voodoolie

I have decided to make an actual website for my dolls, and will be moving my blogging to Blogger and integrating it into my new site.

I will be here from now on. Feel free to add me if you have a Blogger account.

http://voodooliedolls.net46.net

I've also posted this on DoA in the Bobobobie and Resinsoul Large Size Dolls thread, but for those of you who don't have access to the board, I thought I'd post it here as well. Feel free to share, as I've discovered not many people knew - including those who had been collecting RS dolls for a long time.

I contacted Resinsoul and asked (read: begged) them to release some high heel feet to fit the 68cm girls. They had 1/3 size as well as 58cm size, but none were listed for the larger dolls.

They responded quickly and informed the that the feet listed for 58cm dolls would work for the 68cm dolls as well. They also happily provided me a reference photo of the feet on said body. Resin color mis-match aside, they look to be the right size.

I've put alot of work into Wren's feet (toe separation, sanding, blushing, and pedi), but I'll happily re-work the heel feet just so I have the option of all the adorable heeled shoes! 

The post ate my doll's eyes. There was a little hole in the side of the bubblewrap mailer, and when I opened it, all that was inside was two little mesh pouches and a thank you note. One of the pouches was torn on the bottom, and the seller informed me later that this was the one that contained the eyes. Soooo... did some weirdo postal worker decide to open my package, squeeze the eyes through that little hole, and make off with them? I'd very much like to know what they're going to do with them. The eyes were in a plastic bag that was tied up inside the torn pouch... I just don't get it...

I so despise ordering art supplies online. I'm searching high and low for ONE white watercolor pencil, and everywhere I look the listings say $1.70 (which baits me), then the shipping will be nearly $9. ONE PENCIL. SHIPPED FROM THE US. Ahhh, anyway, I did manage to find a Derwent set on Amazon for less than $20. It's a portrait set, so it includes several shades of browns and peaches along with a mythical white pencil.

It's been an eternity since I put together an actual "set" for photos. I bought flowers for my mother's birthday and this all came to me. So here's Wren finally sporting some eyelashes.

I did a photoshoot this morning. I finished her late last night, but it was far too dark for decent shots.

Introducing little Wren.

And here's a shot with her in "her spot". I thought it was cute.

I finally got around to working more on my little Ling. The faceup she had when she arrived was pretty well done, but I felt it lacked character. The coloring also seemed off to me. And, me being the me I am, she was far too innocent and sweet looking. I bought her with the sole intention of corrupting her.

Now, I began wiping her face night before last before bed, so she'd be ready to work on in the morning. I started wiping and noticed that under the actual faceup was a layer of stark white paint (explaining why the coloring looked odd to me in comparison to her body). Under the white paint layer was... STAINING. Like pretty severe staining all over her forehead, around her nose area, and down under her eyes. It was brown and no matter how much I scrubbed with acetone or a magic sponge, it wouldn't come out. If this had happened to me back in my "newbie" days, I'd of had a heart attack. I finally was able to remove the majority of it with a fine sanding.

It was a little frustrating though since she was listed as "like new - no damage other than light scratches from dressing". I know the head was sent off to an artist, so maybe it was the company faceup that stained so bad? Surely not. Also, I feel like the artist would have informed the previous owner of the staining before she took it upon herself to paint over it to conceal it. I don't know. I fixed it so it's whatever I guess. It took a good 2 1/2 sleep deprived hours before I got her half-way decently clean.

Here she is as blank as I could get her. I wasn't too worried about the eye creases being stained because I intended dark eyeshadow, and didn't want to risk oversanding such an area.

I also modded her nose at this point. I loved the long nose until I got her wiped. Then it was just distractingly long and pointed. I rounded it down and took a little off lengthwise. I feel like it looks more natural now.

FINISHED

All put back together and wigged. She still needs lashes. I also am going to blush her body, but that's going to be a big undertaking so it'll have to wait till next week.

Progress shots/details in the cut. Click 'Read More'

I've been stalking every BJD site I could trying to figure out who my new RS Ling should become. It's been driving me insane. I knew I wanted to go with something kind of earthy and soft, but couldn't really find anything that called to me. (PS, what the hell is up with all the goth, black, emo stuff everywhere? I get it, it can be cute, but do you know how much I struggled to find something in earth tones?) *ahem* End rant.

