#top 10 online fabrics

[brandkolab]

online fabric shopping

[icewindandboringhorror]

various little Pictures of thinges

[ellastone-olsen]

hihihihi idk if youre accepting requests or not but if you are:

can you please do stripper!wanda x innocent!reader where reader's friend drags her to a nearby strip club to blow off steam. and reader is really innocent and is just sitting in the chair, slightly confused while watching the dancers do their thing on the pole. and reader is unknowingly eyeing one certain stripper (wanda) and wanda notices and comes over to reader. and reader's friend is teasing reader and telling wanda to give reader a lap dance when she comes over. and then wanda brings reader to like one of the private rooms in the back and like reader is realy inexperienced and awkward and tense. and then wandas there to like talk reader through it and reader's like REALLLY shy. okay woah thats a lot thank youuuuu take your time 💝

The art of eye contact - Wanda Maximoff

★Pairing: stripper!Wanda Maximoff x innocent!f!reader

Summary: your friend drags you to a strip club, what could happen there to such an innocent little thing like you?

★Warnings: little NSFW 18+, lap dance, grinding, pet names, a little fluff (sorry I can’t without fluff)

★Word count: 1.5k

★AN: hi anon! In general, my requests are closed, but I found this very interesting, so here we are. there was nothing about 18+ in the request and I decided to remove this part (well, almost). hope you’ll like it

The loud music and shining lights of the club were blinding as you sat shyly in your seat and looked somewhere at the floor. There was a can of soda on the table nearby. The people around are mostly men, but your eye notices some women who also came to watch the show. And only one question: what the hell are you doing here?

“Come on Y/N let��s go, I’ve been there more than once, maybe you’ll like it.” This is exactly what you heard from your friend half an hour ago, when you were sitting in her apartment and just playing online games. You came to her in a terrible mood because of a failed college exam and sought solace in this meeting. In the last couple of weeks, your nerves were on edge and all you need now was to let off steam after a series of failures. “Fucking shit, can’t you see they’re shooting at you!?” You told her angrily as she turned away from the laptop screen without following the game. You definitely needed another way to relax.

Despite your 21, you had never been to this kind of establishment and of all your friends, you were the most innocent person, not knowing what relationships and sex are. "Come on, let's go, don't be so boring." She insisted, "If you don't like it, then I give you permission to hit me." You took off your headphones and sighed. If you think so, then you were curious to visit the strip club. "okay." After that, within 10 minutes you were riding in a taxi to an address unknown to you.

Returning to the present time, you tried not to stare too much at all these people dancing at the poles, the clothes on them were becoming less and less every minute and your cheeks were flushed red. Your friend hit you with her elbow, signaling for you to look (she paid for the entrance and doesn’t want her money to disappear into the floor in which you are ready to make a hole with your gaze). You look up again and look at each dancer in turn until you reach her. To your right is dancing a woman with long red hair, which is pulled back into a messy bun with a shiny clip. Her top was already off, revealing a red fabric bra that did not hide the softness of her breasts. She was still wearing a long skirt that cut out to her hips, so you could see her legs, which seemed to be moving closer to you. Stop why is she coming to you.

While you watched as if under hypnosis, the stranger was already in front of you and grabbed the soda from your hand and put it on the table to put her hands on either side of you on the armrests. Her back arched and she made a small wave, so that her breasts were a few centimeters from your face, it seemed like you were ready to explode from what was happening. Her head tilted, her lips reached your ear so she could shout to you over the noise of the music, “I’m Wanda, nice to meet you.” In your opinion, people usually don’t get to know each other by sticking their almost bare breasts under the noses of strangers, but remember where you were and toss all the questions. In any case, all you did was nod and again direct your gaze somewhere to the side. It seemed that you had turned into a bundle of nerves and embarrassment.

Wanda took this as a sign that she needed to look for another client for the night, but your friend, who had been watching all this time from the side, took the redhead somewhere to the side and seemed to give her a bill and instructions on what to do.

"Where have you been?" You asked the girl as she approached with a sly grin, noticing how red you were. Why the hell did she bring you here and leave you to your fate? “I have another little gift for you that you’ve been eyeing so eagerly.” Was she teasing you? Defined. “What are you talking about, what kind of gift am I thinking enough for today.” Then your friend stepped aside and showed Wanda standing behind her. The girl leaned over so only you could hear, “I paid, so have fun.” You didn’t immediately understand what exactly she paid for, but Wanda’s sweet smile brought the idea to your brain and your eyes widened.

The redhead gently took your hand in hers and you obeyed (only out of curiosity) and followed her into the private rooms. When the red matte door closed and it became much quieter, you sat on the sofa with your hands on your knees and asked a question. “What exactly she told to do?” One of your knees is bouncing from the fact that you are shaking your leg trying not to be nervous. Your friend has already explained to the redhead what an innocent little thing you are, so the woman decided to first ask permission for some actions.

"She ordered a lap dance, but you're such a sweet girl that I was willing to do it for free just for you." She came up to you again and leaned in, so close that her breath was on your neck and you could smell the scent of her cherry perfume. “Can I sit on your lap honey?” Her soft sexy whisper drove you crazy and you squeaked in agreement. Immediately you felt the weight of her body on you, how her long legs in stockings wrapped around you and your core began to pulsate just from this. "What should I do? I…I never…” Wanda’s hips rocked and her core pressed against your stomach. “Oh I know baby, I can see it right away.” She giggled. “I’m sitting right on top of you, can you tell me your name?” Your head fell back and your hair fell into face, you really didn’t want to seem like what you were, namely the inexperienced mess right under her. “My name is Y/N.” Your hands grabbed the upholstery of the sofa, you didn’t know how to touch her, or whether it was possible at all.

Wanda's hands dropped to yours and placed them on her hips. “That’s it Y/N, you can touch me if you want.” Your head turned towards her and you finally looked into her big green eyes. It was so beautiful that no part of her body interested you as much as this. “Your eyes are so…lovely.” The woman seemed confused at these words. Her clients told her a lot, in particular something about her breasts or ass, but never before had anyone given her a compliment with such trepidation. “Oh, what a cute little thing you are Y/N.” She stood up on your knees, her hands reached for the clasp of her skirt, which she was still wearing, but you stopped her. “No, don't. I mean, you're so beautiful, you don't need to take your clothes off to prove it."

This was the third time you had confused her that night. Of course, your inexperience spoke to you, but you also didn’t want to do something so blatant with her, at least not right now. Although perhaps there was one thing that you wanted to get. “I...can you kiss me? That is, if you don’t want to or it’s forbidden, I don’t insist, but...” Her soft, full lips fell on yours without allowing you to finish, it seems that at these words the woman’s heart sank painfully. Her dark lipstick mixed with your cherry gloss and with every movement of your lips, your hands gripped her soft thighs tighter. “Wanda...” You wanted to ask, but she wasn’t done with you. When there was not enough air, she pulled away and turned her head away. “Sorry, it was not according to regulations.” You didn't understand why she was apologizing.

“No, no, everything is fine, at least... it sounds so stupid but... maybe you would like to get to know each other better and go on a date, for example?” You realized how naive it sounded, asking the girl from the strip club you had just met on a date. Surely everyone who was with her in this room made her such an offer.

