Changing Eyelashes

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great start of the year. Let's look forward to a better year, shall we? :)

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Before the 2013 ends, I wanted to do something for Alice. She is my first and favorite doll, but she is the least customized of my three. Looking at her face-up, she looks like she'll need  a new one soon - but I'm not yet ready to change her face. So one thing I can change for now is her eyelashes.

When Alice's original eyelashes started to fall off, I decided to try to replace her old lashes using human false eyelashes. After finding a pretty and cheap pair of falsies at a local department store, I decided to install them by cutting the lashes into small pieces and glue them in them one by one. This trial resulted in a very amateur output.

Here's a photo my first attempt to put on eyelashes on her:

The lashes were nice and thick. It was too long as expected, considering they are human eyelashes. They also looked pretty, but didn't look nice on her as my application was extremely shoddy. Aside from the odd positioning, I also managed to dab some glue on the lower half of the lashes which made them hard and straight. Alice looked elf-ish with them too, which was not her 'look'. But mostly, I was unhappy with it since the lashes cast a shadow on her eyes and made her look extra sleepy. I managed to tolerate this for a few months, until I found the right lashes to replace them. 

Alice at ToyCon 2013

Late post is late! OTL

Alice and I dropped by the ToyCon last June 16 to hang out with one of my friends and look around for some nice cheap toys. There's also a toy exhibit inside the convention hall, so we decided to check out the displays.

Awesome Kenshin figure is awesome!

Movie Date with Axis: Pacific Rim

A few weeks ago, I went out to watch Pacific Rim with Axis. This was my first time to watch a movie with one of my resin kids.

Manika Manila at Oh No Manga Cosplay Camp 2

Ohai! I didn't realize that its been over two weeks since I last posted anything. Life has been pretty busy but fun! I still don't have much time to sew, but I'm planning out my schedule for the next few weeks to accommodate that.

Anyway, Manika Manila was invited to have a BJD exhibit at Oh No Manga Cosplay Camp 2. The event was held last July 7 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia.

Magi Shoot

A few weeks ago, we went to a nearby studio for a Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic shoot. My resin kids thought it would be fun to join the shoot so they tagged along.

No Carrier? No Problem

One of the first things I splurged on after getting Alice is a proper carrier. I always use public transport when I go around the metro, so a good carrier is a reasonable investment as a doll owner. Good thing I immediately found a local bag-maker accepts custom orders. Too bad they don't accept custom orders anymore.

From years ago. XD No watermark yet.

But now that I live in an area that's fairly close to where we usually hold meets, I no longer have the pressing need to always bring my dolls in a carrier. And to be honest, carriers are somewhat difficult to lug around. I tend to accidentally hit other people when I walk around with it. Its also difficult to find a hiding spot in our office locker area  for the carrier when I bring a doll to work.

So I decided to try something so dangerous that my previous overly-protective-BJD-mama self will freak out. I tried to bring my doll in a tote bag.

Click read more to see my ~*technique*~! Its not exactly new, but it works for me. This may also be useful for doll owners (especially SD owners) who don't have their own carriers yet.

Two years

Time sure flies by fast.

Strong Shoulders

While everyone was away for the Manika Manila Pool Party, I had stay at home and work on some stuff. OTL Out of boredom, Axis decided to test the limits of his resin body and try a bit of lifting.

Achieve!!

Please excuse our messy place (I was working and fiddling with dolls at the same time XD).

Rest When You're Tired

A Day-Out with Friends

Last week, I met up with some of my close friends for a random day-out with our dolls. It feels like it's been a while since I brought out my resin kids.

We went to Cafe Mary Grace at Greenbelt 2.

Alice was seriously thinking about the chocolate cake on display. Must. Resist. Temptation.

My Little Shoe Collection

December was a flurry of Winter sales, Christmas doll-related shopping sprees, and Taobao Group Orders. I knew this was my chance to buy some much needed items so I joined a few G.O.s to save on shipping and custom fees. 

