Personal? Personal.

It's been a hectic few days (they all seem that way lately), but good things have happened. All that sewing appears to have paid off. Just because I've been indulging in my crafty side lately, I've been spending quite a bit of time browsing Hancock and talking to the staff, I may have found a solution to my joblessness. I submitted my application today, and got a phone call within three hours.

I have an interview tomorrow.

It's only a small job, but hey. Job's a job's a job (I also may have an interview pending with a newspaper, we'll see how it goes! I sent them portfolio samples this afternoon) and I can really use a job.

Either way, this means there will likely be more sewing photo-posts in the near future. I have another skirt in that aqua kitsch fabric half-completed.

Digital Photography: Facing the Camera

Now and again, drama comes up in the lolita community about "over-shooping" or "over-processing" photos to look more appealing or visually pleasing. Everybody has a different tolerance level when it comes to digital retouching, and some people have incredibly strong opinions on the topic.

As a general rule, I like to avoid using Photoshop as much as possible. I prefer to cover any blemishes, even out skin tones and enhance other features through make-up rather than digital retouching. This is just my personal mode of operation, but I feel that it's a pretty sound one.

I have two reasons for this philosophy:

1. I can't control the photos that other people take of me, so I can't hide a shiny nose or zit from their lens unless it's under my make-up.
2. Editing photos is easier the closer to "perfect" the subject looks, which means concealing a blemish before the photos have been taken makes processing easier.

So, while I plan to talk a bit in the future about retouching photos to conceal unwanted elements, I thought it would be prudent to cover make-up in a general sense first.

Photo of the Day: On Being Invisible (Plus Zippers)

My best invisible zipper to date! Also, love the kitschy fabric. Not really a typical
"lolita" material, but I really love it all the same.

Photo of the Day: IT'S FINISHED!

So my first ever JSK is completed, and I call it a success. The bodice is a smidge long, but the hem is even (HELL YEAH!) and it's sturdy in terms of how it was put together. I still want to do a few more floral broaches for when I don't wear a bolero, but it's otherwise complete.

I tried out some nude lipstick today to go with it, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think that it makes my nose look big without my mouth having any color (if that makes sense?). I mean, I have a big enough schnoz already, I don't need to push that fact...

More photos are on Daily Lolita.

I know, I know ...

I'm still not done. But. It's almost there!

Today, there are no photos of it, as the bodice requires a bit of hand-stitching around the waist, zip and shirring before I show it off. Instead, you get ...

A fabric rose!

The bodice was looking mighty bland, so I told a friend I was going to add a bow. She said that might be a bit much, that she liked the fabric on its own merit. She suggested a small corsage to wear at the strap, instead. Thus, a fabric rose. I'm planning on making at least one more for my hair, and a few smaller ones out of the green ribbon as additional accents.

Fingers crossed that I finish this project tomorrow!