Instead of words, the woman got up from you and you thought that the time that your friend had paid for was over, but after a few seconds she handed you a piece of paper with numbers. “Here, this is my number, text me in the morning if you don’t change your mind.” You took the small piece of paper from her hands and carefully placed it under your phone case.

For a minute you were in an awkward ringing silence. “Can I kiss you again?” You asked shyly. Even then, Wanda couldn’t refuse you.

When you left the private room and said goodbye, your friend immediately met you with questions about how everything went. You told her, not knowing that in this evening Wanda did not bring anyone else into the room where you were together.

[cheriladycl01]

Kinktober 15/10/2024 Oscar Piastri- Begging

Plot: You’re always so needy when it comes to Oscar, and he just loves to hear how much you want him, again and again, and again.

Warnings: Kinktober, smut, needy begging, humping, p in v 18+ Minors DNI

Oscar was gone, and you couldn’t handle the fact that you hadn’t seen him in over four days. You knew you said you were too busy with things back home but once you say pictures of him in Singapore, you were looking online for the cheapest one way ticket there.

You were desperate for him, so much so that you hadn’t even told him that you were coming. So when you turned up to his hotel room at 10pm at night knocking on his door he was more than shocked.

“Baby? What the hell are you doing here” he whisper shouts at you looking down the corridor to make sure this wasn’t some kind of mass prank McLaren had pulled on him and they had some mega tech they hadn’t showered him just yet.

“I needed to see you, missed you” you answer, a soft look on your face as you held eye contact with him. He pulled you into his room, closing and locking the door behind you as you led him further into the bedroom.

“You missed me?”he teases and you can’t help but nod, a smile at the edge of your mouth.

“Please Osc, need you” you beg looking up at him with those sweet eyes of yours be just couldn’t say no to.

“How baby, how’d you need me?” He asks, pulling you on top of him as he lays down on the bed.

“You know how Osc please” you say again, your eyes a little wild.

“Mmmm I don’t think I do, why don’t you show me?” He asks with a bite of his lips, teasing look in his eyes that kind of just makes you want to slap him but your so needy right now that all you can think about it getting some pressure on your clit.

He’s wearing jeans.

You move so your straddling one of his thighs, starting to roll your hips up and down, the fabric of his jeans giving a feeling to your clit that was satisfying. You mouth dropped open as your hips moved up and down, trying to figure out the best angles while Oscar’s hand came down to help guide you.

His large hand, helped move your hip back and forth, but eventually it wasn’t enough. There wasn’t enough going on to make you have that feeling you oh so needed. It wasn’t enough to make that coil in your stomach unleash.

“Oscar” you cry out looking at him eyes as frantic as your hips, trying to get more from dry humping his thigh.

“What is it sweet girl?” He asks looking at you, you were too frustrated with not being able to reach your own high that you couldn’t see the smirk or teasing look in his eyes.

“Need more from you, please! Wanna feel you, need you inside me please okay Osc” you whine above him, but he just keeps you moving on his thigh.

“Fuck I love when you beg for it. Do it again” he says kissing along your cheek, not daring to encase your lips as you as him again. No - not ask, beg.

“Please Osc, need you. Need you so bad” you cry out, just as a feeling comes, but goes just as quickly as it did, tears streaming down your face.

“Okay baby, stop there and I’ll do what you want” he asks and you do immediately knowing he’ll prolong this is you don’t.

“Such a good girl aren’t you” he smiles. Kissing your lips, making you moan into him, as you lean forward tangling your hands in his hair. He strips himself off enough that his dick it out, before flipping the lair if you round so he’s hovering over the top of you.

“What do you want?” He asks one more time, just wanting to hear your cute whiny and broken lust filled voice.

“You inside me. Needa feel you Osc. Always stretch me so good” you moan, and he pulls your panties to the sides, before his cock slips perfectly into your soaking fold. You can feel all the glorious textures of him slip and slide against your walls as he teases you with his tip before pushing the whole way in.

When he bottoms out in you, a sigh comes from both your mouths. Oscar knew how much you needed him, you’d made that obvious but right now he needed you just as bad.

His hips snapped in and out of you, holding your left boob and playing with it as the other one held him up which was gripping in the sheets of the hotel bed.

“Please fuck omg please” you beg and Oscar moans at how needy you are. It was something he could listen to forever on a recording or in person. It was like listening to his favourite song on repeat.

He keeps thrusting in and out, hitting the deepest bits inside you at an angle that has your head thrown back in the pillow and your hands gripping the sheets, your toes curling at the pressure.

“Please Osc, lemme cum” you cry out, your eyes opening just to look at him. His cheeks were a little red and a sheen of sweat lay across his forehead dampening his curtains.

“I dunno baby…” he teases but it comes out a little panted.

“Osc, don’t be mean. F-fuck” you moan out lurching foreword as Oscar picks up the pace.

“F-fuck Osc, please I can’t hold it” you beg your eyes screwed shut as you try concentrating on not letting that building feeling leave.

“Such a good girl. Go on cum for me” he says looking over at you, as he keeps going until he can feel your tighten and start to shake around him. Your hand comes up to his shoulder for some support.

The tightening around him felt incredible like usual, and he almost couldn’t pull out because there was a vice grip almost pulling him back in. It was so tight that the cum was pretty much dribbling out as he pulled out and released onto your stomach. Your still breathing, trying to come down from your high when you feel the hot white liquid hit you.

“I needed you so bad baby” you say as you nuzzle into his neck. Trying not to turn over to avoid getting cum on the sheets, you were now far to exhausted from the flight.

“I know sweetheart, you did so well for me. I love when your needy” he sighs, placing a kiss on the top of you head before leaving into the hotel bathroom to get a flannel to help clean you off.

Making that trip was definitely a good shout.

Taglist:

@littlebitchsposts @hockey-racing-fubol @laura-naruto-fan1998 @22yuki @simxican @sinofwriting @lewisroscoelove @cmleitora @daemyratwst @lauralarsen @the-untamed-soul @thewulf @itsjustkhaos @purplephantomwolf @chasing-liberosis @summissss @gulphulp @starfusionsworld @jspitwall @sierruhhhh @georgeparisole @youcannotcancelquidditch @tallbrownhairsarcastic @ourteenagetragedy @peachiicherries @formulas-bitch @cherry-piee @spilled-coffee-cup @mehrmonga @eiraethh @curseofhecate @alliwantisadonut @dark-night-sky-99 @i-wish-this-was-me @tallrock35 @butterfly-lover @barnestatic @landossainz @darleneslane @barcelonaloverf1life @r0nnsblog @ilove-tswizzle @laneyspaulding19 @malynn @landosgirlxoxo @marie0v @yourbane @teamnovalak @nikfigueiredo @fionaschicken @0picels0 @tinydeskwriter @ironmaiden1313 @splaterparty0-0 @formula1mount

[ziseviolet]

Qipao/Cheongsam Taobao Shop Recs

A while ago I received a direct message asking for recs on where to buy qipao/cheongsam, and I figured I’d make a post for others who’d also be interested. 

First of all - I think qipao should be tried on and bought in-person if at all possible, since having the right fit is important - especially if it’s for a formal occasion like a wedding. However, since that’s often not possible, I’ve compiled a list of online shop recs, mainly for more casual occasions.

