EGL Theme Post (at the very last second I assure you): In and out of Lolita

Literally, the last minute. Sorry for the low quality and number of the images: I'm photo-shy as heck (and I had a cameraless period much of my lolidom), but here is me in and out of lolita.
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In:

I'm mainly interested in classic and country styles, and I love florals. The first pic is a dabble into gothic when I went to see Wolfman.

Out:

I love vintage, retro, and bohemian looks. I'm also inspired by otome kei and mori girl aesthetic. I really don't take a lot of photos outside loli and special occasions because...well, I guess I don't get out much, lol. I promise I wear more colors than brown, too--I love greens, navy, purples, and yellow.

I need to make a Harvest New Year's resolution too it seems to take more photos. I have like, tons of cute classic hats and a straw bonnet to show off XD

The Bodyline List for Country Lolitas

Bodyline is one of those places where you have to know what you're looking for before you start shopping. Pieces are hit or miss, and the shop covers a range of styles and qualities. As a country lolita enthusiast, I like to browse for items that match or go well with said aesthetic. I went through their current (as of 8-28) online overseas catalog and compiled this nifty list of products perfect for a country loli. So if you're a frugalita looking for country style closet fodder or a new loli interested in putting together an inexpensive country loli outfit, here you go!:


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OPs
Cherry Print Shirred Dress
Gingham Check Dress with Heart Buttons (I want this one so so bad)
Antebellum-esque Cameo Dress (tres Scarlet O'Hara in my OP--I wish this came in forest green!)
Shirred Back floral print Rococo Dress
Rose Print Dress and Headdress Set
Floral Print Dress with Neck Ties
Heart and Cherries Dress

JSKs
Picnic Border Print Halter JSK
Framed Roses Bordeaux Halter JSK (pretty sure this is a VM or Beth print replica)
Classic Style Floral JSK
Large Rose print JSK with Corset Lacing (I have this in wine, very nice)
Rose Bush print JSK
Floral print Shirred Tiered JSK
Strawberry Gingham JSK (I must have this in blue in my life)
Cherry print JSK
Gingham Check w/Sweets JSK (this piece is more sweet than the others)
Floral print Fancy JSK with Pearls
Love Nadia (perfect for country loli)
Boat Neck Rose print JSK
Floral Jsks 1, 2, 3
Blossom Print JSK in Yellow and Blue

Cardigans
Crochet-style Knit Bolero (see through, very folksy feel that goes well with country loli)
Ruffled Knit Shrug
Joli Petit Faon (cute deer and engrish..err.."flench")

Skirts
Heart and Cherries Skirt
Picnic Border Print Skirt
Framed Roses Print Skirts 1, 2
Classic Style Floral Skirt
Gingham Check with Teddy Bear Border Skirt (pretty sure that front bow detaches)
Floral Print Scallop-edge Skirt with Bottom Ruffle
Large Rose print skirt with Corset lacing
Tiered Floral Skirt
Gingham Check w/Sweets Corset Skirt
Strawberry Gingham Skirt
Love Nadia Border Skirt
Strawberry Bustle Skirt
Blossom Print Corset Skirt
High Waist classic Floral skirt (reminds me of old gunne sax a little)

Hats
Floral Boater
Straw Cloche with Lace Trim
Mini Straw Boater
Mini Straw Hat with Roses
Straw Boater
Mini Straw Hat with Teddy Bear
Mini Straw Hat with Rose and Berry Garland

Bags
Rose Bag
Floral Print Bag with Rounded Handles
Gingham Check Teddy Bear Bag
Apple Bag
Strawberry Bag
Dog Bag (think Toto!)

