Standing upside right

Fuck You Universe, I'm Going to Win

2013-11-25T00:39:12Z

I'm stressed. Unbelievably, unrealistically, horribly stressed. I'm tired. I'm bitter, I'm angry. And above all, I'm poor, which is about 99% of the issue.

I'm sick of being judged on my choices. I'm sick of being told what I should/shouldn't/could've done. I'm sick of it. Advice is one thing, but the badgering is entirely different. I don't need you telling me how I fucked up, why I should stop trying, or in the one fun case, the advice to kill myself. (I'm serious, heard that from someone on a singles site)

Do I want some instant fix? Sure, why wouldn't I? I'm smart, I'm capable, why am I not employable? Even at home? Why do you not want to hire me?

Do you think I enjoy getting disability? So that I can have yet one more person behind me in line at the grocery store grumble when I use my EBT card about how I'm "living free" on their taxes? I mean, the card doesn't swipe, the cashier has to type it in, everyone and their brother knows it's an EBT card and I've got food stamps. And god help me, there's food in there including the first steak I've had in probably 6 months. How fucking dare I. People on food stamps can have spaghetti. No meat. Sauce if you're a good girl. And don't even pretend to put that tilapia in your cart, Seafood? What? Do you think you are people you stupid poor person?

I've got a trailer that my wonderful grandfather helped me to get, and when I got it, it was lovely. Tarquin and I were so happy, we had far more space than we needed, nice floors, wonderful bright sunlight, we were happy.

Then the minor things began. First, the roof leaked. Then, we discovered giant orange mushrooms under the kitchen sink. Then the mold began and I got ill. Dangerously ill. I nearly died. Oh, hey, by the way, medical bills, on your tax dollars. Because I'm poor, and no real doctor will see you here if you've got medicaid. So off to the emergency room I go to have my lungs checked. And go ahead and ask me how my birthday went a year or so back. Yeah, that'd be the year my liver and pancreas finally had enough of my stress and shut down causing me to be in the ICU for a week and in the hospital for a month. Great weight loss program tho.

And then my son, has no other choice, no college for poor people, the NAVY will take him. So now I've got the one person I could count on being around, gone. Into Japan, for 5 years. Thanks government. And you wonder why I hate you. Might be because you hate me and my son.

Every winter in this trailer? No water. Because it'll freeze. No concrete pad here, directly on dirt, so the pipes freeze at the ground level. And sure, I could skirt, but I don't have $600 or better to put into skirting this place. I put $800 into a new kitchen and don't have counters or running water in there. What, you expect miracles? C'mon now. I've kinda reached passive aggressive about this entire water issue. In summer the pipes pop apart, in winter, they freeze. I've never had water continuously running here for longer than a month. Ever. Go ahead, check my references on that. And I haven't had a shower here in about a year. I shower at whichever friend is kind enough to come pick me up and let me be a clean poor person.

And then the hot water tank exploded, replaced by a smaller 6 gallon one, but hey, don't forget, water is froze. Personally, I think it was jealous that I call the leaking roof my "water feature" and it wanted to prove it could be the best water feature it could be. The little darling.

The bathroom in my room has a nice garden tub. Too bad I can't use it. Had to rip all the walls out and that including taking out the fixtures, and no being able to hire anyone to do walls and floors this time folks, I did it myself so of course, it looks like shit and still only about 3/4 done. That, by the way, has now cost me around $800 as well, the new water tank was actually a birthday gift. Did I mention the water froze?

"Well, move"

Yep, I'll get right on that. I can pack it all up, and have it all ready to go, the moving van should magically show up at the door because I just have to move, right? I can't pay for it or anything, do you take trades? I'm not above trading sex for a moving van at this point.

Hang on, this wand isn't working, are you sure that "accio u-haul" is the right spell?

Oh, and can I live in the van for a while? See, I pay $250 a month here, but since you said move, I should do that. I mean, I'm not really homeless, I'll just have the van drop me and my stuff off under the bridge and I'll build me a nice fort.

"Well, you've got that embroidery machine, and that couldn't have been cheap, you're not really running a business after all."

That's not because people like you surf, look, tell me how wonderful my stuff is, and then never buy it or anything. Nope. Has nothing to do with it at all. Entirely different thing. I need to just stop being creative and see if Walmart will let a bipolar fat chick with serious back problems work for them. I hear they treat their employees pretty good. At least I'll have health care, right? And I hear they even do can drives so their employees can eat.

By the way? That machine? Bought for me by, you guessed it, that young man protecting you in the NAVY. Also, I bargain shopped, machine was well under $400. Not that I need to justify that to a judgy mcjudgepants like you.

"Well, you've got internet, you can't be that bad off"

Yeah. My son pays for that, I have no cell phone, not even a flip phone, I spend around $200 a month on food, sometimes entirely out of my own pocket because my government that is for the people decided that I didn't need a week's worth of food and cut the food stamp budget.

I also have a 10 year old computer, and up until last week, an Acer netbook that decided life was too hard and died on me. Ever used one of those Walmart netbooks? I bet you realize it earned its death.

And I'm SUCH a gadget geek. You think I like having no awesome Droid, and a computer that sometimes decides not to work at all? Yep. LOVE IT.

But hey, thanks for that reminder that I'm dependent on a 21 year old guy defending you from a ship in the middle of the ocean and who should be in college and flirting with girls.

"Well, you said you're going to Japan in January"

Yup. I am. On my son's dime. Because my kid and I care about each other and he's just as depressed not to have his mom around. Of course I'd rather pay my own way. But I love my kid and of course I'm not going to pass up the chance to travel. Would you?? I'm not exactly going to be hitting up the Tokyo night clubs and gambling in Hong Kong. I expect a lot of it will be walking and sightseeing on my own two feet. Not to mention, public transportation.

"It can't be that bad financially for you, jeesh, stop whining"

I get around $800 disability, and I get no cash help from DSS (welfare), I have to pay my electric bill out of that $800, so yeah, I get a shut off notice every time I turn around. I get HEAP, but thanks again USA, it's delayed, and I can't fill the tank halfway, NYS law, so, nope, sorry. Not that heat will last long, don't forget, no skirting on the trailer.

