Dear Readers,
I'm so very sorry I haven't posted recently. I've been ridiculously busy and yo-yo-ing up and down the ladder of moods. But, I felt the need to post something today, what with the Winter holidays creeping closer and closer (or having already happened or in progress, as per your faith).
I've recently rediscovered PBS historical reality shows (Manor House, Frontier House, etc.). My mother and I enjoyed these immensely when we lived together, but we were often so busy, we didn't have time to watch them. So, it's no surprise I missed out on Regency House Party.
The show takes five eligible bachelors, five eligible bachelorettes, and five respectable older ladies, and sticks them in a Regency manor for nine weeks to court, flirt, and try to live as Jane Austen's contemporaries would have. Everything is set up to be as accurate as possible, right down to who bathes when. Everybody gets a background equivalent to what they would have had in the time period, from the actual Russian countess (I think she's a real countess, don't quote me, that part's a little fuzzy) and the dashing naval captain, to the poor clergyman and the lady's companion, who are actually a teacher and a university student, to the industrial heiress and the celebrity hair stylist. Right out of the gate, though, we are reminded that this isn't 1811 and these are adults of the 21st century. The heiress insults the hostess, the boys are too crocked to greet the heiress her first night and the lady's companion and the naval captain shock everybody by falling in love and getting engaged. But, it's all ridiculously charming and I highly recommend it if you love Austen and comedies of manners!
Now, hopefully, I'll have some pictures up soon of my first presentable Lolita project, as well as preparations to do a Spoonflower review!
Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
My Tempestuous and Epic Footwear Love Affair
I can't explain it. I just don't know what comes over me. It's a fever, a pure madness that comes upon me every time I see a well-dressed lady wander past, or pass a Payless, or even simply watch a lavish period film with lots of dancing.
I'm just daffy in love with shoes.
Yes, me. The girl who would happily frisk barefoot in a field of daisies like Persephone pre-yoinking is an unabashed shoe-fan. I suppose it's like my love of blond and red hair, or slim girls, or OTT Sweet Brand. I will never have it, though I may struggle and torture myself in vain. I have huge feet, you see. I wear a size 11 narrow shoe, with long, somewhat monkeyish toes and orthopedic issues that put many fancy and artsy shoes and boots well out of my reach. Even if they fit, can I walk in them? For how long? Would I be better off just hacking off my toes like Cinderella's stepsisters or would foot-binding do it?
Most of the time, I'm in bare feet, unless I'm going to be in the grass (hello, Mr. Hookworm), or going into places that require shoes. Even when I wear shoes, unless I'm too nicely dressed to be in any old thing or being a showoff, I'm in one standard pair of athletic mary janes. My last pair was suede and was destroyed by a rainstorm at a two-week-long outdoor event, leaving me in tears, until my mother gave me a pair of t-straps. My mother is the queen of hand-me-downs. Every so often, she'll lose a few pounds and hand me a few old dresses, or will buy a fabulous pair of shoes, only to find they don't work with her broken toe (she used to be in ballet, and has a permanent lump where she broke her foot dancing), meaning I get them. So far, it's the only pair I can wear regularly. I have tons of shoes and they mostly just sit there.
I wish I could wear the others more often. I try to do so, with disastrous results. I've worn stiletto heels to LARPs, expecting to sit most of the time, only to be crippled because my meeting kept being moved and I had to trot all over.
Girls, I know some of us are shoe-hoarders. Not all, but some, certainly. I beg you, don't become like me! Buy a few pairs you can actually wear and leave it alone! Or else, find outfits for every pair and hire some people to carry your sedan chair!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
So, you're probably wondering what the heck happened...
I promised you all a post.
I slacked off.
I'm sorry.
See, I occasionally hit a point in my year where I go all floppy. My laundry piles up, my dishes don't get done, and my emails go unanswered. I don't know why, or why it always kicks me when I think I'm doing so well.
Two weeks ago, I was okay. I made another skirt! I started my NaNo plottings in earnest! I helped clean the kitchen and bathroom! I babysat for eight hours! I was standing with one foot on a ridiculously oversized globe and a big lavender pirate-loli flag in hand, while Military Choirs sang the praises of industry and virtue, my hair blown by a breeze in ways that curly hair can't actually pull off. I was a goddamn champion! This was the kind of thing I needed to do!
And then, the morning came. And suddenly, I was all limp and lifeless, like somebody had seen my big old globe and taken a thumbtack to it. I lay in bed one morning and realized that I hadn't done shit in days. I don't know precisely when I'll be over it, but when I come back, hopefully, I'll have more to write about.
See you all soon.
I slacked off.
I'm sorry.
See, I occasionally hit a point in my year where I go all floppy. My laundry piles up, my dishes don't get done, and my emails go unanswered. I don't know why, or why it always kicks me when I think I'm doing so well.
Two weeks ago, I was okay. I made another skirt! I started my NaNo plottings in earnest! I helped clean the kitchen and bathroom! I babysat for eight hours! I was standing with one foot on a ridiculously oversized globe and a big lavender pirate-loli flag in hand, while Military Choirs sang the praises of industry and virtue, my hair blown by a breeze in ways that curly hair can't actually pull off. I was a goddamn champion! This was the kind of thing I needed to do!
And then, the morning came. And suddenly, I was all limp and lifeless, like somebody had seen my big old globe and taken a thumbtack to it. I lay in bed one morning and realized that I hadn't done shit in days. I don't know precisely when I'll be over it, but when I come back, hopefully, I'll have more to write about.
See you all soon.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A Very Unlikely Prince Charming, or The Ogre and the Princess
(In the spirit of aristocratic ladies of bygone days and to sing the praises of my man, I offer you a fairy tale of my own devising, as a Hime Month Treat. Yes, it's a bit of shameless self-indulgence, but tomorrow's post will explain why.)
The Ogre and The Princess
A Slightly Shady Fairy Tale
By Brenna Beattie, Comtesse d'Alouet
Once upon a time, in a very dark and chilly cave beneath the forest, there lived an ogre. His hair was never cut, his teeth were sharp and his temper was so tremendously violent, thunderstorms would get distracted and come to play "lightning darts" around him when he roared. This unfortunate trait made him difficult to befriend and to live with, but the few forest elves and gypsies who could tolerate his irritability found him a stalwart, if reclusive friend. There were also the cats. Every stray cat in the kingdom knew they could come to him for a gentle pat and a bowl of chicken, even a chat if they so wished. But, being cats, they didn't linger much.
He knew princesses. Oh, yes, he knew them. "Bothersome beasts," he'd grumble, as he caught the lightning and bottled it for the fairy queen, "All sunshine and daisies and not a brain in their heads. Always getting lost, always screaming when you ask if they've lost their way, and forever trampling a soul's fairy rings. Not to speak of the princes they drag in here, and the shepherd boys and the knights and, worst of all, those seventh sons of seventh sons! They stab and they poke and they shout and they steal!" He'd never met a princess he could stand, though certainly he'd tried, and had admired some of them, the quiet ones with dark hair and shy ways. But, he always wound up disappointed when he tried to meet them.
One evening, when he was out gathering lightning with the braver of his forest elf neighbors, he chanced to see something flitting through the trees by the lake where the mermaids played. Curious, he came closer for a look. It was a girl, with long dark hair and shining eyes, playing with the owls and bats that came out in the dark of night. He would have stopped her to chat, but he noticed the glimmer of a crown in her hair and pearls in her earlobes and decided that he wasn't going to go looking to be screamed at.
"Who was that princess?" he rumbled to an elf with raven wings.
"That one?" said the elf, "She's Princess Marie-Branwen. Her father's a merman king, or maybe a selkie duke, but her mother's a lampad, the nymphs that live in the dark places of the world."
"I've never seen her before," mused the Ogre, "And where's her prince?"
"She lives half of the year by the sea with her papa," said a nosey little pixie, "but, in autumn and winter, she comes to the woods above the caves to hunt with her mother. She hasn't got a prince. Her mother won't have them snooping underground and her father won't have them muddying his waters."
The Ogre returned the next night with the elves, hoping to see her. There she was again, dressed in brilliant colors like sunset and autumn and playing marbles with pearls alongside fairy babies. He could see now that she was a little different. Her crown was set with dark, smoky gems and her pearls were all black and gray. Her gowns were embroidered not with songbirds and cherubs, but with owls and ravens. She didn't have a golden ball or a wand, but she carried a little mirror made of smoked silver and a little key made of sea glass on her belt. She smiled like the crescent moon and she laughed like a waterbird in the night, and the one prince foolish enough to wander into the glen that late at night fled when he heard her laugh. The Ogre felt a funny little tingling in his chest when she did and this was new. So new, he was a little frightened, so the Ogre lumbered home to hope that it would go away.
But, it didn't go away. The Ogre was very confused. Not only was there a funny tingle in his heart, but he felt like he'd swallowed a bucket of pixies and he couldn't stop thinking of long dark hair and black pearls washed bright by the sea. This continued long into the winter, when the lampades played in the snow and hunted in their fur habits of black, gray and white. It grew every day until, at last, the Ogre was quite angry. He roared and snarled and snarled and roared, until the snow shook and shivered down from the trees and a very confused prince came to the forest seeking the dragon making such a fuss. When he found the Ogre, the Ogre lifted him off his feet with one mighty paw and roared full in his face.
"How did you do it?" the Ogre screamed, "Did you put something in my food? Did you drip it in my ear? Tell me or I'll rip you to bits!"
"I didn't do anything!" said the Prince, "I rather like ogres, actually!"
"Then, why am I sick all the time?" the Ogre demanded, "I feel tingly and tickly and fuzzy and fluffy and all I can think of are pearls and dark hair!"
The Prince (whose name was, typically, Charming) had a Princess, with hair the color of carrots and a grin like a jack-o'-lantern, and thinking of her and how he'd promised to be home in time for supper gave him an idea. "Why, Master Ogre," said the Prince, "You haven't been poisoned! You're Starstruck!"
"Starstruck?" The Ogre scratched his fuzzy head. "I've heard of being Elfshot and Mummyrotten, but what the dickens is Starstruck?"
He set the Prince down and the Prince sat down on a rock to explain. "Sometimes, the stars hit just the right point in the sky and over your bed, and they twinkle just so. It leaves a little seed in your heart, and then one day, you see something that sparkles and flashes just right. All that light mixes together and--POW--you're starstruck!"