Since English-language online qipao shops are plentiful and easy to find, I’ll be focusing this list on Taobao shops only. Please note that these are my personal recs, based on my own aesthetic preferences. Thus most of the recs are for shops focused on retro-inspired, minguo-style qipao made using the traditional 平裁/pingcai (flat tailoring) method. Also, I have not actually purchased qipao from any of these shops (all my qipao were bought in person) - this is based mainly on how appealing I find the designs.

1. 嬉姷/Xi You - Elegant qipao modelled closely on historical designs, mainly from the Republican era/minguo. Careful attention paid to historical details. My favorite qipao shop to browse for fun:

2. 海上芳时/Shanghai Fancy - Specializes in chic minguo-style designs of the 1920s-1940s. Recently came out with a neat art deco-inspired collection:

3. 唐之语/Tang Zhi Yu - Retro-style qipao in a variety of bold prints, with a focus on the form-fitting designs of the 1950s-1960s, including those from the film “In the Mood for Love”:

4. 繁莳/Fancy Dream - Dreamy, delicate retro-inspired qipao and modified qipao. Also has a nice selection of winter majia (vests):

5. Top Ulara - A large selection of classic, retro-style qipao with a hint of glamour. Offers lots of long/thick/layered qipao suitable for colder weather:

6. 梦回故里/Menghui Guli - Nostalgic, conservative retro-style qipao for all seasons. Old-fashioned in a good way:

7. 晴山制衣/Qingshan Zhiyi - Retro-style qipao in fresh, vivid colors and an interesting variety of designs and patterns:

8. 限时赏味/Xianshi Shangwei - Streamlined, retro-style qipao in subtle colors and prints that exemplify understated elegance: 

9. 茉茉/Momo - Tons of options for simple, cute, and casual retro-style qipao suitable for daily wear. Designs tend towards monochromes and all-over prints. Another review/rec here:

10. 如及/Yu Gallery - Simple yet elegant retro-style and contemporary qipao. I love the shop’s use of sheer fabrics & layering in its designs:

11. 向南飞FLY - Offers a selection of casually stylish retro-style qipao and modified qipao for daily chic:

12. 川黛/Chuan Dai - Soft, feminine, pastel-infused qipao & modified qipao in retro-inspired and contemporary styles:

13. 四斤自制/Sijin Studio - Creative, avant-garde takes on (modified) qipao & qipao-inspired outfits:

14. 密扇/Mukzin - Colorful, playful, and irreverent modified qipao and qipao-inspired outfits. There’s also an English website here:

If you like the above qipao but still want an English website, there are several Taobao resellers that carry similar designs - for example, Beth and Brian Qipao. The hanfu shop Nuwa Hanfu also offers a carefully curated array of qipao, including plus-size qipao.

Finally, when it comes to in-person shops, I want to highlight Xiangjiang Silk Co., a relatively new boutique in New York City specializing in actual vintage 1950s-1960s qipao. There’s an article here on the boutique and its founder Heather Guo (who was featured in Vogue). Store visits are appointment-only, so you’ll have to reach out to Heather via her social media if you want to drop by.

If anyone has reviews of the above shops and/or more qipao shop recs, please share! ^^

Bonus: I also have online shop recs for hanfu (1, 2), modified hanfu/hanyuansu (1, 2), hanfu accessories, weimao, and hair accessories. 

[concreteburialplot]

Briefs

pairing: nicholas x fem!reader

masterlist: here | crossposted: ao3 | word count; 1.6k

summary: your boyfriend tries on new boxer briefs and you can’t help how good he looks :)

warnings: blurb-y, short & sweet domestic quickie, kinda cliche, p n v, unprotected, etc, 18+ MDNI

A/N; shortest thing i’ve ever written, VERY lightly edited don't perceive mistakes pls, based off a dream i had, pls enjoy x

It’s around 10 pm and your home is calm, lights are dim as your bedtimes approach and you’re laying in bed reading some article on your phone. Your boyfriend walks into the room, and you don’t pay much attention, but you notice he sets something down on the foot of the bed before making his way over to your side.

He stands facing the mirrored closet across the room and does a little twist to look his backside. “I can’t tell if I like these.”

Your gaze flickers up at him and that’s when you realize he’s in nothing but black briefs, shorter than he’s used to wearing, ending right below where his hip and thigh meet.

“I ordered these online, but I didn’t realize I got the shorter kind.” He says with a small disappointment pout, tugging them down a bit.

You can’t help but rake your eyes down his bare tattooed body and land on his ass as he’s twisted around again - now of course, it is your girlfriendly duty to give his booty a little pat. He’s unphased by the action since it’s fairly normal behavior for you but you then give it a little squeeze before he turns back around.

“Mmm I think you look good.” You say, your tone emphasizing your opinion because the sight of his inked body in just tight underwear has unexpected heat pooling between your legs.

He rolls his eyes because he’s inclined to think that you’re just playing around. He sighs, “I’m being serious, I don’t know if I like them. What do you think?”

You prop yourself up on an elbow closer to the edge and place a kiss on his hip, “I think you look fucking sexy.”

“Yeah whatever, you’re being silly.” He waves off your nonsense with eyes still focused on his reflection.

You place another kiss in the space between his navel and where the thick band of his underwear begins. Your teeth gently rake across the flesh there. You hear him suck in a tiny breath at the sensation before you move down to his upper thigh that is so deliciously exposed to you in this new style choice. You place a couple small kisses there before moving back up to his stomach.

“C’mon stop playing around baby, it’s getting late.” He huffs, giving up on his decision-making process.

“Mmm, I don’t care.” You say against his skin as you flip yourself until you’re on all fours never breaking contact with his body.

“Baby what are you doing?” He breathes out with his crystal aqua eyes watching you intently.

You ignore his inquiry as your mouth trails kisses across his hips and up his chest until you meet his face. You can already tell by the way his eyelids are heavy and his lips are parted that your mission succeeded.

“You look really good.” You answer quietly letting your eyes drop to his plump lips.

Before he can protest, you connect your lips together to which he offers no resistance, melting into the kiss immediately.

The prominent throbbing in your core commands your actions, immediately slipping your tongue past his lips to join them. It starts off soft before escalating, his hands finding your silk clothed hips.

It doesn’t take long for your hands to find the band of his underwear, slipping your fingers into them and tug them down, letting his semi-hard cock escape. Your fingers wrap around the veiny length to begin working it slowly in your palm.

His breath hitches in his throat temporarily pausing the kiss. It only causes his actions to intensify, his hands now gripping your hips tighter, scrunching the baby pink satin fabric of your PJ top beneath his fingers.

As you continue to pump him in your hand his own travel just a view inches higher to find the lowest button on your silky button down. His nimble fingers easily slip the plastic round past the small opening. You feel him hardening in your hand as he makes quick progress up the line of buttons until his slipping the short sleeves down your arms.

Your nipples perk at the cool air that they’re now exposed to. His hands instantly find your breasts and massage them in his palms. His left continues to work the flesh in his hands while the right pinches your nipple.

“I need you, baby.” You breathe against your briefly separated lips and he responds with a simple nod filled with mutual need.

His hands slide down your sides until they pat your hipbones indicating for you to move back on the bed. You oblige and do just that, letting him hook his fingers into the ruffled elastic of your matching shorts.

Once off of you, he climbs onto the bed between your legs, your lips never detaching from each other.

His fingers greedily find themselves hovering over your pussy, his middle finger just grazing your clit. The contact makes your breath catch in your throat as you’re already buzzing for him.

