Showing posts with label Maple Twiggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maple Twiggs. Show all posts

Sunday, June 12, 2016

750 Words: Updates on Life and Uselessness

As of Saturday June 4th, I hadn't posted on this blog since April 25th.

Now - I am pretty much known for being useless and going MIA.

So no one even noticed.

(Julia)

But what was I doing for that little-over-a-month time???

Let's pretend that someone out there asked that question ^^^...
cough, cough.

Some of you, 91 of you to be precise,
may remember when I had a whinefest back on April 9, 2016.

Whinefest/Mental breakdown.

I'm not sure which one it was, basically it was both.

But the gist of the post:

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2016/04/honest-editorial-750-words.html

...was that I really wanted to start writing more.

And not just blog posts, but more like an online journal, or something.

Basically using writing as self-therapy.

My proposed journal title was "Brain (Non)Activity: My Journal of Pain and Derpression."

I haven't quite crafted that yet - but don't steal the title, I'll still use it. ;-)

I am a (very) depressed person.
More depressed probably than my doctor ever realized.
But I can't take medication, because my body has other medical problems.
So the drugs make me sick.
So I'm not on drugs.
So I have to come up with alternatives.

One of the most useless and useful alternatives for me is writing.

(Yes, you read that right - useless and useful.)

Useless because you have to write in order for it to be useful - but I end up spending more time feeling guilty about NOT writing which depresses me and STOPS me from writing.

Derp.

So it is both, unfortunately.

It's not just me.
A lot of people find writing therapeutic.

But is hard work.
And frustrating.
And it's never as good as you want it to be.

But you should write if you want to.

As a friend told me - you should write for yourself.

(Harold's butt)

It took me a few weeks after the April 9th Whinefest, but I finally sat down and told myself that I had to use that 750words.com website that I pay $5 a month for.

I had to write at least 750 words a day.

And I had to get all that cr*p that was floating around my head all day out onto the page or else I was going to go even more insane than I already am.

The first project I wanted to accomplish was
the April 2016 edition of Maple's Fantastic (ally Inappropriate) Planner.

This planner was an idea that I've had since #maplesharshrelationshipadvice started to become popular on Instagram very fast, and faster than I could keep up with it.

By popular I mean ten people or more asking Maple for advice a day - which is ten people more than I can keep up with evidently, haha.

So I was easily overwhelmed by the creative project I had created for myself.

Derp again.

Her advice is something I still want to do on Instagram, I just need to remember not to do it 24-7.

I don't actually get paid to do it, haha.
And it eats up my time and mental energy.

Once you start it up, the requests increase exponentially.

So I thought the planner would be a nice way to get Maple's voice out there for readers.

By some miracle, I did accomplish the April planner.

I'm still not sure how.

Buy it here if you want it:


It costs $1.99.

Maple and I are already working on the May edition.

So apparently that's going okay.

The miracle continues, somehow.

No one has bought the April planner yet - but I wrote it for myself really.

(I need to keep reminding myself of that fact.
As I am too concerned about "success" -
even though I know that "success" is really relative.)

I know that it's really my dedication to writing at least 750 words a day that has helped me be more productive in my writing.

Even if it is just Maple's silly planner. Haha.

(Julia again, with globe)

I am on a 43-day streak with the writing.

And I have written over 60k words of a novel that
 I've been wanting to finish for about the last eleven years.

That novel is Maple's Fantastic Stories: The House of Coventry.

Which I have a blog about, started back during one of the times when I was trying to work on it like it was my job. (Even though it wasn't - no one pays me to write this cr*p.)

As I worked on her planner, Maple's voice kept talking to me about the novel.

And the two started to blend and morph, and suddenly
I was working on The House of Coventry.

For 60k words.

I would like to have at least 100k words by June 24th.

I don't know if that will happen.

But as my mother says: "It's good to have goals."

The story has changed a bit from what I was drafting on Maple's story blog.

But that's okay. That happens.

Stella is still there though.
And Maple has a much stronger presence, as the author, and puppet-master.

I used to just let her write it from behind the curtain, so-to-speak.
But she wanted to participate more actively.
More than I realized she wanted to.
So now she's in front of the curtain.
Or rather she just tore down the curtain.
Typical Maple.

But sometimes you just have to write what pops into your head.

I can't say this book will be good.

It certainly won't be great.

But I would like to finish it. Edit it. And sell it here on the blog.

