#I am not good in watercolors ok.

[odd-critter]

what the crap homestar?! knock off the religious imagery in my freakin room! you're seriously the freaking out the cheat!!!!

[two-calicos-in-a-trenchcoat]

So most recipes for watercolor binder recommend using clove essential oil for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties (so your paints dont start growing mold)

Well I could not find clove oil for a reasonable price anywhere near me

I did however find cinnamon essential oil at walmart

So I did some digging and cinnamon oil can be used in place of clove oil for antimicrobial and antifungal properties. SO im not sure why all the watercolor binder recipes that tell you to use essential oil specify clove oil. I thought maybe other oils might make the paint weird? But I figured it was worth a shot to try the cinnamon oil. So far the paint seems to work just fine and its hardening nicely.

So if youre making watercolor binder but can't find clove oil (and you want to have an essential oil in there for the added antifungal properties) just know that any with antimicrobial and antifungal properties are likely ok to use. (This note isn't the point of this post I just feel the need to put it cuz I had a very confusing week of digging around online to figure out if I could substitute clove oil for another type of oil because literally every single recipe that recommended using an essential oil said CLOVE oil which makes me think that clove oil must have something about it that makes it different from other essential oils with antimicrobial and antifungal properties thats making all these other people use it specifically and was finding NOTHING and decided to just say "fuck it" and see what happens-.....anyway.)

This has had the lovely effect of making my paints smell very strongly of cinnamon

Which is definitely an upgrade from how I imagine they wouldve smelled had i not added essential oil at all. The gum arabic solution smelled very bad lol. The cinnamon oil helped quite a lot.

[sgiandubh]

And kia... ora (?!) to New Zealand, like you've never seen it before 🤭

Just listened to Monica Gleberman's latest podcast with S. Twice. I can only urge you to do the same: it's 19 minutes long and well.. I'd just love to read your thoughts on it. By the way, I had no idea the woman even existed (happens a lot in SC world, at least to me) before she chimed in with indignation, you know... the Palestine Letter, and such.

But first, my short assessment, of course. By the way, this was recorded, I think, on November 1st, based on this X post:

Showbiz being showbiz, all grudge is now forgotten and you can listen to the podcast on Spotify, here (no subscription needed, of course):

OK, I honestly think her voice and her completely clueless, torrential debit are totally meh, but maybe that's just me. She made me think of one of those Tupperware representatives, always eager (hungry?) to sell something to you and do it quick, drug-dealer style. Some in Mordor thought she was drunk on the job (a half-emptied bottle of SS Gin was emphatically mentioned at least twice during the interview) - as usually, no humor and nasty.

I just think she was just acting too cool for school and #silly, with a severe case of ovaries going...

... on top.

Straight off the bat, the OTT praise is on steroids: how amazing S is, how he never changed, 'same sweetest person and like an amazing human being and friend to talk to and I just love you'. Kill me now, but that was unnecessary - yet still useful, since it prompted this answer (02:54):

'Well, that's very kind of you to say, but I think that's not true...I think there's...there's a lot of smoke and mirrors, this is ALL fake, um...underneath, there's a completely different human being. I have a double, actually. I AM the double. Um.. no, it's been a great journey, I'm very lucky and yeah, it's [OL] given me a lot of opportunities, as well (...).'

Translation: I am joking, but not even joking, if you see what I mean.

You'd think that was casual banter? You might want to think twice. Like all Taureans, bless their heart, S always almost heavily insists, when he wants to make sure the message gets across (07:12):

MG: ' Soooo, I don't know what's true, what's not true, but I'm just gonna assume that, you know, you looove watercolor. So, what is your favorite watercolor painting to make?'

Huh? Did I get that right? The answer does not match the clumsy question. At all. But see/hear for yourself:

S:' Err, you know what, I mean, I actually do, I actually have a couple paintings.. um.. from a..an artist called James Morrison, he was a Scottish artist.. he.. he actually painted a lot around Scotland, but he also painted up in the Arctic... the Arctic Circle... I'm kind of obsessed with him, so yes, this actually,,, this is truth...damn, I didn't know you'd actually put truths in here, but, you know...'

MG: ' OK, so we're already breaking barriers, right? Like revealing secrets so that is... that is... true.'

I shall not comment this. I do not think it needs any translation, to be honest.

The 'illiterate' S is, apparently, a keen art connoisseur and how could it be otherwise, if you only think of his mum? And Morrison is not just your average Scottish watercolorist. If you care to check his Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Morrison_(artist), you'll find interesting things, like:

His works can fetch at auction (here at Christie's in 2006), around...

... and the recent (conservative) estimates are stable. You can check them here: https://www.invaluable.com/artist/morrison-james-1932-9fybkaiqbc/sold-at-auction-prices/. A very good investment, on a volatile, whimsical market (I know very well what I am talking about).

Surely enough, some of you will just hear that horrendous cackle and the flirt fest that totally goes south by the end of the podcast. But maybe - just maybe - if you listen a bit more carefully, you'd have a rare peek behind that damn mask.

[quimichi]

It's me the little guy Fae >:3 and I'm here for your match up event

Fandoms

Honkai and/or genshin

Pronouns

She/they

Hobbies

Illustration, crochet, embroidery, watercolor, gaming, TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games) like DND, putting my characters through absolute hell (writing)

Gender preference

With fictional characters I prefer men but I love me a tall sexy evil Woman

Personality

Don't listen to what my hobbies say about me, I'm actually a chaotic little shit who runs circles around my friends. I do my best to give support when needed whether it be mentally or with a technical issue but I'm sure you knew this stuff before because we are friends on here. Though I will say I am depressed and that may impact the character I may or may not get matched with.

Fun facts

I really like foxes :)

And jellyfish :))

While it's not common enough to be a hobby I do know how to sew

My favorite colors are pastel pink and yellow

Well I prefer a cottagecore aesthetic for myself I actually don't prefer that in a partner.

I'm not a Neuvillette main but my autistic ass will go off about water (different bottles of water have completely different tastes you cannot change my mind)(also cold water tastes sharp and warm water tastes round I will not be taking criticism on this)

I don't have a green thumb per se because all my plants are suffering but they stubbornly cling on to life no matter how much I neglect them.

If you need more you know where to find me

A/n: I'M SORRY BESTIE BUT MY HEAD WENT "DOMESTIC" THE ENTIRE TIME---

ARLECCHINO

@ NO CAUSE HEAR ME OUT

@ you loce cottage core, and your hobbies are stuff like crochet and watercoloring. Its cute and i feel like Arlecchino matches that somehow??

@ listen, she is much more softer than she looks. She loves the kids and does really care about them, i think this cute little domestic life would fit her and would also be a dream for her

@ although she grows the kids into the fatui, she loves them dearly, can't show it tho-

@ but anyway--imagine sitting side by side near a fireplace while she reads a book and you do your thing beside her. No talking, just enjoying each others company

@ loooves to do domestic things with you, like cooking together, baking a cake, reading a book, crochet or bathing together.

