Ilsebelle

Curiouser and curiouser...

2012-03-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

..........is how things are at the moment, which is just how I like it!

Here's another creepy-Alice-lolita-thing of an outfit including a handmade fascinator I recently made...

+ on Lookbook (:

I made this brooch out of felt, lace and embroidery thread and added it to the bow to make this fascinator (: (the lace is meant to be stylised blood)

Here's the brooch on its own (I made a second copy) do you think I should put it on my shop? Or add it to something else first?

Usakumya!

And in other random photos, here's the sky (it's been sunny, foggy and even snowy in the past week, apocalypse now?)...

And here are some gems I found at the market last week! I always love going there after class to spend £2 and get something exciting (:

And now to eat some Easter cakes!

New collars on Quaintrelle Anarchist!

2012-03-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

One is a commission so it's not up for grabs but the other one is available on my Etsy shop :). With this one I gave it a pink lace frill instead of the pompom trim I usually use. I think it turned out cute, what do you think?

Here's the collar:

Front

Back

The collar is for sale here if you'd like to have a cheeky look (:

And here's the collar I made as a commission:

(sorry for the bad lighting...winter *__*)

I've never done a commission before and I must say it was really fun emailing back and forth about details and the like. I'd definitely be up for doing more in the holidays! Any excuse to sew..... :D

Quaintrelle Anarchist interview!

2012-03-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed for the Cherwell, an Oxford University newspaper (: if you'd like to read/see the interview it's here on the Cherwell website

And here's a recent outfit (that I'm wearing in my interview photo too)....

Also on Lookbook (:

I think I look like a rather creepy child (:

In other news, I'll be putting some more collars on my Etsy shop in the next few days. One is a commission but the other will be up for grabs and may be the last fuzzy pastel one for a while! ^_^

Orange stripes and bats

2012-02-25T06:25:00.000-08:00

Here's what I wore to my friend's Birthday yesterday (: (:

I made the detachable collar, it's the same pattern as the pastel ones on my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist but with rather different fabric, what do you think? Would you like to see some of these for sale?

also on Lookbook

I hand dyed the dress I'm wearing under my corset black, hand dying is so easy I really recommend it! Dylon do the best dyes in my opinion.

You may have also noticed a little rabbit friend with me. I found him at the Gloucester Green market (on Thursdays) in Oxford. He's made of halloween fabric with bats, ghosts and skeletons in top-hats, my favourite things! I also have a red and white one and I go to this stall every week, the owner also sells amazing jewellery and scarves (: so have a look for it if you're in Oxford on a Thursday! There are also many good vintage/antique stalls at the market where you can find intriguing things (:

Her website is here have a look ^_^

Who ever knew pastels could be this disturbing?

2012-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

But they are (:

I must apologise for the winter light making these very blurry.. we'll call it intentionally hazy..

Also on Lookbook (:

Hope you liked the look. And happy Tibetan new year for yesterday (: although it's not being celebrated this year I hope everyone had some time to reflect (:. And today is my friend's Birthday so I drew her as a cartoon:

She has cool hair, we trim it with a friend's beard trimmer<333. Now to homework, and so to tea!

The latest addition to my doll house

2012-02-20T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a friend I found at the market for £3! I took her into my doll house and made her pretty, have a look...

Before

After <3

I used Warhammer paint (:

Did her eyes and lips

But I still need to name her *____*

Sunday is Alice day

2012-02-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

Today I had rather an Alice in Wonderland day, even more so than usual (:. Not only did I feel a little like Alice in the Baby the Stars Shine Bright dress I was wearing but we also went to the Alice in Wonderland themed cafe, Cafe Loco, that is right next to where the real Alice lived! In Oxford! I've also been playing a lot of Alice Madness (the computer game) and have got some amazing Alice related books, but I'll have to share those another time.

Here's my outfit...

My dress and blouse are Baby the Stars Shine Bright, I got the hat at Camden Market and everything else is my Grandmother's

6 days out of 7 = stripy socks

See Lookbook (:

And here are some photos of my mini adventure...

The river looked pretty today but SO cold *_*

Mr Swan

What I ate at Cafe Loco (Eggs Benedict + iced caramel coffee)

Alice walls <333

My doll wanted to live in the teacup

Also, my boyfriend made chocolate chip and marshmallow brownies when we got back! They are glorious and perhaps the most gooey thing in the history of the world (:

The lumps are mini-marshmallows

I also sang today and got free dinner, joy! But tomorrow is busy and my tonsils are enraged for some reason so camomile tea and self pity it is before the week starts *__________*

New collar and bows on Quaintrelle Anarchist!

2012-02-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

Today I sold out of pastel collars on my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist so I've added another! I think this one is a little special as it has a glitter ice-cream button on it too (:

I also added a set of two bow clips that match the collar. I was thinking of putting them all in one lot but decided against it in case someone just wants one part ^_^ so they're available separately (although they go great together)

Collar available here

Close up

Bow clips available here

How they look as a set (:

Hope you like them! And happy Valentine's Day!! I'm doing some reading for a Tibetan essay at the moment accompanied by the gifts I received <3. I'll definitely have to do a review of them! And apparently there's a surprise for me this evening *_* so I'm excited *_____________*

Valentine's Love <3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

Photoshoot in the snow

2012-02-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

It has been snowing rather a lot here recently and when I happened to bump into my friend Aerynn, an amazing photographer, after Tibetan class on Friday, we ended up doing an impromptu photoshoot in the snow. Very fun but very... cold!

We used the member's garden at my friend's college so there was no one around. Lots of tourists took photos of us through the gate though, and one even shouted at us *__* hmm...

I'm wearing a jacket from the brand Eustratia, they have beautiful designs! This jacket had chains hanging down and you can't see so well here but the front is also in the style of a biker jacket. So well made and so comfortable, aah I wish I could keep it and wear it everyday!! I'm also wearing a necklace and clip from them too (:. The rest of my outfit is just what I happened to be wearing that day (I took off the red corset I was wearing), lucky it matched!

And here are a few more (instagram) pictures of the snow because, well I'm English and so the merest hint of snow gets me overexcited...

Going to lectures in the morning

By the river

My friend's college

Aerynn + tripod + snow in the member's garden

The snow isn't quite so impressive now but if it snows again I'd love to shoot more since it's such a rare opportunity here (:

But as you can see my hair is a little faded in that picture so I'm going to dye it now whilst reading some Tibetan. With tea!!

Man that you fear

2012-02-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here's me looking like a scruffy faery in my grandmother's velvet jacket...

Lookbook

And in other news.. I have a new nose ring, I'm busy drawing people for an instagram project, I did a photoshoot in the snow (pictures soon) and I've been studying, yes that too (: (:

On another note, please have a look at the album my brother's band just released, you can download it for free here! It's full of majestic doom (:. If you like metal or music in general, have a listen! Thanks <333

Customising Inspiration from Dream V

2012-02-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

It must be because all of my sewing things are at home that I can't stop finding great ideas for customising things. Well it's definitely another reason to look forward to the holidays when I can sew from dawn until the ever later dusk (:. I thought I'd share some of my ideas here, maybe you'll be inspired too... I found these pictures from the "princess" section of Dream V, a reasonably-priced Japanese clothes shop on Rakuten. As you can see the models are all examples of ギャル style, and they look great, but I think these items would look good with all manner of styles, it's fun to mix! スタイルを混ぜるのが楽しいわ!

1) Cat shorts

I found these here and thought they look a little cheap (due to the fabric and lace choice but, hey, they are less than 3000 yen) but the idea is amazing! I love how they look normal from the front... but they're not! I'll definitely customise some shorts I already own to look like this or, failing that, just make a pair from scratch. If you had the shorts already, you'd only need some lace, embroidery thread and buttons. I could even make different animal- pandas, deer, shorts for my Etsy shop, what do you think?

2) Faux fur shorts

They're here. I thought these would be great for a forest fairy like look, just like a faun! These look a lot better quality than the cat shorts and are a similar price so to be honest maybe it's worth buying them. If you had brown shorts already though all you'd need to do is trim them with fur, make some fur braces to popper on to the inside and add some fancy buttons, maybe some deer ears to go wild...

