harley's behavior has been regressing (presumably in a bid for attention) and we've responded with more walks, more playtime, and stricter punishment when she misbehaves. but she's still convinced that peeing on the carpet is a surefire way to get our attention, along with barking when we're trying to sleep. Kyu thinks that another dog would giver her a different source of attention when we can't play with her. i think that Harley's already about the most pet we can fit in this apartment, feeding another dog would cost a good bit more than we spend now on dog food, training a new one would be hard with Harley likely to set a terrible example, and the odds of finding a second dog that fits the criteria i'd want in a second pet (a lab-mix of some sort, shortish hair, medium build, female, and free) are slim. we can't afford to buy a dog. dogs are expensive enough to take care of, all the cost-of-ownership stuff is too much, so for now i'm saying it's not possible. i can't deal with more than one misbehaving, mess-making, attention-starved dependent at this point in time. we'll just be using her kennel more and training her behavior a bit more insistently.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 78, part 2
song+ Musical Ride- Hanson- Shout It Out (this is fantastic and everyone should listen to it!)
book+ nothing presently
quest+ making the moving thing realistic
upper+ art lesson today with Bonnie & the kids
downer+ i need money, for lots of things
attire+ pajamas (i'll be getting dressed in a while though)
drink+ milk! i love milk..
i find myself thinking about dolls lately (surprise surprise). i'm a fan of well-done mods to make something unique, and i love inhuman fantasy sculpts like the monthly dolls Soom puts out.. in theory. i've come to realize that i find myself caring more about the face and size, and less about the fantasy parts since it comes down to alternate legs, maybe-wings, and a head with squinted eyes, elf ears, and maybe a horn or two. they're well-done, and generally quite lovely, but i find myself wishing that the designs would push it a little further. i get that they don't so Soom can still sell a standard wardrobe for them, but really i feel that now it's hardly worth looking. don't get me wrong, i LOVE my Adamelli girls, and i'm super-happy i managed to order them, but really they're standard Soom: hooves and a sleepy head with elf ears and horn, and wings. i've realized that even with inhuman features, most of the time it's the outfit selling the concept for me, and since the outfits are frequently OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive, it doesn't really seem worth it very much. the only doll that's really struck me with unique "woah"-ness (besides Vesuvia and her multi-jointed scorpion tail) has been Cass the fish queen. i was REALLY close to ordering her for myself when she was released, but i realized that what i loved were her finny arms, the seashell-ears, and her costume. her face was kinda blah and i really didn't like the execution of the finny feet and scaley legs. i'd have reversed it to match the arms; scaley feet and fins from the calves.
so to realize my affection for modding, and my desire both to do something more complicated and to have a truly unique doll, i've decided that i wanna mod myself a one-off fantasy doll: Amphitrite- Queen of the Ocean. when i started really thinking about this i figured it was a chance to get a facial sculpt i've always really liked and finally have a reason to order her, so i went straight to Fairyland and pulled up MiniFee Lishe. MSD is my preferred scale to work in, and with sufficiently regal costuming and modding a goddess wouldn't really have to be huge. i then realized that she's really not quite right for the image i have, so i pulled up the other sizes available and looked at every basic female available before settling instead on FeePle 65 Chloe (somehow MNF Chloe just isn't as regal). i'm still working on drawing up the changes i wanna make to her, but basically it'll be my slightly more thematically aggressive version of how i'd do Cass. fins from the calves and forearms less ethereal/floaty and more severe/finny, slight scaling on hands and feet to blend with the fins attaching, gills at the ribs- not the neck like you'd think, (really for a BIG fish, like a person-sized one, gills at the neck wouldn't allow enough air) ears modded to resemble the fin attachments, (because as COOL as the seashell ears are, i'm not gonna try and rip em off). then after all the modding, i wanna dye her entire body a sea foam color, and blush her fins a violet tone and her scales teal to blend. i'll want violet hair for her (i'll probably look into dying a lighter wig honestly), a long style though i'm undecided on straight or wavy as yet. i'll finally be using the Cuprit ice crown on her, along with that outfit (that doesn't in any way fit my Iple girls, but WILL fit her) until i can sew something more ocean-goddess. silver fetish wear and a sparkly cape is fine temporarily, but i'll want something that looks more regal and watery long-term. xD for jewelry and ornamentation, i wanna follow through on the concept i had for the Cass i never ordered: she's been underwater for so long playing with sunken treasure that it's bonded to her in places. i'd add swarovski crystals in places to look like they'd fused to her flesh, and i have an idea for an elaborate lacy filigree-and-gemstone necklace fusing to her chest. like it'd be antique-looking, except for one or two places where her skin would absorb it a little. i'm planning on doing similar filigree-type ornamental modding at the base of the ice crown to play up the shape of it. also to make it look more jewel-ish and less icy, it'd just be gold swirls and shaping, with a few extra jewels dotted here and there for impact.
