Sunday 7 June 2020

Doll Clothes (Lanmeimeia)

A month or so ago I discovered that a doll owner on instagram also sold clothes, like what??? Hahahah!! This doll owner is Lanmeimeia


They are an amazing collector, I can not express how amazing their photos are!! I also love their LLT Roderich, he is one of the coolest dolls I have seen around. I also love how they have set ups to photograph their dolls in, I really envy that! And it makes me want to make photography spaces for my dolls too... however... the lack of actually having space to do that is my problem [sighs] So I just gotta make do with what I have. A tip for anyone out there who also struggles with the space factor, if you have an DSLR / SLR camera, get a lens with a low aperture (use lenses that are recommended for portraiture), you can hide the backgrounds using the bokeh, this is my usual technique LOL! I'm no photography expert, but like to play around with a range of lenses. I own a few, 28mm (F3.5), 35mm (F2), 40mm Macro (F2.8) and two 50mm  (F1.4), one is a manual and one is an auto, I got the manual one first and fell in love with it, later got the auto cause I had a photography gig, so needed something that wouldn't slow me down, I needed to take a load of pictures for the event (ended up with like 3,000 photos T^T) but despite the auto one being a lot more convenient, I actually prefer the photos from the manual, there is just something different about the photos that come out with that lens, I can't really explain it, but I feel like it gives my photos a creamier feel hahaha! I'm a prime lens snob LOL! It's just that you don't have as much lose of light compared to a Zoom / Kit Lens, if you do get into this side of the hobby and want to invest, I would definitely recommend you research into the different sensors in the camera body, and how different lenses can affect your photos, from exposure to depth of field. There is a lot to learn hahaha, and it's taken me a lot of trial and errors to have even a basic understanding myself! Also it is not a cheap hobby to have, it's not just the camera body that costs, the lenses do tooo! Anyhow! Enough geeking out about photography kit!

I actually wanted to share the fact that I bought a set of clothes from Lanmeimeia, their English isn't great, but it's good enough that you can still understand what they try to get across. They kept to their schedule and shipped within 2-3weeks after, which was quite quick, although I think I lose track of waiting times because I have the tendency to forget half the things I have bought hahah! The price was actually really good dependent on what set you bought it was $88 - $99, this was of course excluding shipping, in total for someone like me who lives in the UK it came to around $100 - $120 (I've bought sets of clothes more expensive than this). And within a few weeks the parcel arrived, there were delays, but that wasn't cause of Lanmeimeia, it was due to the current pandemic that has been having a big impact on the postal services. I mean, last month I posted four commissions back to their owners, three of which were in the UK and one was in Germany. All with the same type of postage, 1st class signed for. Two of the UK parcels got there within 2 days, the one to Germany arrived in 5 days, the final UK one took a god damned whole month to get there! You would expect the one to Germany to take that long! Not UK to UK! So yeah, there is a lot of delay!

So anyway the clothes arrived and OMG am I amazed by the quality of them! Have some photos!


The packaging was very stylish and sleek! I almost didn't want to open them because of that hahaha! I haven't opened the socks yet though, mostly because I don't want them getting lost and also cause again I don't want to open the packaging, I have a weird thing about keeping things pristine and unopened hahaha it annoys my sisters so much, and sometimes friends LOLOLOL! "Jatzu why have you not opened these yet? HOW COULD YOU RESIST?!" I have a lot of self control in that aspect hahaha! Tis a shame I don't currently have the doll that these clothes are intended for, I was supposed to reveal ages ago what new doll I had bought... but still haven't said who or what it is LOL! I'm so evil I know! I am hoping it won't be long before I get a shipping notice, but we shall see as the sculptor has gone a bit quiet in regards to this matter recently. I keep stalking their page to see if they have replied to people asking about it. But nothing so far [sighs] I have so many ideas and plans for it!!! COME HOME SOOON!

I can hear some of you saying, but why didn't you try the clothes on another doll? You have so many! I was being lazy, and also didn't want the other dolls to steal the clothes, this happens a lot when I try them in new things, THEY ALWAYS STEAL THE ITEMS! I don't want the incoming one to be naked, because I would feel bad hahaha!

But back to the clothes! They are almost like real human clothes! The jumper / sweater is so comfy, I actually want a human sized version for myself!! It looks so good to snuggle in, this new doll is gona get hugged to death! LOL!! Not only is the quality really good but also the attention to detail, I just love how well made they are! I have been through a lot of doll clothes and not all hit that realistic mark, some you can tell are doll clothes and whilst they have used quality materials, there is just something really toy like about them. I love doll clothes that make you forget that the dolls are well essentially toys, and give the illusion that these inanimate objects are actually alive. These clothes definitely hit that mark! I love the uncanny valley feel they give! Also, also, also! THE SWEATER HAS POCKETS!!


