GSV

I snapped a few quick shots of Ghoul Spirit Venus today. It was cold and windy so it was a lightning-fast shoot! Check her out...

As with all of her dolls, Ghoul Spirit Venus is ridiculously photogenic.

I think it has something to do with the shade of green of her skin, or her massive blue eyes.

Whatever it is, it always makes for a fun photo shoot! Even in the windy cold I enjoyed this session!

For the first time Venus has bangs! Other than that this is a pretty standard 'do for our plant-loving friend. On the plus side this means the texture is super silky. That said, the real draw with this doll (for me) is her eyeshadow. It's dark grey bordering on black. Very striking!

This shot gives you a better view of the eyeshadow. Beautiful, no?

Like the other Ghoul Spirit dolls her outfit is kind of a non-event. Not bad by any means, but hardly exciting. I can't wait to play stylist with her and try out lots of new looks!

Ghoul Spirit Venus: not the most original version of this character, but certainly worthy of your time! If you're a Venus fanatic the bangs and striking faceup make her a must. She's a budget doll so there's no stand or brush included. Her only extra is a little megaphone; simple but cute.

As always, thanks for reading! Til next time!

Once Upon A Dream

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream

I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar, a gleam

And I know it’s true that visions are seldom all they seem

But if I know you, I know what you’ll do

You’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream

And the award for Best New Star goes to...

Viperine Gorgon!

It was a close competition but several things contributed to Viperine's deserved win...

Two words: taupe eyeshadow.

She has striking gorgon eyes that are so beguiling I'm still having trouble making out what exactly is going on in her irises. What I can tell you is that it's a wonderful touch. They leave me intrigued. (Seriously though, if someone knows what that spotted design in her eyes is supposed to be please fill me in.)

Attitude in spades. Those sharp eyes give Jinafire a run for her money!

Two-toned diamond scales (?) on her forehead. 

Moxie. Viperine effortlessly owns this 70's peasant-meets-cosmic-space-flowers ensemble. And is that paisley I see?

Flowing, middle-parted locks of pure white and frosted pink. So retro, so free. This girl knows how to catch a vibe.

Poise for days.

Her snakes perfectly accentuate her groovy vibe without being overbearing.

She takes what could've easily been a messy, garish look and turns it into a tastefully rendered exercise in restraint... but with just the right amount of funk to keep it interesting.

If there's one faux pas here, it's her decision to wear solid colored boots. Those little white fangs on the front are nice but not nearly enough to elevate these to "MH Instant Classic" status. Those molded laces should've been black, or even blue.

But no mattter. Viperine Gorgon, you are the Best New Star! Not since Scaris Jinafire have I loved a new character doll so much. Congratulations!

Ventilation

I recently went through some major life changes. Changes that were for the worse. My life before was busy; a whirlwind of work, more work, occasional blogging, and a small slice of a social life. I loved my work but there were times when it really made me, not hate, but definitely dislike my life. It was so hectic at times that I felt I couldn’t breathe. And now here I am, out of work. Fired. Never mind the pride and sense of self I lost along with my work; I had become so accustomed to the whirlwind that getting thrown out of it left me dazed, unaware of how to handle this new vastness that lay before me. Unfortunately I’m not rich so all that space couldn’t be filled with a vacation getaway to re-examine and recharge. Instead it has been filled with long days of rumination, of echoing reminders and words and regrets. Not every day is bad. I have friends, I have family. They care about me and they check on me. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my friends. Going to the movies, going for walks around town and taking pictures, and just vegging out and marathoning tv shows. They have their own lives, though. Their own problems. It’s funny because I used to cherish the moments I had to myself; they were pretty rare. Now I’m starting to hate all this extra time. As the days add up, my mind wanders further. Some days are bad and I go to dark places. Not every day, but some days. It’s fitting, I suppose, that I love roller coasters so much. That’s what my emotions are lately, up and down. Some days I feel tough as nails, on others I feel defeated and unsure of myself. I own a house and with no paycheck coming in it’s getting harder and harder to maintain even the basics. It’s stressful and I’m uncertain. And the uncertainty is scary but just as worrying is the feeling that in many ways I’ve lost my sense of self. The struggle has left me exhausted and I hope it ends soon. I knew when I lost my job I would have some hard days ahead, but I didn’t realize just how bad it would get. I keep reminding myself I’m strong and I’ve survived worse. But I really am facing some heavy shit — never mind the loss of my sense of self (which is just plain confusing); if something doesn’t change soon I’ll lose my house. I’m under so much stress. This whole situation has left me reeling. Forgive the “woe is me”-ness of all this. (Ugh.) I’ll be okay. I just need to vent.