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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Internships

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday!

So a week or two ago, my Concepts of design instructor had a surprise for us.  Some of her friends came in to look at our work and discuss internships!  Super sad that at this Stage I cannot do the Internship, but I got to exchange information.  I also wore one of my hats, but I will get into that later.

I wanted to talk about what these men do.  Osei Moreland, he is the owner of Bring the Noise Network.  Ty Canty, President of Fashion for Cancer.  I am seriously thinking about turning around and doing one of these internships.  What these men are doing is great and I strongly feel like I want to be a part of it.

 Fashion for Cancer is a program where people come in and teach cancer patients to make clothes and accessesories.  Then those items are produced and sold online.  I just think that is the most beautiful thing I have heard yet.  I would love to come to New York and do this.  If this is something you feel like you might be interested in doing, I strongly suggest looking into as much information as possible.  I will post links at the end of this post!

The other Internship that is being offered is one in Baltimore working with middle school Children.  Teaching them how to create pieces as well.  I feel like this is a great idea too, exposing kids to this kind of stuff where they can be expressive in what they make.  Middle school can be a really tough time on anyone kids, this could make their day or week, provided that it is something they are interested in.

I wish I could write more for you guys but I am getting ready to fly out to London and see Mason! Will take lots of photos for you guys!

Hugs and kisses

-PLV

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Meet up, Pictures, Future Contest

This past Sunday, the Charm City Lolita's had a meetup at Bordy Vineyards.  We got to taste wine, meet some new people, and for the first time I was dressed as Hime Lolita.  The crown is from my Senoir prom, but who cares lol

Lets go over the location for a bit.  Bordy Vineyards is located in Historic Maryland.  It actually was not that far away from where we left (Yay car pooling!).  Here is the Website if you are interested in going and you just happen to be in the area!  http://www.boordy.com/

For $5 dollars you get a glass (that is yours to keep!) and to taste some of their wine as you go on the tour (The tour is free!).  The wine we were tasting was the Spiced Wassail, which is a wine that is intended to be drank when warm.  I only ever drink wine cold, however this was very nice and was nice on the chilly day we had (But we made the most of it!).  We got to learn about how often you can harvest grapes (once each year, it will not grow anymore after you pick them), what affects the taste of wine, and lots of other neat information.  You could even make your own wine at home if you wanted (probably cheaper to buy :P ).

Did you know if you have a a grape vine root and plant it, it will take 3-5 years to not just grow, but to bear fruit?  The process to a great wine is a lot of work!

I wish I took more pictures of the machines they used, but I mainly stayed focus on the Lolita group and the wine.  After the tour we went inside and we were able to taste any wine we wanted.  I tried the Tango Peach, and bought a bottle of the Spiced Wassail for my Grandfather.... I may have bought a few more bottle of wine for myself.  Anyway, after our tour and wine tasting, we went to Don Pablo's for Dinner.

Over all the meet was a lot of fun and we have another one this Sunday to see Christmas lights!  So excited :)  Saunter's package has been mailed, and now I am waiting until she receives it... I feel like I am waiting for a friend to receive a Christmas Gift... well I guess it's not too different... maybe... I dunno lol  I am hoping everything fits, and that it's everything that she hoped for.

As you might have noticed in the top, I have indicated that the next Contest will be coming up!!!  And I think I have a good idea of what I want the Contest to be.  I will also be able to manage my time better since I an currently done with school.  YAY!  So, keep an eye out for the second Contest.

Can those who entered the previous contest enter again?!

Yes!  I welcome all of those who entered the last one to please submit an entry for the next contest.

So, I'm going to end this Blog entry, here.  Pictures can be found here an on our Facebook page.  Please like us... we are also on Twitter (by we, I mean me!).  Hope you enjoys these pictures and please feel free to email me with any questions you would like to see answered here, or send me a message about what you would like to see on this blog, my opinions, reviews on product, online shops, etc.

Sorry the pictures are mixed up, I do not have time to fight with Blogger XD

Hugs and Kisses!

email: lolita_doll11@yahoo.com
           lolitadoll1121@gmail.com

Twitter: @LolitaDoll11
































Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Finished!!! And Crafting Videos

