Mori Girl Secret Santa, Fabric Purchased, and Gifts!

Handmade Lace Cellphone Lanyard, Le Petit Pig Pin, Handmade Crochet Earrings, and Handmade Convertible Bambi Brooch / Necklace.

                                    

My Mori Girl Secret Santa presents were mostly handmade. I hope the girl who I mailed them to loves them. :)

Recent fabric purchases:

One of my bff's presents to me. LOVE! Thanks, Em.

I picked up more pins by the Le Petit Pig designer. She met up with me by my house. :)

Le Petit Pig Pins + Consignment

Credit: From Le Petit Pig

I remember selling at the rather under-selling Bazaar of the Bizarre and being approached by a woman who owned a consignment shop in Toronto called Ransack the Universe. I had her card for ages in my purse and finally found it - coincidentally, the location also presided INSIDE a vintage store (69 Vintage Collective) I had wanted to visit for a LONG time. I met up with a local Lolita, Stacy - whose blog I've linked to for those interested - and she directed me to 69 Vintage Collective where the basement belonged to Ransack the Universe. I thought it was distinctly home-grown enough to sell my mom's small variety of amigurumi. But, I have to check out the list of top consignment stores to see what I am up against and who I can appeal to. Also, I saw these CUTE wooden pins. I just HAD to buy them because they reminded me of my bestfriends - Aya and Em. But, I wanted this cute mushroom headed pin for myself - I ended up contacting the local artist who produced them and I should be getting it by this week's end. :)

Em got Little Red Riding Hood (who actually reminds me of my old rag doll) and Aya I bought a 1" Apple Faced character but decided that the Strawberry Face (which is bigger) would be better for her. I got myself a Pine Tree Faced thing, too. Check her out! Her work is amazing and from Toronto.

Looking at these makes me really want to try stamp work because it's a lot less time intensive then most of the crafts I do. I've always wanted to print my own fabric and stamps look easier then silk-screening...

I also recently joined the Mori Girl Secret Santa on LJ. I'm so excited. 

Prospects

I just spent a disgustingly long amount of time browsing through ETSY. I went from 2-3 pages of Favourites 16 pages. Which means in two hours I added an additional 260 items. Wow.

So far, I've held back from making any personal purchases. I'll make do with my current stash until Anime North comes around in a few months. I've already put away money for registration - and I am going to start looking into consignment around Toronto. I really want to get my mom's amigurumi stuff out there - but for a good price. I found it very hard to sell at the same craft fair twice in a year - I did okay in the first one - but the foot traffic is horrid. Meaning, it was only 100 potential customers.

I have to get out there more. Socialize. Connect. With. People. Of. My. Kind.

I'll be visiting many places Monday to explore options. Plus, I am going to be attending a Craft Swap affair on Thursday at Ransack the Universe. :D

Updating ETSY is hard work. It's time consuming and I am lucky to have a friend who's taken her time and energy to take pictures for me and edit them. Now, I have a fancy camera (an early Christmas gift) that weighs more then it should but takes awesome photos. Now, it'll be my job to do the picture taking. So far, I've had 4 sales via ETSY, 1 via LJ, 1 potential shopping service from Mokuba, and one local one. Totalling it 6 so far.

Unfortunately, I am not happy with the types of sales - they are small fish. But, it adds up. Tomorrow, it'll be the tedious process of gathering all the stock then packaging them for shipment. I had to up some prices on ETSY because I totally forgot that on top of the $0.20/ listing and the 3.5% of the sale ETSY takes there's the goddamn Paypal fees. I am confused how this whole thing totals but after looking at it all. It's a little depressing. Ick.

Updated Etsy: Ofelia Ljuv and Noirette lines!

Etsy marionetteatelier

I just updated the Etsy. Brand new pretty furry things - when I wear my foxtail or puffs I use them for stress relief. You know that part in the movie "Get Him To The Greek" where rockstar Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) tells Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) to "stroke the furry wall" because the multiple drug cocktail in that cigar he just smoked would make his heart speed up so fast he could die. That's how I get sometimes and it helps to have something to furry to stroke - even if it is dead. 