Oh, and don't forget that $150 something in SNAP benefits that can't be used on things like toilet paper.

So no pets or anything, can't buy food, and good thing I don't smoke, altho I really should, at least I'd have a pleasure of some kind. And I'm not much of a drinker, I've had the same bottle of whiskey for months.

And no car. Even if I can afford the initial cost of the car, I don't have a license, and insurance, not to mention maintaining it and oh, yeah, gas. I get rides, or take public transport when I need to go someplace. I'm self reliant like that.

But please, tell me how you'd make it on less than a grand a month. I'm sure you can solve all my problems instantly.

Of course, this is all obviously my fault. I shouldn't have tried to improve my life 5 years back when I was so happy to get this place. Everyone knows, the poor are poor because they deserve to be.

"Alrighty then Jaie, feel better? Now what?"

I've had enough. I'm over it. I'll be slowly packing up my shit (once my fingers thaw) and storing it, and trying to scrape money together to buy a camper. Hopefully I'll have someplace to stash the camper so that I can stop living like I'm in a third world country. I want to be done with this place by September of 2014.

Do I think that's the best idea EVER? Sure don't. But I don't want to move out of NYS, I still love my home, I even love my country if I got down to the bare facts of it.

But I'm cold, I'm miserable, I'm tired of having to travel for a shower. I'm sick of struggling when the truth is, I don't really have to unless I want to. I gave this trailer 5 years. I've had help from a couple of the most wonderful people in my life, and had big help from another person who is my best friend. But these people have their own problems, and their own lives. My issues should not constantly be popping up and causing problems for them. I want them to come visit, be able to hang out, and not worry that they either are helping me with construction, or can't really hang out in my home because they're getting frostbite on their nose. I want a normal life even if it means living in a camper that is 18 feet long and is hooked up to a hose. I'd be warm, I'd be able to concentrate on things like losing weight, work on my business, saving up money so that when my son comes home, we can find someplace decent to live near each other.

"Is it all negative? You're so fucking depressing."

I do have good things, I know this has been a great big ball of negative, but really, I do. My health is better than it has been in 5 years, nothing is shutting down, I can breath without a lung collapsing, and I have a kid I'm incredibly proud of. I also feel I've come much farther with my creativity, and that I've been able to do very much with very little. I keep my home as clean as I can considering the issues, I am not going to find cat corpses when I clean out here, because I've slowly been getting rid of things, there's no paths here, there are wide open spaces.

I'm happy with the loves in my life, I have friends that I care deeply about, and I have family that I'm proud of in many ways. I've got the ability to use my brain, I've got thousands of books at my disposal, I am constantly learning.

And for a long time, I had a wonderful man in my life, in the form of a grandfather who made it clear that I could do anything I wanted. And I know that he'd be the last person to allow me to continue living like this. He'd tell me to get my ass out and change things. So that's what I'm gonna do.

"Duh" Moments

2012-07-27T08:36:04Z

You ever been looking on Etsy, and happened to think of something you wanted and in the next second, have a giant “duh, I'm a moron” moment? I had one tonight.

Among other things, I have a Blythe. Actually, she's a Basaak, which is the fake version of Blythe but having handled both, they're pretty darn close to equal. My doll, Æris, is really my filthy alter ego. But, never mind that. Point is, I love my little trampy doll, and I've made a few clothes for her, and she's got some fancy toys, including a fancy kotatsu from Rement. Everyone who knows me, knows Maude and Æris and give them their due as the household deities. These days, Maude is mostly retired. I've decided that while I adore the Obitsu bodies, there's just something endearing about that giant head and great big googly eyes. You can see Maude and Æris along with my mini Blythes, Michiru (Pet Shop) and Bia (Takara) on their own Facebook page along with seeing them here at Scale Adventures.

So, what is this about Etsy? Well, most know I sell on Etsy, as “Dirty Girl Designs”. Believe it or not, I don't do much doll stuff. I have little desire to do it like this, mostly because sewing clothes is a pain in the ass (even I mostly buy the clothes for my dolls) and I cast in resin and metal and shrink plastic so what possible skill could I use that for?

Duh. Pulls. See, Blythe have these little rings on them, they connect to a string that when you pull it, changes the eye color on the doll. I can not only make them out of resin, (which, there are actually several Etsy sellers who do this already) and I can make them from resin, and I can even cast them from metal if I'm feeling real ambitious. So keep watching, I'll soon be making and selling custom Blythe pulls!

Tags: Creating, Æris, Bia, Michi

The Ups and Downs to Shrink Plastic

2012-07-21T21:16:29Z

When things work out with me and shrink plastic, they work out VERY well. When they go wrong? They go VERY wrong.

So because this blog is about learning as much as my place to vent and yak my little fingers out, I'm going to go with the bad first.

Now, last year, I came up with a jointed doll that I dubbed the “Bondage Babes”. They're for the kinsters who shop at Dirty Girl Designs and I've never said otherwise. Sometimes those in the lifestyle like a more fun way to declare their interests and the Bondage Babes are still cute enough to be taken as just a casual necklace.

As you can see, they are super simple, they just have a protective glaze on them and have basic features. They aren't meant to be real detailed.

So, I decided that given the abilities of the inkjet shrink, I would computerize the BBs. Easy right? Well, yes and no. I figured it'd be hit or miss and it is still a work in progress, but my friend Bunnykissd who is a graphics genius (I very honestly try to avoid working with this sort of thing, let other, far more agile brains do this) took the babes and put a few bodies onto a page that I could print out and then cut out the bodies. Giving me several bodies to a page instead of stamping them out by hand. (my next step is to somehow get my Cricut cutter to do what I want for once and cut the Babes out) so yay for an easier life! And this morning she sent me a sheet with several bodies on it.

