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Posts tagged doll photostories

Bunny bread from Great Harvest

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Great Harvest makes big and little bunny breads the week before Easter. I picked one up Friday because it was so cute. It freaked out the local doll population.
Continue reading Bunny bread from Great Harvest

Testing my comic panels with Jareth and Sardonix

Testing my comic panels with Jareth and Sardonix published on No Comments on Testing my comic panels with Jareth and Sardonix

Well, that was arduous. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I created custom panel layouts in Photoshop Elements and then figured out how to stick photos in the panels so that they wouldn’t overlap and/or block out other panels or photos.

I thoroughly frustrated myself in research about transparency, layer masks and clipping masks until I discovered that Elements has a Paste to Selection tool. I therefore just selected the interior of the desired panel with the Magic Wand tool, then copied my desired photo and Pasted to Selection.

After the photo is pasted, I can resize and reposition it, although this feature goes away as the panel and photo layers merge when I move to work on another panel. I’m sure there’s a way to Paste to Selection or its equivalent, while retaining the ability to resize and reposition the pasted photo, but this method suffices for now.

So here’s me experimenting with my new pages with the help of Jareth and Sardonix. I need to create custom shapes for speech bubbles with different orientations and also figure out how to make the bubbles default to white with black outlines and the text default to black, but, again, this suffices for now.Continue reading Testing my comic panels with Jareth and Sardonix

The very first scripted doll photostory I ever did

The very first scripted doll photostory I ever did published on No Comments on The very first scripted doll photostory I ever did

Is there any interest in seeing the first three episodes in an aborted 1:6 scale melodrama, The Pink Squad, written [and crappily photoed] nearly a decade ago?

It was my earliest scripted photostory series [as opposed to my earlier, pictures-only attempt], and it contains many of the characters and themes that we know and love today:

  • Female protagonists
  • Queer characters
  • Trans characters
  • Disabled characters
  • Characters of color
  • Vermonters
  • Kinky sex
  • Horny robots
  • Mad science
  • An amazing amount of sarcasm
  • PINK HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111eleventy


DISCLAIMER: If I do post this story, please note that it contains humor that I thought was funny back then, but which now strikes me as blatantly racist, sexist or transphobic. That’s the main reason I’ve refrained from making it public again.

On second thought, maybe I’ll just summarize it or something. There are some cool, engaging, humorous, well-developed aspects to it, but it’s also a glaring example of How Not to Write People with Marginalized Identities.

Or maybe there’s no rehabilitating a bigoted piece of personal history, as fascinating as I find it for reasons of historical creativity. Arrrrgh, I dunno.

EDIT: Fuck it. Discretion is the better part of valor. No Pink Squad for you.

P.S. Earlier I wondered if Baozha started me on my pink hair kick. Uhhhhhhh, nope. I place all the blame at the feet of the Pink Squad.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1425481.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Sarah, Janvier Jett and the very small food.

Sarah, Janvier Jett and the very small food. published on No Comments on Sarah, Janvier Jett and the very small food.

Lesson: 1:6 food doesn't work well with 1:3 people.

Also a test of my new light setup on a grey, rainy day. Verdict: I need to soften the light a bit because the whites are blinding!

Sarah [at left]: "So I thought we'd have a welcome party for you…"
Janvier Jett: "Purrrr!"Continue reading Sarah, Janvier Jett and the very small food.

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s being bothered when I’m reading.

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s being bothered when I’m reading. published on 1 Comment on If there’s one thing I hate, it’s being bothered when I’m reading.

Me: “Sarah, I’d like to take some pictures of you.”
Sarah: “Shhh.”Continue reading If there’s one thing I hate, it’s being bothered when I’m reading.

Lola Paprika reveals her personality.

Lola Paprika reveals her personality. published on No Comments on Lola Paprika reveals her personality.

My first photostory of Lola Paprika in action, as it were. She was originally going to be a loud and flamboyant person, but, once I saw those sweet anxious eyebrows, I knew she was more of an introvert, no matter how flashily dressed.

Me: "What are you doing, Lola Paprika, playing cards?"

Lola Paprika: "No, silly, I’m trying to tell my fortune. But…"Continue reading Lola Paprika reveals her personality.

Sarah and Sardonix think it’s boring around here.

Sarah and Sardonix think it’s boring around here. published on No Comments on Sarah and Sardonix think it’s boring around here.

SIGH. They’re never satisfied!