Like, god damned! You thought of all the details!!! I love real pockets hahaha, and I know how hard and difficult these can be to add onto small scales, so well done for doing so! I'm just really excited, and honestly look forward to when I can photograph them on an actual doll hahaha, hopefully it will inspire me to plan out a few scenes!

But there you have it! Some new doll clothes that I got in, I will most definitely be throwing more money at Lanmeimeia when they do more releases!

Monday 1 June 2020

Let Us Begin Again

I don't know how many times it is now that I have restarted this blog, I keep coming back and leaving, which I do apologise for!! Don't get me wrong, I do like blogging, I find it to be something quite... therapeutic to a degree, especially ever since I got a mechanical keyboard. Just the clackity clack of it makes typing that bit more fun, it's loud as hell though so if I'm ever in a voice call, I have to switch over to my non-mechanical one, just as not to come off as rude LOL! Anyhow, just to get the ball rolling, this blog will be as ever but a dumping ground for a multitude of things, be it BJD, character stories, art, travel adventures, random thought farts, you name it! I will most probably dump it here! I can't promise any sort of posting schedule, just as and when the need for typing comes to me.

Having had a look back at my past posts, I started this blog back in 2008, that was when I was still studying at Uni! I started blogging for art purposes, and since then it has evolved, well at least I hope that it has evolved. I have taken down all my past posts though mainly because I felt that a restart was in order, and I don't think any of it will be missed, I mean come on! The last post I made was in 2017!! We're now in 2020! And not even the start of it! WE'RE HALF WAY THROUGH THE YEAR ALREADY! And what a crazy year so far it has been, what with the pandemic and just well... that! Having said that, I do hope that everyone is staying safe, and taking all the precautions they can to minimise the spread.

I wasn't sure on how I should restart the blog, or what my first new post should be. So this is the brain fart you get that happens at 2AM in the morning, my sleep has been awful, and quite frankly has left me along with a lot of my creativity. I still try to draw and animate as much as I can, but it's becoming a struggle, which a lot of my friends keep reminding me, it's ok to struggle and not be drawing or be creative 24/7. They are truly right about that, EVEN THOUGH MY BRAIN WILL TELL ME OTHERWISE! Honestly I don't understand how a lot of people can keep pumping artwork out EVERYDAY! Although to be fair, I don't see what goes on behind closed doors, and it may just be artwork that they have had saved up, but! There are people out there who are creating everyday! And I well and truly envy them, please tell me to which of the gods you pray and make sacrificial rituals to, so that I may also bask in this pool of endless creativity. Jokes aside, I suppose the key to most of it is, don't give up. So that is the one main thing I will hold onto, is that I will do my best to never give up!

What a sappy start to the blog, is this what 2AM brain is like? Come on! Surely there are other things I can talk about. Ah I know! I started to also post videos up on YouTube, I have two separate channels, one for BJD and one for Art... although... both are looking a little bit neglected recently hahahahaha.... I just... ok so the Art one isn't too bad! I just gotta remember to actually record my work in progress, then just edit it, by speeding it up (Cause lol no one wants to watch me draw for 8hrs+) and adding some background music, then that is done! The BJD channel is a bit harder, cause I have to actually record myself, showcasing the BJD related items, and also actually talk about it... I struggle a lot with actually talking. For most people who have met me in person, they will know I'm not very talkative... and can be seen as the creepy person who just stares awkwardly... lol! I'm really not giving a great impression of myself to anyone who has read this far. I have in the past tried scripting ahead, I have also tried to just blabber on, and that has been hell!! Cause what does a person who doesn't talk very much blabber about?? I have tried to ignore the fact that there is a camera there, or tried to pretend that I'm talking to a friend... but cause of the lack of response or back and forth when it comes to an actual conversation, it's difficult! Oh oh! Talking about back and forth! I have also been doing podcasting with one of my friends too! No video just audio, and that has been a lot easier, because there is someone there to physically talk back at me! I'm really just not cut out for solo YouTubing hahah! This reminds me, I will put links to all of the YouTube channels, just in case anyone is interested in watching/listening.

Right! I think I'm going to end this here for today! Hopefully I will have more things to write about, but mmmm... I can't even promise that to myself! Let's look to the bright side of life! And well... yeah... you get it! SEE YA!