Projects for the future, additional II

Good evening, mina-sama. Today will yield another short post, as I have this ominous foreboding feeling that lingers in the back of my head that I should perhaps be doing something constructive to my studies. I woke up very very late yesterday, and the last lingering bout of this sore-throat plus cold seemed to enjoy conglomerating all in that one morning so as to make me feel like utter crap. So I looked online to make sure I could catch up with readings, and finished the Japanese worksheets I had for Monday... So I read 100 pages of the Tale of Genji, and even memorized two CCs... *Looks around.* Damnit, I did work, stoppit with this feeling~! Hmph! And so I will take my mind of such chills down my spine with more pleasant fare.

Projects~! I think of more of them! I am astounded sometimes by all the things I suddenly feel compelled to do now that I have a particular focus, a sewing machine that's out and more readily available [as opposed to having to unwrap it, etc.], and, oh yes, a bit of disposable income helps, so that I don't have to politely beg the mother person for fabrics. Aristocratic is fascinating, as is Visual Kei. I may one day splurge a bit and buy specialty designed contacts. I've heard white irises are quite popular. Oh, top hat first though; yes, though I had as much of an idea to make my own--and I still might attempt--along with my cane, the cane is obviously much simpler, although a top hat does work in my head...

The half-skirt and the Nudy Boy shirt will be coming along sometime before the year is out, I hope, because after all, I wanted to wear them during the cooler months. Also, another jabot will probably be in the works, now that I have one under my belt and better know the mechanics of it. I have not forgotten these, proposed earlier along with Aeon pants and my cane. However, recent events--sickness mostly--have motivated a few more projects.

1. Face-mask. I already have one in my possession actually. I acquired it at Otakon 2007 [oh my, three years ago already?]. It's black, and has a butterfly on it, but it's peeling away in tiny chippings. Tis so sad. When I wore it last during class so I wouldn't have to constantly get up to hack up a lung, I gots to thinking about making another one, with some of the rest of the sateen. I'll need small ribbon, or black rubber bands/elastic to make the ties, but that's no trouble. I think it's just a matter of the correct measurements--it'll be a rectangle, certainly--and then since it's black, I have to find some way to imprint a design on it. It probably will be a yin-yang. I would try my hand at embroidering, but it's just a mask, no reason to turn it into a bigger project than necessary. The mother person has white fabrics about, so I will probably make an inverse one, and fabric marker a design onto it, fabric fitting.

2. Eye patch. I believe I had a thought to do this way back in middle school actually. I am a little skeptical about it though, in terms of actually wearing it. I don't know which eye to wear it on. My right eye is weaker, so if I wore it on my left, I might not be able to see as well. But if I wore it on my right, I would fear half-use would make my right eye weaker still. Plus, I'd be wearing it out under my glasses. Well, maybe not, if I am doing something like walking around; I'm nearsighted, but not bat-shit blind. It terms of making it, I might use spare sateen, and a bit of stuffing fabric [something a bit thicker, you know? I can't think of the name of it at present], and then I suppose it's just a matter of shape, and how to affix the elastic/ribbon into it. Elastic might just be easier overall for when I'm tying my hair back with a fat ribbon. I may or may not put some emblem on it too. A cross, an ornate X, a longevity symbol, etc.

3. Corset backings. By which I mean adding corset backings to some of my blouses that don't have darts, nor can be easily temporarily pinned. I pinned my black and white striped blouse for Sunday [GSO rehersal], but as I was doing laundry it popped. Ah. Bad. A similar thing happened to a purple shirt I made about five years ago [it's actually quite fitting for Wa-Lolita, although it's got a v-line... so maybe not], and I'm tired of restitching the ties back into place. So I'm going to experiment first with a T-shirt and test out two ways to add a darting of some sort that I could loop a string through and tie into a more contoured shape. I had a thought to make a thin stretch of fabric like the ties, and then make loops along the back and stitch them in place, but I was suddenly struck as to make a wider piece, sew it into the shirt down the back, and then add eyelets down the wider piece. Immediately I thought "Oh damn I'm becoming addicted to eyelets." But suddenly I am discovering so many uses for them. So I might forgo the Nudy Boy shirt a little longer to try corset backing in some of my other blouses. This way, come warmer weather, I can settle for just one layer and still have it look Aristo.