I was thrilled! I printed them out onto some regular paper and here's where I made my first mistake. I knew what the torso (including the head) measured. And I didn't measure my print. I was so eager I said “yay! Looks great! and used my last piece of inkjet shrink to print out the sheet of bodies.

Reader, I should have measured before printing. (yes, I'm reading Jane Eyre, bite me) Turned out that they are an inch too short. And with shrink plastic, this can make such a difference. There is no room for error. None.

Now, on the left, is a ruined Babe (ain't they all?) and on the right is the new Babe. Now, you can see, this difference is massive. Oh, I'm not crying in the corner, I am a little upset, with myself, not with the Babe or the graphic, I should have measured first before printing onto the precious shrink. I also don't feel this is a massive issue, just annoying. I can't work with this size, not at pre-shrunk size, that's fine, but at shrunk size, this is tiny for things like jump rings. I'll probably just print on the other side some rings that I can sell as “oops” because of the dolls printed on the back. I'll figure something out. This does show how crucial size is in shrink plastic. So the Babes will be delayed until Bunny and I can figure this out.

Now, onto the good.

So I've been doing buttons with my inkjet shrink, I'm now officially out and will be trying another brand. I still feel Shrink Dinks brand is way too expensive and am trying a couple sheets of the Grafix brand, that I can buy in packs of 50. Yes, I'm semi converted to the inkjet instead of the hit or miss of printing on regular shrink. I'll still be using regular shrink, but whatever that coating is, it makes it worth the $2 a sheet.

Now, my deep love in crafting is metal and resin. I love both. But there is an instant gratification to shrink plastic that I can't deny. It also impresses people, when it shouldn't really, that you are far more creative than you really are.

Buttons are easy. I can't stress this enough. I find images I want, get them into the shape that works, and punch them out with a 2” punch. I then punch holes and then shrink. I add UTEE and then sand and drill. Done. Not complicated. In fact I feel pretty guilty for charging $2 each for buttons but I've had several people tell me that if anything, I'm not charging enough. I've looked at other buttons made of shrink plastic and sometimes I tend to agree. Don't get me wrong, hand made art and drawing it yourself generally beat computer images hands down, but that's if they are good. And what I've seen being charged $3 each for? Ain't good.

I'm unsure if I'll sell many buttons one at a time, I plan on keeping them in groups of 6 for the $12. I feel most people want at least 6, and yes, $12 is a bit much for buttons, but I also feel you aren't likely to go to JoAnn Fabrics (there, just two buttons can run you $15 if you follow that link) and find Elizabeth Tudor portrait buttons.

Yeah. You heard me. Elizabeth Tudor. (yes, she became Elizabeth I of England later)

A friend and fellow SCAdian (again with SCAdian friends wanting buttons!) had admired what I'd done so far when I mentioned that I'd intended on doing some of Elizabeth I of England. She began to squeal. The “meat colored dress” portrait was our favorite. Even better, she wanted the buttons for a mundane (non SCA) sweater. So I ran up a sheet of 12 fairly quickly.

You can see why lots of people love this Flemish School painting of the young Elizabeth Tudor. The composed young ginger here is clearly secure, yet at the same time, vulnerable. Not yet the rigid, scarred and scary queen she later became. Her salmon colored dress is pretty, and you can see she has her mother's graceful neck (if still intact, unlike her mother's)

This is a case of when it works, it works great. I'm nearly out of ink in my printer, but you know what's nice with shrink plastic? Inkjet or regular, colors get stronger and darker when you bake. So while there is some variation in these buttons, it doesn't subtract from them in any way.

I really can't wait to do these “portrait” buttons with shanks. Without anything to detract from the design (the holes) the full glory of portraits like these will be amazing. I also intend on experimenting with crystals around the edges to get a more lush appearance. Think of the old miniatures with pearls or gems around the edges and you'll have an idea. But at the same time, the buttons with holes are still good, after all, for a kid's sweater, they'll be on firmly. Shank buttons aren't always the firmest of things.

So there's without a doubt good and bad runs with projects, I mean, mistakes I make with resin and metal casting are epic at times. Metal I can luckily re-melt, resin mistakes are pretty harsh, there's no fixing those. Shrink plastic however, because its so cheap (well, the non inkjet variety anyhow) mistakes are more lessons in swearing. I'm annoyed, but I can move on fairly easily.

To Brand or Not to Brand

2012-07-15T04:06:29Z

So I have a bit of a conundrum. Nothing major, not even that exciting really, but to me, important.

So I do all sorts of things with shrink plastic. Buttons, rings, and even dollhouse chairs. Some of my stuff is drawn or hand colored, but a lot of stuff is done with a printer. But don't underestimate how much work goes into something. It's actually pretty consuming work. For example, this is how buttons are done:

Find a vector image. I either use Vector Stock or CDs from the Dover Clip Art Collection. Vector just means I can size to the 3.12” I need to be able to punch it out with my 2” punch and not have it distort.

If it isn't a vector image (say a photo or other custom work) I have to resize it so it'll not distort badly when it shrinks. (insert some pretty impress cursing here, and I'm not kidding, my cursing is impressive)

For buttons like the Russian buttons, I have to use the one images and cover an entire sheet while resizing and not having the image distort.