I now have an actual shoe collection for my crew! /o/ Finally!

They've been using the same pair of shoes for months so I knew I had to hoard shoes. My bank account is not happy though.

Manika Manila Valentine's Meet 2013: Blind Date

Last year, we had a simple Valentine's Meet at Stacy's. Our dolls dressed in their best red outfits, we had delicious food, and us humans had a lot of fun. This year, the awesome Mods of Manika Manila whipped up something new for one of our major meets of the year.

And can I just say: ONE OF THE BEST. MEETS. EVER. I keep on saying that our meets are awesome and blah blah, but this one goes straight to the top. No joke. I don't even know how they come up with these things, I swear.

Warning: Long and pic heavy post ahead!

Random photos... Again! XD

Yet another set of random pictures from my camera. I should seriously devote time to arrange my stuff. :)

Axis *finally* got a few much needed items from our Taobao G.O. He got two shirts, two briefs, and a new pair of shoes! We're still waiting for a pair of jeans from Cross Church and another pair of shoes from another G.O.

This is Shimao Atsushi from the anime Natsuyuki Rendevous. And he kinda looks like Axis. Hoho~ XD. Please watch this series if you have time! <3

And now, for some really really delayed photos!

Balkan Dinner

A few weeks ago, I met up with a few Manika Manila friends to hand-over their Taobao G.O. loot. We decided to have dinner in this Yugoslavian restaurant near our offices.

Its my first time to try Yugoslavian food. To be honest, its not really that different (or maybe I was expecting something really different?). But still, its really really good!

Glorious, glorious food~

Dear Resin BJD Wig Review II

And we're on to Part II! Woohoo! This post includes one of the wigs from my current favorite wig source: Crobidoll!

The moment I started to share the first wig post, I knew someone would ask me about my Crobi wigs (hello Kanis!). See, I have this very obvious bias towards Crobidoll wigs. I am so biased that I would always recommend their wigs to everyone. But I wanted to do this review series in order, so I had to put up the first ones I acquired since I stared the hobby. 

Again, warning: Pic heavy post ahead!

I Got A Secret

Alice and I went to a fashion shoot yesterday. It's for a friend's shop, so I can only post a few pics here.

One more under the cut! :)

Dear Resin BJD Wig Review I

Part Two posted! See it here.

***

Hello 2013! As usual, things are pretty busy around here on my end. Aside from my day job, I'm also a bit swamped with commissions. Thank you guys! :)

Anyway, let's talk about one of my favorite BJD items: wigs. I love them! I don't have that much, but between two dolls, I own eight wigs - two for Axis, five for Alice, and an unclaimed "experiment" fur wig. Wigs can easily change the whole look of the doll - even without changing their face-up. I distinctly  remember the feeling of awe when I first changed Alice's wig from a long straight wig to a wavy wig. It was like having a whole new doll!

As a little project for my blog, I'll be doing a series of wig review posts on all the wigs I own. I hope you find my posts informative. :)

An opening photo just because. XD

Warning: Pic heavy post!

Merry Christmas!

We'd like to greet everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! <3 Cheers!

Carry Me?

I never thought they'd be able to do this. Ever.

Axis: Hold on tight.

Manika Manila Themes: Memory

Manika Manila Themes is our local community's way to encourage members to practice their creativity with their dolls. Every month, a theme will be posted on our LJ Comm and the members would apply the theme onto a photo or a set of photos.

I wasn't able to participate in last month's Autumn theme due to busyness. :( Fortunately, I was able to spare a few hours last weekend to sit down and pose my dolls for a photo. By pose I mean make them stand together. XD My idea was very very simple - a tad bit too simple. But it comes with a small story from Axis' memory.

Once upon a time, I was afraid that a simple camera would steal my soul.

But you wanted a memory. Of us.

And convinced me that it'll take more than that to take my soul away.

But you easily gave away yours.

 ***

Thanks for looking!