Black Friday - Shopruche.com buys!

I am not American. However, this whole Black Friday thing has really caught on the past few years in Canada.

I am not immune to this whole consumerism culture nor illusionary wealth of Black Friday. I've been shopping for cameras for myself for the past couple of months but I've been indecisive as to what to get. Saw a really cheap one by Olympus for $199 in the Basic Point and Shoot section of Bestbuy. It's simple but the display wasn't working so that definitely didn't help me. I think I need more experience with cameras before throwing myself at the micro 4/3rd prosumer camera. Already, looking at all the buttons on Canon prosumer cameras makes me a little confused.

So, I decided to buy what I know I am most familiar with. Clothes.

Clothes, are simply a girl's best friend aside from make-up. They change the way a girl can feel, look, and the way she carries herself. There's an association with clothes that might seem superficial but at the same time...it's natural. I love clothes. I love the textures, the fabric, the look, the feel...

I ended up buying the following from http://www.shopruche.com:

Originally $61.99  NOW $20

Orginally $54.99 NOW $15

Orginally $36.99 NOW $10

Orginally $37.99 NOW $10

Orginally $34.99 NOW $10

Orginally $9.99 NOW $2

Shipping was $7 (the most economical method)... Quite frankly, I went through all the materials of the stuff I bought and for linen blends, ramie (nettle fabric), cotton, and rayon I thought the price was justified and if anything worth the price. Normally, natural fabrics like ramie would be a lot more expensive. A lot of these would also be perfect for Mori Girl, Natural-Kei, and Dolly-Kei. :)

Giant Posting: The past 3-4 months!

I have been MIA for a little while due to some personal and family issues. The most recent one happened the beginning of this week. I missed a week of school in an attempt to resolve it. Hopefully, things turn out for the better. :)

I have been pretty busy the past few months.

FanExpo Lolita: I took part in a friend's Lolita presentation and fashion show. I lent a lot of items and while it didn't turn out as I had thought it would be (measurement bloopers with people I was lending the items to) it was still an experience. Here are a few pictures and videos of it:

Got our pictures taken with a group of Storm Troopers.

Participants of the Lolita Fashion Show

A selca of Aya and I using my iPhone 4 and an additional complete outfit shot of our Hime Lolita coordinates. I look very tired because I had absolutely no sleep the day before. It's usually like this when I attend a local Lolita Meet and it's even worst when I set one up. I haven't hosted one by myself in over a year because of just how emotionally and physically draining it is. 

Lolita High Tea Meet: My bestfriend, Aya, set this one up at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Definitely, an experience that was unexpected. High tea is very fancy but I found most of the food to be overly sugary for my tastes. Next time, Aya and a few friends of mine will be going to a fancy Yorkville one with macaroons. Here are a few pictures of my outfit and hers:

Interesting angled photo from Aya's photographer friend, Shin.

Aya's gorgeous coordinate. The first time she's attempted Classic Lolita. 

Beautiful chandelier above our table. 

Creations: The past few months I have been having an on-and-off relationship with my creativity. It prompted these creations to be made.

Gyaru fur puff.

Hot pink Gyaru fur puff.

Weekly Outfit Shots since September: If I feel up for it I usually try to dress my best at least ONCE a week to feel as if buying all the (expensive) clothes that I buy is somehow justified. Here are a few that I managed to take photos of.

Danier leather jacket, H&M schoolgirl blouse, Bttsb Circus Tutu skirt that (gift from Aya), and Aldo boots (gift from SO). 

Aldo headband, H&M ruffle vest, Anthropologie dress, UP belt,  Aldo tights, and Zara boots.

Handmade headpiece, Pmall lace dress, XXI belt, and Aldo boots (gift from SO).

Handmade headpiece, H&M cardigan, Jane Marple tartan gown, UP belt, and Aldo boots.

XXI earrings, Zara dress, H&M leggings, and Aldo boots.

XXI wool hat, offbrand turtleneck, handmade necklace, offbrand skirt, Aldo belt, H&M leggings, and Aldo flats.

