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Stitch Sunday

Today's post will be fast because the little bons and I are traveling to spend the day with Jenny Lemon and her little lemons. Without further ado, an update on all of my most recent sewing projects.

The Mage - I did in fact finish making him—complete with weird little stache and beard—before my son and I decapitated him together and I finished his Link. The Mage's severed head is now pinned to the bulletin board at my desk. Justice served.

Penny - Hands down, she is the best doll I have ever made. I literally can't pick my favorite thing about her because every detail is so special. Have multiple angles so you can admire the craftsmanship. (Not pictured: the bead buckles on her Mary Janes.)

Shepard - He is still very much a work in progress. Although I have also been trying to take my time with him to get the same quality as Penny, it has been a rough go. I have learned several things in his construction. Namely, the quality of the felt matters so much and, quite frankly, craft stores tend to have pretty crappy felt and my local fabric stores have poor stock in felt. Also, finding a variety of REAL skin tones is hard, especially in darker tones. I ordered a pack of quality "skin tone" felt online the other day and got LITERALLY 11 shades of white people (pink, peach, golden, antique white, etc) and only 3 shades of brown people---one of which was too marbled to realistically be skin. Very upsetting. All of this to say, I am working with what I've got and will keep searching for quality Shep felt.

Thanks for the tag @shrekgogurt. Cannot wait to read your update. The snippet was excellent!

Hellos and high-fives: @thewholelemon, @raenestee, @roomwithanopenfire, @cutestkilla, @bookish-bogwitch

@hushed-chorus, @artsyunderstudy, @rimeswithpurple, @valeffelees, @drowninginships

@talentpiper11, @emeryhall, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @thehoneyedhufflepuff, @beastmonstertitan

@you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @larkral, @mooncello, @theearlgreymage

@iamamythologicalcreature, @aristocratic-otter, @blackberrysummerblog, @run-for-chamo-miles, @facewithoutheart

@ic3-que3n, @best--dress, @rbkzz, @supercutedinosaurs, @messofthejess

@skee3000, @arthurkko, @fiend-for-culture, @orange-peony, @martsonmars

@onepintobean, @palimpsessed, @moodandmist, @ileadacharmedlife, @theimpossibledemon

Women of the Simon Snow Trilogy

WIP Wednesday

I have WIPS to share. Real WIPS! Woohoo!

So, last week I created an Instagram for my dolls. Those of you who have already given me a follow know what my current sewing project is. If you'd like to see the magic it as it happens, check it out. If you are anti-Instagram, I'm making my first Penny!

She's currently in pieces as I make her clothing. (It's easier to size it correctly before adding arms and a head).

She isn't for any specific fic. Instead, I'm using her as a way to experiment with my methods. I wasn't happy with the joints on my first several dolls, so I tested out a new strategy on Penny that results in sturdier (and cleaner!) joints. I'm also adding many smaller details that require light embroidery, like Penny's glasses. I might also give her a ring and some ears. Why you ask? Well, the next fic I have in mind will require dolls with all sorts of small details...like pierced ears!

Whenever I need a break from Penny, I've also been writing words. I'm making progress on "Baz in a Bubble" (still trying to find a title). Have a snip of Baz POV below the cut:

WIP WEDNESDAY

Me? Remembering to WIP Wednesday?

Me? Having actually written enough to bother but not enough to complete the chapter?

Thanks for all the tags even though I’m shit at responding and Tumblr generally. 😅

Here’s a snippet from the next chapter of On The Rocks.

This is a series of texts from Simon.

Baz hurry up

im hungry dude

Srsly im starving

Baaaaaaaaaaz

Tyrantarse Baselhurst Grumpy Bitch hurry tf uuuuup

are u fkn clening urself w a toothbrush? wats taking so long

chomsky i think im actualy gna pass out frm hungr

i had 2 get a muffin frm th caf to prevent hypa glawcoma

U culdve kiled me

Ffs WAT R U DOING im still so hungry

r u doin this on purpose?

is this lik revenge 4 me being a dick? Cos idt starvin me to death is comparable 2 calling u cake

u no wat u r a dick. Theres no way this idnt on purpose

im sry i get hangry ill be nice just hry

Calm down, Snow. I was washing my hair.

Thank you for tagging me @rimeswithpurple @mooncello @monbons! Love you guys.

Oof y’all, I am not at home—went to my parents’ and then to SCCoNE and then back to my parents’—and it’s a miracle I know what today is at all. This weekend was magical (magickal) and I have friend hangover, like many folks. Wish I could give every one of you a Jenny Lemon hug!

