Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope your new year started with a bang! Mine started kind of mellow, but I did have a very fun day. I am so positive for this year. I see a lot of fun things in my future. I plan to come back here and blog again as well as doing other doll and craft related things. I can't wait to share my recent purchases and tell you what things I have been up to. More coming soon to this very spot. Stay tuned. :-)

And on that note I am going to go for now guys and gals. I didn't sleep much  last night and I am thinking bed time is coming soon. So I will be back soon to tell you about the Christmas gifts I gave my mom and my sister, and yes the wardrobes were part of that. That is a while crazy story in itself. LOL! Take care until next time guys. Bye for now. :-)

4 Months Until Christmas???

Nooooo!!! Where did the time go?!?!? Ugh! I wanted to be so crafty in the coming holidays and it's like time is just slipping away. I have to light a fire under my bum to get things started. So I have to admit something to you guys...so embarrassing...remember the wardrobes I've been trying to make my mom and sister for a couple of years now? Yeah, still working on it. Whattttt?!?!? Depression is a bitch, that's my excuse. But I am feeling a little bit better and now that I know I have 4 months, I am starting now to work on things. I have a lot of stuff done, but each year I add 20 more items, so I believe this year I am up to 60 items as well as other items I am adding in for certain events. But that is 60 per, so that's 120. LOL! I do have some of that done already, so I am not totally screwed. I am determined to get it done this year. So I am going to start planning now and getting started in the next few days. Well...next few weeks. What? The Sims 4 is coming out on the second of September...I wanna play. :-D But after I play for a while then I am seriously getting to business...seriously. Yeah. :-)

So you have all gotten your four month warning. If you are planning to craft for gifts, craft for dolls, or just craft in general, you have 4 months left. Let the countdown begin....NOW! :-) Talk to you next time awesome people. Bye for now. :-)

One Week, Bad Day?

Hey guys, so today is kind up and down for me. I am going through some hormonal stuff again, which I hate with a passion. I wish they would level out so I cold have more normal human days than not. It got so bad I foolishly unblocked someone to say hi out of emotion. Regretted it no sooner I sent the text. The convo was basic and nothing exciting. I was reminded of what an @$$ he is and I am back to having my fill of all that. Like I said, it was done in a hormonal moment and I am soooo not proud of it. I believe they will get the block again in a few. I feel stupid.

Found some more interesting fashions that I would love to not only draw but make for dolls of various sizes. I especially love the v-neck shirt. Now that is a lowwwww neckline, but it's so cool. As I look at all these fashions, I wonder how that would translate into 1/6th scale. I'm sure the v-neck and cowls could be worked out depending on the fabric they are made out of. Well when it comes to 1/6th it all really comes down to what the fabric is made out of really.

So next week I complete another run around the sun. Fun, right? Meh, guess so. Ok, I am glad I am having another birthday. I know of many who won't get this chance, and so I respect the fact that I do get that option. It's just with each birthday I get a little sad because I feel like I haven't accomplished anything due to getting sick and having anxiety, and also I reflect on the fact that I am way older than my older brother now. I was catching up on Eastenders and the brother of twins was saying good-bye to his twin sister at her funeral. He mentioned how she was almost 8 minutes older than him and she never let him forget it. However, he was now older than her for the first time ever and it didn't feel right. That's how I feel about my brother. It's not right that I am older. Just realized, even my younger sister is older than him now. It just feels wrong. I loved being the middle child, but that status was ripped from me and I would give anything to have it back. I miss my brother.

So maybe it's best not to blog when you are all weepy, but I worry if I don't do it then I will disappear

for months again and I am really trying to get back into the things I love. So fake it until you make it i guess. Next week is going to be a horror. I hope, at least,  I have a good birthday, even if it's just me laying in bed marathoning the last 2 seasons of Doctor Who, the new one starts soon. Yay!

And on that geeky note, I will talk to all you lovely people tomorrow. Until then, take care. Bye for now.

Korean Male Fashions For Dolls

So I've been thinking about things I want to sew and create for male dolls in the 1/6th world. When it comes to fashion, my eyes pop when I see colors, prints, patterns, shapes. Don't get me wrong, t-shirts and jeans are amazing, I love to live in them myself, but there is just something sexy about sleek and colorful outfits. This preference was resparked in me when my sister recently sent me a link for a music video by Korean male singer Henry. In the video he had a certain outfit that caught my attention and that I decided I wanted to somehow make in 1/6th scale in my own vision. Take a look at this screen-cap I caught from the video.