Sit and punch 12–20 buttons out by hand (swear more as my eyes glaze over and my hand cramps)

Punch button holes, 2 per button (I'm looking into getting a fancy punch to do this step) (really swear as I rip my template for the holes or images don't line up)

Bake (at this time of year in high heats) the buttons and make sure I don't over melt them and let them cool (swear some more as I pull hot buttons off the oven rack)

Sprinkle UTEE powder on the now baked buttons. This gives them dimension and a hard coating, I've gotten smart with this and keep my UTEE in a salt shaker and sprinkle it on evenly

Make sure the UTEE doesn't burn, It melts fairly fast and burns even quicker which can discolor a button (scream and throw things when I inevitably burn something because I was distracted by shiny objects)

Let the buttons cool again (in a rush, stuff in freezer)

Gently sand any excess UTEE off the sides of the buttons (shudder helplessly when the stupid emery board hits your nail and feels like squeaking chalk on a chalkboard)

Drill out button holes, since the UTEE has covered these (sob hysterically when you put the micro drill thru a finger)

Wash the buttons in warm water (this helps to soothe the stab wound as well)

Mount on a card or package for sale (be sure to drop buttons at least 6X while trying to mount them to the mother f*c*ing da**ed card)

List on Etsy (a tedious process, taking as long as 10 minutes per listing) (curse when connection drops and you have to start all over)

Mail to new owner, this means taking the bus into town, or walking 6 miles (yep, I do that) or caging a ride with someone (listen to customers whine because you didn't mail out their special buttons they needed THIS Saturday but ordered on Tuesday, oh and then demanded and received free shipping)

Collapse with relief that something sold (very important step)

So what's the big deal with branding then? Well, back in the 80's when my father was welding for a place that built phone booths, he'd someplace put in his initials “HJJ”. It was only in a way he knew, and he apparently recognized a few of his booths far away from where we live here in Upstate NY. So wanting to leave my mark is clearly genetic. Of course, good luck finding a phone booth these days.

Now, white shrink is awesome. It has clarity, and the inkjet stuff shows even the smallest of detail. Adding the UTEE makes it pop even more. So I don't want a brand on the front of a piece. But, I feel that putting my mark on the back isn't a big deal. Or a pendant, or a white ring. With clear and translucent, I try to find another way to mark my item. I'm seriously considering stickers as well. For my rings I sometimes try to put “DGD” (Dirty Girl Designs) or my initials “JMJ” someplace on the piece, with the computer or by hand. It's normally tiny and not easy to find.

With anything white, it's different. I do an all over repeating text of my Etsy address. “dirtygirldesigns.etsy.com”. Such as on the back of this button.

I am not trying to “copyright” “trademark” or “registered” my item. Not at all. First, I'm hardly the only person to do shrink plastic buttons or rings. Nor am I even close to half as talented as some of the other creators out there. Hell, I use images and I print. I still feel however, I do a lot of work and I want people to know where it came from. The name on the button is not visible, nor on the back of a white ring will you see the repeating design.

So, as an Etsy artist, do you mark your item? And on the flip side, as a customer, would you find my branding offensive? Or does it detract from your desire for the item?

Inkjet Shrink Plastic vs Regular Shrink

2012-07-14T06:51:42Z

I got a surprise commission today, but it gave me a chance to do some serious experimenting. I'd worked a couple times with inkjet shrink plastic but not in any depth really so I won't claim I know the stuff beyond avoiding it because it is insanely expensive. But anyhow, an old friend had seen my buttons and asked if I could do some custom buttons, he wanted some for an SCA event, and I said “sure no problem”. Well, some rough starts later, including some miscommunication on the image he wanted used, I finally thought I had the images in the right place for being punched out with my Fiskars 2” punch. And yes, I did. I did a test run on some plain paper with grey scale (I hate wasting color ink) and the test turned out great. I knew however that I really didn't want to do these on clear shrink plastic, which was all I had left. So when he asked, I told him that translucent or white shrink plastic would be best. Now, normally, I'd have hopped up onto Lucky Squirrel and ordered a big pack of white. But, he was in a rush (he wants these by Thursday) so I sent him to Hobby Lobby. I figured he'd just get a pack of white, he only needs 30 buttons after all. But when he arrived, he'd bought 2 packages of white, and 2 packages of the inkjet shrink. To my delight, he said to keep them and just see what I could do with them. I actually really wanted him to take back the 3 packages leaving me just one of the inkjet, but he's that kind of guy. So thank you Terry. I owe you. So, my biggest drawback to the inkjet shrink plastic so far? Cost. Because it has a special coating of some kind, at Hobby Lobby, it is $12.99 for 6 sheets. That means each sheet costs a little over $2 each. Owie. (and 6 sheets at Hobby Lobby of Bright White is around $5 compared to my $13.99 for 24 sheets at LS) break this down a bit further, and it's around 18 cents per button. Which isn't terrible, and sometimes I can get more than 12 buttons off a sheet, but 12 is about average. So is it worth that? Well, yes and no. The idea of paying $13 for 6 sheets of plastic causes me to cringe. I admit it. I'd have never bought those sheets, much less 2 packs. Theory says one package will give me at least 72 buttons. And yes, you just keep breaking this down. I sell sets of 6 buttons for $8–$12 per set, depending. Now how about the printing right? I have to admit. Wow. Just, wow. Now, as I've said before, you can print using a printer on regular shrink. You need to sand the hell out of it. On this stuff, nope. And part of the issue here is white versus clear, so keep that in mind too. The biggest advantage I see is that when I touch a button or pendant, it's not smearing halfway to hell when I touch it out of the printer. The inkjet can be touched instantly. That saves me time in a lot of ways. So that feature, yes, makes the cost worth it. Now, lets have some comparison pictures shall we?

This is translucent and clear in the Russian buttons, and one of my “mistake” buttons for my friend. The “mistake” button is clear shrink with some glazing on it to create dimension.

See what I mean? First, the white really makes the colors pop. Big time. And the lines are far more crisp. Amazing. The second picture shows the glazing added, I'll be hitting the sides with an emery board to remove the doming material, along with drilling into the holes to free those up again. In real life the button is a more ivory color. Now, while I think the clear domed buttons look great, the white looks amazing. Here's another good example. Both are Russian Button, the 4 done on translucent, the second set done on white inkjet.

Now, don't get me wrong, my friend Bunny does some sick photography, but the fact is, these look amazing on white shrink. I can't wait to dome these and really make them just explode with vibrancy. I really am looking forward to trying some pendants and some rings with both the white and the inkjet. So my end opinion? Is the inkjet stuff worth it? I'm torn. I really am. I think in the logical part of my head, I accept that the cost isn't that bad when you break it down, I can get several pendants, rings, buttons or what have you on one sheet, which means at $2 a sheet, each piece costs pennies to make. (not including ink from the printer and adding things like chains or other things) but then there's this part of me (thank you Scotch grandparents) that flinches at the idea of paying $13 for 6 sheets of plastic. I think in the end I'll be buying the inkjet stuff occasionally and using the white 99% of the time for things like the buttons no matter if its inkjet or just plain white shrink from LS.

