Chii From Chobits, lolita art! ATC/ACEO for sale

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242139761/chii-from-chobits-atc-aceo-fanart-clamp

Hot off the press. <3 p="">An original hand drawn piece of fanart of Chii from Chobits,

-MNR

Spiral Thread Holder, project

Hello there. I have been busy with work mainly, unable to post things.
I have still been crocheting.

I love going to antiquepatternlibrary.org. There's so many interesting vintage and antique patterns of all sorts. I mainly go there for knitting, crochet and tatting.
Here's the link, if you didn't know of it already. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/
This is one of the few places on the web where you can find free antique patterns.

I am using this PDF at the moment. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/6-JA010Nacke2.pdf

I like thread crochet, because its very victorian, and an easy(er) way to make delicate lace. Especially for pretty dress things! Or just for miscellaneous decoration.

Some of these patterns aren't really patterns, they often contain just a picture and a few lines that go on to say: "follow the picture". How people from the 1800s were able to replicate these patterns is beyond me, the patterns can be so vague, confusing, and full of errors. Not always, but its a thing to consider.
Anyway, I am making page 12's Crochet Thread Holder (#2), I'd call it the Spiral thread holder, as it isn't even given a name! Here's a screen capture of the 'pattern'.

Its very cute! If lined, it would be a great mori kei, lolita, or other type of accessory bag. I just love  the cute ribbons. I'm not sure if I would add them.

I'm currently working out the pattern. If anything, I will post notes as to what I did (on ravelry), as well as posting a link to my ravelry.
If I have time, I'll post a writeup of my version of the pattern.

The pattern asks you to use a size 7 crochet hook (1.65mm) and size 5 crochet cotton.
I'm using size 10 crochet cotton and sizes 5 and 7 hooks. More to come.


-MNR

ATC #11: Bubbly Red Hearts Girl

New ATC, #11 out of my series of hand drawn originals!
Will be in the shop by the end of the day, and I shall update this journal page by the evening.
Here's the preview image.

As a reminder, ATC #10 is still for sale here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/214470179/cat-girl-atc-aceo-10-original-art-cute


-MNR

Lolita artwork, EGL Bible art.

Here is a sorta old picture that I like.
I've posted it on other sites, but now I am posting it here.

It is also here on my deviantart page. http://murasaki-no-ryuu.deviantart.com/art/Lolita-posing-439567495

-MNR

Two Lolis WIP

I might use this blog as a WIP showing blog?
I dunno.

I frequent my tumblr blog, personal and art blog more. http://murasakinoryuu.tumblr.com/

But I need a place to remotely link my arts...
so....

FINALLY finishing this artwork
why did this take so long...
-MNR

Sewing and Hair

Sewing

I can never find information on hand sewing. There's plenty of information on machine sewing.
I wasn't able to get my mother's sewing machine from home. So frustrating. I know I have schoolwork to do but I want to relax by sewing. I desperately need to grow my lolita wardrobe. I do have a garment from winter break, where I sewed the bodice to the skirt. I drafted the pattern myself, and it fits pretty well.

It is extremely hard to find information on hand sewing garments. What I've found so far is basting stitches in preparation for machine sewing. Blech.

So, I will soon go on a quest for antique sewing magazines. They oftentimes show you how to handsew in the back, as machines weren't as prevalent.

I will take a pic of my dress for later on, as a WIP. I might have mentioned this previously, but I want to hand embroider the top, and make lace for the edging by hand. I've found several pretty lace patterns, and I have already begun one in a minty green.

Its great, the fitted sheet  for my bed here at college has lost its elasticity. I don't really want to repair it. I want to turn it into another lolita dress!
I'm silly, silly. I have two other pairs of sheets, I don't need  three! Its ok.
I needs lots and lots of green dresses I do! hah.
well, spring IS coming. I haven't gotten a chance to wear lolita s much as I wanted to this winter. I don't have the proper attire to do so is the problem. I really want knit tights and lolita boots. But of course, the fashion is expensive...
Once I get a paying job in the games industry, I'll dress it all the time squee!