"Is it fatal?" the Ogre worried aloud.
"Not usually," said the Prince, "but, it's rather inconvenient. It makes your head light and fluffy and you can't think or sleep right."
"I have to put a stop to this!" the Ogre said firmly, "What do I do?"
"I'm not sure," said the Prince, "but my Princess, Jane, would know. Let me go and I'll be back tomorrow and we'll tell you!"
"Isn't there a faster option?" asked the Ogre.
"Well... You might try drinking something warm and going to bed early."
The Ogre thought this was a silly idea, but he lumbered off to bed, leaving the Prince to run home to his Princess and ask her advice.
Princess Jane listened to his story, while she dished up soup and hot sandwiches, and came up with a plan. She sent a message to her wicked stepsisters, who'd been turned into dragons for their villainy and had learned their lesson. One was still happily a dragon, but the other had a successful business as a witch for hire (fairy-godmother by appointment). The next day, they went to the Ogre and Princess Jane introduced herself.
The Ogre had not slept well and was rather grumpy, so he merely squinted at Jane and grumbled, "You're a funny-looking princess."
"Not all princesses have hair like sunshine and smile like roses," said Jane mildly. The Ogre groaned. That made things worse and now he was thinking of brown eyes and crescent moon smiles.
"What do I do?" he moaned.
"Go find the thing that started the feeling and introduce yourself, then, go talk to the dragon Matilda, who lives in the cave by the sea. She'll know how to make it stop."
The Ogre thanked Princess Jane and hurried off, eager to stop feeling odd. He found the lampades eating lunch and skating on the frozen lake. Princess Marie-Branwen was there, with snowflakes in her hair and a fluffy black fur ruff that framed her face just right.
"Hope I find you well, Your Highness," said the Ogre gruffly.
"Good afternoon, Master Ogre," said the Princess warmly, "You look a little pink in the cheeks. Are you well?"
"I'm starstruck," the Ogre muttered, "There's nothing for it but a trip to the shore to see Dragon Matilda."
"You could walk along with me, if you like," said Marie-Branwen shyly, "I'll have to go soon myself."
So, together, they walked to the shore as the trees budded pink and white with the spring. They talked a little as they went and the Ogre found that the Princess wasn't too fond of bright sunlight or hot days and rather liked long hair on a male. He confessed that he loved cats and wasn't much interested in blond haired girls. By the time, they reached the sea, the Ogre was shocked to find that his symptoms were worse, especially after she left him at the mouth of Dragon Matilda's cave. But, the Ogre was no fool. He forced himself to be respectful as he approached and bowed to the dragon and told her of his trouble.
"...And it's gotten worse!" said the Ogre, "I can't stop thinking about black fur and stars in the sky! Please, Dragon Matilda, what do I do?"
"The trouble is," said the dragon, silvery smoke curling from her nose, "that you aren't starstruck at all. You're twitterpated. Lovebirds have been singing somewhere near you and the music has infected your mind and your heart. I can fix starstruck, but twitterpated is another matter. Go and find the Princess Marie-Branwen and ask her for the smoky mirror on her belt. Stare in it until you can see three things about you that are noble and good, then go to see the Sorceress Belinda."
So, the Ogre went to the bottom of the ocean where Princess Marie-Branwen danced with the other mermaids and asked to borrow her mirror. She gave it to him with a blush and a smile and he went and sat on the rocks on the beach, staring and staring. True, he wasn't an ugly ogre and he wasn't the meanest ogre that had ever lived. But, what was noble and good about him? Well, his hair was soft, that was good, right? And he was nice to animals, when they were nice to him. And, he supposed that he was helpful enough if you didn't scream bloody murder at him.
Try as he might, he could think of nothing better about himself. He brought back the mirror and received another invitation to walk with the Princess. As the leaves turned red and amber and gold, they strolled back to the woods, arm in arm and then the Ogre set off alone for the mountain where Sorceress Belinda lived. To his complete outrage, he was worse than before. But, he forced himself to be respectful again as he told the Sorceress of his troubles.
"You aren't starstruck, you aren't twitterpated, you're in love, you silly ogre!" the sorceress laughed, "And you've only just missed Princess Marie-Branwen, who came to say the very same things! If you hurry you can catch her and tell her!"
The Ogre was very surprised, but asked, "If I do, will I be able to have a little peace?"
"A little, yes," said the sorceress, "But, love isn't always easy or peaceful. Sometimes, you may fight, or fear, or cry, or get angry. You have to work very hard, and sometimes, the working isn't enough. Sometimes, love doesn't last. But, I think it will last long enough. Now, go and catch your princess!"
And so the Ogre went and caught the Princess and told her how she had hair like a black pearl and a smile like a mirror, and she told him how he had hair like a rabbit's back and eyes like lightning. If it wasn't the most romantic courtship in the world, it was the most successful and, though they haven't always been happy and "ever after" remains to be seen, they are quite content in their little chilly cave and should still be for quite some time!
The Ogre and The Princess
A Slightly Shady Fairy Tale
By Brenna Beattie, Comtesse d'Alouet
Once upon a time, in a very dark and chilly cave beneath the forest, there lived an ogre. His hair was never cut, his teeth were sharp and his temper was so tremendously violent, thunderstorms would get distracted and come to play "lightning darts" around him when he roared. This unfortunate trait made him difficult to befriend and to live with, but the few forest elves and gypsies who could tolerate his irritability found him a stalwart, if reclusive friend. There were also the cats. Every stray cat in the kingdom knew they could come to him for a gentle pat and a bowl of chicken, even a chat if they so wished. But, being cats, they didn't linger much.
He knew princesses. Oh, yes, he knew them. "Bothersome beasts," he'd grumble, as he caught the lightning and bottled it for the fairy queen, "All sunshine and daisies and not a brain in their heads. Always getting lost, always screaming when you ask if they've lost their way, and forever trampling a soul's fairy rings. Not to speak of the princes they drag in here, and the shepherd boys and the knights and, worst of all, those seventh sons of seventh sons! They stab and they poke and they shout and they steal!" He'd never met a princess he could stand, though certainly he'd tried, and had admired some of them, the quiet ones with dark hair and shy ways. But, he always wound up disappointed when he tried to meet them.
One evening, when he was out gathering lightning with the braver of his forest elf neighbors, he chanced to see something flitting through the trees by the lake where the mermaids played. Curious, he came closer for a look. It was a girl, with long dark hair and shining eyes, playing with the owls and bats that came out in the dark of night. He would have stopped her to chat, but he noticed the glimmer of a crown in her hair and pearls in her earlobes and decided that he wasn't going to go looking to be screamed at.
"Who was that princess?" he rumbled to an elf with raven wings.
"That one?" said the elf, "She's Princess Marie-Branwen. Her father's a merman king, or maybe a selkie duke, but her mother's a lampad, the nymphs that live in the dark places of the world."
"I've never seen her before," mused the Ogre, "And where's her prince?"
"She lives half of the year by the sea with her papa," said a nosey little pixie, "but, in autumn and winter, she comes to the woods above the caves to hunt with her mother. She hasn't got a prince. Her mother won't have them snooping underground and her father won't have them muddying his waters."
The Ogre returned the next night with the elves, hoping to see her. There she was again, dressed in brilliant colors like sunset and autumn and playing marbles with pearls alongside fairy babies. He could see now that she was a little different. Her crown was set with dark, smoky gems and her pearls were all black and gray. Her gowns were embroidered not with songbirds and cherubs, but with owls and ravens. She didn't have a golden ball or a wand, but she carried a little mirror made of smoked silver and a little key made of sea glass on her belt. She smiled like the crescent moon and she laughed like a waterbird in the night, and the one prince foolish enough to wander into the glen that late at night fled when he heard her laugh. The Ogre felt a funny little tingling in his chest when she did and this was new. So new, he was a little frightened, so the Ogre lumbered home to hope that it would go away.
But, it didn't go away. The Ogre was very confused. Not only was there a funny tingle in his heart, but he felt like he'd swallowed a bucket of pixies and he couldn't stop thinking of long dark hair and black pearls washed bright by the sea. This continued long into the winter, when the lampades played in the snow and hunted in their fur habits of black, gray and white. It grew every day until, at last, the Ogre was quite angry. He roared and snarled and snarled and roared, until the snow shook and shivered down from the trees and a very confused prince came to the forest seeking the dragon making such a fuss. When he found the Ogre, the Ogre lifted him off his feet with one mighty paw and roared full in his face.
"How did you do it?" the Ogre screamed, "Did you put something in my food? Did you drip it in my ear? Tell me or I'll rip you to bits!"
"I didn't do anything!" said the Prince, "I rather like ogres, actually!"
"Then, why am I sick all the time?" the Ogre demanded, "I feel tingly and tickly and fuzzy and fluffy and all I can think of are pearls and dark hair!"
The Prince (whose name was, typically, Charming) had a Princess, with hair the color of carrots and a grin like a jack-o'-lantern, and thinking of her and how he'd promised to be home in time for supper gave him an idea. "Why, Master Ogre," said the Prince, "You haven't been poisoned! You're Starstruck!"
"Starstruck?" The Ogre scratched his fuzzy head. "I've heard of being Elfshot and Mummyrotten, but what the dickens is Starstruck?"
He set the Prince down and the Prince sat down on a rock to explain. "Sometimes, the stars hit just the right point in the sky and over your bed, and they twinkle just so. It leaves a little seed in your heart, and then one day, you see something that sparkles and flashes just right. All that light mixes together and--POW--you're starstruck!"
"Is it fatal?" the Ogre worried aloud.
"Not usually," said the Prince, "but, it's rather inconvenient. It makes your head light and fluffy and you can't think or sleep right."
"I have to put a stop to this!" the Ogre said firmly, "What do I do?"
"I'm not sure," said the Prince, "but my Princess, Jane, would know. Let me go and I'll be back tomorrow and we'll tell you!"
"Isn't there a faster option?" asked the Ogre.
"Well... You might try drinking something warm and going to bed early."
The Ogre thought this was a silly idea, but he lumbered off to bed, leaving the Prince to run home to his Princess and ask her advice.
Princess Jane listened to his story, while she dished up soup and hot sandwiches, and came up with a plan. She sent a message to her wicked stepsisters, who'd been turned into dragons for their villainy and had learned their lesson. One was still happily a dragon, but the other had a successful business as a witch for hire (fairy-godmother by appointment). The next day, they went to the Ogre and Princess Jane introduced herself.