Updating -Finally

2012-07-14T05:43:54Z

So I haven't updated in forever, and realized, I very much need to. I do update my blog over to Wordpress on occasion, but I haven't been doing any of the three very much. And I need to. While Facebook can be great, its not the place for venting as I do. And I don't do BDSM posts here anymore, I do them up on Fetlife.

Basically, not much going on. (such a sad commentary on life eh?) Reading, and making stuff for the Etsy shop (another post on that later I think)

Anyhow, yes, still alive. Is Livejournal?

Dress Diary - Dirndl Lolita Dress

2012-03-12T21:18:11Z

Well, I finally want to sew again, although it might go slowly until I have fabric and stuff. So this entry is only going to be about my plans, and most of the progress may wind up on Facebook. I haven't decided yet.

OK, so I'm going to attempt what is called in the land of Lolita, a "JSK" which is a jumper style dress. I have no idea right now on fabric, other than this first attempt will be whatever is cheapest. If it works, I'll be investing in some serious Lolita fabric.

I noticed a long time ago, Lolita dresses look somewhat like dirndl. Not tons, there's basics to change, but in general, it's the same shape.

So, I've decided to use a pattern. And sadly, there are no patterns for Lolita clothing really except for in the Gothic Lolita Bibles which are expensive ($30 and up as high as $100 for certain issues) plus, the sizes aren't exactly on the large side for my 44" bust line.

Burda Style has a fairly decent dirndl pattern on their download site. They also carry a couple of paper patterns that are actually nice too, and it's not just the same pattern over and over, there's actually some variation to the bodice styles. The online pattern is the Wiesn Dindl #6038 and well worth the $4.00 because it goes quite large. (up to a US 22)

So, how do I come to the conclusion that Lolita and Dirndl have anything in common? Check out this old post on EGL. So, I'll be using the bodice, making the skirt shorter and slightly fuller, I may in fact use the bodice and then the skirt from McCall's 5631 which is I assure you, a Lolita skirt.

I had this printed at the copy shop by the way. In total about $16. Which about as much as I'd have spent on any other pattern since you aren't likely to find a dirndl pattern in the 99 cent Joanne Fabrics sale. So it about evens out with print at home patterns and commercial ones. Sometimes I save, other times I don't. What was nice was, they didn't have regular paper (it's thick white paper normally) all he had was parchment, so to the gasps of SCAdian scrollers the world over, my sewing pattern is on a 8 foot piece of vellum.

Tohoku Tote

2012-01-18T23:29:15Z

I made a purse, that's nearly done, from a pattern from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar's "Tohoku Tote" which I figured was a pretty cute bag, and I've been on a kick with making purses. So far so good, I need to head back to the fabric store and pick up more of the green, I thought I had plenty, but when I did the straps, they are far too short at 20" long, they really need to be the 24" she suggests.

First thing is she suggests pleating before cutting, I have no idea how the heck she does that so I cut first, then pleated.

After you sew all the way around of the outside of the bag, you then go in 2 inches and create a "box", this is one of those little, easy to do things that IMO creates a far more professional looking bag. I also did this bag with heavier than normal interfacing which I have to admit, I'm not keen on. I did another purse recently with Peltex and even compared to that stuff, this stuff is rigid. I'm hoping with washing it'll loosen up.

I did a bow in the same teal as the upper border, I hate working with satin just for the record. I still have to do this bow, it looks awful.

This is the outside of the bag with the liner inserted. The liner for some reason is larger than the outside, I guess that's normal, when I think about it, the liner on a factory purse is slightly larger if you pull the bag inside out. I also lined this and I regret that. When I do this bag again, I think I might try lining just the outer bag, this bag is really stiff. (giggity)

I got all fancy and used purse snaps. These are magnetic and you just put them in the fabric (these were sharp enough to just poke through) put the back on and open the brads to hold them in place. Again, it's this little detail that I think makes the bag look a lot more finished.

Without straps and with. See what I mean by the straps are too short? Most women I know want the straps to go over their shoulder so that the bag hangs slightly below the shoulder area. And yes, this is a BIG bag. It's about 15" high and 15" wide (it's not really square however) half the time people are impressed if I carry a wallet so obviously there's a good chance I won't be keeping this bag.

I do still have to actually sew the liner to the bag but I want to wait until I have some better straps. I still have to figure out this bow's issues as well.

So, long run? It's a fun and fairly easy pattern to work with. You do have to do some top stitching on that upper border, and I used (and will be using more) "invisible" thread, or the nylon stuff so that it blended in. I have two colors of thread, white and purple, plus, I feel using the nylon stuff makes the bag look more "store bought".

Fishy fishy by the Sea...

2011-12-26T23:22:53Z

Well, not really. But since I'm sitting here waiting for some smelt to cook up, I figured I'd post.

Nothing really going on. Xmas was it's typical thing that I'm rarely into. I'd rather give my gifts to those I care about year round, not just one day a year. Now, Festivus on the other hand, well, I could totally get behind that concept.

But, I received a couple pairs of new sewing scissors, which was great because mine are hosed. Cutting fabric was really just chewing it apart. I spent more time ripping it than actually cutting it. First person who tries cutting anything but fabric with these will get stabbed with them.

I also received some spring form pans which makes me pretty happy. I like making icebox cake and that's a pain to do without a pan. I think as stuff gets done here I'll be building up my kitchen needs. Really, I have nothing except for some pans. Which has always worked, but it's hardly enjoyable.