Sarah: "Well, it’s not too fun playing dolls any more when Elizabeth hasn’t brought all her Rement foods to the new apartment. There’s nothing to play WITH!"Continue reading Sarah and Sardonix think it’s boring around here.

Meta-narrative: My dolls play with their dolls.

Meta-narrative: My dolls play with their dolls. published on 3 Comments on Meta-narrative: My dolls play with their dolls.

Now that my BJDs all have their own BJDs, they can play dolls together. Given the differences in personalities, this can lead to conflict.Continue reading Meta-narrative: My dolls play with their dolls.

Araminthe, Junebug and the camera

Araminthe, Junebug and the camera published on 2 Comments on Araminthe, Junebug and the camera

I got a little Hello Kitty camera yesterday. When you look in the viewfinder, you see scenes of Hello Kitty that change when you click the shutter. Araminthe apparently has other plans for the camera.
Continue reading Araminthe, Junebug and the camera

Araminthe’s arrival! [Or, Bad-tempered vampire is bad-tempered.]

Araminthe’s arrival! [Or, Bad-tempered vampire is bad-tempered.] published on 2 Comments on Araminthe’s arrival! [Or, Bad-tempered vampire is bad-tempered.]

Araminthe arrived today! She’s the first representative of B&G Doll [Boy &Girl Doll] that I’ve encountered, and I really like her. She has smooth even resin without mold lines, well-hidden double joints and perfect stringing. She stands and holds a multitude of poses right out of the box. I’m not going to even have to wire her arms!

Araminthe’s headsculpt, the snarling Burrysa head, came with the bloody faceup, not the non-bloody one, so I guess she’s a messy eater. Her default smoldering red eyes go well with the red and black tones used in her faceup, and the drips of blood outside her lips seem more stylized than realistic. As for Araminthe’s head itself, it’s very small compared to other 60cm heads, with fine, pointy features and harsh, flat planes. I think her expression is hilarious.Continue reading Araminthe’s arrival! [Or, Bad-tempered vampire is bad-tempered.]

Sarah and Precious Little: a very small Xmas

Sarah and Precious Little: a very small Xmas published on No Comments on Sarah and Precious Little: a very small Xmas

Sarah plays with Precious Little, who plays with a Rement Xmas tree. Bonus picture of Sarah with a violently pink ball of yarn, clashing with her pink outfit.Continue reading Sarah and Precious Little: a very small Xmas

Sarah likes to read.

Sarah likes to read. published on 1 Comment on Sarah likes to read.

After she got home from Christine’s, where she was getting a new faceup, Sarah immediately flopped down on my bed with a good book [Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland]. After she finished that, she saw that Junebug and Sardonix were reading Poe, so she told them about her favorite stories by him, "Ligeia" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Junebug was deliciously creeped out; Sardonix was fascinated. Continue reading Sarah likes to read.

Junebug and Sardonix have sushi, part I

Junebug and Sardonix have sushi, part I published on 3 Comments on Junebug and Sardonix have sushi, part I

My sister gave me some fragrant soaps in the shape of sushi for my birthday in the hopes that my dolls could use them. Junebug and Sardonix obliged.Continue reading Junebug and Sardonix have sushi, part I

Junebug, not walking in a winter wonderland

Junebug, not walking in a winter wonderland published on No Comments on Junebug, not walking in a winter wonderland

I scrounged a backdrop of winter trees from the holiday decorating contest at work, so I tried to use it to mollify Junebug, who wants to go outside, but doesn’t have a jacket [or at least a sweater!] or a hat. I won’t let her go out until she’s properly bundled up. She’s not happy about that. Continue reading Junebug, not walking in a winter wonderland

Junebug endorses The Graveyard Book

Junebug endorses The Graveyard Book published on No Comments on Junebug endorses The Graveyard Book

Note: The opinions of my dolls in no way reflect my own thoughts. 😀

I did a quick photostory of Junebug just now. I think she’s quite expressive for a doll who’s not very poseable. Maybe I am just enamored with her cute face, but she seems more lifelike than those frightening American Girls. Maybe it’s because she can tilt her head from side to side and up and down a bit. Continue reading Junebug endorses The Graveyard Book

Will’s Commission

Will’s Commission published on No Comments on Will’s Commission

Sometimes freelancers sell out.

Darkness in the first six photos was achieved by darkening the darks, lightening the lights, burn/dodging Will’s eyes where necessary and fiddling with the contrast. I think it is amusing how easily adjusting these controls can give Will the look of a person with heavy eyeliner and dark lipstick.


