Monday, August 25, 2014

Looking for Guest Blog Authors
Who Own Online Shops!

Calling all shopkeepers!

We are looking for a handful of online shopkeepers 
to write blog entries for us in a new series.

You can sell doll clothing, accessories, foods, furniture, patterns, etc. 
Whatever doll-related thing you sell!

If you want to sign up, you literally only have to write one post for us, haha.

And you just write it in an email, and we post it here.

Send them to nora.demington@gmail.com.

Very simple.

The post should contain this info:

1) Background of your shop

Why you started it, and brief overview of how you started it.

Where is shop located?
Ebay? Etsy? Separate website?
Why did you chose this location?

How many years have you run your shop?

How successful do you think it has been?

2) The Cons of Opening and Operating an Online Shop

3) The Pros of Opening and Operating an Online Shop


This series is designed to discuss opening and operating an online presence.

Many of us struggle with the idea of having our own store.

We might want to do it.
We might dream of doing it.
But yet, we don't do it.
We are even among those chickens, haha.

So we wanted to have a rational discussion of this topic.
With thoughts and opinions from people who have an online shop.

So please, send your posts to us 
and we will load them up here for discussion purposes!

Send them to nora.demington@gmail.com.

There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer to these things.
We are looking for personal reactions to these pros and cons topics.

So you don't have to be scared of other people 
not agreeing with you or thinking the same way.

Odds are, we will understand where you are coming from!

Often this topic gets discussed on boards, or chat rooms, or private threads.
We wanted a source that was a little bit more public.

So remember, anyone can read these!

But don't let that discourage you.

The fact that anyone can read these posts 
and get an idea of the experience of owning and operating 
an online presence is a good thing!

If you wish to remain anonymous but still give us your pros and cons opinions, 
you can also certainly do that!
Just email us and we can work that out. :-)



Any questions?

Please feel free to comment below with questions 
or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com.

If you want to include pictures, please send those as well.
They are welcome.

If you just want to do quick answers to our inquiry, 
you can feel free to add them below in the comment box!


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Summer 2014 FDC Posts Update!

Hola!

So we thought we'd have all of your posts 
for the Summer FDC up for viewing 
by this Saturday -- but that is looking less and less likely. 

Most likely we can have voting start on Aug. 30th.

Peeps sent in a lot of pics for us this time -- which is awesome! -- but we have to download those pics and then reload them into our blog system. 
That takes a long time with hundreds of large pics! 

That is why we are so slow, like roly poly pandas 
who have ate too many noodles. ;-)

So stay tuned for our update on when to start voting!

Should be Aug. 30th -- but again, we'll let you know on the day. :-)

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Winter FDC Theme Announcement!!!
Entries Due Dec 15th!

Yolo!

The Winter 2014 Fashion Design Challenge is Starting!!

Weeeee!!!

All images for all of the tasks should be sent to nora.demington@gmail.com

Put your thinking caps on designers!


There will be three Fashion Design Challenges in 2014:
Spring, Summer and Winter.

Spring is McDoney-Done.

Summer entries were due yesterday.

Entry posts are in process of being made for that.

So we are on to the Winter one!!!


Basic Info


The idea is to craft one doll outfit design and actually create it - yourself. 

Handmade.


The contest is open to anyone who wants to participate. 

Men, women.
Adults, children.
Elves, fairies.
Americans, Canadians, Australians, Japanese, Mexicans, Martians.

Anyone. Anyplace.


If you participated before you can participate again.

In fact, you really really really should.

You will just need to make one new outfit.



If you are younger than 18 years old, please get your parent or guardian's 
permission to participate.



Entrant Categories


We will break the entries into THREE groups:
 newbies, intermediaries, and pros.

The groups will be labeled publicly.

Please tell us what category you wish to be listed in, 
but Penny will make the final decision on that front

If your outfit looks like a professional job and you want it listed in the newbie section, 
then that isn't really fair. And vice versa.



