Friday, January 31, 2014

Friday Azone Update


  Time for Friday's Azone Update!
 
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A bunch of stuff you can only get in Japan
 
;_;
(I'm pretty sure, "Because I need to shop at the Azone stores"
is not a legit reason to request citizenship...)


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· . . · ° ° ·. . · °★ ° ·. . · ° ° ·. . ·
 
The following will be available only in Azone Stores
 
· . . · ° ° ·. . · °★ ° ·. . · ° ° ·. . ·

I want these little outfits ;_;

©Azone
Then, if you spend $20 in store, you'll get two little Sahra postcards, starting Feb 1st:

©Azone
Aren't they cute?
There will also be a special little Sahra display in stores XD

Finally, there was a mention that the stores will also be having a Valentines event with sweets...
hopefully someone will post pictures!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Sharon Wright Photography Giveaway!!!

Sera: Uhm, uh, hello... I mean, uh, Hi!
I have a super exciting giveaway to share with you today!

Perhaps you remember a few months back when I did an interview with the lovely

If you don't remember,
please go check it out here:

She's an awesome, kick-butt, super nice photographer for dolls and toys!
(I'm sure she'd photograph other things too... but let's face it,
we dolls and toys are the most awesome thing ever, so I'm just mentioning us, haha!)

Anyhow, if you haven't heard, she did the photography for the
and it's AWESOME.

You can find her images here:
and here:

Here are a few pics you'll find in the calendar:

©SharonWrightPhotography
For this next pic, she even did a breakdown of how it was made:

©SharonWrightPhotography
©SharonWrightPhotography

Better than that, though,
she sent over 2 Calendars to be given away...
as well as two amazing 8X10 prints of her fabulous work!


Look! She signed the calendars (and the prints too!)

Which prints, you ask?
Why, these two!
(Actual prints don't have the watermark and text on them, but she did sign them, which is awesome)

©SharonWrightPhotography
©SharonWrightPhotography

HOW TO ENTER:

The giveaway runs until Friday, February 7th!
Please enter using the Rafflecopter entry form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Majokko Shop 2nd Anniversary Giveaway Winners!

I actually chose them last week when the giveaway ended, 
and emailed the winners...

but I've only heard back from one of them 0_0

Soooo...

I'm going to post it here and give the winners until the end of next week,
and if I haven't heard from you...
I'll pick new winners XD

Here are the winners!
(with a little help from the figma)

Momoko-chan

SweetNeat

inCLYNEd (who is the winner I have heard back from!)

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Adventurer's Club

Would you like to join the Adventurer's Club?

"What is it?" you ask?

The Adventurer's Club is a monthly photo challenge.
The "theme" for the month is vague enough that you can complete the task indoors if you're not a "drag your dolly out in public" kinda person.

ALL DOLL TYPES ARE WELCOME! 

On the FIRST DAY of every month, I will reveal that month's theme.
(well, except for this month... since I didn't think this up until about midway through January, and then wanted to plan it out, I was a bit unprepared for this month -_-)

At the end of the year, there will be prizes given out based on level of participation.

*NOTE*
January is a "wild card"... since I put this one up so late, you can complete this one at any time throughout the year.

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January Theme:
 Weather
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What kind of "weather" adventure will your girls have?

Feel free to interpret this however you like.
Maybe it's a picture of your girl in the middle of a storm,
or feeling "under the weather",
or weathering a tough situation.
It's up to you!

Don't feel like you have to have a masterpiece photograph either,
snap the shot with your cell phone, a point and shoot or a pro camera,
it doesn't matter, just as long as the resulting image is theme related!

How do you participate?

Simple!
1. Take your photo that relates to the theme
 2. Share that photo with me (via email, posting a comment with a link, etc)
(In the righthand side bar at the top of the page, you will see a link button back to this post) 
My email is: littlebearries@yahoo.com

Please feel free to include a little caption for your image that describes what is going on, as well as any link to your own blog or website, and your doll's name, if these are things you'd like to share!

I will then share it on the Adventurer's Club tab at the top of the page!
(You can also find a link button on the Adventurer's Club page
that will link you back to each month's challenge)

Monday, January 27, 2014

(Belated) Azone Friday Update

Sorry for the delay guys! After the news of the rerelease Lil Fairy preorders coming back up,
my weekend got really hectic, really fast XD
 
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New Magical 1/3 scale gal,
and some news that probably won't have much effect on us International fans...

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· . . · ° ° ·. . · °★ ° ·. . · ° ° ·. . ·
 
 1/3 Hybrid Active Figure 034
Magical Girl Madoka ★
Sakura Kyoko

·
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.
·
°
° ·.
. · °
★ ° ·.
. · ° ° ·. . ·
 
Preorder Date: January 29
Price: ¥ 60,000
©Azone
©Azone

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Also, the Azone Osaka shop is moving location and will be shut down for a few days while it does so.
What does this mean for those of us avidly following them from afar?
 
Not much XD
Local folks who try to visit will notice the disruptions,
but it will most likely be business as usual for the rest of us. :)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Breaking Azone News!!! Lil' Fairys rereleased on Preorder!

Did you miss out on Rip:
©Azone

Or Elno:
©Azone

Well, you can preorder them again (to be released later in the year)
right now on Hobbylink Japan! HUZZAH!

Rip:

Elno:

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Meet the Dollfie Dream gals

Here's a tiny bit about the current DD girls
(except Pipit, who is off visiting a friend)


Alna
Profession: Singer (Pop Music Genre)
Siblings: Bird and Luna


Bird
Profession: Singer (Folk Music Genre)
Siblings: Alna and Luna


Pidge
Profession: Illustrator
Siblings: None

Jun
Profession: Student
Siblings: None

Kestrel
Profession: Environmentalist
Siblings: None

Luna
Profession: ???
Siblings: Bird and Alna

Momo (hasn't been named yet)
Profession: ???
Siblings: Pipit

Robin
Profession: Photographer
Siblings: None


Zinnia
Profession: Pokemon Master
Siblings: None

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 ExCute themed series, lol)
©Azone

 
ExCute Pico Neemo Himeno has a spring release

©Azone


ExCute 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

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
 
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!!!!