3) Bow back dress

Seen here. A very simple dress not too dissimilar to one I already own. It got me thinking though. A great way to customise a dress would be to cut a deep scoop from the back and sew a bow (made out of the fabric you cut off or a contrasting fabric) across. Adding a popper fastening at one side will mean you can still take it off. Now I want to re-work some vintage items like this for my shop!

And now here are some things... I just want. Of course one can try to make versions oneself, especially when they're selling out so fast, but one can also dream (:

here

Oh the mint.. here

Hope you liked looking at the pretty clothes! It was actually after reading a post on Sweetheart Fashion that I was inspired to go and look at the website as I hadn't for a few months.

Now I'll go back to writing my essay with some tea, hope everyone has a nice afternoon!

Panda Go Panda!

2012-02-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

....is a great film! The perfect antidote to the greyness on February. Speaking of pandas, I have just added 2 panda jumpers to my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist, have a peek!

Panda jumper in black

Modelled by the beautiful Ellen

and the panda jumper in white!

Hope you like the pandas! Wouldn't it be cute if 2 people twinned in them. A little panda accompanied me to lectures today and he had a lovely adventure involving soup. I hope everyone else had a good day too.

Her hair rolls like sea waves

2012-01-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'd like to share with you a very special Etsy shop I came across a while ago, stalked for a long time then was bought a present from for Christmas. The shop is called Hide n Seek (click for the link) and they sell all manner of wonderous things such as art prints and jewellery. I was given a necklace (the top one shown below) and the picture is of a girl with sea for hair and a little ship as her hat! So magical!

Also see my lucky rabbit foot (£2!!) and teapot (a gift) which reminds me of the teapot cannon in Alice Madness, my latest obsession (she's too like me..*_*)

And what's more the packaging could not have been more cute! The necklace even came in a paper teabag case! I keep wanting to use the word "magical" here...

The envelope it came in

The shop owner also has a blog here that is equally enchanting.

Here's the outfit I was wearing that day...

It's on Lookbook too

New favourite hair style?

Sparkly frost!

I loved how the frills of my bloomers seemed both so risqué and prudish at the same time!

I'm currently very bust sorting my adventures for next year (oh, and my degree..) so alas there's not much creativity going on at the moment. I have resumed work on a painting though and am doing quite a lot of drawing/tattoo planning. I'd love to put some paintings on my Etsy shop when I've done a coherent set, do you think that's a good idea? I suppose you'd have to see them first...

Unexpected street snap

2012-01-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

My friend let me know I'm on the Vice magazine website, funny! I was photographed by various people at London fashion week and didn't think I'd see any of the results! Here I am... They spelt my name wrong and I'm pretty sure they made up the conversation we had as I don't remember it.. and I do have facebook *_*. Ah well, I do love the comments though, ah the fruits of the anonymity of the internet (:.

Absinthe Faery

2012-01-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

I love faeries and I'm actually one myself (:. Let's make "Flashback Friday" "Flashback Saturday" so I can show you what I wore on New Years Eve but never got round to posting! I was an absinthe faery that night, no fancy dress, it's just what I was :) :).

I found the skull pocket watch necklace that weekend <3...

and was given this obscenely large lolipop...

and had just got my nose pierced (though you can't see well)...

and found this eyeball-flower-ant clip!

Now I'm inspired to wear tonnes of green glitter again when I re-enter society after the work crisis I'm having this weekend!

Stripy legs of doom

2012-01-26T10:26:00.000-08:00

I have quite the obsession with tights, socks and pretty much any other type of leg-wear. Whilst looking through some of my outfit photos I noticed I always take a close up of my sock selection so I thought I'd make a little compilation. See it as the "how many pairs of socks can I wear at once" challenge, or just some everyday snippets- they're the same to me!

Also note the unvarying pose.. I think we'll call it the "sock pose" (:

Black Forest Lolita

2012-01-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent outfit that I was rather pleased with because I feel like I was able to mix two styles I love: gothic and forest-like all within the wonderful paradigm of lolita. I sewed the dress and bonnet last Easter so you may remember it from an earlier post. I'm also wearing my new harness which I think is perfect for the "spooky forest" feel (:- and it's from Topshop which is a surprise!

Apart from pretending to live in a dark, mysterious forest, I've mostly been working, seeing friends and shipping some orders for Quaintrelle Anarchist, my shop (:. Oh yes, and being cold. But that leads to the most important thing...drinking tea!

Pastel HORROR!

2012-01-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Is what has descended upon Quaintrelle Anarchist today (:. In other words, I put some new items on my shop! I'm rather pleased with how these fellows turned out, have a look... (more pictures on Etsy)

Bat jumper

Pastel eyeball bag

Rilakkuma creamy clip

Pastel panda t-shirt

Hope you like them! University term has begun for me now so I'm quite busy but there's always time for crafting right (: (:. Now to get some tea...

Strawberry Switchblade

2012-01-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

The end of the holidays is always a rush to finish creative projects before term starts again and of course I never get it all done in time.. but here are two things I did complete: a reversible collar and haunted house belt (:.

Belt; thinking of making some to sell, what do you think?

Here's what I wore it with also on Lookbook

Can't stop wearing my customised skirt *_*

Here you can see the collar, it's leather with a lace trim. The other side is orange with black bats on ^_^

And now, since I've been unpacking my things to the whimsical soundtrack of Strawberry Switchblade, I thought I'd share some images of these inspiring girls. Minus a few big shouldered jackets, I love their fun yet dark style! Definitely a precursor (if unknowingly) to lolita and perky goth; now I want to eat a lollipop and stare out of my window instead of start my translation.

I recommend "10 James Orr Street" I was definitely feeling the same before leaving Brighton *_*. And I'm so cold at uni...

Vintage!

2012-01-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling vintage lately, maybe it's dressing up in winter and doing quaint things like drinking tea and eating cake. I'll admit this kind of style isn't really "me" but I like it as an aesthetic and to look at on other people. Either way, here's an outfit (ok, old..) of a vintage-lolita like look- hope you like it! Incidentally, the neck-scarf and appliqué jumper have just been added to my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist if you feel like taking a peek. The necklace, headband and ring are there too :).

Photos by Charles Shepherd

Now I'm off to bed- I had a great day shooting in London with Aerynn and some great hair and makeup artists as well as other models! Can't wait to share the pictures when I get them back :) :).

Customised skirt and gorilla shrug

2012-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent outfit including one of my newly acquired items- a shrug that is more gorilla than clothes! (disclaimer, it's fake fur, not gorilla fur). I also customised the skirt and now I can't stop wearing it. I used a plain, long black skirt from my Grandmother, cut away the front, added 2 layers of ruffles I made from the fabric I cut off then sewed it up in front of the TV one night (:

Find it on Lookbook

And my face...

I think you can see the different textures of black better on monochrome (:

I'm working on many more exciting projects for Quaintrelle Anarchist, can't wait to show you all!

New collars on Quaintrelle Anarchist!

2012-01-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

Quaintrelle Anarchist news! I've made 3 collars and they're available to buy on my Etsy shop here. Here they are:

Denim frill collar

Pastel star collar with baby blue pompoms

Pastel star collar with mint green pompoms

Hope you like them! I was inspired by fairy-kei, Spank and marshmallows. I kept feeling anguished at how I have lots of t-shirts that I love but I feel far too under-dressed in just a t-shirt, too boring! So with these any top or jumper can be more exciting, but still as comfortable (or so I hope :P). I'm pleased with how they turned out and I'm wearing my own all the time ^_^.

Customised skeleton jeans and exhibition

2012-01-04T02:47:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great New Years, I know I did. However, instead I'd like to show you a recent project- customising jeans! I hardly ever ever EVER wear jeans but I'd seem some Kreepsville 666 ones with bones on and there was yearning.. They're rather expensive though and, as I said, I hardly ever wear them so definitely something to DIY instead. I started with a pair of white skinny jeans, no idea where they came from *_* don't want to know either.. and it turned out to be very simple. My jeans are actually quite different to the Kreepsville 666 ones anyway so I'd say they're inspired by them, not a copy :).