my other idea that's been germinating is doing a dragon knight. like not a knight going out to slay one, but a knight that's Draconian in lineage, and since settling on my Amphitrite, i've realized that would be even more fun if i made him her son, and an aquatic dragon. for him i have yet to decide on a facial sculpt, but my idea for him is finny-ears like i want for my queen, then scaly additions to arms/legs/hands/feet and claws on the hands. i'd want slight scaling on the forehead too, around stubby just-coming-in-horns.. kinda like dragon puberty. xD the sculpts i like most for him at this point are MiniFee vampire elf Woosoo, or JID Colin from Iplehouse. i love the little fangs on Woosoo, but i'd be tweaking the eye shape quite a bit. with Colin i love the face and the body, but the ankle joint would limit my modding capability. i love all my Iple dolls, but that ankle joint is kinda a HUGE problem for a high-fantasy modification. it only works locked in that one specific orientation, and a classic capable-of-rotating foot would give me breathing room on the scaling and clawing. whatever sculpt i end up choosing though, i'm thinking i'll dye him a steely blue-grey before blushing to accentuate.
i'm still a LONG long way from being able to afford to do any of this, but even just thinking about it and planning it out is really fun. i know i planned Xavin in detail for two years before i ordered her, so i'm really okay with long-term doll planning. xD i don't wanna risk second-guessing a choice i've made, so even after i have money again (whenever that ends up being), i'm still likely to take this project slow and steady.
book+ nothing presently
quest+ making the moving thing realistic
upper+ art lesson today with Bonnie & the kids
downer+ i need money, for lots of things
attire+ pajamas (i'll be getting dressed in a while though)
drink+ milk! i love milk..
i find myself thinking about dolls lately (surprise surprise). i'm a fan of well-done mods to make something unique, and i love inhuman fantasy sculpts like the monthly dolls Soom puts out.. in theory. i've come to realize that i find myself caring more about the face and size, and less about the fantasy parts since it comes down to alternate legs, maybe-wings, and a head with squinted eyes, elf ears, and maybe a horn or two. they're well-done, and generally quite lovely, but i find myself wishing that the designs would push it a little further. i get that they don't so Soom can still sell a standard wardrobe for them, but really i feel that now it's hardly worth looking. don't get me wrong, i LOVE my Adamelli girls, and i'm super-happy i managed to order them, but really they're standard Soom: hooves and a sleepy head with elf ears and horn, and wings. i've realized that even with inhuman features, most of the time it's the outfit selling the concept for me, and since the outfits are frequently OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive, it doesn't really seem worth it very much. the only doll that's really struck me with unique "woah"-ness (besides Vesuvia and her multi-jointed scorpion tail) has been Cass the fish queen. i was REALLY close to ordering her for myself when she was released, but i realized that what i loved were her finny arms, the seashell-ears, and her costume. her face was kinda blah and i really didn't like the execution of the finny feet and scaley legs. i'd have reversed it to match the arms; scaley feet and fins from the calves.
