I Designed a Classic Lolita Set for Dolls!

Omg it's here... after over a year in production, Dollhearts has finally released the physical version of this Classic Lolita set I designed for their fan-design contest. And it's absolutely stunning!

Even if it's doll clothes, I officially feel like a lolita designer~ When I was trying to come up with a design for their prompt, "elegant legend," I settled on a violin inspired set. This brought together brown tones with the elegant gold details I had in mind, giving the essence of a musical prodigy on a fancy stage.

I am incredibly impressed with the accuracy and detail that Dollhearts put into manufacturing the final product. Even I was unsure how to execute some of the parts of this design, but it translated so well with minimal modifications. They've been making doll accessories and clothes since 2003, so they know their stuff! 

Some of my inspirations for this design were Metamorphose and Amavel. I also looked at the doll clothes VOLKs have released, which sometimes included lolita designs. They even collab with well known brands such as BTSSB. They have been around for just as long, but their quality has never waned.

(although I love the old school aesthetic more, I perfer modern VOLKs face sculpts to be honest!)

Volks SD Charlotte Boire Set (2004)

Galerie de l'esprit "BONBON Fleur Rose" (2023... I think)

Okay, let's unbox! I'm so grateful that I was able to receive it as a prize for winning the design contest.

It is stunning! The doll I modeling the set is my Volks SD13 Anna. The only thing that did not fit were the gloves, which had separate fingers (while my doll has fused fingers). I believe they are designed more for Dollfie Dream, which is another one of Volks' doll lines. 

My only criticism is the bonnet design, which has a hard time staying on. It is hard to describe, but the part that sits on the head is an elasticated/gathered portion, which is supposed to stretch over the head. However, the elastic tends to just push it back into it's default "flat" position, and the clips they added don't do much. I think this can be remedied by adding a chin tie to it, so maybe I will do that at some point!

Please check out the other 2 winners! They had amazing entries and the outfits can be purchased here: https://dollheart.net/en/

Thanks for reading~

Valentine

Thrift Flip - Old School Wing Bag

After months of searching for an old school shiro bag, I finally came across the perfect one to decorate!

🤍🤍🤍

But before we get into that, I originally had a spica bag on my wishlist — it sold out before I was able to order one from them. For me, it was also a bit expensive for a bag (I usually try to get them for $30 or less), so I put off purchasing it. Apparently the shop owner ran out of lace that is used to make it, so getting it soon would probably be difficult. So the search for another shiro bag continues~

Spica Crown Bag

Fortunately, my friend wanted to check out Goodwill recently, and I came across this plain white bag. It was only $10, but it came with blue dye transfer stain on the front. I wasn't too sure if I could get it off, but I decided to give it a try.

I first soaked it in oxyclean, and then machine washed it with another bag that needed cleaning. Washing didn't do anything to the stain, so I decided to use a magic eraser (AKA melamine sponge). I was fairly sure this would work, as it is like an extremely fine sandpaper. However, it's important to note that it will buff off any sort of paint or the outer surface, so I do not recommend using it on anything dark colored or shiny.

Daiso melamine sponge

The stain came out without damaging the bag, which was good! Now to decide how to decorate it. I looked at several bags for inspiration, as I wanted something with angel wings.

Angel Wings Bag - BTSSB

ANGEL basket bag - Heart E

Angel Wings Bag - First of May

I made the angel wings with cotton fabric. It seemed the easiest, and I already had the materials at home! It is easier to do this by stuffing the area you are about to sew down with fluff first. Then, add more polyfill onto the next area, stitch down, and so forth.

These were a few layouts I tested, but I wasn't sure if I loved the cross charm. I'm a bit picky about my metal colors matching (especially because the charm is so big), so choosing either silver or gold was kind of a commitment. I decided to go with plain wings on the front. 

I found this brooch that I got as a freebie before, and it happens to be brass colored. I feel like that is a bit more neutral, so I glued that on the back.

Ultimately, I settled on this double sided design with the plain wings on the front, and charm on the back. I think this makes it more versatile, and it can work for a lot of different looks now! I’m super happy with the result.

I hope this inspires you to get crafty! I’ll see you in a future post — I will probably be talking about a classic Lolita set I designed. 🎻 

Stay tuned~

Valentine

The Cheese Meet

 The cheezening...it's here....🧀

Group photo taken by a fellow comm member! 

A few members of my local community hosted their annual cheese picnic potluck in a beautiful park! I was so excited to attend (with the help of lactaid of course), and even tried my best to put on a casual charcuterie themed coord.

Cutsew: ETC
Skirt: Dearly Valentine
Shoes: Bodyline
Accessories: Offbrand

The weather was a bit overcast and chilly, but that didn't stop us from having a wonderful time. There were a lot of cheeses and accoutrements that I have never tried before. Some people even made their own handmade dishes, which were really delicious. I really wish I knew the names of the cheeses I enjoyed, because I would love to purchase them if I see them again! 

I ended up bringing some mocha chocolate pretzels, salami, suprise cheddar (apparently it has a hint of parmesean flavor), and pizza crackers. However, the table was overflowing by the time we arrived, so I just shared with the people next to me hehe. 

Afterwards, I headed to the Nihonmachi fair with my friends. Honestly, I didn't even know it was going on beforehand! It was fun to stroll through though -- there were food vendors, artists, music, and more. 

At Japantown, we windowshopped at BTSSB, and then looked through Goodwill. I felt really lucky because I found a white bag that I can alter! I have been looking for a shiro bag for months, and it was on my mind. I guess manifestation is real? If it works out, look forwards to my alteration in a new blog post.

That's all! Until next time~

Valentine