First I used Dylon fabric dye to dye them green then used black fabric paint to paint on the bones. I went for a graphic, bold style for maximum impact.

And here they are... (I dyed the dress black too, I'm dying a lot black at the moment)

My super lazy skeleton outfit!

Bows!

I'm pleased with how the green dye came out but the paint is a little faint so I may re-do it :).

Incidentally, that day I went to visit my Grandmother as there was an exhibition including my family in the museum where she lives. I found out my family used to have a goat cart, keep pet monkeys in dresses and their maids wore great outfits- I had no idea!

Fancy monkey

Great-Grandmother, she reminds me of Grimoire-esque dolly-kei, definitely a style inspiration!

Maid style...

And my, besmirching the family name by being more panda than human :)

So if you're in Lymington have a cheeky look in St Barbe Museum!

Now I'm going to attempt some holiday work.. but probably just read about faeries instead...

I was front page news

2011-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

......... well, I was on the front page of a newspaper, that counts!! It does! It's a photo from a shoot I did at the beginning of the year with my great and supremely talented friend Aerynn. Have a look..

The original image (my mother made me the jacket about 5 years ago, she's so talented!)

Disclaimer: my eyebrows were only edited out, I like it though..

And now back to sewing- I have some exciting collars to put on my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist- pastel explosion!!! BAKUHATSU!!

FOOD

2011-12-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

....is what this post is all about! It being Christmas time, this is hardly surprising.

Firstly, new food style supplies on my Etsy! Here they are...

Food rubber set 1

Food rubber set 2

You can use them as a cabochon, for collages or even go wild and actually use them as a rubber! I hope you like them.

Secondly, Christmas food! The smell of Christmas food wafting through the house could not be more happy making, in fact, along with seeing people I love and oh oh gifts it's why I celebrate Christmas! When I was still at uni we made some mince pies. I was surprised by how easy it was to make them...

(Discalimer, not my hands!!!)

Sieving flour

Rubbing in butter

Kneading

Putting in the mincemeat

Finished! We added little pastry pictures to the top

And biscuits from the spare pastry

And my Christmas tights combination! (No, really I dislike festive dressing personally but it seems I did it accidentally..)

Hope you enjoyed all of the food- and Christmas hasn't even begun yet! Now off to have my advent callendar chocolate...

Four new items in my shop + an outfit (:

2011-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

The reason I haven't been on my computer for a week? I left my computer lead at university and had to order a new one..... oh dear..

Anyway, I have one now so I can share some exciting (well, for me^^) news- I've put 4 new items on my Etsy shop! I hope you like them, please do have a cheeky look (:. Here are some pictures and there are more on Etsy:

Baroque piano ring

Vintage Christian Dior tights

Straw mini hat with flowers

Star print belt

Lots more items to come so please keep reading! :D

And here's an outfit photo to prove I haven't become a naturist and do still wear clothes...

I'm on Lookbook! :P

Aaand there's still so much more I have to share; customising, me in a newspaper, outfits, etc etc :) I may have been laptop-deprived but I have been having a productive time! But now it's time to continue tidying- I'm having a huge clear-out and it won't be long before I'm Ebaying :).

PS- I got accepted to study Tibetan in Nepal for 2 months this summer <3 I'm so happy!

Meeting Haru (:

2011-12-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

Today I met Haru from "The Agent of Anarchy" as she was in Oxford:

We went to a vintage market, explored libraries and talked (: such a nice day! And then I came home to pizza, aaand it's the holidays, so much joy!

Incidentally I have found a way to take my eyebrows to the next level- now they're not just colourful and glittery, they're spiky too!

And my love of Instagram continues to grow....

Now to make more patches!

Instagram!

2011-12-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

I finally made an instagram, does anyone else have one? If you do, let's follow each other (:. For those of you who don't know (like me before yesterday..) it's an iPhone app where you take pictures, use built in effects to make them look beautiful and then share them- like a snapshot blog or tumblr but with only your own photos.

I think it's going to become my new addiction...

Find my page here (:

And here are some of the photos I uploaded today...

Baking

Face

Also I'm rather excited as I plan to meet Haru tomorrow and Thursday is vintage market day, joy!

New items on my Etsy shop

2011-12-06T05:19:00.000-08:00

Here are the 2 products I just put up today...

1) Rabbit phone holder

He fits all types of phone I've tried including iPhones (:

Photographed by Charles Shepherd and modelled by Ellen <3

Find Mr Rabbit here!

2) White fluffy cat ears

Re-listed as they'd sold out ^_^

Find them here!

3) Vintage lipstick holder with mirror

Find it here!

Hope you like the new stock! I'm excited to get home so I can start my sewing marathon, I think collars are going to be a major feature... :)

Speed of Pain

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Black and gold feels very Winter-y to me and as a bonus gold matches my septum ring (:. I'm wearing this kind of colour scheme a lot lately and here's the proof....

Now my University term is officially over! But I have so much work regardless (: I won't be getting bored! Now I can SEW and update my shop with xmas gifties joy joy joy!

Now I must go and take some mince pies out of the oven, the smell is wafting through my staircase and we all feel very festive.

Let's knife! And socks! And Baby the Stars Shine Bright!

2011-12-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

Among the many things I collect I think stripy socks bring me some of the most joy. They're practical yet exciting, cheap yet wondrous; I could go on. It just so happens that a market next to the building most of my lectures are in has a rather good selection every Wednesday and so, due to a generous boyfriend, my collection has ~~grown~~ swollen of late. (:

Here's what I wore today including a pair of said socks...

Have a peek at Lookbook?

And here is a little selection of the socks themselves...

If only my uni room walls were painted like this, not... cream T_T

And to continue the sock fest, my Mother brought me back some socks from Baby the Stars Shine Bright when she was on a business trip in San Francisco, happy!

Alas you can't see but they have a stunning diamond print on (:

So I think we can conclude here that socks are the best!

Dance of the dope hats

2011-11-28T03:06:00.000-08:00

Cape + top hat = a great feeling of majesty

See it on my Lookbook (:

I'm really enjoying velvet and faux fur trimmed items in this rather brisk weather, and it can only get brisker. I suppose that means there can only be more velvet and faux fur?!

A great bane of my life at the moment is the winter darkness- I really love it but it means all of my outfit photos are grainy from lack of natural light, sorry!

I'm currently feeling rather ill so I'm going to do some cheeky re-dying and sleep, then I can return to the world again!

Marilyn Manson Harness

2011-11-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I acquired an amazing Marilyn Manson figurine from the time of "Antichrist Superstar". I can't believe someone had kept it in its box for well over a decade! I was so happy (: because I've pretty much wanted to become him since I was 12 (although my real favourite is his bassist, Twiggy Ramirez). When I get home for Christmas he's going to play with my Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer figurine. Please say hello:

Alas, my uni room has the world's most GROSS curtain ever...

Not only is the figurine all moveable so you can play with it (essential), it comes with extra parts, including an extra head! So of course I had to use it for something...

Then I got a harness that seemed rather dull and... the Marilyn Manson harness was formed (:.

Here is the result...

And what I wore it with...

And my face...

And some shoes I found for £11 (fact- wearing heels cheers you up when it starts getting dark at 4pm)...

(I customised the skirt myself a while ago too)

Hope you like it! I'd like to experiment with more harnesses involving doll heads, skulls etc, would anyone be interested if I put some up on my shop?

Now I'm going to make a bibliography T_T oh how they always take me too long...

Octopus!

2011-11-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Claire has started a great shop selling crochet items including really cute octopuses! If you feel like having a cheeky look, her stuff can be found here :) :)

Claire's octopus coin purse ^_^

Personally I can't wait for the Christmas holidays so I can go on a making spree! I have many things I need to add to my Etsy too, but am inspired to make even more! Does anyone else have any exciting Christmas craft plans? Maybe we could do a group project!