So I'm not sure what the design is on the front of the pants panel, but I would be going for a more subtle look for my outfit. Maybe a solid color with a strip of color going across the middle of it. Not sure. But I love the concept of  "skirty" like pieces of clothing on men. Yes, I am fully aware it's not a skirt, just not shirt what it's called. But it's not shocking to see Asian men in the entertainment business to wear a skirt. It's usually over pants or leggings, and it just kinds of add to their edgy look.

But skirts on men aren't the only thing I find fascinating. Korean male fashion in general has always caught my attention. I especially really love watching Korean dramas and seeing the fashions the men wear, and they wear it like it was just effortless for them to put it together. It almost seems like they put it on as easily as it is to put on a t-shirt and jeans and call it a day. Here are some fashions I am in love with and would love to recreate for dolls.

I am in love with the fact that men can make turtlenecks look so sexy. I don't see many men here wearing turtlenecks, but I see them a lot in Korean fashion.

 The concept of t-shirt and jeans is amazing too. I love seeing something that doesn't have superheroes, game characters, cartoon characters, team logos, etc. on it. I love the pop of color on the shirt and how it's more "fashion" but still it's casual.

Sweats are done "fashionably casual" as well. I know in real life I'm sure those strings are tied and tucked in, but in the "world of fashion" those strings hang loose and it's fashionable. Even in Korean dramas sweats can be just casual fashion and isn't meant to be worn strictly indoors or while exercising.

Even casual wear is just so bright and sleek. I just don't see that in regular life where I live and I'm sure not a lot of people do unless you live in a more fashion-centric area like New York, California, Paris, London, Seoul, etc.

Winter wear is still bright and bold as well. While around here we bundle up in big poofy pillowy coats, in other parts of the world they still work it. And now let me pic spam you with some other male fashions I just love.

Elbow patches, not just for fashionable college professors. Love.

So while searching for Korean male fashions I found some non-Korean fashion pictures that would fit perfectly under the male Korean fashion bubble.

I wish I could see this type of fashion in person to see how it really falls on a man and how it moves on them. If I do see a suit it's because the man is going to work, church, wedding, or a funeral. I would love to experience a place where fashion is more expressive. Now I know these fashions are also mostly worn in certain areas of Korea just like anywhere else. I'm sure most of Korea is much more casual, I would just love to walk around the areas of the world that are high fashion just to see them, how they flow, and the people who wear them. *sigh* Dream big Michelle, dream big. Until then, I will plan and plot and design patterns for my dolls and let them live in the fashions I'd love to see in real life. :-)

And on that last note, I am off. I shall continue the search for high-fashion and drool over the colors, patterns, textures, fabrics, and shape. My next fashion post will be on the complete other side of the spectrum.  Can't wait to post about that soon. Until then, take care. Bye for now.

I Can't Wait For Midnight January 1st 2014

Image From Free Digital Photos

Happy holidays ladies and gents, it has been a while. I have just been dealing with life. I almost said living life, but that's not the honest truth. Dealing with it is a much better way to explain things. I ended the year roughly 175 pounds less in the form of an ex-boyfriend that I am now very glad I am done with. I've had some time to think about what all has happened in the past couple of days, weeks, months, years, and I realize I did the right thing in letting him go. But that leaves me at a confusing crossroads as to what I want to do with my life and how I see the hobbies he judged me for. It took me some time, but I've decided to say "Forget him", and return to things I love, dolls being the main thing I want to return to.

So now that I've decided to return to dolls, what will I be doing? I've been brainstorming some plans, and I will be starting on them in January. I don't really want to say what they are now, so if they blow up in my face and I fail miserably, I'll be the only one to know and can just move on to plan B instead of embarrassingly admitting defeat publicly. LOL! The one thing I can tell you I am working on now is sewing. I really do want to start selling clothes for dolls this coming year. I love fashion and I have so many ideas for doll clothes.

