I don't much care for being a lone lolita. I've never been to a meetup, and I don't have any lolita friends (I do have other friends of course).
That's why it pains me when I'm not in lolita, and I see another lolita walking about.
I've been searching for months for lolitas in the capitol region of NY: Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rensselaer. Heck, I'll settle for lolitas located in NY, CT, or MA. I am a very shy lolita, but I would dearly love to collaborate with other local lolitas.
The other problem is that my dresses are stuck in storage and I can't reach them! I only have one of my dresses. I don't have any skirts. I feel like I've been cut off from something I love. When I'm out of lolita, I look... androgynous, or boyish, or just plain common and mundane, so its hard to approach other lolitas on the street and say hi, because I feel so ashamed of the state I'm in, and that they look so lovely in their frills. I wish my inside were able to reflect my outside more often.By that I mean, I wish I had my dresses with me!
I've only seen two lolitas IRL. One was in NYC last year, in a baby blue bodyline dress and handmade blouse. The second one was actually in Troy, at a barbeque, in a black angelic pretty OP with strawberries on it. I wish I wasn't so embarrassed as to just say 'I like your dress!' and walk away. I was just in shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals, and was sweating (it was 85 degrees) so I was very embarrassed that I didn't look at all like a lady.
However, more power to her for wearing stockings and petticoats in 85 degree weather! Though the skirts are quite ventilating. Perhaps there should be wool or acrylic type petticoat layers for the winter, and chiffon or light cotton or linen petticoats for the summer. The victorians must have already thought about this. They couldn't have been sweating in 90 degree weather in dresses that covered their whole bodies.
When this summer is out, and I am able to reach my dresses, I don't think I'm going to let them leave me again. NEVER!!!
So embarrassed....
-MNR
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Painter X
Painter X is the program I use to paint digitally. When you want to simulate traditional materials, or do some really smooth blending for art that needs not to be scaled, go to Painter. It takes .psds. I use it for my soft shading because it does the painting effects I want in far less time than photoshop.
At times, it is harder to figure out because it has slightly different shortcuts. The eyedropper tool is D, but I changed it to I like in photoshop. It has so many built in brushes to get the proper effects you want. SO many brushes. Its overwhelming at times. But you just have to explore them. I have barely touched oil brushes because right now it's not right for my arts.
Sometimes it crashes. Kinda annoying. It crashed a few months ago. But then again, photoshop, firefox, ALL adobe products, and internet explorer all crash. So that's not new. It has autosave.
The main point of this post is to say that layers are dealt with differently in Painter X. You 'collapse' layers instead of 'dropping' or 'merging' layers like in other image programs. To drop a layer means to merge the layer with the background layer. Be careful in that regard!
To collapse a layer in Painter: Press Ctrl + Shift + X, and the program will merge the current layer with the layer just below it.
-MNR
At times, it is harder to figure out because it has slightly different shortcuts. The eyedropper tool is D, but I changed it to I like in photoshop. It has so many built in brushes to get the proper effects you want. SO many brushes. Its overwhelming at times. But you just have to explore them. I have barely touched oil brushes because right now it's not right for my arts.
Sometimes it crashes. Kinda annoying. It crashed a few months ago. But then again, photoshop, firefox, ALL adobe products, and internet explorer all crash. So that's not new. It has autosave.
The main point of this post is to say that layers are dealt with differently in Painter X. You 'collapse' layers instead of 'dropping' or 'merging' layers like in other image programs. To drop a layer means to merge the layer with the background layer. Be careful in that regard!
To collapse a layer in Painter: Press Ctrl + Shift + X, and the program will merge the current layer with the layer just below it.
-MNR
Saturday, July 9, 2011
All types of Lace
This summer, I have discovered I love lace. I mainly like crocheted lace, because of all the twists and turns that can occur in one piece. Large pieces of fabric can be made from such tiny thread and some kind of metal needle. It's beautiful, delicate work that I just admire.