And perhaps I can feel like I have accomplished something with my life.

As I am reminded every day that life is not as long as you think it will be.

Unfortunately I had to ignore a lot of things when I was doing the writing - and as I continue with it - because I am really, really horrible at multitasking.

Like really horrible.

I ignored the blog, my Instagram, my Facebook, my Pinterest, my household chores and duties, my life partner/person I share a toilet with, my personal hygiene. Haha.

(I mean, not that last one, cough, cough.)

(Harold and a banananananana)

So moving forward I will try and produce more posts for the blog.

But until I get that 100k words, or rather, until I get to the logical conclusion of that novel - I may still be a bit MIA.

Sigh.

I wish I could clone myself and do all the things I want to do, while also having one clone sit around and eat ice cream while watching British murder mysteries all day.

But I can't.

So I'll just try to accomplish one goal at a time. :-/

I'm sorry that this isn't the most inspiring story -
but I really do recommend that people write at least 750 words a day.

A journal? Maybe? 750 words of nonsense? That works too.

Try it, and see what happens!!!

Thank you for visiting us today!!!


Saturday, June 4, 2016

Maple Has Made A Thing: Buy It Today!


Yes, it's a virtual thing - an e-book PDF.

But that still counts as a thing, right???

Maple's Fantastic (ally Inappropriate) Planner for the month of April 2016.

(She plans to do a new one each month.)

The planner has nothing to do with dolls really - it's just a fun thing Maple started to do to entertain herself and anyone interested in reading it.

Here is da book's blurb:

Purchase this April 2016 planner today for the low, low price of $1.99!!!

No, this isn't a planner that you fill out, you moron. It's already been filled out by me - Maple Twiggs. And then you get to read it. Duh.

This concept makes perfect sense to me. Why don't you people understand this idea??? You bunch of idiots.

(Yes, it's sort of like a diary or journal, but I'm not going to be talking about how Becky put gum in my hair after gym class, or how I think Jimmy has a crush on me, etc.)

Just buy it and see if you like it. And then you can tell me it sucks. But only after you buy it and I already have your money. Btw, I don't do returns. You'll never get your money back. You sucker.

If it turns out that you like this horrific thing I just made, stay tuned: another section of my planner will be released every month!

Or at least until the court sends me a cease and desist letter for poisoning my readers' minds....

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Monday, December 24, 2012

Using Tinsel for Holiday Photos: Part Two

 Here we go with Part Two...

Again this idea is from The Spicys Doll Blog


We assembled ourselves in front of the tinsel.


TIP: Click on any of our photos to be brought to a larger version of it in a slideshow in case you want to see our shots enlarged. 

Liv changed her outfit for the shots, so we were both wearing our holiday sweaters.

Liv's sweater is also from Buzzybea on Etsy, and her fish pants are from Acorn Soup/Fox and Family on Etsy. They were originally MY fish pants. But I lent them to her. I am so generous and awesome.
Again, Liv's Janes shoes were custom-made for us by A Bee Line on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ABeeLine


Pants and leggings and shoes.


Purple sweater.


Red sweater.



Practicing head-shots.


Practicing head-shots.


Two good head-shots with our normal lens.



Stay tuned for Part Three:

The Official DW Blog Holiday Card!

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Check out our Facebook page for updates, previews of DW photos, and lots of exciting info about our sites as well as Etsy items and patterns for your dolls.


Using Tinsel for Holiday Photos: Part One

Sup peoples, Maples here.

This is a "Maple Insists" post -- I insisted that we have a holiday photo shoot this year. And I insisted I be in it. Despite this new girl being here and everyone being excited about that.
Liv Something is her name.

Nora was taking the photos and said it would be nice if Liv and I were in the shoot together.
Sigh. I guess I'll accept that.

So this year's Holiday Photo Shoot was based on an idea from the The Spicys Doll Blog.


Eventually we managed to come up with these two portrait shots with our new 50mm lens, which you can see them on our Facebook Page as well.

TIP: Click on any of our photos to be brought to a larger version of it in a slideshow in case you want to see our shots enlarged.



More of those 50mm shots will be coming here on the blog, but right now they are on the other computer, in a different state.

So for this post you'll just have to live with the set-up and
the next post will be normal (non-50mm) shots.

Like The Spicys recommend, we slapped some tinsel around a clothes hanger.
Then we packaged-taped that hanger to the closet door that we usually stand in front of.
(Ignore the door handle...)


