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Hunting in the deep dark woods and further creative ventures

1.31.2014

Music Monday... On Friday

I completely forgot to post on Monday, but that is attributed greatly to the fact that I wasn't listening to anything new or amazing... and y'know. I plum forgot. That, my friends, is why I'm posting on my Grimm By Design blog. Normalcy shall return next week... Ha! Right.

Recently, I've been listening to one song in particular. I keep listening to it over and over again. On YouTube, there is this group called Postmodern Jukebox, and they cover popular songs. The catch is that they cover the songs in vintage musical styles (Motown, "Gatsby" style, Jazz, Doo-Wop, et cetera). Which... kind of makes my heart flutter, and I love it. All songs should be covered to be in older genres. It's fantastic. 

My favourite is one that features another artist named Puddles. He is a sad clown (with a golden voice), who dresses in a style that is distinctly Pagliacci. Which, I love. Because I love that opera (oh, all of the heart clutching emotion. It made me cry when I saw it live... Anyways, I digress). He joined in to cover the song 'Royals' by Lorde. To be honest, I love the song, but only when it's covered by other people. I just like the other voices better is all. 


There's just something so lovely about it. Today it's been making pattern cutting much more favourable.

1.27.2014

Wishy Washy

On occasion, I wander around online shops. It's kind of like window shopping, but it takes way more dedication to actually buy something. Therefore, also safer on the wallet. I mean, who wants to pay for shipping? Not I. However, here are a few of my favourite things. A wish list, I suppose you could call it. They're also just a lot of my favourite brands, and things that I have been gazing wistfully at for a while. 

Unif Salem boots from DollsKill (also available on UNIF and NastyGal)

Lip Service Cathedral Pentagram Tights from DollsKill

Unfinished Business Skirt from Wasteland

Camille Gypsy Jacket from Gypsy Warrior

Jeffrey Campbell Draco boot from NastyGal

Yeah... I spend a lot of time looking at shoes. I like elaborate shoes. Like Jeffrey Campbell and UNIF. I can't wait until there isn't any ice or puddles on the ground... Then I will return to wearing awesome shoes all the time!

1.26.2014

The little things

Recently, I find that the little things exhilarate me. They offer bouts of joy, and just please me. For example, they few little household things.

Irish Springs soap. A hugely nostalgic scent. It makes me think of when my family lived in the mountains. I'm pretty sure that for the longest time, it was the only soap that my dad used. I seem to remember it being in the small downstairs bathroom, too. It's such a fresh scent, and it just makes me feel happy.

Wheat Thins. Better than chips. I just enjoy them.

A hot cup of tea. For the past few days, I've stopped using tea pots to make tea. Which is hugely sacrilegious. Still, because of a shortage of good, black, loose leaf tea, I can't get my tea as strong as I'd like. So instead, I take a big ol' mug, throw in a tea bag of double bergamont Earl Grey, add a lot of milk, and sip away. I find that it's almost more satisfying, because it's really strong, really hot, and it makes for perfect tea. At least, in my world. I know a lot of people who would bash me over the head with a saucer for expressing this. Don't get me wrong; my favourite tea is still black tea made in a tea pot... But... sometimes hot tea is the best tea. And straight from the kettle works quite well for that. 

Driving at night, with the window down. Ah, joy. Warm nights, soft breeze, lovely music. It's a temporary moment of bliss.

100 things no one cares about

I watch a lot of YouTubers, and one thing that I enjoy are tag videos, where they answer several questions that have been pre-recorded by the stone tablet of time. Or... however they get started. Because of my goal to think about myself and my identity and such (and not have another identity crisis), I've decided to do the "tag" 100 things no one cares about. I took the questions from my favourite YouTuber, Grav3yardgirl. Technically, there are only 99 questions, so Grav3yardgirl made up #100, but I'm not going to answer it. Now, without further ado, may I present my 100 things no one cares about 99 things no one cares about. 

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

Neither. We never got around to attaching our closet doors. Normally I prefer to have them either fully open, or fully closed. If it's a crack or something it creeps me out.

2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
I'm more likely to take the little soaps.

3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

I like to have them tucked in, but my husband usually kicks them out.

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

Kind of. 

5: Do you like to use post-it notes?

