#I do think it may be cute to make/sell like... ''theme accessories''???

[nyctoheart]

the universe.... is at my command....

sorry for the unconsensual genshin impact but I would love if Jiminy's Journal looked even slightly more like this

[screentones-webcomicresources]

Preparing for Conventions

What events are best to go to?

Whether it’s a huge celebrity-studded multi-day weekend or a small gathering at a local library, in-person events are an exciting way to reach all kinds of comic fans that may not be in any of your circles online. There’s opportunities to be had at almost every type of event, but a few things that might narrow your focus:

Events that don’t cost more than you think you can make. Convention costs can add up extremely quickly. You can expect to pay at least $100/day for an artist table at mid-sized or large conventions. If you’re just starting out, prioritize conventions that are close enough to your home (or friends/family who will host you) that you won’t have to pay for a hotel or spend a lot in transportation costs.  Splitting the table with another artist is another option!

Events that other artists in your area/genre recommend. A great way to learn about events in your area is to attend one and ask others what conventions they like in the area. Some regular artists even maintain online groups to discuss application deadlines and share experiences.  Depending on the genre of your art or comic, you might also find adjacent things like horror shows, anime shows, or zine fests worth exploring too!

Events that you can actually get into. Conventions can be very competitive to get into, and have very small application windows months in advance. Once you’ve identified which conventions are in your area, follow their Twitter, mailing lists or websites to catch their sign up deadlines. Juried shows may also ask for a link to your portfolio, author bio or store to get an idea of who you are and what you’d be selling, so be sure to put something together and be ready!

What kinds of products should I prepare?

Our Masterlist of Printers is a great place to start for recommendations about places to make your products and inspiration! But to cut down on costs and keep yourself flexible while you figure things out, it’s a good idea to focus on:

Products that suit a specific style and taste.  Do you make big intricate illustrations that would look good as 11x17 printed art? Are you good with quippy one-liners that would make fun stickers? Is there a popular fandom that you like that has a similar genre to your other work?  Popular products are prints, stickers, charms, pins, and comics. But don’t be afraid to handcraft figures or something else.

Products that work together. Be deliberate about the vibe you’re setting, whether that’s a genre (horror, humor, superheroes, etc.), an age range (all ages, adult), a specific type of product (mostly t-shirts, mostly prints, accessories), a theme (eg, all things coffee!).  There’s a lot of approaches to making a cohesive product line and organizing your table to keep like things together, but having cute plushies AND saucy pinups AND anime figurines AND coffee mugs can be confusing to customers who are trying to figure out what your table is all about.

Products with low price points that won’t be too expensive to make. Products priced $15 or lower are generally an easy buy for new customers, and offering a range of small inexpensive things is great for folks who are on a budget but still want to support you. When you’re just starting, look for things that don’t require a high amount of money to produce for you or can print in low quantities with a printer.  Printed-at-home or handcrafted things are also possibilities for a more zine-style table presence and can save you a little money.

Products with a low minimum order quantity. Try not to order more than 10 or so copies of any one thing (especially anything that a stranger wouldn’t recognize like OC) until you’re confident it will sell. You can always order more after the show if you run out.  If you DO have leftover stock (and 99% of the time you will), you definitely can sell it at a future convention, a crowdfunding campaign, include it as Patreon rewards, or list it in an online store. But being stuck with a closet full of 500 postcard prints that you can’t sell is not a fun time, even if you DID get a bulk discount.

Products that have a general appeal. Even if you have a massive social media following, 99% of your customers will have never heard of your comic or your original characters. Comic enthusiasts will often be open to giving a new story from a local artist a chance if you chat them up a little and tell them about it. But also having general interest products (animals, fanart, nerd humor, mythology) on the table that don’t require as much explanation to enjoy is a very good idea.

What do I need other than merch?

A good convention setup looks clean, organized, and easy to engage with.  Once you’re accepted, look carefully at the details of the convention and what’s included with your space.  Many conventions will give you a table and chair, but you’ll probably also need:

Backdrop - Backdrops display your best art and help people see it from across a crowded room, and partition your space if you’re very close to other tables.  A photo backdrop stand with a bunch of 11x17/A3 prints taped together that you’re selling, a wire cube grid construction you can set on your table and stick smaller merch pieces to, or a professionally-printed banner with your name, URL/social handle, and your best art and are all solid options for this.

Where to get them: Google “photo backdrop” or look for photography supply stores. Google “wire cube grids” or look around hardware stores or Walmart/Target.  For banners, you can find printers that can make retractable banners or vinyl banners to hang from a photo backdrop.

8-foot Tablecloth - Many conventions assign you a very weathered 6-foot table, so always plan on having something to cover it (optionally for multi-day shows, a second to cover your setup for security purposes when you leave your table.)

Where to get them: Fabric stores, bedsheets, party stores.

Displays - Flat items on a table are invisible to anyone who isn’t directly in front of you, so look for a way to make your stuff stand up and be seen! Easel stands to highlight featured books or art, cork boards and pins you can prop up, boxes or porfolio books to flip through, wire/wooden racks to hold lots of books are all great ideas to consider, depending on your products.

Where to get them: For heavy-duty stuff, you’ll probably want to Google around order displays online. Art supply stores will often have easels and portfolios. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money yet, dollar stores can be a gold mine of quick solutions too!

Price Signage - Having clear pricing on your table helps people decide what to buy without having to ask you about every product. Print your own signs at home, bring colorful post-its, or some stiff paper, markers, and tape. You can also use a white board or chalk board to make a “menu” style price list.

Where to get them: Office supply stores, Target/Walmart.

The ability to take money from people - A secure place that’s accessible to you to keep money for making change. Cashbox theft can unfortunately be an issue sometimes, so wearable pouches or discreet envelopes that don’t immediately look like money are better in this context. If you have a cellphone or tablet, you can also get an app where you can list your products and connect an attachment to swipe or tap credit cards for a small fee.  (Note wi-fi and power are not dependable in many venues, so be sure to have a charger and a good data plan for your phone)

Where to get them:  For cash, go to your bank in person and ask for $50-$100 in 1s and 5s. For credit card payments, Square, Paypal, and SumUp all have apps that you can put on a phone or tablet and have attachments to swipe or tap credit cards.

Business cards - Customers will often want to follow you on social media, read your comic, or shop online after the show, so be sure to have lots of business cards! Use your most memorable art so they’ll be able to remember where they got it from! If you’re looking to offer commissions or talk to agents/comic professionals, you might also include your email address, but otherwise leave it off.

Where to get them: Many printers offer business cards for cheap. In a pinch, you can also print your own at home or have one sign with your info and ask people to take a picture.

What to Expect

Lots of talking! You don’t have to have a carnival sideshow “step right up” persona, but be ready to give a friendly hello to folks who look interested in your work, and confidently answer questions about all of your products when asked. If you have a comic, practice a quick elevator pitch to explain it.

Not many breaks! While you can technically step away from your table whenever you want (if you’re alone, you can usually ask a neighboring table to watch your stuff for you), every hour you spend away from your table getting food or going to see cool panels are sales opportunities missed.  Keep snacks and water at your table to minimize your time away, look for slow traffic times to step away and explore a bit, or bring a friend who can watch your table and sell things for you if you need longer breaks to recharge. 

People who have never read a comic on the internet! For those of us who live and breathe our webcomics, this can come as a shock, but many people are still only readers of printed comics and will want to buy your physical book rather than read it free on the internet or buy a digital copy. Even if it’s just a small chapter book, having a print version is a great idea to get readers!

Fun and profit! This can also be surprising if you only have experience with online stores, but people come to convention floors with very open wallets. Things that don’t sell at all online can do gangbusters at conventions when presented right! Experiment with your setup to highlight your favorite things, take careful records of what attracts peoples’ attention and what sells, and keep notes for the next day and next convention, and have fun learning about this new market!

[solidream]

Heyy cuties! I see these cute post alll the time and I wanted to be on my "Real advice girl sh!t" too.

Recently I've been on a journey to find myself and be my best self. I know things like this can be totally lame sometimes.. Especially when you're in it alone but fear not cuties! It's so many people out there feelin' just like you (and me) so let's get this post poppin' babes!

1. Like the great saint Kashdoll once said "He For Everybody!" and that goes for growth too.

* Think about the company you keep!

If people you hang around are constantly causing problems and cause more harm than good... "baby girl you to drop themmm!"

*Reconsider your actions!

Think about how you treat yourself and others you care about. Is this really the you, you want to be?

*Change your surroundings and maybe even your style.

Oh I think I like that so let's speak on it!

2. Find your PERSONAL style!

*Look around at new places to shop or ways to be more creative with what you have. If your closet feels like it needs a re-up like Nicki Minaj's second studio album MAKE IT HAPPEN! If your low on funds I got you.

~Try selling old clothes on Depop.

~Flip your clothes into something new!

~Thrift and second hand shop or look for sales and coupon codes.

~learn to sew or crochet! (making your own designs can be fun and exciting for unique pieces in your wardrobe)

* Find some inspiration! Fashion is seriously ALL around you! Anything can spark a fresh new idea and don't be afraid to think outside the box. If you're scared to try something out give it a chance you never know how you may like it.

~Download pinterest or Tiktok!

I personal find these apps to be extremely helpful when finding inspiration for new looks I want to try. There's so much information just waiting to be found and you should totally check it out.

~Experiment!

Put on that lab coat babes because it's about to get crazy! Look at the clothes you have and think of new combos! Mix up patterns, try layering, and def get into to it with accessories.

~Try Everskies!

Oh yes! If you've been around the virtual doll worlds (stardoll, mattel dress up games on your elementary school's computer, Imvu and even doll divine) this is right up your alley! Everskies is perfect for making new looks. And it's a great way to showcase your ideas and even make new friends.

~Tumblr!

Yes miss mamas I know you're already here and that's how you're reading this. Pay attention gworl! Tumblr is full of hidden gems and lot's of things you haven't discovered yet. After tumblr's little clean up things seemed lost but I like to believe its getting back on track. There's lots of places to discover and find new fashion and even subcultures. Don't let yourself be stuck in a box check out new places and new tags!

3. Next caller! Next Caller! Let's talk about your room!!!

*DECORATE!!!! I cannot be anymore clear in that. If you have a space to decorate do it! Here's my top tips for you best room!

~Look at your space and brainstorm!

Take note of the size of your room and even look at the furniture you have in it. If you have a small room try to place your furniture to have a more spacious look or even downsize your bed if you can.

If you lack closet space try looking for clothing and shoe racks. Think of better ways to store things and try not to keep (bad) clutter or boxes.

~Choose a theme.

No, you do not have to have a strict cookie-cutter bedroom you saw in a generic lifestyle post. Think of things you like and see if there's something like that you can use in your room.

♡category breakdown♡

If you love plushies or stuffed animals totally get some for your room they make any space adorable.

Try out posters or even make a photo wall. Print out some images or go get images printed that you like. (freeprints is a great app to get your pictures for your wall and yes it is actually free your first purchase)

~Get some decor!

Decor is very important and easy to find you can put absolutely anything in your room. (Something that brings back cool memories, something you splurged on because it looks cool, something gifted to you, just anything that makes you room your happy place)

~Make the most of it!

At the end of the day with the way the world is now your room is where you spend most of your time. So why not make it your palace. Make it a safe, clean, healthy and positive space. Take a day out of your week to deep clean and keep it fresh. If the week got totally hectic and a mess and your room got the worst of it. Take the time to get it back on track!

4. Be unapologetically you! (and love yourself)

*In the name of our Icy big sister, muva, cousin, homegirl or All together queen Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (miss Saweetie) ! You betta tap in! I KNOW DAS RIGHT!

~Don't be afraid to live your truth and speak your mind.

Be a boss! There's is nothing wrong with being madly in love with yourself. Whoever you are, where ever you started and came from, no matter what color, size or age! Always know you are that BITCH!

If anyone ever tries to tell you otherwise don't take it to heart and don't let it get to you. I know that's easier said than done but don't ever give someone that much power over you.

~Self care!

Cleanse your skin daily and try to have an easy reliable skincare routine.

Do your hair and paint your nails.

Pick out some cute pjs. If you are lounging around the house often try to buy some cute lounge sets. and get ready even if you are just lounging.

Journal! Sometimes we just need to get things off our chest and feel we can't tell anyone. Journaling is a great way to let it out. If you feel a actually book journal isn't private enough download google docs and drive. It's safely on your phone and it has a great passcode system.

Fuel your body! Eat and drink good things. Mental health can actually have a lot to do with you diet. You can feel a lot more tired and drained if your aren't getting what you need. Cooking and trying new recipes can be fun and exciting!

Work out! Working out has been given a bad name due to body shamers but it's actually got more benefits than weight management. It can help you feel happier, more energized, and even make your body more firm. It can be a really great experience if you find fun new ways to exercise. You can try so many routines like dancing (twerk it out), martial arts, skating, bike riding, walking to explore, yoga, and so much more.

5. Hair and Makeup!

~Try out new hair colors and styles!

Wigs are your friend! It's a great way to switch it up and protect your natural hair. You can also test out new looks without the commitment.

there's lots of ways to style wigs but if wigs aren't you thing... Try color clip ins! tracks can be found in the beauty supply for very low prices in tons of colors and they are able to take heat. you can also find clips to sew on. If you go this route you can have so many color combos and go all out and its much more versatile.

Try hair accessories! There's so many things you can use to spice up you hair. there's clips, scrunchies, hair jewels, pom pom hair ties, and anything you can think of!

Remember there's way more to hair than middle part 30 inches (no shade)

~ makeup! We all remember sunset eye shadow and concealer brows (again no shade) but make up is also whatever you make it. There is no right and wrong way to do it at the end of the day.

Try new lash colors and even new brow colors. Get creative! try new looks you've seen or maybe even come up with your own.

See what looks good on your face and what you like and ALWAYS take some pics and go all out!

Okay dolls I hope that was a good read for you all and it helped! Feel free to reblog and share! If you tried any of these let me know! Lots of love forever and always.

~Soliza

[blogmetrix772]

Sims 4 Harem Mod

Are you a lover of all things cute?

Sims 4 Harem Mod

The Sims 4 Harem Mod

The Sims 4 is like a really shitty boyfriend that I stay with for the few redeeming qualities. I think mainly because 3 is too much of an unplayable beast to go back to, and 2 just seems too far removed. I think one of my absolute biggest frustrations with 4 is how it just makes everything so difficult, even things that should be easy fixes.

R/simsfreeplay: From the creators of The Sims ™ 3 series best-selling mobile games comes a COMPLETE Sims experience that you can play for FREE on Press J to jump to the feed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. ♡Hey Fantacorns! Welcome to another Sims 4 mod video, today I'm showing you guys romantic relationship mods you need for more realistic game play with your c.

Do you find yourself drawn to adorable cuddly animals and bask in their mesmerizing furry glory?

Then it may be time to take some aspect of the loveable fluffs to your sim’s world.

We’re giving you an awesome list of CC for the cutest ears of all time.

Are you going for a casual everyday look? Or want to fill your favorite household with a harem of cat and bunny girls (or boys)?

Wait no longer!

10. Unisex Cat Ears

Cat got your tongue? Well in this case, the cat’s got a tail.

CC maker NotEgain did a great job on this.

For the first pair of cat ears on our list, there are 19 color schemes that you can mix and match with the tail from the same set.

Most of the shades are dark and are the ones you frequently see on real cats.

There are 5 versions in the pack, two are for the cat ears. The first one, you only get the ears. And the next one comes with the tail.

Go full or half-cat; the choice is yours.

9. ArtRave Headband

Artsy but still a cutie. One can never go wrong when it comes to bunny ears.

The geometric approach artist Leah Lillith did on this custom item gives you a flashy, futuristic feel.

It’s available in 4 metallic tones and occupies the glasses slot. You can add more accessories if you want to be even more Avant-Gard.

Also, I think we all agree this is something that Lady Gaga would have worn at some point.

8. Ominous Headband

Ominous? More like fabulous!

You know, for something named after bad vibes, this pair of ears couldn’t be further from it.

Made out of visibly soft lace, you can even see the tiniest details of these patterns.

Any sim would look angelic wearing this chic CC. Creator Toksik presents the sheer ears in 5 subdued colors.

Putting this on will take up the hat slot, and instantly make any sim super fancy.

7. Bunny Ears

Ready to go “aww, shucks”?

Prepare your heart for this cutie-patootie uneven rabbit ears.

Produced by CC makers Deetron-sims, Nolan-sims, Riice, and Pixielated, the ears come from the Spring Fling Stuff Pack.

You can choose to download this individually, or partner it up with the other spring-themed items.

Pick from 20 festive shades, varying from bright colors like yellow, hot pink, and orange.

It’s also found in the bracelet option, so this specific CC leaves space for another head accessory. Maybe a cute bow?

6. Arena Ear Headband

Keeping it casual with cat ears.

Take your daily dose of feline goodness with this laid-back but versatile headpiece.

Pralinesims made this piece accessible in 50 colors, recreated from an original that inspired this CC.

Specifically the cheetah print headband was worn by South Korean singer Daehyun.

You can feel the love in the designs, as all fabric surfaces are distinct. The colors are fun and they certainly pop at first glance.

Perfect all-around hat wear. I think your sims will enjoy this for any events.

5. Bunny Ears

Baby Thumper, is that you?

Very cute and innocent looking best describes this CC.

This pair of bunny ears will make you want to cuddle up, or go out clubbing. These floppy fluffs are perfect for all genders too, and accessed through the hat option.

Made by custom content artist Lilit, you can enjoy it in 8 shades. A mix of primary and vibrant colors, and a spotted pattern often seen on rabbits as well.

4. The Cats Outta The Bag

Sassy and classy cat ears.

Raised high, this pair of sharp and easily surprised predator ears are fiercely endearing.

It has an undeniable charm that makes you want to touch it, despite knowing the danger. And the rejection, since the girl wearing these will probably ignore you anyway.

Available in 2 swatches, black and brown, with white tips. This CC by creator Toskami includes an identical cat tail too.

Note: to download this CC, click the ‘updated graveyard’, as the original site is no longer active.

3. Bunny Headband

The classic bunny ears.

Often associated with fishnets and magazines (you know that one), the headband by itself is adorable.

There have been different iterations of it through the years. In anime, films, TV series, you name it.

But one thing has been made clear. It’s captivating, no matter where you place it.

The silky-smooth sheen of the cloth and the thin, sleek strips make this particular pair of bunny ears a hit.

Creator SMsims made this part of the bunny collection, made up of a bunny suit with a tail, detachable collar, and headband. All are available in 5 shiny hues.

But because of the artist’s settings, you’ll have to register on the site or log into your existing Deviantart account to view the download link.

2. Cats of City

Move over, Victoria. The cats are running this show now.

Some cute cat ears to slowly wrap up the list, these ears are too fancy to ignore.

Sims 4 Harem Mod

There are 3 ears in this set total. The small one has 3 colors, the fluffy one has 4, and the patterned one has 6.

Jennisims made sure to make one type for every occasion!

Besides the ears, you might also enjoy the accessories that come with them, so check out the whole CC set if you have time.

1. Rabbit Ears

A must-have for fluffy lovers.

Chinese artist Wenwen recreated the perfect usagimimi, AKA rabbit ears, with this CC.

The fuzzy fur surrounding your ears adds an ‘aww’ factor that sets off your cutesy instincts.

Do I want to touch it? Should I pet it? How soft is it?

The attraction is inescapable.

The Sims 4 Harem Mod

Only in one color, it’s part of the Cheongsam + rabbit ears + high heels pack.

Give in, click download, and get it for your cutest girl Sim today.

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[elenamegan14]

Twisted Wonderland: Headcanons for Dorm Haunted Houses Pt.4 - Savannaclaw

MASTERLIST

Part 3

TW: Themes of Cannibalism and Gore in Haunted House. 

THE ATTRACTION:

Savannaclaw’s haunted house is centered on the Elephant Graveyard’s theme. Only darker and gorier.

It’s a “Cannibal” Rave Party where the menu on the house is… YOU!

Guests entered a large gate out of a giant mammoth skeleton amongst the rocky hills. Green lights and fogs shrouded them everywhere. Graphic animal carcasses and skeletons littered on every single step that the guests took around their haunted house. Dark Tribal and Progressive House music echoes all across the hills. 

As they climbed on top of the rocky hills, they saw a rave party being celebrated amongst the whooping Savannaclaw students, dancing amongst the strobe lights with a DJ on top of the hill. As they beckoned guests to come closer, they can see limbs, heads and organs splattered across the banquet table. Everyone is sporting a bloodied mouth, tribal tattoos and a nasty smirk as they tried to grab the guests by force. It was primal - many guests are quite spooked. 

Ruggie is the second-in-command of all the ‘predators’ and the saboteur of the team. His role is to sabotage the participants during the obstacle course as well as instructing the ‘predators’ to hunt as many participants as they can. He was wearing a hyena-themed like rave tribal outfit along with a mask made out of antelope skull. He accessorized himself with pieces of teeth and bones. 

After going through the mini haunted house, participants and guests were then escorted to the start lines where they were given each towel and water bottles to refresh themselves.  

It may not look like it, but Leona did put a bit of an effort to the dorm’s haunted house, only because it’s a chance for him to unleash his beastly side upon the poor guests and first-years. 

Their dorm’s haunted house is the most athletic one out of the dorms. Think of the Zombie Run or The Walking Dead Obstacle Course marathons, only this one has hungry predators chasing the hell after you. 

Of course, guests who are willing to be a little sporty tonight are allowed to participate in this interactive obstacle course, but while they went on a normal route, the students who took on the charm challenge are instead given a more difficult course. 

They’re selling the usual merchandise: t-shirts, flags, water bottles, and sports bands are quite popular but the most fast-selling items are their unique necklaces. And pictures of Leona. Rook and Vil hunted him down to pose per Ruggie’s request. The Crafts Club took this as a chance to show off their skills at making tribal accessories and keychains.

Leona’s costume evoked a sense of raw power - ripped off tribal-like punk-like leather with his black tribal tattoos and makeup. His teeth are bleached with red dye, to make it seem that he already ate up his ‘preys’ before and his stomach had room for seconds. 

Strangely, most of the female guests are willing to be captured by ‘Leona’ when they have to go through the ‘Predator’s Cove’, perhaps it was their strange kinks but who he is to deny when he plays along as their ‘king’. 

Actually, most ‘predators’ who already got romantic partners took this as an opportunity to play ‘predator and prey’ kink to a whole new level. They were responsible for the massive loss of participants because the participants themselves were willing to be ‘captured’ by the ‘predators’ to be ‘eaten’. Get it? -winks-

THE MISSION: 

Their mission for this haunted dorm is the same as the guests - they enter an obstacle course marathon challenge where they have to evade, survive and go through all the traps on this challenge. They will encounter ‘hungry predators’ along the way, so they have to make sure that the predators won’t mark them by smearing ‘blood’ on their shirt. 

They were warned that the predators would also ‘bite’ as well, which is a NO-NO in MC’s group case. 

Of course, the host is also considerate to tell that, since this is an athletic event, they have to carry a water bottle at all times to rehydrate themselves. Epel and Jack already brought more than ten bottles to reserve their stamina, and share it along with everyone on the team.

And of course, they were allowed to use their MagicPens to blast some magic limited only to this event to ward off the Savannahclaw “predators”. 

...well, they can try. Those ‘predators’ are fast as heck. 

MC’s group and the poor students run like the wind when the predators are unleashed. Only 55% of the participants remained. 

ANGRY RAVE MUSIC PLAYS ON THE BACKGROUND. 

Did I mention this is also an obstacle course as well? 

They got sticky floors, nets to go through, falling boulders, hidden pits, climbing the cliffs, tightropes, and...

“WHOSE IDEA IS IT TO PUT A CIRCUS FIRE RING IN THE OBSTACLE?! This is so randomly dangerous!” Ace yelled while putting out the fire on his butt. In Jack’s defense, he has no idea that they’re going to use HIS suggestion.

Epel went through the obstacles smoothly, even down to kicking a few Savannaclaw students. 

Ruggie got Grimm by his arms and he prepared to mark the poor flying feline, but Grimm being Grimm, decided to bite Ruggie’s hand instead. He dropped Grimm with a yowl, nursing his hand as he watched Grimm with vengeance on his eyes. 

But MC? Poor MC might be slow or their stamina is not as strong as the others, so they’re having quite difficulty in keeping up with the others. While they’re not looking, one student jerk enough to cheat tripped MC’s feet, causing the charm they got from Heartsyabul’s challenge to fly out. 

THAT DAMN STUDENT GOT THE CHARM. 

MC watched helplessly as his other friend held you back, laughing as they held the charm to defend themselves against the attacking Savannaclaw ‘predators’ as they left you at the mercy of the ‘predators’. 

Luckily, Grimm and Deuce came to your rescue by hauling your butt up as they blasted the predators back from ‘harming’ you. 

Ruggie’s sabotage team went nuts. They’re a hindrance to the students, like making them slipped on oil floor and banana peels, Ruggie using his magic to redirect some students to the wrong courses (or walls if he was feeling sadistic), putting low-level mines on their path that explodes (students blasting off like Team Rocket), trapping legs on bear-trap-like clamps and caused some students to get zapped by some electronic shocks to buy time for the predators to catch up to them.

Ace saw a familiar glint of the charm on one of the students. One look at it and he gets the gist of what happened. Ace gave that poor student a karma by tricking him to look down ("Hey! Your fly is open!”), causing that said student to panic out of embaressment and run into a wall of sticky web. Ace saunters back with a whistle, stealing the charm back and gleefully as that student is pounced by Ruggie and the ‘predators’. 

In the end, almost everyone made it. Still, no one complained and is happy that they’re still in one piece. 

Their last obstacle mission is quite simple: inside the den of predators, there’s a charm tucked right next to Leona. The students must creep amongst the sleeping predators WITHOUT waking them up. 

That sleeping part is Leona’s idea. 

Easy huh? Do you think that’s easy? It turns out that Savannaclaw had set up traps that guaranteed to make the poor students scream out of their wits. Five students found out the hard way when they stepped on a klaxon, got toy spiders rained down on them, and gas released on the nape of their necks. 

Finally, they decided to use a straw lot to determine which student should go down like a man to retrieve the charm. 

Spoiler alert: MC got it. Their group protested. 

BUT THEY DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR THE SAKE OF FREEDOM. Touching tears were shed. 

Grimm decided to follow MC to make up for abandoning them in the first place - he will be the one who warned MC about possible traps. As they went in, they did not realize Ace was biting his nails and Jack gripped a boulder so hard that it cracked from the intense suspense. 

MC tried their best to endure everything - the cool jelly floating down their face, the spiders, the gas and even tickling feathers. They were screaming internally. 

When they finally reached the location, they found out that Leona is hiding the charm inside the jar that he holds. 

MC tries to lull him into a deep slumber by singing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. It actually works. No seriously. 

MC’s group also secretly joins it from outside. They make a good acapella. 

In the middle of the song, Leona unconsciously grabbed a hold of MC and put them on a tight hold hug as if MC is a dakimakura. Still, MC is got the guts to finish the song and escaped from Leona’s hold, holding the jar carefully on their chest. 

It all went well until Grimm and Ruggie happened. 

...hey, yeah. Remember the Emperor’s New Groove? The part where Kuzco pisses off a squirrel so the cute squirrel decided to get even with Kuzco by tricking him to wake the entire jaguars using balloons? Well, Grimm’s the Kuzco and Ruggie, being the little shit, IS the squirrel. Guess what happened next. 

“ROAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!”

“THAT DAMN RACCOON HAD WOKEN UP THE PREDATORS! RUN, YOU ASSHOLES!” 

They all run. MC seems to run the fastest. The students had no chance against the speed, power, and agility of the Savannaclaw students - they got “eaten” one by one. Most of them are Leona’s victims. 

“AAAAAAAAHHH! DON’T COME ANY CLOSER!” One of the students screamed as he tried to shoot Leona several times using his MagiPen, but failed due to Leona’s unbelievable speed. He got his “throat” ripped out.  

While they were running, another student body checks MC so hard that they lose their charm, prompting that students to roughly grab it before they do. 

“Thanks for the charm, loser!” That was his last words before Ruggie pounced on him from above, Epel hurriedly grabbed the charm before anyone could steal it back. When another student tried to fight Epel for it, he was rewarded with a serious eye poke from Epel, followed by a knuckle sandwich from Deuce that escalated into an actual scuffle. IT WAS WILD. 

Meanwhile, MC, is seriously cornered down by Leona who took this opportunity while they were down. “Nowhere to run, herbivore.” Leona gave MC a frightful smirk as he leaned down towards their doom. So MC was left with no choice but to do… THIS. 

They got down on one knee and reluctantly cringed as they said these words: “Please, Leona-senpai! I’m just a small, insignificant herbivore who wants to live! Therefore… Leona Kingscholar, will you do the honor of… -gulps- MARRYING ME?”

The shock that came from the participants and the ‘predators’ is enough to momentarily stop the chaos. 

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH???!!!” Jack, Ace, Deuce, Epel, and Grimm simultaneously yelled. 

Leona just stood there dumbfounded. 

MC took the opportunity to book it before Leona could realize what’s going on. Once he does, he shrugged… AND CHASE THEM LIKE HELL. 

They barely made it to the exit gate. Leona snapped at them, but he couldn't do anything as the survivors celebrated their victory along with the other participants that escaped from the predators. 

MC apologized to Leona about the proposal. They were just scared at that time - any rationality that they had at time flew out when Leona almost got them, Leona-senpai is truly terrifying out there. Leona ate up the complement and seemingly forgives MC...

...but not before he licked MC’s neck as a warning. MC is left flushed - please do NOT do this, senpai! 

Some girls wanted Leona to lick them too. XD

The rest of MC’s group watched blank-faced. Jack had to slide you away from Leona’s gaze - there are people watching sir, please be reasonable. GOSH. 

They were tired, their breaths almost depleted, but they enjoyed it. It was fantastic - they feel reinvigorated, Savannaclaw may put their participants at risk, but it was the best fun they ever had. After resting for quite a while, they went on to their next dorm.

The scent of the sea and motor oil greets them in the first place. It’s time to enter the den of Octinanivelle’s haunted dorm...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Part 5

[butter-egg-toast]

YouTuber Girlfriend ▶️

I got a bunch of requests for this one. . 👍

Requested by @dragonwolfs

Long post be prepared.

I'm so sorry I couldn't think of Albert, Kadea, and Aii

Enjoy 🤗

Haru: 🎨

🌙You're a mix media ArtYouTuber.

🌙You do various art forms like painting sculpture, Ink art, ceramics, etc.

🌙You're usually not on Camara, most of your videos are focused on your art work.

🌙On some occasions Haru would draws something for you

🎨" Look (y/n), it's a Mackerel sculpture"-Haru

🌙 Haru gives art tips on the channel for beginners.

🎨"Art and swimming are similar...just go with the flow"-Haru

🌙He goes shopping with you for art supplies.

🎨" We literally only bought 4 items and it came to 40 dollars?!-Haru

🌙You and Haru did a couple of drawing challenges like:

Draw with left hand challenge,

Draw each other challenge

Draw with your eyes closed challenge

🌙At the end of the day Haru secretly enjoy making art with you.

🌙You have a simple following of 50k

Channel name: HoneycombArts.

Matoko: 🐱

🌙You're an animal YouTuber

🌙You work at a pet adoption center. So you encounter different types animals like:

Cats, dog, rabbits, birds, and many more

🌙You invited Matoko to help you with the feral kittens and cats; immediately after hissing at you and the other employees they warm up to Matoko.

🐱"Wow.. they really love me!"-Matoko

😸" Woah Her fur is so fuffy and pretty"-Matoko

🌙You give tips about properly taking care of animals.

🌙Matoko usually not on Camara that much (he's kinda shy)

🌙But when he is on Camara, The videos with the most views are usually with Matoko washing kittens.

🐱"You want to make sure the kitty is calm and not scared of you. Make sure you talk to them to calm them."-Makoto

🐱"Its okay little guy, you're gonna be a nice and clean kitty"-Makoto

🌙 You have a simple following 80k

Channel name: PreciousPets

Nagisa: 🎬

🌙You're a movie/TV show commentator. Comedy skits, you comment on badly movie reviews or simple commentary.

🌙You and Nagisa something reenact scenes from movies and TV shows.

🎬" Oi!!! Look at me when I'm talking to you *bad acting*" -Nagisa

🌙Nagisa cant get his lines right and he always laugh. That's what makes it charming.

🎬" Dont go...I..ummm... *laugh* I forgot (y/n) chan.. what's the line again?"-Nagisa.

🌙Sometimes there are cheesy skits you do together for fun.

🌙 there are some occasions were both of you and Nagisa forgot your lines and you both had to improv.

🎬" Noooooo... how.. could you betray me? Nagisa fell to his knees. "Well...you shouldn't have took my... taco.." trying your best to hold in your laughter. Nagisa confused at your choice of words. "Eh?..."-Nagisa

🌙He Loves being on Camara most of the time

You have a simple following 50k to 80k

Channel name: Tomatometer

Rei: 📘

🌙You're a History YouTuber. Educational videos, learning , science, and technology

🌙 You go over the latest new technology and you have sponsors that send you laptops and phones

🌙You have a mini segment were Rei goes over interesting fun science facts

📘"The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue"-Rei

📘" People who speak two languages may unconsciously shift their personalities when they switch from one language to another.

🌙 You and Rei do a myth busting, where you answer questions from viewers.

🌙There was even a time were you both performed a chemistry experiment that failed.

📘" *cough * see this is why its important to have safety precautions"-Rei

You have a simple following of 50k to 60k

Channel name: Learn Something Today

Rin: 🛠

🌙You're a DIY YouTuber, building and create easy life hacks

🌙You build random projects you find on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or viewers suggestion

🛠" (y/n)? That a cool sculpture"-Rin

🌙Rin is never in your videos. The only time he showed his face is when you both did a challenge together.

🛠" Woah!! This looks complicated. But nothing's too complicated for me. What do we need ,(y/n)?"-Rin

🌙Rin sometimes goes shopping with you to find your supplies.

🛠 "Huh?! This is a lot of wood (y/n), what are you making today?"-Rin

🛠" what type of wood you need?"-Rin

🌙You sometimes give away or sell your projects depending on the occasion.

🌙Rin helps with your projects on his day off, because he's curious how the project will turn out.

You have a simple following of 80k

Channel name: Fix it Make it

Souskue: 🥙

🌙You're a cooking Youtuber

🌙Sousuke something does voice overs talking about cooking traditional Japanese food and giving cooking tips.

🥙" Okonomiyaki is a simple pancake that is cook with cabbage."-Souskue

🌙People always send you emails asking to show your boyfriends face because they love his voice so much.

🥙" They really like me? I dont think my sounds like honey"-Souskue

🌙You sometimes do food challenge and completions with your friends and Souskue. (Souskue always win)

🌙You make a variety foods all over the world

🥙"Can you cook pork cutlets?"-Souskue

🌙The meals you and Souskue cook, you both give to homeless shelters and orphanages.

🌙Every special occasion you bake a themed caked.

🥙"Is that a shark?! How did you make this?!"-Sousuke

You have a simple following of 70k

Channel name: Cookie dough gummies

Momo: 🎮

🌙You're a Gaming YouTuber

🌙You play a wide variety of games like horror, dating Sims, action,Platformers, 3D, and many more

🌙Multiplayer with all your friends (Among us)

🌙Momo definitely loves playing adventures and scifi games with you

🌙Momo likes to bring Puyysuke with him to the gaming sessions.

🎮"Puyysuke is good luck!!"-Momo

🎮"Puyysuke is just as excited as I am with this game. "-Momo

🌙You and momo sometimes compete with each other in fighting and racing games.

🎮"Awwww no fair (y/n) that's cheating !!"-Momo

🎮" Ahhh how you keep winning"-Momo

You have a simple following of 60k

Channel name: Beetle juice

Seijour: 💪

🌙You're a health and fitness Youtuber

🌙Health and fitness tips from professionals and Seijour.

💪"Having a perfect form is the most important and effective way of succeeding"-Seijour

🌙Breaking down the human body to benefit different bodies types.

💪" This exercise plan I used on the samzuka swim team. I guaranteed you will bulk up👍"-Seijour

💪No pain no gain. Keep pushing YOUR ALMOST THERE!!! You can do it!!"-Seijour

🌙 You and Seijour do couples yoga on sundays.

💪"Dont worry (y/n) I got you. Just relax your muscles"-Seijour

You have a simple following 80k

Channel name: You're lifestyle

Kisumi: 💄

🌙You're a beauty YouTuber.

🌙Hes pretty much on your channel 24/7. Everyone loves the both of you.

🌙You do make up challenges, skin care tips, and themed make up looks.

💄"Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are the best together on your skin"-Kisumi

🌙 You and kisumi have challenges where you do each other's makeup.

💄" Eh? I used the wrong color?! Haha sorry "-Kisumi

💄"I hope I'm not too rough with your face. Let me know."-Kisumi

🌙Kisumi did a voice over on one of your tutorials twice.

💄" Now shes applying blush on...oohhwow that's a cute shade on her..its really cute (y/n)"-Kisumi

💄" wow that makes (y/n) eyes pop!"-Kisumi

🌙Kisumi loves to do seasonal makeup tutorials with you.

🌙He even let you do some makeup on him.

💄" Woah I look like a kpop male idol! How did you did that??!"-Kisumi

You have a simple following of 90k

Channel name: Velvet lips

Asahi: 🔎

🌙You're a Horror theme YouTuber

🌙Discuss Mysteries and Paranormal activity all over the world, Unsolved crimes. Mysteries death and conspiracies theories

🔎"That's interesting.. has the crime been solved?"-Asahi.

🌙Asahi is not into the paranormal because he doesn't believe in it. However, because you like, he's curious about the stuff you talk about.

🔎"wow that monster is 8 foot tall!! And it was seen in Japan??!!"-Asahi

🔎" mmmhh.. that picture is kinda convincing"-Asahi

🌙There was a time where you, Asahi, Hiyori And kisumi went to explore an abandoned house on the countryside that is known for huntings

🔎"oh... (y/n) do you want me to hold your hand if your scared?"-Asahi

🔎"huh? That noise? It may have been a rat"-Asahi

You have a simple following of 70k

Channel name: Mystery XE

Ikuya:💻

🌙You're a Anmaition Youtuber, sometime you animate your story times and do little funny Anmaition, and music video Anmaition.

*The time I accidentally pranked my teacher story time*

*Middle school experience * story time

*Worst family vacation ever* story time

*Creey encounter at work ft Ikuya* story time

*How I met my boyfriend ft Ikuya* story time

🌙Ikuya something gives you ideas for a Anmaition.

💻"How about do a little mermaid Anmaition?"-Ikuya

💻"This is cute a Anmaition, you think you can teach me how to do it?-Ikuya

🌙 You created a Anmaition for Ikuyas birthday with one of his favorite songs.

💻" I love ever bit of this. You really know what I like"-Ikuya

You have a simple following 60k

Channel name: Ms.Honbuns

Natsuya: 🗺

🌙You're a travel YouTuber/Vlogger

🌙 natsuya is on your channel 24/7

🌙You and natsuya traveled to various locations while site seeing, eating food, meeting local people, learning the language, learning the history, and having fun.

🌙You do 360 VR videos of each country, or city you visit.

🌙Sometimes you both camp and go on hikes.

🗺" ah Its so calming out here in the wild"-Natsuya

🌙Natsuya has his own little segment were you taste different types of beers and wines all over the world

🗺".. woah (y/n) you have to try this. The favor is out of this wolrd!!"-Natsuya

🗺"Where do you want to go for the spring? I was thinking 🇬🇧The UK or 🇲🇽 Italy."-Natsuya

You have a simple following 90k to 1M

Channel name: Lake side view

Nao: 🍀

🌙You're a Garden YouTuber

🌙you give gardening tips

🌙on the weekends nao helps with your garden and maintaining it.

☘"Wow!! (Y/n) your vegetables looks great "-Nao

🌙You harvest and Nao cooks the Vegetables.

🍀"Wow the vegetables this harvest is delicious"-Nao

☘"Next harvest, can we plant watermelons?"-Nao

🌙Time lapse videos of Fruits and vegetables growing and decomposing.

You have a simple following of 50k

Channel name: Growful love

Hiyori: 🛍

🌙You're a Fashion YouTuber

🌙 Discuss the newest trends and unboxing new clothes, shoes and accessories .

🌙Haul videos with Hiyori (sometimes)

🛍" These sweater feels amazing"-Hiyori

🌙You and Hiyori sometimes try on matching clothes.

🛍" Wow! We're definitely a cute couple!-Hiyori

🛍"This is something I'll definitely wear every day "-Hiyori

🌙 Most of your clothes are your choice of style. And Hiyori's is more like dark academia.

🌙 Sewing clothes for you and Hiyori.

🛍"woah!! You made this for me?! Thank you so much"-Hiyori

🌙 And some occasions you guys will go thrift shopping.

You have a simple following of 60k

Channel name: Exclusive Z

[musicrunsthroughmysoul]

Hi dear followers and mutuals, today (hopefully still where you are - whoops) is #settlersaturday and I felt inspired to officially make a post linking to some of my very favorite Indigenous artists, designers, and jewelry makers, plus add a little personal commentary so y’all might be more inclined to check them and their stuff out if it appeals to you. :)

Note: I am even sharing this list under extremely good faith. Time and time again I hear/read - from far too many Native people - that racist people have commented on their posts or DMed them completely insulting, ignorant bullshit that ranges from bigotry to actual intended harm (and I am DISGUSTED AND HORRIFIED by ANYONE who dares to do such a thing. How SHAMEFUL. Although, to be fair, all acts of bigotry are shameful, and that cannot be overstated. DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.) If you are interested in these artists’ art, let alone if you are reading this, I HAVE to say: under no circumstances are you suggested to harass anybody here, for whatever reason, be it due to: racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or fatphobia. (And if you’re a vegan who takes offense to Indigenous people using animal hide for their jewelry, you coming onto their posts or into their DMs to “shame” them for it counts as fucking racism, so DO NOT FUCKING DO THAT EITHER. If you must be a vegan or vegetarian, DON’T BE AN UGLY RACIST.) If I find out you contacted any of these artists with malicious intentions, I will make sure to personally compensate these artists for any grief they may receive. Like imagine that situation where some asshole was yelling at a teenage cashier for not making their food right, and every time the cashier was insulted, the person in line behind them put money in the cashier’s tip jar. I would be the person in line behind you tipping them for your fucking nonsense. Do not test me. Just do not be an ugly bigot, thank you.

That out of the way, to the kind and lovely people who follow me - I hope you enjoy these artists’ art as much as I do. 😊💖

@/husquamun on IG and Twitter aka Alex Britt (Nansemond, mixed), website; jewelry maker and beader. They just restocked today with GORGEOUS!!! pride themed jewelry. :’)

@/plain_to_sea on IG aka Paige Pettibon (Salish Flathead Nation, Black, and white), art website; jewelry maker and artist. I intend to buy some of her abalone-incorporated jewelry one day - you do not even know how much I covet it. Plus her jewelry goes VERY fast, so beware that if you want to buy her jewelry you totally have to follow her and be super quick.

@/coppercanoewoman on IG aka Vina Brown (Haíɫzaqv and Nuu-Chah-Nulth), website; jewelry maker. The creator of my favorite earrings of all-time that I own. :’)

@/rosericodesigns on IG and Twitter aka La Tisha Rico (Diné), website; jewelry maker and artist/designer. They have an option set up where one can sponsor a pair of earrings for BIPOC which I really appreciate and intend to do one day (at least one day - I’d love to do it more than once)!

@/stonesongjewelry on IG aka Azie Dee (Afro-Indigenous - Pamunkey); jewelry maker and beader. I will probably never be fast enough to buy a pair of earrings made by her, but god damn if I don’t wish I could be one day. The color schemes of her jewelry plus the gemstones she uses to offset them is just fucking *chef’s kiss*

@/busybeaverbeadwork on IG  aka Gunanáalk’i Tláa/Erika (Lingít); jewelry maker and beader. Her earrings are sometimes made with salmon skin which I didn’t realize until just now, holy shit (so cool)! Vegans who wish to say something negative about that, DNI.

@/hlambert530 on IG aka Harmony (Chumash); jewelry maker and beader. She has a sale coming up on May 30th!

@/swt.grss on IG aka Danica Freeborn (Mi’kmaq), website; jewelry maker and beader. Her most recognizable theme seems to be eels (that are really cute)!

@/sageandsapphirebeading on IG aka Jasmyn Lili (Coast Salish/Tulalip, Vietnamese and Chinese), website; jewelry maker and beader. Lots of beaded rainbows (like, earrings that are literally beaded rainbows) with poms and other cute accessories, and most of their jewelry uses pastel color schemes!

@/chiffons_designs85 on IG aka Zhaawanigiizhigookwe/Chiffon (Afro-Indigenous - Ojibwe), website; jewelry maker and beader. I’m obsessed with her abalone-incorporated jewelry (SURPRISE!) and intend to buy some when I can; her Etsy is still very well stocked and tbh her prices are way more than reasonable. Like for how beautiful they are I wish I could pay more for the ones I especially like, so treat yourself and/or your loved ones to some gorgeous jewelry when you can!

@/jiaxin.beads aka Jiaxin (mixed Indigenous and white); jewelry maker and beader. I am lucky enough to own a pair of earrings she made so think of that endorsement as you will. :)

@/lauren.nicole.creations on IG aka Lauren Nicole (Tongva and Chumash), websites; artist, jewelry maker and beader. Her art is GORGEOUS (I’m gonna need a calla lily print ASAP!!) and her jewelry, especially when made with beautiful gradients, is so so lovely. A lot of her jewelry is made with resin, too, with beautiful little elements of nature embedded within (like she uses flower petals and seeds from her garden in them! BEYOND LOVELY AND WHAT WHOLESOME VIBES).

@/beadzbycat aka Cat (mixed Indigenous); jewelry maker and beader. They make and sell stud earrings and bracelets (in addition to beaded earrings and such), unlike most of the jewelry makers/beaders who I follow and am listing, LOL, so the distinction here seemed appropriate to add?

@/nimii_tli_eva on IG aka Eva Angus (Nimiipuu, Cayuse, Łingit, Haida, and Pamunkey); jewelry maker and beader. She seems to be a super well-known Indigenous jewelry maker as far as I’ve noticed, because, like, just a little while ago I saw Katherine Paul (aka Black Belt Eagle Scout) show off a pair of her earrings and I was like !!!! holy shit! She (Eva Angus) makes a TON of daisy chain beaded earrings with dentalium shells, but I prefer her beaded fringe earrings, personally (and would love to buy a pair some day).

@/beksbeads aka Rebekah (Nêhiyaw and Métis); jewelry maker and beader. She makes a lot of small (in terms of dangly earrings) beaded earrings with floral motifs that are cute, but I prefer her fringe earrings with beautiful gradients (and I long to be quick enough one day to get a pair).

@/oyosowsbeads aka Brianna Cervantes (Chumash); artist, jewelry maker and beader. Most of her earrings are beaded hoops, which are really cool, but they also recently made a beaded ring and bracelet and I am so 👀 if they ever make more and make them available to purchase. (I don’t even wear rings that often and I never wear bracelets but a beaded ring would be SO COOL.)

@/flower_chanel on IG, @/inc_flower on Twitter aka Chanel Flower (Red Lake Ojibwe), website; jewelry maker. Unlike most of the rest of the Indigenous jewelry makers I follow, she doesn’t seem to make beaded jewelry, so if beaded jewelry isn’t your thing, her style might be right up your alley!

@/sandrawpb_art on IG, @/plateaupop on Twitter aka Sandra Warriors (Sqilxw), website; artist and jewelry maker. They’re one of my absolute favorite Indigenous artists and I just really appreciate them. (Most of their jewelry is not beaded, either - from what I’ve seen, their jewelry mostly seems to involve metal work and animal bone, which is a cool thing in itself I think!)

@/johnniejae on IG and Twitter aka Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), shop website; designer. As far as I can tell, Johnnie Jae is an incredibly well-known Native person in tech, but she also sells t-shirts (one of which I own) and other cool things with usually nerd-related designs as well as Native pride (not necessarily as in queer pride, LOL) themed stuff!

@/pinasoulspc on IG and Twitter (Black and Indigenous-led collective), websites; artisans. Most of the jewelry and other art is made by Oaxacan artisans on behalf of Black and Indigenous-led mutual aid projects and conservation/sustainability projects, many of which are in Mexico. I am lucky enough to own a pair of glass blown earrings by them! 💚

[221brownstone]

Vulture: Elementary’s Joan Watson Is the Best-Dressed Detective on TV

In the seventh and final season of Elementary, Joan Watson is blonde. The character’s style has constantly evolved alongside her detective career and partnership with Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller), but in all her years on the show, there has been very little change to Lucy Liu’s locks. With just 13 episodes left, though, Joan has drastically altered her hair, which in turn means one last style shake-up for the best-dressed detective on TV.

Credit for that goes to costume designer Rebecca Hofherr, who has worked on the CBS procedural since its second episode in 2012, and who has guided Joan’s transformation from predominantly casual-leaning clothing to more structured menswear-inspired pieces. Hofherr spoke to Vulture about the narrative and fashion influences behind Joan’s costume evolution, including how they put their own stamp on an iconic duo and the sartorial challenges of shooting a 20-plus-episode season in New York City.

Joan’s styling was much more relaxed in the first year of Elementary. As his sober companion, her relationship with Sherlock was initially a professional commitment. She was not yet a detective and she was very much in the background of the investigation scenes. “Her clothing was very casual because that’s what the job called for,” Hofherr says. As Joan got more versed in the crime-solving world, her role shifted from sober companion to Sherlock’s protégée. By the second season, her costuming moved toward a slightly more sophisticated and buttoned-up approach. “As cheesy as it might sound, you need to put on a little more armor when dealing with the NYPD and all these criminals,” says Hofherr.

Joan’s wardrobe isn’t an either/or between suits and dresses, or even casual and business attire. She didn’t become a detective and suddenly stop wearing comfortable clothing. The suits reflect a change in Joan’s status and independence as an investigator, but dresses and sandals are still a vital style ingredient. During one Hofherr’s first conversations with Liu, they agreed Joan should “feel like a real New Yorker.” Expanding on this, Hofherr included staple items such as blazers or sandals, which most women have in their closets to dress an outfit up or down. “It was really nice to be able to incorporate them into a professional world for Joan,” she says.

Discovering the true cost of a TV character’s wardrobe is an eye-opening experience. Joan’s closet is definitely packed with high-end items — Hofherr’s go-to favored designers for Joan include Victoria Beckham, Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, and Stella McCartney, with Rag & Bone as her signature bootee choice — but to ensure her clothing reflected that New Yorker aspect, Hofherr also shopped at Zara and H&M. “It was really important to do a mix,” she says. “I think that’s pretty much how everyone shops. I don’t think it’s realistic to only shop at high-end stores.”

Noticeable costume repeats tend to be outerwear, but Hofherr also uses staple investment pieces such as high-waisted black pencil Victoria Beckham pants. (Dressing them with an inexpensive top, she adds, is “a great way to get a lot of outfits out of a really expensive pair of pants.”) There is an aspirational element to Joan’s garments, but the high-low mixing reflects how a lot of people shop. Hofherr also notes with a laugh that “pretty much everything Lucy wore from Zara, I also own. I was like, Oh, I can afford that.”

The one item that has appeared in all seven seasons? Joan’s red men’s Elder Statesman “house sweater.” Most people have a cozy garment that they only wear in the comfort of their own home, Hofherr explains, and Joan is no different. Sherlock and Joan’s brownstone home doubles as their office, but she wouldn’t be wearing suits at all hours of the day and night while solving a case. As Liu has worn this sweater so many times on the show, Hofherr says that not only has it molded to her body but it also has the pulls of a well-loved garment. It is also a color Joan doesn’t typically wear, which visually makes it a “nice change.”

Joan doesn’t eschew color, but a black-and-white motif runs through the first season to the last. Regardless of whether it is a suit, skirt, or a more casual outfit, sticking with the same color tone allows for experimentation with pattern. In the above outfit from season four’s “The Games Underfoot,” she wears a Saint Laurent polka-dotted tie with a checkered J.O.A. skirt and polka-dotted Ji Oh blouse. Sometimes the costume choice reflects Joan’s career, but on occasions like this one, it shows that Joan has a “fashionable side” too. “She can throw these things together and look really cute,” Hofherr says.

Two big style turning points emphasize Joan’s drive for equal footing with Sherlock as a detective. First came the ties, introduced at the end of season three. Suits followed, making their initial sartorial stamp in season five. The message is clear: Long gone are the days when Joan was Sherlock’s student. As with a lot of Joan’s costuming, she doesn’t stick to one specific suit-and-tie combo. In fact, the Marc Jacobs shirt above (which Hofherr got from one of her go-to sites, Shopbop) is a bit of an optical illusion, as it doesn’t even include a tie. Vests were thrown into the mix after Hofherr made the decision to stick with suits. It is also a nod to her relationship with Sherlock: Up to this point, Hofherr points out, vests have been Sherlock’s thing, so this costume mirroring is “a little nod to her respecting him so much.”

“I went to all ends of the Earth!” Hofherr laughs when talking about the many ties Joan has worn on Elementary. Men’s offerings were out of the question for someone of Liu’s stature, as they are just too wide and long. She snapped up everything Saint Laurent and Gucci had on offer, but she also shopped at uniform companies, bought a few kids’ ties, and even made them in-house. Maybe a Joan Watson tie line should be next? “If all these designers are going to sell women’s suits, I would love for them to start making women’s ties,” Hofherr suggests.

Another later costume addition was the Victorian-style Isabel Marant blouse. In part, this outfit was a hat tip to the original Holmes and Watson, but it also added another variation on the suit theme. One of the biggest challenges when doing a show with a full 20-plus-episode order is obtaining enough clothing, particularly for a fashion-forward character like Joan. Hofherr says that she needs 50 outfits a month — on average, Joan has five changes per episode — and costuming was made trickier because designers don’t typically replenish their collections between seasons. “We end up making a lot of clothes based on designs we love and change a few things because I can’t find 20 Victorian-style blouses or 20 men’s-style blouses,” Hofherr laments. “I can find five, but then that’s it for four months.”

Fashion seasons are not the only Elementary costume challenge, as shooting outside in New York City from July to May means having to find clothing that fits all weather cycles. (The 13-episode final season was a bit easier, though, because they only shot until December.) Sherlock sticks to the same styles — “This guy would buy 20 of the same shirts, the same sport coat, and the same pants,” Hofherr says — and he has also worn the same Tom Ford winter peacoat for seven years. On the flip side, Joan has many changes, but she isn’t going to have a different coat for each outfit, as that is neither practical or realistic for either the character or the designer. Hofherr’s preference was to have between five and ten on hand: “If we got the coats fitted and ready to go we could just recycle them episode after episode.” Outerwear is something that is repeated across various seasons — including the Alice + Olivia coat above — but accessories like hats, gloves, and scarves are switched out to keep things fresh.

Sometimes the weather also dictates the type of hat required: “I originally got that hat because we were shooting outside one day in the rain and they didn’t want to have umbrellas,” Hofherr says. The wider brim of this Barneys-brand men’s hat has since been worn on a number of occasions, as has the tie-waist Marissa Webb windowpane check coat (which will reappear in the final season).

Of course, the story also dictates what Hofherr chooses for Joan. At the end of season six, creator Rob Doherty didn’t know if they were going to get renewed, so they shot two different endings. This particular Diane von Furstenberg dress fit both the ending we saw and the alternative they filmed — though Hofherr couldn’t provide any other details without spoiling the end of season seven as well. “I wanted it to be timeless, as I didn’t know if it was the last time we were ever going to see Joan Watson,” she says. “It was a little bit of an ode to all the Joans we have seen throughout the seasons. I felt a suit would have been a different look for that final scene.” No surprise, then, that it is also one of Hofherr’s costume highlights.

Hofherr couldn’t pick a single favorite outfit, but this one she considers to be the most significant. At the end of season three, Sherlock has almost killed a man and relapsed, but Joan’s loyalty doesn’t waver. “This is where we start to see the Joan that we will forever know,” says Hofherr. “And I think this is the best version of Joan too.” The pink skirt is by Roland Mouret and the shirt is Uniqlo, which is another high-low outfit mix. It also happens to be the first time Joan wears a tie, which is a huge style turning point.

Hofherr also spoke in depth about working with Liu, not only as an actress but in her role as a director. (She has stepped behind the camera six times on Elementary.) Referring to Liu as “one of the most inspirational women I’ve had in my life” — she also did the costume design on the Liu-starring Netflix rom-com Set It Up — she says Liu is “willing to take risks, but she knows exactly when to take them.”

Which brings us back to the blonde mystery. Hofherr had already FaceTimed with Liu sporting her new hair color, but the styling was a task of its own. “She walked in for her first fitting of the final season and I didn’t recognize her,” said Hofherr laughing. They did plan fewer outfits than previous seasons’ fittings, she adds, “because we were figuring out what works with the blonde hair and what doesn’t.” Don’t worry: There are still plenty of outfits to come, particularly in the last two episodes. (Hofherr teased that Joan will have ten-plus changes.)

The signature black-and-white motif remains, including these fabulous Stella McCartney palazzo pants. “I always know it’s a really good outfit when all the crew members ask me what it is,” Hofherr says. That is the exact reaction Liu got when she stepped on set in this particular costume.

[muthaz-rapapa]

Sekai Seifuku Sakusen Wishlist

Hello people~

Say, does anyone still remember that figure line by Megahouse *retches* ?

Well, it was a short-lived series focused on, as the name (“World Uniform Operation”) suggests, showcasing female characters in their school uniforms.

To my knowledge, all of them were released as 1/10 scaled (eww). And the Precure seasons that had the privilege of getting figures...

Were Futari Wa, Fresh and Heartcatch.

Sailor Moon got theirs as well (the Inner Senshi + Naru) but they were very meh, imo. You were better off getting a more dynamic-looking prize figure at a significantly lesser cost.

Anyways, back to Precure. Not surprised about these three given their seasons’ popularity up to that point. But a shame because as of 2016, there hasn’t been announcement of any new figures. Which basically means, this line didn’t do well. Didn’t do well = the project is more or less cancelled.

On one hand, I’m sorta glad cuz the prices on these figures were ludicrous, especially when made at that scale and with Megahouse’s poor quality track record (I don’t even want to go into all that limited exclusivity bullshit). I bought Tsubomi and Itsuki and they seemed pretty alright. Still too much for a scale with such a simple design, though.

Then on the other, I can’t help but whine to myself a little cuz this is such a great concept. We rarely get merchandise of the Cures in their civilian forms and if they have there Cure alter-egos to go with them, it would be an awesome display on a collector’s shelf.

*SIGH* ...oh well.

That said...if there was a continuation for this series, then here’s my wishlist of the seasons + uniforms I want the most to least:

1) MahoPre - Nobody should be surprised that this is my first pick. MahoPre will always have a very deep, very special place in my heart and as far as uniforms go, the Magic Academy one is indeed my top favorite in all of Precure.

Because duh, it’s for magic school, not regular school, so the design had to match with that idea in mind. And it turned out so charming, didn’t it? I love the magenta/pink color scheme, the plaid bow, the mini sewn-on cape.

Definitely would want the witch hats and wands with them as well. Maybe even the brooms if someone’s feeling generous, enough? hehe :)

Dude, I should just open up my own figure company and make these myself.

2) Go!Pri - I wasn’t a fan of overalls growing up but my opinion of them has shifted to a more positive one recently thanks to seeing the latest fashion trends and Precure’s influence on me.

Really, the character designers draw the girls so cute in overall dresses that I can’t help but think it as well!

Anyways, it seems I have a penchant for academy uniforms or something. There’s a combination of cuteness and sophistication there that I find difficult to resist. Also, the purple undershirt is very fitting since they attend Royal Academy. Wish my school uniform was that nice-looking but alas, I didn’t go to an academy in the Precure world. :P

Anyways, I wouldn’t get all the girls from Go!Pri. Just Kirara and Towa who are my forever favorites. <3

I’ve also seen someone’s fanart of them as a pair (and Haruka + Minami as another pair) based on the Sekai Seifuku Sakusen concept so you can imagine the huge disappointment I felt when I knew Megahouse would never get to this season. *sobbing* 

3) KiraPre - As I said in another post, I’m not collecting KiraPre merchandise but the KiraPati uniform is to die for.

I know this breaks the trend of the line needing to be in “school uniforms” but KiraPre’s school uniforms aren’t anything to write home about. These, however, are much more adorable and therefore, more marketable. ;)

4) StarPre - SERAFUKU BISHOUJO SENSHI

For sure, since they both have space themes, it was only appropriate for StarPre to pay homage to Sailor Moon with having the Star girls wear serafuku.

I like the simplicity of it as well. Hehe~ ^^

And whether I would want everyone or not...it really depends on what kind of poses they’re in and if they can complement each other well.

Also, I suppose since Yuni never went to school, she’d just have a figure in her normal Blue Cat outfit which is fine, too.

5) SuitePre - Mm, yes, this one I’ve been waiting the longest for, despite the seasons listed before it on this list.

I wouldn’t say Suite’s uniform is the most unique but I do love the contrast of the overall cyan color with the magenta contours and bow. It’s a shade I don’t think I’ll ever see on another school uniform and even so, it’ll probably be hard to pull off nicely.

Suite managed to do it and I’m sure we can find tons of references to give the girls the perfect pose. So yea, I’d definitely consider the whole set as well if everyone can get a great sculpt and paint job.

As for Ako, she doesn’t have a school uniform so we can just put her in the same group as Aguri and Emiru and call it the Pipsqueak Elementary Squad.

6) HealPre - I love this uniform immensely for how neat and snug it looks. Not to mention, the dark green just makes it look very comfortable to wear overall. I know, maybe it’s just me being weird but it gives off a very calming effect.

And as Precure allows for more variations in clothing and accessories among the main cast, it would make for more interesting figures as well. Then you wouldn’t feel like you’re getting the same figure with only different heads and poses.

...and socks.

Would definitely love to have Nodoka. 

7) Hugtto - Pretty much the same reasoning as HealPre’s above.

In all honesty, there’s nothing that special about this uniform so the fact that the Hugtto girls could wear something of their own choice over it really brings out their characters more that way.

8) SmilePre - Also like Heal and Hugtto above but to a lesser extent, I guess.

Still, Smile is quite favored among Precure seasons so I’d think they sell well regardless.

This uniform isn’t half bad either. I’m not sure why because there’s not that huge of a resemblance but looking at their shoulders kinda reminds me of a military officer’s uniform, especially from the back. Just a little bit.

My pick would definitely be Reika in this pose specifically.

9) Splash Star - Let’s say for the record that I like all the Precure school uniforms (or just uniforms in general). So Splash Star should actually rank higher (around where Suite is) given its more unique design.

Hardly anyone else employs brown or plaid so this combination along with the sailor collar over the blazer (?)... I just think it makes Saki and Mai look very endearing. Hmm, yes, I approve! :D

However, this is a season I’m not familiar with so my demand for it is less than the others. But I do think they deserve to get their figures first. What with being the second Precure installment and all. shouldn’t that count for something?

10) Yes! 5 - Oh, I do love the Yes!5 girls.

But...they suffer from lack of variation the most out of all the other teams. Seriously, even in one set of of their casual clothes, they all own the same shirt albeit in their different, respective theme colors.

It’s...weird. But less so on a school uniform, I guess.

Anyways, pose and sculpt would be the trick here. Even though Yes! 5 does have its fair share of fans, with how old and poorly received both their seasons are, you’d be hardpressed to find a lot of collectors willing to shell out for figures of them. So there would have to be more effort in making them look exceptional to draw a crowd.

11) DokiPre - It’s hard to find everyone wearing their uniforms in the same shot and frankly, I think I can count all the times I’ve seen Alice wearing her own uniform (it’s this) on one hand??

I mean, does Alice even go to school with all the private tutelage she probably receives or is it just a formality? ...I dunno.

Whatever. I think this uniform looks nice and the girls look nice but it’s not as eye-catching than if they were to wear their casual clothes.

12) HaCha - Feel bad for putting this last because it certainly isn’t the worst of ‘em (none of them are) and I do quite like it (because there’s red and I like red).

It’s just...hmm, I dunno. I guess it’s because the top’s buttons sorta makes me think of a chef suit. It doesn’t bother me or anything but... it’s just the first thing I think of when I see it. ( ^ ^ ;)

*sigh* With how HaCha’s being treated in S.H. Figuarts department and its polarizing reception in the fandom in general, I doubt this would be a priority on many people’s wishlists. Still, it would be wonderful to see HaCha get even some love, y’know?

~~~~~

Yea.

My dreams aren’t that big but they’re long alright. :3

[koichihase]

Stars on Planet 2018

I went to both performances of this year’s Stars on Planet! Presented by ZimuinG, the singers were 96neko, Aho no Sakata, Amatsuki, Soraru, Natsushiro Takaaki, and Eve! The theme was Le Petit Prince.

I just barely made the start;; Even though i was cutting it really close, I wanted to pick up the towel and some of the blind draws for merch because I was worried they’d sell out like the shirt and signlight..... There was some confusion on my seat so it took a few songs before I was able to sit down! I was on the second floor so it was pretty hard to see, and i couldn’t see the top of the screen in the back so sometimes pictures or performers’ faces would get cut off;; but I was very close to the middle, at least!

They started with the story introduction, then everyone followed with solos. 96 mentioned this would happen in an earlier stream, but the audience was generally a sea of red and blue LOL because amatsuki, 96neko, and sakatan are red; soraru and eve are blue; and Natsushiro Takaaki was yellow! Soraru sang yoake to hotaru really nicely!! That’s around when I was able to get to my seat, which is very lucky because soon afterwards was 96neko’s solo!!! As soon as she walked onto the stage, even though it was completely dark, everyone knew who it was because of her silhouette HAHAHA.... She was wearing a black gown with red accents (roses?) and a very cute crown..... She had the cutest long blonde hair to match~ She sang so beautifully and it was my first time hearing her live so I cried the entire time..... Her voice is really really amazing!!! It’s so powerful and full of emotion and yet very very pretty...... The Prince’s flower bloomed behind her as she finished the song.

Sakata’s solo was a very cute song, I liked it a lot! I don’t know the title though~

96 and sakata sang kimi no shiranai monogatari together!! it was very pretty. They also sang another song with amatsuki and natsushiro! It was a lot of red lights punctated with a few yellows hahaha. In one of the group songs, 96 falls down the steps coming down and gave everyone in the audience a shock!! She got up and seemed to be okay though, which was a relief. They also did 3 nayutan seijin songs! Soraru and Amatsuki dueted the first one (Myoujou Galactica) and got the audience to all stand up and have some fun by singing along to some parts!!

96′s second solo was Starduster!! Her voice was SOOO POWERFUL it nearly blew my face off she was so good!!! It’s incredible that someone is able to sing live like that ahhhhhhhhhhh

At the very end of the story, actual actors came out, playing the prince and pilot!! I thought it was very nice....

They finished with little traveller. Eve, soraru, and 96 came to sing their parts, then the other three followed for the second verse. At the end, they went up one by one to take a bow as their name and birthdates/horoscope signs showed on the screen behind.

Then, there was an encore!! They did a bit of talking before the last song. 96 was actually pretty quiet at first!! She waved at us a lot though. She looked so tiny compared to everyone else omggg and her yukata was so cute!! She changed into a brown midlength wig, it was really pretty. Soraru seemed to be leading the talk for most of it. They walked up the stairs to see the boards where everyone had written messages on glow-in-the-dark stars to stick on, and I think soraru complained about heights hahaha. He asked if anyone wrote wishes, and said it was mostly names.... apparently he found one that says “may sakata always be happy (or healthy...?)”. When they returned to the front of the stage, 96 suddenly moved to the very end of the line to the left and amatsuki looked at her questioningly. Apparently she just wanted to be standing in the same order they were earlier lol. Everyone made pretty short statements! While the others were talking, they’d sit along the platform waiting. At one point 96 helps to fix either Eve or Natsuki Takaaki’s wires for his earpiece? They were cute. For 96′s part, she mentioned ZimuinG so she turns to the piano and is like “...oh he’s not even here” (he was behind them). They leave Amatsuki to talk last for some reason? Then, they take a commemoration photo with everyone. 96 gets helped up by the photographer~ They sing one last song (I FORGOT IT....) and the curtains are drawn!!

When the stage has cleared, the musicians return and they allow us to take pictures of the stage for 5 minutes! At the end there’s a bunch of dates and locations listed on the screen and I didn’t know what they were for, but found out later they’re for the exhibition and popup shop that they’ll be doing!! So I’ll be able to get the signlight yayy

We all file out and I try to get two more kuji but they’re sold out just as I get to place my order ;-; I head over to put stars on the board since I didn’t have time when I arrived and also grab a fan! I also send off my letters~

I line up to get in for the second performance, and when I’m in i grab some pictures of the standees!! I stood there for over 5 minutes waiting for it to be clear enough LMAO everyone kept running up to them.... especially soraru’s omfg it barely had a free second??

During one of the group songs soraru missed his lines twice it was really cute?? he was too busy like, smiling and waving and looking at the other members flmgnkdfjgfdgmnfg

This time I didn’t cry at 96′s first solo but I cried at her second........ She was as perfect as she was in the first performance :’)

This time when they were called back for the encore, soraru started making his way towards the signed boards like, “let’s see what people wrote” and amatsuki, who was behind him starting next up the stairs, said “okay just you go, bye” They all eventually made their way up though hahaha. 96 was crouched at one sign for a long time reading the fewer ones on the bottom (most people put their stars at eye level, near the top!). Soraru again asks if anyone wrote any wishes and goes “Ah! This one says, ‘May Sakatan become smarter!!’” and Amatsuki pipes up with “Oh, this one says ‘May Soraru-san become a better person’”

The MC part for everyone is short once again!! 96 says she has an announcement!! ....She didn’t fall this time LOL. They talk about her super cool platform shoes and she tries to show them off (the yukata limits her flexibility a bit). Sakata has a red flower decoration in his hair (I’m not sure if it was there in the first performance?) and everyone shouts that he’s cute, to which he says “Everyone in the audience is the cute one~” and flirts with the camera DLKGHS the screams were deafening. He also goes up to soraru and touches his hair for some reason? I’m not sure if he was just bringing attention to his hair accessory or if he was adding to it lol

They got ZimuinG to talk a bit and he got lots of cheers and name calls~

They end the night with Natumatsuri!! It was so fun, I really love that song! As the curtains were closing they started crouching to wave at us for as long as possible..... They looked like they had a lot of fun and it was very cute!!

I ended up facetrading a girl for some 96neko merch~ Didn’t even try for soraru’s because everyone and their mom was on the hunt for his but it’s okay!!! At least I have something I wanted!

It was a really pretty performance! Everything was so atmospheric and fancy and the songs fit the story nicely! The outfits were all so nice too~

[sweetdisabled]

Guide: Shopping on Taobao with Yoybuy

note: the pictures here will be uncaptioned. i’m sorry about this, but it’s going to get pretty visually heavy!

shopping on taobao is a pretty essential life skill for any lolita or lolita-to-be - and quite frankly it’s also just fun. what can i say, my forefathers stalked the savannah, working on bringing down that wildebeest, and in the same spirit, i stalk one yuan sales. they still sing tales around the campfire about how i got all of those fuzzy socks.

taobao is a marketplace of many different stores. think of it kind of like the ebay marketplace. it is located in china, and stores there largely ship only to other chinese addresses, so you need to use a buying service if you’re not in china yourself. for this guide, we’re going with yoybuy, because i’ve had good success with it and find it easiest to DIY.

first step is to open a browser to do your online shopping. i really like chrome for this because you can set it to automatically use google translate on a page. however, you’re going to want two tabs open before you even get to taobao...

in one tab, google for ‘google translate english to chinese’. google will automatically pop up the english to chinese boxes. we want simplified chinese here (which is usually the default).

also google ‘yuan to usd’ (or insert whatever your local currency is for usd). this will mean you can convert prices easily and readily, with that tab already at the ready.

one more tool and we’ll be ready to actually go to taobao!

when you right-click a webpage in chrome, this is the menu that pops up. we want to pay attention to translate to english here.

most of the time chrome will automatically translate. however, it may need a little push here and then.

with all of these tools ready, we’re finally ready to actually open taobao.com in a new tab.

this is... pretty overwhelming, right? google translate can automatically translate text, not anything in a picture, so it still ends up half-translated. phew. get your bearings a moment, though, and soldier on!

tonight i’ve decided that i could really use some cute hankies to go with a strawberry-themed outfit i’m planning. so, tab over to our english to simplified chinese...

now copy those chinese characters into the search bar on taobao...

it will give you some further suggestions - but let’s keep it pretty general for now. hit ‘submit’, and let’s see what we have.

looks like we’ve lucked out - there are tons of choices!

to get you acquainted with this page, the column on the right is where recommended advertised items show up. these can largely be disregarded. the main block of items will be underneath all of these options at the top.

as you can see we have a lot of different choices we could look into, if we wanted to narrow it down. however, this grey bar is where we have the important stuff.

we can hit the price button to sort things. scroll over it, and we’ll get more options.

since all i got is like three fiddy and some pocket lint - plus i’d rather have a cheaper cotton hankie that i won’t feel guilty about perhaps blowing my nose on - i usually sort price from low to high, so cheapest items are first.

that’s more like it! (7 yuan right now is about a dollar.) now we can browse for what catches our eye. you’ll also see, next to the price, how many people have bought it. under that is the translated name of the product, then the name of the storefront.

i like the looks of this one - properly frilly and fancy! right-click and open it in a new tab so we can keep organized. (that way there’s no getting frustrated if it’s a ‘bust’.)

now we’re on the product’s page in the seller’s store. we can look quickly off to the side for some information about the seller.

this guy’s apparently been selling on taobao for 6 years. the shop is rated out of 5 points in three areas - how accurate the description of their products is, how good their service is, and logistics (which probably covers things like how quickly they ship the products and how well they wrap them up, etc). this guy’s got a 4.8 rating that is rising.

that means we can probably buy from him with some confidence. if you see a store that hasn’t been open for very long, that would be a red flag. same if you have a store with low ratings, or absolutely perfect ratings. if it’s 5.0 across the board, it’s a little too good to be true sometimes! one red flag may not be worth it to stop you in your tracks, but be on the lookout for them, just like you would with any online seller.

and don’t worry about see all baby. google translate likes to think all items on taobao are babies... (it’s a mystery to all of us.)

wading past the translation, it looks like this shop sells a lot of linen goods, especially for the european market.

a really cute tea party vibe, right? :D

this is where we could browse this store more - it’s very cute, after all - but i’d like to maybe make the coordinate a little more specific and cohesive. let’s see if we have any better luck with a more specific search!

when you get more specific with your searches, it means there’s often a lot less items - for example, there’s only one page of search results instead of 15+. but i think we’ve found something that’s perfect!

cute, right? looking at it closer, though, it’s not embroidered, and it’s more of a terrycloth or towel texture. those are two things i’m not really sure about - this is why we open our finds in a new tab.

it does give me a chance to talk about this one thing, though -

sometimes the final price of an item will be hidden unless you’re a ‘VIP’. you can login and make a taobao account if you like - it requires a cell phone with texting, but international cell phones are okay. however, i usually just shrug and go “well, we know it’s somewhere under 9 yuan”.

whatever taobao agent you use will usually be able to get the VIP price for you.

another trick is that if you find an item that you go ‘oh, that’s close, but not quite....’ about, hover over its picture in the search results. you will then get two choices - find the same or find similar. the first option finds the exact same thing, but at other retailers. find similar, well, finds things that are variations on that same thing.

this hankie looks perfect! so... let’s actually buy it!

since taobao sellers largely only ship to people in china, and i’m in america, i can’t just hit that buy now button. this means i need to use an agent - and there are a lot of different choices out there.

i’ve used two so far, largely for ordering BJD stuff and home goods (and some accessories) (largely necklaces... what can i say... i read the words one yuan sale and my eyes light up). taobaospree is a professional outfit that you contact via email. they definitely give you the ‘white glove treatment’. their prices are very fair, and their staff very helpful. if you’re making really big important purchases, or purchases you’re worried about, i’d recommend them.

however, yoybuy is also really good for if you want to park the car yourself and walk instead of handing the keys to the valet, so to speak. i’ve also had really good experiences with them.

for taobaospree, they ask that you just email them a list of what you want with some details - they have a template you can use on their website. but since we’re just buying hankies, let’s use yoybuy.

first things first, we’ll need to sign in. yoybuy offers deals every so often like ten dollars of credit if you register with them, so it’s worth looking out for if you’re about to place an order. (every little bit helps, right?)

once you’ve signed in/signed up, take the url from the item you want...

and copy it into the search box at the top of yoybuy’s website, then click buy now.

yoybuy’s website will then load up all of the item’s information, like this.

now we can just shop as normal! it give you the converted rates of how much each item is, plus the domestic shipping, or how much the shipping will be from the seller to yoybuy. (yoybuy will help calculate the shipping from yoybuy to you later.)

so i’d like 6 total, and i can select the options. just to make things clear, i’ve also said as much in the ‘comments’ box. if something is a little unclear, you can add your comments there to make sure they get the right option.

as you can see this is totally meant for a much wider screen than mine, but it gives you an updating total of what is in your shopping cart.

on the black bar you also have some options like being able to ask for a live chat with someone if you get very confused.

when you’re ready, click ‘buy’. you’ll have a chance to do an overview of all your items before clicking the ‘pay’ button.

as you can see, there’s a couple of options here.

you can pay via a regular visa or mastercard, paypal, or use some other services i’m not familiar with. you can also send money via money transfer (like western union) and have it waiting there in your account.

there’s a service charge which is usually around 4% here. yoybuy themselves charge a fee of 10% for acting as your agent. they don’t ask for all of this up front. you pay in two parts - one is the items and domestic shipping that’s been calculated. they then bundle up all your items and figure out the best way to ship them to you, and you pay the 10% fee to them then.

if you’re initially doing a large order, your bank may balk a bit - so be prepared. for me, it took a text message of them going “uh hey, was this you? because random chinese company charging your credit card 200 dollars looks real sketchy.” and me going “lol it’s ok guys”.

however, in this case, handkerchiefs get!

you will now get an overview page of your order. 

each item will have its own line, and you can track how things are going.

the agent will purchase the item for you, then await shipment of it. you can click the chat bubble at any time to chat with the agent to ask them about the state of the item. this is where they’ll also inform you if something is out of stock or if there are any difficulties. you can also ask for them to take a picture to show you, if you want to make sure something is ok before they send it on to you.

as your items come in, you can click the checkbox and get an estimated parcel weight. that will help you figure out how much the shipping from yoybuy to you will be - and they even estimate how much they’ll have to spend on shipping materials.

once your items all arrive at yoybuy and they ship them on over to you, you can look at the options on the left to find a record of all your packages.

redacted information ahoy, folks, but let’s take a look-see at the package i already got from them -

the parcel number is what you click to open up an information page, showing all the items that are in the box they sent. the tracking number will be what you can check to track your package. they offer a variety of different carriers to use, and iirc, all of them come with tracking numbers. (you get yoybuy’s cut rate on shipping through all carriers, though!) if there are any problems, they’ll show up in the status - along with things like if it’s in an immigrations check.

if there are any problems, you can then report it to yoybuy and they’ll help you out - however, i’ve not had any problems with them. all my items came safe and sound!

so there you have it, a short guide - ah, well, at this point, just a guide - on how to, step-by-step, order stuff off taobao via yoybuy.

good luck in your own shopping, and happy hunting! 💖

[rankdoll6]

Real Doll Sales Is a Big Deal

If you are a collector of Real Dolls then I'm sure you must have heard about the recent increase in Real Doll sales. And why not, with the number of movies, television shows, video games and other media forms having an interest in this type of doll. But with such a huge spike in the sales, do they still come at such a reasonable price? Well, to most people, the answer would be yes. These are not 'poor man's' dolls but are rather premium quality products.

Real Dolls are high quality building materials, which are made to replicate many of the characteristics of a live person. They are carefully crafted and painted to match the exact skin color and hair texture of the original. There is no two or three that are alike. They are very realistic and can be worn and played with by anyone of any age!

Real Dolls have been very popular for a long time and, as they grow in popularity, more will be manufactured. If you want to find yourself a good deal, look online. As mentioned above, there are many places where you can buy these dolls from and there is also a great deal of competition when it comes to limited edition dolls. When this happens, the prices tend to go down.

It's not uncommon to see Real Doll sales on a weekly basis. The supply is so great, the demand is very high and, well, the manufacturers just can't stop producing them. In fact, I bet that if you did a search for Real Doll sales, you would get tens of thousands of hits. So, why not take advantage of this?

You can find websites offering the latest Real Doll sales and, of course, these sites tend to have a wide range of dolls to choose from. As well as Barbie and Real Dolls, you may also like to check out other dolls such as the Paddington Bear, Hello Kitty or Bratz. But which of these to buy? That's another subject entirely.

There are many ways that you could use these items to enhance your game. One way is to create your own version of Barbie. You could dress her in the latest fashions and hang on to the classic accessories. The only problem is that, with all the recent innovations, your Barbie could look very old fashioned rather quickly. And you will probably be able to find many of the same accessories for Bratz too. So, why not spice up your own creations with some of the latest Bratz items? ラブドール

However, if you do decide to buy a Real Doll, you won't need to go elsewhere because your local toy store should have a large number of them. And they come in a great selection, including many popular themes. And it's even more likely that your local store will be selling a wider range of dolls than a traditional brick and mortar shop.

The thing to remember when buying a doll for a child is to take care to get one that will make a good role model. And Real Doll sales have given many children the opportunity to do just that. So next time you're looking for a gift for a youngster, think about what might be a better idea - buying them a realistic doll than a boring plastic one.

If you want to start off with something easier, you might want to consider Real Dolls for little girls. This will give them the chance to play with a cute doll while still developing important emotional skills like compassion and trust. You can easily purchase these at a reasonable price, so there is no reason why you won't be able to find something suitable. And as a parent you'll know that the best ones tend to last for a long time.

While they aren't as popular as the adult dolls, there are plenty of choices for those who are looking to get something a little bit more special for their little girls. Real Dolls make great presents for young girls, and there are plenty of options available. Whether you're looking for Barbie or any other doll, you can be sure to find something suitable. You might even end up making your own.

If you've never really been one to collect dolls, it's easy to forget just how much there actually is to learn about them. There are as many kinds of dolls as there are people who enjoy playing with them. There are even dolls who talk! Talk about a niche that keeps growing and changing! With all the amazing variety that is available today, it's hard to imagine anyone could ever say that collecting dolls is not a thrilling experience.

[0zzysaurus]

Was talking to Em about this earlier, and was wondering why the US or UK tours haven’t thought to release more character specific merch. I’m so bored of fucking.. Merch the Merchandise Cat themed content and just stuff with the logo slapped on. We thought that merch would be most accessible if it stuck to either the current designs being used for the tour that have been in use since 2016 OR the 1998 cast and designs that are more accessible to a wider demographic who may be familiar with the DVD release and not the stage production. We thought of:

Charms or keychains - possibly in a gachapon style bag like Shiki did with theirs, or individually stocked on a rack to be chosen by hand. You could easily and affordably make one charm each for the entire cast.

Pins and badges because who doesn’t love collecting pins? You could limit that to maybe the Jellicle Moon, the license plate, or simplified faces of the cast.

Other accessories like school supplies, notebooks, or pencil cases that might encourage class trips or artists/writers to buy merch.

Small to medium sized plushies would work with a limited selection of the cast. I would limit the small plushes (5-6 inches tall) to the song cats, and the medium plushes (12-13 inches) to a very limited selection of maybe 3 or so characters. I think plushes any bigger than that might start losing them money from production costs, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a 24inch ultra-fluffy Tugger plush.

Face masks with the patterns of different cats on them I think would be super popular and cheap to produce.

Copies of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats with artwork inside that is somewhat inspired by the Shiki concept art book, but primarily works with the designs of the characters from the show. I’d kill for an official copy of Practical Cats with art directly inspired from the stage show.

Those little wooden hand-cranked music boxes you can buy at gas stations but that play snippets from the show. You don’t even need to decorate them or anything, just slap a sticker on the bottom saying which song it plays and people will buy those. The Memory and Gus the Theatre Cat music boxes would sell INSANELY fast.

Ultra super special edition DVD with all the cut footage and a blooper reel, I’d sell my soul to ALW myself for that.

Cat collars. Like… for actual cats. Or little reflective collar charms to put on your cat’s collar to keep them safe. That would be cute as fuck.

Here me out on this one…. Sylvanian Family/Calico Critter inspired flocked toys that you can buy as part of a junkyard play set (set sold separately for boosted profit). Not only do I literally want this, but there’s a Sylvanian Family set of cats that are literally called the Macavity family and are named after all the cats from the musical. Like… the folks who own Sylvanian Families would probably LOVE to make some Cats the Musical inspired toys.

That’s all I got for now, thoughts??

So I love the Cats merch, but I do wish there were items that were a little bit more relevant to the show and characters, so here are some ideas:

Hoodie with the name of all the cats listed on the back

A poster/t-shirt with Tori and Griz on the front touching

More merch with quotes from the songs!!!! I would buy so many things if they had quotes from Misto’s song and Tugger’s song!

I’d love to see something with the different makeup silhouettes! I think that would be so cool

[scandalmania]

Find Your Beaty MAGAZINE: an interview with SCANDAL RINA and her hairdress

In the fourth series of news site Natalie and Find Your Beauty MAGAZINE's serialization, we will be delivering a discussion between drummer RINA of all-girl rock band SCANDAL and hair designer Shigeo Obata of ORCHESTRA, the salon that RINA has been going to since her major label debut. We would like you to enjoy this discussion with RINA, who is strongly commited to visuals, and Obata, who continues to make RINA's ideal hairstyles and stoically make new proposals.

Article translated by TGE @ Scandal Heaven. Read more under the cut!

A simple arrangement that shows what the hands are doing

How to make this date hairstyle can be found on YouTube!

──Please tell us the theme of this hair arrangement.

Shigeo Obata: The theme this time is date hair. We thought of a hairstyle that'll make guys think, 「She came on this date with a hairstyle like this; it feels like she's more enthusiastic than usual」. It may look a little too short, but guys are simple, so the more visible and elaborate it is, the happier you'll seem. They'll be happy that you woke up early for them.

RINA: I learned for the first time that it's okay to work this hard when you have a date. When you meet up you'll be happy if he notices that you did your best.

──RINA, does it seem like you'd be able to do this arrangement on your own?

RINA: Yes, it does. Even though it's pretty fancy, I think I could arrange it in about 20 minutes, and I think I could do it if I wake up a little earlier. I was surprised that it'd be this cute just by arranging it roughly and rolling up a scarf.

Obata: To make it easy for the readers to manage it, we did it with bobbypins from a 100 yen shop. They sell cute hair accessories at these shops now, and you can try all kinds of arrangements with them. By the way, can you braid, RINA-chan?

RINA: Yes, I can.

Obata: I thought so. Braiding is surprisingly tough to do. So, to make it easy to do, we made it a style where you twist two strands of hair instead of braiding them.

RINA: Braiding's difficult, but it seems like this would be easy to copy.

What is a sought-after hairdresser?

──When did you two meet each other?

RINA: My friend introduced me to this salon right after SCANDAL had our major label debut, so that was about 7-8 years ago. I've been Obata-san's client ever since then. Since we've been together for so long, Obata-san makes the colors I've imagined just by telling him nuances. Conversely, Obata-san gives me many recommendations. Also, we communicate like this because we've been together for a long time.

Obata: Actors and actresses have more natural hair colors and hairstyles, but musical artists change their hair colors every time they release something. Because damage is attached to coloring, I try to avoid putting a burden on hair as much as possible. Since you have hair all throughout your life, I put importance on thinking about the next hairstyle without adding any damage. As for women, hair is something they'll always have. Although they might several occupations, no matter what their occupation is, every one of them is a woman to begin with.

RINA: Obata-san gives me the colors I want without damaging my hair too much. My color right now, he gave me such a vivid color without bleaching it. I don't think there's another hairdresser that can do things as well as he can.

Obata: For example, there are many hairdressers that can do a color they're told to do. But, there are all kinds of methods to achieve that color, and I think it's important to choose the method that does the least amount of damage. It is very difficult to restore hair that has once been broken down by treatments or chemicals. I think that you need to be conscious of things like that in order to become a sought-after hairdresser..

Lyrics that were born at the salon

──RINA, what's something that you often do when you're at the salon?

RINA: Read magazines, talk to Obata-san......I also write lyrics. There are times words I've thought of while at ORCHESTRA and wrote down in a memo on my phone actually became lyrics. Here, I had put together the lyrics for the final chorus of 「Koisuru Universe」 on our latest single. Obata-san understands that I'm working when I pull out my phone, so he always lets me to work on it leisurely by myself. 

Obata: Since RINA-chan makes time during breaks from work to come in, I always think she might be tired or not feeling well. So, I try to start treatments after asking how she is, or referring to the drink she bought. RINA-chan updates on social media that she goes to ORCHESTRA, so fans have also come in. When fans come in when RINA-chan's here, RINA-chan talks to those fans. I was worried at first when I saw that and thought I was causing trouble, but I understand that she naturally connects with fans and thinks about details like the way she's facing, the sense of distance, and way of speaking. I think that's truly wonderful. 

RINA: I've been told 「I like RINA-chan」 by fans when my hair's being wrapping up their hair or my eyebrows are being dyed (laughs). I want them to enjoy themselves since we were able to meet each other at that timing while I'm thinking, 「Sorry about my appearance right now」. They look on social media and want the same person to do their hair, and they're using their own money and time to come to the salon. I'm very happy that they want to have the same hairstyle as me, and that they see our live shows and activities. I think it uses the same amount of energy as seeing us and picking up instruments. Our fans are really adorable. They buy the same clothes, do the same hairstyles, do their makeup the same. Although I'm not the one doing anything, it really makes me happy to see students who can't dye their hair request Obata to curl their bangs the same way as mine and happily head home with their bangs curled the same. 

Proposals that consider her on-stage appearance

──In your Music Natalie interview you mentioned that it took a very long time to get the correct purple color.

RINA: That was such a pain (laughs).

Obata: We thought of how to achieve the purple that RINA-chan had imagined, and at first I thought about trying to make the color by mixing it with white, which would make it look soft and pale. But doing that would have given it an incomplete feeling.

RINA: We bleached it twice. Then we put in color twice. 

Obata: It didn't quite turn out the color she was thinking about. To tell you the truth, purple isn't that much in demand in the first place, so we ran out of dye as we were dyeing it over and over again. I searched nearby drug stores to buy some purple (laughs).

RINA: His assistant washed my hair, and when it came time to set it, I was surprised that Obata-san went out to get a lot of coloring agents.

Obata: We finally got the right color around 3 in the morning. RINA-chan said, 「I'm so sorry to keep you this late」, but I was the one who was sorry. RINA-chan has always had a high aesthetic sense and says, 「I'm strongly committed and have many requests」, but we're appreciative of that. It's because we can grow by responding to customers' and RINA-chan's requests. Before RINA-chan changes her hair, she always discusses with me, 「I think I'll go with ___ next time」. In response to that I think about ideas before RINA-chan comes in, and I'm grateful to be able to propose new things. I hope it'll be possible for me to have interactions like that aside from RINA-chan.

RINA: Obata-san comes to see SCANDAL's lives and frequently checks our social media and TV appearances. That's why he gives various opinions such as, 「This kind of red is better when it's hit by the light」.

Obata: I sometimes worry if I'm bothering her (laughs). But, there are reasons to contact her regularly, and RINA-chan is a fan anyway. First, she thinks more about her fans and creating her own visuals rather than her appearance. So, rather than wanting to answer RINA's request, I make sure to work to meet the expectations of SCANDAL fans.

RINA: Obata-san is part of the team that creates RINA of SCANDAL. He doesn't always say yes to my requests, but he does give me different proposals or ideas. It's always interesting going to the salon; I can trust him very much.

You can meet your new self at the salon

──Obata, what part of RINA do you watch at a SCANDAL live? 

Obata: It has to be her hair. Also, I try to watch her gestures. Drummers often shake their heads and touch their hair. So, when that happens, I make sure to watch how her hair moves. There are many times when seeing that gives me new ideas. 

RINA: We made it a bright color with more beige this summer, which made my hair color spring out in the natural light at outdoor festivals. Seeing that, Obata-san suggested, 「It's better to put in highlights so that it looks three-dimensional when it moves」. It definitely was different when we put in highlights. I realized that when I saw the live photos. By putting in highlights, it becomes easier to understand how the bundles of hair are, and it looks really beautiful when the tips of the hair that we keep cutting moves. I'm grateful because there are many things like that that I don't notice. Obata-san is keen and knowledgable like that since he's always worked as a beautician in a salon in the middle of Shibuya. I think he's a very creative hairdresser who really makes sure to "cultivate" styles instead of just letting the client go if it looks good then and now. I want to have Obata-san take care of my hair forever. 

──You were lucky to meet a partner like that at such an early stage. 

RINA: I really think so. I don't think there are many opportunities to have other people to talk about your appearance, unless you have a job where you stand on stage. So, if you have a hairdresser who suggests all sorts of things, you can meet your new self that you, nor people who don't have a job where they stand on stage, know about. The salon is that sort of place. 

An arrangement for 「date hair」! RINA-chan and Obata-san's discussion video is on YouTube!

[montydollcrew]

I-Doll Fukuoka 8

This is kinda late but a few people said they did want to see a report, so here is a small one! I-Doll was on October 9th on a Monday - it was a public holiday, but unfortunately because not everyone got that day off and Doll Show in Tokyo being on the same day, there were less vendors than usual. However, Dearmine attended as a vendor for the first time which I think more than made up for that. I hurried right over there as soon as I got in because I knew they’d get swamped with people quickly and it would be hard to get photos, and there was already a line. They had the samples of their newest dolls on display and available for preorder - these ones aren’t out yet. 

Those blond ash-skinned DearPets - Oz and Storm - sure are cute in person, I do kinda wanna get a DearPet one day.

They also had a whole load of other dolls - mostly from their DearBeans range - including previously released limited colours and some that were limited to this event. I had been lining up just to get close enough to take photos, but when I saw all the Beans there.... well, I was worried that when I got closer I didn’t want to be the person who left the line without buying anything, but then when I got even closer and actually saw all the Beans up close I realized that I probably wouldn’t be able to leave without buying one even if I wanted to ._. Looking at them on the website is one thing, but seeing them right in front of you...

I actually took a really long time to decide, though, and I ended up letting 3 of the people behind me go first. I was waffling between one of the grey ones, the event-limited yellowy one or a black one, but as you may already know, I got this dude. He was displayed in a pink nightgown (you can see him in the photo) but was slightly cheaper without it so I got him naked, as I wanted to buy him clothes at the event itself anyway.

Rachel and Angelica were stunning in person, too...

Dearmine had real cute bags, too! Anyway One of my twitter/insta mutuals choco.tan was also there selling a bunch of cute 1/12 miniatures she’d made, so I got some pancakes.

She’d also brought along her adorable Rudy, who I am a huge fan of and always make sure to take a pic of when I see her! Rudy is a honey delf Corni, another doll I really want. (I want both Kid and Honey delf Cornis, but I have different plans for each)

(I got a pic of Apollo with Rudy back at Doll Friend earlier this year!)

The teeny little dealer shop Fukuoka has called Doll Shop Eden also had a booth there with some of the newest dolls they’d gotten in. I really like that special grey-skinned Dollzone Miss Kitty.

A bunch more sellers - many had Halloween-themed items.

^^^I really like the spooky faces on those ones!

The custom Houzuki is pretty cool too.

A whole load of cute little custom heads!

That little coffin case for 1/12 dolls is cute.

Some cute furniture here.

I really liked these cute little cats this person was selling! I didnt look too closely though cos I spent all that money at Dearmine already 8′)

I’ve seen this person at a few different events, they sell feather-wigs.

That’s the booth of another mutual, I always get a cute hair accessory when I see her. I got a bunny-shaped one this time.

Not all the ‘big’ dealers went to Doll Show! I got that sailor dress from them at May Dolpa.. I really like their clothes but thanks to Dearmine I was just looking now.

It’s always fun seeing how dealers decorate their booths. This one has a YoSD Kanon sitting up there next to the pink star...I was really tempted to enter the lottery for her back in May along with Renee to be honest, she’s pretty cute with different eyes (I’m not really a fan of the dull-looking eyes Volks gave her).

The heads/eyes of those two girls were for sale...tempting.

So many tiny clothes! I got Jasper’s (my new Dearmine) from here. You can actually see the set in this photo if you look closely...  There was another set I wanted but I didnt have enough for it, although its probably for the best that I got the one I did because the pants are stretchy - they’re made for obitsu11 but dearbeans have bigger thighs and non-stretchy pants might not have even gone on.

Nekomasshigura was also there selling some eyes,

and some custom heads,

and also showing off ‘Vivimol’, a Nekomasshigura original head-sculpt.

These chairs are cute!

I was also surprised that Sen came here, considering they’re an actual store in Tokyo so it seemed weird they’d come all the way down here when Doll Show was much closer. They had some nice stuff and it looks like they brought a sizeable load of their inventory but as before, I didnt want to look too closely as I’d already spent enough money today.

There was some obitsuroid shenanigans next to Dearmine’s booth - I’m not 100% sure if Dearmine were running this too or not.

On to the collection area! It’s very, very small compared to other doll events - especially Dolpa, where the collection area is almost as big as the dealer area, but there was still a lot of dolls set up - most of them MDDs.

Many like these are familiar faces at most doll events in Fukuoka.

Some fancy gents chiling out over here...

(ilikethechapwiththeglasses)

aaaah a Prisma Illya...she’s got such a cute head, I want her head so bad.

But not as much as I want Arle’s head...and this repainted one was so adorable ;_;

A Musunde Hiraite Rasetsu to Mukuro Miku! Very very cool.

A Cirno and a Kudo too? What is this, MDDs Torino wants and can probably never have day? 

There’s this one guy who goes to every doll event with a giant suitcase full of Azone50s, I’m pretty sure these are all his.

A nice little Dearmine collection!

The little blue kitty is one of my fave Dearmine dolls...

Two very cute DearPets!

I-Doll is organized by the same people that organize a ‘hand-made’ fair called Hand Art Marche, and its typically on the same day close by. During I-Doll in Tokyo, Hand Art Marche is usually also at Big Sight but in a different hall with a separate entry fee. Since Fukuoka’s one is smaller, they put both I-Doll and Hand Art Marche in the same hall, and a ticket for one gets you free entry to the other. I didn’t take any other photos except for this one but they always have a lot of interesting crafts and stuff there - and there’s usually a bit of overlap between the doll and craft people. Anyway, that was I-Doll Fukuoka 8! It was a little smaller than previously, which worked out well because I spent so much at Dearmine. I’d like to see I-Doll Fukuoka get more companies to visit in future!

[tnaypi3]

Pushkar & Jaipur

Starting our day early for our 4hr drive to Pushkar. 

Our driver, Hassan sent his buddy and fellow cab driver, Raeez to go with us. I’m not a fan of these kinds of surprises but it ended up being a nice change of atmosphere. He was a quieter, chill dude and unlike Hassan who sometimes tries to sway me away from my itinerary while suggesting other things that are usually very touristy. Raeez, who even though doesn’t speak much English, is my favorite because he is kind, fuss-free, doesn’t have schemes up his sleeve and is definitely quirky in his own little way ;-)

Asked why Hassan couldn’t make it, Raeez said he found a good deal with an older tourist couple and will be touring them around Jaipur for the day.

The drive was long but smooth. The farther we get, the quieter and less congested the streets are. But because of less traffic, the switching of lanes has become more dizzying as your driver is picking up speed. Surprisingly, none of us got sick (literally) of this. I had an entire collection of essential oils for all sorts of sickness and we never got to use the one for motion sickness!

I’m very captivated, almost bewitched by the sight of these holy men 

First camel sighting! Soooo exciting!!!

Pushkar is unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. This small, yet enchanting town has a unique mix of mysticism, religious fervour, and magnetism. Life here is so simple and I got the most rural feel from this place compared to all the others that we’ve been to. 

The town itself encircles a holy lake, thought to have been created when Lord Brahma vanquished a demon, Vajranash, using a lotus flower. The lotus flower fell to the ground, creating Pushkar lake. To this day, the town contains one of the world’s only Brahma temples, making it a prominent Hindu pilgrimage town that devout Hindus should visit at least once in their lives.

Each year, once the month of Kartika (a popular Indian feminine given name derived from the god Kartikeya, which means "bestower of courage") arrives, 200,000 people descend on Pushkar, bringing with them 50,000 camels and horses. The city is transformed into a colourful, heaving mass of animals, tourists, mystics and musicians and traders arrive to flog their livestock.

Although business is the main order of the day, once the fair starts, a vibrant and diverse cultural program draws in the crowds; snake charmers, wedding parades, sports and competitions for ‘best moustache’ or ‘most beautifully decorated camel’ fill up the schedule. 

Aside from all of the festivities, Kartik Purnima is also the time when thousands of pilgrims arrive in Pushkar to bathe in the sacred waters. 

The fair takes place in November. Lucky us? We sure feel like it. I kept blurting out “Alex, how are we in Pushkar, in the middle of a camel fair right now?!”

According to the internet, there are about 400 temples in Pushkar. We saw a handful, randomly picking out colorful or enigmatic, old looking ones to enter. The town hums and vibrates to the constant sound of chanting, drumming and incense-fuelled puja (act of worship).

Pushkar is considered sacred, so many rules that apply within India’s religious sites, apply within the town as a whole.

Consumption of alcohol, meat or eggs is not allowed within 2 km of the Brahma temple. Not that this affects us since we couldn’t eat anything here anyway. Most of the food spots are stalls, kiosk, or in tents and I didn’t want to risk it. Foreigners are always reminded that when in India, only eat at places that look like they have a legitimate kitchen and absolutely not a makeshift one, where many other foreigners are going, places that look clean and that observe proper sanitation, etc. 

Everything looked yummy but one can never be complacent with picking out restaurants. We never let our guards down when it came to protecting our bellies!

We spent all early afternoon getting lost and weaving our way through a maze of stalls selling all kinds of goods from pots and lamps to spices, accessories, clothing, handcrafted bags and shoes, instruments, tapestries, etc. Admittely, I have a weakness for moments like this but I kept reminding myself that we really don’t have any room in our luggage for a shopping spree. I equally hated and loved being restricted in a haven like this, surrounded by all things pretty, exotic and cheap.

We spent too much time wandering around the bazaar and temple area with the intention of finding where the camels were kept. Finally we made our way to a more open space and found the stadium.

Sadly, they had the camel shows earlier during the day so we missed it. No losses here though. We were very much satisfied with all our camel sightings and encounters. 

The Pushkar camel fair is a livestock festival which happens annually and falls on the Kartik moon according to the Hindu astrological calendar. 

Camels from all over Rajasthan, Punjab and beyond will be showcased here and to in an effort to make them more alluring to prospective buyers, they’re decorated in all sorts of colorful pom-poms, elegant cloths, anklets, flowers and flair!

We were offered a lot of camel safari rides but refused each time. Out of the question! Our driver couldn’t understand why. He was upset but in a funny and cute way when he later on asked if we did the infamous tourist activity. We explained to him our stance on animal cruelty, even though we are well aware that the lines on this subject may be  blurred and crooked in places and cultures like India’s. But we still tried. I think he understood what we were saying but stiil... ;)

Kartik Poornima is the full moon day and  the main day of the fair. This is also where one can catch hundreds of Hindus bathing in Pushkar’s holy lake. The legends say this is the day that Lord Brahma, the creator of the world in Hindu mythology, created the very lake which still stands today.

This was moments before my attention was called by the city guards to tell me that photographs are prohibited. It was only then that it dawned on me.. Of course, because people are bathing here. We people-watched and roamed around for half an hour, observing men and women of all ages and coming from all walks of life praying and doing their rituals. 

Wrapping up our Camel Fair adventures in Pushkar

Back in the cab

Budha Pushkar

As per our driver’s suggestion, we stopped by this prayer stadium and sacred ponds. It was not a popular place as we did not see many tourists or locals. So, in absolute silence we walked around and maybe have taken a moment to just gaze at the jade waters and majestic hills surrounding it. A nice way to end our Pushkar adventures before heading back to the city.

Good morning! Another full day in Jaipur to explore!

First stop: City Palace

Jaipur is often referred to by one of its many nicknames; The City of Gates, The Pink City or The Paris of India. However, the present-day metropolis that is modern Jaipur has been built on centuries of history. This is the ‘Land of the Kings’, the realm of maharajas, where majestic forts and opulent palaces are more numerous than anywhere else in India. No wonder why my Disney-adoring little girl heart has been borderline obsessed over seeing this part of India. This day is one of the main reasons I voted for Jaipur to be a part of our trip. 

The splendors of Rajasthan’s past are still here to explore. At the centre of Jaipur, the elegant City Palace, still housing the former royal family, is an island of tranquillity.

Here you can enter through the pink outer walls to find a maze-like complex of gardens, courtyards, halls and buildings. 

Sarvato Bhadra 

The Sarvato Bhadra is a unique architectural feature. The unusual name refers to the building's form: a Sarvato Bhadra is a single-storeyed, square, open hall, with enclosed rooms at the four corners. One use of the Sarvato Bhadra was as the Diwan-e-Khas, or the Hall of Private Audience, which meant the ruler could hold court with the officials and nobles of the kingdom in a more private, intimate space than the grand spaces of the Sabha Niwas in the next courtyard, which was open to more people. 

Several rooms 

Pritam Niwas Chowk

Here, there are four small gates known as Ridhi Sidhi Pol. These gates are adorned with themes symoblising four different seasons and Hindu gods. At the centre, above each of the gates are miniature carved reliefs in marble dedicated to the respective gods. All four gates have beautiful, embossed brass doors.

I snapped 2 of 4 having grown tired of waiting in line for the rest of our fellow tourist to finish and move on 

Mubarak Mahal

There is no doubt that the grounds are an architectural masterpiece. From the pink sandstone architecture in the pavilion, the intricate design of Mubarak Mahal, and the chiselled marble stone structures, the city palace is both elegant and artistic.

Leaving the City Palace on foot, we set off to Hawa Mahal. Surprisingly, Google Maps didn’t let us down. I successfully got us there without getting lost. I didn’t tell Alex but my heart was dancing, bursting with pride and satisfaction.

Absolutely adoring the scenes here

This was a photo snapped after seeing the monkeys squabbling. As we drew closer, we realized that they were shrieking and yelping at something or someone to the opposite side of the road, where a dozen middle-aged tourists were loving and snapping the monkeys in action. 

Our theory is that perhaps one of the merchants hurt them in an effort to drive them away from the food/goods that they are selling. We all know how these Macaque’s can be aggressive and are expert thieves. Still not cool to hurt them though :(

The Hawa Mahal / Palace of Winds

We made it! I am shaking and my pulse is picking up again! The marvelous honeycomb facade of the Hawa Mahal looms over a traffic-clogged thoroughfare. The city’s pink-tinted walls are punctuated with 7 imposing, decorative gates. Look further to the right and you will find sprawling hilltop fortresses, Escher-like step wells, and temples left to the care of roaming packs of monkeys.

One of Jaipur’s most iconic and distinctive landmarks, the Hawa Mahal was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh as a way to allow ladies of the royal household to watch life on the streets below without being seen themselves. The five-storey tall honeycomb hive facade consists of 953 latticework windows for the ladies viewing pleasure.

For once, we decided to resist yet another tourist trap so we skipped paying for  the Palace entrance fee and opted for a more underrated experience. Having googled another way to appreciate the Hawa Mahal, I led Alex to the opposite side of the street and looked for the entrance that would take us to the  the Wind View Cafe which have absolute prime spots for viewing the structure’s magnificence to our hearts’ content. Or more like to my heart’s content. I love this day!!!

While trying to figure our where the cafe’s entrance was in the street level, I had another encounter with a young fellow. He and some others, like clockwork, came up to us. I asked if this door leads to the cafe, pointing to the entrance where my GPS brought us. He said yes and went ahead, taking the stairs  up before I could say there’s no need to accompany us. On our way up, I thought “Ugh, here we go again. He’s not gonna let us get away without any kind of scheme or something”. It was a very narrow, tight squeeze climb with several flights of winding stairs. He stopped at the second to the last level and directed us to the Tattoo Cafe. I said we were going to the Wind View Cafe. He was being pushy so I stood my ground. He saw that I refused to be swayed and meant it. This had him upset and started acting sour. He says “You come to our home and you do this to us. You are not a good person”. Sounds familiar. Right away, I realized this is a formulaic dance of intimidation and mind games that some of them pull out from their back pocket in situations like this. Again, I apologized to him saying I didn’t mean to offend, explained my side while looking him in the eye. He left without another word. But the unwanted energy sure was lingering and thick as the smog outside.

The city’s bustling streets burst with colour and chaos. Cycle rickshaws weave among clouds of exhaust and soot as they dodge camels, cars and the occasional dawdling elephant. Swarms of motorbikes honk and buzz through the city’s vibrant marketplaces and grand gateways. Not the most relaxing breakfast with a view but we’ll take it!

Heading back to the City Palace to meet with or driver. Another mini adventure because we did not exactly have the name of the spot where he said he’d wait for us. I went by my memory of the small pocket where he said was a parking lot for cabs, marking it in my mind being remotely close to the Jantar Mantar, another tourist spot we opted out. But walking around, I realized that everything started looking alike. If we weren’t pressed for time, I wouldn’t mind getting lost but OMG, I have a serious itinerary and I wanna hit all the remaining spots before the day ends please!! This is our last day in Jaipur, if I haven’t mentioned that already!!!

After about 10mins of me oficially declaring to Alex that I think we’re lost, two girls passed by. I asked, pointing to a direction we haven’t tried yet, if the Jantar Mantar is that way. Giggling they said yes, I thank them with two fruit juices from our backpack and carried on. I wonder what was so funny? Haha!

Jal Mahal

It says a lot about the sheer quantity of beautiful buildings on display in Jaipur that the Jal Mahal, or ‘Water Palace’, isn’t overrun with visitors peering across Man Sagar Lake in the hope of glimpsing it. In any other city, it would be the main tourist draw. At the moment, the palace is undergoing extensive renovations meaning that it cannot be accessed but it is worth stopping off on the road if one is headed to the famous Japur forts.

Jaigarh Fort

An opulent structure built in the early 18th century in the city of Amer and is one of the major forts in Jaipur. It is located next to the magnificent Amber Fort. The main aim for constructing this fort was to protect the Fort of Amber from Invaders.

Breathtaking views!

Wanna see every nook and cranny of this stunning place

The Jaigarh Fort is a majestic stronghold built by Sawan Jai Singh II. This almost-intact fort is surrounded by huge battlements and is connected to the Amer Fort (also called 'Amber' Fort), with subterranean passages. Sadly it’s not accessible to the public.

The fort houses the world's largest cannon on wheels, a majestic palace complex and the assembly hall of the warriors known as 'Shubhat Niwas' along with a museum and an armory. Yeah, we skipped seeing the cannon part hehehe. We have better things to do!

The Amber Fort can be seen at the center of this photo.

The one thing you can see from anywhere in Amer are the huge red sandstone walls of Jaigarh Fort. It may seem endless from certain angles but it is only a total of 3kms long.

Shot and directed by Alex. I approve :)

The watchtower that offers a magnificent view of the landscape below

The stunning Amber Fort which we skipped because it’s too touristy

So ready for our favorite part of the day - food! hahaha

I’ve noticed that the farther we are from the touristy areas, the more authentic, less fuss and not overpriced our meals were. And these are our absolute favorite moments. Don’t get me wrong, we loved and adored about 95% of all our meals on this trip. At times though, as restaurants in busier areas attempt to cater to foreigners and make it universally palatable, the local cuisine almost loses it’s magic.

This is one’s for the books though and this day just kept getting better and better.

As we were finishing up our lunch, a commotion outside drew our and the rest of the diners’ attention. Our eyes fixed at the door and windows, without warning, there came monkeys leaping off roofs and running wild in different directions. Cab drivers, restaurant workers and tourists though laughing fondly at our primate friends were shooing them away from the dining areas.

Like our last few encounters with wild monkeys, we both couldn’t contain our excitement. Alex, as always finished before me so I urged him to go and I’ll catch up with him as soon as I finish and pay our bill.

As if we needed more min-blowing moments from this day... Fam and friends, I present to you the Grey Langur monkeys of Jaigarh Fort!!! WHAAAAT?!?!?!

It took me about 10 more mins to finish my food and find Alex. This is how I found him HAHAHA

Then this happened. I almost dropped to the floor and roll laughing

“NOOOO”

The Grey Langur is a group of Old World Monkeys.

They are large, inhabiting animal and mainly found in the areas which are located in the Indian Subcontinent. These langurs are generally of grey color, with a black face. Male grey langurs are up to 75 cm long and female langurs are 65 cm long

And according to the internet, historically  and up to date, these guys at the fort have not harmed any human. They were just doing their own thing, monkeying around, pretty uninterested with us boring humans. 

We did witness this particular shameless one who came on to a cab driver walking by who had a bag of Lays chips on hand. Without second thought, the driver surrendered his chips. And I’m not sure if it was already opened or not but the monkey was gorging on it right away. 

Old chips thief!

Couldn’t get enough of this mumma and bebeh monkeh. Too precious!!!

These two pups were trying to engage the langurs in a playtime cuddle session but went unnoticed. We saw one in a submissive stance drawing himself close to the monkeys to no avail. Too cute!

As soon as we thought we were done for the day, on our way to the exit, a guard ushered us to what looked like a passageway to a tunnel. At first I wasn’t interested but for whatever reason, we still found ourselves walking into it moments later. 

More surprises in store! More halls, courtyards, secret rooms and gardens. The tunnel also led us to what seemed like a hidden room but if you keep going, inside is a puppeteer who’s just waiting to give any one a show. Too content with everything we are experiencing, we passed on that.

It’s worth mentioning though, what an eerie yet fantastical vibe it was in there. I heard females, animated voices talking as I was entering that room but came to only saw one person, a man. In that moment it definitely gave me heebeegeebees. I kept telling Alex it sounded like there were more than one person in there.

With our super lovable and dear driver, Raeez. About 30mins before this picture was taken, all three of us in his cab felt completely lost and desperate in a maze of winding and bumpy roads in the middle of a residential area, passing though the tiniest alleys and roads of our lives which of course, our driver expertly navigated through without a sweat. We were reluctantly moving to another hotel for the night because our hotel messed up our reservations. It was a last minute booking but the good thing is it was right next to Jaipur Airport which we need to be at 8am the following day. 

All our GPS kept leading us to vacant lots if not dead ends instead of our newly booked hotel. We couldn’t find a phone number in their website nor in the email confirmation I got from them. We asked a passerby but he has never heard of such hotel. Alex started thinking maybe I got scammed? Oh God. Everyone was tired and this is past the time we agreed with our driver. He patiently kept trying out different formats of our address in his GPS. We asked him to just leave us and we’ll find it by foot. He refused and made a face as if we said the most absurd thing in the world. 

I don’t know how but we did find our hotel, enclosed in a gated community. We thank and hug Raeez tight and off he went.

What a day. What an unforgettable chain of experiences, vibrant Jaipur.