so to realize my affection for modding, and my desire both to do something more complicated and to have a truly unique doll, i've decided that i wanna mod myself a one-off fantasy doll: Amphitrite- Queen of the Ocean. when i started really thinking about this i figured it was a chance to get a facial sculpt i've always really liked and finally have a reason to order her, so i went straight to Fairyland and pulled up MiniFee Lishe. MSD is my preferred scale to work in, and with sufficiently regal costuming and modding a goddess wouldn't really have to be huge. i then realized that she's really not quite right for the image i have, so i pulled up the other sizes available and looked at every basic female available before settling instead on FeePle 65 Chloe (somehow MNF Chloe just isn't as regal). i'm still working on drawing up the changes i wanna make to her, but basically it'll be my slightly more thematically aggressive version of how i'd do Cass. fins from the calves and forearms less ethereal/floaty and more severe/finny, slight scaling on hands and feet to blend with the fins attaching, gills at the ribs- not the neck like you'd think, (really for a BIG fish, like a person-sized one, gills at the neck wouldn't allow enough air) ears modded to resemble the fin attachments, (because as COOL as the seashell ears are, i'm not gonna try and rip em off). then after all the modding, i wanna dye her entire body a sea foam color, and blush her fins a violet tone and her scales teal to blend. i'll want violet hair for her (i'll probably look into dying a lighter wig honestly), a long style though i'm undecided on straight or wavy as yet. i'll finally be using the Cuprit ice crown on her, along with that outfit (that doesn't in any way fit my Iple girls, but WILL fit her) until i can sew something more ocean-goddess. silver fetish wear and a sparkly cape is fine temporarily, but i'll want something that looks more regal and watery long-term. xD for jewelry and ornamentation, i wanna follow through on the concept i had for the Cass i never ordered: she's been underwater for so long playing with sunken treasure that it's bonded to her in places. i'd add swarovski crystals in places to look like they'd fused to her flesh, and i have an idea for an elaborate lacy filigree-and-gemstone necklace fusing to her chest. like it'd be antique-looking, except for one or two places where her skin would absorb it a little. i'm planning on doing similar filigree-type ornamental modding at the base of the ice crown to play up the shape of it. also to make it look more jewel-ish and less icy, it'd just be gold swirls and shaping, with a few extra jewels dotted here and there for impact.
my other idea that's been germinating is doing a dragon knight. like not a knight going out to slay one, but a knight that's Draconian in lineage, and since settling on my Amphitrite, i've realized that would be even more fun if i made him her son, and an aquatic dragon. for him i have yet to decide on a facial sculpt, but my idea for him is finny-ears like i want for my queen, then scaly additions to arms/legs/hands/feet and claws on the hands. i'd want slight scaling on the forehead too, around stubby just-coming-in-horns.. kinda like dragon puberty. xD the sculpts i like most for him at this point are MiniFee vampire elf Woosoo, or JID Colin from Iplehouse. i love the little fangs on Woosoo, but i'd be tweaking the eye shape quite a bit. with Colin i love the face and the body, but the ankle joint would limit my modding capability. i love all my Iple dolls, but that ankle joint is kinda a HUGE problem for a high-fantasy modification. it only works locked in that one specific orientation, and a classic capable-of-rotating foot would give me breathing room on the scaling and clawing. whatever sculpt i end up choosing though, i'm thinking i'll dye him a steely blue-grey before blushing to accentuate.
i'm still a LONG long way from being able to afford to do any of this, but even just thinking about it and planning it out is really fun. i know i planned Xavin in detail for two years before i ordered her, so i'm really okay with long-term doll planning. xD i don't wanna risk second-guessing a choice i've made, so even after i have money again (whenever that ends up being), i'm still likely to take this project slow and steady.
Monday, August 15, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 78
song+ Musical Ride- Hanson- Shout It Out (this is fantastic and everyone should listen to it!)
book+ Key of trilogy
quest+ getting my Uni-girls blushed and dressed properly
upper+ my mood has been rather up lately
downer+ issues are coming up regarding our moving goal
attire+ denim skirt and a tank
drink+ milk
the last week has been both strange and uneventful. my mood has been more chipper than other recent times, but i've found myself entirely incapable of focusing on any task long enough to complete it. that means that i haven't done anything worth mentioning in the last week at all, except maybe the half-doodled dresses i wanna make for Althea and Amelia. meanwhile Kyu worked two jobs (like normal) and came in 6th or 7th (i can't really remember) out of 20 in a Warhammer 40k tournament Saturday. it's not enough to advance, but it's an improvement in his skills for sure, so he's pleased. also he managed to trade some stuff that was just sitting around for a brand new Warsphinx for me, so that's even better. xD
i know the general design i want for starter dresses, but i'm still working out the closures in my head since one will have to work around Amelia's hooves and that's a substantially larger opening than working around Amelia's human legs and hips. i'm also still deciding what material i'll be working in as i make them. i don't want anything too stiff, but i also want a certain degree of sturdiness to the dresses. at this point i'm thinking possibly a cotton hankie as a base, but that still leaves thickness, color and trim undecided. there are some things i think it's better to take slow though, if i don't rush myself, i'm less likely to make a mistake from desire to just be DONE. xD i'm actually thinking of trying black for the material, and pastel ribbons in their signature colors for trim and closures (over snaps for security), but since i'm still working out the details in my head, there's nothing i can show off on this project.