The Ogre had not slept well and was rather grumpy, so he merely squinted at Jane and grumbled, "You're a funny-looking princess."
"Not all princesses have hair like sunshine and smile like roses," said Jane mildly. The Ogre groaned. That made things worse and now he was thinking of brown eyes and crescent moon smiles.
"What do I do?" he moaned.
"Go find the thing that started the feeling and introduce yourself, then, go talk to the dragon Matilda, who lives in the cave by the sea. She'll know how to make it stop."
The Ogre thanked Princess Jane and hurried off, eager to stop feeling odd. He found the lampades eating lunch and skating on the frozen lake. Princess Marie-Branwen was there, with snowflakes in her hair and a fluffy black fur ruff that framed her face just right.
"Hope I find you well, Your Highness," said the Ogre gruffly.
"Good afternoon, Master Ogre," said the Princess warmly, "You look a little pink in the cheeks. Are you well?"
"I'm starstruck," the Ogre muttered, "There's nothing for it but a trip to the shore to see Dragon Matilda."
"You could walk along with me, if you like," said Marie-Branwen shyly, "I'll have to go soon myself."
So, together, they walked to the shore as the trees budded pink and white with the spring. They talked a little as they went and the Ogre found that the Princess wasn't too fond of bright sunlight or hot days and rather liked long hair on a male. He confessed that he loved cats and wasn't much interested in blond haired girls. By the time, they reached the sea, the Ogre was shocked to find that his symptoms were worse, especially after she left him at the mouth of Dragon Matilda's cave. But, the Ogre was no fool. He forced himself to be respectful as he approached and bowed to the dragon and told her of his trouble.
"...And it's gotten worse!" said the Ogre, "I can't stop thinking about black fur and stars in the sky! Please, Dragon Matilda, what do I do?"
"The trouble is," said the dragon, silvery smoke curling from her nose, "that you aren't starstruck at all. You're twitterpated. Lovebirds have been singing somewhere near you and the music has infected your mind and your heart. I can fix starstruck, but twitterpated is another matter. Go and find the Princess Marie-Branwen and ask her for the smoky mirror on her belt. Stare in it until you can see three things about you that are noble and good, then go to see the Sorceress Belinda."
So, the Ogre went to the bottom of the ocean where Princess Marie-Branwen danced with the other mermaids and asked to borrow her mirror. She gave it to him with a blush and a smile and he went and sat on the rocks on the beach, staring and staring. True, he wasn't an ugly ogre and he wasn't the meanest ogre that had ever lived. But, what was noble and good about him? Well, his hair was soft, that was good, right? And he was nice to animals, when they were nice to him. And, he supposed that he was helpful enough if you didn't scream bloody murder at him.
Try as he might, he could think of nothing better about himself. He brought back the mirror and received another invitation to walk with the Princess. As the leaves turned red and amber and gold, they strolled back to the woods, arm in arm and then the Ogre set off alone for the mountain where Sorceress Belinda lived. To his complete outrage, he was worse than before. But, he forced himself to be respectful again as he told the Sorceress of his troubles.
"You aren't starstruck, you aren't twitterpated, you're in love, you silly ogre!" the sorceress laughed, "And you've only just missed Princess Marie-Branwen, who came to say the very same things! If you hurry you can catch her and tell her!"
The Ogre was very surprised, but asked, "If I do, will I be able to have a little peace?"
"A little, yes," said the sorceress, "But, love isn't always easy or peaceful. Sometimes, you may fight, or fear, or cry, or get angry. You have to work very hard, and sometimes, the working isn't enough. Sometimes, love doesn't last. But, I think it will last long enough. Now, go and catch your princess!"
And so the Ogre went and caught the Princess and told her how she had hair like a black pearl and a smile like a mirror, and she told him how he had hair like a rabbit's back and eyes like lightning. If it wasn't the most romantic courtship in the world, it was the most successful and, though they haven't always been happy and "ever after" remains to be seen, they are quite content in their little chilly cave and should still be for quite some time!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Five Awesome Things About... Hime-Loli
Sorry, it's been so long since my last post. I've been a little unwell the past few days and finally feel up to making a post. That, and it was hard to come up with something for this month's 5AT post, which I had meant to write up on Wednesday. Oh, well! Better late than never!
So, what's so awesome about the Hime-Loli style?
5. The History
Bad reputation aside, Marie Antoinette is what most Hime-Lolis are aiming for looks-wise. The girl had everything, charm, beauty, a heart of gold (part of the reason she went bankrupt wasn't the clothes, it was all the charities she was giving to). Not to mention, a wardrobe that was simply incredible. In the wake of the 2006 New-Wave-flavored biopic about her, new interest has bloomed and "Madame Antoine" as well as her contemporaries (Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, among others). With the trumpet sleeves and extravagant ruffles, one hopes that these Rococo-inspired outfits would do them proud.
4. The Accessories
Oh, lordy, the accessories. If you've ever wished to be prom queen, Cinderella, Holly Golightly, or just plain wished you had an excuse to wear a tiara and drip with gems and pearls, this is the style for it. Most people wear just a tiny tiara, but, I see no reason why a larger tiara wouldn't work on those of us with a little more heft (NOTE: If anybody knows any reason why I shouldn't wear a non-mini tiara, speak up, I need to know this stuff). Pearl chokers, lockets, rings, you name it. Without overdoing it, of course.
3. The Motifs
Cinderella's Coach, Sleeping Beauty's Spindle, Snow White's Apple... If it has ever been seen in a fairy tale, you can find it on a Hime-Loli outfit. Admittedly, some of my dream coords have yet to be made (No Frog Princess, No Kaguya-Hime or Mulan, and I have yet to see a single Bride of Bluebeard), but that's not to say that a person with enough industry couldn't make one.
2. The Silhouette
While not nearly as grown-up as Gyaru or Aristocrat, there is something undeniably elegant and a bit more mature than regular Sweet. The neckline hits just a bit lower, the skirts are a bit fuller, the sleeves drape and float. The style is everything your inner girly-girl (if you have one) could ever wish for.
And the Most Awesome Thing about Hime-Loli is...
1. The Way It Feels
If you've ever wanted to be a princess, queen, or other fairy tale heroine, this is the way to go. Go ahead, wear that tiara and that over-the-top hairpiece, doll up to the nines! Even adults need to pretend, just a little bit, and why not do it in style?
I promise! Next month's 5AT will be better! Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
So, what's so awesome about the Hime-Loli style?
5. The History
Bad reputation aside, Marie Antoinette is what most Hime-Lolis are aiming for looks-wise. The girl had everything, charm, beauty, a heart of gold (part of the reason she went bankrupt wasn't the clothes, it was all the charities she was giving to). Not to mention, a wardrobe that was simply incredible. In the wake of the 2006 New-Wave-flavored biopic about her, new interest has bloomed and "Madame Antoine" as well as her contemporaries (Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, among others). With the trumpet sleeves and extravagant ruffles, one hopes that these Rococo-inspired outfits would do them proud.
4. The Accessories
Oh, lordy, the accessories. If you've ever wished to be prom queen, Cinderella, Holly Golightly, or just plain wished you had an excuse to wear a tiara and drip with gems and pearls, this is the style for it. Most people wear just a tiny tiara, but, I see no reason why a larger tiara wouldn't work on those of us with a little more heft (NOTE: If anybody knows any reason why I shouldn't wear a non-mini tiara, speak up, I need to know this stuff). Pearl chokers, lockets, rings, you name it. Without overdoing it, of course.
3. The Motifs
Cinderella's Coach, Sleeping Beauty's Spindle, Snow White's Apple... If it has ever been seen in a fairy tale, you can find it on a Hime-Loli outfit. Admittedly, some of my dream coords have yet to be made (No Frog Princess, No Kaguya-Hime or Mulan, and I have yet to see a single Bride of Bluebeard), but that's not to say that a person with enough industry couldn't make one.
2. The Silhouette
While not nearly as grown-up as Gyaru or Aristocrat, there is something undeniably elegant and a bit more mature than regular Sweet. The neckline hits just a bit lower, the skirts are a bit fuller, the sleeves drape and float. The style is everything your inner girly-girl (if you have one) could ever wish for.
And the Most Awesome Thing about Hime-Loli is...
1. The Way It Feels
If you've ever wanted to be a princess, queen, or other fairy tale heroine, this is the way to go. Go ahead, wear that tiara and that over-the-top hairpiece, doll up to the nines! Even adults need to pretend, just a little bit, and why not do it in style?
I promise! Next month's 5AT will be better! Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Catch-Up Day Post: Harvest Punch and the Trial Run of the Ghostbuster Skirt
Harvest Party Orange Spice Tea Punch
1 part ginger ale or lemon-lime soda
3 parts orange spice tea, brewed and cooled
Pour the cooled tea into a bowl or pitcher, then add soft drink slowly. Chill with ice or ice cubes made of apple or orange juice.
&hearts *~ &hearts ~* &hearts
So, I finished the skirt and discovered to my dismay that something had gone horribly wrong. When I measured it, it was the perfect length to be worn with a petticoat. Then the petticoat I was making turned out to be a hot mess. It will probably be gutted and reused in other ways later, but there's no way it's going to give any lift to a skirt. So, I dug out my senior prom petticoat, tucked it up just so, judged it to be the right amount of poofy and tried the skirt on. Somehow, it had GAINED 2-4 inches of skirt. I don't know how or why, but they were there. Now, I'm a tall girl, with a long body, a waist that nips in an inch above my navel (which I'm told isn't normal) and long legs. I probably need a longer skirt than others anyway. But this skirt reached past my knees. I wore it anyway, to see how it would behave in a public setting. It's a bit too bland right now and I'll have to fix it, but it's good for a start.
My mentor D. suggested a few things and I'm probably going to take it off the waistband, stiffen the waistband, add an overlay of orange tulle and maybe some other punky accents (safety pin card symbols, a gray patch pocket, etc.). I considered making a pleated wrap skirt as per one suggestion, but that's been a nightmare to plot out so, probably not. I'm going to take a few inches off and lengthen the ruffle, at least, and see how that hangs.
1 part ginger ale or lemon-lime soda
3 parts orange spice tea, brewed and cooled
Pour the cooled tea into a bowl or pitcher, then add soft drink slowly. Chill with ice or ice cubes made of apple or orange juice.