Electric Bloom Webzine!

2011-11-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

Excitement!! I am now the translator for Electric Bloom Webzine!! It's a great site run by my friends Charles and Ellen full of the most up-to-date info on all aspects of Japanese culture from fashion to film! They also do great photoshoots. Go have a look (: (: (: (: (: (: (:

The interview I translated for is here- an interview with a band called Urbangarde! I think the layout is amazing too!

And, incidentally, I found this article about Marby on their site, isn't her work so cute

And for a photo? Have an outfit snap...

Can you tell it's getting cold?

(also on my Lookbook)

Now back to essay-ing... and sleep!

Home Made Patches x Shonen Knife

2011-11-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

So here are the "fruits" of my home made patches experiment! I'm really happy with how they turned out, not perfect quality but I think that adds to the whole DIY feel anyway :).

I super-sized the picture so you can see the patches better, check my Lookbook for more, yay! Some are Marilyn Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, Trevor Brown's art, old Fruits pics and the Lunachicks!!

You can also see I'm wearing a Shonen Knife T-shirt I found on Ebay, more joy!! The band Shonen Knife have been going for, like, ever although I'm not sure when they're next touring.. Anyway they're from Japan and make cute cute punk rock, so go look them up on Youtube! I recommend "It's a new find", "Twist Barbie" and "I wanna be sedated" but they're all gems :). They sing about the important things: chocolate bars, sushi, gravity and hot chocolate!

Here are some pictures <3

CANPAI!

2011-11-14T14:01:00.000-08:00

I would like to introduce my friend Yukiko's new Etsy shop CANPAI! She makes amazing handmade and reworked items inspired by dinosaurs, eyeballs and space! Yukiko and I met in Japan and have been 親友 ever since so please have a look at her shop!! Here are some exciting pictures of what she has for sale (but she has many more things for sale too!).......

So fun and intriguing! I'm going to be putting some more things up on my shop too so please watch this space for news :)!

And here's a picture of Yukiko and I....

大好きな友人！

Now back to my translation!

I AM THE HYDRA

2011-11-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

...........................................................................................................................................................!

Old outfit:

See my Lookbook for more :)

I was very lucky to find this weird baby face top on Ebay. It's from Cyberdog but is pretty old! I basically have a rule whereby if something is that weird and under £5, I pretty much have to buy it. I think it's working out well so far :).

In other exciting (well for me) news, I've discovered how to make my own patches! It's rather laborious but now I can make any photo (read photo of Twiggy Ramirez) into a patch, joy!!

There's not need for a tutorial as the packet of "Dylon Image Maker" has instructions on it :). I'll show my first "creations" with the patches soon. Now all I can think of is making MORE but alas, no time now...

.............as now is time for sleep *_*

Halloween make up

2011-11-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

This Halloween I went to two parties (on different days) but didn't get an outfit picture for either! I was clearly having too much fun and I did get some (iPhone only T_T) make up shots. Here they are...

As a dead Geisha (I made my hat when I was 13, it has felt sushi on)

Apparently this one wasn't scary...

But this one was!! *_*

I love seeing everyone's Halloween costumes, oh how I wish it was Halloween everyday!

My eyebrows are like the forest

2011-11-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

They're green :)

As always there's a rundown on my Lookbook

I hope everyone is having a great autumn! Sadly all I have of my Halloween costumes (from Saturday and Monday) are iPhone make up pictures as I was so busy, should I still share them?

Eyeballs on a cake

2011-10-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

Is just what I received...

Cakes should clearly always match one's hair..

I had to share my cake as it was just so stunning. And here's what I wore that day:

See on my Lookbook

One of my friends said I looked like a cook which is cute :) and an old man kept saying he liked my coat- clearly a man of taste! I'm wearing BTSSB, Alice and the Pirates and my mother's button up boots.

Return... again...

2011-10-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

My computer is finally fixed, huzzah, 万歳, ཡོག་པོ!!! As for other news, I've had partly green hair for about 3 weeks and I think I will now forever <3

Despite the fact that I'm horrifically busy I thought I'd share an outfit (one of the many that have backed up whilst my computer languished, broken and sad)...

See my Lookbook for an outfit rundown :)

Edgar and Randy

I'm also really enjoying all of the Halloween stuff in supermarkets at the moment. I've bought all of my table wear from the party section and and surviving almost entirely on Halloween themed food! I also had my anniversary recently and my boyfriend got me a Halloween cake with bloody eyeballs and everything, so me! I'll share later...

Now I shall plan an essay on a Tibetan demoness then get ready for the first of many Halloween parties! I have quite the costume idea....

Quaintrelle Anarchist shop news!

2011-10-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Firstly, my computer is dead *_* *_* *_* sadness! I think I can fix it soon though.. we'll see...

Anyway, on to supercool things- The Agent of Anarchy, Haru reviewed my shop/one of my items :) yay! She wrote such a lovely review of my Ice-cream alice band (another for sale here). Please have a look at the review over here and follow her wonderful blog too!

And I have some customer photos from the wonderful Ella! She bought a pair of my cat ears (another pair to be listed on my shop soon :P) for Hello Kitty cosplay! Have a look...

How very cute! Ella also has an Etsy found here so please have a cheeky look :). I'll also add it to the facebook group. It makes me happy to see people wearing with I've made, I hope to get more customer pics in the future too ^_^.

As for a brief "life" update, I'm really bust with my degree atm- I'm now learning Tibetan and Japanese- so fun but so much work! :) :) :)

Now to fix my computer.... T_T

Quaintrelle Anarchist Photoshoot by Charles Shepherd!

2011-10-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

The photographer Charles Shepherd of Electric Bloom Webzine kindly did a photoshoot for my new shop Quaintrelle Anarchist! I modelled some things I've made (some I've already sold, eee, some I have yet to put up :P) with my friend Ellen who wrote an article about my shop on her blog so please check it out and follow her!

Here are some of the photos (please have a look at the Quaintrelle Anarchist Facebook page for the whole set):

All accessories are Quaintrelle Anarchist

Jumper and neck-scarf are coming soon to my webshop!

Accessories are available to purchase and the skirt and blouse are coming soon :)

I custom made these cat ears for Ellen and could do any ears like this if someone wants ^_^. The neck corset is also Quaintrelle Anarchist

Blouse and neck-scarf coming soon!

Tombstone hair-clips- ready to buy^^

Piano ring! (Sold)

Panda jumper coming soon! Also, coming soon in 2 other colour ways, I'll show you them soon :)

I love Charles' photographs, I think he really captured the fun, creepy and cute feel of my accessories/clothes :). All of the items that are coming soon just need product photos then they'll be on my Etsy to buy too :) (but I can reserve any for you if you want, just comment to let me know^^)

Thanks you for looking, hope you like!

Brighton is CHEAP :) :) :) :) :) :)

2011-09-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

On Yukiko's last day in Brighton we thought we'd do EVERYTHING! And that is just what we did! What I realised just how much fun you can have and great stuff you can buy in Brighton for hardly any money, it felt like I was age 7 spending my pocket money again. Back then I bought pretty much the same as now- spiky things, crafty things, intriguing things.... ^_^

As always- here's what we wore...

Yukiko made her hat, I made my clips :)

Alice and the Pirates dress, BTSSB blazer, DMs

Sunny day *_*

And what we did...

Admired our outfits of course! (joking^^)

Record shopping- anyone seen Family Guy- you know... the bird song... it's this song *_*

(I think my Family Guy obsession has come out..)

Chips, hot sauce, chai latte :) (and it was like £3 in total!)

Small railway

Under the tracks

Playing under the tracks

Old Pier

Fun day! And here's what I got...

£10 (including my lunch and a milkshake)!

Also got a VENOM and an AMEBIX badge to add to my jerkin from the Punker Bunker where Yukiko got 7 CDs :D

Made a necklace

Added pyramid studs to my jerkin

And that was our day! Brighton is such a treasure trove of you know where to look :) I do love it! And now I'm in Oxford- I miss it! I have to specially order in green hair dye here... T_T (ooh did I divulge a plan...)

