sketchy-angel

[sketchy-angel]

Custom Hualian dolls

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

I started this project in February 2022. I originally made a Puqi Shrine diorama out of an old cardboard box. I still have it and I'll post it soon after I make some minor alterations. I just really wanted to share these 2 since I spent so much effort on them.

Back then, I purchased 2 Obitsu 11cm dolls. I bought them on Aliexpress but judging by the packaging and the fact they were around $15 each I'm pretty sure they're legit.

In this blog I'll talk a bit about the process for those unfamiliar with doll customizing and everyone else who is interested in the process. I'm a doll collector but my customizing skills are very rudimentary and mostly rely on winging it and hoping for the best.

And my motto during this process was "nobody's gonna see the back."

I made the prototype clothes back in 2022 and the stitching was ass. And it took me until last week to gather enough courage to start working on the wigs. I originally purchased very cheap doll hair but it refused to cooperate and I decided to use felt instead.

. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊ . 𓇢𓆸

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His clothes were already basically done when I started over. I added the red ribbon details, added the flower nail charm, the red string and I made the wig, of course.

These outfits are by no means historically or cannonically accurate. I had to modify them to accommodate the scale and my subpar sewing skills. I've gotten much better at sewing since then so don't look at those shoulder seams...

And I still don't know what's going on with the back of his red robes. I think I ran out of fabric :-|

The braid is made using a string of black yarn. The vambraces are actually fake adjustable ear cuffs.

I'll show the wig making process more in Xie Lian's section since Hua Cheng's was easier to make. I just slapped a bunch of felt pieces on the wigcap with glue and voilà!

And E'Ming was made using pencils and gel polish on a piece of cardboard and Xie Lian's butterfly was made with the help of a nail sticker and magnetic cat eye polish. In the finished photo you can see a red gem sticker on E'Ming's eye. I don't know how I feel about it. Do your prefer the design without it? I can easily take it off.

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°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･.˚⊹.

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Xie Lian's outfit and hair was a bit of a challenge but it was fun. I was inspired by several designs and decided to just wing it and make my own outfit instead of recreating an existing one in its entirety.

Also, as you can tell, these dolls have many articulation points that allow for so much posability. I sewed the clothes onto them to keep it in place so they have limited range of movement, especially Hua Cheng, but I'm fine with it. They can still pose nicely.

Instead of making inner and outer robes I decided to make one pair of robes and the second pair that's folded over the shoulders stops at the waist and is hidden by the belt/sash(?) idk English forgive me.

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I tried to make the "main robes" fold over at the waist but I misplaced the rest of that white fabric 2 years ago so I just extended the edges on 3 sides with the sheer fabric from an old curtain and hoped for the best.

Oh, and the shoes are also from Aliexpress. I try not to purchase often from them but I could not find any alternatives...

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The wig making process was... Interesting. I won't show the entire wigcap by itself to spare your eyes so here's balding Xie Lian lol.

The bun was made by rolling felt into a little roll. I then stuck two bigger felt circles onto one side and glued the edges after I cut the outer edges like you would cut a pizza. Does this make sense? Probably not.

Basically, make a rose type thing.

And if you're wondering, the wigs are removable and kind of posable as well.

𓍯𓂃𓏧♡

And that's basically it <3

I wanted to include better quality pics but it won't allow me to post more than 10 at once so I had to stuff them into collages.

Forgot to mute the video so if you hear my cat wreaking havoc in the background no you didn't.

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I may or may not be working on another project centered around Beefleaf...

When I was a kid, I couldn't afford good quality dolls so I played with small doll-like keychains that had knitted dresses, arms and legs made of string, heads made of painted wooden beads and little beanies on their heads.

I have similar beads laying around so I plan to make similar keychains that look like fem Beefleaf.

Of course, I gotta finish that damn Puqi Shrine and hope my cat doesn't cause it to collapse. Maybe one day I'll make keychain versions of other TGCF characters as well!

ଓ༉‧.⭒ֶָ֢⋆.