@ i think she can do embroidery and crochet but not so good-teach her, she will actually listen. She's a little tsundere but she'll listen and she will learn pretty fast.

@ it's important that the twins and freminet like you, they visit quite often or she visits them. If they don't like you, or any of the kids in the house of the hearth, she would be quite skeptical about you then

@ lucky for you cause...they love you, duh?? Who wouldn't.

@ you're very parental, you give great comfort and you like to play with the kids.

@ and Arlecchino loves to watch lol

@ now to your depressed state. She will take it very seriously and will tell you so many times to rest and take care. She would give you the best tea from liyue, only the best watercolors from Fontaine, and the best baked goods so you can relax.

@ she would also leave you your space if needed. It wouldn't really bring her down, she would just be worried about you, but as a strong woman she wouldn't show it to you, that would only bring YOU down.

@ so dw, daddy Arlecchino will take care of everything. And if someone bothers you...well...you know...

GEPARD

@ listen it was hard for hsr ok---

@ for some reason I see you with Gepard---

@ also for the same reasons as Arlecchino, the little domestic life won't go out of my head for you-and Gepard also fits this

@ like-he comes home from work, also brought some goods from the bakery so you both can enjoy some sweets after dinner (which you both prepare together) and then after dinner and dessert you both cuddle on the couch while watching the snowflakes dance outside Belobog

@ if you ever decide to crochet him idk socks or something, he will wear them with pride. Even if they're pink with glitter, he ADORES them.

@ wears them under his gear lol. Like Belebog is cold he appreciates any warmth that he gets. And what is warmer than your love~♡

@ (I'm disgusting-)

@ super shy, we all know, so it took him a bit to gain the confidence to ask you out- I can see you being friends with Serval so--Imagine asking out the friend of your sister?? Yeah I'd piss myself too-

@ but Serval was pretty supportive sooo dw, it all worked out very well

@ ans Lynx is also not complaining with you so the relationship is blessed ♡

@ helps around the house, he was raised good :)

@ also, if he has every a free day and you have to work, he takes care of the things at home and cooks for you ♡♡♡

@ also runs you a bath. Spends his entire day making you smile when you come home.

@ very overprotective too. Can't stand seeing you sad or having a bad day or depressed episode, so he does everything in his power to change that

@ even if it means for him to act like a complete idiot just to see a smile, cause trust me, he would

[sincerely-sofie]

In response to your request, I have some ideas!! I’d love to see more Kip content. Maybe you could do some comics or stories that look at what he was up to over at the archeology guild?? Stuff about his daily life, or a key breakthrough that happened, or more stuff on his guild mates, or anything like that!! Alternatively I had an idea for a mini story with him and Twig after the main events TPiaG is finished. One in which they just sit and talk about everything that had happened, and how even though the change is scary, they’ll still have each other and their friends, and they’ll be ok. Although I have a feeling a conversation like that might be coming up in TPiaG soon. In conclusion I am the number 1 Kip fan and I want to see the little man some more!! :D

I took forever to get around to this. Here’s some notes on his archaeology team members!

Acai the Aipom

Loves jewelry and fashion.

Her name is actually written as Açaí, but nobody remembers the accent marks other than her and her parents, so she usually drops them when writing out her name.

Eldest sibling, has two younger sisters.

She’s an excellent navigator who has an amazing internal compass. This is a trait that reminds Kip of Twig.

She’s very friendly and outgoing.

Ignis the Darmanitan

A gentle giant. Loves his friends dearly and is an excellent cook.

A little dumb but he’s got spirit.

Has a lot of nieces and nephews but hasn’t found someone to settle down with himself. He’s a hopeless romantic and believes he’ll find his special person someday, and isn’t worried about having gone so long without a significant other.

Likes to paint watercolors in his spare time. He carries a tiny brush, palette, and watercolor paper sketchbook everywhere he goes.

Has a very soothing, cheerful voice.

Spearow the… well, Spearow

Doesn’t like giving people her name, and refuses nicknames— has trouble connecting with and trusting others, as she tends to overanalyze the depth of her bonds with her friends.

She’s a horrible cook and is very embarrassed by this— yet she insists on cooking meals a lot so that she can prove she’s a good cook.

Was raised by her grandfather, who was very stern and intense. He taught her all their community’s traditions and got Spearow into loving genealogy, and history and archaeology as an extension of it.

She’s insecure about her girlier hobbies. Acai helps her explore her budding interest in fashion and get in touch with her more feminine side after growing up without many women to help her do so earlier in life.

Scared of heights and doesn’t fly very high.

[leoandraphssoulmate]

Watercolors

A TMNT Easter Short (Can be any iteration you wish!)

I had 90s TMNT in mind while writing this. I just think that the 90s version of Leo is super sexy! 💙💙💙💙💙💙

90sLeoxReader

FLUFF

You stood in your apartment smiling, your hands running through the box of colorful Easter grass on the table. You didn’t think that it would arrive on time, but it did. Along with four bright Easter baskets and various Easter candies. Your eyes lingered on the bright blue basket for a few seconds, your heart squeezing. You imagined how his face would light up when you handed it to him. Leo. The leader of not only his brothers, but your heart as well. 

You bit your lower lip, a sigh escaping your lungs. When you first met them, having just been accosted, you were just grateful to have been rescued. You had absolutely no idea that the fearless leader would spark something deep inside you as his beautiful blue eyes met yours. 

You didn’t see the shell on his back. You didn’t notice that his hands were two times the size of yours. No. All you saw was his smile. The way it met his eyes when he approached you that day. You saw his light, the way he moved with care. Slowly, tenderly, reaching out for you. 

“Hey.” He said softly. “It’s ok. We’re here.”

You stared up at him from your crouched position. Your heart beating wildly in your chest. No longer from fear. Oh no. Something much more powerful. Slowly you rose, your legs wobbly. You stumbled forward and Leo quickly took hold of your forearms, steadying you. His touch! Your skin sung with an exquisite electricity, snaking upward towards your shoulders. You gasped. Leo’s eyes widened. “Did you feel that?” You breathed. He nodded, slowly. 

Nothing would ever be the same for you two again. 

“Are you ready, my child?” Master Splinter’s voice broke through your reverie. 

You grinned, spinning to face him, unaware that a few tears had managed to escape your eyes. “Are you alright?” He said, concern causing his whiskers to pull downward as he pointed to your face. 

You brought your fingers up to your cheeks. “Oh.” You smiled slightly. “These aren’t sad tears, dad.”

“I see.” His warm brown eyes glistened. “Memories are powerful things.”

“Yes. They certainly are.” You grinned, Leo’s smiling face flashing through your mind. 

“Might I ask what you were remembering?” He asked, stepping around you and up to the table. 

“Oh, I uh,” You quickly blushed. “I was thinking about the time I first met Leo.”

Splinter chuckled. “Ah! Yes. A very complicated memory to be sure. One that both elicited pain and happiness?”

You closed your eyes for a second, his words hitting deeply. “Yes.” As you opened your eyes, he closed his thin soft hand over yours. 

“Fear not, my child. Though the memory remains, the pain is also now nothing but a memory. I am glad that my son was able to counterbalance such a dark time in your life.”

