Real world (real life) stuff has created some issues. :sad:   I’ll be back online on Saturday–expect the Friday Monologue in the afternoon (EST) or Late evening (GMT).

Thanks for understanding.

It’s on time!!! XD I hope someone enjoys it!

I’m still having issues with the text sizes changing & appearing blurry after exporting them (this time I tried them at 300dpi and high quality but I’m not seeing any difference) Ugh.  (Also some of the spacing between shots is a bit off–but lump it, ok?     It’s past 10:30 and I’ve been at this all day!)

And as always—your feedback and thoughts are welcome (provided they’re constructive)

Talk about big scary things & being a big baby!

(yes I did break down and cry in the chair  )

Good news: in the 17 years since I went to a dentist I’ve managed to get only one cavity & my teeth are in generally good health. This excludes my wisdom teeth (which they did not x-ray—I’m not sure why they weren’t part of a full check up & exam, but I have to go back for that & a filling week after next. I expect that they’ll find at least one cavity in them since they are particularly sensitive these days)

It was a real change to see instantaneous x-rays…my mouth to the flatscreen in less than 60 seconds. Way to go technology. (at least as long as I don’t end up overdosed on radiation)

Anyway…

Am working on Friday Monologue #6 and I’m hoping to post it tonight.

I’d never done one before and I liked the idea of volunteering some of my skills to make a doll (that hopefully someone would be happy to own).  I received the base doll a while now & what with all the ups & downs of life she hasn’t had a lot of attention except in my head.

I’ve been mulling over what kind of doll to make her and what to do with her.She’s “Back to Black Natalia” from Fashion Royalty.

IMO she’s a beautiful doll just as she comes.  I’d originally considered doing a repaint on her, but really, I just can’t. She has such a wonderful face/look that I’d consider it just about sacrilegious for me to do it.

So, instead I’ve been thinking about how to style her that can make the best use of her looks while still allowing me to put my creative stamp on her. So it’s come down to her outfit & accessories I think.  As usual, whatever I make is going to have to be completely removable–I don’t know about other people, but I know when I get a doll I want to be able to redress her or change her around. It’s reaaaaallly hard to do that if someone’s sewn or painted her clothing on!!

So this week is dedicated to Natalia! I’ll update as I get things done!

Thanks for being patient with the delay!

I’ve learned something during this FM.  I should always try to actually do the dialogue the day of or after shooting the photos. I delayed a bit on this one due to RL stuff and when it came time to work on it some of the commentary that had sprung to mind while shooting disappeared.  Now I know better next time!

I tried to make the images smaller this time so feedback on how well they display would be good! Also, I know a few of the words in some speech bubbles got slightly cut off. It’s the program I’m using so *shrug* I’ll try to keep it from happening again (ie catching it in one of the steps & fixing it before I do all the other stuff)

I’ve been able to shoot a mess of photos for one Friday Monologue! 

So…trying to gt caught up a bit–I’m still shooting photos that I hope to use for the FM after this one. If I manage it –and the photos are useable–I might just manage to get a 2nd FM done *and posted* this week.

Well just wanted to give y’all an update!

Thanks for understanding!

But whatever. 

I am going to try to be back on track this week & by that I mean having another Friday Monologue up & ready to share at the end of this week. I’m pretty confident that as long as I manage my computer & camera time wisely I can do it without causing my eye any additional strain. (Fingers crossed for luck)

• Try to begin updating the old corsetkitten.com site (it’s months overdue)
• Complete the photostory for Nat
• Sew some more 1:6 clothes.
• Shoot the photos for the next installment of the Friday Monologues.
• Make props & list them on etsy

I know it may not sound like much, but let me tell you—it’ll suck up all the time! I’ll keep you updated on what actually gets done

When I’m sewing for myself I can barely be bothered to sew on snaps or hooks & eyes. Most shirts are simply pinned up the back because I can’t stand the repetitious hand sewing. I design bunches of outfits but I don’t make them –because I’m just not motivated enough to make them–for myself.

Now throw a friend into the mix.
Someone who doesn’t sew, or doesn’t do it frequently. Said friend mentions things that I know I can make…Can someone explain to me why I’ll go out of my way to make things for other people, I’ll spend hours sewing on stupid snaps & hooks, adjusting pieces etc. And I still won’t think it’s good enough?

*sigh*

Anyway, here’s a few pics of the stuff I made today.

Anyone wanna guess who they’re for?

Here’s FM#4 featuring Viv.

Please if you do actually read it — comment in this post. I’m specifically interested in how the images appear in your browsers (are they too big, not big enough, hard to read, etc.)

I’d appreciate it.

Yesterday I began work on a couple of Momoko dresses for ebay. They need to be finished up at some point.

I’m also going to be working on making some 1:6 goodies although I expect they’ll take some trial and error to get right. And I definitely won’t be listing those on Etsy when they’re done ((shhhh! 1:6 perv alert!))

Otherwise still here & kicking.

My eye appt is next saturday–hopefully they’ll tell me that the tapering off of the flashes are good signs & that all is well. *fingers crossed *

Hope everyone else out there is having a good time & being productive with their 1:6 stuff!

Otherwise, things are going ok.
Still waiting for my eye referral, and trying to make progress sorting out stuff & making things. For those of you who don’t regularly check additions to my blogroll, here are a few new ones that I’m enjoying!