So I finished the garment for iSautner!  YAY!!!  She has been awesome an patience with me and I am really hoping she loves this pieces as much as I do.  I really want to make a second one for myself.  I also hope that it fits.  If not I will gladly make alterations as needed, but I think it will be ok :)
I am going to take some pictures of the garment for my portfolio, and I have previously asked iSautner if she would be comfortable sending pictures of her wearing the item.  I will not post pictures until iSaunter receives her parcel in the mail.  So excited!!! 
In other news my classes are almost over so I will have more free time to blog and complete more of my project checklist... which I don't think I have updated yet.  Anyway, i promised a selection of videos that I found on YouTube.  I have not gotten a chance to make any of these yet, but I want to.
The first video I came across by... Googling Pretty Little Victorian... I was curious about what would come up!  And this video came up, on how to make a fan with some materials, and this one piece I have no idea what it is, but I found one half of it in my house and I will be going to the hardware store to find out exactly what it is and I will let you know where you can find it!  Most of the other materials you can get at your local craft store or you can buy online.
Pretty Little Victorian Fan
This person also has a blog that you can check out :)
Second video is done by Sweet Vanity.  This is a tutorial on how to make a sleep mask.  I thought this was really cool because you can do so much with this and make different styles.  It doesn't even have to be Lolita related.  I want to see if putting lavender in the mask would be aright, but I am not going to advise it as I have no idea if having Lavender near your eyes might cause problems.  I will update you on that as I get the chance to research.  Just thought having scents, especially Lavender, would be neat.
Lolita Sleep Mask
Third is a Hat tutorial using a lamp shade so that you can get the small bottom, big top effect.  I saw one before (not using a lamp shade) and I could not do it no matter how hard I tried.  I am hoping that this will be easier, which it does appear to be.  I will try to add fabric to mine, therefore making it harder, but I just like a fabric covered hat.  Nothing against those who want to paint theirs!
Lolita Top Hat
That's it for today.  I do have some more videos to show you, but I will save that for a later blog post :)  Please email me with any questions and I will be happy to answer them here on the blog, or there are any tutorials you would like to see, or if you yourself have one online you would like to share! lolita_doll11@yahoo.com or lolitadoll1121@gmail.com
Hugs and Kisses,
PLV

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Inquiry of the Doll

I hope everyone had a lovely Holiday!  Did you all eat a lot of Turkey and get a lot of shopping done afterwards?

In my last post, I asked you all to email me with some questions.  Every month I will have a special blog post, titled "Inquiry of the Doll".  I am really debating on making this into a Youtube channel and answering your questions "in person" so to speak, but if I do this it will have to wait until I build a new computer... and by that I mean paying my brother-in-law to build me one.

So on with the Questions!  The following questions come from Nicky.

Is there a male equivalent to Lolita?
This is a good question.  I assume you mean a style meant for guys to wear.  There is the Kodona style. A nother way to describe this style is "Prince" like.  From my Train post, I attempted my own version of this style by taking pants that were too short for me and cutting them at the knee, adding embroidery, a vest and frilly shirt.  This look can be worn by both girls and guys, and can has also been called "Boystyle".  Another look that a guy can sport is the Aristocrat which is a more mature Victorian look.  Don't forget, if you're a guy and you really love the Lolita dresses you can still wear whatever style you want.  I don't judge and neither should anyone else.

Where do you purchase lolita accessories? Can you make your own?
Most places that see the clothing, you can also buy the accessories.  www.Bodyline.co.jp does have hair bows and jewelry that you can select from.  Etsy is also a really great place that you can buy some unique pieces from artists.  Myself personally, I am currently making my own because it's cheaper and I have all these materials.  Please keep a look out for updates on crafting videos I have found on Youtube.  I found some really good ones for those of you who wish to make Christmas Gifts this Year.

Are there forms of Lolita that show a lot of skin? That would be gross...

I guess that depends on what you consider a lot of skin.  There are some Lolita styles that have a shorter skirt or the shoulders are exposed.  Most of the time when a garment is considered Lolita it does meet certain guidelines for the standard expectations.  For me one of the things I love about Lolita is looking cute but staying modest.  Ero Lolita comes to mind in regards to this question.  It is a much more mature style and has been seen as a controversial style.  I myself have not seen many Lolitas attempt this in person, but if you are interested in learning a little more please refer to LolitaFashion.org or hellolace.net

What is the Lolita community like? Friendly? Competitive? Are there cliques?
My particular group that I am a part of I feel is fairly nice.  Everyone is always interested in just getting together and having a good time no matter what it is that we decide to do.  There might be some competitive girls in other groups but I have not seen them.  There are cliques, but you are going to find those everywhere.  It's nothing like the movie "Mean Girls"... what?  Yes I watched it, my roommate had it on and she was paying all the bills at the time.


How expensive can dresses be?

This is one of the drawbacks if this fashion!  Dresses can be crazy expensive, whether you are buying brand new from the company, or you are buying it second hand from the EGL Comm Sales or on the FB equivalent Lolita Sales in English.  If you are just starting out, I stress buying from http://www.bodyline.co.jp or browsing Etsy.com.  Dresses can be anywhere from $40-$150 on Bodyline last time I checked. 

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying not to buy brand or not to use EGL, because you can still find some good pieces at good prices.  What I am suggesting is that if you are just starting out, start with something that is not going to hurt your wallet as much.  If you are then a 100% sure, then start looking around and find that dream dress or outfit.  I did buy a replica dress, and it's nice but it's not brand and if I do find my dress, I'm going to push the money out for it.  So it's all really about how much you want to spend in the end.

How cheap can dresses be?

EGL will have sales for handmade pieces or second pieces from bodyline.  Keep a look out for Lolita's cleaning out their closet, or Leaving Lolita sales.

Don't forget, if you can sew you can always make your own and that helps with the cost a great deal!  Plus it is an awesome way to get creative with this fashion.  Also, if anyone reading this feels that I am missing some very important information or anything, please feel free to post comments below because even though I have been interested in the style for years, I have only been wearing the style and officially in the community for about a 1 year and a half... maybe two years.  Either way there is still a lot that I and everyone else can learn, so please bless us with your awesome Lolita knowledge!