Yes. They make me feel like I'm accomplishing something.

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?

Sometimes. I'm more likely to just not cut out coupons, though.

7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?

Probably bees. Bears are freaking terrifying.

8: Do you have freckles?

Yes, a whole lot of them. 

9: Do you always smile for pictures?

No, because I don't like showing my teeth. I tend to kind of smirk.

10: What is your biggest pet peeve?

There are a lot of them... I can't really think of any off of the top of my head.

11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

Nope.

12: Have you ever peed in the woods?

Many times.

13: What about pooped in the woods?

Not that I can think of.

14: Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?

Sometimes. Particularly if I'm out shopping by myself. Then again... I don't know if it can be constituted as dancing...

15: Do you chew your pens and pencils?

Nope.

16: How many people have you slept with this week?

One. My husband.

17: What size is your bed?

Uh... double... I think...

18: What is your Song of the week?

"Lolita" by Lana Del Rey.

19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

Yes. Just as it's okay for girls to wear blue. God, what a stupid question.

20: Do you still watch cartoons?

Of course.

21: What's your least favorite movie?

I really didn't like "This Is The End". 

22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?

The dead center of the prairie, or in a hollowed out tree.

23: What do you drink with dinner?

Varies from day to day. Sometimes nothing, sometimes milk, sometimes juice, sometimes alcohol.

24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?

Depends. Usually plum sauce, or sweet n sour. 

25: What is your favorite food?

Whatever I'm craving most. 

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

Great Gatsby, Everything is Illuminated, Shutter Island, The Devil's Rejects... I have a lot of movies like that.

27: Last person you kissed/kissed you?

My husband.

28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

Nope.

29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

Depends on the magazine. Even then, probably not. I'd be more likely to pose in lingerie, but I'd have to be pretty dang confident.... and comfortable.

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

Does a thank-you letter count? If so... a few months ago, I guess... 

31: Can you change the oil on a car?

I should be able to... but I don't know that I can.

32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

Never. Too paranoid to speed.

33: Ever ran out of gas?

Nope. Too paranoid to run out of gas.

34: Favorite kind of sandwich?

I'm a hamburger fiend. Otherwise I'm very fond of the chicken sandwich from Cafe Rosso, and the brie cheese, chicken, and apple sandwich that Earl's had for a while. That was sooo tasty.

35: Best thing to eat for breakfast?

Anything with a side of bacon, and a cup of tea. I'll eat pretty much anything for breakfast. I'm a breakfast person.

36: What is your usual bedtime?

10 PM. Later on weekends, but I like to get up early.

37: Are you lazy?

Depends. I can be. Depends on how lethargic I'm feeling.

38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

My favourite thing to dress up as was a gypsy. I remember dressing up as a gypsy many years in a row. Then again, I just wanted to be a gypsy in general.

39: What is your Chinese astrological sign?

Monkey.

40: How many languages can you speak?

I can speak English, enough French to understand things, enough Mandarin to be polite, and enough Latin to be pretentious.

41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

Not at the moment. I'd like to have National Geographic or something similar, but I never live in the same place long enough.

42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs?

Lego. Obviously. How is that even a question. HOWEVER. I do NOT condone the Lego for girls. It's stupid. Lego should be Lego, and all the people should be universal.

43: Are you stubborn?

Ha... I think I can be. I can also be rather hot-headed. 

44: Who is better...Leno or Letterman?

I don't watch either, but I really don't like Leno. And Letterman does get guests who I like.

45: Ever watch soap operas?

Not really.

46: Are you afraid of heights?

I used to be really nervous on ladders, but that was forced out of me. I am no longer afraid!

47: Do you sing in the car?

Yup.

48: Do you sing in the shower?

Not usually. I will if I'm playing music. I just like to sing along to my music when I'm alone.

49: Do you dance in the car?

If that can be called dancing.

50: Ever used a gun?

Yes.

51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

I guess technically our wedding... Last August?

52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?

Ha! No! Especially old musicals. I wish my life was a 1940s-50s musical.

53: Is Christmas stressful?

I don't think so. Aspects can be, but so can everyday life.

54: Ever eat a perogi?

Yes. I don't like them very much, unless they're fried perogies. 

55: Favorite type of fruit pie?

Hm... probably cherry. 