Anyway, I will post the pattern as I drafted it, and a tutorial will follow.
----------



These are some of the tutorials I am using. Sorry, this time these are all videos.


http://youtu.be/CJUuxOTkbRE - this woman has pretty decent tutorials in general.
http://youtu.be/gtCVpi99o8A - A lolita shirt reconstruction
http://youtu.be/ZmSbiHakoyg - bloomers

Hair
I have the hair of an african american. It is frizzy, fluffy, dense, and strong willed. It is not a good idea to break the will of hair, because you will break your hair.
It is, however, shoulder length. I choose not to straighten it with chemicals, use a flat iron, or wear extensions to make it look straight. For the most part I tolerate and like my hair, but I want wigs so that I can change up my hairstyle more often. I want a green wig!

The only thing is to work around your hair. I don't think it is unfortunate that I don't have straight long hair. I find it unfortunate that there's a lack of diversity in the magazines such as the G&LB. The point is to look victorian and cutesy. But I'm pretty sure there are alternatives to the one look that is presented in these books and others like it.

I do believe that lolita generally requires shoulder length or longer hair in order to attempt certain styles. One could have closely cropped boyish hair or tiny curls though, it will just require accessories for it to look lolita-ish. Cute hats, beanies, berets, hair ornaments and clips, and definitely bows.
It just matters that you take care of your hair.

Designing Designs, and alternatives to buying brand

I think my friends are somewhat tired of me talkinga bout how sorrowful I am over not having access to my lolita stuff. Last night, I caught myself looking at bodyline dresses and considering prices and fits.
x_x  I know that most bodyline dresses can't fit me. But (some) are so pretty! And not all are sugary sweet hyper sweet lolita!

To be honest, some of those angelic pretty prints and the knockoffs from bodyline look like they'd give you diabetes if you look at them too long. I like Bbtssb more than angelic pretty because at times they tone down their prints. They also have slightly larger sizing. =.=

I am on an ongoing adventure to find clothes for the plus sized lolita. Unfortunately, one of the only ways a plus lolita can dress in lolita is altering a dress, getting a custom commission, going to a brand shop like F+F and getting custom sized, or making your own.

• The first option, altering a dress, is very tricky. One must find cloth that is exactly the same. You might have to decimate a bow that came with the dress, or apply a neutral color. The most common sizing fix is to add panels of space underneath the arms. That is often where the seams, zippers or buttons are. 
• The next idea is to let the skirt and bodice out. If there is shirring or gathering at the bodice or skirt, one could take a seam ripper and let some of the gathers out, and resew them.
• If one follows these ideas, the bottom of skirt width may not be enough. Therefore, another way to add width would be to add panels.
• If one is tall, adding ruffles of a plain color or a nice quality lace is ideal to add a few inches to the hem. I did this with my Bodyline dress, which was four inches too short.

Most of these ideas involve knowing at least basic sewing. I grew up being a crafty person. I played with my sewing kit when I was in daycare. (I was somewhat of a nuisance, I admit, because I left needles around... x_X) But I essentially taught myself. Back stitching, running stitch, basting, and overcast hand stitching are basic. However, if you need aid in this, there are plenty of tutorials on Youtube. My mummah taught me the basics of knitting and crocheting, and I learned the rest on Youtube.

Custom commissions are slightly more tricky. If you don't feel like learning to sew, or are just awful at it, good news! You can simply transfer the work to someone else! There are listings on the major EGL communities for seamstresses all over.  [I will list some here.]
Generally, you can get feedback from these seamstresses from their shop pages, whether it be etsy, artfire, eBay, or livejournal.

There are cheap lolita clothing shops all around the internet. The problem is, you have to make sure the dress or accessory isn't ita. Ita means painful in Japanese, and basically, its a dress that's tacky, horrible, ugly, or cheap looking. Lolitas strive to be as far from Ita as possible. It takes some skill to not be ita, and every lolita goes through an ita period. Cheap dresses tend to be ita, so check with an online lolita community to get feedback before you purchase an ugly dress or skirt. Some brand clothes have been ita offenders, so also check this out.
Some different  low cost japanese, chinese, or korean stores:
Taobao
Fan+Friend
Bodyline
QutieLand

These sites all offer custom sizes, all the way up to around US size 20 or 22. They also offer men sizes, which mean skirts and torsos are longer.

Making your own dress:
Slightly more hard. There are lolita sewing circles and knitting circles you could join.
I will list more about this later, though.

