Happy Holidays + Lolita Contest

I hope everyone with an Etsy shop is experiencing some of the holiday rush! I had under 50 items total, and have already sold three this month, so I'm a happy camper. ;)

Santa kind of forgot about me this year, but with a bit of help, I might win something from my wishlist:

My spring lolita fashion wishlist (sort of*)

Please "like" the picture by clicking on it to reach the Lolitadesu Facebook page! You don't have to "like" anything or anyone else for this.

The person with the most "like"s or "share"s wins one item from her wishlist!

*Mine would be all white except white items apparently don't work very well with Polyvore collages

Enter This Giveaway from Savage Lilly

I think we're JUST at the deadline, but I'm entering this spring giveaway of lolita-related accessories from Savage Lilly... and you could, too!

Visit her blog for details: http://savagelilly.blogspot.ca/2012/03/springtime-giveaway.html

Prizes include pretty jewelry, fake nails, and other stuff that would be appropriate for mainstream fashion as well. ;)

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On a related subject, I'm making a tiny sale post on the egl sales community right now. Only 3 items at the moment (all BtSSB), but once it's sunny enough for better photos, I'm hoping to post some dresses...

My standard lousy photo

...if I can bear to part with anything in my wardrobe after all.

New Doll and Tea Time Photos

This is going to be a "photo dump" sort of post. ;)

New doll for March

Disclaimer: I made this doll for the Dollmakers Team challenge -- "green and a pattern" -- which ran through the whole month, so it's not a belated St. Patrick's Day doll. :P

As you can probably tell from the photo, Vancouver is finally seeing sunshine again! It actually snowed again last week, but NEVER MIND THAT. Soon I'll actually be able to post new items with slightly less terrible photos!



Well, these two photos are still terrible. :P I took them at dusk.

Anyway, I finally finished the embroidery I was working on, and turned the material into a lavender sachet. It's sitting on my table right now, smelling heavenly.



Made this new head-bow out of beautiful Cath Kidston fabric, to go with my new green lolita JSK. The band is more teal than green, so I'll need to mount it on a different headband or maybe a ribbon.

ETC bolero, In the Starlight OP

Here I am, having tea downtown on St. Patrick's Day. The tea cosies were felted from "upcycled" vintage sweaters... How Etsy is that?!

Scone shot!

Indie Japanese brand JSK, Jane Marple socks, DC blouse

Here I am, a week later, at a brand new tea house by the sea. The tea house itself is a heritage building, and the interior is black and pink and French/princess-themed!



Here's a partial shot of the food. Who doesn't like to look at pretty food? ;D

Yume coat, AP tote, Infanta dress, H&M tights

Here I am, just yesterday, at another relatively new tea place by a different beach. ;)

It was a grey, rainy day, so the area was entirely deserted. I love the rain and my significant other hates parking in tight spaces, so it worked out perfectly for both of us HAHA.



As you can probably tell, this place is more "Asian" than "English afternoon tea". The food was nothing spectacular (Raccoon says it tasted like it came from Costco) but the tea service and tea were solid.

Then, while buying tea at a sweet little shop nearby, I found this adorable miniature tea set!!! It's not the fanciest thing ever, but the bordeaux flowers & gold trim are neatly done. And because it was missing the second cup, I got it for less than $10!!❤❤❤



Raccoon said the pieces would be too large for my doll and too small for our stuffed animals, but I didn't believe him. I guess the picture above proves he was right...

:'P

Looking back, it has been a wonderful month! I've definitely been spending WAY too much on pretty clothes and vintage books and delicious tea, but I've also passed the probation period at that new job and gotten a raise, so it more or less balances out. (Sorry for mentioning finances here.)

Soon I'll be heading to Victoria for Easter weekend, seeing the Svengali ballet, and making a royalty-themed doll for the next Dollmakers team challenge. Can't wait for those April showers!

New Blog Background!

A few days ago, I made a super simple 3-second background. It was for the 100 mini cards + 50 business cards -- for future craft fairs -- I ordered from moo. Did you know they're having a special "50 free cards + standard shipping" deal and another "10 free cards + free shipping" deal for Etsy shop owners??

I haven't done much with the look of this blog since creating it, because I don't want to spend my time on graphics when I barely have enough time to fill my shop! But now that I've made the background, I thought I might as well put it to use...

I think it's made my blog and Twitter that much prettier!

It is based on the "raindrops & flower" logo I created for wildflower makery. I hope to use the theme in more and more places. :]

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On an unrelated note, Angelic Pretty's US store is hosting their 1-year anniversary tea party... on November 20th, my birthday!!


But I most likely can't go. (sniff) In times like these, I really wish I had studied something more "profitable" than English...

I'm Back!

Me at Buckingham Palace!

Well, I'm back from London after what felt like months but was just under two weeks. I never knew time could feel slow and drawn out even when you're happy.

I suppose it's because we had so much to see and so much walking to do in so little time. Also, while my sleeping/waking hours are pretty messed up, I somehow adapted immediately to London time upon arrival.

Every day I'd wake up around 6 am despite being barely able to get up at 1 pm at home. Raccoon and I would then leave the hotel at 7 or so, and be thoroughly occupied until we collapse 14 to 16 hours later. Reading about each object in London's magnificent museums. Running down each lane in London's enormous parks. Visiting as many abbeys, castles, and old shops as possible.

At the Museum of Natural History

So although I was exhausted the entire trip and sick as soon as we returned, it has been a valuable experience overall, and no less wonderful as the other vacations I've gone on and returned from fully recharged.

I did feel inspired enough to sew a little felt bear mascot for my cousin in just two sittings, though. (She left a week after I got back, having stayed for the past two months.) I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them from her camera.

P.S. London is truly a big city (even if I got to see the beautiful English countryside as well) -- something I am apparently not used to at all. The busiest parts of downtown Vancouver feel laid-back and half-deserted compared to London!

Before heading up to Beatrix Potter's house

Caek!!! And Lolita Luggage

Felt cake slice with cream, chocolate, and fruit toppings

I surprised myself with a burst of energy last night and this morning, resulting in this (finally completed) sweet slice of fake cake. Click on the picture to see more photos of it in my Etsy store!

I've also started packing for our London trip after borrowing a suitcase from my cousin, who borrowed it from our aunt. It's navy blue with a giant plaid-wearing teddy bear on it. Very old-school England. :P

Anyway, it feels as if I've finished packing, because the case is full, but I still need to fit shoes in there somehow. It's not my fault, though -- I may not fold everything perfectly (neater folds = sharper creases that need to be properly ironed out, I say), but at least it all MAKES SENSE in there. Probably. I like to think I have a knack for packing.

No, the culprit is the outfits. Specifically 7 poofy, frilly lolita dresses and the underclothes/socks/headgear that necessarily go with them. Thaaat's right. So what if Londoners think I'm some kind of crazy Asian tourist? I'm doing at least 7 of our 9 days in lolita!

Of course it's all well and good if I don't care about looking silly, but it's not going to work out unless I figure out how to fit the shoes in. And my handbags. And the parasol(s). Raccoon's luggage is full, too, so he's no help.

How do other lolitas "travel light" while staying true to the style?

*And I'm only classical/casual -- how do over-the-top, cupcake-poof sweet lolitas manage?