He gives your sensitive nub a couple small circles before moving on to your near dripping entrance. You feel the edge of his lip curl into a smirk. “God you’re so fucking wet for me already.”

The statement brings heat to your cheeks, and it doesn’t help when he begins to circle your entrance. “Please.” You beg, more desperately than intended.

You can tell he has no restraint himself since he dips two fingers into you not even easing you into one first. You gasp against his lips and his smirk only grows. The rampant buzzing in your clit worsens when his fingertips instantly find the bundle of nerves inside you and curls into them. Your stomach tightens in need. “Fuck please, I need your cock.”

In any other moment he would’ve dragged this out, maybe asked you to use your words or beg for it, but the intensity of the moment escalated rapidly for the both of you. His hands find your thighs and slide them up the underside until he’s hooked behind your knees. He bends them back as far as your body allows and glides his thick length between your slick covered folds.

A low groan rumbles in his chest at the feeling of you against his now throbbing erection. You can feel the pulse of his swollen head vibrate against your clit and that alone is almost enough to send you over the edge. Before you get the chance to beg again, his head slides down your lips and passes your entrance without warning. A loud gasp sounds from you with the way he’s barely giving you the time to adjust to his size, the stretch of his girth making itself prominently known.

“Fuck.” He groans out into your neck once he bottoms out. “You’re so fucking tight.” He nearly growls against your skin.

You can’t help let out a moan once he starts thrusting into you. It starts slow but as with how the rest of the night is going, it quickly picks up velocity.

The tip of his cock buries itself into your cervix in a addicting but bordering painful way. With his speed and erratic rhythm, you can tell he won’t last long which is fine because you’re already on your edge as well.

He uses his index finger to tilt your head backwards towards the mirrored closet doors. “Look how fucking pretty you are taking me so well.”

Your eyes widen at the surprise of unexpectedly filthy action. You watch his length slide in and out of you at a perspective you never knew you needed. It showed you so much that you’re unable to see in missionary – the way his thighs muscles flex with each thrust, the way his lower stomach contracts every time you feel him twitch inside you.

When his fingers find your swollen nub, it intensifies every sensation you were already feeling. The pads of his fingers roll tight circles into your clit that makes your chest flutter and your stomach tie itself into a knot that is already threatening to snap.

“Cum for me baby, will you? Cum all over my fucking cock.” His tone was commanding but with a rushed undertone, probably from the proximity of his own climax.

Between the way his cock repeatedly fills you up entirely, leaving no empty space behind and the skillful circles he’s knitting into your throbbing clit, it tips you over into your high.

Your orgasm blinds your vision and uncontrollable moans and curses escape you as buzzing euphoria washes over your entire body. Amid your climax you hear Nick’s groans grow deeper and louder followed by the sensation of his cock twitching deep within you. The feeling of his hot cum shooting inside you almost sends you into another orgasm.

You ride out your highs together with your fingers dug into his back and his head buried into your neck coating the skin there with his heavy breath.

After Nick helps you both clean up, you’re in fresh pajamas all curled up and cozy in bed.

“I think I’m gonna keep those briefs.” He jokes with a smile, peering down at you.

You giggle and reach up without releasing him from your cuddling embrace to place a kiss to his cheek. “You should definitely keep them.”

A/N; thank you for reading 🦋 not my best work but i hope you enjoyed 💗

[kelcemenow]

Drive Me Crazy - Chapter 8.

Pairing Travis Kelce x Reader

Words 1391

Warnings Some angsty vibes here, but it's going to get better, I swear!

Huge thank you to the Anon who sent this in! They had such amazing words to say about my writing which I massively appreciate and then to top it off, had an incredible request for me! I only have experience with mechanics in the UK, so I’ve tried my best with this one! “I just recently got interested in Travis K. X reader stories and wanted to let you know, I read all of yours as quickly as I could. They are so well done and I couldn’t help but laugh/giggle and feel through each word you typed out. You’re doing amazing and I’m so glad to have stumbled onto your page. If you have any space for a request, I’d be curious about what Trav would think about having a military (like fighter pilot) or engineer or mechanic girlfriend. I see a lot of stories with him paired with models/singers/social media individuals (which are phenomenal!) but just wondering how he would be with a more tomboy like girlfriend!”

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

"Are you sure you're okay?"

You sighed, rolling your eyes, "Travis, I'm fine. I'm just tired."

He stared at you as thoroughly as he could through his phone screen. Faint wrinkles between his eyes deepened as his eyes narrowed. He hummed quietly before laying further back on his bed, his elbows elevating his torso, "Your Dad seemed pretty happy tonight."

You forced a smile, your chest still panging with hurt, "Yeah, thank you for doing all of this, he had a blast."

"And you?"

You paused, a little longer than you should've, "Yeah, it was great."

Luckily, Travis had rolled across the bed to grab the charger for his phone and didn't pick up on your disheartened expression, "I'm still pissed you wouldn't let the team doctor check you over."

"Travis, I really appreciate that you're concerned for me, I am. But honestly, it wasn't necessary."

He sucked his teeth and shook his head, "It's crazy though, there's gotta be a reason you passed out."

You avoided his gaze, adjusting the folds of your bedsheet.

"Anyway baby, I'm tired. I think I'm going to hit the hay, okay?"

Nodding your head gently, you could feel your body yearning to yawn, "Yeah, me too."

"But I'll call you in the morning?"

"Sure."

You watched as his eyes creased into a sweet smile, "G'night, babygirl."

Your stomach fluttered as his left eye quickly closed into a charming wink. It seemed travis had a talent for making you melt, no matter the situation.

"Goodnight, Travis."

The phone display returned to your home screen, a black and white photo of you and your Dad when you were younger. You must have been around 9 or 10 years old and were wearing one of his work t-shirts, splotches of grease and oil covering most of the fabric. He was leaning over the hood of his car and you were stood on a stool in front of him, holding a large tool in your tiny hand. You recognised his battered baseball cap adorning his head as one of your own now, something he gave you when you took on part of his business. 'A good luck charm', he said. Your chest swelled with love before melancholy set in. The opinions of other people had never bothered you in the past, especially the opinions of complete strangers. You had always been confident in yourself and you valued hard work and kindness over appearances. But now here you were, overthinking and distracted by the online comments of people you didn't know.

You laid back on your bed and stared up at the ceiling, shadows forming swirled patterns across the white paint. Taking a few deep breaths, you glanced across to the digital clock on your nightstand before feeling your eyelids droop lower and lower with each breath.

______________________________________________________________

Music blasted from the small radio you had perched on top of the exposed engine. Your head was buried under the hood, fingers tinkering at greased bolts and pipes as the sounds of the garage were overpowered by Whitney Houston.

"Y/N!" A deep voice yelled out from behind you.

Your body jerked as the noise disturbed your focus. Glancing over your shoulder, you noticed Jordan standing 20 yards or so away from you, his eyes avoiding yours.

"Yes?" You said impatiently, without changing your stance, a clear sign that you weren't interested in a lengthy conversation with him.

"I don't know if you're busy or..."

"Yeah, I am."

"Right." Jordan turned away for a second before spinning around and taking a few steps closer to you, "You know, it's just that it's obvious that other people think the same as I do."

You stood up straight, your shoulders tightening, "Excuse me?"

