+ 2015 doll plans +

Happy 2015 everyone~ I know I'm 10 days late but it's better late than never, right? I suppose you could say I'm pretty happy with my small collection of three for now (that and I'm kinda broke after basically buying two dolls and all their clothes in the same year...) but I do have plans to add to my collection in future. Maybe not within 2015, but I'm probably going to start saving for stuff starting now :')

But first, a height comparison chart! "DJ" (Darjeeling) and Polaire are both dolls in my current collection, and while the stock images on the comparison site look nothing like them they've got the exact same body/measurements for reference. As for everyone else, I'll be introducing them shortly!

"Bee king" (who currently does not have an actual name) started out as a joke during one of my draw streams but I'm starting to really like him? I just drew a guy with really long hair and a hanfu for fun, but the more I look at 古装 for dolls on Taobao the more I want to make this guy a reality. I'm going to have a hard time trying to fit him in with the rest of my collection, but why can't we just have him be someone who spends too much time on the internet researching and cosplaying ancient fantasy China clothes? If I were to choose a sculpt I'd probably go with Little Monica's newly released Grand Harmony Luke. He's on the taller side of things but I might be able to put up with it if it makes him look good in hanfu.

"Bee prince" is based off a drawing I completed some time in October. I did, in fact, continue this as a running bee joke from my experience with "bee king"... except I actually managed to create a definite image for him. His name is Aster Cerana, as in Apis cerana, the Eastern honey bee. Literally a bee. I imagine him to be a snobby little brat, but the same time, I can't see myself having an MSD-sized doll in my collection at all. DIM's Jullis is exactly what I had in mind when I drew that picture, but alas... I'm not sure if 42cm is going to cut it for me. If I DO decide to modernize and size him up, I'll probably go for a LUTS SDF65 Carmine and see if I can do a My Choice to put him on the regular SDF body or Delf body.

And last but not least I've got plans for another girl! I'm so terrible at planning boys because I never intended to have boys in my collection at all, but if it's for the bees I'll do it... Estelle Cerana probably has the highest chance of being bought right now, but the price tag is a pretty hefty one. I'm aiming for a F60 Moe tan Celine from Fairyland and everything including shipping is approximately $670 :') I want a girl who loves pastels, spikes, and skintight clothing and looks nothing like the rest of the bee royal family. I've started an inspiration tag for her, but I have no idea where on earth I'll be able to find actual doll-scale clothes in the style I want, let alone any that fit a 53cm FM60...

...And that's a wrap! There's no way I'll be getting all 3 this year, or even one this year, but I do love plans and I DO love bees. Who do you think I should set as my goal first? Let me know in the comments :)

happy holidays from cafe amaretto!

2014 is drawing to a close and while I've been swamped with commissions and finals (hence me not posting much here), I'm finally able to take a break! I am, in fact, home for the holidays this year - which means all my girls get to be in the same picture for once! This will be Lenny's third and Porii & DJ's first Christmas :)

 

Click the readmore to see additional photos! :)

doll profile: meet haerang!

name: Haerang “Darjeeling” Yoo (DJ/”deej”)
age: 17
gender: female
birthday: November 11
hair color: natural black
eye color: red
skin tone: pinky white

occupation: student
character info: Haerang has always had an unusual fascination with magic. Since she was little, she’s dreamt of becoming a witch, or at the very least, a girl with magical powers. Over time her obsession with magic gradually turned into an interest in alchemy - or perhaps the closest thing to it in an alchemy-less society. In simple terms, Haerang is a lolita-loving, tea-obsessed chemistry nerd. She loves her chem lab class even though she’s been told multiple times that a lace-trimmed lab coat with a giant poofy petticoat is not proper lab attire (though she would like to point out that she keeps her hair short so that’s at least obeying PART of lab protocol). She spends majority of her after-school hours at the library or at Cafe Amaretto with a nice warm cup of Darjeeling black tea. She also thinks Lenny has cute freckles.

likes: chemistry class, gothic lolita, obnoxiously large headphones, the color red, hot tea, cute girls

dislikes: school uniform (the skirt’s not poofy enough), uncooperative group members, coffee, dog-eared books, broccoli

technical info
doll company: SWITCH

doll sculpt: Shiho (HD57 B-cup)

wig: FairyWoods 
faceup: Darjeeling Aesthetics (me!)
❤ mura

darjeeling's arrival!

Hello hello everyone! I'm actually kinda sick right now but boy do I have some GREAT news! I mentioned a box opening in my last post and I'm happy to say that yes, I have indeed managed to open a box today. Look who it is!

A sea green box...

CoA & the infamous SWITCH manual! (also heel feet I won't be using)

The bubble wrap mummy...

And the doll herself!

I've also taken a few shots with her brand new Oscar Eyes in. Managed to snag a pair from the San Diego BJD Con I went to over the weekend and I'm so happy with how perfect they are! It's probably not too obvious in the pictures but they have tiny stars in them too :)

I think she's probably going to be my last doll for a very, very long time unless I decide to switch out one of the dolls in my current collection. I'm going to get started on her faceup as soon as I finish making this post so... see you guys when she's all done!

❤ mura

long time no see!

I know, I know. Every time I make a new post it ALWAYS starts with something like this. However, it's been almost exactly 2 months since my last post and guess what that means? New doll on the way! SWITCH sent me a shipping notice just yesterday and she's going to be on a flight from Incheon to Los Angeles really soon. Hopefully if customs isn't going to be mean, I'll be able to see her by the end of this week.

Yayyyyyy!

In other news I've settled back in La Jolla for the new school year, but due to space limitations I'm only keeping two dolls with me. With one doll on the way, that leaves only one doll I can keep with me before the new girl gets here. Since Lenny already stayed a half-year alone with me, I'm keeping Polaire with me this time. I've given her a fancy new face and manicure for her troubles :)

I've also... spent a ton of money on doll clothes for all of my girls, namely from various Etsy shops and Promise of the World. If I'm not feeling too lazy I might do a full review of everything I've received so far. That's it for this time's update! I'm thinking my next post will probably be a box opening.

❤ mura