Inspired by the release of two new Dollshe boy headsculpts, Saint and Bernard. [Pictures on eluts.com.] Ahem… Continue reading An “Ode” to the Dollshe Dolls

Each of my dolls is a character that I have fully imagined and formed in my head. When I transmit them into doll form, I want to give them a physical form appropriate to their personality and appearance as I imagine it. Though I’m a great control freak about my dolls [hence the Frankensteining to get just the right shape and size], I also like seeing how other people play with my ideas. This is why I like pictures of my dolls. I get to see how other people interpret my characters. Two pictures below the cut. Continue reading Jareth and Frank’s fan art, part II

Frank’s body and clothes have left Dollmore. They are currently on their way to the exquisite mod-maker, Armeleia. Maybe I’ll get him before my bday!

Over here in the LJ MM community, sleepall_day took a screencap that shows a Valentine doll in Helena’s room [when she’s playing with the sock puppets].

I didn’t even notice that doll! In fact, I left him out of my essay about sex and dolls in L and MM, where I mainly focused on the sexualizing music box dolls that attack Helena in the Dark Queen’s castle.

Currently tossing around the notion that Valentine’s appearance as a doll relates to the movie’s exploration of Helena’s sexuality. Dolls are vehicles for sexual expression, as I demo in the aforementioned essay. So perhaps the Valentine doll represents Helena’s wish for a boyfriend who’s a magical hero and a charmer [as opposed to the punky smoker guy who’s Anti-Helena’s make-out partner]. Somehow this ties in to Valentine’s status as imaginary figure inside Helena’s dream and real guy [in the Future Fruit vision of him as a waiter, also at the end of the movie]. Could he be one of the most balanced and desireable characters of the movie [mischievous yet responsible, fantastical yet real]? Definitely need to chew on this some more…

Jill alerted me to the coolest Web site, TV Tropes. It’s the encyclopedia of plot devices, stock characters, cliches and genre fixtures for TV, movies and even novels. I was making smaller lists of such “archetypes” at the age of 14, and now, 14 years later, there’s a whole online encyclopedia of them!

(un)real life is a dramedy because it combines drama and humor, but it’s also a soap opera in the sense that the characters always experience life-changing events [never a dull moment]. Perhaps it could be best characterized as a supernatural soap opera, which gets in the constant plot twists, the high tension and the magic.

Anneka, as a hero, is probably an Extraordinarily Powered Girl, given the fact that she has vampiric powers. She also has strong Mary Sue traits, mostly because she’s semi-autobiographical and physically idealized. Because she resents her special status and just wants a normal life, she’s also a Part-Time Hero. Given her tendency to depression, suicidal thoughts and holding grudges, she may also have some anti-hero in her.

Will, as a hero, is most obviously an anti-hero. Specifically, his cynicism and cock-sureness make him an Ineffectual Loner. He makes sarcastic remarks about almost everyone, ensuring him the role of Deadpan Snarker.

Both Anneka and Will have a strong Beauty and the Beast aspect to their relationship. Anneka seems to be bringing out something good in Will [hmmm, maybe he’ll stop killing people], and he seems to be bringing out something good in her [though we’re not clear what it is]. As well, there is some Star-Crossed Lovers drama, but they keep crossing the stars by themselves. Fate has nothing to do with it.

Update your links and bookmarks, loyal fans. Today inaugurates the new location, look and architecture of Jareth’s Realm. Now found at http://www.oddpla.net/realm/ — this version of the Realm will be the most user-friendly version yet. I am now using a light, eminently extensible framework for the site, a PHP-based blog program called WordPress, so I can automate cross-references and category management. In other words, the site will be easier for you to browse and easier for me to maintain. Furthermore, since the software is Web-based, I can modify the Realm from any terminal, which means no waiting until I get a chunk of time to bang away on my laptop. That means more timely updates for you and more Labyrinthian fun for all of us. Hooray! I’m quite excited!

I’ve worked on and off for about three months on this upgrade, and, as you can tell, it’s not completely finished. For example, where the hell did all the fan art, essay pictures, wardrobe shots and “bad pix” go? Well, I haven’t figured out the best way to incorporate all my pictures into the Realm, so hang in there.

I wanted to roll out this new version of the Realm, though, because there’s a lot of cool new stuff that I’ve only hinted at in my blog. Look back over the last 20 years in a comprehensive history of Labyrinth and its fandom. Speculate on the possibility that Jareth = father figure [?!?!?!?!?]. Check out Nick Berquist’s two-part list for signs that you may be a male Laby fan. Part I. Part II. Scan the updated site history and credits.

Or, more accurately, do you believe in love after life? Will does. To find out what I’m talking about, see the pilot of season 5 over here.

In other (un)real news, Anneka, Will and their friends and enemies are now officially ensconced at their own Web space. Free from the blinking ads of Keenspace and open to comments by all, (un)real life now exists on my own server, easily updateable and controllable.

Everyone go over there and make comments now!! Or add a comment here so I can count you among my fans. I’d like to see how many readers I have. I’m making a list of fans below for my own reference. Don’t you want to be popular and join the list? :p Continue reading Do you believe in life after love?

