We're All Judging

There are levels to this judging concept that people tend to avoid. You don't have to claim you aren't judgemental to be virtuous.

It's enough that you just don't have to tell them.

I'm sure you've seen people on social media that air out their business and it's hard not to want to say something, either telling them to shut up or just play the devil's advocate or, hey, give unsolicited advice about how they could be perfect like you! It's what we don't do that lets us keep our peace of mind though. We've judged but, lo and behold, we move on.

This is now called perception. When you view something and form opinions, that's where judgement and perception mingle. It's how you either avoid or interact that determines whether you've appointed yourself judge or perceiver.

Now, I am considered more of a judger than a perceiver. Why? Because I'm the sort to interact more often. It's part of a creative cycle to judge your own work and determine what needs to be fixed and I relish it. However, when I cast judgement on others, what happens is encouragement, not criticism.

Don't get me wrong; I don't encourage people when I believe they're overstepping or in the wrong. I'm happy to stick my head in the sand and avoid those. But on occasion, when I see someone making some wrong choices but very close to doing right for themselves, I'll give them a nudge. Hey, that's a good plan, just don't let the obstacles distract you.

That's why it's okay to judge. It's okay to have a moral scale and it's okay not to. It's okay to try to empathise and put yourself in their shoes. Sometimes it's even okay to offer a pair of your own. But as the saying goes, don't loan what you can't afford to give away. There is certainly a bitterness in always clanging a gavel through life, so if you want to embrace your judging nature, simply find outlets where those talents are appreciated. 

It's much more satisfying than being a social media troll.

Bodysuit Progress 2

So today, I got a hold of some safety pins and a white watercolor pencil and went about taking in the arms and legs of the bodysuit so VOILA!

As for why the length of the arms and legs are excessive, these will later be cut into flame shapes so I wanted a generous allowance for that. The same wavy flames will be along the back piece as well. This is also why the torso is a bit baggy at the moment. Until I finish the back, her curves keep it a bit wild.

Still, I'm very happy my experiments have gone well. For those curious as to how I took it in, I put the bodysuit on the doll, marking starting points with brass pins and took it in and marked the baggy spots with silver pins. Once I removed the suit and flipped the fabric inside out, I marked where the pins pierced the fabric with the white pencil, then removed the pins to sew, connecting the dots, so to speak.

Once I finish the shape of the suit itself, I'll cut the flame shapes, decorate with rhinestones and add scarves to finish the dancing flame effect. I've ordered some flame feather pins for her hair and brooch pins, if needed, so it might be a while before it is fully finished. I order from AliExpress which can take anywhere from a week to six weeks to arrive. Price and selection often make the wait more attractive...

Aside from that, I have been editing UnHeard, getting the draft where it needs to be before moving into new territory. This is an off and on process. Sometimes I like to move the story ahead, sometimes I just want to poke at what is there, look for plot inconsistencies and ways to spice up conversation.

While I was using my mom's birthday as a release date, this year I won't be pushing anything. The short stories just aren't where they need to be and UnHeard is a long way from completion. To rush anything would be a disservice to my work and my mom's memory at that. So I'll hold her birthday in observance this year and just give my writing the time it needs to develop.

But you've seen at least in part that I've been moving a great deal of projects along the board, so hopefully I'm keeping the shares satisfactory while I sort everything out. I still hope to have a booth at ComicCon this year. I'll email the coordinators this week, see if there's a spot still and get prices. 

Hoping to have more projects to show progress on this week, but if not, you know by now how that goes.

Damn muse...

Making a Pattern for a Bodysuit

Finding a pattern for a solid one piece bodysuit proved fruitless on an internet search, although I did find this:

Which proved to be a good guide for the idea. I wanted long sleeves on mine, rather than this sleeveless template and the torso and legs didn't work for the proportions of my DreamFairy doll body so...

I decided I'd make my own.

If you look at my previous post, you'll see that, while not as tight as I'd like, I did measure the proportions right and it only needs to be taken in here and there.

