BJDs on the move #63

To any of you interested, I've created a seperate blog for my BJDs. I will post any clothing and items I make for them there as well as photo shoots. The address is: http://mousesnook.blogspot.com/

Dreams & Mr. Vassar #62

I think I've mentioned this before (maybe that was over on BB...) I have VIVID dreams. Yeah. Dreams so real I sometimes feel like Cat from Charles De Lint's book Yarrow, who enters a new world when she dreams ... hmmm, just realized I have a wip with that theme. Guess I know what influenced THAT dream/story!
So, this shouldn't be a problem, right? I mean what writer wouldn't want an endless supply of material?!?
Well it is. See, when a dream comes to me - IT IS IT. I mean it is the only thing I can think of until I get all the major details worked out- who are the characters, where are they, what is the plot, their motivation, who are the 'bad guys', etc., etc., etc. ... I've had four of these since November.
If I could find one story and stick with it I'm sure I'd have long since finished my main WiP. (And maybe one or two others, but hey, I mentioned the blinking colored Christmas lights, didn't I?)
Yeah, so this little entry today is in honor of the newest one to occupy my mind. (You may recognize it from a FB entry.)
There is a man on the side of the road with a motorcycle. At first I think he's old and scruffy but as I get closer I see he's neither. I ask him for a ride because my sister is chasing me on a little girl's bike. (I know it's her even though I never see her face - you know in the way you recognize someone as your best friend in a dream even if they're wearing someone else's face?) I'm not scared of her, I just want to get away. It ends up being a really long and enjoyable ride, which I'm surprised at (yes, even in the dream) because I do not like riding motorcycles from behind. I hate feeling out of control. Anyway, every time I turn around my sister is right there behind us. I want her to go away because the ride is fun but I feel guilty too because she wants to join us but can't, all she can do is peddle faster and faster as she tries not to be left behind. At the very end of the dream, just as the neighbor's noisy muffler wakes me up I realize the man is Phil Vassar!
Okay, I know who Phil Vassar is but I've never gone out of my way to listen to his songs or watch his videos - now, I see him everywhere!
I've been working on a story derived from this dream for quite a few days now and it's evolved into a paranormal about a growing coven of bad vamps(for a change), a poor girl in a dead end job, in a dead end town, a younger sister with something to proove and a lone wolf(literally),who is responsible for the murder of his pack, looking for revenge.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure - a pic of Mr. Vassar who has become Vance. Not bad for a 45 yr old guy eh?

Outfit #61

Alright, I SHOULD be writing - I've had a surprising urge lately to work on my main wip but I'm putting it off - hoping it will build.

What to do in the meantime ... how about, make another outfit for Falyn ?!?

I warn you, I am NOT a seamstress, I improvise and cheat at every turn but hey, she's not gonna be wearing this get-up out anywhere so, whatever works. (And this is why I do not sew clothing for my kids.)

There's a scene later in my first arc where Falyn is (against her better judgement) convinced to don an improvised outfit by the more 'liberal' Shekhadi. (Won't go into detail here.) Needless to say, I've had this costume in my head for awhile and thought I'd give it a try.

Below are my attempts:

Default #60

Alright, just a quickie - this was the default look for my doll - I chose her without it so I could customize her myself.

(Doesn't resemble my character at all but I loved the sultry look of her eyes and knew I could work with it.)

BJD #59

I recently learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the lights they choose for their Christmas tree. I like blinking colored ones. Apparently this means I have ADD. I'd never have guessed that but now that I've had some time to think about it ... I'd have to say it's probably true. (to a mild extent)
I have way too many hobbies to be good (really good) at any of them. I've said it before "Jake of all trades ..." I draw, write, make jewelery, sculpt with clay, dabble with photoshop, paint (and that includes things that are already painted - I feel an un-natural compulsion to re-paint knick knacks and such like ornaments, gypsum sculptures etc.) you get the idea. So what do you suggest? Another hobby?!? Sure why not ;)

Before you read any further let me tell you I have NEVER been a doll person. Hated them even as a baby. My mother told me I'd throw all the dolls out of my crib and keep the stuffies. I did play Barbies with my sister but I had more fun 'decorating' their house (Which was actually made of boards stuffed into the slates of our picnic table to divide rooms, towels for rugs, pictures cut from magazines taped to the walls for paintings, milk crates for second stories ...) while she tied them to the end of her jump rope and dangled them from the tree. (we've often used this to describe the differnces in our personalities.)
Soooo, when I recently joined Deviant Art I was surprised to discover BJDs. (Ball Jointed Dolls) I first found them in the photography section and thought I was looking at real-life models.

Strangely fascinated, I started looking for them on purpose and learned that they originated in Japan, China and Korea. At first these resin dolls appealed mainly to followers of Anime but back around 1999 companies started making more realistic models. What I REALLY liked about them was their ability to be customized. You can change the shape of their features by sanding or add to them with epoxy, remove their faces and re-do them, you can buy any number of wigs or eyes (in varying shades and sizes) and you can buy or MAKE clothing for them, as well as jewelery ... you can see the potential here for someone like me. There are hundreds of models out there but even if a hundred people bought the same version, they'd all look different!

Still, I had no intention of ever getting one until I found her ... Falyn. Well, not Falyn exactly but with some modification it could be her. I touched her up in photoshop, changed her hair, eyes, makeup and there she was. And then, then I showed her to my husband. Can you believe he got her for me for Christmas ?!?!? Without further ado let me introduce you to Falyn in BJD form. She is 1/3 scale, which means that she is proportional to a 5'8" female. She came with a pretty set of dark green eyes but I got a proper pair off Ebay, put on a dark brown wig and made her a tunic like the kind I envision her wearing in my story, a pair of leggings, oh, and I couldn't forget her ever-present bow, which I made out of polymer clay.
I've also been busy making a bunch of doll scale necklaces out of left over beads to sell on the BJD forum and on Etsy.
So, what do people do with these dolls besides make clothing and such? If you look them up on DA you'll find hundreds of photo stories. Seems I'm not the only person who got a doll to represent a character they've created ...

Here is a close up of the face I've given her. It's not a proper one. I have to get a special sealant, which can only be applied in warm weather before the pastels will adhere and show up as they should but ... well, this is what she's got for now.


I hope I havn't bored you to tears - but I may occassionally post a pic of two of her here and I wanted to give you a heads-up. Esp. for those of you who think dolls are creepy. Don't worry, I won't be offended if you are, I was one of those up until I opened that box Christmas morning ;)
Oh, and for the heck of it, here's a neclace I made for her. Garnets are my faves.

Save the Tatas ! #58

Well, breast cancer month is over but those with this horrible disease are still suffering. I am going to continue to sell doves to help my friend's aunt, only now I am offering white ones for Christmas. If you are interested you can go here.

Thank You !

ps: Cecile, thank your daughter and her BFF for the great blog title :D

Sea Dragon Tutorial #57

For those of you interested, I have posted a new tutorial on my Etsy site. I also have the sample up for sale !