#sewing review 2023

[hansenshorror]

A look back at some of my favourite makes from 2023. I will definitely be adding "make more historical garments" to my list of 2024 intentions because I didn't make nearly enough of them this year!

A couple things not pictured are two late 1800s dresses I sewed for a feature film and a Selena costume a friend commissioned me to make for Halloween.

#handmade #sewing #cryptid fashion #historical costuming #historical clothing #historical fashion #made it myself #sewing review 2023 #me made garments of 2023 #thanks I made it myself

[getexcitedandmakethings]

Crafting Year in Review

Just for fun, here is my crafting year in review for 2023.

I started out the year by making a stuffed house hippo (from this kit). I'd never made a stuffed critter before, but it came out really well!

I followed that up by making a couple of little David and Patrick stuffed mice:

I did a bunch of embroidery this year. I finished my aerial rivers series:

And I did some abstract pieces:

And I did some embroidery on paper for the first time, which was very fun and I'd like to do more in the future:

I also make a couple of temari balls:

For the past few months, I have been hand-embroidering replacement hexagons for a quilt my grandmother gave me as a kid. Many of the original hexagons have been damaged, so I want to replace them. I've done 75 so far and I might be halfway done?

What projects did you do this year?

#crafting year in review #2023 crafts #embroidery #sewing

[technoxenoholic]

anyway, it's always funny to me when a phone is rated 4/5 stars and the reason it's missing a star is because it has a mediocre camera... and it doesn't have wireless charging... and its screen isn't blindingly bright.

basically, they're rating a 5/5 phone as a 4/5... for having more good features. i don't want to pay for useless camera features i won't use! i don't want to sear my retinas off! and i don't want to use wireless charging! these are all wins for me!

#stfu blue #the one i'm currently looking at has a headphone jack too #some dipshit is in the review article comments like 'um nobody needs a headphone jack anymore in 2022' and i'm sitting here like Bitch. #it's 2023 and i want to have headphones that won't die before i get home from my walk #you'll only convince me to give up my cheap skullcandy wired headphones when they die #and then i will open a new package of cheap skullcandy wired headphones #i also enjoy the cheap skullcandy bluetooth headphones for sewing and cleaning. but not for Going Outside

[elinaline]

Grmbl

#this is me being moderately grumpy about two things before sleep #1. i gate leaving bad reviews to small artisans but like holy shit of i pay 80€ for a pair of summer pants the minimum would be that they #come fully finished and ready to wear. instead of having a pocket missing half the stitches and so shit falls along your le #and tge sewing on the waist being so fragile that tying the waistband once was enough to break everything #i had to restitch it. left three stars instead of five. grmbl #and 2. im starting to think ill just never get the alleyman tarot. if it comes after summer 2023 ill most probably have moved #and apparently we're not able to change the addresses anymore ? kinda lost tracks after months (like a year and a half actually ?) without #news for Europe. bit annoying. #i was excited to get this deck. theres friends' art in there.

[stregacorvina]

🎀 2023 Recap Part 2 🎀

Here we are with the second part of the recap, in the end I needed two parts for this year too!

JULY

Half of the year was already passed and school was over! But not my commitments! I still needed to take my “final exam” at my school: an interview with the principal and a committee of other teachers to talk about my school year, my students and my school life in general. I also needed to submit a project I developed with one of my classes (some pockets made by the 2 grade girls about their interests and hobbies)

I also had to submit TONS of papers (3 copies each!) the last days of school with my signatures, my tutor’s signatures and the principal’s signature! I really have to thank my colleague friends and my boyfriend for having acquired all these signatures for me at school while I was in the bed dying 😩

Luckily the exam went really well for me and also for my friends that took the exam with me and with all the school obligations behind we left for a long weekend on the mountains!

Without school I was finally able to sew full time again and I really pushed the Genshin Impact cosplay! And also other two cosplay for Lucca comics and games: Fantaghiró and Romualdo! from a very famous Italian 80s tv movies!

I started to regain a little free time and between diet and physical exercises I visited a very cool exhibition here in Milan with a colleague friend about Samurai Women.

This month was my boyfriend birthday and we went out for dinner in a very lovely restaurant and we finally enjoyed some time together ❤️

Between cosplay commissions and online classes I still had to take for school, I managed to sew something new for my dolls and I bought a very cute backpack to carry them around.

At the end of the month I went in Tuscany with my boyfriend and my family to visit my brother’s family and we had a pleasant holyday together. We went to see a textile Museum in the city where my brother lives and I really enjoyed the visit! I also submit this museum as a possibile destination for the school trip I will take with my class next April (if my health will finally be alright)

AUGUST

August started really smoothly, we went on the mountains again to relax and to enjoy some time together.

We planned a few hikes, noting too hard, but while we were doing the first one I had a really bad breathing shortage and I end up to the ER…two times in the whole month of August! It was a nightmare, I started to have troubles breathing again and i couldn’t sleep at all! I was exhausted all the time and all our projects went out of the window 😩

At the end of the month we manage to spent some days in Switzerland and the travel went really smoothly but I was constantly afraid of being out of breath again far from home. Not the best scenario to enjoy an holiday! We went on the Jungfrau the highest glacier in Europe and it was really breathtaking!

SEPTEMBER

My brother’s wedding was slowly approaching and so the beginning of the new school year so I decided to finally start sewing my dress for the wedding. Of course I managed just in time and I finished it at my parents’ house just a couple of days before the wedding 😂

The wedding was really fun and we celebrated my brother and his new wife with all my family and friends.

