Friday, May 30, 2014

Mid-Month Tutorial #5: Zakka Life's Miniature Colored Pencils

I know this one is a little late...
but I wanted to get it in before the month ended!
(Friday Azone Update will be later today... but don't worry, nothing time-sensitive is going on)


Tutorial #5 is Zakka Life's Miniature Colored Pencil tutorial!
It's easy, cheap, not a huge investment of time and yields great results!

**NOTE**
These pencils don't actually write, they're just for show.
 
Please see the original tutorial here:

Supplies:

1. Round Toothpicks
2. Scissors
3. Markers
4. Sandpaper
5. (Optional) Mod Podge

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Let's begin!
Step 1:
Take a single toothpick from the box and decide how long you'll want your colored pencil to be.
Zakka Life's instructions say to cut the toothpick in half... but for me, that would have been too long, proportionally, so my toothpicks are about 1.125 inches long.
A little less than half a toothpick.


TIP:

Step 2:
Sand the end of your pencil so that it's nice and rounded.
I used 220 Very Fine 3M sandpaper.
 I didn't even have to take it out of the package to use it XD

Step 3:
Now it's time for coloring!
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT handle your dolls while you're coloring these... you *will* get marker on your fingers,
unless you wear gloves... and it could be unintentionally transferred to your dolls, or their clothes.
I color the pencil tip first... and to color it, I just dab the marker against the toothpick tip... because toothpicks are made from a soft wood, they absorb the ink, and it spreads a little... so don't get overzealous right away with the ink application.

Then again... if you do... it's just a toothpick... there are plenty more to try again on!





Next I color the body of the pencil:

Step 4:
Let the markers dry for 24 hours.
(This is not a step in Zakka Life's instructions... but I'd rather be safe than sorry!)

Step 5:
(optional)
Let's take a minute to discuss dolls and markers.

Bottom line?
They don't mix.

I've seen many a doll ruined with Sharpie markers... some intentionally, some, not so much so.

After I made these colored pencils, I let them dry for 24 hours,
then I took the darkest one and rubbed it against my doll's skin.

Light rubbing was fine, no color transfer,
but harder rubbing (like if you were going to shove it into the doll's hand between fingers)
yielded color transfer.

I wiped it off right away, and it all came off... but it still worries me that if you left a pencil in a doll's hand, color transfer would happen over time.

My solution?
Coat the pencils in Mod Podge to seal the color in.
Glossy or Matte, your choice.


Conclusion:
I LOVE this tutorial... there is something so satisfying about coloring these pencils and seeing them come to life.



Thursday, May 29, 2014

Check out this cutie!

 From seller Nijo1203
 The auction is for the head only, I believe, but current bidding isn't very high!
©Nijo1203

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Last Week for May's Adventure!



Have you taken part in May's Adventurers Club Adventure to find
If not, you have until Saturday night! 
Then, Sunday morning, we'll be starting June's Adventure!

There have been some great, scary adventures so far!!!

A huge thank you to everyone who has been participating so far this year in The Adventurers Club!


Friday, May 23, 2014

Friday Azone Update

Time for the Azone Update!
 
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New Character Neemo,
and randomness!

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Pure Neemo (1/6 scale)
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character series 081: Chitoge Kirisaki from Nisekoi

©Azone

©Azone

She's a cutie... I can't decide if I want to order her or not...
I'm thinking not this time, but we'll see...
Price: ¥ 12,000 (Roughly $120 USD)
Preorder Date: 5/27/14

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Randomness!
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At the Nagoya 2nd Anniversary Event, you can pick up a cute little mascot badge with purchase, while supplies last! 
 I love their mascot's hair decor XD
©Azone

 

Monday, May 19, 2014

My Alisa Birthday Pics XD

My Alisa's got together to snap a picture for the occasion:

Alisa: Alrighty everyone, say cheese!


Addie: OH NO! I BLINKED!!!!

Join in the fun on twitter by posting your Alisa celebration pics to

#ArisaBirthday


Alisa's Birthday!

Today is little Alisa's Birthday!

Join in the fun on twitter by posting your Alisa celebration pics to

#ArisaBirthday

©Azone


 

Friday, May 16, 2014

Friday Azone Update

Time for the Azone Update!
 
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NEW Pure Neemos!!!!
and a shop anniversary


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Pure Neemo (1/6 scale)
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Are you ready for this?
New character introductions! 
 Sera has younger, twin siblings!

Admittedly, Sera would not have been the character I would have guessed would have gotten siblings, since they don't seem to release Sera very often. So I wonder if this means there will be some new releases of these less often seen side characters?

Also... I *CANNOT* find a good translation of these names... so, someone, please help!

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月羽(つきは)
(aka, Moon Birds??? Could it be Tukiha? Seriously, the translators are failing me on these names)

©Azone
©Azone
Price: ¥ 11,000 (Roughly $110 USD)
Preorder Date: 6/10/2014 

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空羽(そらね)
(aka, Sky Wings??? Could it be "Sorane"? I have to believe these sound better in Japanese...)

