Aesthetics A Lalafell for a New Era

Welcome! This is the start of my new project journal revolving around my Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) character, Pinpin! He's a Dunesfolk Lalafell and I've decided that with the coming of a new story arc in the game, I'm switching from my male Viera to this lil' Lalafell. Needless to say, I've got some plans for him.




My goal of this is to make my incoming Luts TinyDelf Kai into my Lalafell. I've purposefully made my character to look somewhat similar to the doll already but I'm planning on making some changes such as adding freckles and adjusting the smile to be a bit bigger.

Plans have updated!
I've decided to go with a different doll, Fenjiexian/Dividing Line Elf 2.0, for Pinpin and will be dyeing him using Rit Dye using this recipe. I have two of the Dividing Line Elf 2.0 dolls so I'm going to make Tataru Taru as well! I'll need to do a quick dip in the dye for her as she's just a little too light for my taste, almost white.

Current Tasks:

• Receive dolls
• Buy wig for dolls
  
• Buy/Commission eyes for both dolls
  
• Dye both dolls
• Search for anime style faceup artist and save money for the work
  
  FIRST OUTFIT
  
• Decide on which glamour outfit to make first (possibly from the image above?) Decided on this outfit for Pinpin
• Purchase fabrics
• Design and make earrings
• Make feather hairpiece
  
  ADDITIONAL OUTFITS
• Botanist Glam
• Pajamas
• Winter wear
• Swimsuit
• Summer wear
• Fancy Suit

They're going to be my travel buddies because, as a Warrior of Light and Scion, they're always down for adventure. Wish me luck!

 

Thank you so much! I'm going to try my best since I'm a very beginner sewer but I'm pretty good at coming up with creative solutions.

Speaking of, proof of concept for chainmail complete!

Spoiler: Chainmail proof of concept

I have the materials, I think I just have to make it a little bit bigger since it's a little tight. I mean, I can get it on the doll, as seen in the image, but it's a little bit of a fight. And since maintenance is done on the game, I'm going to take more screenshots to get a better view of the outfits.

 

Thank you! I cut a lot of corners in terms of the designs to make the outfits a little more simplified. Also! I've finally decided on which one I'm going to make*! It's a lot less complicated than the other outfit (though I might still give that one a shot at some point), this one will be a great start. I've got the fabric for the main tunic and materials for the shoes.

To Do:

• Get fabric for pants, cloak, and undershirt
• Make cloak pin out of sculpy? EVA foam?
• Check Diamond Dots supply to see if I have "gems" for this
• EVA foam for belts?

I think this will be a good list to begin with in terms of outfit to-do's. I get paid this Friday (the 8th) so I'm going to order his eyes and wig then. I'm also going to pick up the rest of the fabric after I check my current stash to see if I already have something. I hope this comes out well, I'll be honest, I'm nervous


*For some reason, I can't get the images to load even though I've been using the same method that I've been using above, hence the link.

 

Small update! Eyes and wig have been ordered and will be arriving today! I ended up getting a small bit of black leather and some flexible acrylic paint to make the belts and gloves. I also checked my stock and found that I have fabric for the undershirt and cloak so all I need is the fabric for the pants.

I am going to need to cut corners for this outfit as my fabric is just barely not thin enough to have as many layers as the outfit requires. But it'll hardly be noticeable so I'm not worried.

The last few things I need to get materials for are the small blade on his side, his jewelry, and the cloak pin.

As for the doll itself, he's currently waiting to get out of customs so I'm hoping that he'll be home within the week

 

Pinpin has arrived home! It took me a little while to restring him from the centaur body he came with and ended up with a few blisters, but he's almost perfect! Just need to add some freckles to his faceup! As you can see, I've got his eyes and wig too and here's some temporary clothing. I'm hoping to work on him in a few days but right now I'm just glad he's home and out of his week long stay in customs.

He's a little lighter than my character but instead of getting a tanner doll, I'm just going to make my character lighter

Spoiler: Pinpin

 

After having Pinpin for about a week, I've realized that the smile just isn't cutting it for how happy I want him to look. I'm thinking of either getting a Hansel or Gretel TinyDelf for him, but I'm not certain now. My other option, what I've been thinking of doing, is getting an MSD big baby and modding the ears since I've been contemplating getting an SD sculpt for my other WoL who is a male Viera.

Here's more pictures of Pinpin (and one bonus of him and my Viera) so maybe someone can help me figure out a good sculpt? I've also added a picture of him just in shorts so that people can get an idea of body shape.

I did change him slightly from the first picture to try and match the above doll a bit more, specifically the skin tone, but I think that might make it easier since a lot of tan resin is actually a little lighter anyway. And besides, I can always change it back to his darker tone.

But yes, thoughts would be appreciated!

 

Oh my gosh you're right that would be PERFECT! Thank you so much!

 

I may use the FenJieXian doll and dye it this color or I could try and use a MYOU Audbrey. I'm not sure which one. I had a recent foray into dyeing and actually have some confidence in it and plus, the FenJieXian dolls are pretty cheap so if I mess it up, it's not a huge loss

Edit: I've decided on the FenJieXian dolls and I'm going to try and dye it. I'm also going to be making everyone's favorite Lala, Tataru! So I just have to wait to order them

 

I've got my two FenJiXian/Dividing Line dolls! One I still have to dye for Pinpin and the other, Tataru, I'll give a quick dip in the dye since the current resin color is basically white.

Granted, now I have to find a good faceup artist for both of them as they're a semi-anime style, it might take a little time to find one that would fit with what I'm looking for. I'm still planning on making Pinpin's "default" outfit and Tataru needs one of hers.

Both need 14mm eyes and I think I might see about getting some custom ones. I'm going to message ErsaFloraUSA on etsy to see if they'd accept a custom order. And they both need their wigs.

This project was on the back-burner for a bit because I'd been a little burnt out on FFXIV but I've decided to come back which puts this back on the menu! These two dolls, proportionally and facial structure wise, are perfect. I'm so excited to work on them. Now if only the weather was nicer and I could properly do the dyeing and maybe attempt the faceups myself first

 

First of all, I want to give a HUGE thanks to @kiraabsol for helping me with all of this because dolls have been dyed! The first recipe for Tataru worked perfectly however, the recipe for Pinpin, not so much. We managed to get a pretty close color though after some trial and error and the final product looks so good!

Here's Pinpin all unstrung in his blank and pale glory.

Spoiler: Unstrung Pinpin

Before and after colors for dye. Tataru was first.

Spoiler: Before and after colors

Pinpin had to wait another day after Tataru was finished because his dye recipe made him a little too red. Fortunately, only the headcap was dyed as a test so nothing was "ruined."

So two days later, it was time to try again and it was a HUGE success!

Spoiler: Pinpin's headcap and foot dyed

Since the headcap already had some issues, the foot was dyed as a test (after all, it'd be in a shoe). After removing most of the dye from the headcap (thank you sandpaper and acetone), the match ended up being PERFECT!

Spoiler: Pinpin all dyed!

The color's GORGEOUS and very little streaking so it's almost unnoticeable. I'm very happy with how this all came out and can't wait to find someone to do their faceups!

Spoiler: Pinpin and Tataru

 

Project has been scrapped as I've realized that I don't like drawn on mouths and the dye job, while looking great to begin with, started to look not so great in my eyes.

I'm not sure if I'll turn Pinpin into a doll, if anything he'll be another OT Nendoroid doll or something similar. Thanks for the support everyone!