Oh, look who's back!

I have brought my posh lady back from Poland last week - I'm really happy to have her with me again. She's such a graceful doll to look at.

I've been SO busy lately, doing lots and lots of hillwalking, taking care of my new adorable pets, that I didn't really have time to update this blog, but I'll try to make up for that soon.

Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21

She has arrived on Monday, and I'm SO in love with her.
She received a name after Arnold Schönberg's melodrama, Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21, as I love the piece and I love the story it tells.

I adore her chubby body and the way she poses.

I just can't wait to have her painted and ready!

Pixies gonna pix.

Aviator.

Is he dreaming about the career of an aviator... or does he just have his head in the clouds?

(for the soundtrack click here.)

 

"Watch out for the broken glass, put your shoes and socks on and come along with me."

The title for the post is taken from "Kentucky Avenue", one of my favourite songs by Tom Waits, containing some of his childhood memories.

It has suddenly struck me that Marcel, one of my dolls, is just the kind of a boy that could be Waits' childhood companion - mischievous yet full of energy and imaginative. Running round the neighbourhood all day, being a nuisance to the local community but at the same time charming in his own, boyish way.

And here he is, a hole in his sock and not-so-clean feet, after a busy day of climbing trees, running and making up big adventures. I envy him, I really do.

Commissioned pieces

Having lots of time on my hands recently and being forced by circumstances to stay at home, I've been working on custom jewellery commissions recently.
Here are two examples of pieces I've made: the first one was for Kamarza, a gifted doll artist, depicting her quirky yet wonderful dolls' orphanage:

Second one went to Koroa, yet another tallented doll collector and artist, and it includes her own illustration:

Here's a photo by Koroa of her doll wearing it ♥ :

So, who's next? ^-^

Impératrice.

Long time no seen, huh?
I've been going through some changes in my life - I've quit my job which I consider a great decision, then I moved back to my home town for holiday - it's quiet here and I can chill out in the garden and spend lots of time cooking and reading - which is how perfect vacation should be like (if you're not having a bicycle tour round Ireland).

I also finally found some time to scan a film from around December (sic!) last year - I couldn't help but think how much the motifs used resemble some aspects of "The Nightingale" - a story by Hans Christian Andersen. The only difference being the Empress, instead of Emperor, trying to keep the wonderful bird for herself.

"The emperor was so delighted that he declared the nightingale should have his gold slipper to wear round her neck, but she declined the honor with thanks: she had been sufficiently rewarded already. “I have seen tears in an emperor’s eyes,” she said, “that is my richest reward."

"She was now to remain at court, to have her own cage, with liberty to go out twice a day, and once during the night. Twelve servants were appointed to attend her on these occasions, who each held her by a silken string fastened to her leg. There was certainly not much pleasure in this kind of flying."

"So Death gave up each of these treasures for a song; and the nightingale continued her singing. She sung of the quiet churchyard, where the white roses grow, where the elder-tree wafts its perfume on the breeze, and the fresh, sweet grass is moistened by the mourners’ tears. Then Death longed to go and see his garden, and floated out through the window in the form of a cold, white mist."

__________
*all quotes are taken from "The Nightingale" by Hans Christian Andersen, which can be found HERE.

silk.

soft like there's silk

everywhere

sleep

(is a) pillow

come ___

____

where she won't dare

anyway (where)

(the lyrics are taken from Only Shallow by My Bloody Valentine)

...dans la forêt

We had a super nice trip to the forest with my father, mr. New Lens and some tiny friends of mine this Sunday morning.
We even managed to get lost, but luckily made our way back home.

long journey home.

Finally, our new roommate has arrived ♥

the interview - continuation.

The second part of the article can now be found HERE.

interview with Marcel.

I'm happy to announce that Marcel, my doll boy, has given an interview for BJD Magazine.
I daresay it's the first interview with a BJD doll ever. He was SO nervous!

You can read it HERE. the second part is yet to come.

Leeke thieves! Dust of Dolls creations copied.

For last few days I've been following the information on an independent artist, Dust of Dolls lovely doll, Püns, which has been shamelessly copied and offered for sale by one of the biggest companies in the Asian Ball Jointed Dolls industry - LeekeWorld.
I remember thinking about Püns immediately when I saw the new doll by Leeke, and then concerns of other BJD collectors have proven my suspicions right. I've been waiting for the official statement of Dust of Dolls to confirm it. In the meantime, Leeke has published photos from the stages of making of the doll they called Mikhaila. They make some fruitless efforts to prove they didn't copy the doll, but the sketches and photos of Püns can be seen on Leeke's photos of their work desks.

I am shocked and ashamed of that act of bold and shameless copyright infringement. This should never happen, and the fact that this has been done by one of the major companies makes it even more blameworthy. I've been a fan of Dust of Dolls creations for a long time, and this situation leaves me flabbergasted and harldy believing this act of disgusting theft. Furthermore, It's not the first case of LeekeWorld copying someone else's work - they have already been accused of using Russian photographer, Oleg Dou, photos to create their Milch character.

The reaction of the BJD collector's community has been quite massive and really uplifting. I hope LeekeWorld feels the pressure and removes the copied doll from their offer. I also hope they pay for this theft and it will have severe legal consequences.

From my part, I will boycott the company that has undermined it's credibility so severely. I encourage everyone else, who has conscience to do the same.

Here you can find Dust of Dolls statement. The photos I enclose are also taken from their website.

Ondine.

My lovely undine-like creature arrived today - she's so delicate and wonderful, I can't take my eyes off her.
She reminds me a bit of the Childlike Empress from the Neverending Story, which is one of my favourite books.


I'm still thinking about the name for her - wanted to give her a Gaelic name, so if you have any suggestions, I'll be glad to hear them.

More details after she gets some colours - till then, let me keep her mold in secret.

finally!

I have finally completed and handed over my thesis (on CouchSurfing and Hospitality Club) some time ago - I'm having my final exam on Monday, but I already feel so free and light-hearted!
In the meantime, I have moved to the city centre, an now I share my room with a black cat.
Once I tame the chaos in my tiny room I'm planning to read all the books that have been waiting for me all those years. I'm really excited about it.
I'm also thinking about redesigning my etsy shop, and retake all the photos for it's listings. There's so much light in my room I'm amazed every time I walk in there during the day - my previous apartment only had a eastern window, so it was rather dim most of the time.

discount code, yay!

here's a little gift to fight the winter gloom: 

enter the code AGAINSTWINTER upon checkout in my etsy shop to get a 5% discount!

(also, remember all my doll pendants can also be worn by humans, they're just a bit smaller - if you want a human-sized chain please contact me before purchase)

itsy bitsy world.

I love miniatures of all kinds and macro photography is something that I really enjoy, so I recently bought a reverse lens adapter for my digital camera and now I'm enjoying all those great close-ups with the help of my beloved old soviet Helios-44 58mm 1:2 lens.

Not much time for photography though, for the long postponed deadline of handing in my MA thesis is getting closer and i'm in a rush to finish with that university bullshit.
Cause although I pretty much enjoyed my studies, I'm fed up with the thesis thing I've been dealing with for over three years now. Let's just pass that damn final exam and get back to my dolls and my cameras.
That's my goal for now, so cross your fingers and wish me luck, for i'll need it with my incredible ability to procrastinate when one definitely shouldn't...

who ate all the honey?!

 

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best -- " and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.

[A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner]

Prankster.

 

New pendants from now on on etsy.

I've just made a listing with first of them - the others are on the way.
Here's a few photos of my Zooey so that you can check how they fit the MSD size (she's actually a bit smaller than MSD).