Jennifer is proud and pink!

Jennifer is proud and pink! published on 1 Comment on Jennifer is proud and pink!

Jennifer visited Youth Pride yesterday! She got hit on several times [by people who even successfully identified her as an Asian BJD, like the girl with the pink bob], as any of my dolls do when taken in public. Why wouldn’t she be the center of attention? When she dresses to flatter her appearance, she looks attractive! Photos and story below.

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Blast from the past: Photos of my first BJD, Zephque, in Ptown, Memorial Day, 2004

Blast from the past: Photos of my first BJD, Zephque, in Ptown, Memorial Day, 2004 published on No Comments on Blast from the past: Photos of my first BJD, Zephque, in Ptown, Memorial Day, 2004

It’s now May. This month, three years ago, I had 1 BJD, a Custom House Ai Gene named Zephque d’Amaranth. He accompanied me and some others on what was then a traditional yearly spring sojourn to Provincetown, Massachusetts, gayest city east of San Francisco.

As you can tell from the pictures below, my tastes in BJDs hasn’t changed at all. Back then, they were self-important, nerdy, little supernatural weirdos with a propensity to loud colors and clashing patterns, and the same holds true today. It’s just that I photograph them in a slightly more flattering manner.

For a documentary of this momentous May, 2004, event, see below. [For pictures from Frank’s trip to the same town last July, go here.]

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A new arm and some more love for Jennifer

A new arm and some more love for Jennifer published on 1 Comment on A new arm and some more love for Jennifer

Since Jennifer’s elbow joint broke at the last Burlington meet, I’ve been waiting for replacement parts. Today I received them, so I installed her new elbow and forearm. Temporarily thwarted by an overly tight elbow joint, I then realized that the hemispherical halves of each “ball” in the Obitsu joints are actually caps concealing a screw that holds the joint together. I loosened this screw with a letter opener and got her new elbow to the appropriate tension. I also fixed her loose right leg by tightening her knee screw.

As I took apart and put back together the Obitsu body, I admired Jennifer. I realized that I have not paid much individual attention to her since getting her last November; for example, she hasn’t had a photoshoot of her own. But, now that I have calibrated her so that she is more mobile and poseable, I appreciate her much more. I recognize what drew me to her when I first saw her last summer at Ivy’s house. When calibrated correctly, the Obitsu body is a tough and flexible poser. Additionally, I love my Jennifer because of her face. Her expression and her maturity fluctuate slightly with each angle. Such an unstable physiognomy works well for a character who is both childlike and full-grown, sexual and also innocent. [Plus I like her glowing eyes.]

Blah blah blah, silly photostory below.

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Submit, Sardonix and the mini Cadbury chocolate egg

Submit, Sardonix and the mini Cadbury chocolate egg published on No Comments on Submit, Sardonix and the mini Cadbury chocolate egg

Size is relative, as illustrated in this photostory about a sizeable piece of candy. Sardonix appears to have pissed off even the perpetually cheerful Submit. What will happen? Stay tuned.

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Sardonix’ pink hat

Sardonix’ pink hat published on 1 Comment on Sardonix’ pink hat

Thwarted in my quest to refine the goggles because all the craft stores were closed today, I worked on my crocheting skills. Instead of using a small yarn that showed my mistakes more clearly, I chose a soft, fuzzy, pink yarn that camouflages skipped stitches and irregular gaps! It is called Caron Bliss, Article BL1000, Color 0002 Cotton Candy. I think I got it at Walmart. I liked how soft and violently bright it was. Sardonix, however, did not. See discussion and pictures below.

I worked this hat differently than Submit’s smaller hats. I used a 2-1-2-1-2 series of stitches in an unjoined spiral for the crown. I continued this pattern of stitches until the crown seemed the right size to fit over Sardonix’ head. Then I began to do circles of single crochets with each row joined. Thus I made the sides until I tried that hat on her and it covered her ears. As a result, I got a lopsided [as usual], irregular hat, but the frothiness of the yarn disguises most of my mistakes.