And then…two days after the wedding the school started again! This year me and my friends were decided to take things slowly, to enjoy our time at school and to focus on our girls more…and we’ve been stressed just like last year! Even more if possible!! We’re a week before the end of January now and we already need another holiday 😂

Before things at school became more serious I got back to Fantaghiró and Romualdo cosplays! I was determined to ship them by the end of the month because I’ve had other Cosplays to make before the convention (Lucca Comics and Games, the biggest convention in Italy)

I also started to see a nutritionist and to make more physical activities and I started to lose weight even if my health was still a mess.

At the end of the month me and my boyfriend went on the Lake Como (in Baveno town) to celebrate our 9th anniversary and we relaxed a bit on the lake.

OCTOBER

This month was a quite one. School was not so crazy still so I enjoyed my time at home making some school materials for my girls with my IPad (I still don’t use it as much as I would like to) and sewing some new clothes for my dolls.

I also sew the other only commission I took for the Lucca comics, a remake of an old cosplay I did some years ago Ulquiorra from Bleach.

Speaking of dolls, finally the dolls I ordered in March arrived from Japan (through a Spain dealer) and they’re adorable! So cute! I really want to sew something for them as soon as I can!

We did also some tourism in October, we went to Grazzano Visconti (a wonderful medieval town near Milan) for a goth weekend and we did a little tour of a sanctuary and a natural gorge to enjoy some clean air!

NOVEMBER

November started really well with a nice holyday! Me, my boyfriend and a group of friends we flew in Romania to celebrate Halloween and to visit the main attractions: Bran Castle/Dracula’s castle, Peles Castle, of course Bucarest city, Brasov, the beautiful salt mines in Turda and an amazing Steampunk themed museum in Cluj (the place I loved the most)

After the trip I got back to school obviously, just in time to start new classes for us fashion teachers; one about making patterns with a new technique (I did the second set of lessons at the end of this January) and I started a set of lessons one each month about some new developments in the fashion industry.

Between regular lessons and these extra classes I was feeling a bit overwhelmed again and my bronchitis stroke back…I was back to the doctors for more tests and medications 😩 I cannot go on with my workouts but I stick to the diet (I started a very restrictive Keto diet for all November and December)

This month I don’t think I had the time to see anything at all because I was constantly really tired

DECEMBER

I was really looking forward to the Christmas holidays to get the chance to finally have some proper rest and to spend some time with my family in Rome.

At the beginning of the month we went for a long weekend on the mountains even if I was still really weak and we didn’t do any hiking but I took a deep rest to sprint through the end of the year.

My birthday was slowly approaching and I bought myself the usual birthday present for myself 😂 A new doll of course! From a lovely lady here in Milan. She’s still without a name and without a proper character but I hope to enjoy her more this year.

Just before the end of the School we did a nice event the “Fashion Night at school” where all us teachers and some students teach classes for outside people from 7pm to 12pm. There was also a fashion school with dresses made by our students but, as I was in school from the 8am, I was dead tired and by 9pm I really couldn’t take anymore so I went home. But it was a nice event anyway and a lot of my girls came to help me. I also celebrated my birthday at school with my colleagues friends and my girls and they gave me a lot of presents! I really wasn’t expecting that!

During Christmas break I went back to my family as usual to enjoy some time with them and I really rested all day! Except for family gatherings I never left my bed ahahah

Back in Milan we left for the mountains again and we spent new year eve with some friends! And I took a lot of pictures of my girls and took all the rest that I can!

I finally managed to go through the entire year! As usual this second half of the entry took me almost a month to write because I never had the time to finish it (right now is the 4th of February 😅) but I am happy I did my recap this year too.

I don’t know what this 2024 will bring me, I really hope to recover for good and to finally start enjoying some free time! I have tons of new clothes to sew for my dolls! And a tons of new dolls to enjoy as well!

I am still not taking any sewing commissions for now because I really need to rearrange my sewing room and to do some renovations I postponed for years! Will this be the year that they finally be happening? Who knows…😂

Thanks again if you read all this entry until here and I hope to be more active on my social again! As usual I have tons of projects in my mind and I hope to have also the time to make them!

#stregacorvina #seamstress #sewing #cosplay #commission #cosmaker #cosplaycommission #cosplayinprogress #2023 recap #2023 review

[travelessentials606]

The Top 10 Beach Blankets for Ultimate Summer

Introduction: When it comes to enjoying a sunny day at the beach, having the right gear can make all the difference. A good beach blanket not only provides a comfortable spot to relax and soak up the sun but also offers a versatile foundation for various beach activities. Whether you're planning a beach picnic, sunbathing session, or just want a clean surface to sit on, a high-quality beach blanket is an essential travel accessory. In this article, we'll explore the top 10 beach blankets that combine functionality, style, and durability, ensuring your beach days are nothing short of fantastic.

Sand Escape Beach Blanket: The Sand Escape Beach Blanket is designed to repel sand, allowing you to enjoy a sand-free experience while basking in the sun. Its lightweight and compact design make it easy to carry, and the oversized dimensions provide ample space for relaxation.

WildHorn Outfitters Sand Escape Beach Blanket: Featuring a unique anchor system, the WildHorn Outfitters Sand Escape Beach Blanket ensures that your blanket stays put, even on windy days. The water-resistant material also makes it a great choice for various outdoor activities beyond the beach.

Lagu Sand-Repellent Beach Blanket: The Lagu Sand-Repellent Beach Blanket is not only eco-friendly but also designed to repel sand effectively. Made from UPF 30 fabric, it offers sun protection while remaining sand-free throughout your beach day.

WELLAX Sandfree Beach Blanket: Crafted with a focus on durability and versatility, the WELLAX Sandfree Beach Blanket is puncture-resistant, making it ideal for use on rocky shores as well. Its compact carrying pouch and weighted corners ensure it stays in place.