You nodded. “So am I, dad. So am I.” 

“So, how are we supposed to put these together?” He smiled, motioning to the baskets. 

For the next hour, you and Master Splinter carefully constructed each Easter basket with care. Master Splinter added his own twist to the baskets, placing several Japanese coins in with the candy along with Bonsai tree clippings wrapped with silk. “These are for good health and good luck.” He winked, placing the last of the coins in Michelangelo’s basket. 

“I think that’s beautiful.” You smiled. “A nice blend of traditions.”

Master Splinter cleared his throat as he grabbed the cellophane. “I agree. There’s always room for new things. New rituals. Different ways to do things. As long as there is love involved, it should not matter.”

You were practically bursting at the seams with excitement as you and Master Splinter entered the lair, two baskets each in your arms. The guys had never had an Easter before. In fact when you approached Master Splinter about it, you were unsure he’d even go for it. You knew that they practiced Shinto and didn’t want to risk offending anyone with your idea. But when you pitched it to him, he was open to the idea and liked that you were willing to share the Easter tradition with them. You explained that you only really did it for the candy and thought that the guys would get a kick out of getting Easter baskets with goodies. 

Now, crossing the living room to the kitchen, knowing that Leo would be sitting at the table with a cup of tea steaming before him, you smiled, trying to contain yourself. Somewhere behind you, you heard Mikey squeal and your excitement boiled over into a laugh as you rounded into the kitchen. Leo looked up from his comic book, his bright blue eyes widening as you set his basket down on the table, the tea packets behind the cellophane catching the overhead kitchen light, making them shine. 

“What’s this?” He smiled, slowly standing, his chair scraping across the floor. 

You gently set Raph’s basket down, some of the contents shifting slightly. “It’s for you.” You breathed. “Happy Easter, Luv.” 

Leo smiled, pulling you to him, his arms wrapping around you. You pressed your cheek to his plastron, grinning. This was home. He was home. Suddenly the basket, the kitchen, and everything else in the world, no longer existed. All that was left and all there ever was and will forever remain, was love. 

(The contents of Donnie's basket) 💜💜💜💜💜💜

(The contents of Leo's basket)💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

(The contents of Raph's basket)❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

(The contents of Mikey's basket)🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

@leosgirl82 @thelaundrybitch @miss-andromeda @scholastic-dragon

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Rereading The Fellowship of the Ring for the First Time in Fifteen Years

Holy Foreshadowing, Batman! Gandalf is SUPER psyched to get his ass under a mountain, but literally Gimli and Aragorn are like, "Nah, bro, we are worried about YOU SPECIFICALLY if we do that." And this is after Mom and Dad fought about going up Caradhras and after literally everyone is like, "We are getting super bad vibes from Moria."

But they can't go over the mountains, they can't go around the mountains, and the Gap of Rohan is too close to Isengard, so fuck it, we ball in Moria, I guess. Let's talk chapter 4, "A Journey in the Dark."

Ok, so this is a relatively long chapter (30-odd pages by my math), but wow is it mostly vibes. We start off very defeated by the anti-wizard-and-elf mountain, which makes sense because if you lose the ring bearer to exposure in the first month of travel, you're going down in history as the dingus who lost the last great conflict with Sauron. Again, Boromir is DEEPLY underappreciated as the reason our hobbits survived Caradhras.

After a few pages of back-and-forthing about where to go next, Gandalf is over here pushing Moria HARD, and literally everyone is like, "This does not pass the vibe check, wizard boy." Although Gimli is like, "I could find out what happened to Balin" and Aragorn literally says THIS:

"You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now..."

Because apparently Fellowship leadership operates on phlebotomist rules. If you miss the vein, you let someone else take a shot.

Ultimately, the decision is made because there are goddamn WARGS after the group, and even Boromir accedes that wolves literally on your tail are worse than hypothetical wolves up the road, so we stop arguing about it and hunker down. This gives us time to have a nice little moment with Sam and Pippin though. Poor Pippin is over here like, "I wish I had taken Elrond's advice [...], I am no good after all. [...] I don't remember ever feeling so wretched, " but Sam is coming in clutch with "Honestly same, but Gandalf isn't going to let us get eaten by wolves." Which like...yeah, I accept that, and it's way more comforting than a generic "there, there." I also appreciate that Sam admits he's scared too. It's like how hearing, "Oh god, I haven't started that either" is so comforting for stressed-out students.

What neither I nor the fellowship love though, is the wolves literally sniffing around their campfire that night. There are literally glowing eyes in the dark, howls on the wind, and a goddamn warg silhouette in the gap between stones. And an arrow through the throat of one warg buys the group some measure of peace until the moon sets. Once the moon sets though, we get a pre-dawn warg attack:

In the leaping light as the fresh wood blazed up, Frodo saw many grey shapes spring over the ring of stones. More and more followed. Through the throat of one huge leader Aragorn passed his sword with a thrust; with a great sweep Boromir hewed the head off another. Gimli stood with his stout legs apart, wielding his dwarf-axe. The bow of Legolas was singing.

The battle scenes in these books read SUPER Beowulf, but are somehow briefer. Tolkien was super not here for contemporary battle scene writing; it's very much painting with watercolors. He gives you the odd detail or two and you pretty much get to fill in the rest yourself. Which is fine, and holy cow can I see where that would inspire Robert Jordan's manner of naming sword forms rather than describing an actual duel (which is not shade, I think Jordan does that really damn well and to excellent effect). But then we get Gandalf doing wizardy things in a really...unusual way?

In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow: he rose up, a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill. Stooping like a cloud, he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves. They gave back before him. High in the air he tossed the burning brand, It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder.

This hearkens back both to "Gandalf the fireworks wizard" who we meet in the Shire, but also to the little moment in Bag End where Gandalf goes wizard on Bilbo to snap him out of his Ring moment. It also is not like...wildly dissimilar to how they teach you to scare bears off in the wild: Get big and loud and look intimidating. We were not supposed to then set a goddamn forest fire--that's a little scorched earth for Alaskan survival techniques--but it was one of those moments where the familiar was made pointedly exotic, and I actually thought it was quiet effective. You take the foundation of something real and then you add a bit of wizard to it. Then things feel sufficiently grounded, but also with just that extra bit of wizard to heighten EVERYTHING. The subtlety (and yeah, I know, forest fire and lightning isn't subtle, but the way this is written is and how it functions is) is really quite impressive. That said...Gandalf, honey. Maybe not with the ecological disasters???

At the very least, the wargs were polite enough to evaporate so they didn't have to deal with any of the bodies when the sun came up.

After that, we haul ass off to the Doors of Durin. It's not a good journey though. Right from the start, the Sirannon wasn't where it was supposed to be, the landscape is lifeless and desolate, and when we do finally find the stream, it's a freaking trickle. If the IDEA of Moria didn't pass the vibe check, then the landscape on the trip in is a parade of red flags. And again, Boromir is SUPER ON POINT with not wanting to get caught between a stone wall and a bunch of wolves. This place is all quiet unease and red flags. Even the freaking WATER is gloomy and unwholesome-looking.