I've been making purses lately. I also decided while making said purses, that a new machine in 2012 is mandatory. I'm finding myself more and more limited in what I can do with my machine, a White Rotary. It goes forwards, and it goes backwards. And that's it. The bobbin winder is also fairly hosed and winding a bobbin is a bit of a nightmare. After some searching around, the machine I like is the Brother Project Runway Embroidery Machine. While I could care less about Project Runway, I do like that this is a decent machine and I can download patterns for it to embroider without a 5 grand price tag. Or it'll be the SE 400. It just depends what I find cheaper, apparently they are the same machine.

Tarquin is doing well, he apparently did his boot camp "accelerated" and he's out faster and headed to A school. He also still hates Hello Kitty.

The Trailer Situation

2011-12-22T16:59:08Z

As some may know, my trailer is the bane of my existence. It was bought on the understanding that is was an improvement on That 70's Trailer and it wasn't. Not by any stretch. First was the mold that began to appear the second winter in it. Then a separation between the push-out and the main part to the trailer reared it's ugly head. So for about 2 years now, I've dealt with no running water, a major leak inside, no walls, no cabinets in the kitchen, and just in general a ghetto appearance that has been more than depressing and a small contributor to an already fragile immune system.

When Tarquin went into boot camp for the NAVY, we had discussed what to do. Tarquin being Tarquin, he was supportive of any decision I decided to make. Another trailer was discussed, buying a house was discussed, or renovating this place. No matter what I decide, he will be helping me out financially with the decision since he assumes even when he's done with his career in the NAVY, he'll be living with me.

After talking to friends and family, I know that really, I can do any of those things. But, I have made the decision to stay. I've decided that while renovating may cost a bit, it's still cheaper than a down payment on a house or new trailer. I will still be watching for bargains in the housing and land market however. But, I have a low estimate so far on doing this place up of about $2500 and high estimate of 5 grand, both of which are still cheap considering that house or land can run $10 grand at minimum just for a down payment.

So, at some point I'll be taking measurements, hauling out my Google Sketch Up and designing the trailer again. I've never bothered with doing that, not because of any good reason, but because I had assumed it would always be like it is (room wise, not design wise) and I'm seeing it as my great chance to prove my design skills. I have a few ideas, some of them good, some not so much.

While I still want a micro house, even they aren't cheap, running about $45 a square foot, and I can still do it, but while I try to do that, I may as well have someplace comfortable to live correct?

In Which We Learn Michiru Has a Sister

2011-11-07T01:43:22Z

Nothing much in the dollhouse world. Little projects here and there and that's about it. Oh, wait. I do have a new girl coming for the house. Unlike Michi this is a "real" Blythe. As in, she can be customized unlike Michi. Not that I will, it's more likely I'll just make sure she and Michi have some nice new clothes. She's got no name yet. We'll see when she gets here. She's a Petite Blythe Totally Tartan and no, I didn't pay even close to that for her.

In other Blythe news, I have a head coming. It's a Basaak head and I'm so OK with that I'm reverse snobbery about it. Much as I'd love a "real" Blythe again at some point, they are investment dolls. I have to get this new head a body, I'm thinking another body like Maude's would be great and is my goal. I also have two extra heads coming for Obitsus. One is the 60cm but it and a 27cm head were only $7 so I grabbed them.

So this winter will hopefully mean some dolls and more on the crafting front. I'm thinking of making a bunch of glitter houses for swaps and extra gifts. I have to gather up my cardboard soon I suppose.

And yes, Tarquin (aka Pookie) is currently in boot camp for the US NAVY. Anyone who wants his address to send him mail, I'm sure he'd be very pleased. Just ask and I'll send it to you.

I have a favor

2011-09-12T18:40:37Z

I've entered a contest sponsored by IKEA USA my all time favorite place. (sadly they are not in our area) For $1,000 though, I'm willing to go to even New Jersey. Please, please, vote for me.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Trailer-Trashed/

Please take a few seconds to vote!

Petite Princess Love

2011-06-30T17:09:26Z

As you might know more from personal experience than my blogging I'm a huge fan of the Petite Princess line. I only had three pieces though.

Recently I had remarked that my girlfriend had found a house in her garage attic and wanted to furnish it. I wanted to put in Arcade but she's actually starting to really eyeball the Tootsie Toy stuff and I mentioned in passing how I really liked PP. It's not to her taste though. But, a fellow group member says, "hey, I have extras give me shipping and they are your's. I figured one or two pieces. Nope. Check out what she sent.

As you can imagine, I'm giddy. I never expected this. So thank you to Maureen Fukushima from the Dream Dollhouses group on Yahoo. She really shook me out of some really bad depression with this.

Cross posted http://scaleadventures.blogspot.com/

Yard Work

2011-06-19T20:43:32Z

So I managed to get a ton of yard work done with the help of Tarquin and two of his friends. Took a couple days but now all that needs to be done in that part of the yard is stump removal. The sumac really took over in that area. Hopefully we can get a couple more tools we need to work on more like a mower and a weed whacker. I currently have a machete and that really wiped out a lot of the mess so that we could get to the ground underneath.

So now I need to decide what to do with this new area. See, the brush that was there took up over 40 sq ft of space. It was pretty bad. It now makes the yard more even (or will when there is finally grass there)

There were some added benefits to cleaning it out.

The yard is more even. Before, I had sort of a choppy yard. When I moved in I became sick so I really didn't care, but now I'm outside more and I want as much of the yard as I can. I am not a fan of this "let it grow wild" shit. I have woods if I want it wild. (I ever mention I'm a huge fan of William and Mary style gardens?) But with this brush area gone the yard is now more square with and even. I'm not missing a massive chunk of front yard.

The dirt under there? Like silk. Rich and full of rotted vegetation that hadn't been cleaned out in the times I've been here. Unreal. That'll be dug up and moved into my raised garden bed I hope to grab Tuesday.

This is some of it. You can see it's pretty close to the trailer so really, it's usable as an outdoor living area. And no, I'm not speaking of the area in front of the propane tank. I'm speaking of what is to the left near that shed/outhouse.

THIS is the area. I consider from the pole back to the trailer "my" area. It's pretty much the center between the two trailers. (there is a single wide in front of mine) so while I cleaned the entire thing out and will finish doing so, I will only be maintaining what is from the pole back to my place.