I drove to Omaha and back so I was in the car a long time by myself. I listened to You Should Be So Lucky (big recommend) and I also tried to think through some of the backstory that’s hanging me up on my COBB (recall we’re in Marshmallow land, iykyk). I think that was productive, and I tried to use the voice-to-text to make notes so I wouldn’t forget. Needless to say my voice-to-text is insane and thinks I’m writing garbage. So under the cut, tags and 6 ridiculous nonsensical sentences my phone thinks I was trying to dictate to it.

Northern Downpour

Snowbaz Sweethearts Exchange gift for @arca9! 💕

@snowbaz-sweethearts-exchange

Summary:

Undredal is a charming village. Nestled among the remote fjordlands of Norway, surrounded by steep cliffs and glassy water, it’s like something out of a fairytale. (One could even call it magical.)

But Undredal has been harbouring a big secret—and it’s not the amazing goat cheese.

Baz Pitch doesn’t know it, but he’s about to find out what it is.

A canon divergence AU — magical, exceedingly escapist, and wintery in the coziest and most romantic of ways. ❄️

Check out the playlist here!

Read on AO3

If you are still following along- thank you. I am so so grateful. I can’t even begin to share how much every single kudos, comment, tumblr tag, and discord message has meant to me. My readers are all very special to me and truly the reason I’ve kept writing for three (!!!) years. ❤️

I have been lucky to work with the most amazing betas, many of whom have been by my side working on this fic for literal YEARS. @thehoneyedhufflepuff, who read my first chapter and told me yes- you have to continue! @ninemagicks, whose writing advice I’d trust with my life. @augustslaundry, my resident Norwegian who helped with all the cultural bits. @stillmadaboutpetra, who not only created some beautiful art but beta read as well. @sillyunicorn, whose infectious energy and enthusiasm for this fic has given me so much motivation. @bookish-bogwitch, who has this magical skill of interpreting the meaning in my own writing better than I do. And @giishu , my number one cheerleader. I actually cried on a bus when you sent me the art you commissioned from @heeytwelve, and half the inspiration for this fic has come from the incredible photos you’re always sending me from your adventures. I cannot thank you enough for your support and friendship!

The fic is linked here and above!

I have some updated photos as well in this post.

In bittersweet news, this is probably my last snowbaz piece—which some of you may have guessed from my extended absence lol. This fic is my baby and I really, really wanted to finish it. I don’t have too many other loose threads left hanging. I will probably come back to writing soon for other fandoms (considering atla, our flag means death, she-ra, and the witcher?) but this one is, of course, the most special and has a place in my heart forever. So thank you, Carry On fandom. I would never have come back to my love of writing without you!

WIP Wednesday

What a weekend. Between traveling to Omaha for SSCoNE and posting the final chapters of Eternal Life, I am all in my feelings. Instead of expounding on that...art!

I finished a new set of dolls for @cutestkilla. It's Baz and Sid from What's Left. New skills acquired this round: removable clothing and helmets. Yes, these dolls can be dressed and undressed like Barbies. (All the others have been sewn into their clothing...or naked.)

My kids have been pestering me to make them dolls too (they specifically requested Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Link from Zelda), so there likely won't be any progress on fanfic dolls for a bit while I attempt to be a good mom. (Especially since Camp Mom started on Tuesday and the gremlins will be at home all day, every day until real camp starts!)

With that said, I got a few good suggestions at SSCoNE for new dolls to tackle, including my first set that will not be Baz and Simon... *cue evil laughter and a perfect Pitch eyebrow raise* (In all seriousness, I am actually very excited about this set because it is my other favorite ship in the fandom and the inspiring WIP is glorious.)

Thanks for the tags @rimeswithpurple and @mooncello.

Hellos and high-fives: @thewholelemon, @raenestee, @roomwithanopenfire, @bookish-bogwitch, @hushed-chorus

@talentpiper11, @drowninginships, @valeffelees, @larkral, @iamamythologicalcreature

@thehoneyedhufflepuff, @emeryhall, @artsyunderstudy, @aristocratic-otter, @brilla-brilla-estrellita

@beastmonstertitan, @best--dress, @shrekgogurt, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold

@run-for-chamo-miles, @blackberrysummerblog, @ic3-que3n, @skeedelvee, @facewithoutheart

@messofthejess, @theearlgreymage, @supercutedinosaurs, @rbkzz, @fiend-for-culture

@onepintobean, @palimpsessed, @moodandmist, @ileadacharmedlife, @theimpossibledemon

WIP Wednesday

My current view:

I finished my Basil Pitch’s Diary dolls on this trip. Highlights include, fully 3D dolls that can be viewed from every angle, kick-ass blazers with REAL pockets, and a Baz that can sit in Simon’s lap chastely…

...or not. Honestly, an essential trait for any gift given to @bookish-bogwitch. Enjoy rubbing them up against each other Ready or Not style 🤣. (Another absolute masterpiece.)