&hearts *~ &hearts ~* &hearts
So, I finished the skirt and discovered to my dismay that something had gone horribly wrong. When I measured it, it was the perfect length to be worn with a petticoat. Then the petticoat I was making turned out to be a hot mess. It will probably be gutted and reused in other ways later, but there's no way it's going to give any lift to a skirt. So, I dug out my senior prom petticoat, tucked it up just so, judged it to be the right amount of poofy and tried the skirt on. Somehow, it had GAINED 2-4 inches of skirt. I don't know how or why, but they were there. Now, I'm a tall girl, with a long body, a waist that nips in an inch above my navel (which I'm told isn't normal) and long legs. I probably need a longer skirt than others anyway. But this skirt reached past my knees. I wore it anyway, to see how it would behave in a public setting. It's a bit too bland right now and I'll have to fix it, but it's good for a start.
My mentor D. suggested a few things and I'm probably going to take it off the waistband, stiffen the waistband, add an overlay of orange tulle and maybe some other punky accents (safety pin card symbols, a gray patch pocket, etc.). I considered making a pleated wrap skirt as per one suggestion, but that's been a nightmare to plot out so, probably not. I'm going to take a few inches off and lengthen the ruffle, at least, and see how that hangs.
A New Month, A New Theme!
Happy September, everybody! While there were only three votes for September's theme, we had a tie breaker and this month's theme is... HIME-LOLI! Thanks to everybody who voted and, indeed, to all my readers! There won't be a poll for the next while because I was actually smart and planned for October and November. Those being my busiest months (NaNo prep and NaNoWriMo), I planned ahead.
Coincidentally, this is also my birthday month, so there maybe some silliness with me wearing tiaras. It's a weakness. No matter how classic or punk I am, I'm a Sweet Potato Queen at heart (I'll talk about them later in the month) and I adore tiaras!
Since I was a slackass, today is going to be a catch-up day. I'll post the last of my posts for the August party theme and report on the sewing project, which has by no means reached its conclusion, but will probably be on hold for the foreseeable future (meaning the next couple weeks).
For those of you going back to school, I wish you lots of brain power to study on and lots of happy memories for later. To everyone, I wish you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Coincidentally, this is also my birthday month, so there maybe some silliness with me wearing tiaras. It's a weakness. No matter how classic or punk I am, I'm a Sweet Potato Queen at heart (I'll talk about them later in the month) and I adore tiaras!
Since I was a slackass, today is going to be a catch-up day. I'll post the last of my posts for the August party theme and report on the sewing project, which has by no means reached its conclusion, but will probably be on hold for the foreseeable future (meaning the next couple weeks).
For those of you going back to school, I wish you lots of brain power to study on and lots of happy memories for later. To everyone, I wish you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Clothes, Naturellement!: A Guide to Dressing in Country Lolita
A Profile
Style: Country Lolita
Alias: Country Loli
Subset?: Yes, Sweet Lolita
Most Common Distinguishing Features: straw hat headdresses, picnic baskets/wicker purses, gingham, floral prints, fruit prints
Summary: Country Lolita could be thought of as being Sweet Lolita's more wholesome sister. While she still revels in cute and wears similar colors, the parfaits and candies are replaced by lighter fare, strawberries, cherries, apples. She's outdoorsy, hence her straw hats and sturdy baskets. Think of Marie Antoinette's love for all things pastoral and natural. Country-Loli is sweet without pretension, deliciously simple and adorably romantic.
Apparent Influences: Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, picnics
Examples:
&hearts This Mary Magdalene OP has a very simple and uncluttered cherry print and is accented lightly, accompanied by a basket of fresh strawberries and a little straw hat.
&hearts This red gingham dress (brand unknown) shows its Sweet Loli ancestry in its ribbon rose and lace accents, as well as through the matching doll dress and hat. Frizzy curls seem to be the most popular hairstyle in many examples, but braids and pigtails are just as appropriate and adorable.
&hearts Here we have another example of fruit prints, this time, a cherry print and a strawberry print by Angelic Pretty. The daisies, apron and hats give their outfits a bouncy, lively air. This is hardly a delicate style. There's almost a sense that these girls have been playing in a meadow all day and come back for homemade shortcake and french toast, with berries they picked themselves.
Must-Haves for Fans of the Style:
&hearts The Strawberry Splendor Skirt by Sweet Rococo is a fresh and uncomplicated take on the traditional brand Country offerings. It comes in black and pink and comes from a company with an excellent reputation.
&hearts For the Lolita who loves to cook, the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald is a charming and fun offering, full of recipes, excerpts and darling illustrations of the scenes that inspired each recipe.
&hearts Nothing is more classically country and elegant than the scent of lavender. Provided allergies don't get in the way, L'occitane's Lavender Home Perfume can bring that relaxing, timeless scent of lavender to your rooms and linens, as well as soothe jangled nerves and help lull the sleepless to a relaxed state.
I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into the Country Loli style, as much as I've enjoyed the research. Until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Style: Country Lolita
Alias: Country Loli
Subset?: Yes, Sweet Lolita
Most Common Distinguishing Features: straw hat headdresses, picnic baskets/wicker purses, gingham, floral prints, fruit prints
Summary: Country Lolita could be thought of as being Sweet Lolita's more wholesome sister. While she still revels in cute and wears similar colors, the parfaits and candies are replaced by lighter fare, strawberries, cherries, apples. She's outdoorsy, hence her straw hats and sturdy baskets. Think of Marie Antoinette's love for all things pastoral and natural. Country-Loli is sweet without pretension, deliciously simple and adorably romantic.
Apparent Influences: Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, picnics
Examples:
&hearts This Mary Magdalene OP has a very simple and uncluttered cherry print and is accented lightly, accompanied by a basket of fresh strawberries and a little straw hat.
&hearts This red gingham dress (brand unknown) shows its Sweet Loli ancestry in its ribbon rose and lace accents, as well as through the matching doll dress and hat. Frizzy curls seem to be the most popular hairstyle in many examples, but braids and pigtails are just as appropriate and adorable.
&hearts Here we have another example of fruit prints, this time, a cherry print and a strawberry print by Angelic Pretty. The daisies, apron and hats give their outfits a bouncy, lively air. This is hardly a delicate style. There's almost a sense that these girls have been playing in a meadow all day and come back for homemade shortcake and french toast, with berries they picked themselves.
Must-Haves for Fans of the Style:
&hearts The Strawberry Splendor Skirt by Sweet Rococo is a fresh and uncomplicated take on the traditional brand Country offerings. It comes in black and pink and comes from a company with an excellent reputation.
&hearts For the Lolita who loves to cook, the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald is a charming and fun offering, full of recipes, excerpts and darling illustrations of the scenes that inspired each recipe.
&hearts Nothing is more classically country and elegant than the scent of lavender. Provided allergies don't get in the way, L'occitane's Lavender Home Perfume can bring that relaxing, timeless scent of lavender to your rooms and linens, as well as soothe jangled nerves and help lull the sleepless to a relaxed state.
I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into the Country Loli style, as much as I've enjoyed the research. Until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Lolita Lit 101: Anne of Green Gables
Shrub Monkeys #76, Used with the artist/author's permission.Okay, kids, time to get academic! Have a No. 2 pencil and paper ready... Ah, who am I kidding? I'm not going to quiz on this! But, I do think it's time to get into another post series I have planned for you all--Lolita Literature 101 (Sans Nabokov Edition)! Every month, I plan to go over some book that I feel every lifestyle lolita should at least try. Not love, I won't put that pressure on people, but at least attempt to read for some sort of cultural or, indeed, subcultural merit.
This month being Country-Loli Month here at SFL, I'd like to discuss one of the classics, popular here in North America and over in the birthplace of Lolita, Japan: Anne of Green Gables. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery and published in June of 1908, this novel introduced us to the daydreaming, orphaned, Canadian redhead, Anne Shirley, and kicked off an eight book series (which is better than the Potter kid can boast! Just kidding! I'm a Hufflepuff at heart). Montgomery said she was inspired by a scrap of writing she found from her school days, in which she described a couple that had sent away for an orphan boy and had accidentally gotten a girl, instead.
The tale begins at Green Gables, a farm in the little village of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. The owners are brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who decide to adopt an orphan boy from an orphanage in Nova Scotia to help around the farm. However, there's a mix-up, and the orphan delivered is the eponymous, 11-year-old girl. She's clever, freckled, and detests her name, wishing she'd been a Cordelia. If you must call her "Anne", she insists it must be with an "E", because it's more distinguished. She proves herself to be a chatterbox and extremely imaginative, much to Marilla's constant aggravation and Matthew's constant delight.
She soon meets and makes friends with Diana Barry, Jane Andrews, and Ruby Gillis, and becomes a rival of Gilbert Blythe (see the first two frames of the above comic, and you'll see why). Throughout the book, she manages to get into numerous scrapes, including dying her hair green in her quest to be a brunette, getting Diana drunk by accident, and nearly drowning in an attempt to reenact the funeral of Elaine, the wife of Lancelot. Her intelligence and courage more than make up for her foibles, though, and she endears herself to many along the way. Despite her awkward beginning, Anne comes to consider the pastoral Avonlea and its environs as home, no matter where she goes on her path to adulthood.
As a child, I was a precocious reader. Anne of Green Gables was one of the few books my mother didn't feel the need to put on a higher shelf. It was also around this time that I wound up watching the 1985 miniseries on PBS, and it seems she's had an impact on my life. I've tried to change my name often in my life. Teachers could never say it or spell it right on the first try and I rued the fact that my father had been so adamant about my name (Mom's first choice was Brianne). I gave up in the 8th grade, resigning myself to the fact that it was my name and there was no changing it. Just as Anne wished for dark hair, I've wished to be a blond, then a redhead, after it was gently pointed out that blond hair would look ghastly on me. I've dried my hair to a crisp in search of glorious, "Anne-ish" auburn hair. So far, no luck, but I'm a bit more determined in that respect, I think. And, even before I discovered lolita, I wished for a more elegant and romantic life, often daydreaming, just like she did:
"...Now I'm going to imagine things into this room so that they'll always stay imagined. The floor is covered with a white velvet carpet with pink roses all over it and there are pink silk curtains at the windows. The walls are hung with gold and silver brocade tapestry. The furniture is mahogany. I never saw any mahogany, but it does sound SO luxurious. This is a couch all heaped with gorgeous silken cushions, pink and blue and crimson and gold, and I am reclining gracefully on it. I can see my reflection in that splendid big mirror hanging on the wall. I am tall and regal, clad in a gown of trailing white lace, with a pearl cross on my breast and pearls in my hair. My hair is of midnight darkness and my skin is a clear ivory pallor. My name is the Lady Cordelia Fitzgerald. No, it isn't—I can't make THAT seem real."