And then we get a WEIRD FLEX moment for Gandalf:

"I am sorry," said Gandalf. "Poor Bill has been a useful companion, and it goes to my heart to turn him adrift now. I would have travelled lighter and brought no animal, least of all this one that Sam is fond of, if I had had my way. I feared all along that we should be obliged to take this road."

Like, I believe he's genuinely sorry to have to hurt Sam and to turn the goodest pony loose. But it's the "if I had had my way" and the last sentence where I'm just like...Gandalf. Sir. Why are you bitching to Frodo that you have to share leadership on this mission? And why are you flexing an "I told you so" on Frodo instead of, IDK, Aragorn??? Is it because Aragorn would kick your wizened wizard ass for it? Because I'd watch that.

Also, again with Gandalf being weirdly open with, aware of, and as solicitous as possible to Sam. He has zero problems kicking Pippin when he's down (as we'll see in a bit in this very goddamn chapter), but he's always been very straight yet compassionate with Sam in a way that doesn't even match how this wizard treats Frodo. Like, we are almost getting to a point where I need to go see what the Tolkien scholars have written about the Sam-Gandalf relationship, because it's getting NOTICEABLY unique and it has gotten a fair number of little moments at this point. Like...what is this relationship and why is this the dynamic? I demand to know.

I also just want to take a second to highlight something DEEPLY inequitable as they round the lake to the door:

When they came to the northernmost corner of the lake they found a narrow creek that barred their way. It was green and stagnant, thrust out like a slimy arm toward the enclosing hills. Gimli strode forward undeterred, and found that the water was shallow, no more than ankle-deep at the edge. Behind him they walked in fie, threading their way with care, for under the weedy pools were sliding and greasy stones, and footing was treacherous. Frodo shuddered with disgust at the touch of the dark unclean water on his feet.

THE HOBBITS DONT WEAR SHOES. Everyone else has boots to act as something of a barrier to this gross-ass water, but the hobbits have to tromp through it BAREFOOT. Did NOBODY think, "oh shit, this will be super unpleasant for the hobbits, maybe we should yeet or carry them?" Apparently not, and honestly now they're just gonna have gross feet as they tromp through Moria and I hate that for their poor hobbit toesies. And as a WWI soldier, TOLKIEN SHOULD KNOW THE DANGERS OF WET, MUCKETY FEET.

But then we actually get to the doors--finally--and Sam has a deeply understandable moment when Gandalf tells him they have to cut Bill loose, and Gimli and Legolas try to start world war 2.5 over Elf-Dwarf relations before Gandalf tells them to knock that shit off.

Everyone is super over everything at this point, and I cannot blame them.

But where Gandalf has zero time for Legolas and Gimli sniping at each other, he takes the time to speak over Bill and give him his best shot at getting home safely. Again, I do not get the relationship between Gandalf and Sam. I appreciate the care for the pony, but whatever the Gandalf-Sam thing is, it's more than just trolling Pippin or ensuring that Frodo makes it to the volcano or ignoring Merry's existence for the most part.

Literally, Pippin gets a "Knock on the door with your head" from Gandalf, and once the damn thing IS open, Merry just gets a casual, "Merry, of all people, was on the right track" before Gandalf pulls ANOTHER weird flex and says "Too simple for a learned lore-master in these suspicious days." Like...ok, sure, Gandalf. You were TOO SMART to get the riddle.

But we get the doors open just in time for Frodo to get nabbed by a metric frick-ton of tentacles. Sam yoinks him back and they haul ass through the door, which get slammed behind them and the tentacle monster bolts it behind them with boulders and trees. After which we get THIS little gem from Gandalf:

"I fear from the sounds that boulders have been piled up and trees uprooted and thrown across the gate. I am sorry; for the trees were beautiful, and had stood so long."

SIR. I was THERE when you burned a flaming doughnut into the land to get rid of the wargs. You are a walking ecological disaster and do not get to high ground the tentacle monster ripping up a few trees by the roots. You probably burned more LAST NIGHT. I know it's unfair to expect characters to know the genre of the book they're in, and by extension its equally unfair to expect them to know the themes of the book they're in. That said though...I WATCHED YOU START A FOREST FIRE, GANDALF. This is not the moment to suddenly discover ecocriticism.

At any rate, we have FINALLY made it inside Moria. Boromir is (rightfully) quite pissed off an apprehensive about this, but Gandalf is like, "Gimli and I will lead the way!" before they manage to get the party fucking lost and Sam is bitching about not having rope. Because oh my god there is SO MUCH atmospheric walking in this book. And most of the time the atmosphere is "vaguely evil with a healthy helping of depression." Which...yeah, that's what we get here.

So it makes sense that Gandalf is SUPER FUCKING OVER IT when Pippin yeets a rock down a well and they hear hammer blows from the deeps. And it makes even more sense when Gandalf realizes he's apparently also experiencing withdrawal symptoms because he hasn't had a smoke since before they started climbing Caradhras. So he non-apologizes to Pippin, lights up, and everything looks better in the morning...sort of. At least the wizard is less grumpy, and he has now firmly established himself as that member of the party who needs to be properly self-cared or he will make it EVERYONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. Seriously, what a goddamn diva.

But getting himself a wee bit of a smoke made it so he could make a decision and they headed up to where the air smelled good. So fair enough.

Then we have EVEN MORE atmospheric walking, and Sam picks up some dwarven lore via Gimli singing a song all about Moria and Khazad-dum, and I swear, the hobbit is going to be a lore-master himself by the end of this journey.

This chapter is also where we get a bit of a mithril infodump, which is pretty cool just in general. We also get Frodo having delayed sticker-shock because he's just casually waltzing around with a whole-ass shirt of mithril on. That's also a nice little reminder to all the readers that hey, remember that Frodo has this thing? I betcha it's going to be important soon.

We end the chapter on the SUPER downer note of finding Balin's tomb, and the dwarves now have their (not unexpected) answer to what happened to the party from thirty-odd years ago. Which is really sad, frankly.

That's also about where we're going to leave this chapter, because I am...exhausted by all the atmospheric walking. We will pick up next time with a relatively short chapter, and hopefully there is more to it than infodumping and atmospheric walking.