I'm thinking of making this blouse: http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/andrea-blouse. I only have cotton broadcloth with me, so I will have to double it up. Most free burdastyle patterns don't have instructions. However, basically just stitching the seams and hemming, using fraystop and lining helps. Every handsewn project will be different, and is a step to learning how to become a good seamstress. Everyone makes mistakes, it just takes practice.

http://www.burdastyle.com/search?key=lolita+skirt#

When I have time, I hope to make a small guide on handsewing lolita clothing.

I have plenty of lolita clothing designs. I would love to make my own line of plus sized lolita clothing, sizes 10 to 22, or at least lolita patterns. The problem is, I'm a game artist now. I feel like I have to devote all my time to achieving this goal. I love both, but I don't know which I love more: crafting lolita items or drawing for video games. I don't like choosing... I guess this subject is for another time.


Stay frilly y'all.




-MNR

Drafting Patterns

I tend to draft my own patterns because I can never find ones I want, or ones that fit me. This goes for mostly sewing and knitting. With crochet, I'm still pretty inexperienced.

Not to say that I'm amazing in either of the three. My mother taught me the basics of sewing when I was little, and I had a sewing kit and fooled around making little purses and dolls. Then I stopped for several years. And when I was in my late teens and early 20s, (which I am now, being 20,) I have picked it up again, and have started patterns.

From my last post, I discovered that I found lolita when I was 13 or 14, but only liked drawing it. I feel now that I may like sewing it then drawing it. But I still love designing lolita themes and dresses.

With knitting it was the same way. I learned from my mother. I must have gotten bored with only knitting scarves, and how long it took, because I put them away until a couple of years ago as well. I then learned from youtube how to knit, purl, increase, decrease, knit socks, knit in the round, seam, and other fancy terms, that would allow me make actual garments. Now I have a ravelry account, and am working on designing my own patterns.

I find it funny that my mother wants me to teach her how to knit and crochet. Especially since SHE'S THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME. I didn't know that's something you could forget. There are no hard feelings, it's just that that is somewhat strange/funny.

I've only recently started drafting my own knit and sewing patterns. Most of what I know I know from online searches and Youtube. Unfortunately I don't go to the library enough. The problem is, for most of the hours I am out of class, the public library is closed. It's such a shame.

I've learned to draft my own lolita patterns. I usually look at actual dresses, see what shapes the pieces are constructed in, draw them onto paper, and take my measurements. I also got a very rudimentary pattern for a jsk from egl on Livejournal. I just need to learn tailoring, which I've been getting much better at, being large-breasted. Bust darts are your friends, boys and girls. Burdastyle has helped me learn tailoring.


I'm working on a new steampunk corset styled tank top with ruffles. When I can, I will put up my preliminary picture and pattern. It will be my bust size range, with is 44-48. Right now, or soon, I have to finish up a paper and send it to my professor...
It will be knit in caron simply soft and is designed to be worn with a lolita skirt. I think lolita clothes should have more of a DIY aspect, and knitting and sewing your own outfits is moving into an untapped market.

I have some dreams about this.
I've always wanted to create a line of lolita clothing for American sized women and men. Making a line of lolita knitting patterns may be a great way to start. Victorians knit and did other crafting quite a bit. What can be more lolita than crafting your own clothing and accessories?

Themes I'm interested in: Aristocrat, regency, rococo, romantic era, medieval, ethnic, industrial, steampunk, pirate, sailor, fantasy, and to some small extent, visual kei.


How I learned:
Knitting:

Crocheting:

Sewing lolita:


-MNR

Thing Related Depression.

I fell into a depression that has lasted about a week, is why I haven't blogged much or done much.
It is caused by a variety of things. It started when I got my dresses from bodyline. It was exacerbated by difficulties with friends lately. I can never say when a depression ends. I don't want to jinx it.

Due to some unfortunate events in my life, not too horrible, but bad enough, years ago I acquired clinical depression, stress and anxiety disorders. I don't know, but I mihgt also randomly be hallucinating.

A lot of what I have to be depressed about lately is my appearance. I'm definitely not the standard american, or what the media wants the standard american to look like, or what guys at my school want the standard girl to look like.  I wish I was but oh well. No matter how much I diet, or starve myself, or liposuck, I will never be a size 2. And that should be ok.