"I just don't think that you and Travis are a good match for each other." His feet were planted on the floor but his knees were twitching, his hands nervously fidgeting in his washed out denim jeans, "And I know I shouldn't have behaved the way I did the other night, but I was just in shock to see him there, you know? He's a pretty big deal, and you...you're just a-"

"Is this supposed to be an apology?"

Jordan sighed, his hands moving up to his temples, "I just think you would be better suited with someone else."

You laid down the spanner that you had been firmly gripping, the clang ringing out through the garage and capturing everyone's attention, "Someone else? Someone else like you, you mean?"

"Y/N, that's not what I'm saying-"

"What are you saying, then?

Jordan's gaze drifted to the floor, "I...I don't really know."

You took a step towards him, "Exactly. You don't know what you're saying. So, let me give you a clue. Who I date is none of your business, Jordan. It is actually none of yours, or anyone else's business."

You could see heads turning in your peripheral, but all that you could feel was the heat quickly rising in your chest and adrenaline speeding through your veins. Jordan stood with his mouth open, as if he was about to speak but even if he wanted to, you were reluctant to give him the chance.

"So, just...stay out of it, okay?" You waved your hand before rushing over to the bathroom, the wooden door slamming shut behind you.

Your shaking hands reached for the white basin, fingers gripping the smooth, cool, porcelain as you looked up into the mirror. You gritted your teeth as you attempted to hold your composure for a few seconds before you crumbled, tears travelling down your cheeks quickly. The clangs of the garage were muffled in the distance behind your occasional sobs, but you ran the tap just in case anyone could hear you.

Your reflection stared back at you, the skin under your eyes shiny from tears. As your breathing slowed and you took back control of your emotions, you grabbed your hair behind your head and tied it back with a small scrunchie that was snug on your wrist. Wiping your face, you inhaled deeply before a gentle knock on the bathroom door made you jump slightly.

"Uhh, there's someone in here." Your emotionally charged voice gurgled.

"It's Dad."

You looked around the small restroom, for nothing in particular, before flushing the toilet, "I'll just...I'll just be a minute." You called out, grabbing a hand towel and desperately dabbing your face.

There was a short moment of silence on the other side of the door as your Dad waited for the sound of rushing water to cease.

"He's gotten under your skin, hasn't he?"

"Jordan? I couldn't care less about what Jordan thinks." You tucked a piece of hair behind your ear and brushed down your overalls, "I don't-"

"I meant Travis."

You turned towards the door, your eyebrows furrowed.

"Forgive me for saying this, and I know I don't really know much about your dating life-" He let out a chuckle, "-but I've seen a change in you. A good change."

You reached for the door handle, "Really?"

"You seem happier." You could hear a smile in your Dad's voice, "Today aside, of course."

As you gently turned the handle and opened the door, his face came into view, his cheek pressed to the door frame, desperate to comfort you. You exhaled a smile as his eyes scanned your face, "I am happy."

"So, what's this?" He gestured to your eyes.

You shook your head, "It's stupid, really. I saw some comments on a picture of me and Travis online and then Jordan just-"

"And since when did you care what people thought?"

You blinked, "I don't."

Your Dad pushed the door open further and placed his hands on both of your shoulders, "So, what's the problem?"

You giggled, "I don't know."

"I think I know." He winked with a grin.

You lowered your brows again, your lips tightening into a coy smile.

"You like the guy!" He shook you gently, "And I don't blame you. But I have to be honest here, he's the lucky one to have you, sport."

You looked down at your feet, your cheeks flushing with red.

"So, fuck what everybody else thinks!"

"Daddy!" Your head snapped up, your eyes wide at your Dad's uncharacteristic cursing, which was something exclusively reserved for watching football games.

"Go get him."

______________________________________________________________

I think I've got my groove back!

This series will be finishing soonish and then I'll get onto the one-shot requests list that I have sitting in my notes app...which is quite a few!

Anyway, I hope you like this next chapter, it's not too dramatic but it's setting up the finale! If you want to be added to my Taglist, just let me know!

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[watchnrant]

A Bold Twist on History: Why My Lady Jane is a Hidden Gem in the World of Fantasy

My Lady Jane is a defiant breath of fresh air in the world of historical fantasy, embracing its bonkers nature with unapologetic enthusiasm. This series takes the rulebook of realism, tosses it out the window, and instead opts for a wild ride that blends history, fantasy, and romance into one delightful package. The show doesn’t just flirt with the boundaries of reality; it gleefully dances right past them, making a Black man the King of England and introducing shapeshifters as part of the social fabric. This bold move pays off beautifully, inviting viewers to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride.

What sets My Lady Jane apart is not just its entertainment value but its sharp wit. The protagonists are a joy to follow, with Jane and her fellow female characters serving as the true heart of the show. Jane herself is fantastic—her earnestness is both endearing and occasionally irritating, but always compelling. Surrounding her are standout characters like her cunning, sex-positive mother, Lady Frances, and her fiercely independent sister, Lady Margaret, who exudes a strength and determination that would give even Lady Lyanna Mormont a run for her money.

The series doesn’t just rely on its characters to make an impact; it excels in world-building and plot twists, all presented with a satirical sense of humor. The tone is a unique blend of modern feminism and historical toxic masculinity, creating a fresh take on the period drama genre. It’s a show that doesn’t shy away from revising history, much like Dickinson or The Great, and in doing so, it crafts a narrative that feels both contemporary and timeless.

However, the show isn’t without its faults. At times, the blend of genres and tones may feel jarring to some viewers, and not all of the humor lands perfectly. The pacing can also be uneven, with some episodes feeling slightly stretched while others race through pivotal moments. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise delightful series.

For those who enjoy a mix of romance, action, and wit in their shows, My Lady Jane delivers in spades. The chemistry between Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel is nothing short of magnetic, their love story evolving from enemies to lovers with a perfect balance of spice and sweetness. Their portrayal of Jane and Guildford is so compelling that you can’t help but root for them, even as they navigate the treacherous waters of political intrigue and personal growth.

The show’s historical twists add tension and excitement to the narrative, making it more than just a simple retelling of history. It’s a femme-centric romp that flips the script on traditional damsel-in-distress stories, showing what happens when women take control and defy the patriarchal constraints of their time. My Lady Jane is outrageous, audacious, and delightfully bawdy—a show that isn’t afraid to be dirty and daring.

That said, this show might not be for everyone. Fans of more traditional period dramas or those who prefer their fantasy with a bit more realism may find the show’s irreverence off-putting. But for viewers who appreciate a fresh, bold take on history with a heavy dose of humor, My Lady Jane is a gem.

Although My Lady Jane was one of the best-reviewed new shows this year, it sadly failed to find a broad enough audience. The series received a 91% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet it never landed on Nielsen’s Top 10 weekly streaming rankings for originals. Despite the initial online buzz, it didn’t translate into enough viewers, leading to the show’s quiet exit.

In my opinion, insufficient marketing and the overshadowing by other, more heavily promoted series prevented My Lady Jane from reaching the wider audience it deserved, ultimately contributing to its untimely cancellation. It’s a real shame, because this show had all the elements of a hit: humor, heart, and a unique blend of magic. From the clever reimagining of history to the standout performances, My Lady Jane was special in many ways. For those who did find it, My Lady Jane remains a gem—one that will be missed but fondly remembered.