Anyway, I've managed to put some things together and still stay under $200. Considering that's including everything, I'm rather proud. The little hat will actually have a lavender flower if I can swing it, and I'll be crafting some sort of lavender or brown scarf to give the sweater some character. I'll probably also end up making some jewelry as well, maybe some nice earthy pieces.

Here's a conglomeration of what I'm thinking so far:

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/voodoolie/lingoutfittingwebvs_zpsa367c811.png

My original thought was to go for rose/pinks for her, but I'm loving the lavender. That skirt is what made the change for me. I ordered more faceup supplies (Liquitex paint *dun dun duuuun* along with some thinner and more brushes) so I'm going to give her a redo sometime this week. I've never used paints before on a faceup, so I'm sure it'll look perfectly horrible at first. If I can get it right though, I'm going to try to go with shades of brown and purple on her. Maybe once I get her fixed up her name will come to me.

On another note, I did finally get my hands on a magic eraser and ALL of the stains and scuffs came off of her perfectly white skin. So I'll probably blush her once I get her face right. I also wired her so she can stand, but I'll probably redo that with some thinner wire later. She's like... mega stiff.

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Eyes: Captured In Glass

Wig: Etsy seller HazelsAesthetics

Underwear / Sweater / Skirt: Alice's Collection

Boots / Stockings / Lashes: Dollmore

This poor guy's going to have an identity crisis if I don't leave him alone. His faceup was a little too much on the dark side. I did love it, but I wanted to go with something a little manlier than black lipstick... heh.

Loved the idea of wild eyebrows, so I tried to incorporate a milder version of his goth brows here. All browns and deep reds this time. I think this face can stay for a while ;) He's gotta go home to his mommy soon, so I'll stop picking at him. After fiddling with him so much, I kinda want to hide him in a drawer and keep him foreva. I don't want my sister to murder me though so...

More photos under the cut.

When I left the hobby before, I sold all my dolls except my Lupinus. My sister adored him, so I gave him to her as a Christmas gift 7 or 8 years ago. When he belonged to me, I had sent his head off to a new faceup artist who was trying to paint faces for her portfolio. He's had the same face every since, and it needed some love. I finished him this evening.

This was my first BJD faceup, and it was actually quite fun.

This is the finished face. More progress photos under the cut.

So after waiting days and days for my last layaway payment to clear, the seller took pity on me and offered to go ahead and ship. Just as I read her message, Paypal emailed me saying it cleared anyway. The seller shipped immediately and I got her a day early on top of that. Her actual arrival happened Friday, but this weekend was insanely busy, with my four-year old's birthday party happening and then work, so I'm just now getting around to uploading her box opening. I know a lot of folks think arrival photos are boring, but they're my all time favorites... so I feel the need to contribute my own on each doll's arrival.

Now, I wasn't sure what to expect with this girl. Resinsouls get a lot of crap, being less expensive and what-not. I too had my doubts, but after handling her, I've got to say... she's very high quality. I've handled many bjds... Souldolls, Elfdolls, Dollshe, Fairyland... etc. and I'd say Resinsoul is right up there. I got this little chick for dirt cheap secondhand (even cheap for a RS doll), and I feel like I got more than my money's worth. I see tons of potential with this doll, and I hope when she's finished, others will be able to see they're so much more than those awful company photos.

On with the show.

Ling's last friggin' layaway payment finally decided to clear this afternoon, so she's officially on her way home. Chicka chicka yeah. Naturally, her estimated arrival date is Saturday... and I work literally all day Saturday and Sunday. I may not even get around to opening her until Sunday night/Monday morning. I'll probably wait till Monday, just so my fiance will be back at work and he won't be all up in my business.

I've got a basic style in my mind for her, but I can't seem to find any commercial clothing that suits my needs. I did find a wig and shoes that could work though. I'm wanting to do mostly browns/mauves/soft pinks, and have no idea how to describe what I want in a proper sentence so I'll just list words: boho, hippie, antique lace, draping layers, folds, soft and sweet. I'm articulate tonight. The wig, I've actually reblogged it a few weeks ago, is a soft burgundy lambs fur wig. Shoes are these little brown clog looking things. I have to figure out eyes... I don't want to to a brown because I feel like they'd just blend with the faceup. Maybe a pale brown. I want to do the face in mostly browns with dusty pinks.

Funny thing is, when i first saw Ling's smiley face, I was like "I bet I can make her look a little bit bitchy". Now, I sort of want her to look sweet. What's happening to me?