I'm debating making a patio area. I was planning on putting my wood stove and a smoke house there, but I've changed my mind (of course) I think the back yard needs to be attacked next.

This is the back yard. As you can see, it's a real mess. By the way, that's my new compost pile you see there. But I think this is where my new smokehouse and the chicken coop are going to go. We're still waiting on pallets to build both things. And again, I really loathe the idea of a wild free range yard. Yards are cultivated. Lawns are cultivated. A wild mess belongs someplace else. I will be keeping a lot of what is here, but for the most part it will be squared off and will match what was behind my old trailer. This will make the lawn more square all over as opposed to cultivated on the right and sinister on the left.

The good news is that the trail that overgrew during my three years of being so sick has been attacked with the machete. So hopefully it'll be mowed better.

I think the sambucus trees are going to produce a lot thanks to all the rain this year. I need to clean this tree out though so we can get to it easier. There are a couple of these in the yard.

And the blackcaps (black raspberries for those convinced these are raspberries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis ) I think the rains are going to give record berries. But this is more stuff that needs to be cleaned up and organized. The berries luckily I think I know what I can do, it was done years ago on old orchards, a type of trellis. But there are so many I'd rather cultivate them and at the very least gather tons of berries to can, freeze etc. Selling them would just be a bonus.

So, I really need the lawnmower, the weed whacker, and I wouldn't turn down more machetes and a chainsaw that isn't electric. I do have a rider but it's never run and really I should junk it but I've got faith it can be fixed.

jaie @ 2011-06-16T12:51:00

2011-06-16T16:51:43Z

I've had so much going with the start of summer I've done very little work. Everything has been put on hold for other obligations, so I haven't done half of what I wanted to for my Etsy Shop.

I did manage to change the banner (which after I finish this post I will be done here with the new header as well).

I want to concentrate on a few things. I feel that until I have the printer up and running, I want to back off from shrink plastic creations. I'm unsure just yet what this will be, but it won't be sewing I'm sure.

So, keep posted, I haven't stopped blogging or crafting, it's just been slow here.

jaie @ 2011-05-04T10:57:00

2011-05-04T14:57:53Z

I get asked a lot if I work, have a job etc. The easy answer? Nope. I don't. I had this really fantastic nervous breakdown a while back, (which I don't suggest unless you're a true masochist) and since then haven't had to work a traditional job. I'm smart, I've finished high school, even done some college. Do I have assorted degrees? Sure don't.

Yep it was a doozy of a breakdown. And feel free to judge me. I certainly do. Only fair others should. The more complicated answer? I do have a job. Several in fact. I do keep my home clean (I own it oddly enough) I educate myself, I also run an Etsy shop, and write freelance articles. I also have about 500 other hobbies that keep me busy and even make money for myself. Am I rolling in it? Nope. I live on less than a grand a month. Does it bother me? Sometimes.

Rough night and thoughts on shrink plastic rings

2011-04-29T01:15:56Z

An eventful night for me. I began getting stomach pains in the evening, and wound up in the ER in hellish amount of pain. By 1:30 AM they had filled me full of morphine and I slept until 6 when the pain began to start up again. More morphine, and I went home. Gall bladder has to come out and I got to talk to the surgeon on Monday. I've got percoset and some other pain meds, but I haven't had a twinge since this morning.

Other news, more of crafting nature, I attempted a shrink plastic ring. I'd found a tutorial but it wasn't much of one. I found a couple more though and I'm going to give it another try I'd like to do two different ring styles. One where teh entire ring is shrink plastic, the second a design glued to a ring base. I think that'll give me variety.

I also decided to purchase ring bases, just adjustable rings with a platform you can use for putting stones or beads. I was going to get a basic split ring base then I was confused as to what size meant what, but since I already know I want to work with split rings, as opposed to set sizes, and these are so cheap per 100, I can get a couple different sizes a long with the earring findings I was going to get.

I was also reading one of the tutorials when something she said about a mandrel clicked in my head. If I can figure out the dimensions you need to cut each ring then a sizing mandrel would be a good thing to have to wrap the heated plastic around to make the ring that much closer to that size. So a size 8 would be cut at however many inches then fitted into a hopefully size 8 circle. Mandrels are fairly cheap so getting one'll be easy. Plus, a mandrel will make polishing the ring that much easier.

I've seen a lot of shrink jewelry, some of it not very good at all, but I haven't seen many rings. Thank goodness kitsch is in I suppose.

jaie @ 2011-04-27T16:54:00

2011-04-27T20:54:42Z

I'm trying to work myself into a schedule so that I'm giving my Etsy the full attention it needs to make it.

I've decided on the following tentative schedule. Tentative because I still have a few supplies I'm short on.

Monday - Shrink plastic 10 pieces
Monday - Candy 20 pieces

Tuesday - Sewing 6 pieces
Tuesday - Crafting 4 pieces

Wednesday - Metal work 29 pieces

Wednesday -

Thursday and Friday are listing days.

Today I used up what was left of some shrink plastic to attempt rings. Terrible. The formula is that each product shrinks 1/3. I had wanted to do a cuff bracelet, but after measuring my wrist and multiply by three I did not have. The second one committed suicide a la the ballerina in The Steadfast Tin Soldier. So I made a pendant instead, which is so freaking ugly I refuse to share it.

I'm down to then last of the organizing. I need to put all the hobbies together, I'm pretty tired of having to get the metal crafting tools from two closets or the doll-house supplies from two separate rooms, so I'll be making sure they are together as neatly as possible. I really need better shelving and containers.

jaie @ 2011-04-27T07:23:00

2011-04-27T11:23:58Z

So yesterday I decided to take off and go to a friend's house. So, I'm there now taking a break from what was left to clean. Which wasn't much. But, I kind of needed the break and she needed the company. Of course, I'll probably head home to a gallon of water all over the floor. Small price to pay I guess, at least now it's just hitting clean floor and not a cabinet. I do wish this rain would stop.