So it's a math problem. In this case, you'll need the following measurements:

• Foot length
• Ankle to knee
• Knee to hip
• Knee to crotch (half inseam)
• Full leg (ankle to hip)
• Ankle to fullest part of shin
• Knee to fullest part of thigh
• Crotch to fullest part of thigh
• Crotch to neck
• Hip to thinnest part of waist
• Waist to fullest part of busy
• Shoulder to elbow
• Shoulder to wrist
• Elbow to wrist

You'll also need the lengths around:

• Ankle
• Fullest part of shin
• Knee
• Fullest part of thigh
• Hips
• Waist
• Fullest part of busy
• Upper arm
• Elbow
• Wrist

I did these measurements in centimeters and added 1 cm for each circumference measurement for fabric allowance.

Using the diagram above, you'll see there is a sort of H shape to the body. To find the odd hourglass shape of the legs, I plotted the lengths first along a straight line representing the legs then centered each measurement along it. So, for instance, if the fullest part of the thigh was 15cm, I added one cm, then divided it in half to 8cm. The line then extends 8cm to the left and right of the leg line.

I guess pics would be easier so I'll have to tag this post then come back with pattern pics later. The results did match the picture above, with the exception of how I figured the long sleeves. I had doubts that blobby thing would work for my stick thin doll but, lol and behold, my measurements and drawing turned out much the same.

Of course, I hand sew so my doubts lasted the hours it took to sew it then try it on, but it did work, and quite well.

As for adjusting, I'll add more about that in a later post. I'll be using safety pins to mark and sew the corrections I need but I learn and observe as I go so I don't have much insight there yet.

If anything so far is unclear, feel free to comment and I'll know to clarify that in particular! For now, I'm taking a break. I've been crocheting and sewing all day and it's overdue!

Bodysuit Progress

The good news is I didn't undercut the fabric. The bad news is, I've got to take it in in a few places to tighten it up. I gave too much allowance in the upper thigh. Luckily, the baggyness in the midsection is just from where I haven't finished the back but I'm hoping to do eyelets and laces there. The sleeves and legs are extra long because I'm going to cut flame shapes there later. Not doing that until I'm happy with the fit.

After I finish the bodysuit, I have a bunch of fun red, orange, and yellow gauzy fabrics to play with. Her dancer scarves!

I do have a pic today. Unfinished Lyria is modeling the progress on Talia's bodysuit today...

Ambitious Weekend

With Presidents Day on Monday, I have a three day weekend coming up. So I filled my plans with some ambition.

I'm planning on drawing up a path for doll Talia's bodysuit, cutting that out and sewing it up. And possibly buying more fabric if that's a fail. I have three dolls that need painted faces, one needing a wig so I'll get to make a wig again. It's been a while but I enjoyed the last wig binge.

Hopefully I'll have some pics to show for it. I'd like to throw some drawing and writing in the mix too, maybe crochet, so there's no lack of things lined up. Just a matter of steering the muse. It's a lot of hair pulling and screaming and bucking but she rides like a zephyr on meth.

Still, I'm excited for the upcoming plans! Stay tuned for another episode of "Craft Girls Gone Wild"!

More of the Same

I'll give her a proper photo shoot in the springtime, but here's a quick pic of where Rienna is now...

I spent the better part of the week and weekend crocheting some gifts, which I'll share later. One is this cat barf scarf...

Believe it or not, I don't have much to say. I've been using all of my brainpower on crafting so what's left for blogging is pbbbt. But it's a good thing when your work and hobbies can fill your time.

Oh, I can share one more thing: the logo I designed for my stepsister's peanut venture.

So that covers about where I am lately. Unless I can think of a specific topic to blog about, you'll hear from me again next time I have a share. 

Peace!

Piccy Time!

So, here's my *mostly* done Rienna! Still a barette, wig and sword away, maybe more decorating but it's close to complete.

Scrolling on boots added.

The hip pouch

Some scrolling

Some more scrolling

Headless and capeless

With cape and head!

Swamped

I wanted to share some pics but that'll be for the next post...

I'm here because *somehow* I've been encumbered by yarn. And by somehow, I mean yarn sales. And my inability to avoid them over the past few months. So it looks like I'm going to be on a fitting spree, trying to downsize this spillage. I've packed my caddies full and *somehow* I don't have a place for all of it.

Okay, okay, the 'somehow' game doesn't work. I didn't plan when I succumbed to click and buy. You buy things online, next thing you know, it's in your house. And it's not air, so of course, it takes some amount of space.

Did I mention my life is already a Tetris game? Now, it's a yarn-filled super level... But no more yarn buys until I make room! Complete the projects I'm on and I should be all right.

Onto the bonus round!