What does the stereotypical lolita look like? Almost across the board: long blonde hair, baby blue eyes, pale complexion with rosy cheeks, looking about 16-18 years of age, skinny and of a "perfect" height and weight.
Sometimes, it will be a brunette female, with the same features.
Even lolita designers, stars, and lolita laypersons show their ideal image of the lolita as being such. (I've read GL bibles, watched videos, read japanese designer's descriptions, seen drawings on brand sites, seen the kind of models used, and see what japanese women do to their faces, hair and skin to make them look more European/white.)

Do you ever see anything different? Do you ever see clothing modeled by a tall lolita, or a black lolita, or a larger lolita, or a hispanic lolita, or a slightly older lolita (like 28 or something)? It annoys me and torments me. This is because the designers are making clothes for the smaller people. It's not one's fault for being skinny or tall. It may be one's fault for being overweight. But it's also not one's fault for being different.

It is not going to change the fact that I am a lolita. It's just that... oftentimes I don't feel part of the culture. Many times, I want to escape from the culture, or I need a break.

Dress#1, too short.

Dress#2, chest didn't fit.

I thought Bodyline was different. That they catered to a wider variety of lolitas. The dresses I purchased said that they fit busts between 34in and 44in. In the US, this means that the article of clothing fits these sizes comfortably. Or that's how I read it. What it actually meant was that the maximum possible stretch was 44in. Also, the dress comes up 4 inches above my knee. The other dress, I was able to fit one breast into. ONE. I'm so frustrated. Some of it is poor choice on my part. Nevertheless I felt (feel) like an ugly giantess, or like the ugly duckling, because I see other lolitas wearing them and looking so cute. Usually me feeling ugly is associated with me being alone and unloved, not being pretty to other people, and not fitting in in social situations.

I'm going to alter the dresses. The second one will need a LOT of work in the chest, and will need a new underskirt.

The shoes I purchased, if anything, were a little big. I was amazed. So there are these 4' 11 japanese lolita running around with size 10 feet? I expected the shoes to be the same proportion. But I saw shoes there that were too big for me! I"m a little dumbfounded.

I know I need to lose weight, I've been told by everyone, I've been looked down on, criticized, harassed, yelled at, teased, ignored, excluded, overlooked, etc, one of the reasons being for my weight. I don't need to be reminded everywhere I turn by the media too. One of the reasons I can't stand the media. Portray unrealistic images of women. Being plus sized and pretty CAN occur at the same time. Being plus sized and healthy CAN occur at the same time. I've eaten all sorts of salads and vegetables, drinking water, for the past two weeks. (Been drinking water for longer, exercising for longer) Cutting back on meats, portion sizes, doing light exercise when I have time. And then in front of me in the dining hall there are these skinnier girls (typical model size) that are eating several plates of food, among them pizza, fries and burgers. Is it fair to call me unhealthy because of the way I look? Is it fair to call me ugly because I have extra lbs? My metabolism is extremely slow, and I try when I can. A lot of plus sized lolitas do. And then there are skinnier lolitas that eat whatever they want, sit around all day and fit into the smallest brand sizes. Are they healthy because they look slim?

No one is saying that fat is healthy. No one is saying that skinny is healthy. What is correct is to say that healthy is healthy. Whether that is small or large.

You hear the ugly things people say on Lolita secrets and some forums. Downright unladylike and bitchy and inhumane things. These are the sort of things that become rumors and become 'true' in the social spheres, even if they aren't. Like all people that can't fit into brand being fat and ugly, and needing to get out of lolita. Or that men can't dress in lolita, or that lesbians can't be lolita, or that you're too old for lolita (when in fact 30 years old is still young.)
Those people can be ignored. But when people start believing them and imitating them.... it's just horrible. ( One of the comments about 'fat girls' was that they stretch out brand clothes and therefore are bad people. If you're stretching out brand clothing, that means that you're a pretty small American woman, I've realized. How can you call a size 8 american fat??? But it's no-one's business what you do to your clothes.)

I'm depressed because this is the norm, and I am very alone in my geographic location. It seems like many of the males at my school are looking for females of a lighter complexion, straighter, longer hair, shorter, and less heavy. I am what I am.

I'm 5'8". I didn't know I was tall for an american female or world wide female until I looked it up on wikipedia.