She danced up to the little looking-glass and peered into it. Her pointed freckled face and solemn gray eyes peered back at her.
"You're only Anne of Green Gables," she said earnestly, "and I see you, just as you are looking now, whenever I try to imagine I'm the Lady Cordelia. But it's a million times nicer to be Anne of Green Gables than Anne of nowhere in particular, isn't it?"
It seems that Japan is quite taken with her, having two animated series based on the books made. Some of the earliest Lolita designs from the 70's (when the first Anne anime debuted) even resemble her long calico frocks and pinafores, though those silhouettes seem to have fallen out of favor.
Culturally, Anne might very well be one of the earliest fictional foremothers of Lolita style. She struggled to make her life a little more beautiful and cheerful, no matter how dark and dreary things got, and her charm and wit made her friends no matter where she went. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed high and still managed to keep their feet on the ground.
That's all for today, folks! Until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sewing for My Lazy Self: Marisa's Ghostbuster Skirt, Part 2-ish--The Actual Work
Not long ago, I posted about sewing a skirt and petticoat for a convention I was going to. Well, okay, the planning out part. So, I actually got started on Saturday last, convinced that this was really much easier than it looked. After all, it's an elastic waist skirt and the same pattern could then be modified to make the sash waist skirt I wanted.
Oh, how wrong I was.
I've mentioned it before, but let me say it again: tulle and I get on like a house on fire. You know, smoke, flames, people running around and screaming, massive property damage. As it is, I got two yards of very fine tulle and began making the "poof layers of the petticoat, but then decided I'd overdone it and took a little out. Then I gathered it and discovered that, now that it was gathered, there wasn't really enough to go around my waist and hips. Fine, I said, and resolved for what feels like the umpteenth time in this project to lay the whole mess aside and go to bed.
I awoke this morning with the resolution that, before my noon appointment, I would add the strips back on, gather those new strips, and attach them to the skirt and damn the consequences. While I'm out, I will be buying more tulle, because even for a casual petti, this petticoat is not nearly fluffy enough. And Wednesday, I will sew the gray and orange skirt. Come hell, havoc, or high water, I will have this done and I will be wearing it at the con and the demons of crappy sewing and failure can all just bite me. If I have to sit at the registration desk while I volunteer and run a damn sewing machine in between floods of guests, that's what I'll do!
See this? This is my determined face.
So, until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Oh, how wrong I was.
I've mentioned it before, but let me say it again: tulle and I get on like a house on fire. You know, smoke, flames, people running around and screaming, massive property damage. As it is, I got two yards of very fine tulle and began making the "poof layers of the petticoat, but then decided I'd overdone it and took a little out. Then I gathered it and discovered that, now that it was gathered, there wasn't really enough to go around my waist and hips. Fine, I said, and resolved for what feels like the umpteenth time in this project to lay the whole mess aside and go to bed.
I awoke this morning with the resolution that, before my noon appointment, I would add the strips back on, gather those new strips, and attach them to the skirt and damn the consequences. While I'm out, I will be buying more tulle, because even for a casual petti, this petticoat is not nearly fluffy enough. And Wednesday, I will sew the gray and orange skirt. Come hell, havoc, or high water, I will have this done and I will be wearing it at the con and the demons of crappy sewing and failure can all just bite me. If I have to sit at the registration desk while I volunteer and run a damn sewing machine in between floods of guests, that's what I'll do!
See this? This is my determined face.
So, until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Simplicity for the Complicated Girl
We live in an intricate world. The media and our peers fire conflicting messages at us, tangling us up in knots while everybody fights the war of individuality vs the status quo. It's not like the Lolita lifestyle is much easier. We pine for a simpler, more archaic life, while we rush to lay hands on the latest gadgets so laden with plastic roses and crystals and gumdrops, it's a wonder we can still lift them and drench ourselves in fantastical confections of lace and ribbon. It's no wonder more people are reporting anxiety disorders and depression these days (not that the past was all that rosy, but we have names for most of it now). Everyone is exhausted!
Is it any wonder things like yoga and meditation are so popular these days? We need time to slow down and recharge. Sometimes, we just need to turn back to the simple and let all the convoluted elements of our life wait.
If you've read some of the posts here on SFL, you know I'm a bit of a hippy. It's my weakness, I'm afraid. I'm willing to believe six impossible things before breakfast, seven if you catch me while I'm still in bed. But, meditation has been proven to have physical and mental health benefits beyond calming you down. Don't believe me? Look it up! You can probably find more reliable sources than the ones I have linked, but I trust these guys. To sum up for the link-phobic: Meditation has been shown to improve perception, boost compromised immune systems, and, of course, reduce stress (which can lead to all manner of other health problems).
Now, don't fall prey to the stereotypes. You know the ones: holy men and women chanting in the midst of nature in perfect lotus position. You don't need to spend years in a convent in the mountains to be able to meditate. To give an example: when I was in high school, the county (possibly the state, it's hard to remember) instituted a "moment of silence" before the Pledge of Allegiance for prayer and quiet contemplation. I'm a little uncomfortable with public prayer, but I would use the time to calm down before the most stressful class of the day. Somehow, I always had either math or a really tough elective in the morning, so, I could bury myself in a few moments of peace at least before I got slammed with the really tough questions like "If a is 111, what's a(4+6)". And, funny enough, just focusing on some blissful wilderness scene in my head and thinking of quiet music made my grades just a little better. It wasn't until college, where there was no reminder to put on the breaks and cool down, that I had a meltdown.
Here are a few simple meditation exercises I've started using that you can try:
--Find a time of day when you have at least five minutes uninterrupted. Set a timer, if you must, but put it where you can't see it or keep checking the time. Sit or lie down comfortably and picture someplace quiet and happy. Don't be concerned with what other people think should be happy. Your "happy place" could be a grove of birch trees in the snow or a graveyard at midnight, or even an abandoned warehouse. If it makes you feel safe and peaceful, explore it in your mind. Wander around, touch things and make note of how they feel and sound and smell. Maybe leave a little gift for the other people who might visit or just to remind yourself that this is a sanctuary.
--Find or make a string of beads. Make it your own, with charms, favorite colors and stones. Don't worry about matching it to any outfits, just make it personal. Then come up with a word or set of words that have deep meaning to you. They can be as simple as "peace" or "love", as timeless as a familiar prayer or the Litany Against Fear from "Dune", or even a few lines of poetry or an affirmation, like "I am beautiful, clever, and loved". Make sure it's something you remember easily. Whenever you have a five minute period to yourself, take it out or hold in it your pocket and recite those words you've chosen, using the beads to count or just holding them and thinking of how they make you feel. Don't worry if you lose the beads or they break. You can make another, but it's simply a symbol to keep you grounded in reality.
--Choose a pebble or a shell or some other small trinket. It could be something you found in nature or some souvenir from somewhere. Keep it with you or simply envision a small object like that in your mind. When you feel the pressures of your life getting to be too much, imagine pouring all the tension and worry and negativity into the object. Picture the object as a machine of sorts, taking the gloom and frustration and cleaning it up, recycling it into positive feelings and energy, or even just burning it away to nothing, leaving you with nothing but calm, pleasant feelings.
Now, don't overdo it, or run out and sign up for Kundalini Yoga. Like any good thing, misusing or overusing it can be harmful. Kundalini syndrome comes to mind. If you think meditation might help with any serious issues, talk to a medical or psychiatric professional first. Don't start digging into the heavier stuff without seeking professional help first. If you have a religious tradition you belong to, ask a clergy member or faith counselor about methods of meditation or prayer you can try and if there are ways to do it safely and unsafely. Also, don't throw out your medications just because you feel better now that you're doing this. Meditation is not a cure for anything, just a treatment.
There are other ways to simplify your life. Too much laundry to do? Next time you do a few loads, decide on which items you can live without, don't really wear anymore, or otherwise no longer want. Give them away to friends, sell them or donate them. you may find that your dream print collection can be pared down to a single jsk or skirt and, really, how many colorways of a single print do you need? Living space a mess? Try just picking up 15 things a day and putting them where they belong, for three weeks. Not only will you pick up the habit, but you'd be amazed how much of a difference 15 things can make. Can't decide what to eat for dinner? Try eating something simple, like a bowl of breakfast cereal, or rice and beans every so often. It'll clean out your palate and give you an easier time choosing what delicious dish you feel like having tonight. Face keeps breaking out? Try using a few less products or go old school with your cleansing regimen. I broke down and started using just cold cream, straight rosewater for toner, and a honey and oatmeal scrub when I'm really desperate. Generations of women can't be wrong (the Romans were using a recipe very close to our modern cold cream).
The simple things allow us to better enjoy and appreciate the complexities of our lives. Whenever I catch myself getting cynical and grumpy, I sit back and take a moment to enjoy the underrated pleasures of life. Then, when I've had that time to regroup and recharge, suddenly I'm feeling so much better about the whole world. Try it out some time. You may be surprised how much confusion you can do without.
Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Is it any wonder things like yoga and meditation are so popular these days? We need time to slow down and recharge. Sometimes, we just need to turn back to the simple and let all the convoluted elements of our life wait.
If you've read some of the posts here on SFL, you know I'm a bit of a hippy. It's my weakness, I'm afraid. I'm willing to believe six impossible things before breakfast, seven if you catch me while I'm still in bed. But, meditation has been proven to have physical and mental health benefits beyond calming you down. Don't believe me? Look it up! You can probably find more reliable sources than the ones I have linked, but I trust these guys. To sum up for the link-phobic: Meditation has been shown to improve perception, boost compromised immune systems, and, of course, reduce stress (which can lead to all manner of other health problems).
Now, don't fall prey to the stereotypes. You know the ones: holy men and women chanting in the midst of nature in perfect lotus position. You don't need to spend years in a convent in the mountains to be able to meditate. To give an example: when I was in high school, the county (possibly the state, it's hard to remember) instituted a "moment of silence" before the Pledge of Allegiance for prayer and quiet contemplation. I'm a little uncomfortable with public prayer, but I would use the time to calm down before the most stressful class of the day. Somehow, I always had either math or a really tough elective in the morning, so, I could bury myself in a few moments of peace at least before I got slammed with the really tough questions like "If a is 111, what's a(4+6)". And, funny enough, just focusing on some blissful wilderness scene in my head and thinking of quiet music made my grades just a little better. It wasn't until college, where there was no reminder to put on the breaks and cool down, that I had a meltdown.