[thrandilf]

#genuinely i think abt how dragon prince would have reigned surpreme over tumblr had this come out like 5 years ago idk like#there is no reason for dragon prince to have a comparatively small fandom when looking at the media it often gets compared to#and that it has canon whatever you wanna call This in it LMAO LIKE. WE HAVE SO MUCH QUEER REP FUN EXCELLENT WRITING AND YET lmao you're so right. truly a distortion in the fabric of the universe

LIKE LITERALLY IT'S SO?????

I feel like any time someone talks about wanting media with grey morality, nuance, explicit LGBT rep, disabled characters, fantasy that isn't White People Central- like all of that is found in The Dragon Prince and it knocks it out of the park. We have 5 seasons, it's confirmed to finish its run of 7 seasons and we're getting some spinoff media too like the video game and who knows what else, and I'm like. There are so many people I feel who would go WILD for this but

Even its connection with ATLA (which doesn't define TDP at all but I recognize it's some of what gets some people's foot in the door) doesn't seem to have pulled Big Fandom back in

The tumblr exodus really did damage plus the production hiatus seemed to land at such a time that the show is SUPERB better than it ever was before and it's always been good but fandom seems so much smaller than it used to be

I know TDP gets critical acclaim and we reach global Top 10 when new stuff drops but

As far as online fandom presence goes

Man. It's gotta be timing or something because it's so weird to me that there's like. Not even 1k fics on AO3 tagged Aaravos. The most popular TDP posts made nowadays peak at 4k MAX while sometimes I see art from 2019 that managed 30k notes like where is everyone -sobs-

I do love this fandom but I can't believe it isn't THE big thing I genuinely don't know why except timing and online spaces being hostile to fandom? Idk

[dyke-donkey]

Hi hello I LOVE Heehaw, they're so cool, that's an amazing fursuit!!

Can I ask how you made it? Especially around the eyes, and the hinge jaw.

Also curious about the shirt with gloves? Is there a word I could search for for that kind of shirt?

Thanks, I love seeing wierd furries and drag kings! :>

Thank you for the kind words!!

I made my first Heehaw face by casting my face in plaster and sculpting the snout shape on it using chavant. I then made a few silicone versions (Dragonskin 10 and one of the Exoflexes specifically), and from there it can be attached to my face with Skin Tite adhesive

I love the look and feel of silicone, and it's very simple to cast with in my experience. One of its downsides for this project is that it's just too heavy for a big Ole snout, and when I slush casted it to have thin walls I sacrifice movement capabilities.

The newer Heehaw face I have is purchased from NorthFX, and is made of hot-curing foam latex. It's lightweight, attaches to skin perfectly using Prosaid adhesive and allows for a range of expressive movement. It's split into a top and bottom jaw which you can glue together and use paint or makeup to blend the seams, and the results look super slick! I used Mehron facepaint to blend it all together and a very thick application of Ben Nye setting powder on top, which I swear by.

Foam latex prosthetic's major downside is that it's fragile and wicks up sweat, so it can't be used many times. Now that I know I love the material I'm working on making my own, but it's much more complicated than using silicone and requires a dedicated oven. I'm getting my materials from Monster Makers, and luckily since it's not a huge piece I can just use a large toaster oven for it (whatever oven you use can't be used again for food).

It's hard to tell when I've got my jeans+chaps on, but I've actually got a whole spandex bodysuit on! I fabric painted the ombre to the hands and some of the body hair, and the rest of the hair were wool combos I wet felted.

I'm nowhere near an expert or anything, but I am more than happy to answer questions and help people out who want to get into furry face prosthetics. Theres a lot of dense information online about making this stuff that took me foreverrr to navigate through, and I'd be happy to be a source of info that HOPEFULLY isn't too confusing. I've been super inspired for this whole project by furry prostetics of old and want this artform to return to furry spaces again because I rarely see it!!

[andromeda-sapphire]

💀🌳 Ancestor Tree Samhain DIY Tutorial 🌳💀

I made this ancestor tree for Samhain years ago and realized I don’t think I ever posted a tutorial on how I made it. If you’d like to try making your own, I’d love to see how they come out!!

(I've typed out the steps below this infographic, I realize they are small and hard to read in the image...)

Materials:

Crafting wire (I used 20g copper jewelry wire)

Wire jewelry pliers (long nose, needle nose, and/or looping pliers work well)

Old newspapers or paper bags

Clear glue or Mod Podge

Paint brushes (for the glue/Mod Podge and also for paint)

Acrylic paint in colors of your choice

Printer & printer paper

Photos of your ancestors (digital copies so you can print them to size, NOT originals!!)

Fabric fall leaves (you can usually find these at craft stores in the autumn seasonal decor, but cardstock or paper cutouts work too!)

Step 1: Make the frame

Cut your wire into lengths between 3 and 10”, you will need several depending on how many branches you want. Then cut some newspaper or a paper bag into strips. Apply some glue or Mod Podge to one end of a paper strip, and twist it around the longest wire, wrapping all your wires in paper. Try to make the middle of the wire thicker than the ends. Begin wrapping the paper-covered wires together to form branches and a trunk. Make sure to leave room at the bottom to make roots for it to stand on. Add extra paper-covered wire to fatten up the trunk if necessary.

Step 2: Paint the tree

Once the glue is dry, you can paint your tree using colors of your choice. I used a bark brown and then some gold to add some interest. Paint in layers if you’re using different colors, wait for one layer to dry, and then paint another layer, depending on how you want your tree bark to look.

Step 3: Add ancestors

Print out photos of your ancestors (please do not cut up originals!!) in little square/rectangle shapes and cut them out. Using clear glue or Mod Podge, attach the photos to fabric leaves (I found mine at a discount art store, but I’m sure you can get them at any craft store or online!). Let them dry flat.

Step 4: Attach the leaves

Using more of the craft wire you used for the tree’s frame, poke a little hole in the top of the fabric leaves, but not too close to the edge, you don't want the leaves falling off later. Make a small loop at the end of about a 2” strip of wire using your pliers, and slide the leaf into the loop so it can wiggle a bit in the breeze. Wrap the remaining length of wire around a branch, dangling the leaf about a half inch or less from the branch. Don’t crowd too many in one place, or you won’t be able to see everyone’s faces. Repeat this step with each ancestor you plan to add to your tree.

Feel free to save this image and share! Happy crafting!

[evenstarfalls]

Ranking the past years sewing projects in an attempt to convince myself that I am hot shit and need to actually work on the stuff I have planned: let's see how this goes

I have actually done quite a lot of sewing in the past year—kind of been getting back into it as a hobby. Most of it has been based on online instruction guides and improvisation, it's kind of a messy journey but I have been having success (and arguably more importantly, fun).