[a-door-to-somewhere]

Ok watched spiderverse 2 again here's some thoughts in no particular order (spoilers and long post ahead):

- peter b is reading a book called "how to talk to kids" at the very end. Presumably because may can't speak yet and Gwen and Miles were zapped away I choose to believe he was reading this so he can go talk to Miguel LMAO

- I fucken love the way spot, after he powers up, move around via just like... sliding around in the air basically with his bad posture like he's hung from strings like a puppet

- when gwen is drumming at the opening and when spot gets zapped both are intercut with frames from later in the movie and also later in the future. I'm guessing spot got a glimpse of canon events but when Gwen was doing her intro it was phrased like a retrospective- but unlike most intros it didn't have a shot of a new spiderman comic being thrown on the pile. So when was she doing this retrospective? I hc she'll pick back up at the end of the third movie

- someone needs to make procreate brush packs for each universe/character PLEASE

- ok the "watercolor" effect being a mood ring is incredible but I havent seen anyone talking about the sort of abstract animation?? It almost reminds me of like experimental film from the impressionist/dada/supremetism eras, you can see it synced to the drum in the intro and also in some of the backgrounds during her big speech

- also during the Guggemheim fight when the Renaissance Vulture was like "you call this art?" And Gwen was like "well we're talking about it aren't we" YOU'RE SO RIGHT GWEN I AM KISSING YOU ON THE LIPS

- the shaky 1st pov cam when Gwen's dad sneaks up on her both times reminded me of when Miles accidentally watched kingpin kill perfect Peter? Idk if it was exactly the same I'd have to go back and rewatch but UGH it really gets that Gwen's dad has two sides too and the cop side isn't really human almost, lurking in the shadows, silhouetted

- also Gwen's dad just being a shit cop, giving her mixed instructions, raising a weapon at an unarmed person who is trying to communicate, firing warning shots, yelling the Miranda rights over her which is not how its supposed to be given

- contrast that with Jeff who literally never pointed a weapon at anyone and went charging after spot with his bare hands, is casual with his spiderman. I mean even when Jeff was talking about Miles not capturing Spot correctly it was lighthearted and joking, he's actively not going by the book, he's keeping the squad off of Spiderman's back, he apparently talks to spiderman about his family troubles???

- have I mentioned I LOVE MUSICAL MOTIFS????? Seriously they’re always good (fuck Wagner everyone knows Toby Fox invented the leitmotif) I mean everyone noticed the horror style Prowler stinger but even more characters got some: Gwen got a Little Rock theme with a guitar lick that echoes the ‘spi-der-man, spi-der-man’ song, Miguel’s distorted synth whine, the interesting mouth and bells percussion that Pav gets (good job Hollywood avoiding the exotic Asian pentatonic lick for once), at the end when the 42 prowler reveal slowly changed the prowler stinger into a human scream???? There’s probably more but I’d have to go back and watch it again again lmao

- I really love how Miguel is kinda goofy. He’s aloof and over serious but he makes mistakes and shows other emotions despite his best efforts. His flaws are shown off in his very first interaction, with his unwillingness to ask for help despite the fact that he knows he needs it. He’s frustrated. He’s got group object leader energy. It makes it so much more lovable that he’s susceptible to quips and he also gets knocked down and messes up and shows up and has his quirks that everyone puts up with. THATS how you make an interesting, relatable, lovable antagonist. Perhaps it worked too well LMAO

- I am an Oscar isaac simp I gotta go rewatch moon knight

- when miles was swinging around with gwen he passed a truck called "redex" bc gwen rejected him lmao

- theres an 8 clearly visible in the background of earth 42? Wacc

- the Spread Your Wings, Man scene focusing on the plastic wrap on top of the Alchemax flowing in the wind like it’s an ocean?/??? I really hope they call back to that imagery later because it clearly means something and I need to know what

- I’ve got an inkling of something that specifically revealing one’s spider-dentity to a loved one is some kind of anti-canon event, like maybe it’s the thing that fixes the destabilization? I mean we’ve seen that it’s ok if loved ones figure it out themselves (or if they then die, like uncle Aaron) like it’s a clear theme that miles keeps trying to tell his parents, and then Gwen tells her dad, which causes him to quit the force, thereby averting the canon event of him dying indirectly??? Also, it’s implied that the MJ of 1610 sold out Perfect Peter Parker to Fisk, leading to his death, ALSO also, gayatri probably figured out Pav’s identity right before HIS world destabilized??? Idk lmao

- I hope spiderbite/Margo and Jess get proper intros I can’t wait

- the background spider hockey girl has my heart, I couldn’t stop looking at her during the chase scene

- God I need to watch moon knight again

- when mj moved into mays room to greet them she lifted a picture frame back up as she moved in the door? What's up with that???

- not Spanish originally starting as a too-relatable joke that Miles gets a B in despite his mother speaking Spanish at home as well, not living up to his expectations, and then 42!Miles presumably speaks more/better Spanish due to being closer to his mom because his dad died???

- not miles aceing ap physics and ap studio AT THE SAME TIME in his SOPHOMORE YEAR free my boy from grounding he’s done nothing wrong

- btsv’s main villain is gonna be the sat I’m telling you

- most importantly: what was up with the Comic Code Authority’s seal being shown after the studio logos at the beginning??

Did that happen in the first one??? Why would it be there??? The cca has obviously been defunct since before superhero movies were really a thing. Famously, the cca seriously censored a ton of content, causing Marvel to be unable to portray darker stories involving drugs and other more mature themes, which they wanted to do with many superheroes including Spidey??? Is the Spider Society secretly the cca, censoring storylines that they think shouldn’t be portrayed, including darker timelines like 42? There was also issues with the convoluted Spider-Man comic lines going through unsatisfying ‘resets’ to keep Spider-Man relatable, without evolving the character into anything too far away from the OG Spider-Man, ie young, relationship issues with MJ, nerdy, tragedies etc. this is the detail that had me wondering the most because it was so clearly displayed right at the beginning, and the cca was generally a shameful part of comic book history in which publishers submitted to satanic moral panic. Like, not really something that reads as a cute little callback to an era of comics like he use of Ben day dots or misaligned printing or the onomatopoeias??

[hishoi]

Ok I saw your post asking about the taste of your art and I wrote so much that it didn't all go into one comment, I don't know how serious your post was but if you still want to know my opinion I'll leave it here

I see your drawing style almost without corners, it is very rounded, you draw people in a more robust way than I am used to but in a very pleasant way. Your colors are warm most of the time and your watercolors are clean and soft. I relate traditional art to very natural things so that may influence my opinion. I think your style is very inclined to tell stories, moments or feelings. So if I were to think of a taste, it would probably be something I would drink on a cold rainy night, something warm that I drink while reading or listening to something, that somehow warms your spirit, maybe some kind of coffee? or hot chocolate? although I'm not very good at thinking about flavors but I'm pretty sure what it makes me feel

(I'm Serene-sky-kid from my main blog by the way, you don't need to answer this if you don't want to, but I felt the need to let you know, because I'm a big fan of The lighthouse keeper)

AAAHHHHH

I wake up to this treat?? My goodness!

I love that you see my style as storytelling, it's something i actively try to incorporate into my art.

And also how you described traditional art. For me it does tie into natural things, i love being able to feel the paper, hold it in my hands when it's finished.

And i love how you described the taste... A warm drink on a cold rainy night... It's a beautiful description. I'm blown away. Thank you so much!

[natty1730]

Chapter 6 : Watercolor Eyes

Daisy could feel herself tossing and turning in her sleep, sweating from her past memories resurfacing back to her.