Here are a few simple meditation exercises I've started using that you can try:
--Find a time of day when you have at least five minutes uninterrupted. Set a timer, if you must, but put it where you can't see it or keep checking the time. Sit or lie down comfortably and picture someplace quiet and happy. Don't be concerned with what other people think should be happy. Your "happy place" could be a grove of birch trees in the snow or a graveyard at midnight, or even an abandoned warehouse. If it makes you feel safe and peaceful, explore it in your mind. Wander around, touch things and make note of how they feel and sound and smell. Maybe leave a little gift for the other people who might visit or just to remind yourself that this is a sanctuary.
--Find or make a string of beads. Make it your own, with charms, favorite colors and stones. Don't worry about matching it to any outfits, just make it personal. Then come up with a word or set of words that have deep meaning to you. They can be as simple as "peace" or "love", as timeless as a familiar prayer or the Litany Against Fear from "Dune", or even a few lines of poetry or an affirmation, like "I am beautiful, clever, and loved". Make sure it's something you remember easily. Whenever you have a five minute period to yourself, take it out or hold in it your pocket and recite those words you've chosen, using the beads to count or just holding them and thinking of how they make you feel. Don't worry if you lose the beads or they break. You can make another, but it's simply a symbol to keep you grounded in reality.
--Choose a pebble or a shell or some other small trinket. It could be something you found in nature or some souvenir from somewhere. Keep it with you or simply envision a small object like that in your mind. When you feel the pressures of your life getting to be too much, imagine pouring all the tension and worry and negativity into the object. Picture the object as a machine of sorts, taking the gloom and frustration and cleaning it up, recycling it into positive feelings and energy, or even just burning it away to nothing, leaving you with nothing but calm, pleasant feelings.
Now, don't overdo it, or run out and sign up for Kundalini Yoga. Like any good thing, misusing or overusing it can be harmful. Kundalini syndrome comes to mind. If you think meditation might help with any serious issues, talk to a medical or psychiatric professional first. Don't start digging into the heavier stuff without seeking professional help first. If you have a religious tradition you belong to, ask a clergy member or faith counselor about methods of meditation or prayer you can try and if there are ways to do it safely and unsafely. Also, don't throw out your medications just because you feel better now that you're doing this. Meditation is not a cure for anything, just a treatment.
There are other ways to simplify your life. Too much laundry to do? Next time you do a few loads, decide on which items you can live without, don't really wear anymore, or otherwise no longer want. Give them away to friends, sell them or donate them. you may find that your dream print collection can be pared down to a single jsk or skirt and, really, how many colorways of a single print do you need? Living space a mess? Try just picking up 15 things a day and putting them where they belong, for three weeks. Not only will you pick up the habit, but you'd be amazed how much of a difference 15 things can make. Can't decide what to eat for dinner? Try eating something simple, like a bowl of breakfast cereal, or rice and beans every so often. It'll clean out your palate and give you an easier time choosing what delicious dish you feel like having tonight. Face keeps breaking out? Try using a few less products or go old school with your cleansing regimen. I broke down and started using just cold cream, straight rosewater for toner, and a honey and oatmeal scrub when I'm really desperate. Generations of women can't be wrong (the Romans were using a recipe very close to our modern cold cream).
The simple things allow us to better enjoy and appreciate the complexities of our lives. Whenever I catch myself getting cynical and grumpy, I sit back and take a moment to enjoy the underrated pleasures of life. Then, when I've had that time to regroup and recharge, suddenly I'm feeling so much better about the whole world. Try it out some time. You may be surprised how much confusion you can do without.
Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties: Sunflower Seed Cookies and Savory Pumpkin Soup
Continuing our Party Planning series, we have two recipes for party foods, which I feel are perfectly suited to a Country Loli Harvest Picnic. The first is for Sunflower Seed Cookies, originally found in the Epicurean Tarot. The cards double as recipe cards and they're a little too big for me to use for divination, but they're so cool and they were out of print when I found them, so I insisted on snapping them up.
Sunflower Seed Cookies (from the Epicurean Tarot)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds, shelled
Mix the sugars, the butter and the oil.
Add the other ingredients and mix them into a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls, put them on a cookie sheet, lightly greased (or use cooking parchment) and flatten them with a fork, dipped in sugar before each cookie.
Serves 4 to 6 people
Bake at 350 degrees farenheit, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Serving Ideas: Try to find an organic florist in your area and ask about non-toxic, edible yellow flowers you can buy and use those to decorate the plate! Or, if you know your flowers already and have a garden, use your only flowers (just not the ones you've used chemicals on, you don't want to make your friends sick).
The next recipe is a savory pumpkin soup, from Allrecipes.com. If you're having the picnic away from the house, try to get a very large thermos to carry the soup in and keep it warm.
Savory Pumpkin Soup (from Allrecipes.com)
5 cups pumpkin puree
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
4 ounces dry pasta
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup toasted almonds
In a large saucepan, mix the pumpkin, vegetable broth, heavy cream, garlic powder and onion powder. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Cook 12 minutes, or until pasta is tender but firm. Reduce heat to simmer.
Stir in pumpkin pie spice, parsley and cilantro. Slowly stir butter, plain yogurt and sour cream into the mixture, making sure they do not curdle. Stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt. Serve topped with nuts.
Serves 10 people
Serving Ideas: Serve in mismatched teacups, and encourage your guests to sip it like cocoa! The teacups can be probably be found at the thrift store. Bring paper towels and newspaper, so you can send your guests home with a lovely little gift. Alternately, if you have an artistic bent, see if there is a studio where you can paint your own teacups, then paint them for each guest's tastes!
Well, since I missed out on posting this weekend, I think I'll post another entry today. See you all soon! I wish everyone lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Sunflower Seed Cookies (from the Epicurean Tarot)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds, shelled
Mix the sugars, the butter and the oil.
Add the other ingredients and mix them into a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls, put them on a cookie sheet, lightly greased (or use cooking parchment) and flatten them with a fork, dipped in sugar before each cookie.
Serves 4 to 6 people
Bake at 350 degrees farenheit, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Serving Ideas: Try to find an organic florist in your area and ask about non-toxic, edible yellow flowers you can buy and use those to decorate the plate! Or, if you know your flowers already and have a garden, use your only flowers (just not the ones you've used chemicals on, you don't want to make your friends sick).
The next recipe is a savory pumpkin soup, from Allrecipes.com. If you're having the picnic away from the house, try to get a very large thermos to carry the soup in and keep it warm.
Savory Pumpkin Soup (from Allrecipes.com)
5 cups pumpkin puree
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
4 ounces dry pasta
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup toasted almonds
In a large saucepan, mix the pumpkin, vegetable broth, heavy cream, garlic powder and onion powder. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Cook 12 minutes, or until pasta is tender but firm. Reduce heat to simmer.
Stir in pumpkin pie spice, parsley and cilantro. Slowly stir butter, plain yogurt and sour cream into the mixture, making sure they do not curdle. Stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt. Serve topped with nuts.
Serves 10 people
Serving Ideas: Serve in mismatched teacups, and encourage your guests to sip it like cocoa! The teacups can be probably be found at the thrift store. Bring paper towels and newspaper, so you can send your guests home with a lovely little gift. Alternately, if you have an artistic bent, see if there is a studio where you can paint your own teacups, then paint them for each guest's tastes!
Well, since I missed out on posting this weekend, I think I'll post another entry today. See you all soon! I wish everyone lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Beat The Heat in Lolita
I don't know about you guys, but where I am, summer is a nightmare, unless you either like the heat or can afford to live in a meat locker. Virginia has been known to spike in the triple digits in July and August. I can't imagine what it must be like further south. This is the first summer I've spent with no a/c and it's been miserable. But, does that mean a Lolita must choose between her clothes and her health? Not at all! We just have to be more careful about it!
Tip #1: Natural Fibers Are Your Friends
Synthetics don't tend to look all that great as lolita wear in my experience, anyway. But, sometimes, they sneak in unnoticed. If you're making your own clothes, try to get clothes with high natural fiber contents. 100% cotton or linen is best, but can be pricey, so you may have to settle for 50%, but try not to go any lower or you will be miserable. And, of course, if you can afford it ever, silk is the wonder fiber. Warm in winter, cool in summer, it insulates and breathes. However, avoid wool. Yes, it's natural, but even lightweight wools are insufferable when it's warm.
Tip #2: Color Your World
Sweet Lolis will probably have the easiest time with this one: skew your color palette a little lighter. White would be most comfortable, as it reflects light, while black absorbs it. Light colors will work, too, and cool colors like green, blue and lavender, will give you a bit of relief from the subconscious association of warm colors=warm. I highly recommend investing in/making at least one light colored coordinate, even for you Kuro Loli devotees. Style isn't worth a bout of sunstroke.
Tip #3: Accessorize Practically
The three things no one should ever leave home without in extreme heat: parasol, fan, and water bottle. No matter how affected the first two may seem, you'll be grateful for them later. You never know when the a/c will fail or when you'll have to dash outside in bright sunshine. And hydration can help you to stay cool. You don't even need to carry straight water. A little lemonade or a twist of mint and lime will be even better, by giving you a little extra electrolytic boost.
Tip #4: Have Casual (insert day of the week)
As much fun as it is to doll up to the max, it's really impractical when the thermometer spikes. Makeup melts and runs, hot materials get all sweaty, and hair eventually goes flat. Casual is going to be more comfortable in the long run. I highly advocate trading in the stay-puft pettis and high-collared blouses for softer petticoats and breezy cut-sews. Stick with pigtails or buns or--if you're braver than I am--go ahead and get a kicky new haircut. Ask the stylist to show you how to curl it for cooler weather and add cute little bows and clips until then.
Well, that's all the advice I have for today. Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tip #1: Natural Fibers Are Your Friends
Synthetics don't tend to look all that great as lolita wear in my experience, anyway. But, sometimes, they sneak in unnoticed. If you're making your own clothes, try to get clothes with high natural fiber contents. 100% cotton or linen is best, but can be pricey, so you may have to settle for 50%, but try not to go any lower or you will be miserable. And, of course, if you can afford it ever, silk is the wonder fiber. Warm in winter, cool in summer, it insulates and breathes. However, avoid wool. Yes, it's natural, but even lightweight wools are insufferable when it's warm.