Blouse made from cut up shein top and satin.. I am not happy with this and have yet to wear it out. Straps are poorly done and the satin doesn't really match, I am seriously considering replacing it with green fabric (may or may not be a thrifted top). 4/10

Too small Shein dress converted into top. The front looks good. The back is another story but the front looks good!!! Sleeves fit weirdly and limit the range of motion however I think that's Shein's fault. 5/10

Plaid pants. I used a real pattern for these!! I love them they're so silly however they stretch too much and I always feel like they're going to slip off. 7/10

Jurse. I love it however it has not held up particularly well, probably due to both construction and materials—the pockets have holes worn in them. I still use it sometimes. 7/10

Victor Vale poodle skirt. Unfortunately I am too self-conscious to wear it much in public. I need to add more characters. 7.5/10

[redacted] dress I had to redact this one for doxx reasons. It is made of like 23 cut up neck gaiters and an old bedsheet. I spent like a year planning this dress. And I love it. Has some construction issues but idc 8/10

Love Händel oversized tshirt dress. I love it I love the Phineas and Ferb of it I actually wear it quite a bit. My only issue is that I wish I'd seamripped the hem before adding the ruffle but that's. Not something noticeable. 9/10

Corset. I spent an ungodly amount of time on this but it looks awesome fr. I wore it to my first ren faire! 10/10

Queen/kitties reversible vest. I love it I really do and I think Freddie Mercury would agree. Wore it when I saw Queen + Adam Lambert. And I still wear it a lot. And get compliments on it. I love this vest. 10/10

Franny Robinson cosplay Halloween dress and bonus creepy frog stuffed toy. I would consider this one to be unrankable actually due to the sheer amount of time and effort I spent on this. I had to drop a class bc of this dress. Objectively poor construction but I don't care it looks good and I love to wear it. I listened to an AUDIOBOOK while making this. I am going to wear this dress as many times as possible. I am...really proud of this dress. 100/10

[toychest321]

Ranking and Reviewing Every Pregnant Steffi Love Doll (1992-2024) 🤰🏼

(Now that I've got your attention, before reading this, PLEASE donate to or boost Ahmed's GoFundMe to help get him and his family out of Gaza 🙏🙏🙏: https://www.tumblr.com/toychest321/748238434888466432?source=share)

1992 - Newborn Baby/Twins

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find much information on these dolls' origins, aside from a few secondhand listings online. As far as I can tell, the body mold (and subsequently the very first pregnant Steffi Love) was created in 1992, and the rest above followed shortly after.

Overall, I give these six 7.5/10. At first glance the outfits are relatively simple, but I think they carry that late 80s/early 90s charm. As for each individually:

NBB: Navy Suit w/ Hat: 8.5/10 A standout look compared to the dresses most common for pregnant Steffi Love dolls. Points for being unique

NBT: Blue Floral Dress: 8/10 The flowers remind me of watercolors, and the pastel pink flower ties the colors all together.

NBT: Pastel Floral Dress w/ Pants: 7.75/10 Kinda reminds me of pajamas

NBT: Blue Polka Dot Dress: 7.5/10 A decent look in theory, but the silver pants make it look cheap. White ones would have paired better with the dress

NBB: Multicolored Floral Dress: 7/10 Too much going on compared to the blue florals, though fun fact this one is mistaken for Pregnant Midge in a lot of those "TOP 10 DISCONTINUED BARBIES" articles

NBB: Pink Floral Dress: 6/10 The cheapest-looking out of the six, I think I've seen that exact fabric used on a Barbie Fashionista skirt

2006 - Welcome Baby

It seems a new body mold was made for these that would be re-used in future releases, though in 2019 the arms would be switched out. The variants available, unlike, the 1992 releases, were Caucasian and Black (coming with either straight hair or an afro). The initial release came with the darker pants, face mold, and middle part seen on the left, but later releases would use the face mold and side part seen today with lighter pants.

Overall, a 10/10. I honestly love the y2k vibes coming from this look, and like the vintage Navy Suit doll it's a welcome departure from her usual maternity clothes. I think the left's darker pants work with the outfit a bit better, but I prefer the right's face mold.

There's also this variant with a pink polka dot dress (although I'm not sure when she was released) that I would honestly consider a completely different doll if it weren't for the title.

Unlike the previous, she's a 6/10. Her look is nothing special, and especially disappointing compared to the other variants of this line. I like that they used a different hairstyle, but she's just so... plain.

2011 - Happy Family

Little information exists regarding this playset, especially considering a modern remake uses the same name. This does seem to be the first pregnant Steffi release to include both her boyfriend "Kevin" (🙄) and her little sister Evi Love.

Overall, 7/10. It's a fairly decent look that I have no particularly strong feelings towards.

2015 - Happy Family

Seems to be a reproduction of the original 2011 playset with updated looks. Steffi and Kevin are using different face molds, but it includes the same accessories as the previous and next Happy Family playsets.

Overall though, 7.5/10! I like the pink pattern on Steffi with the solid color miniskirt, and it's so cute that Evi has a matching outfit!

2019 - Welcome Surprise

I think this is the first instance of Simba using their most recent arm mold for their pregnant dolls. I can't remember how big Gender Reveals were during 2018-2019, but apparently they were big enough for Steffi to want a piece of that pie, confetti cannon and all.

Overall rank when putting aside the gimmick, 6/10. While I admire the coherence in theming with using light blues and pinks with a confetti motif in the skirt, the top makes the outfit look somewhat juvenile.

??? - Sweet Expectations

This one might have the LEAST info available on it. I'm guessing by the arms that this was likely released as a budget alternative when that arm mold was first being used, so it was probably released from some point around 2019 onward. Not sure why the box says "Baby Arrival" when the name of the doll is completely different tbh

Overall, 5/10. Just a worse version of the polka-dot Welcome Baby variant. The dress looks like it’s made from wrapping paper.

2021 - Happy Family

The most recent Happy Family playset, and yet again Kevin's got another facelift. He's becoming yassified.

Overall, 6/10. Ngl just a more boring execution of the original version.

2021 - Welcome Twins

And here we enter the Pregnant Steffi Love renaissance! I'm not entirely sure why we get so many releases in 2021-2022, but my guess is Welcome Surprise sold better than they were expecting in 2020 so they probably started making all of these shortly after.

Overall, 6.5/10. I'm not really feeling the colors or pattern, and we'll see a better rendition of this outfit with the Newborn Baby set in 2022.

2021 - Royal Baby

This playset actually has a brunette & brown-eyed variant that marks one of the only other times the hispanic(?) Steffi from the XOXO Friends line appears (ngl I should make a post about that line sometime as well).

Anyway, overall I give her an 8/10! While I would have personally given her puffed sleeves, I admire the overall aesthetic! Between this and the upcoming Mermaid Family, I also like how they're the only company making pregnant fantasy dolls.

2021 - Mermaid Family

Here it is! If you've heard of any pregnant Steffi Love dolls, it's probably this one. Here we see Kevin's third facelift, and his most yassified mug yet. So many jokes I could make about his face I can't even list them all here.

Overall, 9/10. The concept alone sells this through sheer absurdity. I love that Steffi has a tattoo on her baby bump, and that this apparently confirms mermaids are a species of mammal. Even if I'm not entirely certain I'd buy this (just because of the space it'd take up), I respect the hell out of it.

2022 - Baby Surprise

Fun fact, this one is currently the only pregnant Steffi Love I've been able to find in my area. As seen above, she comes in three variants: white & lavender dress with side pony, red & pink dress with side part, and rainbow dress with high pony. She comes with 9-18 accessories (toys, pacifier, etc.), and the surprise element is that she could be having a boy (9 blue accessories), a girl (9 pink accessories), two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl (9 of each color).

Overall, 5.5/10. The stock photos don’t get across how metallic the material for these dresses look in-person. And the ruffles at the sleeves remind me way too much of the Barbie Fashionistas for my liking.

