A Very Small WIP Wednesday

I am in massive super crunch time mode for art lately. There are EIGHT DAYS LEFT UNTIL CHRISTMAS. I have no idea how that happened. I started making presents in September. How is it that I’m still behind?!?!? In spite of that, I am actually feeling relatively okay about being able to complete the last two gifts I have left. Anywho, let’s dive in to the WIPs.

Finished the kitty plush! I used a Pusheen pic as a ref for the pattern I made, and finally got her all finished up yesterday. Keep an eye out – I’ll be posting a tutorial on how I make plushies this Friday, and this little kitty is my example!

The next time I decide to do an oil painting on a deadline, please kick me in the face. I am the slooooowest painter, and this is taking me so much more time than I planned for. But I am ALMOST. DONE. At this point, all I have left is adding in the bowstring, and then detailing out her midsection and bow. Then it’s just a couple detail revisions and a bit of reworking on the background and DONE. I’m hoping two more sessions will complete it. Which sounds great, except oils take a long time to to dry. I have serious doubts that this will be dry by Christmas so I think I’ll just be placing it ever so carefully in a box, giving to my brother and saying, “Hope you love it, but don’t touch it!” 😀

Below is a quick comparison of what it looked like last WIP Wednesday.

I fixed the proportions (aka no more giraffe neck and looking like she just got her wisdom teeth out) and also added more detail to things – gloves, dress, and so on. Definitely SO much happier with it now.

And that’s all I’ve got for this week! My next WIP Wednesday won’t be until 2015!! But hopefully by then I’ll have some new stuff to show you. I’ve got lots of art plans for the coming year!

5 Fandom Friday. On a Tuesday. Frick.

I spent the majority of last week doing all the prep for my daughter’s rainbow birthday party we just had this past Sunday! It was a big success, and they’ll be a post about, but getting everything clean, made, decorated, and all around ready for the party ate up pretty much all of my week. Therefore, blogging fell so far behind. So it’s time to play a little catch up!

This past 5 Fandom Friday topic (hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick) is a great one – Presents I Want Santa To Bring Me! My list includes all the outrageously expensive gifts I didn’t put on my Christmas list for people as they just cost Way. Too. Much. Thus, perfect for Santa!

1. A (giant) set of Copic Markers. I’m going to contradict myself now, as I actually DID include a set of these on my Christmas list just for the heck of it, but not one this big. This is my #1 item to save money and purchase for myself next year as I am dying to use them (and have so many ideas for them!).

2. This portrait lens. You’ve seen it already on my Camera Wishlist post. Yup, still want it. 😀

3. Completely unnecessary but completely fantastic video game figurine/statue thingies. My geeky collectible shelves are dying to have some of these on them!

4. A laptop. We are planning on buying one next year (no idea what kind yet), but it’d be amazing if one just appeared under our tree.

5. A WiiU. I picked WiiU over PS4 for this as I have no plans to buy a WiiU. I’d like it, but it would a complete and total frivolous purchase. There are only a few games I actually want to play for it, and I hardly have time to play console games at it is. But I’d still love it!

 

Links To The Past

• Sometimes you just need a good laugh, and this list from BuzzFeed provides it. I lost it at the sea flapflaps. Enjoy!

• Although I’m sure you’ve already heard all about it, I am still pretty pumped about Marvel’s latest announcements. Most notably the next Captain America and Captain Marvel!

• This article about a grandmother who may have been poisoning her loved ones is quite long, but I found it fascinating.

• While the tone of this article about frivolous crushes is a bit cynical, I really enjoy the writing and how the subject is laid out. I feel there is such a huge difference difference between real love and the ooey gooey lovey feeling you get when you first meet someone, and this article only reinforces that.

• In case you missed it, I was over at Sincerely, Sara this week taking part in her Books & Looks series! While I’m not too comfortable in front of the camera, I actually had a lot of fun doing the shoot with my BFF!

• I don’t consider myself religious in any way, so I don’t often pay attention to the happening of the Pope, but hearing that he declared the Big Bang and Evolution real things that happened had me turning my head. From what I can tell based on other readings as well, Pope Francis seems alright in my book!

• Things like Google X’s latest project have me both super excited and super terrified about the technology of the future.

• Being from New England, I do have to apologize for Boston producing all the crappiest Halloween candy. Sorry about that.

• Lydia of The Beauty Glitch had a great post featuring three excellent short films! Love the animation in them, and even though Halloween was yesterday, I still recommend giving them a look-see.

• I’m always a fan of Ingrid Michaelson, but I am especially loving her newest video, ‘Afterlife’.

I’m a big fan of mashups, and this Portals/Zelda is fabulous. I love the Triforce on the side of the gun! Click the pic to see the rest of The Hookshot’s portfolio on RedBubble!