Jennifer has always been a quiet, unobtrusive, meditative, anal-retentive, even repressed character. In contrast to Frank, her polymorphously perverse master, and Jareth, her theatrically melancholy friend, she has always been…well, normal, very down-to-earth and shy. Inexperienced in the ways of intimacy, she does indeed have a sex drive, but its very existence still perturbs her, despite the fact that she’s in her early 20s.

I chose Soom Uyoo for my Jennifer doll because I wanted a sculpt that looked at once mature and innocent. Now that I actually have the doll in my hands, though, I realize how sexy she can be. I think Jennifer is realizing this too. As you can see from tonight’s series of photos, she looks hot in a low-cut, sheet outfit, proving that someone can be sweet and sexy at the same time. Continue reading Jennifer: sweet and…sexy!

This evening I finally had the energy to set up Jennifer and take a few pictures. Well, actually, I took 40, but you only get to see the 4 most interesting. Continue reading Hi, Jennifer!

In the last entry, I just called Jareth queer. Yes, folks, he’s the Goblin Queen, and it’s screamingly obvious.

Jareth is certainly queer in his self-presentation. David Bowie plays him as a tongue-in-cheek drag queen. Like a drag queen, the Goblin King favors highly choreographed and dramatic entrances. Like a drag queen, he simpers and struts with a sly wink to the audience. Like a drag queen, he sings, dances and flaunts his assets. Like a drag queen, he never looks the same way for long; he’s always wearing yet another sparkly, elaborate outfit. Like a drag queen, he uses heavy eye make-up to stylize his striking eyes and pale complexion so that he has a mask-like, obviously artificial look. Like a drag queen, he has unnatural hair that defies gravity and changes color when necessary. Like a drag queen, he turns himself into a very sexy work of art. Like a drag queen, he reminds you that all the world’s a stage, and he’s the star of the show. His very physical presentation, full of beauty and artifice, embodies the phrase “things aren’t always what they seem.”

EDIT: Elle m’attend chez moi! Tracking says it was signed for by me despite the fact that I was at work downtown when the delivery occurred. I guess my signed note worked this time!

According to UPS tracking, Jennifer is “out for delivery” as of 4:15 AM. However, I do not know if I will get her today. Continue reading Jennifer: on her way here? AKA UPS annoys me.

Sounds like an intro at a meeting of SAA [Sadistic Authors Anonymous], huh? Well, it’s true. The main character of (un)real life, Anneka Elizabeth, died dramatically today in [where else?] the arms of her devoted [and dead] boyfriend, Will. Continue reading “Hi, my name’s MW, and I killed my main character.”

According to this amusing quiz, Anneka Elizabeth is a stinkin’ rotten Mary Sue. Well, of course she is. She developed out of a doll called AE for Alter Ego. She’s supposed to be semi-autobiographical.

I ran Jareth the Goblin King [movie version] through the quiz too. Guess what? He came up as an “Uber-Sue.” I think it’s because he has many traits [weird eyes, weird hair, weird clothes, weird name, magic powers, sexiness] romanticized by writers of fanfic. There’s probably an essay for the Realm in here somewhere….

As all three of you who follow this blog know, I’ve spent beaucoup d’argent sur les poupees since December. I estimate close to $3,000. @_@

I think my dollies have been so expensive because, last time I had BJDs [Zephque and Sardonix], I settled for ones that looked nice, but not exactly how I wanted. Now, determined to have BJDs exactly to my specifications, I’m willing to fork over serious dough to accomplish that goal.

My interest in 1:6 kitbashing also influences my BJD purchases. As far as I’m concerned, 1:6 figs are made to be stripped down, parted out and recombined to create the fig you really want. While BJDs are designed for customization, parting out and recombining [kitbashing] is not as prevalent. But, coming from the 1:6 land, I see BJDs as more expensive action figs, therefore made of swappable parts. Thus I may pay higher prices for BJD parts [like Frank’s head], but then I get to reconstitute the doll that I want.

Despite what people at the Burlington Doll Club tell me, I’m now done with my BJD shopping. Jareth, Frank and Jennifer form my entire collection. If I was to get another BJD, someone would have to go. Given Jareth’s extensive customization and resemblance to Cher, I really doubt that he would sell. Given Frank’s constitution [defaced male Volks LE head on DM fem body with super boobs], I doubt he would sell either. As an unmodded Soom Uyoo, Jennifer might sell, but I have no desire to replace her [although I would like the Soul Doll Metel body with its hefty curves!]. Since I’m stuck with my current dolls [woe is me!], I see no other BJDs in my future.

In conclusion, I’ve laid out an exorbitant amount in a short time. However, I have exactly the dolls that I want now, and I foresee them entertaining me for quite a while. I think that they will earn their keep. If they don’t, I’ll start forcing them to do dishes and laundry.