She heard Avó in her bedroom. Her Avó was on her knees at the foot of the bed crying her eyes. Daisy was only two at the time and didn’t understand what has happened. "Avó? Você está bem? O que aconteceu?, Por que você está chorando?" (“Avó? Are you okay? What happened?Why are you crying?” ). Avó was whipping her tears and looking at her granddaughter. She walks and lifts Daisy up and puts Daisy on her bed. “"Querida, é sobre sua mãe." ("Honey, it's about your mama. ") Daisy 's eyes were wide and she was worried about her mami. “"O que aconteceu?"("What happened?") . Both her grandma and Daisy were crying. "Algo ruim aconteceu com sua mami, ela sofreu um acidente quando estava caminhando para chegar em casa do trabalho." ("Something bad happened to your mami, she had an accident when she was walking home from work. ") "Ela está bem?" ("Is she ok?") Avó was avoiding Daisy’s eyes because they are the same as her daughter's. “Ela foi morta, Margarida,” (She is dead, Daisy)Daisy cried so hard and she hugged her Avó. "Não vovó, não, ela pode estar morta, ela é minha mãe, ela é minha mãe"("No Grandma, No, she can’t be dead, she's my mama, she's my mama") she cried and cried “"Quem fez isso com ela?” ("Who did this to her?")

Avó looks at the ground. "A polícia ainda está tentando encontrar o assassino da sua mãe. Eles não sabem quem é isso." ("The police are still trying to find your mama's killer. They don't know who this to her.") They cried and cried for hours.

The young girl jumped awake from her dream, and tried to catch her breath. She glanced at the time seeing that it was 3-am, and laid back down onto her bed to stare at the ceiling. Daisy rubbed her eyes away from tears that started to form, and shut her eyes tightly. 'God don't cry. You've been crying so much lately and it's honestly stupid. No one fucking cares so just shut up and take it." She flipped her pillow to the cold side and shoved her face into the pillowcase. 'I wonder what Dee is doing... he's actually really cool. I'm glad that I'll see him tomorrow.' She thought, smiling and slipping into a calm sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No no no! Not good enough, Again!" Daisy's father said, accidentally spilling a bit of scotch onto the marble floor while doing so. "Father, please let me have a break! My fingers are starting to bruise, look!" The girl held her red-ish purple fingers up to her father's face so he could get a good look, but he merely shook his head and walked behind Daisy. "You will only get a break until you have actually perfected the piece, now again." The man held his daughter's head to look at the music, and forced her to stare at the sheet music. The girl drew in a sharp breath and started to play once again. Daisy could feel her tear ducts starting to water, and her ears started to ring. "God damn it Daisy !" Her father said, before letting go of her head, and forcing her up. It wasn't until the man shoved a rag into her hands, Daisy realized that her bruises had started to bleed, and the blood smeared on the keys. "Clean this up and go. Her father sighed, and walked away leaving Daisy to clean the piano with a rag and bleeding fingers. As the young girl started to wipe the keys of blood, her mind trailed to a certain blonde haired boy and his family. 'I can't believe that the man on the plane is Dee's dad, hopefully he's not over there when I work with Dee. That'll be awkward.' She wiped up the last bit of blood and ran to her room to clean up her hands.

This looks stupid." Daisy mumbled out loud, looking down to see all of her fingers containing band-aids. She glanced at her clock and internally cringed when she saw what time it was. '4pm, I've been playing for eight hours.' She thought to herself while sighing, and walking to the closest to grab her coat. Daisy shrugged it on and made her way downstairs to meet the butler and escape the house, even if it was just for a couple of hours. As the girl snapped on her seatbelt, she couldn't help but notice her father staring at her. "I had a pack of cigarettes lying next to my coat the other day... you wouldn't have happened to know where they are would you?"He said, pulling out of the driveway. Daisy's palms started to sweat and her heart got faster as she reached a hand into her pocket and realized that she stored the cigarettes in her coat pocket on the day her bed was stolen from her. The girl awkwardly coughed and shrugged her shoulders while looking into the window, "I'm not sure. I also don't know why you would ask me." She said, mumbled the last part, noticing her father just sighed . “Please meet me back here at 8pm sharp.”The girl just gave him a strange look “Yes, father.” before taking out her backpack and leaving the car so she could walk to Dee's house.

While walking to Dee's house she saw the car drive away, so she decided to slow down her pace and lit a stolen cigarette from her pocket. As she inhaled the stale smoke from the cigarette she stopped to look above the sky. Daisy took notice of the way how the sky's shockingly beautiful orange sunset was starting to be conquered by the rain clouds that were forming. 'I hope it doesn't rain while I walk to the car.' She thought while taking in one last breath before dropping the cigarette onto the damp concrete and roughly putting it out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dad please just don't be embarrassed." The blonde haired boy said, sighing nervously while looking at his father. "I promise I won't be embarrassed, I just want to know who she is! That's all!" Glam hummed, while finishing up dinner. You're gonna love her dad! She is super cool, and really funny!" Heavy said, placing an ace on the middle of the table. "Oh come on! I didn't raise my children to be cheaters! Hmph." A muscular woman said, leaning back into her seat and crossing her arms rather angrily. "Ma I didn't cheat I swear! Besides, we're both losing anyway." The two slowly looked over to Ches who was relaxed as usual, holding his cards faced down.Hey, you should really try not looking at your cards until the end. It really works." All of a sudden everyone heard a faint knock at the door. "Please everyone just... be cool. We'll be in my room for most of the time so you don't need to worry." Dee said, quickly making his way to the door and subconsciously fixing his hair. But before he could open it, his father seemingly appeared out of nowhere and opened the door. Glam's height blocked Dee from seeing the girl who was standing at the door, but he could see his father's face turn into a look of surprise. Dee finally pushed past his father to see Daisy , standing and awkwardly scratching her head and Glam’s eyes widened in his mind he thought ‘she looks a lot like Gia’"Uh hey Dee's dad. Long time no see?" The girl said rubbing her palms on her legs to rid herself of the sweat that was forming. "Wait Daisy you know my-" But before Dee could finish his dad had cut him off. "Daisy! It is great to see you! Please come inside, I've just finished making dinner! Besides I'm sure everyone would like to get to know you! We have a coat rack off to the side, if you want to take it off." Glam hummed happily and walked back to the kitchen to set the table for dinner. Dee stared back at Daisy who was shrugging off her jacket and placing it next to an almost identical one. "Wait, so how do you know my dad?" The girl finally looked back into Dee's blue eyes and smiled gently. "I called him creepy on my flight here."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outfit Reference

[artbyanca]

Hermes stopping for a moment to say hi to Cerberus.

I am illustrating a book that is dead set on to taking a hammer to my comfort zones and one of the scenes I have to paint is in a calcar cave, which I haven’t done before...at least not in watercolor. So this was my cave study, it has Hermes in it cause my brain doesn’t want to focus on simple stuff with no excitement. The geology itself is not challenging, there's just some melty shapes, the lighting got my anxiety up, cause I don’t really do artificial light and the line I have to illustrate says it’s the deepest cave so I can’t be cheeky and poke a hole in the ceiling for good ol’ easy to work with natural light.