Figurvore (a new forum for 1:6 scale dolls & action figures.) It’s got a lot of emphasis on the how of things, more than the “what I have” of things. Good, friendly people. If you’re bored come check us out (we won’t bite)

Dolly-Novella a 1:6 scale photostory site. It’s got some romping fun reads and is worth the time navigating & exploring.

Also, Roville updated with a mini-photostory/ slice of life as well check that out here: Roville (the Office)

In the meantime I’m waiting for my referral to the Retinal specialists and will have to wait to see what happens. I’m really keeping my fingers crossed that if it is a retinal tear (like the ophthalmologist thinks) in progress that it’ll be semi arrested by the change in eye habits. Failing that, I hope that the referral gets here before the retina tears (more).

Wish me luck (all good vibes are greatly appreciated)

Thanks for being patient with me re: the delay!

Here’s FM#3 featuring Balthazar…he had more to say but I ran out of time!
Please take a moment to answer the poll question in the side column, will you? It’s anonymous!! (there is more information below about the potential interviewees) 

Please if you do actually read it — comment in this post. I’d appreciate it.

*As promised above–here’s a bit more info about the potential interviewees*

Seth Melbourne

Vivienne Marcelle

Jillian Carmichael

Morgan Renfield

Tara Lynhurst

Thanks for taking the time to check them out and vote!! ;)

Balthazar got 3 votes, everyone else got 2 votes or less (poor Jeremy & Paloma!) I’ll be putting up the next poll tonight or tomorrow–please vote sooner rather than later!!!

Thanks for taking the time to vote!

So, after I rest my eyes I’ll begin shooting his Friday Monologue. And just an FYI, it may not be ontime tonight since I’ve got this eye problem & can’t do more than an hour on the computer without breaks. But I’ll do my best & if it’s not done tonight I promise it’ll be done by Sat am at the latest.

Here’s FM#2 featuring Shayna.

Please if you do actually read it — comment in this post. I’d appreciate it.

*PS: the ending is abrupt again. I need to work on endings….*

They’ve definitely taken a lot of work & time to make and I can’t pretend to be sad to have finished! IMO they’re very nice to look at (I made all the chocolate / candy pieces to be removable) but I’m not sure that I’ll be making any more this year. Or next.  I dunno.

Anyway, here’s what a couple of them look like: (there are more pics on my etsy)

Check out Balthazar doing the Valentine’s Day thing below! :happy:  I’m so glad I got that Hot Toys sniper  headsculpt when I could! (I do really need to repaint those hands though. And de-shine his body…maybe this weekend!

Each box of chocolates has a different combination & selection of candies  and each bouquet is slightly different as well. It’s pretty much a case of WYSIWYG.

Anyway feel free to check them out—and as always, comment! ;)

How could I resist?

I popped into the shop–all but certain someone else was going to come along and snatch it out of my grasp! (I sound like a nut, don’t I?) 

Anyway here are a few quick pics: Classic Egyptian-esque cat

The cat appears to be made out of cast bronze (or maybe copper coated bronze?) and pretty heavy. It’d got some wear & tear on it but over all I think it was a fantastic find & will end up in someone’s office or home in The Quinlan Chronicles.

I just had to share!!! :)

So at last, we’re at the top of the list!

Doing this list has been a really good exercise for me…It’s forced me to take stock of what I have and what I really use–and why I use it.  I’ve gotten a lot of little nifty pieces (mostly props & the like) and some cool bigger pieces (many of which are here on the previous list entries) and the ones that have made the list have in common the following attributes:

• They’re cool
• I use them more often than not (pretty useful)
• They inspire me in some way

Anyway I know you just want to see what number one is!

#1

Customized 1:6 kitchen set

The customized kitchen (view one)

Description of Toy/Toyline:

This kitchen is made up of multiple parts. The counters & oven are from an old set of Pedigree Sindy furniture, the refrigerator (not visible in the above shot) and the table & chair set are from mattel for Barbie (from the barbie my house series).  The floor was made by hand staining the wood & hand laying & varnishing it. (Technically the kitchen isn’t finished yet–I still need to make the exhaust fan/over the stove unit, and some “hanging shelves” for the wall next to it).

So why did it make my list?

• I love it! It’s sort of funky & retro and of course it’s actually part of one of the sets for The Quinlan Chronicles. Eventually it’ll interlock to other pieces of Cass’s apartment.
• It fits all of my dolls nicely from my Momoko & Volks dollfies to my Hot toys Guys & CG Takara girls & Fashion Royalty dolls. That usefulness is key!

• It’s been a combined effort between my husband and I.  It’s got the best of both of us in it ;)

• It’s probably the most in-depth prop-project I worked on this year from start to (almost) finish.  And I’ve gotten a lot of use out of it.

If you want to find out more about the process of making the kitchen custom please search my blog using the keyword kitchen.  There are a couple of posts with photos of the furniture in progress.

Ok so….that’s about it! Thanks again to  Shaun Wong over at the Fortress of Testicular Fortitude for initiating the whole Top 10 List idea and inspiring me to actually do it (albeit a bit late). ;)

Just in case you missed one here’s a run down of the previous 9 items on the top 10 list!

#10

#9

#8

#7

#6

#5

#4

#3

#2

Hope you’ve had fun reading!