And finally after my horrifically photo heavy post- our creation....

Yukiko calls him "Almighty"

And with that, good night!

Quaintrelle Anarchist is now OPEN :) :) :)

2011-09-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have very exciting news (well, for me anyway)- my Etsy shop, Quaintrelle Anarchist , is now open! I've wanted to open a shop for a long time and this summer I worked hard preparing and now... it's here! I had a lot of fun choosing what to make and still have so many ideas of more things to create! So in all, I'm happy I got it done and I hope you guys like it too ^_^.

I wanted to make a shop that was both creepy, cute and original with items that would looks great with lolita, fairy kei, goth, ethereal and original styles. My style is all about variety and so I hope that shows in my pieces :).

Here are some pics of some of the things I'll be selling (more pics and purchasing info on my Etsy)...

Thank you for looking! I also did a photoshoot for my shop and I'll be getting those pictures back soon- I can't wait to share them :). Now I'm off to bed.... goodnight! <3

Oh Charleston

2011-09-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Yukiko, my parents and I spent a very quaint Sunday visiting Charleston house nestled in the South Downs. Charleston was owned by members of the Bloomsbury set who painted every surface available with stunning murals and whimsical detailing whilst frolicking around and doing a bit of farming. Seeing all of this has really inspired me to find out more about the Bloomsbury set, especially the fabrics some of them made. Oh, and they have a great tea shop too^^

You're not allowed to take photos inside the house but here are some of the gardens/outfits....

Exploring

I'm wearing and Emily Temple Cute dress with a BTSSB blouse, my Grandma's velvet shoes and a vintage hat and waistcoat I customised with pearls and a tiny doll ^_^

Yukiko's wearing a hat she found for £3 in a Brighton flea market :)

Carrot cake x vanilla white tea!

We couldn't say no to a cheeky afternoon tea break- after all we are quaintrelles!

We then went for a short stampede up a hill on the Downs

Charging! (note practical clothing- we hadn't planned to come here in my defence...)

Then we got home and, just to be even more "English" we had.... a roast dinner! Then went to a pub! I think we outdid ourselves really... :P

We actually went to a pub (The Prince Albert) to see a gig and have some elderberry cider- but that's another outfit and so another post >.<

I hope you're all inspired to come and visit Charleston and read about the Bloomsbury set now! Although I think it closes for the winter soon... *_* so hurry!

Now to continue packing for uni... so... many... books... but of course that's the way I like it :D.

17 Eyeballs and a day in Brighton with Yukiko

2011-09-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ok so this is not going to be in chronological order but I'm going with the whole CERN may be throwing all of science off kilter, anything can go theory at the moment.

(Poor excuse... I know, I know relativity won't be proved wrong just not universal... maybe)

Anyway, I thought I'd add some pictures of my and Yukiko's day in Brighton- it was her first time there and she loved it. I've lived here for about 17 years and I loved it too!

Firstly, what's really important- our outfits...

Who can spot my delinquent face? Also see Yukiko's amazing customised, vintage Christian Dior men's shoes from Tokyo^^ alas, I don't have a close up on the studs..

And now for the outfit of 17 eyeballs, yes, I counted them ALL

Spoon made by Yukiko!

I was meant to be illustrating the eyeball necklace...

Ok, think I got all of the eyeballs in *_* now the "fashion" is covered- here's the fun! Now you'll have to bear with iPhone quality pics as said fun meant I left my cumbersome camera at home...

Eggs Benedict, duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

Afternoon tea after MUCH 購入 :) and look, Yukiko is wearing an eyeball ring too as that's what friends do^^

This is in Angel Food Bakery by the way- it only sells cupcakes, the BEST cupcakes so GO THERE!

Then we went home, changed, ate my mother's amazing home-made pizza and rushed out again for some night-time-ing

Sheltering in the rain in an art bar, hai grainyness

In Revenge, I think this is our "Revenge" face? I think I like it

So a wonderous day! We were also street snapped and saw someone dressed as Mr Potatohead, so it couldn't have been more magical really, could it? NO!

Oh the busy time I've been having and the things I have yet to say :).........

2 Day Lull

2011-09-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

Reasons for absence = a visit from the wonderous Yukiko followed by a photoshoot for my upcoming etsy shop! I have 2 days of a little sleep/packing before the weekend sewing fest/towning and then the wagon ride back to uni. Pleh &_&.

This photo sums up my week- LOVE!

(Sorry, no new dance, we're running..............)

Back home x Kreepsville 666

2011-09-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

So my life is busy right now- so busy! But as my wonderful German friend once said, "you can sleep when you're dead" :). Now I shall attempt a catch up before the next tsunami of exciting stuff happens- tomorrow.

I got back to Brighton about a week ago and I thought I'd share what I found when I arrived........

Throng! You may think my mother thinks I'm still 5 but no, she just knows me well :D

The stash I'd ordered from Kreepsville 666 had also come so I excitedly ripped open the package- here's what was inside...

Don't they just go so well with my pastel zoo duvet

Devil horns- I love these and have been wearing them a lot

Eyeball bow clips! Love these too although one of the eyeballs is glued on a tad wonky T_T

Socks, oh I always love socks^^

Patches- again, love them but alas they are iron on which never really works- I'm going to try ironing them again then sewing them- should work :)

In all I really like Kreepsville 666 items and definitely recommend the shop as they have really good service. The quality isn't amazing but no way bad either and their prices are reasonable so this isn't a problem :).

Now my friend Yukiko who was staying with me (main reason for wonderful hectic days) has just gone to the airport :'( but I can't stop- have to sew a load of things for my photoshoot tomorrow! Yes, I'm finally shooting things I've made and am going to open an Etsy very soon! I'm so excited and I hope you are too <3

Panda says customise

2011-09-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

I've always customised my clothes- I think I started when I was about 6 although of course I had help back then. 14 years later I'm still doing it, so I think I can say with experience, it's the best! It can take just 10 minutes to transform something banal into one of your favourite items and if you have millions of sewing supplies strewn about your house as I do, it's usually free too.

Here are 2 items I recently customised- nothing mental alas but I like them for exploring days...

Pics also on Lookbook^^

For the panda top I designed an appliqué, cut it out in felt and sewed it on. Then I added a wool cross in one eye and a little spotty heart in the other, finishing off with a satin bow for good measure. My base was a Muji top my boyfriend got me in Nishinomiya, Japan- I got it intending to customise it as I have and will never wear a plain white t-shirt but I hadn't got round to it until now &_&

For the skirt I simply sewed a black cotton lace frill around the bottom! I used a Primark skirt as a base- practically free :). I can't wait to wear it with corsets and more romantigoth outfits; it's ready now.

Now I'm going to continue learning Tibetan script in preparation for next term- I'm so excited to be learning a language from scratch again and whilst I'm sure it'll be challenging, it certainly shows me just how much Japanese I know when I compare! I mean, I'm not fluent yet but picking up another language sure is a confidence booster about other languages you know :).

Cyberdog!

2011-09-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Having worked in Camden where the flagship Cyberdog shop is and currently living in Brighton where they also have a shop has made me somewhat infatuated with them at the moment. I've always loved their futuristic designs and owned quite a few things by them but after this summer... that number has increased somewhat... ^_^

Their clothing is so well made and original, I really recommend it! You don't have to dress cyber-goth to wear their clothes either. I do sometimes but I wear lolita/metal/goth-like outifts most days and I think their clothes fit well with these styles too if you're looking to make them your own :). I can't wait to try out some cyber-lolita, soon it'll be time to bring out my pink dreads.. :P

Anyway, loving Cyberdog and being me (shopping-addicted) I was so happy when I passed Cyberdog in Brighton and saw they were having a sale! Their clothes are usually reasonably expensive (though well priced for their uniqueness and quality) but in this sale I got 3 items for just £35! Happy, happy, happy ^_^

Here's what I got...