So yeah, first ever cave painting for me, now I got to do the second ever cave painting and hope it turns out OK cause it’s client work😖

[swaggy-phrogge-boi]

Whelp time to make a pinned post I think

I have a YMCA gimmick blog because why not

@ymca-for-realzies

Shit what goes in these

Ok hi

I’m a dork

A trans dork

Ftm for simplicity but I am also girl adjacent

My gender is whatever feels gayest in the moment

Somewhere between 18-25

I reblog like a lot

If I find your blog and I like it I will spam like your featured posts and I may reblog a few as well

I reblog horny stuff decently often, on account of being a horny lil guy

I don’t post my own horny stuff too often but if I do I’ll try to tag it as such

Typically any post that involves me pining for anything will be tagged -> lovesick idiot

Pictures of me will be tagged -> phrogge phace

I am part of a system

I do regress

My regression is purely sfw tho my blog is not always sfw

IM AUTISM

Also ADHD, SPD, GAD, Depression

I will talk about a lot of things such as:

Rocks

Snails

Good Omens

Watercolors

Poetry

FNAF

My feelings

Gender and sexuality

Music

There’s more but I can’t think of it

If you wanna talk to me then please talk to me, it doesn’t have to be about the above things either, it can be about anything.

I’m looking for mutuals I can tag in stuff and profess my love for platonically and also skip the small talk with and go straight for the big conversations. Please feel free to dm me if you’re down with that!

Ok uh bye bye now

[sarahjanelambert]

Hello, greetings - this is my very first tumblr post, please be kind! Can’t even explain to you how many times I’ve started a blog with the hopes I’d stick with it, only for said blogs to be lost in time with so many other things. I feel like an old soul who’s trapped in a world of technology sometimes. Having to constantly be on our devices is part of normal life, but frankly I hate it and feel drained by devices so much of the time. For some, it works. But not for everyone. All that being said, I know that in order for my work to be seen by actual humans in the world, I have to join the ranks and post, but somehow find the happy medium so I don’t always feel like my phone or tablet is sucking the actual soul out of me.

This is my most recent painting titled “It’s ok darling just come sit next to the fire.” My work is always centered around nature and our connection to it, and I am a traditional artist/analog artist which means I do not use technology to produce art (with the exception of utilizing photoshop to edit image quality/resolution for prints and files.)This painting in particular I used watercolor and gouache - my two ever-dependable mediums which I love working with so much.

I just recently relocated to the PNW after living/struggling in Southern California for 20 years - and have been immensely inspired all the nature around me, and general Twin Peaks-y vibe lol. I was born and raised in Vermont and I had missed actual leaves changing colors and actual seasons. And can I just talk about the rain??? Rain has always soothed me in a way most other things or people cannot. I feel like I’m back in my element, like I’ve returned to my inner child, able to look at things differently with a fresh perspective, all the while holding tight to dreams.

As I sit here writing, looking out the window to a sky of grey and evergreen trees sprinkled with red maples, it feels good to be getting my thoughts out again. My goal with this blog is to *finally* archive most of the work I’ve made throughout the last decade or so, nurture the writer within that I used to be, and talk about life. Cuz fam life is so weird these days. Let’s get into it.

I hope you join me,

Xoxo SJ

Ps, you can find me on IG/TikTok @sarahjanelamb.art

[themuse-if]

Another 20 (or so) Questions with Karla Reyes

Interviewer: Welcome to another installment of our character interviews, where we dive deep into the lives and minds of our favorite cast members of The Muse. Today, we have Karla Reyes with us, our musically inclined painter. Karla, thank you for joining us. Could you start by telling us what made you want to pursue Studio Arts?

Karla: Hey, thanks for having me. So you know how they always have kids finger painting in preschool, well that was my favorite part of every day. As I got older and was allowed to just select an elective I always chose art. My high school art teacher Mr. Davis was really cool. He always had music playing in class, usually just instrumental stuff, but the music always fit the vibe and really influenced my work.

Interviewer: Describe your art, particularly your watercolor work, in your own words.

Karla: *gets thoughtful* Mmm I enjoy movement and the human form. The way that color can really set the tone, like the image could be the same, but if I use a different color palette it completely changes the direction of the piece. And music, usually my palette is found in songs. The tone provides me an array of colors and the rhythm gives the piece movement. Does that make sense?

Interviewer: I think so. How do you want to be seen by others?

Karla: I want to be seen as someone who is...natural. Like I hope people see who I am authentically. I'm a big believer in letting things play out and just existing in a way that isn't forced.

Interviewer: So just very go with the flow, I see. And how do you want your art to be seen by others?

Karla: Ok...that's not really easy to answer. Obviously everyone interprets art differently, as they should, but I think all I can ask for is that they feel something. I don't ever want someone to see my work and just think aww how pretty, I want them so actually feel something. It could be thought provoking, sensual, dark, lively, humorous. I just want people to see more than a beautiful object, I want them to take something away from it.

Interviewer: Of course, no artist wants people to view their work in a shallow way. What traits do you value most in a friend?

Karla: I'm pretty relaxed so I am usually drawn to people who are more outgoing. As long as someone has a good vibe and they're drama free then I think we can be friends.

Interviewer: Sounds simple enough. What is your latest obsession?

Karla: Nothing new really just the usual. I've been working on a new collection centered around love and heartache. It's not for an assignment or anything, I'm just trying to work through some stuff and painting is my favorite outlet.

Interviewer: You've told me some things you look for in a friend, but could you describe your ideal best friend?

Karla: Someone who is creative and outgoing, who shares my love for art and music. I value honesty and authenticity in a friend, someone that I feel comfortable with. It should be natural and effortless.

Interviewer: And what about your ideal partner?

Karla: *sighs* Should have seen that one coming. Usually I go for people that are sweet and bubbly. I'm a bit more chill and I just find people like that really refreshing, like rain on a hot summer day.

Interviewer: Aww that's actually really cute. What was your first kiss like?

Karla: It was pretty normal a quick peck with my best friend. We were in middle school and it was awkward we never talked about it after.

Interviewer: And have you ever been in love?

Karla: Oh god...I really hate this question. Yes I have been in love. I don't really want to go into detail.

Interviewer: Ok then, when was your last relationship, and why did it end?

Karla: Come on. You're killing me here. As I'm sure you already know I broke up with Faye at the end of last spring semester. It wasn't because I didn't love her or that she stopped loving me. It just all felt too complicated and neither of us are really good with conflict. I miss her like hell though, but I think this space is for the best. Like I wish we could have made it work, but I think we both just need some time to focus on ourselves.

Interviewer: I feel like you only gave me half an answer, but I won't press you I can tell you would prefer not to go into to much detail. Ok next question. What’s your ideal Friday night?

Karla: My ideal Friday night is pretty simple, friends, food, and live music. Just a nice night surrounded by my favorite things.

Interviewer: What’s the last song you listened to?

Karla: "Young Love" by Cleo Sol.

Interviewer: How do you behave in a relationship?

Karla: I try to be open and communicative, but as I've learned I really struggle with conflict. It's hard for me to 100% trust my partner if I feel like that trust has been broken. Honestly I just don't like drama, I kind of shut down if things start to feel off.