I just think.... everyone of any size deserves to feel pretty and be pretty.  Since smaller sizes are catered to all the time, and at especially low prices (places like bodyline and f+f), I think that it's time that larger sizes are catered to.

If I had time, I would create my own lolita fashion line for plus sized females (and maybe regular sized males), maybe from sizes 14 to 24. I would make dresses and skirts for ladies with large breasts and posteriors, women between 5' 5" and 6' or maybe apple shaped individuals. I design tons and tons of clothes already. It's just that... my first priority is getting my degree and entering into the game design field. There were larger victorian women, with large breasts and bottoms. (They had intense corsets, so no large stomachs.) They didn't just go naked. :/ Brands make victorian inspired clothing. So why no clothes for larger females?

I had to get this off my chest. There is no one to say these things, so the converse of each of these statements is considered true. It is not the japanese brands' faults for making clothes for small japanese women. It will be their fault if they don't start realizing that people outside of japan like that fashion, have money, and want to purchase their clothes.

I would love to start exclusively sewing my own lolita clothes, especially since brand clothes will never cater to females with 46DD/E breasts. However, I do not have a sewing machine, so handsewing takes months. And that is when I don't have projects. I can draft my own patterns to proficiency. Drafting and tailoring for other people, however, is a monumental feat.


I am trying to drag myself out of this depression. It is a hard thing to do alone, or even with a therapist and meds.
Sorry for the depressing post. Again, getting things off of my chest. Hopefully I'm in a mood to dress lolita again. I really try....

-MNR

Inexpensive vs Expensive Brand Clothes, 1

I think that using the word cheap to refer to something low cost is poor terminology. It sounds tacky to call something cheap. Or constantly talk about getting a 'good deal' on a bulk package of clothes. It is as if you're trying to purchase a used car for $200 dollars. Buying clothes is quite a 'you get what you pay for' idea. It is like getting a shirt, shoes, pants and socks for $10. The quality is likely to be terrible, or the clothes will look horrible.
One wants clothes that are sturdy and stylish.

It is obvious that while one wants to not 'break the bank', i.e. paying $400 for a dress or $200 for some shoes. One can look stylish on a budget.  One must also pay a reasonable price, because the price of the clothing goes to pay the company, and the workers, and for advertising, and to keep the lights on in their stores, and especially for the cloth. Or, if it's a private boutique or seamstress/tailor, cost of materials, time, shipping and further tailoring.

One must consider moderation. Paying $300 for a dress is debatable. What it comes down to is if you feel wearing their name is worth it, or if they are just pretty clothes.

I feel this way about brand name lolita clothing. It is obvious that a dress costs so much due to these factors:

• A certain designer designed it
• It is made with certain expensive materials, such as brocade, silk, velvet, or natural materials
• the dress had much labor put into it, with painstaking detail
• the company can add 'couture' in front of the name or in the description, and add on $300+ dollars to the actual cost.
• how many dresses are in stock
• how high the anticipated demand is
• et cetera.

Most of the time, I just don't think it's right to charge so much for something easily mass produced. Perhaps it is expected of the creators to make something expensive, so that not everyone can have or wear it. Would it be fashionable if everyone was able to fit it and wear it and it lasted for some time? I just feel... if you're going to make a one colored dress out of polyester and cotton, throw on a few frills, a few bits of lace.... is it right to  make it $360USD? They certainly have a right, it is their clothing. But is it fair? Certainly if it were a full rococo gown, historically accurate, with soft, factory made lace and the whole thing is machine washable, it is justified that it should cost $300+ dollars. I wouldn't be surprised if it cost $500, and more if it was a seamstress making it, with hand sewn or hand made details.

Small independent companies are more justified in pricing, because there is much more hands on work in creating the garment, such as hand-picking the fabrics, hand sewing any alterations, embellishing and talking with the customer on sizing, repairs or additions.
Larger shops, like some of the ones I saw on 5th avenue, don't quite have that level of detail in their service. Therefore, I feel as if they're taking advantage of the consumer, and are not justified in selling a pair of synthetic leather heels for $3000. The only way to justify that is if the designer is making every pair of shoes themselves, or if they had precious metals or stones, and rare unique materials. Like live goldfish.

Pic from Discovery Blogs. No, you can't wear these. I wonder if PETA has seen these.