Shoes
Plain (not highly-decorated,assorted colors): 1, 2, 3, 4
Boots (sweet) 1, 2
Boots (classic) 1, 2
Winter Boots
Rose Boots (do want)

Hair Stuff
Braided Hairpiece (no blonde)
Gingham Bow Headband
Rosette Headband
Large Rose Clips
Large Rose and Bow Clip
Other Large Flower Clip
Floral Hair Comb
Rose Claw Clips: Colorful, B&W
Teeny Weeny Pink Straw Hat Clip
Strawberries 1, 2, 3
Rose Hair Rings 1, 2,
Rose and Berry Cluster Pigtail Rings
Ladies' Hat Plastic Hair Rings 1, 2
Bunny Rabbit Strawberry Hair Rings
Strawberry Hair Rings 1, 2
Apple Hair Rings

Earrings
Rose Themed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Acorns!
Strawberry/Apple Set
Strawberries 1, 2, 3
Cherry and Blossom Set

Necklaces
Lady Bug Flower Necklace (and another)
Deer with Inset Gem Necklace
Roses 1, 2, 3 (w/ butterflies)
Cameo Layered Charm Necklace
Deer (aaww!!)
Strawberry Jewel Necklace
Cherries

Rings
Rose Themed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Flower Cluster
Butterflies 1, 2
Apple
Cherry Blossoms 1, 2
Ladybugs

Nail Sets
Daisy on Red and White Polkadots
Strawberries on Pink Glitter (and on white)
Strawberry on Pink with Gems (same design in black)
White Lace on Black with Flower (same design in red)
Black Polkadots and a Daisy (same in pink)
White Lace, Flower with Red Gems
Rose and pink polkadots
Rose on Pink Glitter

Other
Deer Broach (omfg where did all this cuteness come from I don't even)
Flower Bracelets 1, 2
Fairy Charm Bracelet
Golden Rose Bangle
Parasol/Umbrella 1, 2
Strawberry Phone Charm
Cherry keyring (?-not really sure what this is)
Coin Purse

I may try to make more lists like this for other brands, shops, etc. and try and post when I find country-lolita/otome kei/hime kei/mori girl aesthetic friendly items.

tata, beatrix

Universal Doll Giveaway!

universal doll is having an awesome giveaway on her blog. Do check it out if you like/are interested in gal/gyaru style, for she has some excellent articles and related content.

Craft Post: Decorative Wallet/Coin Purse Out of Juice Carton

I've been getting really into recycled material crafts, and I recently tried this one over at Family Fun @ Disney where you take an old juice carton and make a nifty folding wallet/coin purse out of it. Looks tricky, but it's actually super easy and requires practically zero spending. All you need to do is print out their template and tape it together and follow their directions. While I like the funky look of just the juice box, it's not really my style (even with country loli, lol), so I used an old gift bag, computer paper, and deco gems to enhance it. Here are the changes:

Supplies: In addition to their recommended supplies, you will need something to cover the front of the carton. I used on old thin paper gift bag, but wrapping paper, scrapbook paper or thin fabric works too--just don't use anything to thick because you need to be able to score and fold the carton easily. Then use thin paper (not construction paper) of any color for the lining inside, and maybe have some decorative gems or something to bling it up.

1. Follow their directions up to step 2 EXCEPT the scoring,but after you cut your carton shape out, take your front cover and pin the cut out shape to it (or the template). Cut the front cover, allowing extra for folding over the edges. Score and cut out the spout area. Repeat with inside liner, making it just a little smaller than the cut out shape. Pics:

2. Now glue the front cover down using a glue stick, craft glue, fabric glue or some form of adhesive that is fast-drying and thin. Make sure to fold the extra material over the inside edges to cover them too. Then glue the liner on top, covering the raw edge of the folded over material. Clean up any rough areas. Let dry. Pics:

3. Now score your lines as in their step 1 and follow their directions through step 4. You should now have the basic wallet done, only yours will be much less juice box-y:

4. Next, take your cap. If it's not the color you want, you can paint it with craft paint. I liked my blue, so I just used it as is and decorated the whole cap with gems and pearls using a glue gun (also silicon glue would work, if you have it on hand). Make sure you don't cover over the very bottom rim of the cap or it won't screw back on. Pics:

Before and after

5. Add some finishing touches, like gems, ribbon, etc. to the outside. Tada! You now have a cute new coin purse/wallet/business card holder and no one would ever think it was once a carton of juice:

<------From this to this:

Now my crazy amounts of business cards can finally have somewhere to go!