Links to the Past

• Jess from Bookworms and Dresses posted this personality test and it is really cool! I loved learning about my type, which fits me to a tee (tea? T? What kind of t-word goes here?!?!?) and it was equally fun to learn about the other personality varieties. I am an INFJ type, which is apparently rare (according to their site, less than 1% of the population!). The basic description is, “Quiet and mystical, yet very inspiring and tireless idealists”. What type are you?

• Megan from The Nerdy Girlie designed these fabulous t-shirts! I love how many styles they come in – definitely added to my Christmas list!

• One of my favorite YouTubers (and you know, a fabulous artist!), Mary Doodles posted this Alice In Wonderland vid. I just love all her stuff. I highly recommend looking at her 21 Darth Vaders video – so great!

 

• Jessica from The Pyreflies had a great post about photo backgrounds. I always try and take nice pictures, but I’d never really put too much thought into the background; it’s usually just my table or desk! I’ll definitely be trying to switch it up.

• While I don’t have an iPhone (nothing against them, it’s a money thing for me and when I got a smartphone I went for the cheapest option!) I am soooo envious of the camera for the iPhone 6. Especially in comparison to all the previous iPhones.

This week’s fanart features the big ole baddie from the Legend of Zelda series – Ganondorf! I love the lighting in this piece – so well done.

Brought to you by Deviant-artist d-torres.

Links to the Past

• This scarf tying video is one of the best I’ve seen. It covers every way to wear a scarf I can think of, and it’s not even four minutes long.

• I have just discovered Litterati, and I think it’s wonderful. And considering I take a walk nearly every day with my daughter, participating will be no problem!

• A video about geek girls stereotypes has been floating around the internet, and while I think it’s purposefully over the top, it has a lot of truth to it. I’ve never run into this in a comic store, but most definitely have in a video game store. I can’t count the times in high school/college where I went to buy games and was asked, “Oh, is this for your boyfriend?”. Silliness.

• The store muchö on Storenvy is a handmade and design shop based in Sweden. I love their laser cut jewelry and want this pair of cat earrings. And this one. And this one.

Today’s Zelda fanart comes from one of my personal favorite illustrators – Megan Lara. I own three tees with her designs, plus a print, and I’d happily own many more!

The Video Game Blog Challenge: Questions 10 & 11

Back with more gaming fun!

10. Best Gameplay

I find this to be a ridiculously hard question to answer as I really can’t see how you compare the gameplay of an FPS to an RPG. Apples and oranges here, people! So, with that in mind, I’ve broken it down into a few categories

First Person Shooter (FPS)

The Halo trilogy. Now, I haven’t played too many FPSes, but these games were yet another defining gamer moment for me. Playing the original Halo, couch co-op with my dad, was amazing. The experience, how in it you felt. But focusing on gameplay, I really didn’t find any flaws. Targeting was easy, you could change your button layout to what you were comfy with, they had the option for inverted y-axis (the ONLY way to play in my opinion) and it was smooth sailing.

Role Playing Game (RPG)

This game has already come up a lot (and will continue to) but I have to go with Final Fantasy VII. Seriously, the materia system in this game has yet to be topped in my opinion. It was perfect. How materia equipped to weapons, how it leveled, how you could equip any kind to any party member – it was just brilliant. I have never found a battle/magic system that measures up to it. As for other gameplay, it was on par with other FF games – great open world exploration, easy navigation, nothing that stands out as bad.

FPS/RPG Combo

The Borderlands games. Especially Borderlands 2. A brilliant combo of excellent FPS battle, open(ish) world exploration, and RPG elements with leveling your character. I loved picking and equipping skills, changing out guns and their stats – add in a customizable element and I’m happy. However, Borderlands 2 was definitely more shooter than RPG.

On the opposite end, Fallout 3 was amazing too. SO many customizable RPG elements, from leveling to dialogue. The shooter aspect of the game was definitely secondary, but well done nonetheless. The V.A.T.S. system provided quite the amount of fun.

And, with less explanation:

Tactics RPG – Fire Emblem series

Stealth/FPS – The Last of Us

Adventure – Beyond Good and Evil

 

11. Gaming System of Choice

At this point in my life, it would have to be my Nintendo 3DS XL. It perfectly suits my lifestyle. A small part of me wishes I could still be a semi-hardcore gamer, buying the latest systems and games, then binge playing them from start to finish. But that’s just not gonna happen! When my daughter was little, I still managed to fit in console game time. But ever since she was old enough to actually pay attention and comprehend what was happening on the TV, console gaming has taken a mostly permanent backseat. There are very few games I play that I would consider appropriate for her to be viewing. Then there’s the lack of time. True, I COULD spend every free second gaming, but at this point in my life, I don’t want to! I love other things too much. So my 3DS is perfect, as I can pop it out, play for a bit, and then just tuck it away in a jiffy.

Of course I have the Zelda 3DS!