Kahuna Parachute Beach Blanket: The Kahuna Parachute Beach Blanket is known for its vibrant designs and lightweight parachute material. This blanket is quick-drying, making it a perfect choice for water activities like swimming and surfing.

CGEAR Sand-Free Beach Mat: Using patented technology originally developed for military use, the CGEAR Sand-Free Beach Mat allows sand to fall through the fabric without coming back up. This innovative design guarantees a sand-free zone for lounging and picnicking.

Easthills Outdoors Microfiber Beach Towel Blanket: Combining the functionality of a beach blanket with the convenience of a towel, the Easthills Outdoors Microfiber Beach Towel Blanket offers fast-drying capabilities and compact storage. Its microfiber material is not only soft but also repels sand effectively.

ZOMAKE Picnic Blanket: While not exclusively designed for the beach, the ZOMAKE Picnic Blanket's waterproof backing and generous size make it a versatile choice for seaside picnics. Its foldable design and sturdy handle allow for easy transportation.

Wekapo Sand-Proof Beach Blanket: The Wekapo Sand-Proof Beach Blanket boasts corner pockets that can be filled with sand, rocks, or other weights to keep it anchored. The waterproof and sand-resistant material ensures a comfortable beach experience.

Roebury Sandproof Beach Blanket: Featuring a soft fleece top and a durable waterproof bottom, the Roebury Sandproof Beach Blanket offers both comfort and functionality. The included stakes and corner pockets help secure the blanket in place.

Conclusion: When it's time to hit the beach, having a reliable and comfortable beach blanket can significantly enhance your overall experience. From sand-repellent designs to versatile materials, the top 10 beach blankets mentioned in this article cater to various preferences and needs. Whether you're planning a relaxing day of sunbathing or engaging in beachside activities, these blankets ensure you have a clean, comfortable, and enjoyable space to call your own.

So, before you pack your beach bag, be sure to choose the beach blanket that aligns with your style and requirements. With the right blanket in tow, you're well on your way to making the most of your beach getaway.

Read More

#beach blanket #beach blanket bingo #blanket #best beach blanket #beach blanket review #beach blanket babylon #sand free beach blanket #beach #diy beach blanket #beach blankets #large beach blanket #round beach blanket #no sew beach blanket #eccosophy beach blanket #diy round beach blanket #best beach blankets #travel beach blankets #best beach blankets 2023 #beach blanket diy #beach blanket to buy #beach blanket bravo #isopho beach blanket #tumblr beach blanket

[vincentbriggs]

I finished my 2023 sewing in review blog post a few days ago and forgot to post a link on the social medias, oops.

#me #sewing #new post elsewhere

[bogleechrss]

I finally saw these in person...but you guys didn't tell me they can TALK! Visit the link for a quick review of other good Joann Fabrics items this year, and my video of the sewing machine's TERRIFYING DIALOG!!! HEAR HER SPEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#halloween #skeletons

[imrisah]

My 2023 in review is that I had 1 month of hyper productivity, drawing a bunch, and then stopped posting altogether again.

I've had other creative outlets that have felt more fun and rewarding this year (mostly d&d) and I'm glad I branched out. I learned to sew and made a hoodie for my mom and it's the thing I'm most proud of so here it is:

Not bad for the second garment I've ever made in my life, it fit my mom perfectly and she showed it off to everyone at Christmas 🥰

Happy new year ❤️ stay safe, stay happy, stay hydrated 🎆🎇

#spaghetti rant #new year

[thelibraryghost]

A Young Person's Introduction to Early 20th-Century Western Fashion

am i hip with the kids yet

General information Dotschkal, Janna. "1920's." FOUND. October 21, 2016. English Heritage. "Fashion Through History: Episode 3 – 1930s." YouTube. April 16, 2023. Rudolph, Nicole. "The History of Standardized Sizes in Womens Fashion and Why They FAILED." YouTube. May 16, 2021. Vintagebursche. "100 Years of Classic Menswear - and what we can learn from each decade." YouTube. February 29, 2020. Zebrowska, Karolina. "1920s Fashion Is Not What You Think It Is." YouTube. May 20, 2018.

Accessories Cox, Abby. "Flappers, Y2K, & Capitalism are Why Women "Don't" Have Pockets." YouTube. January 12, 2023. Cox, Abby. "The Disappointing Truth On Why We Don't Wear Hats Anymore..." YouTube. December 18, 2022. Rudolph, Nicole. "The History of the Iconic Cloche Hat: Making 1920s Fashion." YouTube. September 18, 2022. Rudolph, Nicole. "When Hats were Illegal: Sewing a Goth Edwardian Hat." YouTube. February 21, 2021. Sheehan, Sarah. "Neo-Egyptomania." PatternVault. December 31, 2022. Zebrowska, Karolina. "Why Did We Stop Wearing Hats?" YouTube. April 28, 2020.

Cosmetics Banner, Bernadette. "Making and Testing a Victorian Skincare Routine." YouTube. April 8, 2023. English Heritage. "1930s Makeup Tutorial | History Inspired | Feat. Amber Butchart and Rebecca Butterworth." YouTube. December 18, 2018. Holland, Evangeline. "On How to Be Lovely." Edwardian Promenade. April 15, 2010. Rudolph, Nicole. "The Controversial History of Color Season Analysis." YouTube. November 4, 2023.

Fabrics Rudolph, Nicole. "The History of Elastic." YouTube. July 4, 2021. Rudolph, Nicole. "Wearing Overalls to Boycott Fashion Greedflation? Weird History of 1920." YouTube. March 16, 2024.

Gowns and formal wear Banner, Bernadette. "I Redesigned Mary Poppins' Jolly Holiday Dress Based on REAL Edwardian Lingerie Gowns." YouTube. February 20, 2021. Banner, Bernadette. "I Remade Mary Poppins’ Dress to be Actually Edwardian." YouTube. July 9, 2022. Cox, Abby. "Alexander McQueen & the Patriarchy Problem in Modern Fashion." YouTube. October 20, 2023. Cox, Abby. "What Makes a Gown Haute Couture (like House of Worth) in Victorian and Edwardian Eras?" YouTube. September 19, 2021. Lady Rebecca Fashions. "An Edwardian Woman's Fashion Evolution." YouTube. June 4, 2022. Oakes, Leimomi. "Terminology: what is a lingerie dress or lingerie frock? (and blouse, and skirt)." The Dreamstress. July 21, 2018. Rudolph, Nicole. "Stop Idolizing Coco Chanel: a shocking history of theft." YouTube. January 13, 2024. Rudolph, Nicole. "The Truth about the Fringed Flapper: Making 1920s Evening Dresses." YouTube. November 6, 2022. Vintagebursche. "1920s Theme Party - How to dress." YouTube. December 9, 2023. Zebrowska, Karolina. "1920s Fashion Encyclopedia, Pt 1: Daywear." YouTube. November 27, 2019.

Hair care and styling Banner, Bernadette. "I Tried Following a Real Edwardian Hair Care Routine." YouTube. May 12, 2020. Lady Rebecca Fashions. "Getting Dressed in the Edwardian Era / Gibson Girl Hairstyle Tutorial." YouTube. June 12, 2020. Lady Rebecca Fashions. "Titanic-era Hair Tutorial // Getting Dressed in the 1910's." YouTube.September 4, 2020. SnappyDragon. "Historical hair myths debunked : How often should you wash your hair—daily shampoo or no shampoo?" YouTube. August 12, 2022. Zebrowska, Karolina. "Weird Edwardian Beauty Tips." YouTube. February 11, 2017.

Laundry and starching Banner, Bernadette. "Ok but how did the Edwardians WASH these dresses?" YouTube. August 3, 2022.

Outerwear Cox, Abby. "Athleisure: Destroying Fashion & the Environment." YouTube. January 18, 2024. Rudolph, Nicole. "150 years of Masc Women causing a Moral Panic." YouTube. June 17, 2023. Rudolph, Nicole. "The History of Jeans, T-shirts, and Hoodies: Time Travel 101." YouTube. March 20, 2022. Zebrowska, Karolina. "SPRING/SUMMER FASHION TRENDS REVIEW but it's 1936 (ft. original fabric samples!)." YouTube. April 22, 2022.

Shoes Rudolph, Nicole. "I Made Witchy Edwardian Shoes by Hand!" YouTube. March 14, 2021. Rudolph, Nicole. "Making 100 year old Comfy Slippers: Free Pattern!" YouTube. December 30, 2023. Rudolph, Nicole. "The Myth of Tiny Feet "Back Then"." YouTube. September 26, 2021. Rudolph, Nicole. "The True History of Stiletto Heels : the battle between Ferragamo and Dior." YouTube. August 26, 2023. Zebrowska, Karolina. "Why Is No One Talking About 1930s Shoes?" YouTube. September 15, 2020.

Undergarments Banner, Bernadette. "1903 Patented Bustle Pad Reconstruction." YouTube. June 8, 2019. Banner, Bernadette. "Achieving That Classic Edwardian Shape: Reconstructing a 1902 Bust Bodice." YouTube. April 16, 2020. Lady Rebecca Fashions. "So What are Guimpes Anyway? // Examining Antique Edwardian Guimpes." YouTube. August 21, 2020. Lady Rebecca Fashions. "They Wore Corsets in the 1920's?!" YouTube. January 29, 2022. Rudolph, Nicole. "Did Brassieres End the Corset?" YouTube. February 28, 2021. Rudolph, Nicole. "Dressing in Edwardian Clothing: Undergarments and Layers of 1907." YouTube. November 1, 2020. Rudolph, Nicole. "How Flappers got their Figure: the 1920s Silhouette." YouTube. July 10, 2022. SnappyDragon. "How pin-up photos fooled dress history : the making and marketing of lingerie pictures." YouTube. April 1, 2023.

#1920s #1910s #roaring twenties #fashion #menswear #flapper #gibson girl #reference #1930s #1900s #early 1900s #coco chanel #brassiere #high heels #youtube #video #cosmetics #hairstyle #hair care #shampoo #nicole rudolph #abby cox #bernadette banner #lady rebecca fashions #snappydragon #karolina zebrowska #fashion history #history #art history #edwardian era

[triumphantbass]

Cosplay 2023 Year In Review! As the year draws to a close, I want to look back on what I worked on this year!

Bridget was by far and away my most ambitious project, taking the bulk of this year and recap, but I learned so many things from making her; I'm so much more confident drafting and sewing garments, and modeling and finishing props.

What did you enjoy working on the most this year? Excited to share my 2024 stuff with you!

May's Anchor 3D model - @dangerous-ladies Bridget photos - @ heyjaymeejaye (IG) All other design, construction, and photography myself, TriumphantBass

(have a couple 2024 teasers though- hammer model @illustris-cosplay , stamp designs myself)

#guilty gear strive #bridget #pokemon #nier #ffxiv #cosplay #nier replicant #devola and popola #guilty gear #guilty gear may #totsugeki tuesday #gaia ffxiv

[taybatwo2]

Lenore Loomington Doll Review Part 2 of 2

Let’s finally take a look at her dress (the post before this one looked at her accessories and in box photos)! Ugh, that belt thing just keeps getting in the way of everything and will NOT sit well on her torso.

Lets remove the offending piece to actually look at her dress…

Much better (I was so afraid of breaking her clip, I had her hanging from her neck for many of my photos). I love that the cut of the dress is WAY different to any other Monster High dolls I’ve seen, and I like the idea (I assume) behind it: looking at silhouettes of plants and animals on a night sky.

Buuuuut I feel like it could have been elevated a bit more for such an expensive doll. Give us some glow in the dark/sparkly dots acting as stars going up her skirt, finish her sleeves and dress train with some lace, oh, or maybe sew some “vine like” ribbon/fabric hanging off of the train or sleeves. Oh! And I feel like her short black lacy piece is kinda a second thought, I’d have made it longer in the back or give it a more ragged cut (so it’s not so reminiscent of a tutu or petticoat). I say this all, because both the color and the cut was honestly better executed by:

The one you got vs the one you ordered. Yeahhh, it very closely resembles Moonlight B.B’s dress (shirt/skirt), but feels like a poor rip off due too MGA’s looking a lot more tailored (and use of multiple fabrics) and a more expensive clothing piece. more review and doll comparisons under the cut:

Aaaand here it is off the doll:

The dress is not hemmed around the bottom of the dress or sleeves, but I don’t see them fraying any time soon. I like how thin and flow-y the fabric is it makes it look a bit ethereal. And oh? But what’s this?? A secret secondary dress/slip??

What a cute little surprise. It’s fully hemmed, has a little lace on the bottom, and has a bit of a stretch to it. Also, Lenora’s arms are wrapped in plastic to prevent staining.

Here it is off the doll. Be forewarned, I low key struggled redressing her. That larger dress didn’t want to nicely slide back over her smaller dress.

Let’s finally take a look at Lenore’s face.

My Lenore’s eyes are printed up a bit too high and her lipstick is both smudged and incorrectly filled in in the top left side. 😬 At least a little bit of acrylic paint can fix her lips….

Her glitter tears are really pretty and seem pretty well attached and her “ghost mask” is a lovely addition to her face (it’s a nice gradient).

It took me awhile to notice she has cute little pink eyelashes mixed in with her black ones.

Her side profile and lightly pointed ears (by the way, the back of her head is marked as 2023). I do wish her eyebrows were a bit darker and looked like Rochelle’s worried ones (@mistyxxart’s, on instagram, drawing of Lenore is what I WISH her eyebrows looked like).

This artwork is fangtastic and has given me so many fun ideas on how I want to upgrade my Lenore.

Lenore is pretty well covered now; let’s look at how she compares to come other ghouls (I apologize for many of these photos being a bit blown out - the lighting in my kitchen is kinda sucky).

The OG Spectra!!! Two very different ghostie ghouls. Monster High’s oldest vs MH’s newest. Spectra has clear body parts, no ghost mask, and colored sclera. She also has kanekalon hair vs Lenore’s saran. I think they stand on their own as pretty different characters honestly.

Let’s let a few more come across the veil.

So many ghosts!!! Ari, Ari, what are you looking at?!? Sweetie. Stop longingly staring at Spectra.

Okay, so they actually don’t seem to have very much in common with Lenore either. Ari has a milky/shimmery body (much more akin to the Haunted releases of ghosts) and Lenore has a shimmery body without looking like she has milky skin. Her shimmer has more of a blue tinge than the yellow tinge that Ari’s has.

The Create a Monster Ghost (I always forget how hard they went on her outfit: skulls amassed behind a fence with a blood-dripping belt; I love it when MH sneaks in stuff like that), has the ghost eye mask (I don’t like hers as much as Lenore’s) and uncolored sclera like Lenore, but her pupils are black - like Ari’s. Both CAM ghost and Spectra have clear limbs.

There is something these ghouls all share in common:

Mother of PINK! The Monster World must have very limited shoe material that ghosts can wear and it’s all in similar shades of pink and magenta.

I wonder how she compares to the Haunted dolls…? POOF!

Ask and you shall receive! Technically River is a grim reaper and Kiyomi is the daughter of a noppera-bō, so not just comparing “ghost ghosts,”but why not throw them in here too?? Porter, Vandala and Kiyomi all have very milky skin, Lenore’s plastic is very opaque in comparison with that pearl/shimmer finish.

~shimmer shimmer~ Porter has colored sclera like Spectra and Vandala doesn’t have black pupils, like Lenore. I wonder if there is a reason for some ghosts to have colored/regular sclera and pupils. Maybe it’s a ghost genetic trait like attached ear lobes….

River was wondering what all the hubbub was about in comparing them to this new ghost. Well, until I told River how much Lenore cost compared to them. River couldn’t say much, but just proudly showed off her clear limbs: “I cost less than a third of that and I have clear limbs!” ….I wonder how she’ll react when I tell her the ghoul that received her original head sculpt idea cost double Lenore’s price.

And POOF!

What a lovely menagerie of MH ghosts (pretend like my Symphanee got here quick enough to also be in the photos).

Perfect! Can’t even tell….

Oh! And Vandala brought her girlfriend Sirena along so I could compare Sirena’s skin tone to Lenore’s. Her skin glitter is not as fine as Lenore’s and she has a yellow tint to her skin….I wonder if Ari’s and Sirena’s is due to age.

Hand splat in face.

Before I wrap up, let’s compare Lenore to some MH dolls that look like the main ingredients they blended up to create Lenore.

Your progenitors!!! (my G1 Twyla has been de-glued with LA’s Totally Awesome, but her bangs are discolored and are waiting to be retrobrighted this summer). Hmmm, a dash Twyla’s skin color, a major helping of Vandala’s face mold and monster type, and an inspirational sprinkle of Amanita’s outfit and pieces.

I can see the comparisons with G1 Twyla (more in person than in a photo). Lenore’s skin has a purple hue from the pearly finish. Also, Lenore’s hair streaks are more baby blue than the minty green of Twyla’s hair color. They both have pink eyes, and wear dark colored clothing.

Now, Lenors and Amanita, look like they could have been in the same line (when I actually have Lenore fully dressed). Amanita believes that she would have still been the only deluxe, store exclusive of the line. “Maybe you could have been like the Big Lots or CVS exclusive to Gloom and Bloom.” Amanita! That is uncalled for! “You’re right, how about a K-Mart exclusive because they’re as dead as she is.” Lenore thinks this is one plant she doesn’t want in her garden.

They both have long wavy hair, flower shoe clips (but Amanita’s is sculpted to be a lot more three dimensional and it’s painted).

Both have extra make-up around the eyes, a hair decoration/accessory, and a thin, slightly see through dress covering a surprise mini dress (I still feel like Amanita’s has more detail, but that pleather portion will rot off someday).

Yeah, she is more than welcome to pose. I think that Amanita might have pulled off the look a bit better…. :/

And a face comparison!

Similar, but Amanita’s/CAM Vampire Girl’s head sculpt is not the same.

Avast ye!! We might have a match! Vandala’s face does look closely the same (I should have taken out Vandala’s earring for all of these photos)…

Hmmm…..

Hmmmmmmm…..

HMMMM, Lenore’s ear looks a little bit more defined (when I don’t have the light GLARING right ONTO it).

Man, Vandala, I need to de-glue your head whenever I get more LA’s Totally Awesome in. You are a grease ball!

Well, Lenore might have used Vandala’s head sculpt base, but they went in and refined some parts…like her chin being a bit blunter, her nose and ears being a bit more defined, her lips might be a bit bigger (or they were just over painted).

Whelp anyways….Lenore…Lenore….I am glad I bought her, as she has some cute surprises, a lovely face, soft hair, but she’s very overpriced from the get-go and would have (in my opinion) not gotten such backlash had she been released to stores and Mattel creations as a 40-55 dollar G1 release and if she had not been SO HYPED UP!!

What are your thoughts? Would you buy her? What would you change?? Do you think Mattel has a huge wheel in their board room to spin and assign value to their dolls? Should I double check pictures to make sure they turned out alright before I put all my dolls away?? (Yes, yes I should).

#monster high #aleta’s toys #doll collecting #monster high doll #dollbr #monster high dolls #doll collector #lenore loomington #monster high skullector #monster high g1 #doll review

[redheadgleek]

2023 review - knitting

Here’s some of the pics of my knitting projects for the year:

Anne/Diana/Gilbert dolls (from Anne of Green Gables):

These took me nearly two years to complete – I basically knit Anne twice because my knitting gauge had changed so much in that time. I have to redo Gilbert’s hair (the mohair I bought was poorly dyed and not all of it is black), but I love them so much. I knit all of the bodies and knit all of the clothes (except for the petticoats and the buttons).

I added a “petticoat” of lace to her dress because her dress was so short. Her hair has already lost the curls.

Aren’t those braids the sweetest? I’ve started making Kurt and Blaine dolls (from glee) and have visions of Mulder and Scully and all of the hobbits and ….

Orchid and Gold Poppins scarf:

This was knit from a yummy alpaca/tencel/linen blend and it’s so soft. I love how the colors migrated over the scarf. I gave this one to my mom for Mother’s Day. I’m tempted to buy more and make one for me because it is so lovely.

Grandpa sweater:

Super bulky, soft warm yarn – I’ve bought several skeins of it over the last few years when stores have gone out of business and decided to destash and make my first sweater – I used 8 skeins, plus some remnants. It knit up pretty quickly, because it was so bulky and it’s very warm. If I were to redo it, I would extend the sleeves a few more rows and shift the pockets over.

Christmas scarves:

I’ve been slowly making scarves for my Plethora girlfriends. Made again with Rasta, because it’s so soft and luxurious, and I’ve been trying out different stitches and patterns for each one.

The blue and purple ones have been blocked, I just need to sew in the ends; the red one has not. I have yarn for 2 more scarves.

#knitting

[lizziestudieshistory]

Books of 2023 - July

Somehow I've read a lot this month but haven't actually finished that many books considering I've been on holiday? I don't really know what happened.

Books read:

Silas Marner by George Eliot - this is by far the biggest surprise of the year. I was convinced I wasn't going to like George Eliot, but after reading Silas Marner I've been enchanted by her. On the surface I should have found this book a bit tedious, I typically don't like novels set in the countryside, however, I was hooked! Eliot's writing style was the big attraction here, she has such a lively style that I swear could make anything interesting after this, alongside her astoundingly convincing portrait of a village community in the 19th century. I came away believing people like those that inhabited Raveloe existed and I was fascinated by them. (It probably helped that I am VERY familiar with villiage communities in Warwickshire thanks to my research, which is where Raveloe is supposed to be.) Honestly this was the best place for me to start with George Eliot and I will be continuing.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Whaton - this was an impromptu read when I wanted an audiobook to listen to while sewing. However, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book! I was swept away into 1870s New York society and was captivated by how casually awful everyone turned out to be. I didn't enjoy it as much as The House of Mirth (mainly because I didn't like Archer, May, or Countess Olenska as much as Lily or Seldon) but I had a fabulous time revisiting Wharton.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - I love this play, it brings me so much joy when I read it and this time was no different. I still believe Beatrice is Shakespeare's best heroine and I will accept no arguments to the contrary.

