Yay! My very first Totoro hat is complete. Not bad for a first try… Next time, I’ll cut the fleece bigger to allow for seam allowances, and try to figure out how to sew the face on with the machine, instead of by hand. (My practice circles on the machine didn’t turn out too well…) Maybe make the eyes a little smaller, and the ears a little bigger.
But, for now, I’m happy. Yay, Totoro hat! I can sew… sort of. 🙂
I’ve got a Bachelor’s Degree, a 140+ I.Q, and three books from the library, and I STILL can’t figure out how to thread a fucking goddamn sewing machine.
I feel like a fucking moron. I want to cry. And the instructional video for Sheryl’s sewing machine won’t come out of the goddamn box.
How am I supposed to make a Totoro fursuit if I can’t even make the goddamned machine go?
Motherfucking goddamn fuck.
Update #1: Managed to remove VHS tape from box, sacrificing one fingernail in the process. Am about to watch said video.
Update #2: See? All I needed was a walkthrough. The nice lady on the tape (who looked like she was from 1986, even though the video was made in 2002) was very helpful in showing me how to thread the goddamn sewing machine. I wouldn’t have guessed any of that. Loop it through the who-huh? Tension spring? Wha…?
Anyway, I guess all’s well that ends well, whatever that means. I now have a piece of brown cloth that has half-black and half-brown test stitching haphazardly sewn through it.
This could be fun. Challenging, but fun.
Mei was unimpressed with the annual Christmas portrait experience, and refused to sit still until the self-timer would fire. Afterward, of course, she was content to lounge by the presents.
Edit:
Here’s an alternate version, with some artsy color tricks. Nothing fancy, but it adds a little something different. Skin tones still aren’t quite right, but… *shrug* Artistic license? Sure…
After yesterday’s disappointment with A&M Photo World, I’ve been contemplating whether I would really use my new toy, once I ever manage to save up a grand to get it. I don’t think this is a case of ‘sour grapes’—it’s more of the usual process I go through when I’m about to buy a big-ticket item.
The big question: would I use it?
Continue reading
Finally, after Sky’s year-end incentive payout, I had enough money to get the camera I’ve been wanting: the Nikon D70. The best part? I’d found an ad in Popular Photography magazine, in the back half where all the camera stores have their catalog/ads, that A&M Photo World had the Nikon D70 kit (kit = camera body + lens) for—get this—$649.00.
!!!
Retail on those is usually upward of a grand! I was so stoked.
So, tonight, I transferred some money from my savings over to my checking, put the much-desired electronic into my shopping cart, entered my debit card info, and almost pushed the Checkout button. But first… a coupon code field? Hmm. That’s my cue to Google the name of the place and “coupon code” and see what I come up with.
And what did I come up with? Shitty reviews of A&M’s service and business practices.
*sigh*
I had noticed that their accessories were a touch overpriced—I’ll need a CompactFlash card to use the camera, after all—but it seems that your prized item suddenly becomes backordered when you opt not to purchase said overpriced accessories.
It wasn’t hard to make a decision. Highly disappointed as I am, I’m going to put my money back into savings and wait until I’ve saved enough to buy my new toy from a reputable dealer, like B&H or Adorama or even find one on eBay.
It’s just… damn. That was disappointing.