Wearables Starting a (resin) band

Surprise - I've got yet another side project! I'm not even sure where this came from (nor how far I'll really be taking this) ... the idea of a scruffy junkie rock star popped into my head out of nowhere, and my brain grabbed it and ran away with it. Next thing I know, I've got three heads on order. (Well, technically only one is strictly band-related. The others are supposed to fit into existing stories, plus it's "only" heads as I'm running out of space for more full dolls and will have as many as possible share bodies.)

Anyway! On to stuff, I guess.

So far I'm planning four boys. One needs a body (I'm planning a custom colour Miro66 - this guy is pulling double duty, his day job is being a main character in my main story), the other three need heads - needless to say I keep getting confused, so I resorted to having them wear name tags until their heads come in.



Jaziel on the far left will be the DS Saint head that's currently floating my way from off the MP.
Matteo in the middle will be Granado Uriel.
Jamie on the right will absolutely not be the Iple Noel who made himself comfy on the body, but Granado Enoch.
Scott will be pulling double duty, he's a RD Norman who I failed to trade for a normal skin twin so he could share bodies, and will consequently get one of his own.

The best part about their bodies being here is that I can make all their clothes. Given that Jaz's head is on shipping, I've started with him. (Jamie has his shirt but needs trousers, about which I haven't quite made up my mind.)

I'm going for something in the metal/goth/grunge spectrum. There'll be a bit of variation, but it'll mostly be black stuff which is quite a change from what I usually make (also, terrible to take pics of).
Jaz is the most gothic of the gang. I have a slightly stretchy pleather leftover that's in progress of becoming trousers, and I found a nice substitute for mesh, which I've started making a shirt from.



I'm hoping to finish Jaz's first outfit tonight. I'm also very much looking forward to a very different style of wigs. It's playtime!

 

reserved for updates

 

reserved for more updates

 

WIP of Jaz's stage outfit:


The shirt needs to be taken in - the Miro 66cm body is beautifully sculpted and it's allowed to show. The trousers will close in the back. I need to adapt their fit a little too, they look a bit too raunchy in person. I might to have to come up with some strategic underwear ...

Still, I'm pretty happy with it so far.

 

I'm sure they'd work great as dolls!

 

This being one of my journals, I'm not sticking to "just" what it says in the prefix - the boys' faceups will appear here, too, and so will some mods. I tried separating aesthetics and clothes for the same doll once, didn't really work ... so I'm lumping it all together. Shame on me.

I hope I'm still within PG-13 limits here - I'll make sure to put some stuff behind spoilers just in case, because it's the internet and you never know who might want to avoid some content. (Besides, the pic is horribly bad ... but you're used to that from me by now, aren't ya. I can't for the life of me figure out how to make le ancient camera and the notoriously bad light in my room work together.)

Spoiler: SI scars

Craft glue and chalk pastels. It was hard to find the right mix as the craft glue is white until it dries and there's no way of finding out whether or not the amount of pastel is right. Took a few tries, but with a little blushing afterwards it looks almost right. I would have liked an "older" look, but couldn't get the paler skintone blushing to show up, and stark white was silly too ... I might end up re-doing the whole thing at some point, but as Jamie makes sure to keep his arms covered at all times it's not like it'll even be visible, even if I ever get around to photostories. This was pretty much just to try the mod.

Disclaimer: Yes, this OC of mine is a mess. Yes, I dreamed him up and it was my decision to put the "bad stuff" there. But this is NOT to be seen as promoting self-injury or substance abuse, please.

 

Sooo I was going to work on the boys' clothes a bit more but didn't make it. Work is being crazy at the moment, I can't think straight ... so instead have some pointless ramblings about plans and who the heck those guys are anyway

Jamie (Enoch) is the lead singer, writer, front dude and driving creative force of the band. He's in his late 20s and a complete mess. He's also the one who popped into my head sparking this whole affair (junkie rock star type of guy).
Clothes-wise he's a bit on the punk edge of whatever it is I'm making - safety pins, extra zippers, hoodies, maybe torn denims. Wrists covered at all times (so it was kind of silly to do the mods I did, but oh well. Guess that body is properly his now. Way to go, self!)

Jaziel (Saint) is the keyboarder / backing vocalist, oldest of the bunch (early to mid-thirties), and the only one who can keep Jamie in line (which may or may not have anything to do with the fact he's not averse to a bit of recreational substance (ab)use himself). Looks-wise he's all mesh, pleather, black and silver ... textbook goth. Once I get my hands on doll-scale supplies, studded bracelets and the like will happen for this guy.

