GRAND OPENING!

GRAND OPENING!!!

Yes, Alternative Kei Shop is finally open! I can't contain my excitement, so I may have gone a bit overboard on the promotions.

Well, my insanity should be taken advantage of, go request stuff.

Alternative Kei Shop on Facebook

Do you see what I see?

FOCUS: Pieces from my first jewelry set, available soon on the Alternative Kei shop!
OUT OF FOCUS: My next jewelry project. With this, I think it's truly Springtime, don't you?

I've been slaving away on just a few hours of sleep for the past few days with the whole shop thing. This has probably been going on for a week where I wake up, get to work, and don't stop (except for when I'm at my job) until 2am. It's pretty much a routine now. Yes, I probably bit off way more than I can chew, but it's so worth it! Surprise! I'm opening shop very, very soon! (Less than a week, but I won't say when!)


I'm honestly ecstatic with the shop. Though it's barely been a little while since myself and Miccah opened Miccah Boo Shop, I feel that this was a good time to finally open Alt.Kei Shop. I'm more positive than ever that I've made the correct decision, and I'm truly pouring my heart and soul into every single item I make. I've been lucky to have everyone's support thus far. The people that have me on Facebook, you've seen little previews. I'm just.. blown away by the amazing responses I've gotten. Between my own pieces and the requests I already have lined up, it's just an amazing feeling!

I got one comment on my previous entry about charms for the shop. I'll eventually work on getting my hands on anything and everything! I want to have a variety of things in the shop, especially since I end up learning new methods and skills along the way.

Thank you everyone for bearing with me throughout my off-and-on blog posts! Once the shop fully opens I'll be able to make better and more informative entries for everyone~ Take care!

If you can't have it right now...

Then you wear it!

I probably forgot to mention in my last entry how much of a wimp I am when it comes to anything involving needles and any form of pain. I also left out the really huge detail that I can't get my tattoo while my parents are alive. Being in a strict Mexican household is fun, I tell you! Ideally, I want to work up the courage to get the tattoo done on me on my 25th birthday (I'm 23 years currently), but until then, I'll wear it as clothing! Originally, Gigi gave me the idea to make it into a shirt. Then another good friend suggested making it into a cap. Both ideas are amazing, but I had to pick one, and I read Gigi's comment first before my other friend's, so the t-shirt won!

Also, at 2am I started thinking about the actual tattoo and I have decided to work on temporary tattoos. Considering the fact that they are currently trending, I'm excited to see how things will turn out!

This is what I started with. I took it the same day to the local screen printing shop at the mall, and it took close to two hours for the whole thing to be done, but it was worth it! Also, thank goodness for my dressform (a.k.a my model!).

Detail #1

Detail #2. I did mention the fact that I wanted some lettering... What better way to shamelessly advertise the blog name than to have it on the shirt itself?

Now, as you all may know by now, I can't sit still with having a plain ol' t-shirt ... Ever. So I went to the craft store near the mall right before going into work and bought myself some lovely little fabric tools to fix this unfinished piece.

First, I bedazzled it.... Kind of.

Click images for a bigger image.

I bought iron-on crystals for fabric and a little ironing tool specifically for crystals while at the craft store. This was technically the first step into making the shirt something better and something I could wear without thinking it looked too simple. I'm proud of how it came out with the crystals and the selective...selections of the crystal placements.

Second, I kind of destroyed it...

"Size M Adult, so hangs pretty well on shoulders for Ladies S/M; "X" attachment exactly near bra area, not crooked, just the little dressform buttons hate me :D."

That's pretty much how it looks now, and I'm honestly liking the responses I've gotten on the shirt via Facebook. Since this was a trial to see how it would look, I'm keeping it, but I've learned a lot from the whole process and have decided to add these shirts to my shop!

Yes, you read that correctly! Your eyes are not deceiving you! Alternative Kei shop will open soon and feature these very shirts, with a 100% customization to fit your very style and needs! I probably sound like a cheap infomercial now. Please keep and eye out, spread the word, and support the shop as much as you have been supporting this blog!

In regards to the shop, what else would you like to see? What interests you?

My first Tattoo Design

Stay in bed, you're sick... they told me.

So I stayed in bed for 13 days while I tried to get better.

Yes, I'm still a bit sick though.

Work on your webshop... they told me.

I've been slaving over the shop since we opened this month.

Yes, I still plan on opening Alternative Kei SHOP.

Take a break from working so hard... they told me.

So I decided to obsess over the Hannya demon mask.

Yes, I think I missed my calling as a tattoo artist.

I actually decided two days ago that I want this exact tattoo on me. I hate needles and pain, but I think that it will be well worth it in the end. The only bad thing is I'll probably spend my whole life adding more and more to it, Yakuza style. I suppose I got a lot of the motivation from Shoko Tendo's memoir Yakuza Moon; to get a tattoo that mentally helps you break out from whatever you're facing and strengthens you. Also, all of these items have a meaning in my life, which is why I want to get this tattoo done on me.