I’m more pleased than I expected with this hat. Having purchased the yarn for its obnoxious properties, I did not expect to produce a project that I was proud of. The messy, forgiving weave of the yarn worked to my advantage, though, creating a serviceable hat that looks much less atrocious than I feared. While I have not achieved the evenness and perfection of my fiancee’s crocheting [she’s the one who taught me], I am slowly mastering hats and becoming less self-conscious about my abilities. I won’t be selling any time soon [not unless anyone particularly wants a fuzzy pile of crocheted cotton candy vomit], but I slowly approach my goal: neatly done amigurumi animals.
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Crochet hat #2

Crochet hat #2 published on 3 Comments on Crochet hat #2

Submit likes the 1:6 blue hat I crocheted for her. I also think she likes Frank… My crochet skills are slowly improving, although I find working in the round more challenging than straight lines [e.g., a scarf]. I keep messing up the counts when I’m increasing each round. I also still have problems figuring out where to poke the needle for the next single crochet. Despite these obstacles, I produced a small serviceable hat on the second try. It even looks like a hat too, which is more than I can say for the pith helmet. Pictures below.

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Crochet practice: a hat [?]

Crochet practice: a hat [?] published on 3 Comments on Crochet practice: a hat [?]

Before moving on to animals, I will practice making hats first. My initial attempt at a hat turned out lopsided and pathetic. However, Submit was much more gracious about my crocheting than Sardonix was!

Frank and Submit go so well together. His character definitely has maternal inclinations.

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Sardonix’ scarf goes to good use…

Sardonix’ scarf goes to good use… published on 2 Comments on Sardonix’ scarf goes to good use…

Last night I wired Submit’s arms with pipe cleaners so that she has a greater range of motion in her wrists and elbows. After the ordeal of disassembly, she quickly fell asleep in the most convenient area: Sardonix’ scarf.

Scarf 2, Sardonix 0

Scarf 2, Sardonix 0 published on 1 Comment on Scarf 2, Sardonix 0

I made another scarf this weekend, blue, for Jennifer. Compared to rainbow scarf #1, blue scarf #2 features stupendously even gauge and small, accurate stitches. If Jennifer were a real person, it would keep her warm. Naturally, Sardonix coveted it… This story was supposed to document my improving crochet skills, but Jennifer and Sardonix are hogging the camera.




Sardonix to emo dollies: “Bitch, please!”

Sardonix to emo dollies: “Bitch, please!” published on 2 Comments on Sardonix to emo dollies: “Bitch, please!”

This photostory is Sardonix’ reaction to the infestation of unoriginal characters on DOA. Now that I’ve gotten this out of my system, we return to our regularly scheduled weirdness…



Sardonix lives up to her name.

Sardonix lives up to her name. published on 2 Comments on Sardonix lives up to her name.

She is not impressed with the scarf that I made. Neither am I, for that matter. You haven’t seen it yet, but my stitches have become much more even, my tension more consistent and the results much neater. I still favor the rainbow yarn, though. HAHAAAHAH.

Sardonix “helps” with the laundry.

Sardonix “helps” with the laundry. published on 2 Comments on Sardonix “helps” with the laundry.

In the ultimate test of character, last week, Jennifer proved herself hard-working and helpful when she did the laundry for me. In this week’s ultimate character test, Sardonix scored…uh, slightly deviant results. See below for details.

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Jennifer takes matters into her own hands.

Jennifer takes matters into her own hands. published on 1 Comment on Jennifer takes matters into her own hands.

Jennifer got fed up with the huge piles of laundry hanging around the house. Therefore she took the initiative and cleaned the clothes herself. How did a 1:3 doll manage a task that daunts even 1:1 people? As you can see below, Jennifer handed the challenging task with ingenuity and strength.








Frank’s love monkey

Frank’s love monkey published on 2 Comments on Frank’s love monkey

Well, this was going to be a series showcasing the hats and scarves that

[info]damsel_ophelia

crocheted for Jennifer and Frank. However, Frank’s love monkey distracted the crew, and silliness resulted. It’s a completely innocent story…really! I am amused by how disturbed Jareth looks and how taken aback Jennifer appears.

Frank: center of attention, as usual.

Frank: center of attention, as usual. published on 3 Comments on Frank: center of attention, as usual.

Jareth and Jennifer [now in large, improved format] stage an intervention about Frank’s fashion choices. As usual, Frank is impervious to criticism. The glasses, they do nothing! My first photostory in a long time is primarily a showcase for…well, it was gonna be for Sardonix’ clothes, made by rattimoth on DOA, but Frank ended up putting the spotlight on himself, as usual.

Frank visits the most fabulous city on the Eastern seaboard.

Frank visits the most fabulous city on the Eastern seaboard. published on 4 Comments on Frank visits the most fabulous city on the Eastern seaboard.