Is it better to keep to yourself at Lolita events, or is it more fun to volunteer and participate?

Volunteer, participate, smile and shake your groove thing.

When I went to my first couple of meet ups I was basically a wall flower.  Just sat down and smiled in my handmade Lolita skirt and ate macaroons.  I did talk to some people and we held a swap meet.  I did have a good time and I was mostly quiet because I was nervous.  It was all very new to me and all I could think was "Oh, what if these girls don't like me?  Am I too old to be doing this?"  What I discovered was that most of the girls were around my age, and we even had older women there as well. 


After that I tired to go to as many meet ups as I could and tried to help out in events as much as possibly.  If no help was needed, I tried to make sure that I was evolved some how.  My job at the time didn't really allow for that to happen too often.  So if you find yourself in that situation I would recommend posting on the FB group you might be a part of, or posting onto whatever message board you are a member of.  Just because you cannot be there in person does not mean you cannot be a part of the community.

Is there any etiquette we should know about? Spoken and unspoken! =^-^=

I suppose this depends on the group of Lolitas you find yourself with.  My group is pretty laid back, but I think for others there might be more strict rules.  I would just try to get a feel for it and judge from there.  The main thing I can think of strongly advising is "Treat those how you wish to be treated" and if someone does display ill manner, do not stoop to their level, they are not worth it and if you find that the others in the group are treating you just as badly for whatever reason then politely leave.  This shouldn't be a community where we need to worry about being bullied by each other.  We should be coming together and showing the world how our fashion choices (however strange it might be to them) are just as valid as anyone else's... Oh my, I might have drifted from the Question... Ah well, I am going to keep going. 

While on this subject of embracing our love for this unique fashion and being able to express our individuality without fear, I cannot help but to think about a great quote from a great woman.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt


Nicky, Thank you for your questions.  I hope that they not only helped you but helped anyone who is reading with similar questions.  If you have any questions that you would like answered or you would like to read about something specific, please email me at lolita_doll11@yahoo.com  Any and all feedback is welcomed.  You can also post questions in the comments belows.  I would also really love to know if you would be interested in seeing videos in the future.

Until next time Pretties!

-PLV

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Turkey Day

Hello Ladies and Gents,

So tomorrow is Thanksgiving, an American Holiday.  For those of you who read my blog and are not familiar with this Holiday, it's a day that families and Friends all come together and have a big meal, in Celebration of all the things we are Thankful for.

So, I wont be online tomorrow to make a post, so I wanted to go over the things I am thankful for.  First and most importantly I am thankful for my family.  Though we drive each other crazy, they are the only people I know I can count on for support (and money when I am in a jam...  But I pay them back!).  I am thankful for my very supportive boyfriend, even being across an ocean he is there for me.  My friends, for all the stupid stuff I do, for some reason you still want to hangout with me.  I am thankful for my church that I found with the help of a friend.  I can't make it a lot of the time to services but I don't feel judged when I can go.  Really thankful for all the people I met in the Lolita Community, and I am looking forward to becoming a bigger part of it.

So I am thankful for other stuff too, but I only have so much time.

Today's plans:  Help mom prep for tomorrow.  Stuffing, buying the booze for consumption and the Turkey! Yum!  Cleaning the house, and then sleep for three hours before getting up to start cooking with my mom!

Tomorrow's plan: Cooking in Early Morning, Talking to Mason which will probably be followed with my Mother talking to Mason (I am 85% sure my mother will ask him what he is doing for Thanksgiving... forgetting that in England they do not celebrate the holiday.  Love you Mom!  Admittedly, I probably will do something equally as funny if not more so!).  Have an early Dinner and try not to pass out from the food coma!  Work on iSaunter's garment, hopefully finish it over the Weekend, and then I also have to work on my dress for my class.

So yeah, probably wont post any Turkey Day pictures as I don't really have a Lolita outfit for the Holiday.  But I will try to post these neat videos for making jewelry and neat gift ideas!  I am probably going to go ahead and actually make some of these items and use them for gift ideas.

If you have any neat crafting idea's, videos you would like to share, have any questions you would like to ask me, or pictures of your favorite Lolita co-ordinate; I will post them on the blog and try to answer the questions as best as I can. Please keep the questions PG :)

Email me at Lolita_doll11@yahoo.com 


Ok, well It's time to finish the work day.  I hope everyone has a happy Holiday!

-PLV

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Trains!

So this has to be a super quick post as I am not sure how much time I have on my break. This is basically going to be a photo dump. It's been a while since I posted pictures on here. On here you will see my Attempt at a Kadona. I altered pants and threw stuff together (OMG what is she thinking?!?!).

Anyway, My friend Jeff and I decided to go to the Meetup in PA. It was very small, but nice as I got to hang out with two very awesome Lolitas!  The pictures that you see, almost all of them were taken by Laidech... I suck at taking pictures!  But these are really neat and I will probably use the inside of the Train for the Pretty Little Victorian Holiday Wall Picture!  Please note that the pictures are in random order, because I am tired or trying to fix it.