Monday, January 20, 2014

How do you buy a Pure Neemo?



Manami-Sensei here!

I've heard some of you asking about how to buy a Pure Neemo...
and being a teacher, I just have to have a little lesson about it!

Now remember, if you still have questions afterwards,
please ask!
I will answer them as best I can!!

There is no such thing as a stupid question!!

Let me start off by saying,
if you are reading this and you live in Japan...
then you have the wonderful option of visiting one of
Azone's 4 shops!
Here is a link to their locations:

Now, for those of us outside of Japan... let's talk about options!

My favorite option is... 

THE PREORDER!

Preorder sites allow you to buy an Azone Pure Neemo for what you would get it for directly from Azone!

My three favorite sites to consider for preorders are:

amiami
http://www.amiami.com/
 
To find Pure Neemos on amiami, use the search box and type in "Azone" or, in the left hand sidebar, click on "dolls" then at the top of the page, click on the box that says "Azone"
 
Hobby Search
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/

To find Pure Neemos on Hobby Search, use the search box and type in "Azone" or, click the blue box along the top that reads "Fashion Doll"

Hobbylink Japan
www.hlj.com

To find Pure Neemos on Hobby Search, use the search box and type in "Azone" or, choose the "Shop by Category" drop down menu, and click on "dolls"

There are other sites you can find that have Azones up for preorder, but I've never tried them, or heard anything about them, and I know these three sites are trusted sellers.
 
 
Next up...

SHOPPING SERVICES!!

I have to admit, I've not used a shopping service.

Shopping services will buy things from Japanese Exclusive Stores
(Like Azone International's Website),

they will sometimes get things from special events (like doll shows)
and they will bid on things on YahooJapan! for you.

However, here are the ones I've had recommended to me by friends who do:

Rinkya
Celga
http://www.celga.com/

Japan Auction Agency
http://www.japan-auction-agency.com/


Then there is the...

The After-Market shops and sites sell things usually at a markup,
although sometimes you can score some really great deals!

I've found great deals on

Mandarake
http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/
  
In the Search box, enter "Azone" or アゾン
You can sometimes find some really sweet deals on Mandarake.
 
ebay
http://www.ebay.com/

Usually it earns the nickname of "evilbay" with some pretty hefty after-market price hikes from sellers profiting off of the fact that they can get something we just can't (without being in Japan or having a shopping service). One of my favorite sellers on ebay is Custom Dolls Party (customdollsparty2011). They aren't cheap, but they're awesome sellers who will bend over backwards to fix a problem, should there be one, with the product.

Also, I know a lot of people will tell you, "Don't buy from ebay, the prices ALWAYS suck!"... but that's a bunch of bunk.
Yes, the prices often are outrageous... but sometimes you'll run across a really great deal. Ebay is always worth searching every once in a while.
 
TASINA
http://www.japandollconnection.com/tasina.html

All Azone stuff, all the time, lol.
I have bought from these guys,
and other than not always updating their stock, they're pretty good to deal with.

Azone Pure Neemo Flickr Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/364882@N25/

People aren't supposed to sell Azones here, but sometimes they still do...
so it's worth it to keep an eye out!

Azone Pure Neemo Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119218761452762/

Pure Neemos will sometimes pop up here.
 
Dollfie World
http://www.dollfieworld.com/3-azone

Not prices as great as you can find on Mandarake, but sometimes a decent price compared to other aftermarket prices.
 
So there you have it!
I really hope that was informative, and has helped some of you out in your quest for Pure Neemos!
 
If you have anything to add, or any questions, please don't hesitate to comment!! 

Friday, January 17, 2014

Azone Friday Update


  Time for Friday's Azone Update!
 
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The Tokyo Doll Show brings lots of Azone news!!!
Plus the next Lil Fairy girl's preorder info.
 
Also, January clothing lines are now up for preorder
on sites like HLJ, amiami and Hobbysearch

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☆ · . . · ° ° ·. . · °★ ° ·. . · ° ° ·. . ·☆
 
This year at the Tokyo Doll show, Azone had quite a few dolls in store for us!
Not to mention a preview of upcoming outfit releases!
 
☆ · . . · ° ° ·. . · °★ ° ·. . · ° ° ·. . ·☆

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February
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These two boys will be released in late February.

 Watch Rabbit / Yuta "Tea Party March" 
Reservations start February 13!

©Azone

Mad Hatter / Aoto "Tea Party March"  
Reservations start February 13

©Azone

©Azone


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March
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♪  Forest Girls / spring bunny Mia
Both
will be released in late March!

Normal Sales Version: 

©Azone

  DS Version:

©Azone


March Outfits

©Azone
©Azone
©Azone


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April
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 April Outfits
 *grabby hands* <--- this is my own personal reaction XD
©Azone


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Spring
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♪ Yui high school sophomore of 17-year-old is aiming to idle (provisional) will be released in spring!(She is 1/3 scale)
©Azone


Ex ☆ cute first 10 bullets at last!(which I think we can translate to us soon seeing the 10th Ex☆Cute themed series, lol)
©Azone

 
Ex☆Cute Pico Neemo Himeno has a spring release

©Azone


Ex☆Cute Pico Neemo Miu has a spring release
©Azone

A new girl will also be released in spring,
Ekkusukyuto family ☆ Mio!
She is the big sister of Miu and Mia 
 
©Azone
  
©Azone

©Azone

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Lil Fairy News

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Lil' Fairy / Vel
  
©Azone
Price: ¥ 8,300 (roughly $83 USD)
★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★

◆ ◆ Reservation Start Date ◆ ◆

February 4, 2014 (Tuesday)

★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★ · · · · · · · · ★
©Azone
©Azone

©Azone

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Mid-Month Tutorial: Jointed Love's Bunting Tutorial


Tutorial #1 will be Jointed Love's bunting tutorial, which I shared here on this blog a while back!