How to Figure Out Which Category You Are


New to sewing anything, doll clothing or human clothing = Newbie

Been sewing for a few years, doll clothing or human clothing = Intermediary

Been sewing for quite awhile, 
proficient in drafting patterns and advanced sewing techniques = Pro


For sellers, this contest is basically designed to give you a venue for 
showing off your skilz, gifts, abilities, talents, ideas, awesomeness. 

Take this opportunity to get your name out there. 
And feel free to sell the outfits you create for this contest. 

(We actually bought two of them from the 2012 contest.)


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

You can use the comment box below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com



Winners


Each category will have a top winner. 

So there will be three winners to this contest in total.

Each winner will received a $60 AG Gift Card.



Outfit Theme: 

Animated Character

For 2014 we are theming the FDC outfit assignments.

For Winter your task is to design an "Animated Character Outfit."


Recently there haz been a wave of Animated characters wearing modern clothing on Pinterest, Tumblr, Deviant Art, Buzzfeed, etc.

Particularly Disney, for example:

Punziella's Tumblr edits


Rapunzel

Elsa


Anna


Flynn/Eugene ;-)


Dreamworks' Hiccup


Deviant Art, Bambi goes to University



Rapunzel goes to University



Ariel as lounge singer, haha



Disney princesses dressed for high school



AND 

There has also been Disney characters in different versions of their original outfits.

Like a re-imagined outfit.

Historical.





Retro.



Or just putting them all in a totally different era!



So here is your challenge:

You can....

1) Make a doll outfit that is like the original animated character's outfit
Basically like a costume.

Like this:



OR

2) Make a doll outfit that is a modern interpretation of 
what that animated character would wear

Like the characters going to university or high school, etc.

OR

3) Make a doll outfit that is a re-imagined version 
of that animated character's outfit

Like that Elsa in a Regency version of her gown

OR

4) Make a doll outfit for a non-human character into a human outfit.

Like the Bambi turned into a guy idea



It can be your own character who likes to cosplay as an animated character.

Or it can be a representation of that character.

It can be Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar, etc. etc.

Monsters Inc.

Rise of the Guardians.

A Monster in Paris.

Anything animated.

Anything that is a cartoon.

A movie, a television show, an animated short.

American, Japanese, French, whatevs!

Simpsons, Spongebob, Batman -- whatever you want!

Naruto, Pokemon, Sailor Moon -- again, whatever you want to do!

Scooby-Doo, Popeye, Futurama -- are you catching on that the choice is wide open and is totally up to your tastes and style!?!?!?!


Express your creativity peoples!


Think outside the box!


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

You can use the comment box below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com

_____


We are looking for AG-size outfits on AG dolls.

But if you want to do Journey Girls, Karito Kids,
Hearts 4 Hearts, Battat, Springfield, etc. that is okay.

As long as the doll is mostly comparable to AG size and dimensions.

We just don't want Barbie body and BJD style dolls because comparing them to AG style dolls isn't exactly apples to apples, more like apples to orange juice. ;)




If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

You can use the comment box below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com




The outfit comes with three tasks.


1) Outfit design



This can be a drawing, with your hand or on the computer, pictures of human clothing, a Polyvore-type mash-up thing, scan from a catalog, whatever you what to do.


But it has to clearly show your design. 
Identify types of clothing items, colors, and fabrics.




Also you should do a write-up for what you are planning. 
Use your words. Explain everything.

AGAIN...

You should do a write-up for what you are planning. 
Use your words. Explain everything.

(Did you make a write up yet? 
Because you should.
Heehee.)




Try to be as complete as possible. The more complex the outfit, the better. And we don't mean it has to use couture sewing techniques and super-expensive fabrics. I mean start from a basic foundation and then go beyond that. Layers, outerwear, socks, tights, shoes, jewelry, a purse, etc. Do you go to the mall in just a tee shirt and shorts? Probably not. You at least wear shoes....


You can submit more than one image for your design for this task.


2) Outfit in process of being created



Show us your fabrics, the pattern, the pieces you have cut out, mock-ups, whatevs. Just as long as you show us your creative process. This way we see how you work and we make sure it is actually you who made the outfit.


You can use bought patterns for your outfit, like patterns from Liberty Jane or All Dolled Up -- or wherevs. Or you can make your own patterns. Shoes can be store-bought or handmade.