I do enjoy how brands are starting to make their clothes slightly larger and slightly more affordable. I am not a big brand fan. I feel some remorse in saying this. I thought I was a lolita. But is buying brand and wearing someone's name on your feet, head and torso what makes you a lolita? Not at all. The clothes are just covering in the end. It is justifiable to like their style, and want to be a part of their vision. Wearing brand for bragging rights, just to say that you're an expensive and therefore important person, is ridiculous.

I would, however, pay up to $200 for a dress. I believe are such dresses as I would pay such a price:

Dear Celine's Summer Classic OP, from QutieLand

Infanta's Spring Whisper Lady Charlotte OP, from QutieLand

Angelic Pretty's Sweet Princess OP, in Lavender

By plus sized, I mean bust and waist sizes of over 36 inches, or a height larger than 5' 6". And with no alteration.

There's not much you can do for actual brand OPs if you're 45" in either bust or waist. Nothing to do but wait. However, you can request reproductions or totally new dresses from smaller boutiques and seamstresses. It is my dream that these shops will realize that larger sized foreigners exist and want to purchase their clothing. u_u

Plus sized friendly brand shops:
QutieLand - A number of smaller shops that tailor make clothes standard size and 'oversized' for 10-20 extra USD.
Victorian Maiden - A very small number of brand dresses that would fit around bust or waist size of 40-42.
Innocent world - A respectable amount of dresses that have an upper bound of 44 inch waist or bust. Personal favorite.
Baby the Stars Shine Bright (BtSSB) - Their shirred clothing fits up to 45 sized bust and waist. Their tailored clothing hovers around 36 inches for bust and waist.
Candy Violet - An american startup lolita shop, with their own site. They have a size 2XL to most of their clothes, B: 46 W: 36.
English Charm - Goes up to 2XL, B: 48 W: 42 H: 52
Ergi - sizes by commission
Fan+Friend - up to around bust of 44 for untailored items. Offers tailored items.
mfashion - A few brand blouses, B: 42 W:40
Milky Ange - A lot of their dresses have an XL size, where  B: 44in W: 40-42 in. Very lovely traditional lolita.


List will continue as I find shops.

-MNR.

Back from NYC, and lolita brand.

I just came back from  NYC. Fun vacation.
However, there were no lolita stores...

We did manage to go to Tokyo Rebel. Nothing there fit me of course, but it was nice looking at the brand clothing. I wasn't as excited as I thought I would be. I had spent all day walking around and my feet hurt and I had to walk 12+ blocks to get there so I was limping by the time I got there. I was a little disappointed the shop was so small and out of the way. But space is at a premium in NYC, so it's not their fault. Also, it was the only location and they were just starting up. They had a lot of putumayo, innocent world, victorian maiden, mary magdelene, and misc visual kei clothing. My friends stayed in the back waiting, because they met me there and got there before me.

I love innocent world and victorian maiden! Mary magdelene too.

I got a mini decoden kit for 8 dollars. Has cute strawberries. Dunno what I'm going to deco with it. It was 10% off. Maybe I can deco my compact mirror.
I also got an Innocent World tote bag. My first bit of 'brand'. I finally have something to wear to class with my lolita clothes. It doesn't have pockets inside, is why. Was $39 dollars. I had purchased so much in NYC I figured why not.

I wish I had a job so I could pay for my own brand clothing. But right now, the best I can do is to be supported by my mother, and to sew my own lolita clothes. I do feel bad and guilty because lolita is an expensive style, but I look so good!

I tried to wear lolita in NYC. The skirt I made was very frustrating. I plan to tear off the lace and put  it on something else. It frustrated me so much because it was too short and lopsided.
However, the dress I purchased from Milanoo looked nice. I got several complements from random people. It wasn't lined though. I am too scared to wash it for fear it should dissolve. Milanoo has some issues in customer service and quality. I wouldn't buy from them again until they start getting professional. My experience wasn't bad.
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/14484905.html

NYC is such the fashion capital. Everyone walking around on the main streets amongst the fancy boutiques looked so expensive and snazzy. Confident and slim. Such a manipulation of the masses using images I've never seen the likes of. NYC is so intriguing, so fascinating. So pure on the surface, yet stylishly sinful.  They desperately need some lolita stores. I mean, it is unacceptable that there are none in the northeast. NONE.