Approximately 25 articles, reviews, essays, and introductions about Jane Austen's Emma by various authors - I don't know what's happened to me, I've become an obsessive... However, I have had a great time and learnt A LOT about regency literature in the process? It's given me a greater appreciation of Emma and I don't regret a moment I spent on this. My only problem is I don't really know what to do with all my notes!

DNF:

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - I tried okay? However, I finished volume one and couldn't find a single reason to keep reading except completionism. I hated Fanny and the Bertrams, I was bored by the Crawfords, and I missed the style of Emma. Overall, I was left wondering why I was bothering with Mansfield Park as I wasn't enjoying myself. So, I dropped it to read something else that I'd actually enjoy.

Currently reading:

Evelina by Frances Burney - I'm in love with this book, but for some reason I'm not devouring it? I'm taking my time with it and revelling in the experience - I've made my peace with this and will continue to enjoy my leisurely read.

Richard II by William Shakespeare - I'm rereading this and taking it an act a day because I'm making notes. I'll actually finish it tomorrow, but I'm not counting it as read.

The Book of Lost Tales Part Two by J.R.R. Tolkien - another leisurely read because it's so dense and, like Shakespeare, I'm making notes when I feel inclined. I also really struggled to get through the section on The Tale of Tinuviel... (I don't like ANY of the prose versions of Beren and Luthien? It needs to be in verse for me to get into it 🤷‍♀️) But now I've got through that opening section I'm enjoying this a lot more.

Charles I and the People of England by David Cressy - my current non-fiction tome. I'm having a great time with this, but it was going to be a winner considering my unreasonable love for Charles I!

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - I have no idea how I ended up in the middle of this but I'm enjoying it well enough that I'm going to continue (although I think I prefer Piranesi?)

#books #reading #books of 2023 #july reads #silas marner #george eliot #the age of innocence #edith wharton #much ado about nothing #william shakespeare #articles on emma #jane austen #mansfield park #evelina #frances burney #the book of lost tales #j.r.r. tolkien #richard ii #charles i and the people of england #david cressy #jonathan strange and mr norrell #susanna clarke

[bookwormscififan]

Booky's Year in Review 2023

And so ends another year. Farewell 2023, fourth year of uni. Farewell 2023, year I lost my Zoe. Farewell to one of the strangest years of my life.

This year started with going to see The Phantom of the Opera at The Arts Centre Melbourne.

I also spent 10 days with my sister, helping us to bond, in March, which was also quite good.

I found out I had autism, which made life so much easier honestly. There's no need for me to feel bad about my little quirks, there's a reason.

I finally discovered I have Coeliac disease. 2.5 years struggling with nausea and fatigue, finally resolved with the discovery that I am intolerant to gluten.

I watched about 5 movies in two months.

This year, writing's changed. My fanfiction has evolved from primarily platonic angst and fluff through to romantic ships and even a little dip into smut. I give all that growth to @iamvegorott, who has been such a great friend to encourage me to explore these new skills in my writing. Any time I wasn't sure about an approach, I asked Veg, and they gave me tips and encouragement to approach it. Thank you so much, Veg.

It's also thanks to Veg that I expanded my fandoms list of writing, now exploring NateWantsToBattle as a fandom and approaching MadMare as a ship. I didn't realise I was experiencing a burnout on writing the same fandoms until I tapped into a new one, and my motivation is back in full force.

With the help of my great friend @brokentimewatch, I started writing three new ships: Silent Film Sweethearts (JJ x Noir), Death's Dichotomy (Murdock x Yancy), and Antique Companions (Shawn and JJ and Noir). I also travelled deeper into making Vintage Husbands (Shawn x JJ) into a romantic ship.

This was a year of writing advancements. I started my first vampire AU (the Files series), which was so fun and sort of hinted at the mature change to the writing. I would love to return to that series, to that universe, soon as I figure out any more gaps in the story to write.

I also made a vampire AU out of MadMare, which spanned 20 chapters and a short sequel blurb. It's the more nsfw of the vampire AUs, looking into some things I seem to be fixated on.

In the sewing sphere, I have figured out how spiral steel boning works, and I figured out hook and eye tape.

I posted a YouTube video almost every week this year, which was amazing.

--

I hope next year brings as much fun as the end of this one has. I look forward to screaming over more writing ideas with Hunter and Veg, helping out @jellyfishdooter with creativity, and finishing my damn Wishing Dress project!!

Happy new year to everyone, and I'll see you later with lots more writing!

#goodbye 2023 #booky's year in review #friends #vegorott #brokentimewatch #jellyfishdoodler

[stregacorvina]

⭐️ 2023 recap! ⭐️

It’s finally time for the last year recap, I think this will be way shorter than 2022 recap because I feel to not have accomplished a lot this year 😩

As usual I decided to split the year month by month to be more accurate and to post all the pictures I can find.

Let’s see if I need to split this entry in two parts or this year one post will be enough 😂

JANUARY

This year I decided to start journaling more so I started the year with a new journal, two to be exact (one for my personal life and one for school life). During the year I’ve bought gel pens, stickers and a lot of decorations for my planners. During the last part of the year, when I started a very serious diet, I also started a journal dedicated to that. I re-discovered a passion for organization and planning that I did have before but never enjoyed that much 😂

Like we did also this year, we started the 2023 on the mountains, it’s became a little tradition for our family to rest and recharge batteries for the year to come. We did some walks in the woods and in the snow and we spent some time together just the three of us (me, my boyfriend and our cat). I took my dolls with me as always to take some cute pictures.

