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Sunday 27 February 2011

The greatest game in the world

Some of you might think that I'm refferring to World of Warcraft, but while that is indeed an amusing game it's only as fun as the people you play with. No, I'm referring to a far older game that I love very much. <3
The game? It's go.
If you have never played go before, the purpose is very simple; surround territory and capture your opponent. Go plays on a large board, with 19x19 lines on it, and you play on the intersections with black and white "stones" made of stone, glass, shell or plastic. Some very old games are said to have been played with gemstones.
While the rules are very simple (you can learn them here ) go gets more and more complex the more you play, and even after years of playing you find that you still haven't mastered the game. And that is one of the things that make go such an eternal, amazing game. Like the chessplayer finds chess exciting, the go player is every bit as excited about his game - once you hear go players talk about the game you realise just how much love and passion goes into it.
For me, I love the game above all games, but lately I have had precious little opportunities to play since I can't play online. I want to feel the stones in my hands, want to hear the sound they make when I put them down, I want to see my opponent - when I play online I just panic because I want to do well and play poorly.

Also, Hikaru no Go is one of my favourite mangas and the anime adaption is great (though it makes Akira seem quite a lot deal more aggressive and less sweet) - and believe it or not but when you are in the middle of a game and focus, it's every bit as exciting as the story tells you. It is truly a heart pounding experience! <3 If you have never played go, please try it!

This is me playing with a Chinese pro go player. It was a game of Shidougo (teaching game) on a tournament in Leksand some years ago.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Birthday

Today it's my birthday, and I'm turning whooping 27! O.O I'm starting to feel a bit old...!
It has been a lovely morning. <3 My beloved woke me up with singing, milk and pink sugar bisquits. <3 And presents! <3 She'd gotten me the softest little bunny she could find, and even went through the trouble of getting rose-flavoured Turkish Delight. <3

It is a quiet, lovely morning. <3

Tuesday 22 February 2011

First day of lectures

I just got home from a busy day holding lectures at a couple of libraries in how to draw manga. It was very fun but oh, so exhausting! To my delight I chose this day to wear my cuddly winter coat with the white, fake fur collar and cuffs - it was perfect this snowy, chilly day. <3 Only think I missed is that I probably should have brought a parasol, since I got snowflakes in my eyes... But they were so pretty I don't mind all that much. <3

Since it was long travels by bus I brought The Little White Horse with me - oh how I love that book. <3 It is so cute and lovely and I think that every Lolita should read it. <3 Because it is so lovely! <3

On a sidenote, it seems my artist's block has disappeared. I'm so happy! <3

Saturday 19 February 2011

Porcelain dolls and gloomy news

Yesterday I bought a new porcelain doll to my collection, my biggest so far! :D I had the luck to stumble upon a wholesale dealer and came across this pretty doll by a really good price. Her dress is awful, so my plan is to sew her a new one of course! <3
Here she is:


She has a very nice stand with a dark wooden platform, it's the best one I've seen so far. And I even got a cute straw hat with her since it had no owner. <3

On a more serious note my knee has started to act up again. The gritting of bone against bone is painful enough to keep me sitting and every move sends goose bumps up my spine. Ugh. >.<

Thursday 17 February 2011

Have you read Alice in Wonderland?

Alice in Wonderland seems to have been a great inspiration for lolitas worldwide for a very long time. The symbols from playing cards come again over and over again, and creepy little adorable details show up connected to it.Tea parties with Alice-theme is not at all uncommon!

I wonder, however, how many have actually read the book?

An odd question you might think, but it's not very strange at all! Most people have just watched some of the movie adaptions, or perhaps read the short-short-short version of it from a children's book. The book is something different entirely...
When I was around 11-12 I think, there was a game on the computers in our school which was based on the book. It followed the book very closely, and as I later watched movies I realised that quite a lot was missing. Like the lady with the pepper for example.
Alice in Wonderland is a strange book indeed, and a bit difficult to read at times since it is so strange, but I think that it is worth tracking down if you haven't.The local library is sure to have one or more copies, but as a fellow lolita you probably reach the same conclusion as me - a copy has to have its' place in the book case! <3

Monday 14 February 2011

The exhibition starts!

Today I had the joy to put up an exhibition with my things! <3 It was fun, and everyone was being so helpful. It was a little bit tricky to arrange the clothes, but... In the end it turned out all right, I believe. :) I didn't really know how to make people understand what was going on, but when I went down into the library and found their "stash" - lamps, christmas decorations and such - I also found pink paper.
So I cut small hearts with pieces of information on them and placed them in the exhibition cases. <3 It turned out quite cute! <3

Wish me luck all! <3

Also, I've bought new stickers! <3 They're so adorable! With icecreams, pastries, strawberries, waffles, rainbows, cakes, lollipops... All things adorable! <3

Thursday 10 February 2011

Hats, hats, hats!

I've made a basic hat, and now I'm completely stuck on what to decorate it with... I mean, how silly is that!? There should be hundreds of ways to decorate a hat. *whimpers* I was considering putting bows on it, but I wasn't happy with how it looked, so I thought maybe I could decorate it with roses...

Argh! This is such a ridiculous problem! ...maybe I should sell the hats without decorations and let people decorate themselves...

Thursday 3 February 2011

First corset now available!

Since I love pink I decided that the first corset would be pink! <3 I can make these quite easily in any possible color - this is just the first prototype. <3 And it was a major SUCCESS!


It looks absolutely gorgeous - and believe it or not but it's only 47 USD despite being boned at the sides and back! <3 It's the cheapest corset you'll ever find in this quality. <3 I took much of the inspiration from the theatre, and yes! It IS adjustable. <3 Don't you just adore it? <3
Wear this with a skirt to a party and you'll wow people. <3

Corset listed on Etsy.com

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Corsets and valentines

You know... I am truly grateful for all my friends. <3 You make me see possibilities I can't see myself, and I am truly grateful for that. :)

K got me around thinking about corsets and the variety of them. Of course...a 'real' corset is to expensive for most people. By real I mean a beautiful, boned corset with embroideries and lined with velvet, lace and/or silk or a period corset. A truly luxurious piece of art.
But it doesn't just stop there. Thinking about it, I've come up with a way to make corsets that are affordable for everyone. :) I've been working on a pattern today, so you will see a finished product hopefully tomorrow. It will be a sweet little thing, and it won't even be a tenth as expensive as a 'real' one.
Look forward to it! <3