Interviewer: Interesting. Do you approach those you’re interested in or let them come to you?

Karla: It depends on the situation. I'm open to both approaches, but I think it's important to be genuine and authentic in any interaction.

Interviewer: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Karla: I can't stand people who are arrogant or disrespectful. I believe in treating others with kindness and respect.

Interviewer: What do you notice first about a person?

Karla: *chuckle and tucks her hair behind her ear* Their laugh. Some people laugh with their who body while others let out just a tiny giggle. I dunno I feel like you can tell a lot about a person by how they express their joy.

Interviewer: Aww that's really cute, and so true. Ok time for our last question. What did you dream about last night?

Karla: *gets a twinkle in their eye* Honestly I'd rather not say. Dreams can be very personal...if you know what I mean. *chuckles* So I'll just let you use your imagination.

Interviewer: *clears their throat* Oh uh, I see. Well that's all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for coming in and sharing more of your story with us!

[shieldmaidensmeadery]

Hi! I saw the post with your dolls and I wanted to say I am totally in love!! I wondered if maybe you would be willing to share more pictures? The button irises and embroidered lashes are so so charming, the impression is so cute and I love their expressions so so much

In all honesty the button and embroidery combo really inspires me to try something similar! I have always done full embroidery or embroidery and pencil for faces on my cloth dolls but I am just so taken. They really leave a mark! Their faces are just so striking!!

And the clothes you made!! They are so impressive! Clothes are the hardest part to me, most dolls I have made are chilling in an underwear party haha

This is such a sweet ask, thank you so much!! I am totally willing to share more pictures, I'll put a few here and probably make another post soon! (Putting the rambles under the cut again for the sake of length)

I'm so happy to be getting good feedback on the dolls I make, it's not something I usually show to other people and it makes the whole thing feel more "real", if that makes any sense. A few people have commented on the way I do eyes/faces specifically, and that's SO cool to me I can't even begin to tell you- I've done a lot of experimenting in that department, and even now I'm not entirely settled on how to do it. With my white fox girl, I actually went and made 3d lashes for her out of felt (highly recommend, it stands out beautifully and holds up well over time) but didn't do any blushing with pastels/color, but on my Aunt's dolls I did a lot of color, like watercolor pencil for the freckles (not very happy about getting wet, but not a horrible way to do it)... I might never make up my mind, lol! Right now I'm working on a dragon themed doll whose going to be a BIG experiment.

And totally agreed, clothing is the hardest part- I don't use patterns for my dolls (because I think it's more fun just to mess it up a thousand times lol) and let me tell you that does NOT make it easier. My big secret is that I just cover everything in trims and ribbons to hide the poor stitching- EVERYTHING looks nicer if you put a ruffle on it!

If you look at my one doll in the purple skirt, she has a super big shirt on and that's because the black wolf girl was supposed to have that shirt, but the torso was slightly too thin! I spent hours on that shirt and tried my best to make a real collar and I still messed it up. Thank God it looks good on her, though!! I always get so excited for the clothes stage but this is always how it goes- whoever I think I'm making clothing for is never the one who recieves it.

There's also one more doll I never showed off! She was the second(?) doll I ever made- she's supposed to be a little ghost, to haunt the other ones!

Her bonnet always slips over her eyes, lol. I used a technique on her I haven't used since, where I used black and grey/brown pastels to shade the white fabric- I may have to try it again sometime, she was really better for it <3

OK I should quit rambling, but thank you so much for your ask!!! This brightened my entire year- I wish you luck in your own adventures, @arezou !!

[highly-opinionated-art]

I wanna share with you guys some traditional art I've been making recently- since November I've been doing this album-of-the-week thing, and a few weeks into the year I started picking out my favorite line from the album of the week and doing a little illustration for it. If you can call it that- they're just quick, rough little pictures, more experimental than polished. Some are better than others. But I have some watercolors and acrylic paints that I never used before this project, and a hell of a lot of markers and gel pens and colored pencils that need to be used, too. I've been learning a lot and getting some use out of what I have at the same time, so that's good enough for me! Here's the first quarter of 2024 done:

Albums/artists/lyrics under the cut, plus some additional commentary because why not.

(2024 part 2)

Week 1: "I wanna be what my body wants me to be" is from the song Townie, from the album bury me at makeout creek by mitski. I actually kinda hated this whole album, but Townie is a tolerable song.

Week 2: "it never hurts to give thanks to the local gods, you never know who might be hungry" is from the song Younger, from the album In League With Dragons, by the Mountain Goats. Mixed feelings about the album. Mostly just mad that I can't just put a mostly transparent blue layer over everything when I want it to look like night with watercolor the way I can with digital art.

Week 3: "that we won't run, and we won't run, and we won't run" is from the song King And Lionheart, from the album My Head Is An Animal by Of Monsters And Men, which is a meh album but I love this song.

Week 4: "Make it a dirt dance floor again" is from the song Bleed It Out, from the album Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park. GREAT album. The art looks just like poop but I swear the paint came out of the tube like that, I didn't mix it with anything or anything!

Week 5: "gotta be more to life than just try, try, try" from the song Half A Mile Away, from the album 52nd Street by Billy Joel. This was actually the first one I made, I went back and did the first 4 a little later.

Week 6: "I'm gonna keep on dancing" is from the song Pink Pony Club, from the album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan. The album is ok, I guess? Not my favorite but this track is a really good one.

Week 7: "maybe they'll love me when I finally get out of this town" is from the song Made For This, from the album Built To Last, by Arrows in Action, which is a FANTASTIC album, like DAMN.

Week 8: "together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness, I love you with all the madness in my soul" is from the song Born To Run, by the album of the same name by Bruce Springsteen. It was really hard to get a picture of this one for some reason. Metallic gel pen might have something to do with it.

Week 9: "inside, everybody's hiding something" is from the song Slide, from the album No Angel by Dido. I LOVE Dido. I meant to add more masks in the picture, ok. I got lazy. I should have just made the other ones bigger...

Week 10: "tomorrow's just another day" is from the song Don't Cry 2020 (which was released in 2017), from the album How Will You Know If You Never Try by the band COIN. Forgettable album, but the art is of my room, but I didn't get up and walk 10 steps to get a reference, just did it from memory. The window is too small and not in the right place, and I just changed up the patterns on the blanket because I didn't feel like checking.

Week 11: "if it's ever gonna happen, it's gotta happen here I am" (which seems like it should be missing a comma, but it's like that on purpose) is from the song Shine On Me, from the album Pure Fiction by Eric Hutchinson (not his best work I fear).

Week 12: "make new symbols, make new signs" is from the title track from the album New Beginning, by Tracy Chapman. AMAZING album, I loved it. I'm completely pissed that I messed up the art, though. I thought I had it going for me. Boo.

Week 13: "I don't look important, so they're telling me to wait" is from the song WaldorfWorldwide, from Good Charlotte's self titled debut album. Self portrait of me, a teacher, being mistaken for a student at an event, which is a frequent and frustrating occurrence. This album is ok, but I think they were pretty clearly still developing at this point in their career.