i think the most inspiring thing that's happened this week was that Thursday i had one of those dreams where you're fully aware that you're dreaming, but you can't wake up until your subconscious is convinced you've picked up on whatever message it keeps throwing at you. it was a good dream, and it left me feeling good about a few choices i didn't realize i'd been worrying over, and it left me inspired to do more to make my future as good as the one in the dream. i think some of the dream was just my brain relaxing, but a good chunk of it felt like prompting towards where i should be in my life. like a higher power saying to me "look how great you could be with a little more effort, all of THIS is possible for you!" and that made me want it very much. it didn't give any step-by-step directions, because prompting from beyond never works like that, but it left me thinking hard about what i REALLY want, and now i think i know what that is. i'm not ready to say it yet, but i'm like 70% sure i'm headed in the right direction to get there. maybe when i hit 90% i'll be ready to talk about it to someone other than Kyu. *shrug*
book+ Key of trilogy
quest+ getting my Uni-girls blushed and dressed properly
upper+ my mood has been rather up lately
downer+ issues are coming up regarding our moving goal
attire+ denim skirt and a tank
drink+ milk
the last week has been both strange and uneventful. my mood has been more chipper than other recent times, but i've found myself entirely incapable of focusing on any task long enough to complete it. that means that i haven't done anything worth mentioning in the last week at all, except maybe the half-doodled dresses i wanna make for Althea and Amelia. meanwhile Kyu worked two jobs (like normal) and came in 6th or 7th (i can't really remember) out of 20 in a Warhammer 40k tournament Saturday. it's not enough to advance, but it's an improvement in his skills for sure, so he's pleased. also he managed to trade some stuff that was just sitting around for a brand new Warsphinx for me, so that's even better. xD
i know the general design i want for starter dresses, but i'm still working out the closures in my head since one will have to work around Amelia's hooves and that's a substantially larger opening than working around Amelia's human legs and hips. i'm also still deciding what material i'll be working in as i make them. i don't want anything too stiff, but i also want a certain degree of sturdiness to the dresses. at this point i'm thinking possibly a cotton hankie as a base, but that still leaves thickness, color and trim undecided. there are some things i think it's better to take slow though, if i don't rush myself, i'm less likely to make a mistake from desire to just be DONE. xD i'm actually thinking of trying black for the material, and pastel ribbons in their signature colors for trim and closures (over snaps for security), but since i'm still working out the details in my head, there's nothing i can show off on this project.
i think the most inspiring thing that's happened this week was that Thursday i had one of those dreams where you're fully aware that you're dreaming, but you can't wake up until your subconscious is convinced you've picked up on whatever message it keeps throwing at you. it was a good dream, and it left me feeling good about a few choices i didn't realize i'd been worrying over, and it left me inspired to do more to make my future as good as the one in the dream. i think some of the dream was just my brain relaxing, but a good chunk of it felt like prompting towards where i should be in my life. like a higher power saying to me "look how great you could be with a little more effort, all of THIS is possible for you!" and that made me want it very much. it didn't give any step-by-step directions, because prompting from beyond never works like that, but it left me thinking hard about what i REALLY want, and now i think i know what that is. i'm not ready to say it yet, but i'm like 70% sure i'm headed in the right direction to get there. maybe when i hit 90% i'll be ready to talk about it to someone other than Kyu. *shrug*
sorted into Slytherin (real post to follow)
i got this from Roro, who took it from someone else. i find the results interesting as every prior sort i've done put me in Ravenclaw (where i'd kinda prefer to be). percentage-wise it really could have been any of the houses, if not for a few specific questions regarding social interaction. i admitted to manipulating people to get them to do what i want them to, if i'd lied (a more typically Slytherin characteristic) i'd have scored lower for them, ironically enough. xD
Slytherin's cardinal traits are ambition, cunning and determination. Like the Gryffindor House, Slytherins are emotionally volatile. In contrast, however, Slytherins are much less dominant and assertive, and less extroverted in general. Rather than expressing these emotions outwardly, Slytherins direct them inward or act in a passive aggressive manner. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin are much more driven to succeed than the other two houses: Gryffindor out of pride and Slytherin out of ambition.