[sketchy-angel]

my first ever Frankie doll (feat. Cleo)

‧₊˚🖇️✩ ₊˚🎧⊹♡

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

[sketchy-angel]

Hello

my name is Aya, I am 26 years old, currently living in the northern part of Gaza City, and I am a mother of two children. My oldest is my daughter, Sana'a, who is 5 years old, and my youngest is my son, Wasfi, who is 3.

Since the morning of October 7th, 2023, our lives have been turned upside down. We have lived through the hardest days of our lives, facing displacement and homelessness. We have been forced to leave our home more than ten times since the war began. We would leave without knowing where to go.

We sought refuge in schools and relatives' homes, hoping we could return home and that this nightmare would end. But our house was bombed, and our dreams were destroyed. We became homeless and displaced.

Every day, we wake up to the sound of bombs and rockets. I lived in constant fear and terror with my children, especially when my family's house was bombed while we were taking shelter there.

We are experiencing a real famine in Gaza. I’ve gone to bed with my children many nights without dinner because there is no food available. We have had to eat animal and bird feed due to the high cost of flour just to fill the hunger of my young children. Even after eating it, we all suffered from diarrhea and severe stomach pain. My children developed rashes on their bodies due to the spread of viruses and the accumulation of garbage. There is also a severe shortage of water, and even when we find it, it's not safe to drink.

My children cry, asking for vegetables, fruits, and eggs, but we can’t afford them because we have no income. The gas shortage has forced us to use fire for everything—cooking and baking—using plastic and pipes because firewood is so hard to find.

My children also developed jaundice, and I struggled a lot to get them better because there was no access to vegetables, fruits, or medicine. I even feared that my son might have developed polio because he already had leg problems before the war, and they worsened due to malnutrition.

Winter is coming, and we have nothing for it. I need clothes and shoes for my children to keep them warm, but I can’t buy them because they are so expensive.

For this reason, I beg of you and hope that you can support me, even with the smallest contribution, so I can provide my children with the most basic necessities of life.

I was displaced with my children to my family's house, tears in my eyes. On the way, Salah Al-Din Street was bombed, and the Israeli occupation committed horrific massacres. By the grace of God, we survived for the first time. We lived in terror and fear. A few days later, my family's house was bombed, and we were pulled out from under the rubble, miraculously surviving for the second time.

When my husband heard the news that we had died, he came to bid us farewell, only to find us alive by God's grace. We returned with him, but as the situation worsened and the fire belts in our area increased, we started to flee again and again, not knowing where to go next.

I beg of you to share my story and help me continue to live.

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #230 )✅️

Vetted by butterfly nu #1133

[sketchy-angel]

My Blåhaj finally arrived a few days ago! I waited around 2 weeks I think since my country's Ikea kinda sucks lmao.

Anyway, this is Kenny :) I'm not really sure I'll keep this name for him so please comment some suggestions, I'll be forever grateful 🦈

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁˖ . ܁ °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁˖

𓇼

°:•.🐠*.•🪸.•:°

I made the blanket using this beautiful iris stitch. Here's the tutorial for anyone interested. It turned out way too small but unfortunately I only had one skein of the gradient yarn and I can't find it anymore :-/

[sketchy-angel]

*to the tune of When Will My Life Begin from Tangled* When will my Blåhaj arrive?

While I wait for my baby to be shipped here's some shark/ocean inspired nail art I hurriedly did this afternoon. It's not the most polished and I'm no way a professional or licensed nail artist, just an idiot with an LED lamp 🐡

[sketchy-angel]

Today's flea market finds + 3 recently acquired Kinder Egg toys 🩷

[sketchy-angel]

Every time I look up adorable shark pics on Pinterest I somehow end up looking at He Xuan fanart and vice versa lmao

Anyway... I ordered my first Blåhaj 🦈 and now I have to wait 7-10 excruciatingly long businesses days to get it. I ordered from my closest Ikea which is a 3 hour drive away but I feel I'd get it faster if I just walked there on foot and back 😅

I'll definitely update with pics when he arrives. I chose the name Kenny like Kenny the Shark (anyone else remember that cartoon?)