Tip #2: Color Your World
Sweet Lolis will probably have the easiest time with this one: skew your color palette a little lighter. White would be most comfortable, as it reflects light, while black absorbs it. Light colors will work, too, and cool colors like green, blue and lavender, will give you a bit of relief from the subconscious association of warm colors=warm. I highly recommend investing in/making at least one light colored coordinate, even for you Kuro Loli devotees. Style isn't worth a bout of sunstroke.
Tip #3: Accessorize Practically
The three things no one should ever leave home without in extreme heat: parasol, fan, and water bottle. No matter how affected the first two may seem, you'll be grateful for them later. You never know when the a/c will fail or when you'll have to dash outside in bright sunshine. And hydration can help you to stay cool. You don't even need to carry straight water. A little lemonade or a twist of mint and lime will be even better, by giving you a little extra electrolytic boost.
Tip #4: Have Casual (insert day of the week)
As much fun as it is to doll up to the max, it's really impractical when the thermometer spikes. Makeup melts and runs, hot materials get all sweaty, and hair eventually goes flat. Casual is going to be more comfortable in the long run. I highly advocate trading in the stay-puft pettis and high-collared blouses for softer petticoats and breezy cut-sews. Stick with pigtails or buns or--if you're braver than I am--go ahead and get a kicky new haircut. Ask the stylist to show you how to curl it for cooler weather and add cute little bows and clips until then.
Well, that's all the advice I have for today. Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Five Awesome Things About... Country Living
"Five Awesome Things" is going to be a monthly series where I sit down and ruminate on the things that make the month's theme so cool or on other things that might not get the appreciation they deserve. So, what's so great about living in the countryside?
5. Nature Walks:
I'm normally a bit of a slugabed and I'm not much of a fan of living an hour from a decent grocery store. But, there's something magical about going for a walk in the cool of the evening and wandering into the woods. In autumn, there were changing leaves and wild turkey and deer peeking out of the trees and brambles. In winter, the first snowfall of the season began while I was out for a woodland stroll, showering everything with a fine, cool, diamond white glitter. Spring meant rabbits and birdsong, with cherry, dogwood and wild apple trees in full bloom, and every breeze was full of petals straight out of a shojo manga. Summer meant I had to wait until sundown for the temperature to drop, but the sunsets were amazing and the summer flowers were like splashes of brilliant paint on the world. You have to be careful out here; bears and bobcats were a hazard for a while, but they seem to have moved on to quieter woods and now, I'm willing to believe that the area is safe for an afternoon wander. I don't take my iPod or anything with me, just my cell phone for security. It's little things like that, that make things a little less stressful. When I'm walking, there's nothing I need to think about, past maybe dodging cars on the way!
4. Peace and Quiet:
Okay, I'm a talker. I like sound and conversation and music. But, I never realized just how beneficial a little silence could be until I moved out here. I've found that I listen to music way too loud, that my cats are much more expressive and chatty than originally believed, and that even silence has a little bit of music to it. And time seems to move a bit slower out here. I forget to get out of bed somedays until noon, I'm so much more relaxed. The laidback atmosphere has done wonders for my mood.
3. Fresh Produce:
Ever tasted a freshly-picked cherry tomato? I mean, REALLY fresh, straight off the vine? I hadn't either, until my Mother-In-Law moved with us and started growing vegetables and herbs on the back porch. I popped one in my mouth when it was offered and thought I was in Heaven. It was juicy and sweet and rich and a dozen other wonderful words. I love being able to go out back and pick herbs for my salads, or just grab tomatoes to snack on. They may not be any more or less healthy than the store-bought kind, but the ones in the store just don't taste the same at all.
2. Wildflowers:
Virginia wildflowers were something I discovered only after I moved to Loudoun County as a pre-teen. They get planted all along highways and median strips here and they fill the summers with such color and joy, it's hard to imagine a summer drive without them. Huge red, yellow and orange poppies, pale blue and purple cornflowers, flowers I can't remember to describe that only come to mind as punches of pink and violet and indigo. My yard was full of pink phlox, which looks like a carpet of tiny fuschia flowers smaller than my pinky nail, during the month of June and I was so very sad to see them go away. Just keep in mind, hard as it is, don't pick them unless they're in your yard. Many areas plant them in places to keep native species from dying out or being crowded out by invasive species. Instead, if you want to have wildflowers to pick for your own, find out if any local nature preservation societies have seeds for sale and plant them in your yard or in pots.
1. History:
In Virginia, we have tons of old historic houses and neighborhoods, especially outside of the cities. There are the ones people know, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Williamsburg, but not a lot of people know about Sully Plantation, a place very close to my heart. My mother and I used to reenact for the park service at Sully, which is the ancestral home of the famous Lee family (yes, 1776 fans, THAT Lee family ;)). It's a beautiful old Federalist period home, roughly built around the time the Regency period was kicking off in Europe, and we very nearly lost it to the building of Dulles Airport. As it is, Dulles is quite close by (you can hear the jets flying low overhead), but dear old Sully was saved and functions as a museum to this day. I highly recommend finding your own local historic sites and getting involved in their well-being. It maybe as wild as the local animal sanctuary (many of which were founded in the Victorian age) or as civilized as a local small town where absolutely nothing seems to have happened. But keep it alive so future generations can enjoy it!
Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
5. Nature Walks:
I'm normally a bit of a slugabed and I'm not much of a fan of living an hour from a decent grocery store. But, there's something magical about going for a walk in the cool of the evening and wandering into the woods. In autumn, there were changing leaves and wild turkey and deer peeking out of the trees and brambles. In winter, the first snowfall of the season began while I was out for a woodland stroll, showering everything with a fine, cool, diamond white glitter. Spring meant rabbits and birdsong, with cherry, dogwood and wild apple trees in full bloom, and every breeze was full of petals straight out of a shojo manga. Summer meant I had to wait until sundown for the temperature to drop, but the sunsets were amazing and the summer flowers were like splashes of brilliant paint on the world. You have to be careful out here; bears and bobcats were a hazard for a while, but they seem to have moved on to quieter woods and now, I'm willing to believe that the area is safe for an afternoon wander. I don't take my iPod or anything with me, just my cell phone for security. It's little things like that, that make things a little less stressful. When I'm walking, there's nothing I need to think about, past maybe dodging cars on the way!
4. Peace and Quiet:
Okay, I'm a talker. I like sound and conversation and music. But, I never realized just how beneficial a little silence could be until I moved out here. I've found that I listen to music way too loud, that my cats are much more expressive and chatty than originally believed, and that even silence has a little bit of music to it. And time seems to move a bit slower out here. I forget to get out of bed somedays until noon, I'm so much more relaxed. The laidback atmosphere has done wonders for my mood.
3. Fresh Produce:
Ever tasted a freshly-picked cherry tomato? I mean, REALLY fresh, straight off the vine? I hadn't either, until my Mother-In-Law moved with us and started growing vegetables and herbs on the back porch. I popped one in my mouth when it was offered and thought I was in Heaven. It was juicy and sweet and rich and a dozen other wonderful words. I love being able to go out back and pick herbs for my salads, or just grab tomatoes to snack on. They may not be any more or less healthy than the store-bought kind, but the ones in the store just don't taste the same at all.
2. Wildflowers:
Virginia wildflowers were something I discovered only after I moved to Loudoun County as a pre-teen. They get planted all along highways and median strips here and they fill the summers with such color and joy, it's hard to imagine a summer drive without them. Huge red, yellow and orange poppies, pale blue and purple cornflowers, flowers I can't remember to describe that only come to mind as punches of pink and violet and indigo. My yard was full of pink phlox, which looks like a carpet of tiny fuschia flowers smaller than my pinky nail, during the month of June and I was so very sad to see them go away. Just keep in mind, hard as it is, don't pick them unless they're in your yard. Many areas plant them in places to keep native species from dying out or being crowded out by invasive species. Instead, if you want to have wildflowers to pick for your own, find out if any local nature preservation societies have seeds for sale and plant them in your yard or in pots.
1. History:
In Virginia, we have tons of old historic houses and neighborhoods, especially outside of the cities. There are the ones people know, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Williamsburg, but not a lot of people know about Sully Plantation, a place very close to my heart. My mother and I used to reenact for the park service at Sully, which is the ancestral home of the famous Lee family (yes, 1776 fans, THAT Lee family ;)). It's a beautiful old Federalist period home, roughly built around the time the Regency period was kicking off in Europe, and we very nearly lost it to the building of Dulles Airport. As it is, Dulles is quite close by (you can hear the jets flying low overhead), but dear old Sully was saved and functions as a museum to this day. I highly recommend finding your own local historic sites and getting involved in their well-being. It maybe as wild as the local animal sanctuary (many of which were founded in the Victorian age) or as civilized as a local small town where absolutely nothing seems to have happened. But keep it alive so future generations can enjoy it!
Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sewing for My Lazy Self: Marisa's Ghostbuster Skirt, Part 1--The Planning Stages
I have a couple of Lolita sewing projects on the back burner. A cherry-print bustle skirt with a red rufflebutt skirt underneath and matching petticoat sits not-exactly-forgotten on my ironing board, and there's a pair of cut-sews on hold, until I have the materials to touch them up. As I've said, I'm a horrible procrastinator. I'll start a sewing project and never finish.
But, now, I don't have an excuse. I'm a Live-Action Roleplayer and my newest character, Marisa, is a Lolita addict. I wouldn't say she's lifestyle, but she's at least going to wear Loli at once every couple of games. I just saw her as the sort of girl who would deliberately dress in ruffles and pretty prints to fool the people around her into thinking she's either very, very sweet or very, very simple. On the other hand, she's a bit of a punk and wouldn't hesitate to be a little tongue-in-cheek about it and use her splat symbolism (gray, crazy colors, skulls, dice, cards, etc.) to accessorize.
I have a little more than a week to make something, so I'm going to go easy on myself and make a very casual skirt out of some Halloween calico I have, with a built in petticoat. The material is two different colorways of a camo print (gray and orange) with little ghosts hidden in the print. It's hilariously appropriate because she deals with ghosts, and I can use it later for Halloween and punk-goth coords. The built-in petticoat is probably going to be a simple, light layer of gray or black cloth with black or orange tulle, not a lot, just enough to give it a bit of poof for the appropriate sillhouette.