Slytherins are also much more pragmatic than the other houses and more adept at manipulating people. A key trait would be a low level of agreeableness: Slytherins are more pessimistic, more distrustful than most, and more likely to attribute negative motivations to people. So although Slytherins experience a wide range of emotions, due to their distrustful views of people and skeptical worldview, they are less expressive and more likely to appear cold or distant unless provoked.
A Slytherin's ambitious nature comes out in different ways depending on what is important to the individual person. It could lead them to try to achieve top marks (if intellect and schooling is important to them) but it could also be directed at social settings or towards athletic endeavors.
Take The Sorting Hat: A Comprehensive Harry Potter Personality Assessment [Test/Quiz]
Your result for The Sorting Hat: A Comprehensive Harry Potter Personality Assessment
Slytherin
50% Ravenclaw, 51% Hufflepuff, 53% Slytherin and 50% Gryffindor!
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
Slytherins are also much more pragmatic than the other houses and more adept at manipulating people. A key trait would be a low level of agreeableness: Slytherins are more pessimistic, more distrustful than most, and more likely to attribute negative motivations to people. So although Slytherins experience a wide range of emotions, due to their distrustful views of people and skeptical worldview, they are less expressive and more likely to appear cold or distant unless provoked.
A Slytherin's ambitious nature comes out in different ways depending on what is important to the individual person. It could lead them to try to achieve top marks (if intellect and schooling is important to them) but it could also be directed at social settings or towards athletic endeavors.
Monday, August 8, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 77
song+ LOVE- Ashlee Simpson- I Am Me
book+ Tomb Kings army book
quest+ getting my Uni-girls blushed and dressed properly
upper+ i love them to bits and do not regret ordering in the slightest!
downer+ i can't find their proper eyes, i'll keep looking though
attire+ pajama pants and a tank
drink+ AriZona watermelon juice cocktail
..and it's Monday again, strange how it seems to come around every week. xD most of my weekend has been spent playing with Althea and Amelia trying to figure them out enough to decide on colors for their blushing. i think i've got things pretty much settled, but i'm giving it another few days just to be safe. in the meantime there's (still blank-faced) snuggle pictures. i've taken one pretty much every day since their arrival, but since they all end up looking more or less the same i delete them instead of sharing. this one's cute though, and the lighting's decent. it was taken early this afternoon.
i think at this point they're more cousins than sisters, but i'm okay with that. i'm thinking that Althea is a humanoid zephyr spirit flitting about as changeably as the wind itself (once i finally get the magnets into her wings), but very protective of her loved ones and prone to fighting. her BFF Amelia is the daughter of a river nymph and a satyr, she's more dependable, but more emotional too. i've pretty much decided that anything i make for them to wear (they're currently in generic MSD clothes from my collection of F2BM/Teen Trends items) will feature their signature colors in it somewhere: blue for Amelia and lilac for Althea. i do want their wardrobes to be mostly floaty togas and wrapped sleeveless robes, and i've got something like 6 designs drawn out, i just have to figure out the patterns properly and get the stuff made. once i do that i'll be sure to take more pictures. xD they're very very photogenic girls.
i think later this week i'll sit down to actually do the modding to cover the calf-holes in Amelia's hooves, and also to so the fantasy blushing and face-ups on the girls. i think i've still got enough sealant to get it all done, and i know exactly where my art supplies are, i'll just need to make sure i'm set on the colors. and i guess i'll have to make sure i have enough space cleared from my packing blitz too. xD my desk is currently covered in stacks of art supplies that i'm not ready to pack away yet since i want it done cohesively and it hasn't all been found/gathered yet. there's also a stack of various sewing-related crafty things stacked to the side of the desk awating packing. and comics too, really i still have a ton to get to, though i'm realizing that i don't really want a lot of it anymore, so that's less to pack.
