APRIL 2023
April 2, 2023
I didn't intend for the diary to be monthly, but here I am on the same day the third month in a row. I haven't been up to much. I DID get my model kits! I was house sitting for about 10 days, and didn't care enough to memorize passwords so now that I've been home I've been catching up on the internet.
Something that I've been going back and forth on: this website's layout. Before I house sat I was looking at a TON of personal websites, both old and new. On one hand, I like how ugly mine is and feel like it's a good representation of the quality to expect from it LOL. On the other hand, I do like the looks and usability of more thoughtfully designed pages. Also I really enjoy using different color schemes and backgrounds, and I don't know how I would implement that if I had one of those big frame/div box designs (probably a term for them, I can't think of it right now though.) I don't like how my pixel art pages look, just long columns that scroll like a phone app. Would consistent layouts be enough, or would using a frame force a universal aesthetic? I'll think on it.
So, I've been compiling a list of artists that offer doll bases. I intended it as a resource, but part of me feels bad for reducing a whole website/artist to just a product they offer. But, making a list of every dolling website ever is 1.) a lot 2.) Gets kind of muddy. I wouldn't consider mine a dolling website, for example - but I do have bases.
Scattered thoughts: Excited for Tears of the Kingdom, I don't imagine the story will be much but I'm still trying to go in as blind as possible. Art Club with my friends is going nice! We had a sort of late secret santa event, it went well and the person I drew for liked theirs, yay :'). We now do weekly prompts every wednesday. I want to get a new base out this month, and finally make some dolls. I built one of the kits I got, an entry grade strike gundam. It was fun, to be honest though I got it because it was cheap and I feel like I should have at least one of the main dudes. There are pop up parade figures of the Legend of Mana protags and I'm VERY EXTREMELY TEMPTED. I love lava lamps and I've realized there's actually very few pixel artworks done of them (I'm guessing because the fluid is hard to animate.) I want to make some. There are a bunch of super cute, new pokemon quick kits out; including slowpoke and bulbasaur which are two of my favorites.
April 9, 2023
Boring entry today. I've been playing the Secret of Mana remake -- specifically streaming it over discord for my friend to both experience this game to some extent. And for me to try to justify the money I spent on it years ago. It's not 1000% complete garbage but...I don't really recommend it either.
I also played Children of Mana as a kid, and actually just beat it for the first time last night. I played through all but the final area as a kid, got stuck, forgot about it, put it down for years. Then I decided to pick it back up after mentioning it to my friend. I realized I didn't have the gem frame fully expanded so I did that sidequest, and then that + just better gem choices period helped a lot and I beat the final boss pretty easily actually. (Though I only got silver rank since I was skipping most treasure chests; oh well.) I'm a little sad the player characters and NPCs aren't on spriters resource, they're very cute.
Here's Tamber's palette swaps I manually cut out of an emulation screen shot. I chose the white dress one as a kid, I remember, because I thought white clothes for a protagonist was really unique. I don't know how to ...open up roms(?) I know its called "ripping" sprites but otherwise I'm clueless in this department. If I knew I totally would though, I've come across a few games I like the spritework of but haven't been able to find good images online.
uhhhhh I plan on finally fixing up my links pages. I want to make a new base this month. I want to start on the secret project for my friends FOR REAL THIS TIME I SWEAR. Also if someone has a web archive link or at least remembers the name of that old doll base catalogue website please let me know!
April 26, 2023
Hello! I'm in the constantly stumbling beginning stage of trying to eat better. Eat better as in better portions, timing, actual food quality; everything. We'll see how that goes. I did actually start ~ the secret project ~ for my friends (it's not really a secret, I just have no name for it.) Basically, it's kind of inspired from my memories of neopets. Hunting for one very small detail on a map to click to find more information, or an item. I will never be on that level of interactivity, it's basically just a story with more steps. Admittedly, I did start working on it again very actively because one of my friends (jokingly and kindly) pointed out how I made them make a dnd character and then abandoned it. I am pretty bad about that, to be honest. I skip back and forth between ideas a lot and inevitably, unless one can be finished in a couple sittings, I totally forget about it :-(. It's intimidating and kind of embarassing to start because I am SO BAD at writing. I know doing it's the only way to improve, but I can't help the feeling. Which is odd because I definitely put some terrible artwork online and while I'm sort of embarassed by it too, I can see at least some of its merit + not convince myself to not upload it. I have a goofy comic that I've been making on and off for my other friend, I'm hoping to get it done by her birthday. These same feelings prevent me from working on it, even though it's literally just a big inside joke.
I don't think you need me to say I'm bad at writing, though, it's evident enough LOL. I'm kind of in a bad mood because I've broken out in sores/rash all over my body again. It's a reaction to detergent (I think this time was oxiclean with added fragrance - plain isn't normally an issue for me.) I own two fitted sheets and my favorite (linen with small, delicate, floral print) finally crossed the bridge from extremely worn to shredded. It's gotten dingy and faded but there's enough good fabric on the sides that I want to try to make a slightly altered copy of a shirt I own and a new pair of lounge shorts. There's a lot of good elastic too! It was loose in a channel instead of sewn to the sheet. The downside is I don't know when I'll get around to this. While both should be pretty simple items, I have to focus on a few other things first (I'm part of a wedding, I'm helping set up a baby shower the next day, my friends are making lots of other plans, so forth.)
I want to be better, I don't really believe in myself. That's the crux of it.