[sketchy-angel]

A cry for help from Gaza

My name is Salem, I am 26 years old. I am married to Hadeel, she is 25 years old, and we have two beautiful children: Laila (5 years old) and Bakr (five months old). We live in the northern part of Gaza.

Laila and Bakr are my heartbeat, the light of my life, and my everything.

The horrific story of the recent war in Gaza

Since the beginning of the last war in Gaza, our home has been completely destroyed, forcing us to be displaced. We had to move more than 10 times to find safety. During this harrowing journey, we faced extreme hunger and malnutrition that almost claimed the lives of me and my children. In addition, we have been exposed to many serious infectious diseases and epidemics.

Before: This is our homeland, our dream, and our promising future.

Unbearable hardships

Every day I have to travel long distances just to get water, and stand in lines for hours to get food. My children's mental health deteriorated due to the war, their education was interrupted, and they suffered from catastrophic hunger that almost claimed their lives.

After: This is our house, built with our sweat and effort, and it was completely destroyed.

The right to a peaceful life

My children deserve to live a peaceful life free of fear and anxiety. I dream of your help to support my family and escape this genocide. Your help means the world to me and my children.

The cost of arranging travel for an adult outside Gaza currently varies

Between $5,000 and $7,000, and $2,500 for each child, in addition to a cost of living of $500 per month.

How can you help?

Your donations can be a beacon of hope for us. Every dollar can help save my children's lives and give them a chance to live in peace. Your prayers for us to overcome this ordeal and lift the siege are greatly needed

Laila: My beloved, the closest to my heart, and my little one.

Bakr: My child who came during this horrific war.

Donate now and help us get to safety

May God reward you greatly for your generosity.

Background on the Gaza war

The war in Gaza has left hundreds of thousands of victims, destroyed infrastructure, and left many homeless. The humanitarian situation in the region has reached critical levels, with severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, water and health care. Children are the most affected, as they have lost their sense of security, education and normal life.

Your support is our hope

Your donation is the light that can guide us towards a better future. Don't miss the chance to be part of a story that saves a family suffering from unimaginable hardships.

Donate now and make hope possible

Thank you for your support and kindness.

My gratitude

Salem and family

[sketchy-angel]

a quick sketch

[sketchy-angel]

Dual (Dvojina) movie review

Dual is one of my favorite sapphic films of all time and in this post I'll try to convince you all to watch it with as little spoilers as possible.

I discovered it while browsing through a site that lists Croatian movies. Here is the link to this film's page

As far as I can tell it's only available to watch on Vimeo for $2.50 but I'm sure you can find other sites with English subtitles.

Most of the movie is in English with occasional uses of Slovenian and Danish. When I watched it on Vimeo the non-English parts only had Croatian subtitles which is why I think it's better to find an alternative site if you don't speak those languages.

The movie was made by two Croatian studios - Studio Dim and PomPom Film, but the director, Nejc Gazvoda, is Slovenian.

Synopsis

"Due to a weather problem a plane from Denmark is forced to land at the Slovene airport. Amongst the passengers being taken to a hotel in Ljubljana, is a quiet, beautiful young Danish girl Iben(25).

This is how she meets Tina(25) who drives a shuttle as a summer job. Iben asks Tina to take her for a midnight drive around town and Tina agrees even though the request seems a bit odd.

The unexpected love blooms between the two girls, but they aren't able to realize their love because od one's big secret and other girl's try to find her place in the world. "

This movie took me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Here's what some people commented on IMDb...

"The importance of chance meetings cannot be neglected in the lives of human beings as they prepare them to discover life and its varied facets."

"It's a beautiful movie with the melancholy coldness of Eastern Europe combined with the Nordic neurotic atmosphere."

"This movie is so realistic that you almost feel like you're eavesdropping."

"This is not a love story, but rather reaches higher, to the service of man to man in his search for freedom and meaning. That's how nature works too, dying supports (new) life. Nature sustains life."