So far, my obsession is with crocheted lace, tatted lace, needle lace, and bobbin lace. I feel like embroidery is a completely different art. I will take it up sometime, when I can sew my own dresses on a sewing machine. I plan on embroidering the bodices and hems of my lolita dresses by hand eventually. But that kind of embroidery isn't lace. Still beautiful though.
I've fallen in love with irish crochet lace. Its so small and delicate, but the tiny delicate motifs and thread can be built into a more substantial complicated image. I one day hope to make larger fabrics, like tapestries. Its almost like painting with a hook.
I have to be very careful not to get it dirty with my fingers, because the thread is often white. I do have some green thread I got from a thrift store years ago that I brought from home. I am washing my hands a lot more than I normally do to avoid this.
There are so many generations of women (and a few men) making delicate geometric designs. Unfortunately, crochet is a relatively new craft, as its roots can only be traced back as far as the 19th century. Even still, there is a wealth of creative designs and constructions using all sorts of yarn materials and hooks.
I don't know much about tatting other than it is created with a shuttle with a hook at one end, and creates a very loopy fabric. Apparently, it was called the poor man's lace, because it was so quick and simple to make. Lace was at one point a very important skill for decorating clothes and other accessories. Lace was costly, and there were experts that inspected lace, especially all the way back to the 1600s. Regions were known for their specific skills in lace, and lace was a very important commodity.
I have been working on knitting a replica cutsew, but I am still choosing the lace to put around the collar. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of that because I haven't gotten that far in its creation. Perhaps i will be able to scan in the planned picture.
Eventually, I want to learn needle lace and cutwork. I feel that these two branches of lace make a more traditional , dense lace. I don't so much like knitted lace, because you have to wash, block and press it after every use, and there are too many holes 'where they aren't supposed to be'. I can understand its pretty, with the yarnovers and such. I do like putting them in more solid knitted fabric.
I am looking forward to examining the history of lace.I have already read some wikipedia articles and looked in the local library.
Unfortunately, my time for creation of lace and research of lace is short, as I have work from 10am to 6pm.
These are some of the patterns I'm working on right now:
http://www.angelfire.com/art/bubamara/free/snow2.html
http://craftsbyap.blogspot.com/2008/05/crocheted-shell-bookmark.html
http://designpatternpage.blogspot.com/2005/11/doily-coaster.html
I"m also working on a lace cravat from the australian home journal. If you have ravelry, here it is. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cravat
-MNR
So far, my obsession is with crocheted lace, tatted lace, needle lace, and bobbin lace. I feel like embroidery is a completely different art. I will take it up sometime, when I can sew my own dresses on a sewing machine. I plan on embroidering the bodices and hems of my lolita dresses by hand eventually. But that kind of embroidery isn't lace. Still beautiful though.
I've fallen in love with irish crochet lace. Its so small and delicate, but the tiny delicate motifs and thread can be built into a more substantial complicated image. I one day hope to make larger fabrics, like tapestries. Its almost like painting with a hook.
I have to be very careful not to get it dirty with my fingers, because the thread is often white. I do have some green thread I got from a thrift store years ago that I brought from home. I am washing my hands a lot more than I normally do to avoid this.
There are so many generations of women (and a few men) making delicate geometric designs. Unfortunately, crochet is a relatively new craft, as its roots can only be traced back as far as the 19th century. Even still, there is a wealth of creative designs and constructions using all sorts of yarn materials and hooks.
I don't know much about tatting other than it is created with a shuttle with a hook at one end, and creates a very loopy fabric. Apparently, it was called the poor man's lace, because it was so quick and simple to make. Lace was at one point a very important skill for decorating clothes and other accessories. Lace was costly, and there were experts that inspected lace, especially all the way back to the 1600s. Regions were known for their specific skills in lace, and lace was a very important commodity.
I have been working on knitting a replica cutsew, but I am still choosing the lace to put around the collar. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of that because I haven't gotten that far in its creation. Perhaps i will be able to scan in the planned picture.
Eventually, I want to learn needle lace and cutwork. I feel that these two branches of lace make a more traditional , dense lace. I don't so much like knitted lace, because you have to wash, block and press it after every use, and there are too many holes 'where they aren't supposed to be'. I can understand its pretty, with the yarnovers and such. I do like putting them in more solid knitted fabric.
