I think both require a high level of skill and patience, and a lot of the skill involved is transferable. While they’re different forms of art, they’re both just as valid as each other and I have mad respect for anyone who does either and/or both!

How do you do this magic? Do you have a basic pattern or do you invent as you go along?

It’s a mix! I do have some basic features I repeat, although I’m terrible about writing them down for myself somewhere permanent and so I’m always losing them...

This pattern I’m doing right now is based pretty closely on this “medieval fantasy maiden” (i.e. Sansa Stark) pattern. I changed the skirt shape and the sleeves, obviously, but the basic body shape is from there. I like how that pattern writer does feet and legs a lot. But when I do her hair and hat, that’s going to be totally from scratch. Trial and error!

Here are two dolls I made a few years ago following that pattern more closely (but still with a few modifications and lots of added details):

Honestly, I really do like the Twin Cities. It’s just about the right level of urbanization for my tastes (cultural attractions and diversity without the INTENSITY of somewhere like Chicago or NYC), I get all 4 seasons, it’s near most of my family, and goodness knows that I waited for years before I could move back and get a decent job here.

Ghost

canon:-sleeping with Joly, though I’ll get into what I think is the proper emphasis in the debatably canon bit-- and “sharing” Musichetta-lives with Joly-actually would make a good lawyer if he ever managed to pass all his classes-bald, like, male pattern baldness bald.-has one old coat he wears everywhere-often does things just for the lulz-from Meaux

debatably canon:-he, Joly, and Musichetta frequently engage in threesomes, and are a polyamorous triad-holds his liquor better than the rest of his friends group-outside of Joly and Grantaire, Courfeyrac is his best friend within the Amis-has no problem sponging off of his other friends, or letting other people pay for things-no longer remembers what the actual spelling of his last name is-he relates/ would relate way too much to this gif: 

Whenever they look into a mirror together they see three people where there are only two of them.

By all means, Combeferre and Courfeyrac should be happy. They are a pair of best friends, living in the relative safety and peace of 21th century France, all should be well.

Still, late at night they wake at the sound of someone sobbing, calling out for them, and they are overcome with a heavy feeling of loss.