Think these are pretty clever ideas? Well don't feel left out, you probably have some ideas of your own, even if you don't know it yet. You can do it! While I do count myself very creative, you don't have to have a light bulb go off in your head to come up with something original~! [or even not original, in the case of reproducing cosplays and such.] There is inspiration in things all around you, not just in clothes to clothes, but furniture to clothes, food to clothes, mediaaaaaaaaaa to clothes or other, etc, etc, etc~! If ideas still don't come to you, but you really have the drive to make something if an idea did strike you, then take a little time on a lazy weekend, or whenever you think best, and brainstorm a little. Think about a new thing you want, be it a blouse, pants, or an accessory of some type. Look around your room, or at pictures on your walls, whatever. Before you know it, you'll have jotted down some notes or a sketch and that's half the project right there.

Pictures may soon arise of some casual coordinates I've been wearing for picnics. Also, some notes and ideas for a Harajuku Club that Toriberry and Nobu and I shall be a part of. It is exciting to think about. Aaaaaand~ Halloween is almost upon us. Getting into the spirit, everyone? I certainly hope so... heh heh heh... *Candelabra.*

And so on that note, pleasant dreams, mina-sama... take with you what you will from reality, and twist it into your phantasmal dreams~
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Miniature Post--Marquis cooks a meal: Lunch II

Good afternoon, mina-sama, I'm taking a brief interlude from work to add a little something. I've been really bad about making lunches these days, I only made one last week, which means I was having to buy foods. Only I was running short on the monies because I hadn't been to the bank in two weeks, and so I didn't actually end up buying that much after all. Oddly, I didn't feel starved, but I sure as hell wasn't feeling awake come Thursday evening.

Tonikaku, here's last Thursday's picnic bento, had with Nobu aaaaaaaaand... *Taps chin.* Eventually Spanish-man and Vodka drinker came by for a bit...

Fresh pineapple was had [and skillfully cut up by yours truly], tamagoyaki, and tako hot dogs. I didn't know what to put in the green and I was already really tired, so I put in some buttered toast. I likes my starch.

So, as stated before in last bento filled post, I sort of go for what I have and what's tasty rather than the aesthetics. I still like my bento to look nice for whatever I've got in it though, all the same. It was tasty, and my pinneapple was swarmed by a bee. And I had a nice picnic overall.

As promised, a brief interlude be thus. Enjoy your afternoon and return home safely, mina-sama.
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Miniature Post--Marquis cooks a meal: Lunch

Good evening, mina-sama. I've been feeling under the weather recently [there I go again with my superior and supremely failing health], but oddly, here I am posting something else today. Although when you take into account that today's easiler post should've been posted a week ago, it seems to balance out a bit... *Koff, koff-koff-koff!* Ouch, auuhhhh... It seems a bit early for cold season, but it can't begin to be fall soon enough, ne? Although in this Marquis' area, it is supposed to be in the 90s for the rest of the week to Friday. Ugh. Disgusting.

As it were, here is what I've been whipping up for lunches for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ges-sui-kin doesn't work out as well since I tend to be finishing work on the evenings of Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday. With the exception of the dragon roll and fried rice in the lower one, I made everything [or everything was available to me in the fridge]. Bento to me is a luxury, so I stuff into it anything I can. It is a part aesthetics, but mostly it's what can I whip up with minimal effort and cut down to fit into the compartments? Fruits are plentiful in the house, and because Otousan doesn't eat them, it's split half and half between Mother and I, usually just whoever gets to it first eats the majority.