As for consoles I want, I think I’d actually pick a WiiU over a PS4. It has way more games that will be appropriate for my daughter in the coming years, plus ZELDA!!! I would honestly buy any new Nintendo system just to play the new Legend of Zelda game that comes out. I may have a bit of an obsession. I’m okay with it.

I’m using the questions from the Video Game Blog Challenge found here. All screenshots/photos you see are found via a basic Google image search. Copyrighted to their respective owners.

Links to the Past

• Chocolate and Cream Cake had a great post of fabulous Doctor Who goodies. Check them out!

• This fox hat is just so cute! Especially as I have a best friend who is welcoming a little boy soon. Note to self – learn to crochet!

• I saw this tea infuser on Instagram and I think it’s just hilarious. The Tea-tanic!!

• I hadn’t read this story in ages until Incendiarism posted it last week, and it is just as hilarious as I remember. If you click only one of these links, have it be this one!

• My whole life I have always been freaked out by little clusters of small holes, and I just found out it has a name – Trypophobia. I feel like much less of a crazy person knowing this is an actual thing! Below is a great video about it, though if you’re like me you may need to just listen and not watch!

 

• I just discovered the blog Awkwardly Alive and Pleasantly Peculiar, and it’s posts like this that will keep me reading.

• This month for the Novel Tea Book Club we are reading Etiquette and Espionage! It’s set in steampunk Victorian England, and a member of the club posted this fun steampunk name generator in the group. I am Officer Cadet Mattie Jay-Blackmoor which I so love (and is begging to be illustrated)! What’s yours?

• And in the vein of bookclubs, Nerd in the Brain has just started up an online book club which I am excited to join! I love that she is incorporating independent authors for some of the books. This month the adult book is The Sneaker Tree (there is also a category for teen/YA readers). Definitely head over and sign up if you’d like to join in on the fun!

And your weekly dose of Zelda fanart.

Combining Zelda AND kitties?!?!  I just can’t take the cuteness! His gallery is filled with SO MUCH CUTE – click the pic to head over and check it out!

Links to the Past

I have been doing a lot of window shopping online for stuff this week, and the links reflect that. Ever since our budget crackdown after buying my new car we definitely don’t have fun money to throw around anymore, so my indie purchases have taken a nosedive. But I’ve been having fun browsing for things I’d love to have instead!

• All the geeky amigurumis from the indie shop 53Stitches make me swoon! Just so cute! I must have the Sailor Moon ones. She sells patterns too, which kind of make me want to learn to knit, stat.

• Pentatonix released a new video this week, and as usual it’s amazing. (If you’re not up on Pentatonix, check out this post). I’m not a huge fan of the rap break down in the middle, simply because I’m not a huge rap fan, period. But I do love the build it has, into the beautiful harmony of the next chorus. Also, you can pre-order their new EP on iTunes! It comes out September 23rd, and I’m squeeing about it already.

• Jessica of The Pyrflies has a spectacular fashion series making regular OOTDs inspired by Final Fantasy characters. I’m a huge fan of this Refia one, and also today she had an Aerith one (I LOVE AERITH!).

• This video game armor logic image cracked me up. Luckily, this seems to be less of problem in games like Skyrim, but I feel like in fighting games, women still wear the most ridiculous ‘battle outfits’ ever created.

• My little might start preschool this year, and I want to get her every single one of these backpacks. Having a different backpack for every day of the month is totally normal, right? Right.

Here’s your weekly does of Zelda!

Love this Zelda baseball tee from Koala Art & Design!

Links to the Past

• This Super Girls Sticker Pack from Scrawny Girl Shop is just spectacular!

• Speaking of Scrawny Girl, she had the most amazing #30Lists mini-book idea on her blog this week. It makes me wish I drank Starbucks. (Also, have you signed up for 30 Days of Lists? Registration is open!)

• A friend sent me this color challenge from Pantone – I love it. I like that it explains not just how well or poor you see colors, but particularly what hues give you trouble. Cool! A perfect score is zero, and I got a three so not too shabby.

• This cat cosy for drinks tutorial makes me want to learn to crochet immediately!!

• My Life as a Teacup had a great post on the magic that is the e-reader, and she’s giving away a Kindle to boot!

 

And now your Friday dose of Zelda fanart, this time from one of my favorite YouTubers, Mary Doodles.

Links to the Past

• XO Emily Mae had a post on the awesomeness that is MadeWithCode. Such a cool project!

• Gamerwife featured my two lovely kitties on her blog for last week’s Caturday!

• Have you been keeping up with Sailor Moon Crystal? I’m still so loving it.

• This new aquatic bug found in China makes me want to run and hide.

• I so want this Galaxy case for my 3DS!

• Weird Al’s “Word Crimes” is hilarious. Though most things he makes are.

 

And now, your weekly Zelda art.

I just love how this poster is set up like an ad for the Hylian Shield!