The bottom has piping in it so it hangs like a UFO/crinoline <3

Doughnut top with sheer panels <3

Acid yellow frilly cardigan <3 (ugh, the sun went in for this one T_T)

And here is me happily wearing my haul...

I haven't worn the UFO top yet, that bad boy's being saved for a special occasion.....

PS, my looks are on Lookbook if you want to have a peek^^

PPS, I now have contacts (see my dark dark eyes) and will soon be reviewing them :)

Work work work....... is now over!

2011-09-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

It was my last day of work on Friday so now I'm free!! Free to do some reading for next uni term, sew, sleep and see friends :) :) yay! I had a really great time working- most people were lovely although some were less than pleased by my interpretation of the dress code it seemed.. well, I thought I was conservative :P

In case anyone was wondering what I'd been up to and why I've been a lazy blogger- here's a little of what I've been doing, or a day in my working life...

Train no 1

Windy escalator on the Northern Line (tube.. *_*)

Desk x melon pan x my amazingly organised work list^^

Hi...

Tea break

Back home x sleepy

Ok, so no photos of me doing anything... actually I worked hard and shopped hard every lunch break but of course no one takes photos when threy're actually doing things...

I was working as a web developer, can't say where of course, and learnt lots of new things- I'm definitely the opposite of anyone who could work in an office but it's a great way to save for studying in a month ^_^

And now to the freedom, I'm away from home atm but still am so busy *_* it's best that way though!

Mr Rabbit

2011-09-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to formally introduce Mr Rabbit, my new companion, with a monochrome picture that took me like 1 second to create on GIMP :)

Tomorrow is my last day of work *_* and so I took lots of pictures today but I'm too tired- sleep now, pictures tomorrow^^

Good night!

Customise!

2011-08-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

I love jerkins. I love black metal. I love pink. So really there was only one conclusion, right?

Make a pink black metal jerkin!

The gross vintage beginning....

Ok, not soo gross.. but must be destroyed! (gross rug too it seems..^^)

And what it became....

Back- hello amazing bands

Front

I then joyously preceded to wear it...

And then the next day I took the scissors to my brother's old Cradle top (after he gave it to me of course^^)

Mr leopard has been accompanying me a lot recently :)

I'll upload this outfit to lookbook another time, 2 a day is perhaps wrong..

And now to sleep before another exciting 6am start! To dream of all of the customising I have yet to do...

Ps, I met up with Ellen today for lunch in Camden, it was really fun and you should have a look at her tumblr :): http://missescupcakeface.tumblr.com/

Night!

Catch up

2011-08-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Again, I have been terrible. Terrible at posting. Terrible at doing anything of substance. I am working 7 hours a day with a 2 hour commute each way though- that's my excuse :P. However, I only have just over a week of my summer job left then I'll be spending the rest of the holiday with friends, sewing, revising for uni exams and dancing around ^_^. This means more posting :).

For now here's a quick catch up of what I've been up to...

1) A little customising...

Jeans

Jerkin (amazing knitted patch by my mother <3)

Basically I love black metal and have thus been customising various things with patches of my favourite bands. Oh I have more you show you here later..... :P and I can't wait to invent... BLACK METAL LOLITA! Yes, yes that's right!

2) Eating food my boyfriend has made/bought :)...

The best bannoffee pie

トトロ

3) Going to work...

I'm such a commuter- there's a company laptop in my bag and everything!

Me today

One thing I have been managing to do is upload outfits to Lookbook so if you're interested in my other recent outfits, please take a look :)

And now for another early night. I'm meeting a friend for Lunch tomorrow and then it's the weekend!!! Joy, it's even a bank holiday!!! Haha, too much enthusiasm?

PS, I have an announcement, I will say soon ^_^

Onigiri day!

2011-08-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made some onigiri and took them for my lunch at work today :). They're really easy to make (although I am no expert). Here's how I made them if anyone is curious...

My rice cooker :) you just cook Japanese rice as normal

Then stir in the furikake like the one here, wait for the rice to cool, make it into balls with your hands (keep them a little wet so it doesn't stick^^) then put a strip of seaweed on the bottom :)

How some of them turned out :) they look... "rustic" but I don't care they were tasty :P

I was so surprised when I first started living with my host family in Japan how my host sisters- 5 and 7 years old- could make the prettiest onigiri^^ next I'm going to make tuna and avocado onigiri!

Funny fact- canned tuna is called "sea chicken" in Japanese^^ it's シーチキン! Hehe it gives me a funny mental image...

Anyway, I was also pleased with my outfit today as I was so comfortable but also a cat! It's on Lookbook but I'll post it here too...

I made the ears myself- I want some more pairs^^

Bag charms!!

Outfit :)

Please have a look at my Lookbook if you want to know where my things are from ^_^

And now... so tired again *_* being a web developer is tiring^^ but quite fun I must say :)

And and on an exciting note, I am able to take the options I want to next Uni term :) :) yay! I can start Tibetan as well as Japanese 万歳！

Closet Child massive HAUL :) + customised hat

2011-08-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd share a few pictures of the wonderous package I received from Closet Child about a week ago. I've never done a "what I bought" type post before as I'm worried it'll sound like showing off or something *_* but this made me so happy I wanted to share my joy...

L-R: Emily Temple Cute top, Alice and the Pirates "scent of Rapunzel" dress, Metamorphose black dress, Emily Temple Cute dress

L-R: Alice and the Pirates bonnet, pink x white cuffs, black cuff (to match one other I have), sleeves for my Meta dress, deer skull ring, eyeball ring, Baby the Stars Shine Bright headdress

Hehe, I ordered... quite a lot :) but I'm definitely cutting back on shopping now (well, comparably speaking..) because I'm going to start saving for my next trip to Japan- studying there for a year! ^_^

Also, I've been making quite a few things at the moment^^ Though not as many as I would like due to after-work-major-fatigue.. Most of the things are on hold until the black metal patches I've ordered arrive but one thing I have completely fished is this hat! I saw some decorated hats in a boutique in Brighton but they were about £80 *_* so I went straight to a nearby flea market, picked up this hat, went home and customised it will pearls and a little Russian doll bead :)

I can't wait until it gets cold so I can wear it :) and it turned out to be the exact colour of the velvet ribbon on my new Emily Temple Cute dress, yay coincidences!

Now I'm going to eat home-made pizza, watch more K-on! and prepare for work tomorrow...

Back from the cradle to enslave

2011-08-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted in...a long while... *_* I've been tremendously busy but have really missed posting so I'm going to make a super-effort to post regularly from now on^^

I went to and got back from Oslo, became a hermit for a bit, started a part-time job in Camden, got sick and am now back at work! Far too much to chronicle properly so I'll photospam instead! I absolutely loved Oslo and will definitely write more about some of the things I did later ^_^

Oslo...

わくわく

ピザ

アパート

台所

私

可愛い犬

（笑）

絵

海

デザート

氷

酒場

パパ

愛人と一緒

私と人形

湖

人形

楽しみ

パパ

るんるんるん。。。

天国

。。。絵？

オペラ

新しい人形

一

二

三

家？

冒険者

VINTERBRIS!!!

ホットケーキ

。。。窓

爆発の後

I was 2 streets away when the explosion happened- there was a lot of glass. I was so confused I took a photograph because I didn't really know what was going on...

It was on the last day of our trip though and I still had the best holiday ^_^

After...

Enough? Now I'm off to bed- I have to get up at 6am every morning for work *_* zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Rabbit hat ^_^

2011-07-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to make a huge rabbit hat for a long time and this week I finally made it :). I'm really pleased with how it turned out and I'll be wearing it all the time this winter^^. It's fun to have a head about 5 times the size of everyone else's!

I included a double lace frill for extra cuteness ^_^

I'm going to Norway tomorrow so I'll be absent for a bit. I'm so excited to go :) :) oh I do love holidays!

Candy Candy Sundae

2011-07-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

I've started scanning in my pencil drawings and drawing over them on GIMP. It's because I think they just look better on a computer screen that way, real pencil is always flattened by scanning it seems. This is the first one, it's an illustration of a dress and bonnet I made, I think I'll name the picture "Candy Candy Sundae".

