12 posts tagged “lolita”
I do all my drawings on plain paper first (sometimes lined notebook paper for rough sketches, usually normal white printer paper for nice sketches), in pencil. Sometimes I ink them with pens (especially if I want to color it in). Then I color if I'm going to do that. The khaki-colored lolita skirts to the left were sketched, inked, and colored, but I never bothered to clean them up more. (I actually never even finished the one I got started... ;_; )
Afterwards I scan it into my computer and use Paint.NET's line tool to trace over all the lines. I usually use a width of 2 or 3 pixels for outside lines and get finer widths as the details get smaller. Since I can't really go smaller than one pixel wide I usually try to figure out how many levels of detail I want and then use that number for the first width line.
The important thing is to use a layer above the sketch to trace (I like to trace different levels of details on different layers so then I can adjust and change my design more easily) so then when it comes time to color you can just turn off the sketch and add another layer under your lines for your color. Again, I like to have multiple layers so that I can adjust single colors as needed. It especially helps if some colors specifically go over others-- like in my
It's kind of long and a little bit complicated, but it's really not too bad. Once it's all colored I save it as a .pdn file to preserve the layers, then a .png to show it off to the internet! :)
The best part is that once it's done I can modify it thanks to the multiple layers if I change my mind or decide it needs something else added. You can see the changes made to my Pirate Hello Kitty design as it got improved through suggestions by forumgoers on Cosplay.com.
(If I ever decide to scan in my current project's design note drawings, I think I would be busy for a week with all the detail I put in. The pencils kept getting too dull to do the tiny details. <_<;;)
Well I've been up to a lot! And yet not much. I dressed as Sarah Palin for Halloween, got to get to a real knitting store, as well as doing loooots and lots of other stuff that I can't remember.
First thing: I have a Twitter feed now! Go there and revel in the minutae of my uninteresting life.
http://twitter.com/babelglyph
Second thing: I'm working on a niiiice big project now, cobbled together from four patterns.
Third thing: holy shiznat batman the English Gothic & Lolita Bible rufflytieredskirt from the second volume? Yeah the pattern is pretty much shite. It's far too short (my petticoat sticks out like four inches from the bottom), the directions are extremely incomplete (um...where does the zipper go?!), and it's basically turning the skirt of my dress into a slight mess. I'm having to add on another layer in order to make it long enough and I'm just not sure where it needs to go...Argh, argh, AAARGH!!!
Fourth thing: I have to be insane, because I am using a doll pinafore pattern for Blythe to make me a pattern piece for the top of my apron for this Big Project.
Fifth thing: Must..keep...working...@_@ Can't stop to blog...
Sixth thing: oh yeah and I keep running out of ruffle. BUGGER. It's expensive too, $4.49 a yard. :<
Do you ever do something that makes you go "oh my god how did this happen, I was so STUPID"?
I did that.
This weekend I decided to finally use my birthday gift cards to Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. $25 to Amazon.com bought me the English Gothic and Lolita Bible and the Go Fug Yourself book. Pretty sweet, right? I zipped through the ordering process happily and went on to Barnes and Noble, where I got Excel Saga 17, the Crimson Fairy Book, the Indexed book, a replacement copy of Dark Lord of Derkholm, and a book called Elsewhere. All in all, not bad for $75 total. I ended up paying a little extra at Amazon for shipping but I didn't mind.
Today I got the cheery little email from Amazon telling me that my order was shipped and this completes my order. "AWESOME!" I cried, until I saw something that plummeted my soul into darkness.
I shipped it to my friend in New York instead of myself in Louisiana.
A terrifying realization dawned as I figured out what I did...you see, the first item I bought on my Amazon.com account went to her. So, it thinks that's my default address. I'd begun to check out with the G&L Bible and the Indexed book but changed my mind halfway through and went back to replace it with GFY. I'd changed the address that time. I forgot to pick mine the second. >.<
Now I'm waiting impatiently and slightly scaredly. I spent most of the rest of my money today on books and a Zelda T-shirt and the rest on a birthday gift for my other, nearby friend. I don't think I COULD cover shipping back to me if she needed me to pay. and of course, the worst part is that it's all my fault. >.<
AGH THIS DAY HAS JUST BEGUN SUCKING. T____T at least there's only an hour left in it.
I worked harder on this design than any other one, I think, because it's so detailed. I won't be able to make this (the scenes are embroidered and my machine can't do that) but I would love to wear it. I would love to hear some feedback! <3
*Metamorphose bow
*Anne Klein glasses
*Gap coat
*homemade skirt and petticoat
*Danskin skating tights
*Mudd boots
...yeah, nothing's Lolita brand except for the bow, which was a gift. XD; The skirt and petticoat need work (skirt's too long + needs heart pockets, petticoat is losing its poof unevenly :S) but I'm happy with this for a casual outfit.
I keep thinking it'll be done "today" but it's still not done. So, here's my designs to tide you over...yes, I have Hello Kitty notepaper.
I was in a rush so it scanned in crooked -- sorry! Bonus points to the one who picks out the design I'm making first.
All righty. After neglecting this for several months, I'll have a tutorial/picture version of someone else's tutorial up at the end of this week. If I end up being a little late with that then I'll post some filler design sketches.
I'm working again on Pirate Hello Kitty. :) Buttons are a little less than halfway done. They need to be baked and painted, then attached to the actual buttons. I'm going to the fabric store tomorrow.
The "big" thing I'll be working on for this week is Operation: Lovely Subversion! It's a fancy name for making myself a set of Lolita clothes I can wear to school. It has a really strict dress code, so the skirts will have to be monochrome khaki, but I'm going to work with it as best I can. :) I have a few designs planned out already.
It's Miss Kitty White! Hoorah!
It's my first try at a photo story. I love how posable she is! Oh -- the Hello Kitty doll she has in the third picture up top was sent to me by the lovely Tracy! She was also, of course, the one to show me the picture of my darling Hello Kitty Pullip. <3 Hooraaaaay~!
Why? Because I woke up this morning and a topic reply notification was waiting for me in my e-mail inbox. This really isn't a huge deal because I get notifications from no less than four separate boards (Excel Saga Forums, MTAC, MechaCon, Cosplay.com) -- it was the post that was special.
A while ago (looong while ago) I made a post on the Cosplay.com forums about the Pirate Hello Kitty costume and how to make it more Lolita. Lots of people helped to make the design perfectly cute, and I naturally released my version here...
and then Angelique-chan on the forums popped up with the most adorable rendition of this idea ever. I want to share it with you all!
I mean, look at that. How can I not make this now? I've got a lot to live up to...I'll do my best! :3
The only detail not pictured that I've planned are Skull-chan decorative buttons on the vest. ^_^