With it, I'm planning to wear an orange baby tee, gray knee socks with skulls, mary janes and pearls. I'm hoping to slap together a quick hair bow or corsage, with a skull attached, and maybe find a bag to carry my notebooks and other props (one with a Ghostbusters logo would rock, but I'll take what I can get).
Now, a lot of people say that orange is an unsuitable color for Lolita. I say, bullshit. If it's a truly painful neon, okay, then yes, there are colors that probably lack the elegance and grace that Lolita style strives for. But, I think orange can be a very stylish and refined color in the right situation. I mean, it's the national color of the Netherlands, home of the tulip craze and Rembrandt (van Rijn). I'm into holistic medicine, so I've researched chakras and found that orange is the color of the sacral chakra, which governs creativity, joy and enthusiasm. So, some day, I might be tempted to make a jsk or skirt in a light creamsicle orange or a warm amber. For now, I'm using it as the ruffles and waistband on this skirt and damn the naysayers.
Hopefully, I'll have an update soon. Until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
But, now, I don't have an excuse. I'm a Live-Action Roleplayer and my newest character, Marisa, is a Lolita addict. I wouldn't say she's lifestyle, but she's at least going to wear Loli at once every couple of games. I just saw her as the sort of girl who would deliberately dress in ruffles and pretty prints to fool the people around her into thinking she's either very, very sweet or very, very simple. On the other hand, she's a bit of a punk and wouldn't hesitate to be a little tongue-in-cheek about it and use her splat symbolism (gray, crazy colors, skulls, dice, cards, etc.) to accessorize.
I have a little more than a week to make something, so I'm going to go easy on myself and make a very casual skirt out of some Halloween calico I have, with a built in petticoat. The material is two different colorways of a camo print (gray and orange) with little ghosts hidden in the print. It's hilariously appropriate because she deals with ghosts, and I can use it later for Halloween and punk-goth coords. The built-in petticoat is probably going to be a simple, light layer of gray or black cloth with black or orange tulle, not a lot, just enough to give it a bit of poof for the appropriate sillhouette.
With it, I'm planning to wear an orange baby tee, gray knee socks with skulls, mary janes and pearls. I'm hoping to slap together a quick hair bow or corsage, with a skull attached, and maybe find a bag to carry my notebooks and other props (one with a Ghostbusters logo would rock, but I'll take what I can get).
Now, a lot of people say that orange is an unsuitable color for Lolita. I say, bullshit. If it's a truly painful neon, okay, then yes, there are colors that probably lack the elegance and grace that Lolita style strives for. But, I think orange can be a very stylish and refined color in the right situation. I mean, it's the national color of the Netherlands, home of the tulip craze and Rembrandt (van Rijn). I'm into holistic medicine, so I've researched chakras and found that orange is the color of the sacral chakra, which governs creativity, joy and enthusiasm. So, some day, I might be tempted to make a jsk or skirt in a light creamsicle orange or a warm amber. For now, I'm using it as the ruffles and waistband on this skirt and damn the naysayers.
Hopefully, I'll have an update soon. Until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties: Country Loli Beginning-of-Harvest Picnic
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the first post in what I hope will be a long and productive series here on SFL: Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties!
The theme for the month of August (okay, what's left of it) is Country Loli. Think soft ginghams, fresh berries, and wildflowers in your hair, with ladybugs and gentle fawns grazing in the fields. Of course, for those of us with allergies or who have no inclination for country living, maybe we should stick with the clothes and the occasional picnic like this one.
August is the month when many temperate climate farms begin the harvest. Many modern nature religions hold a festival around this time called Lughnasadh (luna-sta), or Lammas (meaning the feast of the loaf). It's a good time for a party, both to celebrate the good times we've had with our friends and family during the summer and to remember how fortunate we are to have the resources for such a feast. True, the weather in August can be quick to change, especially here in Virginia. I just returned home from a camping trip in some of the nicest weather I can remember and now it's raining hard. But, who says you can't move your festivities indoors? Nobody ever said a picnic had to be outside!
We'll start by planning the menu. Every so often, I'll post a recipe from the menu laid out at the beginning of the month, along with serving and garnish tips, keeping in mind that this month has a shorter time limit.
MENU
--Savory Pumpkin Soup
--Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
--Anne and Diana's Avonlea Sandwiches
--Sunflower Seed Cookies
--Cider Tea Punch, Water, and Various Juices
--Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Peanut Butter, Honey and Ranch Dip
The key to any party menu is variety. Too many sweets and your guests will get a sugar crash, midway through the party. Too many savories and they'll drink every liquid in sight. And you never know who has what allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences. This menu will hopefully have something for everyone, but feel free to add or remove recipes as you so desire. These are just suggestions.
See you all again tomorrow, when I'll discuss sewing my first coordinate and the complications thereof. Have fun and remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
--Brenna
The theme for the month of August (okay, what's left of it) is Country Loli. Think soft ginghams, fresh berries, and wildflowers in your hair, with ladybugs and gentle fawns grazing in the fields. Of course, for those of us with allergies or who have no inclination for country living, maybe we should stick with the clothes and the occasional picnic like this one.
August is the month when many temperate climate farms begin the harvest. Many modern nature religions hold a festival around this time called Lughnasadh (luna-sta), or Lammas (meaning the feast of the loaf). It's a good time for a party, both to celebrate the good times we've had with our friends and family during the summer and to remember how fortunate we are to have the resources for such a feast. True, the weather in August can be quick to change, especially here in Virginia. I just returned home from a camping trip in some of the nicest weather I can remember and now it's raining hard. But, who says you can't move your festivities indoors? Nobody ever said a picnic had to be outside!
We'll start by planning the menu. Every so often, I'll post a recipe from the menu laid out at the beginning of the month, along with serving and garnish tips, keeping in mind that this month has a shorter time limit.
MENU
--Savory Pumpkin Soup
--Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
--Anne and Diana's Avonlea Sandwiches
--Sunflower Seed Cookies
--Cider Tea Punch, Water, and Various Juices
--Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Peanut Butter, Honey and Ranch Dip
The key to any party menu is variety. Too many sweets and your guests will get a sugar crash, midway through the party. Too many savories and they'll drink every liquid in sight. And you never know who has what allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences. This menu will hopefully have something for everyone, but feel free to add or remove recipes as you so desire. These are just suggestions.
See you all again tomorrow, when I'll discuss sewing my first coordinate and the complications thereof. Have fun and remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
--Brenna
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Introducing the Dogwood Lolita!
I probably shouldn't be doing this. I don't own a stitch of proper lolita attire (okay, a bustle over and underskirt, but the petticoat isn't finished yet and it should have been done in May). I'm not really a lifestyler, per se. I'm hardly a BNF (big name fashionista). So, why am I doing this?
Maybe it's the urge to share my growth and studies. This is sort of a homework assignment for myself. Expanding my knowledge, finding questions to ask my Loli Mentor *waves to Denise* and, oh yeah, sticking with a task. That one's always the hard one. Don't believe it? Check my profile and see how many failed attempts at blogging there are. It doesn't help that I DO keep a real-life blog, so I can bitch and whine about life and stuff and I post in that one on a sporadic basis. It's mostly memes, grumpiness, and flailing about writing projects and NaNo.
Let's see... I should probably tell you a little about myself. My name's Brenna. I'm married and working on going back to school to be a teacher. I'll be 24 in September and I'm a Libra. I enjoy reading, roleplaying and vintage fashion. My favorite colors are, well, all of them, but I go through phases of color cravings. I wouldn't be surprised if they link to my general mood over a period of time. When I'm not plotting the ruffled and beribboned conquest of the world, I'm a medieval re-enactor (kSCAa Sciath ingen MeicCon), and an aspiring writer, with at least three novels in mind at a time. I have a nasty habit of starting projects and never finishing them, or at least taking forever to do so. I have two cats, John-John, a cross between a furry potroast and a ninja, and Raven, a prissy, thieving little tabby.
I'm not terribly fussy about my variety of Lolita, though I lean towards casual a fair bit, I'm sure. Comfort is a big thing for me. No tight, full-length sleeves for me, and I'm a bit intimidated by the headeating bows and crinoline and I have a “bad romance”; a great deal of cursing and verbal abuse, followed by a raging love affair, suited to epic films and novels, right before the swearing starts again.
In closing, I'm really hoping I can stick with this. I have a list of topics in case I run out of ideas, some of which can inspire more posts and, hopefully, before long, I'll be writing... OUTFIT POSTS. *has a moment* So, until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space!
Maybe it's the urge to share my growth and studies. This is sort of a homework assignment for myself. Expanding my knowledge, finding questions to ask my Loli Mentor *waves to Denise* and, oh yeah, sticking with a task. That one's always the hard one. Don't believe it? Check my profile and see how many failed attempts at blogging there are. It doesn't help that I DO keep a real-life blog, so I can bitch and whine about life and stuff and I post in that one on a sporadic basis. It's mostly memes, grumpiness, and flailing about writing projects and NaNo.
Let's see... I should probably tell you a little about myself. My name's Brenna. I'm married and working on going back to school to be a teacher. I'll be 24 in September and I'm a Libra. I enjoy reading, roleplaying and vintage fashion. My favorite colors are, well, all of them, but I go through phases of color cravings. I wouldn't be surprised if they link to my general mood over a period of time. When I'm not plotting the ruffled and beribboned conquest of the world, I'm a medieval re-enactor (kSCAa Sciath ingen MeicCon), and an aspiring writer, with at least three novels in mind at a time. I have a nasty habit of starting projects and never finishing them, or at least taking forever to do so. I have two cats, John-John, a cross between a furry potroast and a ninja, and Raven, a prissy, thieving little tabby.
I'm not terribly fussy about my variety of Lolita, though I lean towards casual a fair bit, I'm sure. Comfort is a big thing for me. No tight, full-length sleeves for me, and I'm a bit intimidated by the headeating bows and crinoline and I have a “bad romance”; a great deal of cursing and verbal abuse, followed by a raging love affair, suited to epic films and novels, right before the swearing starts again.
In closing, I'm really hoping I can stick with this. I have a list of topics in case I run out of ideas, some of which can inspire more posts and, hopefully, before long, I'll be writing... OUTFIT POSTS. *has a moment* So, until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)