Yes!
I am!
I promise that I will have some great stuff to show over the weekend–so just hang in there folks! 
Hey there–yep, i’m still around, just being a bit quiet & trying to juggle stuff. I’m still working on all the other projects, and making really slow time on them. *sigh*
Today I had to face the fact that my light fixture in my room is dying. Bad enough that Ikea stopped making bulbs for it (it’s a halogen one that looks sort of like some war-of-the-worlds alien with e pronged (and bendable) legs coming out of it. *double sigh*
This wouldn’t be such an issue except that it is. And until I get it sorted (or manage to pick up some spare floor lamps) my room just isn’t bright enough for taking photos. Talk about shit. 
I made some good progress working on the colored pencils for Astrid & Shayna, and some generic tubes of paint. But I broke some and screwed up some others and well, it just seemed like time to stop when my head felt like exploding. That and my jaw is hurting where the tooth was extracted. WTF is that about? It’s been a month or more now. Just stop already!
Grrrrrrr.
The only real fun I had today after things started going wrong was playing on the Polyvore site and making up some mock-wardrobes for my dolls. Kind of playing and seeing what sort of clothes they’d pick out to wear if they could go shopping *with no credit limit LOL*
Anyway, that’s it for now.
Feb 202011
What am I doing?? Why am I being so quiet on the blog this weekend?
Well, part of it has to do with organization & cleaning & re-arranging my workspace. The rest of it has to do with all the various projects I want to (and am) working on.
I’m going to give you a list of what I am doing:
(I may or may not post photos & blog about the individual projects at a later date–as they get done.) these are all running concurrently and I’m slowly getting pieces done. Right now it’ll just take more time for me to photograph as I go along and I’d really rather just get stuff done!
- Re-organizing / de-cluttering my space (this takes longest).
- Listing/packing up crap for ebay (this segues into the next item).
- Buying ink cartridges for my printer. Mark’s printer died & mine takes really expensive ink so there’s been a total-standstill on me making any kind of printable stuff (be it for etsy, or my personal prop use or whatever).
Making (or thinking of ways to make) 1:6 props for the students:
- I am trying to make a 1:6 Blythe (1 or more)
- Art supplies for Shayna
- Shayna’s Insanity Quilt
- Books (that I think these students would read or have in the dorm rooms)
- Posters for the dorm & student lounge walls
- Finding/adjusting the student lounge to use if for PK’s Friday Monologue
- Shooting pics for PK’s Friday Monologue
- Blankets & comforters & pillows for using in the dorm rooms.
- Making curtains (these are from hell. It’s getting close to the point I am going to just hang a piece of tie-dye fabric over the window LOL).
- Painting heads (previously mentioned).
- Sewing clothes for Astrid, Raven, Shayna & Merrit.
- Updating the website with some of the background on how I do my dioramas & stuff.
- Working on making Astrid’s hybrid body. I was going to use it to make the tutorial with but I think I’ll wait and do it with another body. I really just want to get things done & don’t feel like getting bogged down at the moment.
- Going back & editing some of the Friday Monologues for future continuity.
So those are a few of the things I’m working on.
I’m trying to figure out some other sewing related stuff, I want to do some oil painting (but things need to be cleared off so I have someplace to work) and of course I need to go through my belongings again and try to weed out some more stuff to get rid of. I really want to take as little as possible with us when we move (and there IS good news related to that*at least as far as I’m concerned!*)
Feb 092011
Yeah. I’ve got a lot of different projects on at the moment. So many in fact that I feel somewhat torn about what to work on at any given time!
Among them:
- making curtains, curtain rods & holders for the curtains in the Dorm Room & Student Lounge room windows.
- Repainting some new students (I re-rooted these last week–I think?)
- Re-root & repaint a head that I want to use as a Professor
- Make some more blankets for the different students to use in their Dorm rooms.
- Sew some clothing for Astrid & Raven
Hopefully I’ll have some photos to share over the weekend.