I’ve successfully paid for an unpainted Bella Auden, to be shipped to Armeleia, and a selection of the fabulous DM clothes: the rose-colored velour warm-up set, a pink-and-white-striped long-sleeved T and matching shorts, “slash jeans” for Haund, black lace underwear, black leather masc shoes and black leather fem shoes. Soon [relatively speaking] my BJD collection will be complete!

Note to self: Frank’s head headed to Armeleia as of Saturday, 3/11. Now to order his body.

Jennifer is in the mail from Lia as of today! With UPS 3-day, she should be arriving later this week. Then she and Jareth can have a mortifying confrontation in which she is naked and both of them attempt to suppress their attraction. Luckily for them, the discrepancy in their scales prevents them acting on their attraction outside of my head. They’ll have to go back inside my head to do anything about it.

Since it was so warm on Saturday, I frolicked outside without a coat on to capture the balmy morning. Jareth modeled a full-circle black cape made by MissMerrythe3rd and turned his face up to the light. My pictures lately tend toward the abstract and black and white. Continue reading Jareth up a tree

I’m making a deal with Lia on DOA to get my third and final BJD, a Soom Uyoo. She comes with the soft, natural Soom default faceup, blue eyes and a completely blushed body. I’ve never had a fully blushed doll before; from the pictures, the light blushing gives her an added delicacy. See my Uyoo, pre-Jennifer, below. Continue reading Jennifer [Soom Uyoo] is coming!

So I’m thinking that the DM Bella would be the best for Frank. Armeleia would mod the neck to make it fit his head. Then I’d sell the default head and buy a Uyoo.

While I’m lusting over DM merchandise, I would like to point out that they have a huge selection of afforadable and versatile clothes. I want a bunch of pieces for Jareth and Frank:

Since most BJD clothes are di$gus$tingly expen$ive, those of us who don’t sew search for well-tailored, affordable clothes. If you’re looking for simple casual wear or mix-‘n’-match separates/coordinates, I recommend Lynn at Annie’s Too. She offers long- and short-sleeved T-shirts, leggings, tights and leg warmers for all sizes of BJDs.

I commissioned some leggings and a long-sleeved T for Jareth, and I’m very satisfied. Waists are on the high side and legs on the long side, which is fine with me, since there’s nothing that I dislike more than clothes that are too short! There is a little extra room built into each pattern to allow for easy dressing and undressing, but the bit of roominess does not detract from the form-fitting look. All seams are sewn; the overall construction is very durable, which is great, as I manhandle my dolls a lot.

NB: The thickness of tops and leggings depends on what material you choose. The shirt shown here is made of 1:1 T-shirt material, while the leopard print is more translucent and more in scale for 1:3 legging material. Other leggings I received from Lynn have more bulk because they are 1:1 T-shirt material. If you are concerned about bulk, you can chat with Lynn about which fabrics would be most in scale.

Lynn charges very reasonable prices and offers exemplary customer service. She communicated with me frequently about my order and answered all my questions, no matter how small they were. She’ll work with you to make sure you are satisfied with your order. I’m definitely ordering from her again when Frank gets his own body.

I tried to take some illustrative pictures of Jareth in his Annie’s Too gear, but my creative tendencies kept making the pictures more artsy-fartsy. Continue reading Annie’s Too leggings and tops for Jareth

I think I like Bella’s head after all. She looks more like Jennifer than Uyoo. She has a child-like look in her large eyes, but also an appropriately serious set to her mouth.

Following the popularity of the ~70 cm Dollshe boys, Dollmore jumps on the trend of 65+ cm dolls with Bella Auden, a 70 cm BJD:

http://www.dollmore.net/shop/step1.php?number=1630

On the plus side… From what I can tell, Bella’s proportions weigh out much better than those of the other tall girl currently available, the etoliated Dollshe Afghan. Furthermore, Bella has much more defined hips and an actual waist, as opposed to Afghan, who looks basically like a 60 cm girl’s head on a Haund body. Additionally, since Bella has ankles [which Dollshe hates to include on its dolls], she fits much better into extant shoes for 60 cm girls. Finally, Bella has a much more attractive head than Afghan, but that’s immaterial for me since I wouldn’t be getting her for the head, just for her carcass.

On the negative side… Bella boasts double-jointed elbows [yay!], but only single-jointed knees [booo!]. She’s like a 1:6 CG 2.0 that way, with highly functional and poseable arms, but legs designed more for form than function. I also think her boobs should be bigger, but that’s not a design flaw, just a personal preference.

Bella represents a great improvement over Anorexic Afghan. She also gives me hope that other companies besides Dollshe and Volks will develop 65+ cms, and I’ll eventually be able to find a tall, meaty, curvy, hyper-articulated body for Frank. I just need to have patience, which is not my strong suit.

I’ve made 1:6, 1:3 and 1:1 books, both readable books and “dummy” books [to fill the shelves], mostly by studying the construction of my own books and working outwards and backwards to create my own from scratch. For an impatient person with no training in booksmithery, I’ve done pretty well.

I should now graduate to leather-bound books, with endpapers and spine ridges and all! I should also take pictures of my readable 1:6 and 1:3 books. Heck, I should even start making 1:1 books, especially since I go through them so quickly.