Matteo (Uriel) is literally the shy kid who picked up a guitar one day and proceeded to become teenage girls' dream guy. Jamie and him are the founding members of the band. He still likes to hide behind stuff, be it his fringe (so looking forward to making his wig! ), a hood, beanie, scarf, his guitar ... fun stuff. He might get this as part of his stage outfit, and skin-tight trousers to go with it.

Scott (Norman) is the drummer, and probably the most mentally stable of the lot (also the least patient when it comes to what he calls "Jamie's bullsh*t".) The seldom-heard voice of reason will get plain black clothes ... maybe ripped, maybe with weird prints if I can figure out a way to make them happen.

So yeah, these are my current plans. Let's see if they survive the reality check

 

Thank you!

Looks like (once again) it wasn't the parcel that was stuck, but tracking ... apparently, Jaz has been on his way since last week. Awaiting either him or a ransom note any day now.
Then I'll need to decide on a faceup. On the one hand I'd like to keep it neutral enough for him to switch settings easily, on the other I'd love to give him the full goth treatment, eyeliner and all. We shall see.

 

HARGH! Never thought I'd have a story like this to contribute, I literally saw the mail truck through the window, I was home but the mailman never rang the doorbell ... and here I am with a slip with Jaz's tracking number on it and can't get him until tomorrow. Could be worse, tomorrow is still in time for the long weekend, but ... gah.

 

Preview of Jaz 'scuse the abysmal quality, there'll be better pics tomorrow(ish) once he gets his neck donut. For some reason his head looks a bit bigger than my Bernard head. o.O

 

Jaz's wig cap is done. Now to decide on a hairstyle. Short sides? To fringe or not to fringe? Slicked back or not? Decisions, decisions ...

 

Look what happened! A wig!


Pretty happy with it considering I had no idea what I was doing and made it up on the fly It probably won't be his only wig.

 

Thank you! It's going a bit slow because I have another project going on, but as two of the guys are still headless, I guess there's time

 

True Jaz got a faceup today, and a neck donut. Soon as that has hardened, I'll string him up and you guys get more pics.

edit, here he is!


His head really is larger than my Bernard. Completely weird. But I had fun doing his faceup, first time using actual black and it's definitely a change from what I usually do

 

Suddenly - shipping notice! It hasn't been a month and Jamie and Matt's heads are on their way. Wow. Not sure where they are right now as I didn't get a tracking number, but I re-checked my order page and it definitely says "shipped". Talk about unexpected! (On the other hand, this settles the band name. )
Once the end-of-year reports that are currently eating all my dolly time are done, I'll need to focus on the guys' outfits.

 

GUYS.



An unplanned return trip back to China and halfway around the world later - they're here, at long last, having stopped by the Pointless Pub at the awesome @SteamWitch's place on the way. They got faceups (of sorts - I'm not quite sure whether Jamie needs some sponge stubble done, and I sort of still like the idea of giving Matteo freckles) but I'm completely, utterly out of eyes. Every spare pair, even the oldest self-made ones and the most cracked acrylics, are in use! So (since time is a bit tight at the moment with too many human-scale commissions so I can't really focus on making eyes without feeling super guilty) I went over to Think Pink to get some backups. You know how that goes ... somehow stuff on sale jumped into the cart, plus the leather ribbon I'd been hunting for for Kori's armour. Add shipping, and zap! There goes this month's doll budget ... but I'm not complaining as long as my boys get eyes. Poor things look creepy without them:



I never noticed from the company pics that Uriel has the cutest tiny little quarter of a half-smile going on. I'm in love.

 

More wigs are in progress! I'm taking advantage of a sick day (as far as possible) to get some no-brain stuff done - like making wig caps for Jamie and Matteo. I love those resinoids so much it's ridiculous. Maybe it's the fact it took so much to get them home, but I'm just over the moon. Plus, they're Granados which makes them gorgeous by definition. (I mean, just look at their latest, Remiel ...)



Matteo ended up looking a bit more mature than I had planned, which is probably due to the fact I kept seeing Aragorn before my inner eye Closeup pics once he gets his proper eyes, which have been ordered but haven't shipped yet (as far as I know). Weirdly the heads still look yellower than the bodies in pics, while IRL the resin colours are pretty much indistinguishable ... but my camera does weird things to colours anyway. I should consider an upgrade to do my pretties justice.

 

Hair!

I left Carlos in the pic because the more handsome Granadudes the better.

Matteo didn't show up for his hairdresser's appointment - rumour has it he went shopping for a thank-you gift for @SteamWitch and the Pointless Pub folks ...

 

Getting closer ... now I need Think Pink to ship their eyes Really happy with the wigs so far though, I wanted as much as possible done before a friend comes over tomorrow night and we'll be away for the weekend.