i guess the only other thing going on is Kyu did a few big tattoos this weekend, and we had some extra money, so he bought me the Tomb Kings Battalion box. i'm not letting myself assemble or paint any of my TK stuff until after we've moved and i've unpacked and organized though. i'm just hoarding my bits in anticipation of the reward of finally working on it all. xD this box puts me at a solid 2/3 of the 2500pt list i'm working on though. it supplements my previously acquired archers, both on foot and on horseback, and gives me half my planned chariots, meaning really all i have left to get is the specialty pieces.. warsphinx, snakey statue thingies, casket of souls, and any spot-filling units i decide on. i'm looking forward to getting into all of it, it'll be really different from my Dark Elf list too, so i'll have an entirely different experience playing it. xD
book+ Tomb Kings army book
quest+ getting my Uni-girls blushed and dressed properly
upper+ i love them to bits and do not regret ordering in the slightest!
downer+ i can't find their proper eyes, i'll keep looking though
attire+ pajama pants and a tank
drink+ AriZona watermelon juice cocktail
..and it's Monday again, strange how it seems to come around every week. xD most of my weekend has been spent playing with Althea and Amelia trying to figure them out enough to decide on colors for their blushing. i think i've got things pretty much settled, but i'm giving it another few days just to be safe. in the meantime there's (still blank-faced) snuggle pictures. i've taken one pretty much every day since their arrival, but since they all end up looking more or less the same i delete them instead of sharing. this one's cute though, and the lighting's decent. it was taken early this afternoon.
i think at this point they're more cousins than sisters, but i'm okay with that. i'm thinking that Althea is a humanoid zephyr spirit flitting about as changeably as the wind itself (once i finally get the magnets into her wings), but very protective of her loved ones and prone to fighting. her BFF Amelia is the daughter of a river nymph and a satyr, she's more dependable, but more emotional too. i've pretty much decided that anything i make for them to wear (they're currently in generic MSD clothes from my collection of F2BM/Teen Trends items) will feature their signature colors in it somewhere: blue for Amelia and lilac for Althea. i do want their wardrobes to be mostly floaty togas and wrapped sleeveless robes, and i've got something like 6 designs drawn out, i just have to figure out the patterns properly and get the stuff made. once i do that i'll be sure to take more pictures. xD they're very very photogenic girls.
i think later this week i'll sit down to actually do the modding to cover the calf-holes in Amelia's hooves, and also to so the fantasy blushing and face-ups on the girls. i think i've still got enough sealant to get it all done, and i know exactly where my art supplies are, i'll just need to make sure i'm set on the colors. and i guess i'll have to make sure i have enough space cleared from my packing blitz too. xD my desk is currently covered in stacks of art supplies that i'm not ready to pack away yet since i want it done cohesively and it hasn't all been found/gathered yet. there's also a stack of various sewing-related crafty things stacked to the side of the desk awating packing. and comics too, really i still have a ton to get to, though i'm realizing that i don't really want a lot of it anymore, so that's less to pack.
i guess the only other thing going on is Kyu did a few big tattoos this weekend, and we had some extra money, so he bought me the Tomb Kings Battalion box. i'm not letting myself assemble or paint any of my TK stuff until after we've moved and i've unpacked and organized though. i'm just hoarding my bits in anticipation of the reward of finally working on it all. xD this box puts me at a solid 2/3 of the 2500pt list i'm working on though. it supplements my previously acquired archers, both on foot and on horseback, and gives me half my planned chariots, meaning really all i have left to get is the specialty pieces.. warsphinx, snakey statue thingies, casket of souls, and any spot-filling units i decide on. i'm looking forward to getting into all of it, it'll be really different from my Dark Elf list too, so i'll have an entirely different experience playing it. xD
Friday, August 5, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 76, part 2
song+ On the Floor- Jennifer Lopez- Love?
book+ nothing
quest+ packing the whole apartment away neatly
upper+ imy Uni-twins are home!
downer+ i don't have hair and eyes for them yet
attire+ khaki pants and a pink tank
drink+ water
so yeah, possibly the fastest doll shipping EVER. (i wonder if it's to make up for the Cuprit drama?) xD notice Wednesday, arrival this morning. i honestly was figuring on tomorrow or Monday for the arrival. xD i wasn't expecting them so soon, so i don't have their eyes or hair yet, but i'm so happy they're here that i'll just go through my spare things and let them look mismatched for a while. they have temporary clothes that i did in advance. i compared their listed measurements and it was pretty close to my Kid Delf Bory so i used her as a model and somehow the green dress is too loose, the pink is too tight, and both are indecently short if they stand up. i'll have to make new things now that they're actually here, i just need ideas first. xD at least i can sell these that don't fit as Kid Delf girl outfits?