For the tinsel-prepping Liv is wearing a plaid button-down shirt custom-ordered from Royal Doll Boutique on Etsy. A grey tank top and jeans from Liberty Jane. Liv's Janes shoes were custom-made for us by A Bee Line on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ABeeLine

I, Marvelous Maple, am wearing a tank top and leggings from Sylvie and Bruno on Etsy, and a sweater from Buzzybea on Etsy. My shoes are from American Girl.




For two dolls it probably makes more sense to do two hangers and two sets of tinsel. Or even more tinsel if you wanted full-body shots in front of the tinsel. We were mostly going for head-shots though.

Here I am telling Liv how to arrange the tinsel.


Here she is listening to me like a good girl.


Stay tuned for Part Two... 
when we assemble ourselves in front of the tinsel in preparation for the head-shots.


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Check out our Facebook page for updates, previews of DW photos, and lots of exciting info about our sites as well as Etsy items and patterns for your dolls.


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Maple's Air Pirate Ship Dream

So Saige has a hot air balloon. 
We knew it was coming, but you never know until you see it right?

Maple spotted it tonight and said it should be combined with 
Caroline's skiff to make an air pirate ship for her.

Here is her rough sketch:



I wonder if these two pieces will be the right scales to be combined???

If we do it we'll make it steampunky for her.

So obviously, this is a really, really rough sketch. Haha.


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Maple Examines the Nordstrom
Back to School Guide

Yo, Maple here.

Back to School Fashion Guides amoose me.
All these companies tell you what to wear.
Which is good if you are clueless about fashion, like most of the teenage populace.
Well, most of the populace in general.

But be careful.
1) Just because something is trendy doesn't mean it will look good on your body type.
and
2) Just because Nordstrom says there are three types of girls in the world,
doesn't mean it's true.

Enter "gritty rock star," "girly girl," and "polished academic."
Ah, someone likes categorization.


You can't be a gritty rock girl if your hair isn't dyed and you don't have a skateboard.
Vacant head tilt is also required.

If you want to be a girly girl, make sure you raise your arms in the air randomly.
I guess constant perkiness and being ready for exercise at any moment is key.

And polished academics need nerd chic glasses and colorful notebooks.
Otherwise you just ain't a smartie.
Add a snobby, over the glasses "you must kidding" look and you have it in the bag.

Stereotypes aside....  Moto jackets and vests are in.
As well as denim jackets and button down shirts.
Plaid button down shirts have never really gone out of style.
Make sure the hems are rounded.
Solid color pants are in -- either in chino fabric or colored denims.
Skinny is still the preferred shape.


Colorful floral jackets are in.
As well as lace overlay dresses.
These dresses are two layers -- as the lace is usually see through.
Sometimes the colors of the layers match.
Sometimes they are more contrasty.


Nerd chic is never out of style.
Long cardigans with contrast trim.
Striped skirts.
Button down boyfriend-esque shirts.
But Nordstrom doesn't stop there.
The fun continues.

They give us even more outfit ideas, and they ask the really probing, meaningful questions that most teenagers are thinking about all day...
Which gives me a chance to answer them.....

In true stereotypical teenager style I will try to keep the capitalizations and grammar 
to a minimum from now on.


(p.s. do you see how these girls are jumping categories???)

what am I doing after graduation?

well, when i gravitate i plan on either becoming a master criminal or a master crime solver.
outcome yet to be determined....

i mean someone really does need to find the ark of the covenant... and steal it...


Penny recently told me that Indiana Jones was all made up
and it wasn't a historical documentary.

so the real ark is still out there...

what's on my iPod?

as a shout-out to L-Dawg,
Psy's "Gangnam Style" on constant repeat
avert your eyes if you are sensitive...