Hannya Demon - It signifies the souls of women turned demons due to jealousy and obsession. It's used in old Japanese operas/shows where the actor if he/she is facing you, the mask looks like it's angry and terrifying, but if facing downwards, it looks like it's tormented and crying. It's supposed to symbolize the complexity of emotions.

The koi fish have many different meanings as to why I chose them -- they represent good fortune/luck (1), the Japanese associate the koi fish with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals (2), in the Buhddist religion it's recognized as courage like humans "swimming" through an "ocean of suffering" without fear (3), the word KOI is also a term for love in Japanese, but it's more of a selfish love and it's towards the opposite sex and can be used as the longing for a specific person (4).

The lotus flower represents overcoming adversity, just like the lotus flower literally blooms for the murk/mud and turns into something beautiful, it symbolizes overcoming hardships for people.

The rosary is because of my religion as a Catholic. Even though I don't practice that religion, it has meaning to me because it was pretty much my whole life when I was in Mexico.

It took me two days to complete this; All I'm missing is lettering to it, to tie it all together, but what do you think? Also, this will go on my personal blog as a blog design, wish me luck!

Gyaru-fy your room: Ultimate Megapost! (D.I.A. STYLE)

So you'd like to have a D.I.A. inspired room... I know I would! This is the second specific room post, you can find the previous one, Hime style, here.

Brand★Analysis

In general, D.I.A. is composed of the following elements: black, white, contrasting colors to the previous two, animal print, stripes, faux fur, skulls, crowns, chains, gold, gray, tan and other neutral tones. Some things to keep in mind are that D.I.A. is one of the more popular brands to use in Ora Ora style that is not directly an Ora Ora Kei brand. This means, that the combination of black/white with gold is most common, just as tattoo apparel type-clothing is present, bold lettering, and a lot of embellishments through rhinestones and the like.

There are two ways to approach D.I.A.

- As a brand
- As a style (branching into Ora Ora Kei)

Since this was a request post for the brand approach, we'll stick to that and leave Ora Ora Kei for a later date, or for whomever requests it next!

The use of certain colors is one of the easier ways to achieve a D.I.A. styled room. There are many ways to go about it, from selecting (or making) a bedspread, curtains, etc. The key in using colors is definitely in the way of how you arrange them to complete the look.
Example: Using the colors black and white with either animal print trim or bold color trim for curtains (trim and dual color is completely opctional), or the use of dark purple and black for a bedspread and set of your own choosing.

The ability to layer embellishments like chains is also huge in decorating a room to fit into the style. When thinking of D.I.A., my mind automatically goes to their belts. Reason being is there are just like any ordinary belt, except that they're completely embellished with chain layers, charms, and the like. So of course, one has to assume that a good way to make a room more D.I.A. is through the same embellishing method that the brand uses. The most common way to add embellishments to your room would be by adding them to the top portion of the curtains, as well as go for edges (maybe mirror edges). Find a way to make it work, customize the alphabet charms to say your name or something cute that you would like, etc.

Don't be afraid to add extras like maybe faux fur covers for seats, studs and rhinestones to accentuate your room further and take it to the next level!

Tutorials

You could paint the denim fabric you use (if you're using any for furniture covers and even clothes) by adapting this fun little tutorial on how to use metallic fabric paint. Adapt it to how you want the look to be if you don't want it to be completely covered in the paint!

"D.I.Y. Metallic Shorts"

D.I.A.'s main advantage is that their belts and other accessories have charms personalized to spell out the brand name. Why not do the same and create your own to spell out your name, or add little accents like skulls, crosses, crowns, etc? The possibilities are endless with how and where you'd like to place a customized chain with charms!
"Chain Mail Charm Bracelet"

While you're at it, why not add rhinestones to the denim or other fabric you're using? Glam it up!
"Decorating Clothes with Rhinestones: Gluing Rhinestones to Clothing"

Maybe rhinestones aren't your thing, and you'd prefer something a bit edgier. Why not add some studs, maybe even some spikes?
"HOW TO - Stud Your Clothes"

I hope this gives you some good ideas on little things you can do to customize your room D.I.A. style! Enjoy!

It's MEEEEE!

I haven't show many of my recent pictures lately.

Let's change that.

If you're on my Facebook, you've probably seen these before.

[PURCHASE] My new REAL MA*RS Parka!

This has been my "teaser" picture for the past two days now since I received my Parka from the ever amazing Mitsu from Universal Doll. She was kind enough to even send me the shopping bag it came in!

I won't bore you all with my day-and-a-half-long squealing and fawning over this lovely item, so enjoy the pictures!

Thank you, Mitsu!