I do know that, right?
In between getting some things sorted out here I took the chance to catch up with & read through some fellow doll-and-action figure blogs. And you know, as much as it pains me to say it–I just don’t really belong.
*sigh*
While I don’t exactly feel like the dorky kid on the playground, I do feel like my brand of collecting (If you can call it that since I think I do more customizing than leaving dolls as they came) isn’t really appreciated in general. I’m not (for the most part) cranking out customs and then putting them up for sale, I’m not blogging every other day/week about a new find or a new doll. Maybe if I did I’d be more in tune with everyone else. Instead I’m just going through the daily grind of life and commenting about the ups & downs as I go along.
I don’t have a single doll that is NRFB. It is highly unlikely that I ever will. And I’m not the sort of person to stick them in glass display cases. If they’re behind glass chances are I’d never touch them & they’d just become more “stuff” that I’d feel the need to get rid of.
I’m not all about photographing my dolls every day/week in new outfits, new clothes & with new accessories. Yea, the dolls are nice, I like them & I enjoy them but I just don’t go that route. Does that make me less of a collector? Someone less seriously involved with the hobby?
This isn’t a big deal.
- I don’t collect or blog to make other people happy.
- I get the joy of creating & evolving new characters and sometimes ideas…Challenging myself to expand my skills.
- My biggest joys are usually scoring some new supplies or coming up with a new (and interesting) Idea.
- And gifts. Of course. I like sharing those!
I suppose I’m just rambling, but I wanted to vent that thought.
Yea, I’m not one of the cool kids on the block, or the playscale playground, but at least I do my own thing and that’s what really matters.
Since my appointment at the dentist’s last week I really haven’t been feeling so great. I’m sure I’m just being a baby but the tooth extraction is still causing me a lot of pain (weds, thur, fri, sat, sun….is that normal?) so I’m not all that motivated to work on anything other than getting it dealt with and down to a dull throb. I’m planning on calling the office in the am & hopefully getting in to see the doc. Fingers crossed that everything IS healing up properly & this is just a blip on the screen.
Hobby wise there’s some stuff going to be getting done around here (diorama related) and some long-over due things as well. I don’t want to promise anything for this week–but optimistically– if I can just get the pain to settle down I should be able to share something come Friday. *fingers crossed*
Anyway, any & all good vibes & thoughts that could be sent my way would be well & truly appreciated!!
Ok and for the record the circled tooth is the one that’s been extracted:
Jan 042011
I think it’s just not my week!! My filling fell out today among other things. Anyhow–onto more pleasant things!!
Top Ten Toys of 2010 Number ……6
Description of Toy/Toyline: Fashion Royalty Dolls. Made by Integrity toys.
So why did they make my list?
The main reason they made my list this year was that there was something about their faces that drew me to them. I saw that inside of them there are good characters waiting to be unleashed.
Kyori:
Prior to getting Kyori I had been wanting her for more than a year so this year I did finally breakdown and get her. I think that so far out of all the FR dolls (and heads) I have that this one is my favorite (with Ayumi a close second). If I had money to burn I would totally get a second (and 3rd…and 4th) of this doll.
Natalia:
She was an unexpected addition: I loved how she looked in the promo shots & thought she’d be great.
Colette:
Was so cheap I couldn’t resist and I loved her coloring & thought she would be perfect.
Jordan:
was the best deal out of the lot & I bought her for the challenge of making her over into a doll someone would want to look at.
Eugenia:
She was another deal that I couldn’t resist. Eventually she’ll end up being repainted. I’m not liking the super light eyebrows and cotton candy pink lipstick.
Downside to these figures: (aka why it isn’t the #1 toy on the list!)
As usual the biggest thing that lets these figures down is their second-rate articulation. If Integrity would just improve the range of motion on the knees and elbows (like double joint them) I swear you wouldn’t be able to stop me from buying them!!! However, they have crummy articulation (the knees suck, and the legs/hip area you have to tweak it if you want them to sit up straight instead of slouching backwards, and of course, the elbows don’t bend enough to allow the doll to “talk” on a phone (cell or otherwise) without looking spectacularly stupid.
My second complaint is that the MSRP on the Fashion Royalty dolls is excessive.
When it comes down to it they’re using the same tooling to create the bodies & heads each time (the exception being when they introduce a new character with a new sculpt—not like introducing Luchia (Isha’s sculpt in a pale skintone) or Count Adrian (Takeo’s sculpt). So the rest of the expense is down to accessories, clothing & paying overhead & salaries. I know a lot of people buy these dolls & want the “exclusives” simply because they ARE exclusives. And are happy to pay whatever the going rate is on the (primary or on the secondary “jacked up”) market. Good for them, and Integrity–I guess. But not so hot if they want more people to buy each new release they make. *shrug* It’s not my cash-cow so I guess I can’t recommend how I’d go about milking it, I guess…
General Comments:
Overall I’m pleased with the dolls. They each had various issues and I’m dealing with them. For example: Natalia’s promo shots made her skintone & general coloring seem different. Looking at her in RL I decided that she needs to be re-rooted with darker hair to really do something for her complexion (hence she’s decapitated and not in the photo for this). Jordan needed a complete repaint to be a decent looking doll etc. I think if I were a plain vanilla collector I’d be less inclined to buy some of them–but since I like to customise and “tweak” my dolls I am ok with it.
Jan 022011
I bet you’re thinking I’ll never get through the whole Top 10 List ! (Sometimes I think that too!) But things keep popping up and other things nudge their way in front of it… One of those things was a conversation I had with a fellow hobbyist. We were discussing doing Top 10 Lists and stuff. They basically posited the idea that that including x-mas gifts you’d received in your list was kind of rude since you’d be “ranking” them and could lead to hard feelings.
It makes sense and I have to agree that it could be seen that way. So this has meant a slight re-shuffle of my list.
I really appreciate every gift that I’m given and I don’t want anyone thinking that someone else’s gift means more to me or is “cooler”. Well, except for Mark who totally expects to be the “coolest” LOL.
So tomorrow I’ll be back on schedule! Thanks for bearing with me!!! 
Dec 092010
That’s right folks! It’s getting really, really close to that time again!!! And once more I’m inviting anyone who reads my blog to join in the fun & take some time to look through your toys, figures & dolls that you’ve gotten throughout the year and pick the 10 best (or favorite) that you’ve gotten.
My first post, #10 will be posted on Dec 22nd–and the last will be revealed on New Years Eve!
So here’s hoping y’all join in! (and make sure to let me know if you are!!)
Ok, just so y’all don’t think I’ve fallen off the face of the earth again: a brief explanation!
I’d agreed to do some holiday 1:6 swaps with friends & some total strangers and I’m just really under the gun to get them completed–hence no posts in the last week.
The good news is I’ve completed the ones for the strangers , and a couple of the friends ones all done & shipped out. Now I’m trying to get the rest of them completed. I’d like to get them all out & in the mail by tomorrow (Wednesday–probably after my appt with the agency). We’ll see though it will depend on how much I manage to get done today.
I did want to comment on my trip to the post office over hte weekend—can I just tell you how much is disturbed me (on a customer service level) to pay the chick behind the counter for shipping (one recorded/signed for, one standard) and her to tell me “put them over there!” and pointing at a large (I do mean taller & wider than me) pile of packages, boxes & the like on the floor in the corner of the “post office area”???!!! I mean WTF? Anyone with any slight of hand skills (or just plain balls) could swipe a few of those. If my packages go missing I guess I’ll know why now. >:( Sorry, but they at least should have been in postal bags *sealed, and ready to go. NOT on the floor.* OK, well whatever. It does make it pretty damn clear to me though that I’ll have to eat the $$$$$ when I send these other swaps & gifts overseas. No way I’m not gonna send them fully trackable. Uh uh.
Anyway off to prep for tomorrow, and then after that to work more on the gifts.
PS: It’s time to start thinking about the Top 10 Toys of 2010!
Nov 292010
Yes, sad though I am to be home from our mini vacation–I’m glad too!
(the house is freezing! Brrr!!!! and our landline seems to be on the blink) but who cares, right?)
I’ll admit now that when we left last week I was in a semi-panic. I’m a true-to-the-bone worrier and was imagining all sorts of scenarios involving returning to find our house had 1) burnt down/blown up 2) been broken into & burgled, 3) broken into and squatted in (more common here than you’d think these days), or 4) that I’d die and no one would know who of my friends should get what dolls & accessories etc from my collection.
I know. I sound like a nutcase. (Awww, damn, my secret’s been revealed!) 
Anyway I wanted to admit that most of the space I took up in the car consisted of dolls! Yes I packed about 25 of them and some clothes & props with me! My favorites—-so just in case….well I’d have them! Befpre you laugh at that you should really take a few minutes to think about how much energy and soul I put into making a doll & creating & finding the right personality for it. And that some of them are gifts from the best friends I’ve ever had (or will have).
I didn’t end up doing any photos for photostories–the lighting wasn’t too good for that…but que sera sera!
Anyway I’m back & I’ll be posting a bit more this week (I’m just trying to get things re-organized and ready to go! Aiming for a Friday Monologue this week too!
Nov 132010
Yea I know it’s probably not going to happen what with my current state of being and whatnot, but I wanted to make note of what I feel are the more important projects that I want to try to finish/ make serious headway on/ start before 2011 moves on in…. (OMG can you believe it’s almost 2011? I remember in the 80′s writing cyberpunk stories and setting them in grim, dark and horrible 2012! LOL)
Anyway the list (for now):
The Cup & Saucery Cafe:
- Fixtures & walls:
- Walls - need painting.
- Counter - needs flip top added.
- Cabinets - need to be painted & attached to walls.
- Cafe tables & chairs – need detailing
- Cafe door – needs door handles made (and letter slot)
- Cafe window – needs name, logo & lettering
- Faux “outdoors” area/sidewalk area visible through window
- Props & Accessories:
- Need to make a large espresso machine
- Cups & crockery need to be customized to fit the theme.
- need to make some mini coffee & tea related content (bags, boxes & gift sets)
- cakes & cookies for display cases
Giselle & Marissa’s Living Room
- Fixtures:
- Walls - need to be painted.
- Fireplace – needs to be completed & painted.
- Floor - needs to be cut & laid in & glued down.
- Props & Accessories:
- Furniture - couch, coffee table, 2 end tables & bookshelves
- Curtains - 2 windows & 3 doors
- Plants & misc. brick-a-brack
O—–kaaaaaay…..
Looking at that list it really doesn’t seem likely I’ll get it all done before the new year but you never know. If I really push it, it might just happen!
.
Nov 042010
You there? Ah hah! I thought so! 
I’ve spent some time over the last week or two working on the main website for Corsetkitten’s Workshop.
It’s not complete (I don’t know if it ever will be) but if folks felt like stopping and taking a look I’d be really grateful! It’s probably going to display best in Firefox & Opera (the 2 browsers I checked it in–I don’t use explorer, and chrome always hates me).
And folks? Be kind, eh? I’m not a whiz with the web design & stuff. 
I hear you! You’re saying: “Huh, what? Last time I visited the blog you were talking about making a fireplace in 1/6 (sixthscale)!”
I still am!
But If you know anything about me it’s that I’m usually working on a few projects concurrently. It helps me to avoid burning out & getting sick of a project. So yes, the fireplace is still in the works (going to give my fingers a few days to heal before I go back to plastic cutting). Which is good because it gives me a chance to talk about another project that I have going.
In case you’ve missed my more recent posts, I’ve lately had an influx of Fashion Royalty dolls into my collection. Not a bad thing (even if I do think that their articulation does leave a lot to be desired).
I can hear you collectors out there — “What! Why are you going backwards?? Why go back to collecting those dolls? Hot Toys makes female figures now! Buy those!!”
Oh, the Humanity! (does anyhone else remember Heathers? LOL)
Seriously though. I fell in love with a few of the facemolds the Fashion Royalty line came out with. I finally gave in and bought some of them. I also thought that if Amber from SITC could use them in photostories (without getting purple with frustration) then I could take a page out of her book and be able to integrate them into mine too. If collecting Blythe’s has taught me anything–it’s that FR articulation isn’t as bad as it could be! And wires or strings from above are a good thing!
So, you probably want to know who’s who and what’s what?
You know that apartment set up I’m currently working on? That’s for the 2 main girls to live in and otherwise generally “entertain”. Ideally I want to be able to randomly intermix these new girls and my existing cast & I think in this situation it can really work. Of course the girls are glamorous & model-like–they’re “tv stars”. I don’t necessarily see them mixing with the students (unless they run into them in the cafe), but they certainly could deal with some of the “adults” and that leaves me to wonder if they have anything to do with the more arcane aspects of Quinlan. Hmmm. Food for thought!
Anyway the “stars” of the show are Giselle & Kyori (yet to be renamed). Of course Giselle gets to keep her original name. I don’t think there’s another name out there that would fit her as well. Kyori—well she’ll be getting re-named but I’m waiting before pinning a name on her until she gets here. Once I can photograph her I should be able to get a better handle on her personality. I do think she’s the calm one compared to Giselle who I see as temperamental & quick to mouth off in one way or another.
Anyway talking about the dolls & cast membership here’s who I have:
Giselle:
Private Goddess Natalia (role TBD) My original idea was that she’d be a therapist in Paloma’s practice but I just don’t know if she looks the part (out of that dress).
Tricks of the Trade Eugenia (local gallery owner)
Flight Pattern Kyori (name TBD. Actress in costume drama. Co-Stars w/ Giselle)
And this week I got an absolute steal on feebay uk and got Fire Within Jordan for uber cheap (I mean cheap enough that I felt bad for the seller that I was the only one who bid!). And she came from here in the UK so I didn’t get killed on the shipping–I got her in less than 2 days! Talk about instant gratification! YAY!
Fire Within Jordan (name TBD. Head costume designer for the costume drama. Teaches 2 classes a semester at the University re: fashion/costume design & history).
- She’s slated for a complete re-paint since I don’t much care for her default face & pink-pink lipstick & eyeshadow. I’m interested to see how she’ll turn out afterward.
I’m thinking I might try to repaint her this week coming if time & projects permit. I also need to get hopping on my sewing challenge & just get busy drafting some new patterns for the Fashion Royalty bodies. I’m really tired of searching for slacks & skirts to fit them… best way to cure that is to make some quickly!
The next project I’m also working on right now is with a Hot Toys True type guy body. I’m willing to put up with the reduced articulation on the FR girls…but not the FR guys. So I’m looking into doing a mod with the true type body to make it a better match for the girls. I’ll update as soon as I’m closer to finished!
Anyway that’s what’s going on here today!
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Ah! You know there are times I love my hobby & times when I really wish I collected something else—like plates, or stamps or something that required fewer “auxiliary” bits.
Does anyone else wish that? Or is it just me?
I found out yesterday that next weekend is the autumn Miniatura event at the NEC. I managed to talk mark into going last year & I wasn’t disappointed (well, except that I didn’t have enough $$$ to buy even 1/4th of the things I wanted LOL and could use for 1:6 even if they were made for 1:12 scale).
So while I don’t have a lot of money to burn, there’s a really good chance I could get some decent supplies & stuff…. But the tickets cost money, and I’d have to buy a ticket for mark too and it adds up. And of course it’s going to be packed to the gills with people and I’m not feeling my best (I’ve managed to contract a cold or virus of some sort from my current job assignment).
I think maybe, a better use of my money would be to try to get to the rag market next weekend instead. Yea I’ll have to pay for parking for the car, and stuff but while I’m there I can pick up some cheap trims, maybe some fabric & hit the asian supermarket too. And maybe, if I’m feeling up to it I can get us to take a detour to the quilt shop to at least eyeball the fabric there LOL (Oh I miss Joanne’s fabrics!!)
Anyway, it’s Sunday & I was going to try to sew & stuff but I’m achy & tired & I think I might just go back to bed to try to charge my batteries up for tomorrow & the rest of the week’s work. And the Friday dentist appointment. Ugh.
Hopefully I’ll post again soon with some kind of doll related goodness!
I know its a bit early to be compiling my list but for me things like this take time…especially since it hasn’t been a big “buying” year for me. So that means I really, really need to put some solid thought (and really look at my collection for this year) and see what I can find that I feel is worthy of such a list!
This is also a heads up to all my fellow doll & action figure collectors—you ought to take part in this this year too! It’s all Shaun Wong’s idea * see his original post here: * http://testicular-fortitude.blogspot.com/2008/11/lets-all-do-2008-top-10-fave-toys-list.html
Anyway, this usually gets done in December *hence the count-down* but since I know this xmas will be rather like the last one I’m starting this earlier (I want to finish it before Jan. 1st).
Onto other hobby related news:
- I’m working on a few more books for my Etsy shop (which I’m afraid is getting short shrift right now what with the new job & all).
- I’ve made some great headway today in reorganizing & clearing up my “workroom”/Office. Which is good! It means I have some room to sew, paint or whatever if I manage to find the energy for it this week.
- And best of all–yesterday I managed to write the script for a new Friday Monologue! If time & energy permit I will try shooting it this week (but I’m not promising!)
Anyway that’s it for now!
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Just wanted to let those of you who stop by & read the blog that I’ll be updating kind of sporadically.
I’ve started a new job this week & until I’m used to it (by which time the assignment will probably be over) I’m only popping online enough to check my emails, say hello to a few friends & pop off again.
I figure I’ll be back to posting normally in about a week & a half or so. Maybe by then I’ll also have something to show on the blog. *big maybe there* LOL.
Take care folks & be well!
What’s up this week?
1:6 Props & Miscellany, Blythe, Eh, what?, Etsy-related, Making Stuff, Something to share
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Aug 102010
I’m still working on the update of the main website. Still aiming *optimistically* to have it done by sunday evening. Might seem like a lot of time but it really isn’t (at least not when I’m up to all this other stuff LOL).
Now that I finally managed to finish the first batch of pillows & cushions for etsy, I am now trying to photograph them. I wasn’t happy with my first batch of photos *not to mention I didn’t have any dolls in those photos*. I’m trying to do them a few each day (last night I got one set done but today I expect to get more than that done).
Part of this week/next week I want to spend sewing for my blythes & possibly finishing up my customizing of Emily (natasha moore blythe). I’m getting frustrated when I want to dress her only to find that less than 10% of my clothing will work for her body. So! I’d done some sketches a few weeks ago & I’ll dig them out and have a go. I’m also toying with the idea of making some steampunky clothes for blythes as well. I figure I might as well since I like them, I have most of the materials on hand, and heck, maybe someone else would like one too! (I love etsy, really!) Not to mention I need to find the funding to pay for my domain renewal & hosting since that’s due next month. *ugh*
Things here are a little on edge for me since Electra seems to be a bit sick. She’s got diarrhea. I called the vet about it but they said not to worry at this point. She has an appt on the 16th so if she gets worse in anyway before then we’ll take her. She still has a good appetite but I worry. :S
Mark is also in the process of inserting the stairway bannisters & railing etc. Me & the furry kittens are trying to stay out of the way. I’m very glad I am not doing it.
I’ll update again soon. Promise!