In Process Pictures do not have to be fine art. They just have to show the work in progress. :-)



Also, submission can be more than one image.




3) Outfit complete and modeled



This is where you should take out your best doll model, 
best camera, and best photography skilz.



Photograph your outfit as professionally as possible. Pretend you are doing a magazine or catalog shoot -- like you are trying to sell this outfit. Craft a photo shoot studio, make a doll-scale scene, or go outdoors. Or do all three.


The more convincing, human-ish, and realistic the shoot, the better. Doll against a white wall or doll on a tabletop is boring. We do that everyday. Make your pics stand out and extra, extra awesome. Feel free to use props.


Include at least one shot of the whole outfit. And then detail shots and different looks for the outfit. Like with and without a jacket on, for example.


We expect more than one image for this task.

________________


You must submit images for all three tasks for one complete outfit.


ALL THREE TASKS Are Due Together.

Animated Character Outfit Design, In Process Pics and Complete Outfit Pics

Due on or before December 15th, 2014



The three top winners will only be chosen from 
people who submitted all three tasks for their Animated Character Outfit. 



If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

You can use the comment box below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com





_________________


We will be posting your designs and pics on this blog: http://sm2014dwfashiondesignchallenge.blogspot.com/


So don't send us pics of humans nor of things you don't want on the internet.

_____________


There will be a week of reader voting after all of the complete outfits are shown to y'alls. 

Then Penny will be tallying all of the votes (from both outfits) at the end of everything. 

From the top 50%, she'll pick one winner from each category, 
newbies, intermediaries and pros.


Penny's judging will be based upon several factors. 

They are ranked by order of importance:

1) Quality of craftsmanship

2) Realism

3) Fit

4) Creativity

5) Wow Factor

By "Wow Factor" -- we mean overall perfection of the outfit. 
Is it eye-catching? Do all of the pieces go together? 
When you see it do you immediately say: "I want that!!"

___________________


All images for all of the tasks should be sent to nora.demington@gmail.com

Images measuring 500 pixels wide or wider are best.
Again, try to make your images the best quality they can be.

Feel free to attach the pics to the email or
if you want to send us links to Picasa, Photobucket, Flickr albums, etc. you can.

Youtube slideshows are also okay.

As long as ALL THREE TASKS are included in your album or vid.



Thanks for visiting us today!


If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

You can use the comment box below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com


Really -- Feel Free to Ask Us Questions!!!

There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question!!!


❤❤❤❤❤❤


ALL THREE TASKS Are Due Together.

Animated Character Outfit Design, In Process Pics and Complete Outfit Pics

Due on or before December 15th, 2014


Friday, August 15, 2014

Summer Fashion Design Challenge
Entries Due Today, Aug 15th!

The Doll Wardrobe Blog
Summer Fashion Design Challenge:


Entries due today, August 15th!!!

Please send them to nora.demington@gmail.com. :-)



pssttt....

If you didn't get a chance to make something for this FDC, 
there will be one more this year.

Entries for the last FDC of 2014 are due November 15th, fyi.

The outfit theme of the Winter FDC 2014 
will be announced tomorrow, Aug. 16th.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Camera-Phone Experimentation:
Grey Dress

Camera-phone experimentation continues today!
Woot!

Saige is wearing a dress from Etsy's Valorie of the Dolls.

The pattern comes from Bonjour Teaspoon and is available through
Liberty Jane's Pixie Faire.

It has been accented by a human headband from Urban Outfitters,
which we put around the waistline.






Another San-X item appears!
A Kutusita Nyanko mini bean bag plush.
(Also sometimes spelled Kutsushita, which is more accurate.)

Available for purchase here:



Nothing like getting lost in the grass on a warm summer day...


And nothing like dropping the phone in the grass on a warm summer day...




Thanks for visiting us today!

________


The July 2014 photography contest entries 

will be published here soon.

Read about that contest here:


Entries were due yesterday, August 1st.



Please enter our Summer Fashion Design Challenge!!!

We have very few entries so far --

so please enter!


Entries due August 15th.

Outfit theme is "Learning" or "School."


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