I've collected some dolls to sew for and I plan to collect more, and I'm excited to try this venture. It's just I'm also nervous about it. What if no one likes my stuff? What if running a business is too hard? What if...well I don't know, what if something else goes wrong? But life is full of risks and I need to take more. I saw I took a big one trusting my heart to one of the nastiest people I have ever met, I literally though I would die from the pain he caused me, but I'm bouncing back and I made it through the worst. A business mishap or two, I think I can handle after what I went through with him. So I am putting on my big girl panties finally and charging forward towards this new venture. So super nervous. :-)

I've got so many things swimming around in my brain that I want to complete next year, I almost don't know where to start. I have given myself until New Year's Day to deal with the aftermath of my "175 pounds weight loss" and then I told myself it's time to stop mourning and move on. So yeah, there's one plan at least, the rest, I need to schedule out I think. I am a list person, so I need to make lists. Don't be surprised if some lists pop up here every now and again, I do well thinking out loud. ;-)

Wow, I've missed blogging so much but I feel like I've lost my blogging mojo. I know I will get it back over time, I just feel kind of odd now. I almost feel like I'm in a strange place. Time will change that. I will be back to regular blogging again in 2014. I want to say I'll blog everyday, and I guess technically I could, but I think it'd be pretty boring. I don't know. We'll see. I won't hold myself to it, if I do blog every day great, if I don't, no big. And this looks like a great place to close for now. I don't know if I will be back before the new year, so in case I don't get back I want to wish all my readers a very safe and happy New Year. Have fun, be merry, and get ready for 2014, it's going to be awesome. :-) Bye for now all.

Blythe Dresses On Etsy

Image From Free Digital Photos

So one of the things I want to start doing this year is promoting other doll peeps who I find interesting. I kind of feel like I am walking into mucky waters with this one because while I want to give notice to those people who I find interesting, I don't want to insult others by not mentioning them first, third, or even at all. So I will just put down the “cone of safety” on each of these posts. LOL! These posts are in no way to insult anyone, they are made to encourage purchasing of awesome dollie items I find and possibly help a handmade artist in the meanwhile. :-) And now that the cone of safety is on * insert cone of safety sliding sound here * let the awesomeness commence.

Sticka Till Barbie

If you prefer to make the clothing your dolls wear, and you are handy with two sticks and some yarn, you are going to love the Sticka Till Barbie website. I found this website a good while back and was using it's free patterns to help build my doll wardrobe. You can find knitting patterns for clothing and accessories for Barbie, Ken, Kelly/Shelly, Tommy, Bratz, and 20cm Monchhichi dolls.

The site is in Swedish, but it also has English written after the Swedish all throughout the site. The layout is set up where there is a picture posted of the knitted item made, and then there are links under the picture that when clicked on will allow you to download the pattern. Each pattern is written out in Swedish and English, but the patterns are also being translated into Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian and Spanish. It will say under each pattern which language it has been translated into.

The patterns are simple Word documents that come with the pattern and a picture of the finished product, which I love to see with a pattern. If you don't have Word, you can open the document with Open Office or amother free office software. Each pattern is free for use, and the website owner is fine with you knitting up the items and selling them for profit. However, they have been getting emails asking if people can sell her actual patterns. Ok people, let's get serious here. The patterns are generously offered for free and someone seriously wants to take them and sell them as their own? I can't believe people actually were brave enough to even ask about that. Here's how I feel. If you didn't create the pattern yourself, and the pattern isn't public domain, then you can't claim it as your own and sell it. And no, just because it's online does not make it public domain. Publicdomain are items that are a certain amount of years old that have lost their copyright. There is tons of stuff out there that you can legally snatch up as your own and sell. Look into it. So yeah, that's my little PSA for the day.

Now when it comes to knit items I am very particular about items I will accept as clothing. Only items I would actually wear myself are acceptable for my dolls. I love everything on the Sticka Till Barbie website, and I love how much they represent items made from other fabrics, but in the end there are just some things I can't accept in knit form, unless it's a tight machine knit. For example, I am not an overly big fan of knit pants and shorts. It just doesn't look like it would work in the real world to me. I like knit sweaters, and even dresses because it makes me think of sweater dresses. Some accessories aren't acceptable to me in knit either, but I love how the site owner created them with knitting. I am also not a big fan of complete outfits being made out of all knitted items, but I do love the look of the completed outfits on the website. It just wouldn't fit the look I am going for with my dolls. I know of others who feel the same as I do, but let me know how you feel. Do you like anything knit or do you prefer certain pieces? Is an all knit fashion ok to you? Let me know in the comments section.

Be sure to give Sticka Till Barbie a visit and have a look around. Knitting really isn't that hard as long as you take your time, and I find working on these projects is a great way to learn. They are small so you get quicker gratification from whipping them up. If you don't know how to knit, Youtube is your friend and can teach you the basic stitches need to complete these outfits, so give them a try.

Adding to her "to-knit" list,
Michelle

Image From Sticka Till Barbie