2022 - Newborn Baby

This one has a similar outfit to the Welcome Twins playset, and is the only pregnant Steffi love to have articulation. She comes with a baby carrier, and when you press her necklace it makes the sound of a baby crying.

Overall, 7/10. I like the colors and pattern much more here than the Welcome Twins set. Even though it isn't spectacular, the accessories are cute and its central concept is well-executed.

2022 - Newborn Baby Room

And here we have the most recent pregnant doll released. My guess is the 2021-2022 batch didn't sell as well as they had hoped, so they've slowed down since then. But I doubt that'll keep them from making use of the body mold more in the future.

Overall, 7/10. At first glance the materials used for this dress looked very cheap, but it sorta grew on me the more I looked at it? It reminds me of a cupcake. However, I’d never have the room for the playset, and the doll itself is still relatively plain.

Even if a lot of these dolls were just decent, I still gotta give props to Steffi. There's only ever been one pregnant doll released under the Barbie umbrella, and that was for a side character ONCE. Steffi meanwhile may as well have being pregnant as a personality trait! Hopefully Simba makes more dolls like this soon, because I'd love to see what concept they might come up with next!

(And now that you're at the end of the post, I am reminding you to PLEASE DONATE TO OR BOOST AHMED'S GOFUNDME. THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 49 DONATIONS SO FAR WE NEED TO GET HIS POST TO REACH FURTHER: https://www.tumblr.com/toychest321/748238434888466432?source=share)

[swantranslations]

New FMA Merchs! (as of 6th Dec, 2023)

Pop-up store @ The Chara (Announced on 4 Dec)

Official Website

A variety of merchs (pins, stickers, clips, mugs, charms, acrylic stands) featuring brand-new illustrations!

The pop-up store will commence in Osaka from 8 Dec 2023 to 17 Dec 2023, then in Tokyo from 4 Jan 2024 to 16 Jan 2024. Unfortunately, these items seem to only be available at their physical store, so no luck in ordering them online T_T...

2. Pop-up Store @ Princess Cafe (Announced on 1 Dec)

Announcement

Brand-new illustrations of the characters in formal attires. People went insane over Riza wearing suits + top hat as well as Envy wearing garter belts.

The pop-up store will commence in Tokyo from 15 Dec 2023 to 29 Dec 2023, as well as Osaka from 15 Dec 2023 to 30 Dec 2023.

Doesn't have any information regarding the exact products yet, but you can seek updates on the princess cafe twitter or website. Their past products were usually available online, so I expect this time should be the same as well, and international shipping is supported through an official third-party company WorldShopping Global (have not used it, cannot comment on reliability).

3. Contents Seed Merchs (Announced on 30 Nov)

Announcement

New products using older illustrations. There are cushions, charms, acrylic stands, stickers, clips, mugs, and mini mirrors.

You can order them from the Hobby-search website or the colleize website (overseas shipping supported) starting from 30 Nov 2023 to 10 Dec 2023, and the products are expected to ship by the end of Jan 2024.

4. New Nendoroid Doll! (Announced on 2 Nov)

Announcement

Good Smile Company announced that they will make a new Edward Nendoroid Doll, no preview or information is available yet, but we can look forward to it! (Might be my first Nendoroid :3c)

Please be reminded that the Nendoroid Doll is the newer "premium" line of Nendoroid, the ones that are a bit taller, with better mobility and the clothes are in fabric so you can change their clothes. So this one will be quite different from the previous Nendoroids!

5. Don Quixote Collab (Announced on 28 Oct, already sold out)

Announcement

Exclusive merchs sold at the Japanese discount store chain Don Quixote.

It's already sold out, but I really want to include this because I absolutely love the logo design they used on the bags. So pretty!!!

[womens-wear-tips]

Buy Designer Indian Sarees Online: Discover Elegance

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Exclusive Designer Selection: GSS Global Hub’s designer sarees feature beautiful embroidery, detailed zari work, and high-quality fabrics like silk, chiffon, and georgette. Each saree is crafted to make a statement, perfect for weddings, festivals, and other special occasions.

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[cloudselkie]

Shay's 2023 Tarot Purchase Round-Up

Unfortunately, I don't have time for a huge review post this year, but here are my top 10 favorite tarot decks that I purchased this year!

10. Dreams Within Dreams Tarot

- This was a Kickstarter I backed last year. The art is beautiful and the artist stated that they were inspired by their favorite anime growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s. The only reason this deck isn't higher on the list is because I found that the whiplash between some cards being fan art and some being original art was too much for me to really connect with it.

Where to buy: Kickstarter exclusive, but still available in various Etsy shops

9. Stars Lighting Up the Night Tarot

- This deck came out of nowhere and instantly became a favorite. I love the night scenes and the multiple versions of some cards so you can customize the deck. It also has the linen card texture I love! I purchased the limited edition version just to get that texture!

Where to buy:

8. Titanic Tarot: Risen Spirits (Titanic Tarot 2nd Edition)

- This version massively improves on the first (which I already loved) by removing the borders and including updated art for the pip cards that better represents the full story of the passengers of the Titanic, including before the voyage and after.

Where to buy: Mostly out of stock, but still available at some Etsy shops and online magic supply stores

7. Sleepwalker Tarot

- I ended up getting the mini because it was all that was left, but I wish I had the full size. The art is so beautiful and Iove how calming the subjects are with their eyes closed. Also, I found the full size and will definitely be purchasing!

Where to buy:

6. Witch Sister Tarot

- I waited TWO YEARS for this tarot and the art alone was worth it. I love the artist's previous deck, and stumbled on some of the art for this one on Etsy while looking for devotional items for selkie and for the Cailleach. It's finally out! The only downside is that it's a Llewellyn deck and has their usual thin cardstock.

Where to buy:

5. Shadowscape Tarot

- An oldie but a goodie. I finally got this after a few years of eyeing it, and it's definitely a great choice for being a mass market deck. Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's art is beautiful. Reminds me of old Amy Brown paintings, but far better executed.

Where to buy:

4. Starspinner Tarot

- I ADORE the art for this deck. It reminds me somewhat of CLAMP art. The art is also inclusive and bright and the deck has four different lovers cards so you can have whatever flavor you wish! This one is also mass market but great quality.

Where to buy:

3. Cozy Witch Tarot

- Of course I expected this deck to be cozy, but I was surprised with just how much I like the whole package. The card subjects are diverse not only in skin color, but in body type as well, which really stood out and made this deck one that I came back to often. The only downside is that the cards are slightly larger than standard size, so they can be difficult to handle at times.

Where to buy:

2. Monsoon Tarot

- This deck honestly has the most beautiful art of any deck I own. I'm always discovering new details in the cards and they range from cozy to dreamlike to grotesque in all the right ways. The cardstock also has that linen/playing card texture over them which makes shuffling a breeze. I use this less to read and more to just wander through and look at.

Where to buy:

1. Spirit Keeper Tarot

This one is hard to get a hold of, but so worth it. I happened to check in while the author still had some of the current edition left in stock after pre-orders on her website and managed to snag one. I LOVE working with this deck. The art is great, but the companion book is really what makes this deck incredible. The book goes over a lot of the inspiration behind each card and the symbolism. The author is of Chinese descent, so she has tied both western and eastern concepts to each card, which she lays out in the book. This has been the main deck I have read with since I got it. S tier deck.

Where to buy: