He's so fired.

I joked at the convention that Uri was the "guardian of my checkbook," but overall I don't think he's very good at that job. :P

This week I paid for some lovely jewelry for him from orangebabydolly on DoA. I had previously purchased a piece a while back for ye olde Paks from them, and it was stunning. So when they re-opened ring orders I jumped on the chance to bedazzle Uri. I ordered an engagement style ring with garnet stone and a drilled silver band for him. They were just finished on Wednesday, when I promptly saw a beautiful opal and silver necklace they also had for sale as a limited item. Cue money flying out of my wallet so fast you could hear it whistle by.

I also just ordered Uri some new duds from Wicked Stitchery on Etsy, a red and black vest and a long sleeved red/black striped shirt. Can you see a theme here? Someday I will do a little shot of all of Uri's red stuff, and it will probably take up my whole floor. It's funny to have a doll who has such a clear preference for colors. Uri loves red and black, likes blue, and can deal with a few others if he has to. Who am I kidding though, I love my picky little boy!

Off to bed now so I can get to work early and pay for my dolly habit. :)

Photos from my desk.

#SINGItForJapan

My Chemical Romance is sponsoring a movement to bring hope and beauty to Japan. They have a call out to all the fans to submit messages, art work, even just a picture of themselves referencing #SINGItForJapan. I decided to get Uri in on the act.

Post Convention

The convention was awesome! I'm still a bit exhausted now, but it was fantastic. I didn't get half as many pictures as I'd hoped to get, but everyone else got some so I just have to wait for those. Uri was a huge celebrity! We got our picture taken about a hundred times, and he was greeted by everyone. We even stopped by the photo booth and had some professional shots taken, and I can't wait to order some of those! We also got ourselves matching top hats, which everyone loved.

So there will be pictures once I edit the few I have and get the others from people. So much fun!

Convention?

A customer stopped in at work today and we started talking about all sorts of things (as we usually do). She mentioned a steampunk convention that's going on this weekend near me, and said she might be going. One thing lead to another, and I might go too! I'm kind of hoping I could take Uri too, and we can both dress up. We'll see, I'd have to find outfits for both of us to wear.

GenDead, Killjoys, and finally new shoes!

• I just finished reading all the short stories included in the ebook versions of the Generation Dead series and wow... They are amazing, I wish there was another book on the way. Or another couple of books. Honestly I am speechless. :)
• I think I've finally figured out a good name for Uri's Killjoy alter ego: After Burn.
• Now that he's got a name, he really needs the completed outfit which means...an empty wallet for me. I just purchased him a set of nice black platform boots, and a pair of red van-like sneakers. Those will be great for his outfit as that's one of his main colors, but they'll work well other places.
  

The future is bulletproof, the aftermath is secondary.

My music buying goes in a pattern of splurges and droughts, at times going weeks or even months without buying anything only to buy several at once. That happened this past weekend, and of all the albums I purchased my favorite by far is the newest My Chemical Romance (MCR) album "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys."

I was actually turned on to this album on DoA of all places, coming across a box opening where the owner mentioned the album and it's theme. Danger Days is an album chronicling the resistance of the Killjoys in a post apocalyptic world circa 2019. Since I have a weakness for post apocalyptic stories, I just had to check it out.

I am a fan of MCR's older albums, and even saw them when they first came out. They opened for another band in a big venue, but despite being the "new guys," they were amazing. The way they played an interacted with the crowd was fantastic, and I remember thinking they were even better than the headliners! Since then I've had sort of an off and on relationship with their music, buying some CDs or just some songs.

I actually previewed Danger Days before it came out, but at the time I didn't hear a lot I liked. I blame that on bad reviews and poor iTunes sampling, because after listening to the album in person I'm hooked. Easily the best album I've bought in a very long time, and in my opinion one of their best thus far.

The band all have their own Killjoy alter egos through which they fight the evil Better Living Industries (BL Ind. I see what you did there). The latter is a corporate organization aiming to turn the remaining survivors into drugged up zombies who will be as compliant as they want. Needless to say our heroes just can't abide by this, and so they fight back. The videos have a very neat feel to them, showcasing a sort of Mad Max meets punk rock kind of look with laser guns. Go figure.

In a round about way that brings me back to my dolls (you knew it was coming) because there's a thread on DoA for Killjoy dolls, so I decided to create a persona for Uriel. He's still Uri; the flirtatious and at times a bit unstable demon, but I'm also working on an outfit and some weapons for his alter ego. I'm still toying with his name, as that's important in the world of Killjoys, but it should be finalized soon. I hope to post his shoots on MCR's new fan forum as they have a very cool art section just for that purpose. So stay tuned!

Generation Dead Series eBooks

Just a reminder for anyone interested, the ebooks come out today!

My Pretty Ponies

A coworker of my boyfriend found these ponies in storage from when her kids collected them and passed them on to me. They were filthy, and I mean really filthy when I got them. But after an hour of scrubbing with a magic eraser, they look fantastic!

They're actually in pretty good condition dirt aside. Sunnybunch has a tiny bit of tail rust, but otherwise beautiful hair. The Birthday Pony had her mane and tail cut, but still has the original ribbons in.

Both were really dirty as I mentioned, and were covered in some sort of gross glitter glue. Sunny had it as "eyeshadow" and Birthday had it all over her flank. It took some scrubbing, but I got it all off! Birthday still has a bunch of marker on her body, but oddly enough it matches with the colors of her designs.

Can't fight the eyes...

I tried to get a better shot of how Uri's eyes glow in the light, but even this isn't quite true to life. They really look light their lit from within.

Wow look at that, she actually posted pictures!

Hold back your disbelief, because here they come! The light was right and my camera was charged this morning, so I had no other excuses not to snap some shots of Uri. :P






I love his eyes!

New Faceup

Just one quick, poorly-lit image of Uri's new face up. I had been thinking of re-doing his for a while, but finally had some time today. It's actually darker than it shows here; a mix of red, brown, and a bit of black. Much more subdued, but still Uri. I am so very pleased with it. :) Photos to come tomorrow in the daylight for a more accurate portrait of his new look.

Hey I've got my new shoes on and suddenly everything's right!

Well no new shoes yet, but Uri does have a lot of new clothes here or in transit. The one thing I've always regretted about my doll collection is that they don't have enough clothes! I know that probably sounds funny, but it is a bit part of what makes these dolls so fascinating. In particular I love the miniature modern clothes one can get for these dolls. It's all well and good to have fantasy dresses and cloaks, case in point the outfit I recently bought Uri. However, there's just something so cool (can't think of a better word) about having miniature versions of popular clothes.

I honestly think that's why I've always had a soft spot for Unoas. It appears to be a requirement for Unoa owners that they dress their resin kids in the top present-day fashion. So tiny skinny jeans, little punk rock shirts, and oh the shoes! It adds realism, and just looks so cute.

In an effort to remedy this, I purchased Uri some jeans* from Mint On Card, and some printed t-shirts from Etsy. The jeans arrived today and are very detailed. They have tiny working pockets and belt loops, and all the stitching of normal pants. They are also very, very, very dyed. So much so that even after a vinegar bath they bled all over my hands. So I'm currently typing with blue fingers. :P Right now they're going for a third wash with the rest of my own laundry, after which they will hopefully be ready to be worn.

Speaking of which his boxers and socks are also in with my laundry. You know you're doll obsessed when...

It's all worth it though, because my boy looks fantastic in the end. For an El this is a must, and Uri's no different. Eventually I'd like to get him some Luts clothes, probably some Delf jeans and that neat motorcycle vest top. The latter actually reminds me of the mental image I have for one of the characters in the Generation Dead novels I mentioned earlier. Tak, also known as "smiley" is one of my favorite zombies, and I can totally see a Shiwoo or El with this outfit playing him perfectly.

However I digress; those outfits are a bit too pricey for me to justify at the moment. Maybe some day...

*For anyone wondering, I ordered the 60cm size, and they fit Uri rather well. It's a constant battle to find appropriate pants for this boy as he's one of the old style bodies with a lot of er..."junk in the trunk" if you will. However this size does fit nicely, though the legs are slightly shorter than I'd like. Overall a very good buy for only $15.

Dolly Talk: Only Buying Male or Female Dolls

In an effort to post more often, I've decided to do some more "Dolly Talk" segments. The questions come from various sources, this particular one being from DoA's "Dolly Debate" section. I don't generally post there owing to my "no politics or religion" policy on most sites, however I don't mind posting on my own blog.

This question discusses owners who only buy dolls of one sex exclusively. While I currently do own two female bjds and other female dolls, I do still seem to fit into this category somewhat.

Do you only buy one sex of doll? Why do/don't you?
Yes, and no. I do have a few female dolls, but males win out with an overwhelming majority. Not only in number, but also in use as well. While the male dolls are frequently out and about, the female dolls are more "cabinet babies."

Personally, I like male dolls better. Female dolls are lovely, and there are a few I think about purchasing, but in the end I always stick with the boys. As odd as it sounds, I find female dolls a little too standoffish. I can bond more easily with male dolls, and we seem to "get along" better. Strangely enough, this isn't a new phenomenon with me. Since I was a little girl I've always preferred male toys. I can count on one hand the number of female toys I had as a child. I guess I just like guys better.

If you do, would you ever consider buying the opposite gender of doll?
I have at times considered it, even buying some female dolls in the past. Now though, I think consideration is the farthest it will ever get. In all cases with the female bjds I have, they just don't get enough attention, or weren't kept for very long. I sold Echo, my first, traded Orla (though her character remains), and currently don't do much with Az or Dru.

The only exceptions to this might be a Luts Delf girl or a Volks SD girl. I've considered both in the past and they continue to tempt me, but for now I'm all set.

Does the sex of a doll make them more appealing to you?
Another yes and no answer. Obviously as I prefer boys I tend to find them more appealing, however the gender line is a little (a lot?) blurry with bjds. A "male" scuplt can look very feminine, or visa versa. My El is a male scuplt, but Els are notorious for looking female. So I don't think the stated gender of the doll matters as much as one's perception. For example I once saw a Soom Beryl boy that just blew me away, and so despite being a female sculpt I considered getting her to make a boy.

Would you ever buy a head of the opposite sex to use on the doll?
See above. Yes, I have considered it quite a bit, mostly with Uri. I've though about getting him a or some Delf female heads (primarily a Juri) to represent his more feminine aspects.

The Written Vessel: Generation Dead Series eBooks

Well okay, not completely different as I've mentioned my love (read: obsession) for zombies here before.


Among my collection of zombie media I have a set of books called the Generation Dead series by Daniel Waters. Recently he posted a call on his blog for fans to help promote the release of the series in electronic editions, complete with new short stories on March 22. I thought this was a good opportunity to mention the series here, for other zombie lovers who might not have heard of it yet.

Generation dead offers a new and different view on the "zombie apocalyspe." Namely, that it's not an apocalypse at all. The story begins as teenagers in America start coming back to life. The first zombie is described through a combination of hear-say and an eerie video of his death and rebirth. Rather than focus on the morbid however, the story follows a young girl Phoebe as she interacts with the zombies at her school, the political/religious backlash, and the tumult of teenage romance. The second book is also told through Phoebe, while the third book instead focuses on one of the zombie girls, Karen.



The aspect of these books that I love the most is surprisingly not the fact that it involves zombies. Rather, it is the characters and Waters' spectacular way of writting them that captivates me. You'll often hear writting teachers or authors discuss the importance of really knowing your characters. Even if the information never comes out in the actual story, it helps you understand them and make the interactions more real (gives you a reason why). Waters does this to a degree that is truly spectacular.

Every character is a real person, with all kinds of complexities and faults. Yes, there are the good guys and the bad guys, but even the bad guy is multi dimensional. He doesn't simply tie women to train tracks and twirl his mustache, he has history and hurts, and a whole lote of psychology.

The question of the books isn't how to kill the zombies, or how to escape them, but rather how to coexist. Are zombies "people?" Should they have rights? The politics were an interesting twist here, but just add to the overall impressiveness of the book.

So if you're looking for something new to read, or are just a zombie nut like me, check out the Generation Dead series. You can find Daniel Waters' blog here, and the character blog here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from you lazy blogger and the whole pack!

Of course I started out today with a bang... I woke up this morning with excruciating neck pain. It seems that at some point during the morning I contorted myself into an odd and not medically advisable position. Upon awaking I found that I couldn't move my neck without pain, lots of pain. So here I am at work, able to turn my head some but not much.

In other, happier news, here's a cell pic of Uri next to my desk. Hopefully I will feel better by Saturday so I can take him out for a photoshoot with his new outfit.