Frank took a day trip with me yesterday to Provincetown, a town at the end of Cape Cod. He got cruised so many times, attracting much more attention than me. See below for his escapades. Continue reading Frank visits the most fabulous city on the Eastern seaboard.

Frank’s first shoot

Frank’s first shoot published on 1 Comment on Frank’s first shoot

…Better late than never, right? Proudly presenting Frank, shot the day he arrived in the mail, acting sultry in a Dollmore warm-up set. Intended for 60 cm dolls, this outfit looks gut-bustingly sexy on the Model body. In case you haven’t paid attention to my ecstatic raving, Frank is a Volks Yukinojo head on a Dollmore Bella body with a neck modified by our very own Armeleia the stupendous. I painted his face. See him in his leisure suit below….

Jennifer and pink do not get along.

Jennifer and pink do not get along. published on 5 Comments on Jennifer and pink do not get along.

Wrote this last night, but didn’t have a chance to put it up. Andrea the fabulous sent me a birthday gift of funky 1:6 clothing for Jennifer. I personally like the juxtaposition of patterns and prints. Jennifer, however, has other opinions. Continue reading Jennifer and pink do not get along.

Happy spring from the angstbusters!

Happy spring from the angstbusters! published on 2 Comments on Happy spring from the angstbusters!

It’s been so brilliant and beautiful around here recently, with the sun and the forsythias shining yellowly. Tulips are pushing through the earth, purple and white, while yellow daffodils looks like little frilly teacups and saucers on green stems. Meanwhile, I realized that Jareth was still wearing a monochrome ensemble, so I decided to have Jennifer bug him about it. Continue reading Happy spring from the angstbusters!

Jennifer finds mermaids, bare boobs and mandalas in the Granary.

Jennifer finds mermaids, bare boobs and mandalas in the Granary. published on 6 Comments on Jennifer finds mermaids, bare boobs and mandalas in the Granary.

Jennifer ran on ahead of me today and got lost in the Granary Burying Ground. When I found her, she dragged me on her own little tour. Continue reading Jennifer finds mermaids, bare boobs and mandalas in the Granary.

Jennifer hat sitting

Jennifer hat sitting published on 1 Comment on Jennifer hat sitting

You’d never know it, but Jareth, Frank [not here right now] and Jennifer act out some of the heaviest dramas when they’re in my head [running around in my thoughts, as opposed to doll form]. When they get out into the resin, though, they show their playful sides…like tonight. I really like the first shot for its forced perspective. Continue reading Jennifer hat sitting

Jennifer up a tree

Jennifer up a tree published on 2 Comments on Jennifer up a tree

Jareth and Jennifer have been hanging out ever since Jennifer’s arrival, but this is their first photostory together. You get to learn more about Jennifer’s personality. Jareth tried to keep her from messing up the nice frilly outfit I put her in, but she went ahead and climbed trees anyway. Sheesh! Shots of unreasonably stubborn and athletic characters follow. Continue reading Jennifer up a tree

Sleepy Jennifer in a teddy

Sleepy Jennifer in a teddy published on 1 Comment on Sleepy Jennifer in a teddy

I’ve never done a photostory before where nothing happens. Well, there’s a first time for everything, and Jennifer, here in her PJs with her ubiquitous memorandum book, proves it. It’s not really a photostory so much as a photomood, all about those comfy, lazy times when your sweet fatigue overwhelms your big plans. Continue reading Sleepy Jennifer in a teddy

Jennifer in Central Burying Ground and the grave of an (un)real character

Jennifer in Central Burying Ground and the grave of an (un)real character published on 2 Comments on Jennifer in Central Burying Ground and the grave of an (un)real character

Once upon a time, I fell in love with Boston’s Chinatown. Devoted to its yummy, cheap restaurants and fascinating import shops, I decided to learn more about one of the city’s most distinctive neighborhoods. I began to search the library and the Web for information on the history of Chinese immigrants in Boston and unearthed a much cooler story than I ever could have hoped. Continue reading Jennifer in Central Burying Ground and the grave of an (un)real character

Jennifer’s artistic expedition

Jennifer’s artistic expedition published on 8 Comments on Jennifer’s artistic expedition

Jennifer and I hopped on the T this morning. I had my camera in my jacket, and she carried her sketchbook and pencil in her duffel bag. We rode on the T to the Central Burying Ground in Boston Common… Continue reading Jennifer’s artistic expedition

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