anyhow, over time i've developed a streamlined arrival photo process, this time i got it down to just 5 pictures. xD giant mega-box, two pretty boxes, pillow-cushions & fantasy parts, sister snuggles, and a closeup of comfort.
i'll probably work on their face-ups and blushing this weekend, and getting magnets and such glued where they need to be. i have yet to decide on a final color scheme for them, and they'll definitely need properly-fitting clothes to wear, so i'll need to do some doodles to work out my ideas. xD i'm VERY happy to have them home though, they're the sweetest, shyest supernatural sisters ever.
book+ nothing
quest+ packing the whole apartment away neatly
upper+ imy Uni-twins are home!
downer+ i don't have hair and eyes for them yet
attire+ khaki pants and a pink tank
drink+ water
so yeah, possibly the fastest doll shipping EVER. (i wonder if it's to make up for the Cuprit drama?) xD notice Wednesday, arrival this morning. i honestly was figuring on tomorrow or Monday for the arrival. xD i wasn't expecting them so soon, so i don't have their eyes or hair yet, but i'm so happy they're here that i'll just go through my spare things and let them look mismatched for a while. they have temporary clothes that i did in advance. i compared their listed measurements and it was pretty close to my Kid Delf Bory so i used her as a model and somehow the green dress is too loose, the pink is too tight, and both are indecently short if they stand up. i'll have to make new things now that they're actually here, i just need ideas first. xD at least i can sell these that don't fit as Kid Delf girl outfits?
anyhow, over time i've developed a streamlined arrival photo process, this time i got it down to just 5 pictures. xD giant mega-box, two pretty boxes, pillow-cushions & fantasy parts, sister snuggles, and a closeup of comfort.
i'll probably work on their face-ups and blushing this weekend, and getting magnets and such glued where they need to be. i have yet to decide on a final color scheme for them, and they'll definitely need properly-fitting clothes to wear, so i'll need to do some doodles to work out my ideas. xD i'm VERY happy to have them home though, they're the sweetest, shyest supernatural sisters ever.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
State of the Neko address: week 76
song+ Rolling in my Sleep- Adele vs Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams) mash-up
book+ Warhammer Fantasy rulebook
quest+ packing the whole apartment away neatly
upper+ i'm feeling mostly-better!
downer+ i was miserably (abominably?) sick this weekend
attire+ khaki pants and a green tank
drink+ AriZona strawberry-kiwi juice blend
this isn't a Monday post, but since i was feeling off Saturday with a persistent headache, then woke up voiceless and sick Sunday and slept most of Monday away as a result, this is close enough. i'm feeling (mostly) better today and my voice has returned, so that's good. turns out several people i know of were inexplicably sick over the weekend, so i'm not sure what was up, but i'm mildly comforted that i wasn't the only person surprised to be sick out of nowhere.
i hit a plateau on packing progress last week, after painting and partying, but i'm gonna try to do better this week to make up for it. Saturday morning (before Warhammer started at the comic shop) we made it by the place we'd like to move into to talk to the management. we looked into both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom layouts, and while i'd much rather have the 2 bedroom, i can see ways of condensing our stuff to fit in the smaller one. it looks nice there, and they will have places available in a month, so that's good. Kyu is worried about being able to pull together enough to cover all the moving expenses. between pet fees, app fees, admin fees and initial rent (one or two months of it depending on credit/rental history) i can see why he's worried. i'm considerably less worried about it, what's meant to be will be. worst case scenario, we have to wait another month until our lease is actually up and move late Sep instead of late Aug. we'll be fine though. of course by his math, he's assuming we'll pay the whole pet fee up front when they only ask for half of it with the option of putting the other half across the first year's rent, which is far easier to deal with.
i (finally) heard back from the friend that wanted to split the Adamelli order, she still wants the unicorn head and legs (and spare body i included) of the set, and losing her job hasn't changed her desire to have this as her first doll. she's applying other places so she can pay me the sum we agreed upon when i ordered them, and since she's talking Dental Assisting as a job, making the 300 shouldn't be tricky at all if she can get any hours. getting that money will be nice, it'll let me order the wigs and eyes for them, and also help Kyu with various things that have been put off, but do need to be dealt with (since i doubt i'll have it in time to help with moving expenses). i need to get some of my other dolls sold, the ones i've been meaning to get rid of, but the timing hasn't felt right. i'm a firm believer in following my instincts when it comes to timing pretty much anything at all. really before i bother worrying about any of that i'm gonna focus on getting this place packed up and all sorted out.