School's out - where I headed?

well, first of all i feel like less of a woman now because i don't have a boyfriend with a motorcycle

so i guess i am headed out to find a motorcycle for my boyfriend...


wait!
i don't even have a boyfriend yet!
i guess i need to find a boyfriend first...
now i feel like even less of a woman because i don't have a boyfriend
man, i just can't win

i should just get my own motorcycle and forget about men...


what's on the menu for lunch?

well, certainly not candy
i don't want to go into diabetic shock during school hours
i'll wait until later, like when i'm on the back of my new boyfriend's motorcycle
oh wait, that might not be such a good idea

i'll stick with a regular ten course meal with accompanying juice tastings


how do I get to school?

once again Nordstrom makes me feel a bit bad about myself
i don't have my own car with the windows down and a furry pink seat cover
i am definitely less of a human being because I don't have my own car

i'll have to remedy that situation as well
after my chauffeur drives me to school in our super stretch Hummer limo


it's the last five minutes of study hall- what do I do?

study hall? what's that?
i just spend the whole school day asleep in a supply closet
wait... don't tell Penny that....


maybe that's why I don't have a boyfriend
i don't get to flirt with cuties in study hall
and i often smell of cleaners and sponges


who's my best friend?

myself of course
no one else is awesome enough to be my best friend
duh

I have been asking Penny for a real Night Fury dragon
to be my BFF


but she consistently says "no way"

what's my favorite movie?

any version of Sherlock Holmes


clueless? legally blonde? qua?
i have never heard of these movies
they must not have Jude Law in them....

how often do I clean my locker?

i have a locker?


Thanks for visiting us today!


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Friday, May 25, 2012

Maple Insists: How to be a DW Fashion Model

Hola!

So this is going to be Maple's soapbox post/one of her "Maple Insists" posts.....
just so ya know....


What's happening peoples?

Maple here. Today I will talk about how to be a Doll Fashion Model here at The DW. It isn't easy. There are rules and regulations -- And I will turn these into advice, tips, and direct orders for what you should be doing when taking doll fashion photos.

Some of you are already doing just fine. So maybe this doesn't apply to you. But for those of you who want to make your photos look better, either for personal or commercial use (i.e. you are trying to sell stuff online) -- hopefully my commands will be useful.

And don't automatically think "Oh my gosh! She's talking about me!!!"

These are generic observations not meant to point specific people out.
Most of them are lessons we have learned by taking thousands
and thousands of doll photos.

Again, I am Maple the Fashion Dictator.

And this is my plan for World Domination!.... I mean, my plan to help you....

_______________________________

1) Make sure your doll is an American Girl Doll if you are trying to 
market clothing and items for AGs.

Not to be brand snobby. We have a point about this, and we've said it here before. But we'll say it again.

If you want AG-ists (young or old) to buy your product, put it on an AG doll. It is the only way we'll know if the item fits AGs well, lays right, and is what we are looking for.

I cannot stress this point enough. Here at The DW we only buy clothing shown on AGs. The times we bought something that wasn't shown on an AG - the items didn't fit. Lesson learned.

If you are saying "But AGs are too expensive!" -- Suck it up and buy one. Yep, that's me being blunt. If you are trying to run a successful small business you need to do your marketing right - that means: in the best way possible. Chances are no one else is going to market or advertise your products for you.

Show your items on AGs. Get one from Ebay and fix her up if you don't want to spend $105. Either way, it will be worth your money and effort.


______________________________________

2) "Hair, meet Brush. Brush, this is Hair. You two were meant for each other."

Brush or comb your doll's hair. 

Yes, even I have little fly-aways in the above shot. And Nichelle has a hard time taming her hair (see below). So we understand the issues inherent with doll hairdo's -- they take time, energy, effort and sometimes skilz.


But if you list an item and the doll wearing it has 
a) bedhead 
b) never seen a brush in her life 
c) has a ton of fly-aways and/or 
d) her hair is askew or in her face 
--- then we aren't buying your product. 

"Why?!?!?" -- I hear you ask.

If a person doesn't care enough about their doll's hair when marketing their items, then they probably don't care that much about their product in the first place. By including a doll with bedhead that tells me that the product itself may not have been made with care and precision.

It doesn't take 3 hours to brush your doll's hair and pull it back in a simple ponytail to get it out of your way. Or even to style it beautifully -- which will help sell your product.

If her hair is a "hot mess" that can't be fixed with a brush: try a Downy Dunk, a Downy spritz, or even re-wig the girl.

The better your doll looks in the shots, the better your product looks.

If your doll looks gorgeous in your photos, then people will think their doll will also look gorgeous in your items.

It is simple psychology. Why do human models look nice in fashion photos? So other humans will see them and say "I want to look like that!" in their minds and then they skip off and buy whatever is being advertised. Clothing. Hair care. Skin care. Shoes. All of these human ads present the best look possible - you should too.

Give your products the presentation they deserve.