56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

There were a lot of things that I wanted to be.

57: Do you believe in ghosts?

Kind of. I have every reason to, but I'm still really skeptical of my experiences.

58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

Quite often.

59: Take a vitamin daily?

I take mineral tablets every day.

60: Wear slippers?

Nein.

61: Wear a bath robe?

Nicht.

62: What do you wear to bed?

Pajamas.

63: First concert?

Gogol Bordello in 2010. I'd technically gone to concerts before then, but that my first true concert.

64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?

Uh... Wal-Mart, I guess. Reluctantly. 

65: Nike or Adidas?

Converse...?

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?

Hawkins Cheesies...?

67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

Peanuts.

68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?

No.

69: Ever take dance lessons?

Yes, when I was in second grade. I've thought about taking dance lessons again. I'd like to take either belly dancing or ballroom.

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

He's my present spouse now. I picture him doing anything television or movie related. 

71: Can you curl your tongue?

Nope. I think I did it once, but that was a fluke.

72: Ever won a spelling bee?

Ha. Nope. I can spell extremely well, but I'm not a good verbal speller. 

73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

Close, but no cigar.

74: Own any record albums?

A few. I often buy vinyl when I go to a concert, and I used to frequent a record shop when I lived in residence.

75: Own a record player?

Yes, I do. It's a nice vintage one that my mum bought for me from a thrift store (she won it in a silent auction). It's one of my favourite things. 

76: Regularly burn incense?

Yes. We started when a friend of mine gave us this really cool incense burner and three types of incense for our wedding. Our favourite was blessings, which we went through really quickly. Before Christmas I bought three types of Canadian made incense, and my favourite is Canadian Forest.

77: Ever been in love?

Yes, and I still am.

78: Who would you like to see in concert?

Flaming Lips, The Dead Weather, The Kills, Lana Del Rey, Die Antwoord... I'd like to see a lot of bands again, and lots of other bands. I just like going to concerts. It's so exhilarating!

79: What was the last concert you saw?

Gogol Bordello. It was magical.

80: Hot tea or cold tea?

Hot tea. Strong, black, with lots of milk. I do like cold tea, but I will drink hot tea any time of the year.

81: Tea or coffee?

Tea. Tea tea tea.

82: Sugar or snickerdoodles?

Never had snickerdoodles, so I will say sugar cookies.

83: Can you swim well?

Ha... no. I'm better at swimming if I'm underwater, which is why I love snorkeling. Interestingly enough, I'm a horrible swimmer, fairly certain I almost drowned once, and yet, I love water. I'd have to. I am a mermaid, after all. 

84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?

I don't think anyone can...

85: Are you patient?

Depends. 

86: DJ or band, at a wedding?

I guess it depends on the wedding. 

87: Ever won a contest?

I think one or two.

88: Ever have plastic surgery?

HA. No. Never.

89: Which are better black or green olives?

Black olives. Nom nom nom.

90: Can you knit or crochet?

I can knit. I can't purl or do anything interesting... but I can knit.

91: Best room for a fireplace?

Living room. Or bedroom. Or studio.

92: Do you want to get married?

I did, and now I am.

93: If married, how long have you been married?

About five months or so?

94: Who was your HS crush?

The guy who I am now married to.

95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
No... I'm not three...

96: Do you have kids?
Nope.

97: Do you want kids?

Not really. At least not for a long time.

98: What's your favorite color?

Does black count? Otherwise... red or teal.

99: Do you miss anyone right now?

Not terribly. 

And... that's the end of that chapter.

1.21.2014

Mail Call!

Finally! My ordering several things from several places online is paying off. I love ordering things. Mostly because of the mail part. You never know when you're going to get it, and when you do, you're excited because it's exactly what you wanted! Sure, you paid for it, but that was such a long time ago. Any ways, when I ordered things, I ordered for two main purposes. 1) Mermaid costume 2) Grimm supplies.

This week I received... 


My mermaid wig from Girlshowhair on Etsy. I'm really happy with it. The colours went perfectly with the palette that I'm planning for the outfit/costume, and just struck me as exceptionally mermaid-ish. I think it's the combination of ocean colours and bleach-blonde. I picture a mermaid reclining on a beach, her sea-stained locks becoming bleached as they dry in the warm sun. The wig is a really nice weight. It's synthetic, but as far as synthetic wigs I've worn and used, this one is a lot better quality. I do need to learn how to brush it (and what to brush it with) to smooth is out a bit, but the wig itself is fantastic. 


I don't know why or when I fell in such loves with mermaids. It just combines so many things that I love. Or, at least mermaids are present is a lot of things that I love. Then again, I'm actually a mermaid. Which is why I like water so much.



Next, I received some supplies. My order from Spoonflower is fantastic. The fabric came out a little bit more orange than I intended, but in reality (i.e. not in a photograph) it's a nice subtle rusty colour, so I'm quite satisfied. This way I just know for next time... and know that it might be a good idea to order the colour swatch thing that they offer. It would probably pay off, since I'm almost guaranteed to order again. I also received my chain mail and scale mail rings and scales from Ring Lord. I'm quite pleased. I've already started crafting and working towards making some scale mail for my Elven mage/aristocrat costume. I think I need to find a better pattern, but I think I'll keep working at it until the piece is as big as I want it, and then decide if the scales lay the way I want. I'm so excited for everything!

And then there were two

Last night I said good bye to one of my mice. Gin passed away. It didn't come as a huge surprise, because she hadn't been doing well. Her actions made me think of when my cat Nala died in sixth grade. Lethargic, having some good days, but for the most part, something obviously wrong. I tried to make her as comfortable as I could, and I'm happy that I was able to hold her for a while before she died. We had a viking funeral for her, and we'll probably scatter the remains today. That, or bury them under the snow in the garden, and let it disintegrate even more. 

It's strange. I'm sad, but I'm definitely not as heart-broken as I have been with the deaths of other beloved creatures. Then again, I suppose it does speak for the bond between us. There was a bond, but not to the same extent as any of the dogs I've ever said good bye to. Also, with Gin being the first to go, it isn't a huge surprise. She was never as healthy as the other two. Still, she was my little nesting princess, and I'll miss her. Particularly while the other two are around. I just wasn't ready to start thinking about mouse deaths yet. I wasn't really prepared to start thinking about it until at least April. Ah well. Everyone has their time. 

Now I have to start thinking about whether or not I want to get another mouse to keep the other two company. I'm not sure that I will. I don't really want to make it into an endless cycle of mice, and by the time I would be ready to get another one, the other two would probably be ready to kick it. Such is the circle of life... But now there are two, and it's strange because I'm not sure that I was fully ready for it. Poor Gin. R.I.P. I'm just glad that I saved her from a fate of being snake food.

1.19.2014

Americana

I absolutely adore rockabilly style, and I also enjoy Americana. Thus, here are some lovely Americana (Rockabilly style!) items that I found on Etsy. Pieces like this make me think of the old western movies, and movies like My Favourite Brunette

Western Wiggle Skirt by RockinB
'Love it or leave it' Sailor Jerry art by Tabooisland
Vintage 1940s cowboy boots by RoslynVTGTTradingCo.
Horseshoe and blue roses necklace by wickedminky
Vintage plaid button up shirt by TaraMiSioux

There are so many examples of fantastic art, beautiful clothing, and unique vintage items. Be sure to check out the shops, and investigate further. Especially if you love vintage pieces and beautiful Betties as much as I do!

Rockabilly inspired thrift haul


A lovely Sunday, spent with lovely people. We went to Value Village, and I sought out some collared button-up shirts. I went on a rockabilly kick today, and realized that I don't have many rockabilly-ish clothing. By which not enough button up shirts that can be manipulated into looking pin-up inspired. I found a Cheap Monday shirt (it's so nice and soft... not to mention that $4 or $5 for Cheap Monday anything is an unbelievably good find!), a longer sleeveless floral blouse, and a cotton plaid shirt (from the men's section). I also found an amazingly decrepit and soft t-shirt. It's a shirt for some kind of auto thing. Something about motor cycles. 

Now, bonus. Glorious, beautiful, accidental discovery. 


It doesn't show up well on camera (and it's upside down), but this is a wonderful vintage Egyptian-inspired bracelet. I'm not sure how old it is, but it's really cool. I've always had a soft spot for Egyptian things, and I think it'll be a nice addition for any time that I do a 1920s inspired outfit or 1920s costume. They were crazy for Egyptian things. Then again, that's when they were making the biggest discoveries. The bracelet is a gold colour, with little blue stones (not sure if they're glass or what on earth they are), and linked sections. There is a pharaoh head, two sphinxes, and two sarcophagi with hieroglyphs. It's so neat, and it's so unique.  Definitely not part of the rockabilly theme, but it's still such a cool find.

1.17.2014

Men in Movies

A friend on Facebook posted this article about men in movies. How very, very, tired the writer is about movies about men. The movie they chose to discuss was American Hustle. Which... is a curious choice. I'd consider it to be an ignorant choice. And it's an argument that drives me insane every time it comes up.

I like male characters. I like female characters. I think that both are important, both represented poorly and brilliantly. I get so angry at how people complain about the representation of gender in film. Particularly when it's in the context of something like American Hustle, and it's a period piece.

Let's review some things. So, American Hustle is a little bit misogynist, it's crass, male-centered, and it's... very 1970s. The movie takes place in 1978. Yes, feminism had begun, and the women's liberation movement was in full swing. This doesn't mean that all women were involved,  or wanted to involved. It doesn't mean that women wanted to be superior to men. Just like today, some women (like the characters played by Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence) were happy to be lovers, mothers, and seducers. Sure, in the background there would have been women who wanted more. Women who leaped at the opportunity to join the FBI in 1972. Like all stories, though, not all women want to be heroines, or the top of the pile, or the ruler of all that the sun touches. Neither do men, for that matter.

Like anyone, I would appreciate to see movies about women. I like female characters, and some can be quite powerful. However, talking in the sense of time period. The way this article is written, it makes it sound like all history involving women should be re-written in order to fit our contemporary society. A certain quote comes to mind. Allow me to paraphrase; those who ignore history are destined to repeat it. If we change history through representations in film, where do we stop? Yes, we could change the roles of women, but then we may as well erase the presence of concentration camps. We may as well remove slavery, and the actions of early Americans. We may as well erase every dark part of history that revolves around racism, sexism, homophobia, and every negative thing that we have fought against. If we change everything, or if we ignore everything, how do we know what to appreciate, or be thankful for? How can we be graced with the sense that we have fought against something, and won? If film makers and writers ignore history (misogyny and all), where do we stop? I mean, let's face it. A lot of people have seriously skewed sense of history, and how we've gotten to where we are today.

Back to female characters in movies. Now, yes, there may be a few more "strong male leads" in movies than female... or at least it might seem that way. Do we maybe think that because of an enjoyment to complain? Within the past few years, we have had films like Hunger Games, Zero Dark Thirty, Evil Dead, and many others. Not to mention anything that Joss Whedon makes. Then, it raises another question...

What defines a strong female role? Does such a title demand a woman who wears pants, fights battles, and controls all men? I'm constantly getting the sense that anything short of that isn't enough. Speaking personally, I don't want to be a heroine. Yes, it's inspiring... but I constantly get the sense, and the pressure, that wanting to be a stay-at-home wife or a mother isn't respectable. I'm not sure if anyone else gets that sense, but mothers and wives can be strong women, too. Back to history; if we take a page out of any woman's book, we'll see that their strength is immeasurable. Talk about impossible boots to fill. Forget being led to believe that your body should be something else; what about your goals and how you react to things? I would never be a strong woman by the standards of what people want to see in films, and that's an unfortunate pressure to have.

All in all, I think it's unreasonable to want to alter movies that can't be altered, based on their time period or what they're about. Yes, I'd like to see films with strong female roles. But then again... it's impractical to ask for a film where a strong woman has no interaction with men, just as it's impractical to ask for a film where a man has no interaction with a woman. Relationships, however little we may want to deal with them, are relate-able and interesting. Particularly when there is a push and pull. That is why Shakespeare has stuck around and continued to be so relevant. I think people just need to think a little more about what we want to represent, and what battles we want to choose in terms of entertainment. Perhaps we're focusing on the films, the wrong books... Or more people need to write the scripts that they want.

1.09.2014

Because I can't wait


Was two blogs enough? NO! Of course not. Why try to accomplish with two blogs, what I can do with three? As I am trying to make Grimm Fabrications as web-present as humanly possible, I started a blog strictly for Grimm Fabrications. It's so pretty. I'm delighted with it. The photo on the home page was taken by and photographed by Of Storms Creative Studios. If I could get her to photograph all of my stuff, I totally would. She's such an amazing person, and I love her style. Naturally, because I love everything about her, I am going to tell as many people as possible about her and her photography. Of Storms! Of Storms! So beautiful.

You can visit this new blog here. Don't fear, I will still be posting on my other two blogs (including this one). What can I say? I just like to have lots going on. At least blog wise... I guess I just enjoy blogging... but I don't like mixing too many things together into one singular blog. Y'know. 

R. L. Stine


Today I learned that R. L. Stine is going to be a guest at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. This makes me super excited. 

Yes, R. L. Stine. The creator of Goosebumps, The Haunting Hour, The Nightmare Room, and other book and television series. I absolutely adore these series. What's not to love about 90s and early 2000s horror/science fiction series for children and teenagers? Maybe they're the reason I grew up so weird. Then again... look at any of the television shows from the 1990s. It explains a lot. 

The most recent book that I read written by R. L. Stine was Red Rain, a novel written for adults. It's an insane book. Very good, lots of scary bits and it was really graphic and made me more afraid of children. It was kind of bizarre reading it, though. I mean, it's an adult book written by a renowned children's author/creator of a popular children's series. It's kind of like reading Roald Dahl's short stories from the 1960s and -70s. Y'know, the ones that were published in Playboy Magazine. It really messes with your sense of reality.

Here is my review of Red Rain. And a glimpse of my excitement for R. L. Stine. I'm definitely going to saunter off and meet him.



There is so much to do before the Comic Expo. Excitement!

1.03.2014

Mermaid

Mermaids. I've just been in love with mermaids. Everything about them. Because of this, I've been scouring Etsy for mermaid related items. So many wonderful mermaid-y things! Be sure to click the links below the images and visit the shops. Even beyond the mermaid things, the shops have so many great things. Such talented people!

Now, for the mermaid-iness! 

Mermaid temporary tattoo by deKrantenkapper
Mermaid tail rainbow glitter earrings by demiflux
Silver mermaid leggings by Gpopclothing
Pastel clip in extensions by Cloud9Jewels
Mermaid necklace by ilovecrafty
I'm off to dive into an ocean and grow scales. Or something along those lines.

The Blogger Programme


The Blogger Programme is having a contest for a voucher to a favourite brand! Which is cool. I am a part of the Blogger Programme, but I haven't done too much with it as of yet, because I want to do more posting before getting involved with other brands. I'm thinking about joining as Grimm Fabrications as well as myself, because it could be fun. After all... why not? Carpe diem...

To be clear, The Blogger Programme is a UK based community that matches fashion bloggers with different labels and different brands. It works out to be a win-win situation, depending on how much a blogger writes about a brand, and how popular the blogger is. I definitely want to be involved more, and probably will. Especially as I work towards doing more fashion blogging...

1.01.2014

Plans!

What will I be working on over the next couple of months? A few things. A lot of cosplay. I'm going to be making at least two lovely costumes, maybe more. Here's the plans thus far.

Elven Aristocrat
This will involve lots of whites and blues, and watery looking silks and satin. A simple silver circlet, and a nice long cloak. A long dress, with lots of pleats. And, the piece de resistance, a breast piece made of chain and clear scale mail. I'm hoping that it will be beautiful. It should be. A lot of work  is going to be put into it.

Steampunk Mermaid
I'm creating a character who is a mermaid in transition towards becoming a human. The costume will consist of mermaid scale leggings, a bustle skirt with a long tail (made of ribbons and tulle), a corset (with shell and pearl details), a net shawl (to look like a fisherman net), a collar/choker (embellished with similar details to the corset), a mermaid-y wig, and a few other small things. Also, because it's a mermaid out of water, there will be a water respirator (because how else will she breathe on land?), and maybe some water-filled goggles. Kind of Abe Sapien-ish, but not quite. I think it's going to be cool.

These are the things I'll be working on for the next few months, along with a few other things. All Grimm Fabrications stuff. Because... yes. I need to. I want to. And it's going to be amazing.