I'm happy with how it turned out and can't wait to draw over other illustrations I've done :). But now I'm going to get ready for my friend's Birthday pool party. It's good the pool's heated, it's coooold!

My Blythes

2011-07-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of being on holiday, today I dressed up my neo-blythe dolls and we had a tea party in the garden...

自己紹介しましよう。。。

Hello cat and apples!

I've also been doing a lot of sewing that it'll be fun to share. To start with I've make 3 pairs of fluffy cat ears; one I'll keep for myself, one to send to a friend and one I'd like to sell :). I also made the collar with bell, the bell is Rilakkuma's head!

Now I must start to pack for Norway :) :) since I have a party and other fun things planned before I go...

Hermit-like

2011-07-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

So I passed my second year at University! Joy :) only 3 more years to go, not that I really ever plan on leaving^^

However, it's rainy now and I'm on holiday after "exam season" so I've been having a relatively hermit-like existence which = films and crafting! And tea... and cake... ^_^

I finally made a Rilakkuma necklace I'd been meaning to for a while, I'm really pleased with it so here it is...

(sorry for iPhone quality photographs *_*)

My friend Ryoko got me the Korilakkuma phone charm, it's from Mister Doughnuts where she has バイト^^ they did a collaboration :) and my host sister Rina gave me the Rilakkuma cake strap :) :)

The finished product (you can tell it had gone dark by the time I'd finished pliering the ringlets..)

Me wearing it :) when I went to buy food at the supermarket this morning^^

It matched my headband and tights ^_^

I also drew a little illustration to put in a beautiful photo frame I received, I'll make this into a necklace too...

(it's me and my boyfriend^^)

Now back to my Fortnum and Mason camomile tea :D

On returning

2011-07-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I returned "home" yesterday :) and look what awaited me...

So many friends! (haha don't worry I have real life friends too)

Rilakkumaaaaaaaa! I got the large korilakkuma as a gift from the world's largest electronic fishing company, Furuno, when I recorded their international voice-mail message when I was living in Japan^^ (random fact)

Usakumya soft toy, letter from Comme des Garcons and a package :)

It had a Baby the Stars Shine Bright blouse in it :) :)

The lace has many hearts on it, so detailed ^_^

It's always strange at first to be home but now I'm happily drinking tea :)

And today I went shopping in town, look who I ran into...

Hello Moomin!

I bought some fabric/ribbon so I can make a huge rabbit hat/mittens set (+ maybe more to sell). Brighton is really good for fabric shops :)

Cath Kidston sewing box + materials I bought today^^

Right away I made this collar, for those times when you want to be a pet :) I can't wait to wear ittttt

I also found a vintage hat with a massive bow on :) I'm going to add pearls and other pretty things to it, it'll look so cute with lolita items in winter :). I'll do a post when it's done. I'm also finishing a pair of cat ears at the moment, just have to decide what to add to them... hmm (may also want to sell some of these^^ they're so cute)

So, that was the tale of my return home for the summer (ok, well, until Norway). I'm so happy to have time to draw/sew again, I have so many ideas! I think I'll be ready to open up a shop soon after I get back from Norway but I can't decide if Big Cartel or Etsy would be better *_*

Goodnight! :)

Punting

2011-07-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

I went punting with some friends, we drank Pimms and climbed trees, beautiful day^^

Here's what I wore...

Wearing an Innocent World dress

I spotted a nest of baby ducks :)

Stereotypical Oxford? I'm even wearing a boater hat...

Hello swan

Hello daisy

Then, after dinner we went to a party then a club :) I was happy because they played some k-pop at the party (ok, we put it on... but still^^). I decided to try a different look to usual, maybe like a sailor ^_^ because I always get too hot if I wear lolita to a club and I didn't feel so gothic that day...

I got the dress in Osaka and the shoes are Miu miu :)

The dress is really short so it has shorts built into it, so cute! I want to use it as a pattern and make some more over summer, especially as some of my friends have said they want them^^

I had a great night but the next day (yesterday) was mostly packing up my things as I'm going home for the holidays. I did make katsu curry for dinner though and we ate it watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, a classic! Then, of course, there was cake :D

カレーライス

And now, back to packing!

End of exams fun

2011-07-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

I wore an Angelic Pretty dress I got for my Birthday to come to see my boyfriend after his last exam, have a picnic in a park and go to my friend's bbq. It was such a fun day, so nice to be on holiday!

Voici les outfit snaps...

My Angelic Pretty dress, it's like something a maid selling ice cream would wear :)

(I made the hairpieces myself)

Bruised knee

I got my shoes in Tokyo a few years ago^^

The park was so pretty!

I matched nature :)

Then I went to my friend's bbq :) and the sky was really pretty...

My Angelic Pretty hairband was also... a topic of conversation...

Haha the pixelation makes it look worse

So a very fun day for this happy ice cream seller :)

Return!

2011-06-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

At last, my long absence shall be no more! I've finished my exams and now have 3 months of freedom, Norway, Brighton, sewing, reading etc etc etc etc :)

Here is a short chronicle of what I've been up to for the past few weeks :)

I've been revising for University exams doing this...

Working in the library

Classical Japanese in bed :)

And then there was a short break in work for... MY BIRTHDAY!!! I turned... 20 *_*

I couldn't celebrate too wildly as I had exams the next week but I got many presents (I do love presents) and went to a Nepalese restaurant with some friends :)

Here's what I wore (I posted to lookbook but more details here)...

An adult? *_*

Wearing the Emily Temple Cute dress my boyfriend got for me :) as well as these accessories, happy!!

薔薇

Then exams came :) they were actually a really fun experience, I mean how often do you wear a gown + sub fusc and go take an exam in a really old, beautiful building? We basically all looked like wizards :D

Sub fusc blouse, I like the bow^^

And then they were over! And so we celebrated...

I don't have any photos of that, just me and my friend on the floor, pondering life (we were listening to Shining) and I'm still in sub fusc :P

And now, I'm on holiday! Today I went to see people finishing their exams (though I didn't partake in trashing), I came with doughnuts, sparkling wine pink hairspray and party hats :). Now I'm off to my friend's bbq wearing an Angelic Pretty dress I also got for my Birthday, I'll post that tomorrow :) BECAUSE NOW I CAN!! I do miss studying though... all of the books I took out for summer will keep me sated though :)

Now, to pack up the onigiri I made and celebrate more!

Absence

2011-06-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in nearly a month *_*

This is because I have exams in just over a week so I've been revising, sleeping, eating and seeing friends at uni, also met Sir David Tang and Corey Taylor. I really can't wait to post again after exams finish :) especially my wig review^^

For now here's a summary of my life entitled, I do so love the BJL (Bodlean Japanese Library :P) aka the Nissan, 私の愛人!

Just another week here, drinking free coffee and rolling the stacks :) I best 頑張る!

Another bow from my Mother, gift and WIG

2011-05-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

My parents came to visit me at the weekend, it was such fun! There were pizza bagels, ice cream and tea in a flat filled with old books :) which was good for my 扁桃腺炎 (tonsillitis) :P

My mother brought blue iced fairy cakes and another bow she made for me, it was a happy day! So today I wore the bow attached to my dress as I headed off for class. Here's my outfit... (alas the bow isn't really visible since it was cold so I had to layer *_* it's pink with pearl hearts and netting)

After class I worked for a while then went to dinner at a place called Fire and Stone where I had a curry... on a pizza, it was stunning! Ryan's Mother also gave me a belated Easter gift of crochet supplies and books, how kind! She remembered I said I wanted to learn <3 and she also brought my wig I ordered a while ago from cosplay wigs usa so, despite the fatigue of trying to learn classical Japanese grammar, I was very excited!

Then, when I arrived home my wonderful friend Erin was in the middle of hennering her hair, it looked like pond ooze... but I bet the result will be beautiful^^

Now, the wig... I would like to do a brief review in the next few days which I don't have time to do properly now. Suffice to say I am very pleased with it :) here is a preview...

