Spring Green Ballgown with Rainbow Sash and Underskirt

Click for larger version (PNG); click for PDF version. Click here for the list of dolls.

I ended up having the flu, and I’m almost feeling better; technically, I’m still coughing, my diet is still based around plain white rice and applesauce, and I haven’t tested that thing for a while where I get nauseous if I’m on my feet too long. But my mind has been better for a while now, and my powers of concentration have caught up enough to draw something. There is not much thought behind this one besides “I am so very bored of having the flu.”

My heart is with everyone in Japan affected by the recent disasters. I hope you will all keep them in your thoughts, as well. I feel like I’d like to write more, but it’s beyond me… I feel intensely grateful that the people I care about are all safe, and I pray for safety and peace in the time to come.


The Peignoir of Pestilence in Black

Click for larger version (PNG); click for PDF version. Click here for the list of dolls.

I’m feeling sick – or, rather, I’m feeling the impending doom of hurting ears and lightheadedness that points to about an evening’s worth of grace before I become useless for a couple of days. That gives me time to make a nice big vat of soup (chickpea noodle – the ailing vegetarian’s specialty) and draw a paperdoll outfit that lets me vent my frustration at a promising weekend being spoiled. I haven’t been sick in a while, but somehow that doesn’t make me feel any more cheerful! I was going to do all sorts of fun stuff, and now I will probably spend the weekend in bed napping and trolling Hulu for stuff to watch. (If you’d like to ease my suffering, please recommend shows or movies on Hulu that require little or no brainpower to enjoy. I have a particular weakness for ridiculous anime when I’m feeling sick, keep in mind ^^;;)

The last time I remember feeling really sick, I drew an outfit for the fairy of illness and disease, and I suppose it’s time to propitiate her once more. That outfit felt more formal to me, but this is just the sort of thing you need when you’re lounging around and being evil. The Peignoir of Pestilence, let’s say.

Depending on how I feel by Saturday, there may or may not be a new outfit in this space. I’m growing too tired to even really finish this one like it deserves, but I thought I had best post it anyways. You can kind of see where I was going with it, even if I didn’t get there in the end.


1885 Ball Gown in Blue, White and Silver

Click for larger version (PNG); click for PDF version. Click here for the list of dolls.

Angie was one of the two people who guessed all four winners for Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Actor and Best Actress, and her coloring request was:

How do you think the 1885 Black and White Ballgown done in a dark blue with silver and white accents would look?

Well, here’s how it looks – I hope you like it, Angie!

The other winner was my husband – after some deliberation, I decided to allow him to participate, but I regretted that when he chose the winners (using, according to him, the most cynical selection technique possible). You can go see for yourself what he’s making me do, I don’t want to think about it until I have to do it!


Livedolling the Oscars: Anne Hathaway’s Red Gown, Natalie Portman’s Purple Gown, Gwyneth Paltrow’s White Gown and Amy Adams’ Blue Gown

Click for larger version (PNG):red gown, purple gown, white gown, blue gown,; click for PDF version: red gown, purple gown, white gown, blue gown, Click here for the list of dolls.

Oscars Contest: The contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

8:43 PST: And there’s my last dress – Amy Adam’s gown. Yes, I know that those four thumbnails look awful, maybe I’ll fix it tomorrow… Anyways, thanks to those of you who entered the contest and followed along! This was a lot of fun, I hope to do it again next year.

8:36 PST: Congratulations to Brian and Angie – they both guessed Alice in Wonderland for Costume Design, Colin Firth for Best Actor, Natalie Portman for Best Actress and The King’s Speech for Best Picture!

8:25 PST: Four people so far have gotten three of the four categories right…

7:22 PST: Well, I’ve done three – I can kill my fingers on Amy Adam’s dress now, I think.

7:20 PST: Hm, now what? I’d do Helena Bonham-Carter’s dress if I had Cool Grey 90% or 70%, but both are too small to sharpen… Bored now

7:00 PST: Only one commenter guessed a movie besides Alice in Wonderland for Best Costume Design… so the field is still wide open. :)

6:59 PST: And Alice in Wonderland has it!

6:57 PST: I thought I’d take a stab at Gwyneth Paltrow’s shiny dress – unlike most of the things I draw, I think it turned out better scanned than the original! I took a little artistic license with the placement of the gold ornament. The costume design Oscar is coming up… I wonder if anyone’s going to win my contest?

6:16 PST: Finished Natalie Portman’s dress! And now… hmmm.

5:38 PST: I like Anne Hathaway’s new dress better than the red one! Great patterns… sparkly too

5:33 PST: Trying to figure out how to watch online – maybe it’s just a ploy to get people to pay the $5 for the extra content, but the Oscars official site seems a lot more fussy than necessary. This site seems to work – hat tip to ask mefi. Lys did a fantastic drawing of Mila Kunis’ gown!

4:53 PST: In contrast, I could probably finish Reese Witherspoon’s in about twenty minutes – not necessarily a compliment. Next will probably be Natalie Portman or Helena Bonham-Carter, but I haven’t decided yet.

4:48 PST: I do like the color on Amy Adams’ gown and the green jewelry she’s wearing, and I would probably draw it if I didn’t mind killing my hands for the evening…

4:45 PST: Anne Hathaway’s red Valentino gown! I’ve been listening to the red carpet patter, but I’ve only taken a few glances away from the drawing, so now it’s time to pick another one…

3:40 PST: I guess I’ll start with Anne Hathaway, seeing as how she’s hosting. Incidentally, I’m looking at Getty Images’ Academy Awards Arrivals page for close-ups. Again, if there’s a better source, pass it on!

3:00 PM PST: The Oscars site says that the red carpet starts in an hour, but the AP live stream is already going. I guess the dresses won’t really be here for a bit, so time to get my colored pencils together…

10:15 AM PST: Welcome, everyone! Before this gets started, two things:

1) Let’s have a special Oscars contest! In the comments section, post your guesses for which movies will win Best Picture and Best Costume Design, and which actors will win Best Leading Actor and Best Leading Actress. (Click for the list of nominated movies.) The contest is closed when Best Costume Design is announced, one guess per person please, and it’s open to anyone. The prize for anyone who gets the right combination is a black and white outfit of your choice colored by me as you like, plus something new for the first person to guess correctly… :)

2) And how about an Oscars poll?

See you all in a few hours!