#volksmsd

After the photoshoot for the DoSH challenge...

Shan: Um, Shiina... it’s time to put the food away.  We need this space for the next photo, so....

Shiina: *lost in his own world* Mmm... The choux cream looks good... but I should start with something lighter, shouldn’t I?  Maybe the jelly then... I need to save my appetite for the strawberry tart, too...  Hmm... this is tough......

An out-take from DoSH challenge #44... 

Tatsue has new eyes!  Aaa~~~ I’d forgotten how much I like high-dome glass eyes, they catch the light like no other.

I like how these eyes bring out a slightly playful side of him that I didn’t know he had before.  ^-^ To be honest, Tatsue as a character has suffered from a bit of neglect, as he was acquired around the time that I was losing interest in, and energy for, the hobby.  I never did any photo-stories with him as I did with the others.  His character wasn’t developed very much and he didn’t seem to fit in with the rest for a very long time (despite sharing the same cupboard with them for years ^^;).  Only Micchi reacted strongly to him, and that was with dislike D,: (over a silly misunderstanding - Micchi is extremely smart, and being smarter than others can also sometimes makes you rather small-minded, unfortunately...)  That, combined with Tatsue’s somewhat melancholy back-story (congenital eye problem, hampering his ability to do well in a family that prides itself on its fine arts heritage, a strict and traditionalist father disappointed in his only son, etc.) and his quiet personality made him fade rather into the background at times.

Only last year did I begin to feel that Noel, being more observant than the pack of monkeys boys in the dorm, might have picked up on his disability (which he’s shy to mention) and started befriending him and drawing him into the wider community.  And with supportive friends, who wouldn’t bloom a little more?  It’s always been part of my plan for Tatsue that he would overcome adversity by taking his art in a different direction than the rest of his family; perhaps now, as he does that, the playful and lively part of him can come out and mix well with his quiet, gentle side. :)

Tatsue ^-^

Credits: Tatsue is a Volks SDC Ren head on a Volks MSD body.  Shirt and linen capris by Volks White Rose.  Wig is Kemper Nikki in mohair.  Eyes by 木啊木, but they will probably not be permanent as they’re a bit too other-worldly for my taste...

Tatsue usually wears traditional Japanese dress, or sometimes a soft rustic style like you see above.  I want to get him more yukata and kimono, perhaps in soft greys and blues.  His collection is very modest at the moment: just a couple kimono/ haori, a Volks hakama set and one yukata (ignore the floral thing, which was an early sewing attempt of mine XD; Only Shiina has ever been subjected to that one).  

One of my main gripes with the kimono/ yukata available on the international market is how un-authentic most of them look. D: If you have tips for where to get nice ones, please let me know....