©Azone
©Azone

Price:
¥ 11,000 (Roughly $110 USD)
Preorder Date: 6/10/2014 

☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆… ☆…

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Pure Neemo (Special Event)
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Nagoya Label Shop's 2nd Anniversary!

The Nagoya Label Shop opened in 5/25/2012
and is celebrating its two-year anniversary this year!

In thanks to their many wonderful customers, they are offering this special event!

Date: 5/24/2014  -6/1/2014

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For this event, a special Forest Girl / Koron (azone direct store limited ver.) will be released!

She will have two outfits options.
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koron_001koron_002
Price: 11000 yen + tax (Roughly $110 USD)

koron_004koron_005koron_003

I'm not entirely sure what the deal with these socks is... but I think you *might* get any one of these three pair, and you can't choose, you'll just find out at purchase. I think?
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★ postcard gift ★

syatihokoron

For customers who purchase more than 2,000 yen ($20 USD) of goods from the shop, they will receive this postcard with the Nagoya shop mascot on it.
While supplies last.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

An odd occurance


Sera (dark brown hair) and Anna (lighter reddish-brown hair) are out for a stroll. Anna is an excellent baker, and has been helping Sera with her cooking skills.
Sera: So then the cookies came out perfect because I followed the directions!
Anna: It's always good to follow directions. *nods*

Sera: I know that now! I'll never make that mista.... *trails off*
Anna: What?

Sera: Was that there just a second ago?
Anna: No... how mysterious...

Anna: It looks like my old school locker! *reaches to open it*
Sera: No, Anna! Stay away from it! It's unnatural!

Anna: No it's not! See, it's just a normal locker.
Sera: That appeared from thin air... I wonder whose clothes those are?

Anna: I wonder if there's anything good in here? *Starts digging around in the locker*
Sera: Don't go in there, Anna!

Anna digs deeper and deeper into the locker, and soon disappears.
Sera: Anna?

Sera: Anna?!?

Sera dives in after her friend, who she can no longer see... Sera is scared, she knew they shouldn't have messed with this weird locker, but she can't leave Anna all alone in there.

Soon, both girls have disappeared.

The locker door slams shut...

and the locker disappears.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday Azone Update

Time for the Azone Update!
 
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Clothes,
and Mio goes to a party,
a Doll Party XD

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Pure Neemo Clothes (1/6 scale)
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Remember these clothes?

They sold out super fast... but in some places, they're back in stock again!
Here's a link to amiami...
(although the kitty hoodies are still out of stock)

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Pure Neemo (1/6 scale)
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For those of you in Japan, Mio will be making an appearance on 5/15/14
at a doll show... 
She's not going to be available for Direct Sale though... so if you can't attend, or convince your shopping service to attend... this isn't really that interesting by way of news. 
 
 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

YoSD Jun Tachibana

A new girl has come to live here...

YoSD Jun Tachibana!

Ever since I saw the original Jun Tachibana in Haute Doll Magazine, I've been in love...
but original Jun's $1000+ price tag has always kept me from owning her in SD size, fullset
(ahh, a girl can dream!)

When the YoSD Jun and Isao came out,
I hadn't really been paying attention to resin,
so I missed out...
until now!

Here's my little review of Volks YoSD Jun Tachibana:


First off, I love the weight of Volks dolls.
I've handed a lot of brands of dolls in my lifetime,
and one thing I consistently notice is that Volks dolls feel *SOLID*.
They have great weight... but not in a bulky way.
The YoSD are no exception, plus she stands like a champ!
I've left her standing alone with no worries... she has more balance than I do.


The outfit is fantastic in quality, fits her well, and looks just like the original Jun's, or at least close enough that I'm happy with it. The skirt fabric is very thick, so I'm wondering if they literally used the same fabric they used for the original Jun... but despite being thick fabric, it still works. Everything uses snaps and velcro, with, I think, one eyehook... The *only* complaint that I would have about the outfit is that the weight of the skirt keeps pulling her panties down... which is just awkward, not really a huge problem, LOL.



Her eyes are the same beautiful light dusty purple that the original Jun Tachibana's were, and the facial makeup mimics the original Jun's.


The wig is a bit large and bulky, but it styles to look like it does in the promo photos...
and from what I've heard about Volks wigs, I should consider myself lucky, LOL.
Really though, the wig could stand to be fine tuned to fit her head slightly better, but it's nothing terrible that ruins the experience for me... sometimes she' just overwhelmed by her bangs (which I've already trimmed a little)


Eep! So cute!


All in all, I think Volks did a great job miniaturizing Jun Tachibana.
I just can't decide if she satisfies my Full Sized, Full Set Jun Tachibana lust,
or just enhances it, LOL!