Tea strait from the teapot, it was a long day...

Self portrait

2011-05-28T02:31:00.000-07:00

I took a break from studying...

Uni is getting busy but I'll try hard to keep posting :) I have some lolita clothing I made I still haven't shown so that'll come soon^^

Tumblr/Ball

2011-05-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

I made a Tumblr account a few days ago and it's really fun! I basically just want it as a place to put all of the images I love/find so I can look at them on one page, and who knows, maybe some other people will find it interesting too

Have a look if you want to see lots of old school lolita, black metal, the Himalayas and dolls...

For now here are some pictures of the wonderful Pembroke Ball from last week, it was a splendid night indeed!

I wore something I had tailored when I was in India, sparkle sparkle, also I have KILLED my fringe FOREVER :)

There was a room full of cake! I took some time to document it after eating at least 10 confectioneries...

Blurry in the hall

By the jazz tent

I had the best time with the best friends! However now I have some virus... unrelated but perturbing none the less... To sleep!

Afternoon tea in the country

2011-05-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Ah to let my mind wander to the wonderful Easter holidays...

I just posted this look to daily dolly-kei so I thought I'd share it here too with a few more pictures :) and of course, any chance to talk about afternoon tea and a wonderful day out!

First we started with... tea! And some bears joined us-

Then we went to the countryside...

Here's what I wore- I customised a Muji dress with braid from the Italian Alps :). Also, my bag is Miumiu, my brown mink is from my Grandmother and my necklace is from a Tibetan market in Goa.

Very sunny!

So I needed a Baby the Stars Shine Bright parasol^^

And there was blossom! (I don't know which kind though...)

Then we went to afternoon tea in a little village called Alfriston. The cafe is called the Badger Tea House, I've been there about 20 times, literally! It's just so quaint :). This is a cute decoration they have in their garden...

I put one of my mini Blythes in a tea cup, she found it thrilling.

Glorious afternoon tea!

What a quintessentially English day!

That was my little holiday memory- back to term time! I had a wonderful time at the Pembroke ball last night, there was so much cake! I can't wait to share some photographs :)

Gift from my Mother

2011-05-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a wonderful package came for me from my Mother. She'd sent me the cutest antique bow to wear in my hair, what a sweet surprise! And she made it herself too :)

Here is a picture...

I think it goes so well with my new Shirley Temple cardigan and bow <3

And, since I'm posting, here's the outfit I wore to class that day too...

But that was a few days ago and alas the time for parasols is over, woe!!

I would like to post about some of the more creative things I've been doing of late but I can't let myself until I've written my essay on representations of the body in postwar Japanese literature, so let's begin!

Lookbook

2011-05-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

So. Very. Busy...

Term. Haze...

But I quickly made a lookbook so please have a look at it and hype my outfits- see the box on the right :)

Here's the outfit but using a different photo in an attempt not to be boring... (and of course now I wish I had used this photograph in the first place *_*)

I have much about which I want to write but no time at the moment. I do, however, have this extract from a Japanese linguistics textbook I read... (sorry for the iPhone picture)

Very 面白い indeed... Ok, back to work...

Nail art + black lipstick

2011-05-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

I just have to share my 先輩 Madeleine's nail art with you! We were studying in the Japanese faculty building (see 電子辞書＋教科書）and I was so taken by her "day and night" nails, especially as she did them herself, and they're her real nails too! Sorry about the bad quality photo, I only had my iPhone on me *_*

Then, last night, I went to see my friends' band The Mechanisms play at an LGBT drinks night, it was the first time I'd seen them and they were really good! So please look at their page :) It was also a night for the start of the Oxford University Genderless Campaign which is also on facebook so please like it :) it's very important and is explained better there than I could do here so have a look!

Also, I got a new black lipstick by Barry M and I can't stop wearing it, it lasts all day and I love it! Although my Japanese writing teacher looked a tad startled when she saw it, I'm sure the whole of the faulty will be wearing it too in no time... ^_^

Oh and do notice my Emily Temple Cute poodle skirt in the background, another new purchase I love :) as well as my black Christmas tree for jewellery and my hand-painted pastel elephant tea pot...

Now to class, then the library for, oh, about a millennium... but there is free tea <3

In my garden + drawings on wood

2011-05-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Look what I found in my garden today when I came back from my tutorial...

Note exciting huge shoes, they weigh about 3 kg each *_*

A dead bird! Strange, no one in our house can think how it came to be dead in front of our living room... but we're thinking of preserving the fellow in formaldehyde as a piece for our coffee table. We'll see...

Also, my chopping board fell apart and got burnt somehow so I decided to draw on the pieces and now I want every chopping board to break as it was so fun!

Close up

Number 2, it has Norwegian on as I'm going to Norway this summer and so I've been watching many documentaries on Burzum for language practice :) not that I can say anything yet...

And tomorrow I will see my friends band perform and then maybe go to an industrial club night if it seems fun^^ but not until I've read for my essay...

The start of term.... I made new hair!

2011-05-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

1st week has begun and it's quite busy, not too bad, but I know that will change soon... To help me feel motivated to learn and such things I made myself some wool dreads one night when having a 90s industrial fest.They are just so long and contain so many varying hues of purple! However, being made of wool they're not heavy at all :)

Some bad/funny webcam photos of said dreads...

And this is what I wore on my first day back...

Yay, Baby the Stars Shine Bright apron! Momoko wears it in blue in 下妻物語 ^_^

This is my purple x gothic x ero loli look, was perfect for collections (exams) and a tutorial!

And I made a lookbook :) as I think it's a nice idea to document outfits and see what the inspiring people there are wearing too, now to decide which outfit to upload first...

But before that, let's read about genbun ichi and shishousetsu for an essay on Japanese literature!

Summer Job + day in LONDON

2011-04-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to London for a very important business meeting, which resulted in me getting a summer job :) in Camden! Literally one street away from the market and the company building is on the canal, it's the perfect place to be working this summer! I'll be a commuter and work in an office, oh the feeling of self-importance! I'm so happy and to celebrate I bought a Baby the Stars Shine Bright suit, all in the name of business....

I also had a wonderful day with my parents in London, I don't get to see them that much as we're both so busy so this day was special^^

Here's what I wore aka my business outfit (I'm not joking^^)...

Dress: Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Bag and necklace: Vivienne Westwood

Shoulder bag: MILK

Shoes: somewhere on Omotesando Boulevard, Tokyo

Other accessories: handmade

On the tube to Camden Bobby Creger took a photo of my outfit for his blog :)

I found an old fashioned sweet shop in Soho :)

High contrast evidence of the after-effects...

So a fun day! Term starts on Monday which signals the coming of exams and gowns (hmm *_*) but also Pimms and punting (joy!) thus feelings are mixed. I think a picture of some cakes I made will suffice:

Now I will try cramming Kanji for Monday to the soothing soundtrack of Skinny Puppy, Wumpscut and Shining, quite the combination :) oh and one mustn't forget the キリンの甘い紅茶

Charity t-shirts for Japan- Red Cross Earthquake and Tsunami Relief + Dress set

2011-04-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

My Mother emailed this link to me as someone she used to work with set it up :)

Not only does this site sell cute/intriguing Japanese themed t-shirts and totes (some featuring Domokun!) but all proceeds go to the Red Cross' efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, so I recommend you have a look!

http://meemalee.spreadshirt.co.uk/

In other news here is a dress set my Mother and I made (dress, cuffs, bonnet and bag all handmade)

I'm so happy with it! I wanted to try an antique look and I had a great time in Brighton with my parasol that day^^ However, although lately I've been wearing many "purely" lolita outfits I don't always dress this way! I also love gothic fashion and especially mixing many different looks together; this summer I foresee mixing lolita pieces with trad goth ones and adding yet more to that for an over the top eclectic, doll-like, spooky, cute look :) I would say that is my everyday style along with dressing in "full" lolita. Let's mix brand with other styles too! I've been making some fairy-kei style things as well as some wool dreads- hurry up summer so I can float around in my newly-made clothes!