NUIT BLANCHE: I actually was helping out a friend I met as a customer from work with his fashion show for the Nuit Blanche / The Art of Fashion event. I didn't take many pictures because for some reason one of his models bailed and...well...I got drafted to model one of his creations. It was fun and I loved helping him! Mark Aguliar, you are pure win. Hope we collaborate again someday. 

An interesting creation. But, the hem is uneven. By another designer. 

Could be a wedding dress. By another designer.

Selca of Aya and I at Nuit Blanche after the fashion show. 

 My outfit for Nuit Blanche. I was going with the Belle Epoch theme that The Art of Fashion event had going on...and there's a screenshot of the outfit I modelled for Mark Aguliar. His 'clown' costume. Had me all worried. But, it's actually reminiscent of those French porcelain dolls I had as a child.

SHOPPING / GIFTS HAUL: I make no mistake when I call myself a shopaholic. I love it and it's a bit of an addiction. Here's what I've managed to buy and photograph for the past...3-4 months.

 

A strange fabric I bought from work that I still have absolutely no idea what to do with and Aldo bow bag and bow flats as a belated B-day present from my little sister. 

Beautiful over-the-knee socks from Legs Beautiful in Yorkville. What can I say? I like my hose.

                                                                          

Anthropologie cardigan that reminds me of one of my favourite Japanese brands, Juliette et Justine and tights!

Giant MOKUBA haul. They had a sale recently and I spent $126 on over 70 metres of trims. Collectively, I've spent a little over $300 on trims there in the past 3 weeks. :'( But, you'll see why I did that.

A Gunne Sax muslin dress that I found at an Ossington/Queen vintage store and a beautiful $180 dress that my SO bought for me as an early Xmas present. :)

Crochet gnome houses my mom made for me a few months ago.

iPhone 4 - Facetime! I recently moved away and I don't get to see my dog or his owner much. But since we both have iPhone 4's I have been able to see Cookie daily. Including him in training sessions with food on his face! :)

Aya's Marionette creations for Happi Kiss her Gyaru line: We both love fur even though we previously didn't and I am glad to see her able to work with upcycled fur tails with me modelling them.

HALLOWEEN: My small group of girlfriends decided to go with a theme this Halloween. French Maids. Yes, I wore this to work and my whole department dressed up! Then, after work I had a dinner party at my sister's place in which we all cooked dinner together. :) Best Halloween ever, guys!

The Dinner.

My co-worker, P. and I.

Co-workers: P., M., me, and J.

 The Kapok Shop and Marionette (my lines: Ofelia Ljuv and Noirette) pictures: My mom does crocheting and here are her most recent creations compiled with older ones. While my own creations vary (I hate crocheting) and I've been quite productive of the late. I hope to post everything on Etsy very soon. I had planned to do it a week ago but my computer had erased a piece of itself while my SO was restoring it. I always use MOKUBA trims. Nothing but the highest quality for my products.

Cult of Kawaii!

Gnome Houses + Bags, Hybrid Pigs, Cactus, and Mushrooms!

                      Mori Girl headpiece and Russian Nesting Doll necklace! 

 Mori Girl Flower Headpiece with Narural-Kei earrings made from burnt chiffon.

Burnt chiffon necklace inspired by a paper rose necklace I saw at Anthropologie for $48 CDN.

 Dolly-Kei fur puff and Moite-inspired colored Gothic fur puff made from upcycled rabbit fur.

 Gyaru, Dolly-Kei, and Mori Girl styled fur puffs and tails.

 My latest creations. I revamped the first picture and the puff was inspired by Minnie Mouse.

Mori Girl inspired bag dangles. Hanging position.

Laying down on my bedsheets. Beautiful, no?

The leftover furs that I need to work with. Sorry for the blurry pictures. 

Finally, my most recent outfit: I had been meaning to do a Lolita closet purge and this skirt was one of the things I had been considering. But, now that I am able to coordinate it in Dolly-Kei style. I've decided to keep it.