My next project is in the planning phase and is a throwback fic by someone I am meeting in just TWO DAYS. It involves removable helmets!!! Can you guess what fic this is going to be?

All my sewing project updates have turned out to be WILDLY popular compared to writing updates. Message received about my future in this fandom (lol).

Until my next post, go catch up on Eternal Life. The last two chapters go up Friday and are a true mic drop. If you haven't started yet because you were waiting for it to be completed, this is your moment...

Thanks for the tag @rimeswithpurple. I LOVE all the kisses and I want to steal that sweater (and some of those bracelets!).

Hellos and high-fives: @thewholelemon, @raenestee, @cutestkilla, @roomwithanopenfire, @hushed-chorus

@iamamythologicalcreature, @artsyunderstudy, @aristocratic-otter, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @larkral

@beastmonstertitan, @best--dress, @shrekgogurt, @drowninginships, @valeffelees

@you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @emeryhall, @talentpiper11, @run-for-chamo-miles

@blackberrysummerblog, @ic3-que3n, @skeedelvee, @facewithoutheart, @thehoneyedhufflepuff

@messofthejess, @theearlgreymage, @supercutedinosaurs, @rbkzz, @fiend-for-culture

Good morning! It's been a very productive week, which is surprising since I've had children all over me. I'm working on my COAR and I was planning on drawing the boys kissing. So I'm working on a study of smashing their faces together. It's so difficult and I get why I haven't drawn kissing until now.

Since it's still Camp Mom, we've reached the friendship bracelet making part of camp. I had forgotten how fun it was to play with beads and I think I enjoyed it more than my kids. I'm going to Rainbow's LA book signing in August and I thought I'd give these out to any fandom friends I met!

And finally, my cardigan is still moving along. I now have two buttonholes with buttons. It's a joy to squish it every time I pick it up!

No pressure tags and hellos (and a little preview of a certain someone's birthday celebration on Friday) below!

Six Sentence Sunday

I am writing at an absolute snail's pace right now, turns out stress and self-doubt are crippling, who could have guessed it. I'm climbing out of my funk tho. Maybe I'll have a car soon. Maybe I'll finish a work project. Maybe I'll leave the house. (I WILL leave the house soon to go meet fandom friends and I'm elated.)

At least my plotting game is in full swing. I have this big story that's been rolling around in my head for half a year now and I've been able to think through a lot of the major things that have kept me from working on it. It'll be ages before I start to earnestly write it but it does feel good, I think it's one of the cooler concepts I've come up with.

In the meantime. More of THESE guys. I am actually making progress here I swear. I will have a chapter out for Apres soon I SWEAR.

“Baz.” I shake his shoulder. “Baz.”  He stirs—finally— and then murmurs, “What?” It’s hard not to sag in relief, but I still need him to stay alert. “Do—uh. Uhm. So.” (Smooth.) “Snow—” “—Oh! D’you remember The 602 Club?” Baz laughs like it’s startled him. I feel his forehead grinding into my shoulder as he turns his head down, I assume trying to face the cave floor instead of any part of me. When he speaks into the moss, though, his tone is surprisingly fond. “How could I f-forget? That’s the night you let Ran ply you with a barrel of bloodwine. You were drooling on yourself and—I assume—attempting to speak Klingon. Your accent was atrocious. Painfully so.” I shake my head, my chin bumping Baz’s temple.  “I was so awful not even my translator could save me.” “Well, it managed a few rough translations … none of which were particularly flattering. Something about Ran’s delicate ankles?” “Phekk me. I think I was trying to compliment his—” I pause, then snort a laugh. “Okay. Explains why he took a swing at me.” “Mm. I think he was rather impressed with you, brazen enough to insult a Klingon to his face—” “It’s not what I meant! Besides, it’s not shameful to have shapely ankles!”

You heard the man. *steps up on soapbox* It's not shameful to have shapely ankles.

Tags under the cut.