If I knew how to sew  and was dedicated enough, I would make a line of plus sized lolita dresses. That takes a great deal of work that I'm not sure I want to do.

I wanted to buy some lolita clothes in NYC. I ended up buying a bag and some leather shoes that have nothing to do with lolita. They're uber cute though.

I want to buy these from bodyline to make up the difference.


BTW I'm amazed. Innocent world has been having some relatively affordable sales as of late. Sales on stuff that would be able to fit me! http://innocent-w.jp/shopping/094715/index_e.html
Well, it would need slight tailoring for the waist. But it's beautiful... I would wear it year round.

I'm still not ready to pay $167 dollars for a dress, even if that's the sale price. Usually JSKs are $200 and upwards. So that's pretty good!
I think they should have added embroidery to the bottom of the skirt, to complete the total fade. But it's still cool tho.

About 3 dress designs

My sewing skills are sub-par, especially with me not having a sewing machine. But I try.

 

These are just dresses that I may or may not sew or have sewn one day.

Computer broke and the community's issues...

My computer broke. I'm sad.

Right now I have a loaner computer. But for at least 3 days I was SO bored because I couldn't get my computer fixed and do stuff like play games. I wasn't even productive. Something is wrong with the hardware.

On another note,
A week or so ago, I learned that the site Milanoo.com is a scam site. They make horrible clothing and then when you try to get a refund (if you've seen some of the clothing that they send you!) they will fight you all the way, and have to involve PayPal. I've heard some horror stories on the main egl group on livejournal. I'm so worried because I purchased this dress form them.  http://www.milanoo.com/p16634.html
I fear they won't give me a refund and I will have to check round the clock to make sure that I at least fight for it, and I may lose. I heard that they run out the time that you may file a claim, so you can't get a refund. I've seen the horrible dresses they send, and heard about the horrible customer service.
I want out of this bad deal.

Lolita is so expensive that getting a new dress is a really big deal and it had damn well better fit and look right. I've gotten ebay dresses that look decent and cute for less than $60 dollars. Soft fabric, lining, no nasty lace, etc. So Milanoo has no excuse.

I really want my $50 dollars back, so I can purchase some dresses from Fan+Friend or Bodyline. Before my computer broke, I was searching and found some dresses and skirts on Bodyline that can be modified. Everything there is usually a medium. (or really ugly looking... only a few though). I found some things that have shirring or elastic waist or a waist that can be modified by a few inches. Fan+Friend is really plus-sized friendly. I am pleased with them. However the $20 shipping isn't fun.

I need to really stop reading things on livejournal. The people at the plus sized lolita group told me not to look. I looked. I can't help my curiousity!!! It is one of my many curses.
Those people there in that lolita bashing community, 99.2% of them have ugly hearts, no matter what brand their wearing and how 'perfect' they are, they're always gonna be ugly, sad people. There's a difference between venting and trolling/trying to bring people down to make yourself feel better.

That being said, there's such a thing as ita lolita. I may be ita sometimes. I'll admit. But I believe in trying to conform to the rudiments of the style. The point is to TRY, and have fun doing so. It is definitely not about the clothes. It's about being a princess, or a doll, or a little girl, or a LADY inside, and showing that to other people.
(BTW, ita lolita refers to 'painful' in japanese. It's a term adopted by the lolita subculture to describe coordinates that don't coordinate, ugly clothes, too much lace or ugly patterns, or unflattering clothing.)

Things like that make me hesitant to join the wider lolita community, because this ugly nature isn't just kept to groups like this. I've seen some ugly comments on blogs and forums. I'm going to work on steering clear of these ugly people. But I always seem to find them eventually, is the horrible thing.

Hopefully I will have time to show pictures of my dresses tonight. I do have a major project in game design that will take 2 months and intense communication with my group. Therefore, I won't get to draw or anything. It is a 2d pygame game. Thank god I am not coding, but I will be one of two artists, in a group of 6. I am hoping to get along with everyone decently, and to draw the best I can. I aim to be a concept artist. And here is what we are doing, so this should be great experience. I just hope I can keep up. They're a really intense game design group, in that they want perfection and portfolio-worthy things.
That is a respectable goal. However, I want to SLEEP sometime this year.

I think I will post my lolita clothing drawings on here.