 

Eyes! Well, stopgaps in Jamie's case, but no more empty creepy eyewells for my guys.


That's all my Granadudes.

And one more with just the band guys:

 

Finaleyezed



Something in Matteo's eyewell scratched his right eye as I was putting it in, leaving it looking a bit cloudy. They're self-made eyes so I could probably fix them, but the idea got stuck in my head that there is actually something wrong with his eye and that's part of why he's hiding it. Who knows?

 

Soooo I decided I wasn't 100% happy with some faceups ... Jaz has been wiped, and after messing it up for the second time, so has Matteo's mouth. Unfortunately it's been super humid all day yesterday and rainy today, so I haven't had the chance to re-do them yet ...

 

Thanks!
I was going to keep the name quiet until they're all home ... but the dyes for Scott's body should arrive some time this week or next, and within that time frame I'm hoping to get Jaz and Matteo re-painted, too (weather permitting). It will be revealed when you least expect it

 

Yes! They're awesome, I'll check out their instruments tutorials for sure. I have seen a couple beautiful e-guitars floating around, too.

 

Ugh. Why are these guys giving me so much trouble? I've spent the day re-painting Matteo and Jaz, and I'm still not happy with them. Matteo grew a beard and looks much older now, while Jaz currently looks like a zombie ... the only one I'm happy with is Jamie.

Current status quo:

 

Suddenly - instruments!

Well ... plans. I should know better than to watch Froggy vids at 9:30pm. Now I want to pull an all-nighter and make all the instruments. I am not a smart woman.

I'd actually looked at the flute and piano ones before because Mara needs a flute and I want a piano for other scenes anyway ... and with the new shelving units that happened last week I might actually be able to store a piano. wO0t! Technically the guys need a keyboard though. Guitars will happen soon, even though I threw out a stack of cardboard just last week. Oh well. Cardboard packaging belongs in the category of "craft supplies that grow back". I did sketch an electric and acoustic guitar each (from my monitor - yay?) which I'll be transferring onto something that can serve as a template, and then ... something may happen. ^^

PS to the instruments idea - note to self, check for anything recyclable into a drum set. Cookie / coffee / pringles / similar "cardboard jar" (is that even a word) packaging should work.

 

It's working! The bottom of the chips thing is even shaped like a hi-hat. It's a bit on the small side, but the Froggy hack (bottle bottoms) won't work because our regular bottles are shaped differently than theirs. I might be able to find one, but the ones with the right shape are too thick to cut.

I'll paint the next one while it's still on (read: under) the jar, though. This one is warping out of shape as it's drying. o.O

edit, here's the Pearl basic drumset I'm using for reference.

 

Pic of the thing all cut up (and the soon-to-be hi hat painted gold):

 

One more drum and some guitar sketches ... I'll make the drum stands from rolled-up paper. Will be raiding all the paper offcuts / misprints baskets at work tomorrow for some extra recycling

 

Look what happened ... I needed a break from the sewing machine, so Jamie has a raw and blank cardboard guitar!



I think it needs a couple more layers ... the body still looks a bit flat to me.

Problem, though - the next step requires a nail file. I don't think I've owned one in my life. Guess I'll need to go shopping for a nail file ... to make doll instruments. Because what else, right?

 

"FroGuitar" in progress ... I added a couple layers to the original tutorial, it's still a bit flat but I plain ran out of cardboard. Sandpaper worked surprisingly well, so still no nail file in this household. I forgot to take a pic of the sanded guitar, right now the first base layer of black acrylic paint is drying. It's matte paint so it'll need some gloss, but I'm not sure which colour it'll be ... I don't really have scrapbook paper as the tutorial suggests, but I might find something else that works.

I did try a "scale check" last night, and accidentally ended up with the Most Jamie Pic Ever (ignore the obvious unfinishedness of the guitar) - he wouldn't sit on the shelf, so I put him somewhere with furniture he could lean against, and this happened. Dude just hanging around playing:



Even though technically it's not even his guitar but Matteo's ... I might need to reconsider, looks like the guys have other plans.

 

Amazingly, black on black still shows up. (Bonus photobombing Dave )

 

Given the fact I've started stuff that doesn't belong to the band guys but I still want to document what I'm making and how, there's yet another journal up. Now with acoustic guitar, flute coming soon and who knows what else ... I'll keep the band's stuff updated here too, or I'll link to the other thread whenever something relevant happens.

 

How did I not reply to this? o.O Sorry! I tried adding styrofoam first because I had some, but you're right, corrugated cardboard works a lot better. I did that for the acoustic guitar over in the other thread, and I'm covering the sides with paper right now Thank you for the suggestion!