I agree with all of these, especially with the person who said that this film makes you feel like you're eavesdropping. The dialogue is realistic and the delivery is perfect and really pulls on the heart strings.

There is one scene in particular that makes me cry every time. It's hopeful but also makes me feel hopeless at the same time. I don't even know how to describe it without diving into spoiler territory.

This movie is not for everyone, especially if you're looking for a happily ever after kind of ending, but I'd highly recommend watching it if you're looking for a realistic and emotionally driven drama.

Also, I really like the soundtrack, in particular the song Cold Hearts by Monkey Cup Dress. Here's the official music video for that song featuring some snippets from the film as well as scenes acted out by different actresses (I'm not sure why, but it's a nice MV)

[sketchy-angel]

TGCF memes I made part 2

here's part 1 🦋

[sketchy-angel]

Doll customizing just has you saying shit sometimes.

[sketchy-angel]

[sketchy-angel]

I just got these adorable light beige Snufkin boots omg 😄

They came in this equally adorable box which I will treasure forever

I've never seen Moomin merch being sold in my country (Croatia) but then I saw these on a local shoe-selling website via an ad on IG and I screeched so hard I almost woke up my parents at 3 AM!!

I don't know where else you can find them but they're only 37 euro (around 30 bucks I think) so if you can find them I hope you can get them 🤍

[sketchy-angel]

I recently uploaded my first YouTube video showcasing my doll collection if anyone is interested since this blog features a lot of my dolls. I originally started this blog in hopes to share my passion with other doll collectors and I love watching other people's collection videos.

Feel free to comment the names of your channels if you have posted a similar video :) YouTube search engines are kind of weird nowadays and don't even show you the relevant videos when you search for them most of the time lol

[sketchy-angel]

Apple White Legacy Day custom

I finally got my second EAH doll. I found her on a local reselling site for 20 euros. They lost her cape and she had major glue seepage but I got to work and fixed her up!

Here is how she arrived, her bun was practically cemented in its shape

There are many methods for dealing with glue seepage. I don't have access to Oxi Clean and Goo Gone (I'm not sure they're available in my country) so I use my own method.

First, I lather the gluey parts in oil (hair or cooking oil, same thing) since oil helps dissolve glue. Learned this trick when my mom saved a neighborhood stray cat from a glue trap by soaking the poor baby in oil (she got adopted, don't worry).

Then I wash the hair with dish soap a couple times and the next step I learned from xcanadensis on YT if I remember correctly which is to mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and boiling water in a mug and let the hair soak for a couple hours. I did that once and her hair is now grease free.

And yeah, the glue is still inside the head but that's a problem for future me. I've done this method on a couple dolls back in 2020/2021 and the hair is still not greasy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Then I curled the ends in a random pattern to match the show design

I painted the accessories with gel polish. Again, I've heard nail polish damages plastic but I've had no bad experiences with gel polish. I made her a pair of earrings and a necklace from an old bracelet.

Finally, I made the cape using farbric from an old scarf with a floral design on one side and a plain beige side. I added (some pretty uneven) stitching in a criss cross pattern like the stock photo, kinda, and some white beads. Ignore that one bead that's in the wrong place, I just realized 😩

Then I crocheted the border with the same thread I used for stitching and crocheted a gold border on the sides and bottom. I also added some beading at the bottom since it was a bit too short for my liking. The closure across the chest is made out of bows from that red ribbon, thread, white beads and it closes with a clasp on her right shoulder.

Here she is next to Darling who is also customized ♥️🩵

I might do a doll collection video and post it on YT if anyone would be interested so let me know. I have less than 60 dolls (I think) but they all have unique stories and sentimental value to me ✨

[sketchy-angel]

Update: I bought some white chenille(?) yarn and used the light pink for the edges so here it is. I made it double sided as well 🩷

I wanted to crochet one of these pillows from this playset but the yarn I ordered doesn't perfectly match the colors.

On the website they looked identical to the photo... I guess I'll just have to bear with it cuz I don't wanna go through the hassle of returning this 😑