I am looking forward to examining the history of lace.I have already read some wikipedia articles and looked in the local library.
Unfortunately, my time for creation of lace and research of lace is short, as I have work from 10am to 6pm.
These are some of the patterns I'm working on right now:
http://www.angelfire.com/art/bubamara/free/snow2.html
http://craftsbyap.blogspot.com/2008/05/crocheted-shell-bookmark.html
http://designpatternpage.blogspot.com/2005/11/doily-coaster.html
I"m also working on a lace cravat from the australian home journal. If you have ravelry, here it is. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cravat
-MNR
Friday, July 8, 2011
Hello again
Sorry I haven't been posting. Been so busy with work. We're creating a new game, and we're all really working hard on it. It's a game app for smartphones, but we need money for marketing. It would be great if people could examine this link. Thanks!
-MNR
-MNR
Friday, June 10, 2011
Blender updates
I've just found an amazing modifier in blender 2.5. It was probably here for many versions. I just found it today though. The bevel modifier.
It adds subtle creases to your mesh, and makes it look more detailed without you having to model in the curves. It is much better for softening hard edges than the subdivide modifier or smooth modifier.
Hopefully I will be able to post images of this mesh after the game comes out.
-MNR
It adds subtle creases to your mesh, and makes it look more detailed without you having to model in the curves. It is much better for softening hard edges than the subdivide modifier or smooth modifier.
Hopefully I will be able to post images of this mesh after the game comes out.
-MNR
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
3d Modelling and Texturing
It is difficult in Blender 2.5. Heck, it was difficult in blender 2.49.
Blender is a great 3d modelling program. Yeah, 2.5 looks much more sleek and professional, but why did they take the spacebar menu from us? Now I have to click and point. Spacebar brings up file menu items, not mesh objects and options. I kinda liked that.
I learned quite a few things in the past two weeks. I am out of college for the summer, and working at Deadmans Productions as a game artist. I am learning a lot about how an artist works, and I have learned how to pace myself. I am not sure if I am allowed to show previews or anything, since the projects are under wraps.
But we have one new app coming out soon, and I am working on another one that should be coming out in a few weeks. Tight deadline.
I just did some weird UV stuff. By weird UV stuff, I mean I unwrapped a mesh and gave it an image with an alpha channel. But now the outside is invisible and the inside is the wrong texture. Oh blender. You can be so tricky and finicky.
But having to model things, mockups and finished structures has really helped me to streamline my 3d and sketching skills. I know how to move the 3d cursor back to the origin of the map, to parent objects and to make new objects, to join objects, what blender wants to see when you want to make a UV object, and lots more. How fun.
I'm pretty grateful that I get to work in the industry so soon.
Ugh. I'm having trouble adjusting to the new schedule though. I'm tired all the time.
Blender is a great 3d modelling program. Yeah, 2.5 looks much more sleek and professional, but why did they take the spacebar menu from us? Now I have to click and point. Spacebar brings up file menu items, not mesh objects and options. I kinda liked that.
I learned quite a few things in the past two weeks. I am out of college for the summer, and working at Deadmans Productions as a game artist. I am learning a lot about how an artist works, and I have learned how to pace myself. I am not sure if I am allowed to show previews or anything, since the projects are under wraps.
But we have one new app coming out soon, and I am working on another one that should be coming out in a few weeks. Tight deadline.
I just did some weird UV stuff. By weird UV stuff, I mean I unwrapped a mesh and gave it an image with an alpha channel. But now the outside is invisible and the inside is the wrong texture. Oh blender. You can be so tricky and finicky.
But having to model things, mockups and finished structures has really helped me to streamline my 3d and sketching skills. I know how to move the 3d cursor back to the origin of the map, to parent objects and to make new objects, to join objects, what blender wants to see when you want to make a UV object, and lots more. How fun.
I'm pretty grateful that I get to work in the industry so soon.
Ugh. I'm having trouble adjusting to the new schedule though. I'm tired all the time.
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