to keep myself occupied while i slog through the sorting and re-packing i've been downloading more music (even though i'm still working my way through listening to the stuff i already had) as of today i have another 10 albums added to my iTunes library. xD i already had FAR more music than can be fit on my sad little iPod, but i'm working on expanding my tastes. i'm now at 34.86GB of music with slight overlap of tracks possible (but unlikely, i do my best to eliminate repeats) and the same 8GB iPod Touch (that actually holds closer to 6.5/7GB) that i've had for like 4 years. my listening hasn't progressed since i finished the backdrop, at which point i was halfway through Goo Goo Dolls, i think. it's reasonable progress, and today i'll be picking it up again and moving forward with it. eventually i'll get through it all.. unless i keep downloading more and not listening to anything, then trading for further new stuff with my sisters. which i have been known to do. xD
book+ Warhammer Fantasy rulebook
quest+ packing the whole apartment away neatly
upper+ i'm feeling mostly-better!
downer+ i was miserably (abominably?) sick this weekend
attire+ khaki pants and a green tank
drink+ AriZona strawberry-kiwi juice blend
this isn't a Monday post, but since i was feeling off Saturday with a persistent headache, then woke up voiceless and sick Sunday and slept most of Monday away as a result, this is close enough. i'm feeling (mostly) better today and my voice has returned, so that's good. turns out several people i know of were inexplicably sick over the weekend, so i'm not sure what was up, but i'm mildly comforted that i wasn't the only person surprised to be sick out of nowhere.
i hit a plateau on packing progress last week, after painting and partying, but i'm gonna try to do better this week to make up for it. Saturday morning (before Warhammer started at the comic shop) we made it by the place we'd like to move into to talk to the management. we looked into both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom layouts, and while i'd much rather have the 2 bedroom, i can see ways of condensing our stuff to fit in the smaller one. it looks nice there, and they will have places available in a month, so that's good. Kyu is worried about being able to pull together enough to cover all the moving expenses. between pet fees, app fees, admin fees and initial rent (one or two months of it depending on credit/rental history) i can see why he's worried. i'm considerably less worried about it, what's meant to be will be. worst case scenario, we have to wait another month until our lease is actually up and move late Sep instead of late Aug. we'll be fine though. of course by his math, he's assuming we'll pay the whole pet fee up front when they only ask for half of it with the option of putting the other half across the first year's rent, which is far easier to deal with.
i (finally) heard back from the friend that wanted to split the Adamelli order, she still wants the unicorn head and legs (and spare body i included) of the set, and losing her job hasn't changed her desire to have this as her first doll. she's applying other places so she can pay me the sum we agreed upon when i ordered them, and since she's talking Dental Assisting as a job, making the 300 shouldn't be tricky at all if she can get any hours. getting that money will be nice, it'll let me order the wigs and eyes for them, and also help Kyu with various things that have been put off, but do need to be dealt with (since i doubt i'll have it in time to help with moving expenses). i need to get some of my other dolls sold, the ones i've been meaning to get rid of, but the timing hasn't felt right. i'm a firm believer in following my instincts when it comes to timing pretty much anything at all. really before i bother worrying about any of that i'm gonna focus on getting this place packed up and all sorted out.
to keep myself occupied while i slog through the sorting and re-packing i've been downloading more music (even though i'm still working my way through listening to the stuff i already had) as of today i have another 10 albums added to my iTunes library. xD i already had FAR more music than can be fit on my sad little iPod, but i'm working on expanding my tastes. i'm now at 34.86GB of music with slight overlap of tracks possible (but unlikely, i do my best to eliminate repeats) and the same 8GB iPod Touch (that actually holds closer to 6.5/7GB) that i've had for like 4 years. my listening hasn't progressed since i finished the backdrop, at which point i was halfway through Goo Goo Dolls, i think. it's reasonable progress, and today i'll be picking it up again and moving forward with it. eventually i'll get through it all.. unless i keep downloading more and not listening to anything, then trading for further new stuff with my sisters. which i have been known to do. xD
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