Moooore dresses!

I really want a new dress or skirt or two. I've found Milanoo.com, where the clothing is wholesale, and they have a complete lolita section. They have so many pretty dresses! I mean, some are lowcut and obviously lingerie, or some are cosplay, but some are very pretty.

I have to remember to save up for my new york trip with my friends for spring break. I have a limited amount of funds. And i would love to buy souvenirs. So I am trying to get an on campus job so that I can pay for my habit.

Take a look at these things. http://www.milanoo.com/Cotton-Brown-Lace-Ruffles-Classic-Lolita-Dress-p12607.html
http://www.milanoo.com/Sleeveless-Bow-Ruffled-Cotton-Classic-Lolita-Dress-p27034.html
http://www.milanoo.com/Cotton-Red-Lace-Bows-Lolita-Skirt-p7496.html
http://www.milanoo.com/Cotton-White-Short-Sleeves-Blouse-And-Black-Cotton-Lolita-Skirt-Outfit-p13032.html


I have some decisions to make. And some pattern pieces to plan.
I have some old green bedsheet. Very rich and beautiful green. I want to turn it into a basic JSK. This time, I think I will make it a circle skirt.

New year, new clothes?

It's a new year. Been very busy.

I'm amazed at how hard I worked to finish my finals. Several all nighters to finish art projects. My animation 1 final was crap, but it was finished! I am still learning Maya. I still prefer Blender.


Anyway, so I've been catching up on knitting, crochetting and sewing that I didn't get to do because of class. I really want to work on getting my school life together, but I also need to do some personal stuff. like make my life more lolita friendly.

Ah, the lolita life. I would like to call myself a lifestyle lolita, but I have quite a ways to go before I can actually say that to other people.
At the moment, I don't know of anyone else that dresses lolita... sometimes I prefer being the lone lolita because it's somewhat unique, and I've learned to shy away from online communities. Other lolitas I've found in the past... have been a bit unfriendly. I'd love to have a lolita penpal, or just a regular penpal. Handwriting personal letters sounds like so much fun.

Oh well. What's important is that I have cloth and I'm going to try and sew as much as I can before the break ends. I don't have much time, as we go back to classes the 22nd. I go back to school the 20th. D; I did manage to get a decent lot of things knitted! There's this skirt that I'm hand-sewing though: I think it's too long. Like 30 inches long. I will try to fix it.
But I've found so many lolita accessories too, that I've put together myself or found from the thrift store. I'm so happy about that. Months ago I purchased two cigar boxes for them. I'm hoping at least the jewelry will fit. I have two headdresses so far, those may have to just go in my closet at school with my hats and such.


Aaaanyway.... I'm trying to lolify this pattern here. http://ravel.me/murasakinoryuu/n40ap
It's a top down raglan tshirt done in cotton and acrylic Lionbrand Cotton Ease, and I aim to make the bow at the top more pronounced. It's going pretty fast and I'm excited.

And this pattern here is going to be such a cute lacy waistcoat. It's going to be heavy though, due to it being crochetted. http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Print+Ads/SN0113+Filigree+Cardigan.htm I have no idea what yarn I can use. I'm thinking caron simply soft, but I also have caron one lb in white. I need a yarn that's not immensely heavy.

Clothing Queue:

Pink trellis lolita skirt
black lolita bonnet
felted wool lolita purse
lolita dress (design coming soon)

Long time no see

I've been drawing more and more lolita designs as of late.
Lolita is an expensive style, even if you're not buying the 200 dollar dresses from overseas. Fabric is expensive. Broadcloth tends to be $2.50 a yard or more. I need at least 2 yards to make a jumperskirt.  I am working on a black pinafore style, and taking tips from this craftster tutorial here http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=356910.0. I have cut my own pattern out of newspaper and got some discounted scrap interfacing. I just need to pin it out. There is little room in a college dorm room.

I've had a mind to design my own fabric patterns, and draw/embroider them onto broadcloth.

Anyway, I've been backlogged with school, friends, drawing, gaming and the like. I just recently got We Love Katamari, the sequel to Katamari Damacy. So far it's a great expansion on the original. But KD still has a place in my heart.
I am testing out the new pattern I have for the lolita eyepatch, hopefully sometime this week.



Stay frilly, y'all.