Supplies:
1. Scissors
2. String or Twine of some sort
3. Washi Tape


When it comes to Washi Tape (a fancy Japanese masking tape),
Jointed Love recommended ordering from Chickydoddle on Etsy:

I have to say... I am very tempted to spend a lot of money there, haha!
BUT! For those in the USA, you can find Washi Tape in your local stores too...
All of the Washi Tape you see below, I found at local stores (from craft stores to grocery stores).
Scotch Tape started making their own... so it's out there!


Step 1:
Cut off strips of tape to be the bunting flags.
Make sure that the tape is twice as long as you want the flag to be
(since you will be folding it over the string)


Step 2:
You can pre-cut your flags and line them up along a table edge...
I did this for the first 5... but since I was making a 19 inch bunting, I gave up and just cut them as I needed them after that... lol!


Step 3:
 Add the tape to the string.
Do this one piece of tape at at a time.
 
I gently pressed one edge of the tape to the table,
then positioned the string, then folded the tape around the string.
Before folding over the string.
After folding over the string.

It should look like this when you're done.

 

Step 4:
Repeat Step 3 until you have filled up the string with as many flags as you would like.


I might have made this one a little long...


Step 5:
Once you have all of your pieces of tape on the string,
it's time to cut them down into flag shape!


I cut them from the string to the point of the flag...
I find it easier to make the flag an even triangle this way.


The way I do it, being right handed, is I cut the right side first,
then I turn the flag around so that I'm cutting it from the base (near the string) to the point,
again on the right side. I just have more control this way!


Step 6:
Repeat Step 5 until you have done all of the pieces of tape!
THE END! XD



Trouble Shooting:
There's more!
There were a few little things that could have gone smoother
when I was making my bunting for the first time.
 
 

Problem 1:
The flags are all over the place! 0_0
Some were pointed up, some down... 
as I would put them on, the string would twist,
so not all the flags were "hanging downward"by the end.

In Jointed Love's tutorial, she says she taped her string to the table, but that it was an optional step.
I disagree! I think if I'd taped the string down it would have prevented all that twisting that made my flags all wonky!!

So, my advice?


Make sure the string isn't moving when you're pressing your flags into place.


When you're done, they should all be hanging downward in the same direction!

Problem 2:
 The tape doesn't line up!
This is something that might freak you out when it happens,
but really it isn't a problem at all!
Just so long as the tape touches evenly at the base near the string,
this issue is a non-issue.


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Conclusion:
I loved this simple tutorial!
It was easy to figure out and follow!
I absolutely recommend it!!!!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Neemos... for now...

Ominous title, no?
Haha!

Really though, I'm just making a little post to say that I'm updating the "Meet the Neemos" page.
There are a few girls still missing from this list,
(aka, the K-On contingent)
but other than that, it's pretty complete...
(although Carrot and Peapod need new photos)


You'll notice that a lot of girls are still without bios... or names even...
or identification as to which Neemo they are...
I'm working on that! I've been sketching out storylines for the "town" they live in,
and I'll be assigning girls characters based on who I feel fits the role.

Stay tuned!!




Monday, January 13, 2014

Lil Fairy vs. Chibi Mamachapp

I recently got Azone's Lil Fairy Lipu (Rip?):


And I was asked how she compares to the Chibi Mamachapp dolls...
well... 

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN!!!

Meet the contestants:
 Left: Mamachapp Right: Lil Fairy

When it comes to "Who is the most Chibi?" Mamachapp wins.

Here they are next to an XS Pure Neemo and a L Pure Neemo:
 Mamachapp is truly the most chibi of them all...

But she suffers for it.
Her range of posing is inferior to the Lil' Fairy's:

 Lipu: I can touch the top of my head!
Chibi-chapp: Uhm... I caught a fish this big?

Chibi-chapp bends ok in the torso and can sit (her sitting is slightly restricted by the outfit)
but since her body is small and her head is large, she needs to support herself to sit up straight,
where Lil Fairy Lipu can sit up straight, just fine, without needing to support herself.

Lipu: My hairband stays on pretty well too!
Chibi-chapp: Did I mention the fish was THIS BIG???

When it comes to doing the splits, Lipu can do them just fine,
Chibi-chapp, not so much so...
(I made sure her outfit wasn't keeping her from doing a full split too)

Lipu: I guess this is good if I need to clean under tables... I guess?
Chibi-chapp: THIS BIIIIIIG!!!! GRAAAAAAGH!!!!

In holding their arms straight out, they are equals:


But when it comes to bringing their hands together...
Chibi-chapp's arm fell right out of its socket...
truthfully, this is something the tiny Obitsu body (what Chibi-chapp is on)
does a lot... it loses parts... hands, feet, arms, legs...
it kinda sucks.

Lipu: Actually, Chibi-chapp's fish was only this big.
Chibi-chapp: Jerk.