I'm debating bringing my picnic table into the house. It's a good sized table, (needs paint kinda bad) but I've used it before for crafts. I just hate bringing yet one more piece of furniture inside, but with this weather, I can hardly work outside.

So now that I have my new tools, I think my next will be a small nailer. Maybe a router. The Dremel has a routing ability, but until I figure it out, who knows. It probably isn't deep enough to do bigger woodwork, like dollhouses or bookcases. Nailer would be handy for those projects when I get to them.

Waiting to see what this weather does. If it's clear I might be able to start on yard work once the house is considered clean enough.

jaie @ 2011-04-26T08:44:00

2011-04-26T12:44:33Z

More cleaning today. I've made vast inroads into what was left. I've spent the last 4 months cleaning, so when I say "I'm cleaning" it really means I'm just going through the last of things. I now have a (mostly) clean spare room, a living room that takes all of 10 minutes tops to clean, and we can sit in the dining area if we choose. Most of what I've been doing is getting rid of more crap. This is all in aid of putting my stuff on a diet.

The skunks attacked again last night. I've so far tried mothballs, ammonia and now I'm going to make a pepper spray that I've heard has good results. It gets so bad I get woke out of sound sleep by the smell and it lingers for an entire day. Little fuckers. Seriously want to decapitate some skunks.

Weird dreams last night. Someone apologizing, which left me in no doubt when I woke up it was just a dream.

I'm hoping I'll be done today with what's left for the trailer, I even have most of the yard done so I can sit back, and just quietly work on projects without having to worry that people can't walk in the kitchen. I'm hoping to be able to put in some kind of work area before too much longer but other stuff has a priority right now, and I can work at the table.

Moto-Shop FINALLY

2011-04-26T02:28:47Z

So I'm feeling pretty good tonight, no net all day (ah the pitfalls of a sketchy connection) but when I finally did get on I learned to my delight that the Moto-Shop I've wanted for ages is finally mine. I had seen one on an eBay auction but as we all know, eBay can sometimes get out of control. This was such an amazing set that I worried I'd have to pay my highest bid for it. But either it was a buyer put in there to pump up the price, or they just weren't into it as much as they thought, I was able to snipe the auction (yup, totally cheated) for only a few dollars higher than my original bid. It is a working unit, and with all the attachments I believe the moto-shop ever had. Or damn close to it. There is also (for me) a second Dremel, I'm unsure if it is the one that specifically hooks up to the Moto-Shop, or if this is one I can get rid of to bunnykissd who has wanted one for as long as I have.

The other nice thing is that those propellers you see are of no use at all to me. I've never been into model planes. Luckily, that hobby has its own geek following so I know I can move them back out and, I happen to know those are higher end parts so I know I can make a nice little chunk of change and hopefully pay for my own investment.

I'm pretty darn excited to now have this. I can not only cut up doll furniture, but obviously other wood crafts and can even use it on household stuff like molding that will have to go in eventually. This isn't a one use toy that's for sure.

jaie @ 2011-04-25T09:16:00

2011-04-25T13:16:51Z

For my own reference today.

Kitchen:
~~Clean off table~~
Sweep floor
Move cabinets
Clean Fridge

Living Room

Pick up
Vacuum
Dust
Fix books up
Clean up the 5 million wires that _tarquin_ has all over the place

Clean front hall
Clean back hall

Pick up more yard

Get craft crap in one place
Get listed items into one box

jaie @ 2011-04-24T22:04:00

2011-04-25T02:04:49Z

So I have a new toy.

That's right bitches, it's a Dremel. Lust over it's many heads. My grandfather gave me this and I am so excited it's disturbing. My next goal, is a Dremel Moto-Shop another toy I've lusted over for years. Yeah, they're like 30 years old but let me tell you, you can't ask for a my solid reliable set of tools. As the jealous bunnykissd will tell you, this bad boy can drill through rocks. It's such a good device and line of tools, that you can still get not only parts, but things like sanding discs and the like. I plan on doing some doll house furniture with this bad boy. I've got a fake Duncan Phyfe chair for Maud that has been sitting because I lacked the proper tools to fine finish it. This one needs a bit of cleaning, and an oiling would not hurt it, but I've already trimmed some metal with it. This is a tool that requires finesse that is for sure. This isn't a variable speed one, but I'm OK with that!

Etsy has been going well. No sales yet but reaction to my products has been good. And I haven't wound up on Regretsy so kudos to me! Tonight and tomorrow are the days for sitting down, making lists and making sure I'm organized. I've done it wrong before, and can't anymore. This has to be an actual effort. So a few days of cleaning, setting up a dedicated work space, although I totally refuse to have a craft room, and making sure things are where I can find them. Its going to be a process but since I have more than half the cleaning done, it won't be real hard. I'm giving myself this week to get things cleaned up and then after that I spend time creating and listing. Who knows, I might even crack out the etching plate and muse.

jaie @ 2011-04-23T09:04:00

2011-04-23T13:04:27Z

So this one is the fault of heatermcca who has a downright foul mouth given the chance.

jaie @ 2011-04-23T07:42:00

2011-04-23T11:42:34Z

I've been spending a lot of time in my room. A few reasons, it's where my signal is, it's a room I can shut off and heat up. The weather still continues, cold gross and foul and we've even had snow a few times just in the last week. So the house is cold, clammy and damp. But, I nhad an idea for the area right in front of my window. I'd like to turn it into a private garden complete with mirrors. The area would be fairly easy to fence off, I even have a couple pieces of fence I can use. But it's a nice little area. Shame to let it go to waste. Of course, not much will change if this weather doesn't stop it's bullshit.

Reaction to the shirts I have laid out so far has been excellent. I think bunnykissd was a hair (or is it hare) disturbed by the one I did referencing a Massengil commercial, but what can you do, when the muse calls, one must answer. The printer situation has me exceptionally annoyed right now. As I said to someone, it also doesn't help that ink and gasoline seem to being to try and keep pace in price.