The Stable

Nothing major to update with, but I thought I'd share a picture of my desk at Job #2. I don't really have a desk at the other job, and we're certainly not allowed to decorate, so I'm focusing my creative energies on the other job. :)

Here you'll see "the stable," as my boss likes to call it. In back is Starshine, my very favorite MLP of all time. I have three of her already, and have a few more being commissioned as we speak.
The tiny one in front was one of my MLP grails, Moon Jumper the Winger pony. She's adorable overall, but that little moon on her forehead really did it for me. She's the second most expensive pony I've purchased so far, but definitely worth it.
Finally you'll see my lovely Oceania, a custom MLP made by the wonderful gotbunny. I'm working on my ocean-themed display, and when this pony came up for acution I couldn't refuse. She has a super detailed turtle (hand!) painted as her cutie mark, and has some great gradient and shading elsewhere. Gotbunny will be my go-to person for customs!

All work and no play.

I've been so neglectful of my blog lately, sorry readers! I recently started a second job, and now work 50+ hours a week between the two places. Not as much as stressful as it's just really busy. I leave at 6:30am and get back around 7pm or so, making it a very long day.

The upside of working so much is that I have much nicer paychecks. Once you take out my bills and what I'm putting towards my soon-to-be-due school loans, I'm actually left with some fun money! Or more accurately, money for my dolls to steal. :P This week I decided to take a bit of my newfound "riches" and spoil Uriel. It's been so long since he's gotten something new, that I thought it would be nice to pick up something nice.

Initially I intended to grab an outfit from Volks, but it was one mishap after another. The outfit I wanted was in stock, then out, then in again, and finally out. Shipping is also atrocious, and I'm not 100% sure it will fit him like I want it to. So I checked out Luts, only to have two outfits go out of stock as I was looking at them!

In the end I found something completely different than what I was looking for in the first place. Perhaps it was the combination of rereading some deLindt novels and listening to constant traditional Celtic music, but I picked out a wizard/faery outfit for him. It's a lovely ensemble in blue of all colors, with a cape, wizard's coat, shirt, and pants. Not generally his style, but it will work perfect if we go to the ren faire this summer.

Speaking of which, I've decided I want to go somewhere with Uri. I don't really know where yet, but I'm working on planning some trips out for photos and the like. Perhaps Salem, MA, or even the park. I'm just dying to get out somewhere, so we'll see.

Frustration

I have been very lucky as a doll owner, in that I haven't experienced a lot of prejudice regarding my dolls. Yes, I do have a boyfriend who is less than appreciative, but he isn't outright anti-doll. I know many other collectors have experienced things like verbal abuse and at times even threatened violence, but I have been lucky to escape this for the most part.

This may be due to the fact that I'm rather careful with my dolls as to when and where I bring them, as well as what they look like. Uri for example wears masculine clothes when we go out, unless we're going some place special. While I may love him in a dress, it's not always the best choice. It's hard enough for people to accept a large stylized doll, let alone a large stylized male doll in a dress. So I'm careful.

My mother is one of the people in my family who really doesn't like my dolls. She has been verbal about it on more than one occasion, suggesting my dolls are evil (semantics really :P) and disturbing. However tonight took the cake.

Uri is wearing a dress, the very pretty Victorian-styled one pictured above. I love him in it. I like to joke that you can always tell when I've had a bad week, because Uri is in a dress. He looks beautiful, and I love to dress him up. As I often say it's not that I want a female doll I don't have, because Uri full fills that need. :)

We had just finished a movie and my mother turned over to ask me something and suddenly said, "Why is your male doll wearing a dress? That's just gross!" Now this is a woman who is a self-proclaimed accepting individual with friends of every race, gender, and sexuality. I wonder what her friends would say if they heard that comment? I think my face must have said it all because she immediately said "sorry." Still...it's frustrating.

I know this is a hotly debated topic in the doll world, why get offended when someone says the obvious? I.e. your male doll is dressed like a female, why be offended? I honestly don't mind Uri being called a female as I've said before. His character is essentially gender-less, or perhaps between genders (despite my use of male pronouns). So that distinction really doesn't bother me. But outright disgust and rude comments?

I'm the one playing with dolls people, but you need to grow up.