It's still drying in this pic--I used doilies, gems, faux pearls and stuff I had around the house. I think I could have done better with more materials--next time I'd like to try this with pastel craft paint and then really deco the heck out of it!

Wordsworth Inspired Shoot at the Historic Grove Park Inn

"For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils."
- from I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud by William Wordsworth

OP: Mary Magdalene
Necklace: Offbrand (alloy)
Basket (see last photo): Offbrand, thrifted

I had a small impromptu photoshoot back in April with a visiting friend of my mother who happens to be a photographer. Since we were all out for dinner at the Grove Park Inn (which sounds like a tiny place but is really a huge luxury hotel where even President Obama has stayed) and since she had never seen me in lolita (albeit I wasn't exactly wearing a petti, so it's more like a poofy tiered dress), she decided to improvise a shoot by some daffodils. We had to fight the sun, so the lighting isn't fabulous, but I'm happy the pictures came out alright--it's been a dream of mine to have a photoshoot inspired by Romantic poetry. This one is inspired by William Wordsworth's poem which in turn he based on a passage in his sister's journal (sometimes good things come from having your brother read your journal, there is hope!). This is one of my favorite poems and one of yours too if you're a hopeless romantic like me ;-)

Priscilla Renea - Dollhouse - YouTube Music Tuesday Premiere

I found this while--ironically--looking for dollhouse miniature tutorial vids on youtube. Despite the auto-tuning, I really like the lyrics and the aesthetic of Priscilla Renea's music video. The scenario she's describing even reminds me of the Henrik Ibsen play A Doll's House and the plight of many Victorian women. Still relevant and a nice beat too.

Blue Moon Roses

I used to grow these with Marmie when I was a very little girl. Blue roses do not truly exist in nature, so these lavender-hued beauties are actually hybrids. The rose is my favorite flower. Cliche, yes, but at least I'm honest--I love the look, feel, and strong sense of old-school romanticism associated with the rose. Red roses and white roses are runners-up, but my number one favorite is the Blue Moon. It has the appeal of a fantasy image out of a fairytale illustration.

I'm back and "Kilala Princess"

Alas, I have been remiss! Sorry about the lack o' posts as of late—I've been working on graduate applications, studying for the GRE, and just found out my best friend is moving all the way to Denver, CO, so I have been ignoring Smoldering Rose for the past few weeks. Time to make up for my absence ♥

I think the adorable chibi-style princesses in the series' artwork was enough to get me to read Kilala Princess. No lie.

Anyway, this little post features a manga image from Kilala Princess that I colored of Aurora. She's my favorite Disney princess—I can't help it, even though I know she's supposedly all passive and everything. I feel like I have to defend why I like her everytime I mention her (Summary: likes Norse Mythology=likes Ring Cycle=likes Brynhildr=likes Sleeping Beauty fairytale=likes Disney movies=likes Aurora. I basically like her because she reminds me of Brynhildr, the valkyrie, a definitely not passive female character. I wrote a 20-something page paper on it for an Honors course once cause I do stuff like that when I'm defensive).

Despite a lot of mixed reviews (you know, “Kingdom Hearts with a vagina” and whatnot), I found Kilala Princess to be very enjoyable reading. I particularly loved how well-written the excerpts with the princesses are and the story's overall pace. The storyline wasn't horribly predictable, but then again—if you're reading a magical girl manga about Disney princesses and you don't expect it to end happily, you probably don't read much magical girl manga and don't watch that many Disney movies. But if you do, I can pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy this series.

Magical girl is my favorite genre, though I'm not sure how it happened. I always thought magical girl would appeal to the Harlequin-reading, Sex-and-the-City-consuming crowd, not the war-action-film-watching, serious-literature-reading geeky gothy girl. I'm not really into anime/manga otherwise (except Hetalia, as I discovered it right when I was doing my senior thesis in art history on national personifications—it provided well-earned comic relief).

Will post again shortly.

tata,

beatrix