Back home I started a few commissions, “left overs” from past year: another Esmeralda cosplay from my (almost dead) Etsy shop and some upgrading for a Sith costume I did at the end of 2022. As I stopped taking new commissions at the end of the previous year I knew that I won’t be that busy this year and my plan for the year was to start renovating my studio and to do a little inventory of all my stuff…

I started from my dolls, obviously 😂 I decided to clean, restring and improve my oldest BJDs, given to me by a friend that are more than 20 years old! Restoring them took me almost all the month but I was really happy of the results ❤️

As for my health, one of my new year resolutions was to be in full heath again, so I started to do daily yoga sessions at the end of each day and I tried to eat better in general.

Meanwhile my school life was going on, between assignments for my girls and all the papers I have to submit almost weekly for my first year as a teacher.

FEBRUARY

This month passed really smoothly, in school we started to select the dresses that my girls will have to make for the Fashion Show at the end of the year (these theee below) and I was busy as always juggling between planning lessons and submitting papers…

I did a little commission for a colleague, some embroideries for her daughter and I started one of the few cosplays commissions of the year: a Pokémon trainer outfit.

For Valentine weekend we decided to fly to Catania to spent a romantic holiday and we really enjoyed the city and our time together ❤️

Back in Milan a friend of mine from my hometown visited me for the Chinese New Year and we spent some time in Chinatown and to the exhibition of a famous comic artist from Rome, Zerocalcare, that we both love very much.

Ah! This month I also acquired a Cricut machine for future works (at this date she’s still in her box 😩) from a client as an exchange for some future cosplays.

Nothing to say about my health this month luckily.

MARCH

In March my school life started to kick in quite badly: I had tons of online lessons in the evening after school and I also needed to take some extra lessons with my tutor (another fashion teacher from my school) with a very busy schedule!

And as consequence my health started to worsen a little bit, I was always really tired and I cannot focus very well on all the things I had to do outside school. I started taking some pills to sleep better and to keep my fatigue under control.

So to uplift my spirit we did a bit of tourism (we visit a very cute medieval town called Ricceto di Candelo)

and of course I started with the first self-present of the year 😂 I pre-order two new dolls 1/6 scale from Japan scheduled to arrive on November.

I also started a new hobby: diamond painting! As my usual I became really ossessive about it and I compulsively bought a lot of kits, 4 or 5… and I started making the first as soon as it arrived.

As for sewing, I did a couple of new skirts for me to wear at school and I keep working on the Pokémon trainer Cosplay. Here and there I tried to sew something new for my dolls, with the secret hope to be able to open my dolls shop finally this year.

APRIL

I didn’t do anything really special in April, we spent the Easter break on the mountains (we visited a really beautiful water-life center and we saw really cute otters 🦦)

and I took another little break at the end of the month to visit my family back in my hometown. We have a reason to celebrate altogether: my brother and his girlfriend decided to get married in September! ❤️

My health was going downhill again, I cannot sleep very well and the paper works to submit for my school we’re hunting me, so I decided to be more careful about my diet and to increase yoga and physical activity.

In this month I bought some extra hands for my Smartdolls (during a sleepless night on the mountains 😂) and some cute stuff also for my dolls on AliExpress.

Beside diamond painting I also decided to follow some YouTube tutorials to improve my Procreate skills.

MAY

During May I was mainly focused on my school activities: the fashion show for the end of the year was approaching and as well my “exam”; I had to submit a report about my year as a teacher and about an activity I’ve developed during the year with my girls. It was really exhausting 😩

I also started two new commissions that I enjoyed very much sewing (even if some days I really regretted taking them 😂): an outfit for the character Regina from Once upon a time and a cosplay doll-sized of Zhongli from Genshin Impact.

To have fun and stop thinking constantly about school and sewing my boyfriend took me on some cute destinations near Milan during the weekends.

I also bought some new fashion design books for my collection even if I knew that I didn’t have the time to enjoy them 😩

JUNE

Halfway through the year! And it was the most rough month of them all! The Fashion Show was forthcoming and I worked really hard to make sure that all the dresses made by my girls were done: some parts I needed to make them myself as the girls picked a lot of materials really hard to sewn with their abilities (and with the school equipment) I worked so hard that I cannot make till the end…I was having troubles breathing since May but I didn’t had the time to properly take care of myself nor to stop working so hard (as I always do 😩) and the result was a very bad bronchopneumonia that haunted me until the end of the year! (I am not still fully recovered as I am writing this 😔)

I had to take few weeks off of school and I missed all the last days and the Fashion show I worked so hard for! I was so upset but I didn’t have the strength even to be mad at myself because I really couldn’t get off my bed for weeks 😭 but luckily some days before feeling so ill we had the chance to see the Cirque du Soleil, one of the most beautiful show we ever seen 😍

To take my mind off my bad health during the days I was forced at home I started to draw again with Procreate and continued some diamond Painting. To change a bit my routine we also take a little trip to a very beautiful valley to breath some clean air.

Some days I had enough strength to sew a bit so I finished Regina and the Pokémon trainer cosplays. I still haven’t had the time to continue working of the Genshin Impact doll.

This first half of the year was so full of events even if I feel I didn’t accomplished much this year! I sew very few commissions and also very few items for my dolls; I didn’t arrange my sewing room at all as I was thinking at the beginning of the year, I didn’t open my dolls shop nor started the Youtube channel as I would have liked…and better to not talk about my health at all! Looking back to the new year resolutions I wrote last year I was miserably failing across the board 😩

But think this post is already too long for one single entry so I will split the year in two posts like I did last year! Thanks to everyone that arrived till here 😂

#stregacorvina #seamstress #sewing #cosplay #handmade #end of the year #2023 recap #2023 review