_______________________________

3) Fix Your Outfit, Girl

The statement I said 5 seconds ago: Give your products the presentation they deserve is the reoccurring theme/main motto of this post. Just so you understand that I'll state it clearly, twice. And probably more later on.

Your doll's clothing should be presentable. Now we haven't always followed all of our own rules about this, but we do our best. 

What does presentable mean?

a) Clothing should lay properly on the doll, as straight as possible and symmetrical - How do you look when you walk out of the house? Yeah, your doll should look like that, too.

b) Iron the items -- No wrinkles please, unless it is a naturally crinkled fabric, of course.

c) No random fuzzies, no stray threads, no Irish pennants (unless fraying is your modern style choice). Use a lint roller if you need to.

d) No nudity - Again, do you walk out of your house wearing only the new shoes you wanted to show your neighbor? Fully dress your doll even if you are selling just a shirt or just accessories. Then say " X, Y, Z, and the doll are not included with the listing."

While bare human skin actually does "sell" products fairly successfully - the same does not apply to AG dolls. :-/

__________________________________

4) Speaking of skin....

Your doll's skin or vinyl is in your shots. You may not have noticed it. But it is there. And we, the viewers, are looking at it whether you want us to or not.

You may think "Well, they will just pay attention to the _____ I am selling." Nope. Your thumb? Yeah, we see that. Your pile of stuff sitting on your kitchen table behind the doll. Yep, spotted that. The marks on your doll's nose. First thing I saw.

If your doll has marker spots, dark marks, shiny spots, or scribbles on her vinyl chances are your potential buyers are looking at those things instead of what you are marketing.

For shiny spots try a damp Magic Eraser or a baking soda scrub. But don't get your doll's eyes wet.

For dark spots made with markers or even dyes from threads for example -- Use Benzoyl Peroxide - Acne/Zit Cream. Apply a good amount of the cream on the spot and let the treated area sit in a sunny spot or under a lamp for awhile. The cream is activated by light.

After a good amount of time, perhaps a day - remove the cream and check your spot's progress. Keep applying fresh cream until the spot is gone.

___________________________________________________

These last three tips are quick. So don't leave yet. ;-)

5) Arm Position

Chances are that while you were dressing and arranging your doll in her scene, 
her arms ended up in this position....


Don't photograph her like that though. That doesn't look very natural.

Do we all walk around the mall looking like Frankenstein? Nope.

Try to pose your doll in a natural way that flatters her outfit.

Not the "Gimme a hug" pose, a slight adaptation of Frankenstein.


And also not the "I am walking on a tightrope" pose.
It's looks kind of natural, but it really isn't.
Unless you are indeed on a tightrope.
Or perhaps daintily stepping across a stream.


Avoid those.

___________________________________

6) Shoes - Put them on your doll

The previous pictures of CeCe also help call attention to this issue.

Just as your doll shouldn't be nekkid while she is advertising your "shoes for sale" for example -- the same applies to when she is wearing an "outfit for sale."

You don't want her to look like orphan Oliver walking the streets and begging for food. 
Put some shoes on that girl!
Feel free to say that the shoes are not included with the listing.

Times that it is okay for a doll to appear without shoes: when she showing off beach attire, a bath time towel set, washing a family pet, or pretending to be Shoeless Joe Jackson.

______________________________________

7) Control your Background

You remember how we mentioned that we can see your cluttered kitchen table behind your doll in the "skin care" section of this post?

Yeah. When you click that picture-taking button, everything behind your doll doesn't magically disappear -- even though that would be awesomely convenient sometimes.

Try to keep your backgrounds uncluttered, simple, and non-distracting. You want the viewer's focus to be on the doll and her outfit. Avoid bold colors, patterns, and textures behind her. Fun, funky backgrounds are fine for photo stories. But when you are trying to clearly present an outfit or accessory -- they just don't work.

Make yourself a white-box if needed, a mini photography studio, or even better find a nice place to pose your dolls outside. A professional-grade background will make your items look more professional themselves.

For example, who doesn't want this green coat now? 
Doesn't it look awesome?
And also, who doesn't want a MyAG #55 now?
I also look awesome.


Remember: Give your products the presentation they deserve.

______________________

That's all I have to throw at you today.

Hope this was productive for those of you who got this far in the post. ;-)

Also, today's "Maple Insists" post is related to an older one we did on taking doll photos and editing them.

You can find that post here: http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2011/07/maple-insists-anatomy-of-dw-photo.html




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