Oh, and the maple leaf dorayaki is direct from Miyajima Island, Japan. The yellow in the lower box is tamagoyaki, the "blossoming" things are hot dog "octopi" that I turned upside down so they would all fit. Up top is a massive hamburger grilled the evening prior that I put a slice of Asiago cheese on. These were enjoyed on beautiful weathered days during picnics with Toriberry~ [yes, at last we have had ours]. By way of fashion, I have debut my cane during the school week, but I was more casual Visual Kei both of those times. When I finally go clothes shopping and buy more blouses, the jabot and silver Kuroshitsuji necklace will be donned more often.

*Soft yawn, koff koff.* Nghhhh, I think I shall try to turn in early, mina-sama, do forgive my leave. I must finish watching the Dissidia Final Fantasy intro movie though. *Eyes glued on Warrior of Light.* For the twelfth time this night. Dah. Are generic heroes allowed to morphed into something so devestatingly hot? Don't answer that, because apparently, it's a yes. [Such a bad ass...]

Mmmm~ Firionel I didn't forget you~ oh, and Sephiroth don't you look splendid in the newer and nicer CGI~?
Leave an ill noble to his musings...
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Jabot Complete, jikan douri da.

Good evening, mina-sama. My earlier thought about clementimes giving me that random burst of energy seem to still hold true, oddly enough. Biology and kinesthesiology is important everyone. Without a head piece for last Sunday's meet up, I was feeling an urge to have some other sort of piece in my Aristo coordinate, and since the jabot was already on my list, I put aside the Nudy Boy shirt to get it done by then. I don't know what I'm going to do come time to make the half skirt and Nudy Boy shirt, since the rest of those clementimes don't look so good... [perhaps grapefruit is in order].

So among other things from a trip to Jo-Ann's maybe a month ago, I bought this lovely black sateen swatch to be my neck frills. My plan was instead of making a collar that fastened in the back, or came around into the front to tie, I was going to thread a ribbon through the opening in the collar and have that tie in the back. That way, on those days when I didn't have a brooch or pin to put up, the bow would serve as it's own additional decorative touch. When I make a tiered one, I'll probably do the same thing; and I won't have to worry about getting more ribbon because I can simply pull the one I have out of the single tiered. I will probably go and buy white ribbon, to mix and match, as well as compliment the white sateen jabot that will eventually come about. If I don't screw up, I may make a black and white tiered, in white-black-white, and black-white-black. Ahh, such lofty aspirations... and maybe I'll get my technique down by then.

Now then, without further ado, here is my tutorial for making a jabot [like mine, where there is no fastening in the back].

For ease and convenience, gather all your materials together. Not pictured are the sewing machine, iron, and scissors; you know you'll need those of course. Because my jabot didn't have a fasten in the back like a button or those metal snaps, I cut down on costs, complexity, time, and additonal effort. I don't imagine adding the metal snaps would take much more than making the collar part longer, and following the directions for affixing them to your fabric. You can still follow this tutorial up until that point, where instead of leaving an opening, you'd sew the collar piece down and add your fastener of choice. As far as the measurements go, I had a yard of ribbon [since it's going front-back-then front to tie], about 40 x 14 inches for the jabot frill itself, and about 10 x 35 inches for the collar [it's going to be folded over, don't forget]. Also, sateen was an incredibly difficult fabric for me to work with, because it became unthreaded easily. What am I trying to say... it frayed easily, and I was contantly pulling the loose threads out. Pinking the edges may have helped, but I didn't spare the time to bother with it. Sateen does flow nicely though, and is super shiny. It's up to you which fabric you wish to use of course.

The first thing you'll want to do is cut out your rectangle that's going to be the gathered frill in your jabot. If you know of a different shape that you want it to be, cut it out in that way, but just be mindful that the ends will pull up when you gather, so it's not necessary to make things rounded persay. Then create and even hemmed edge around three of the sides. I did the bottom first, then folded the sides on top, since it was easier to hide that little overlap in the corner. You can snip out a tiny bit if it makes it easier. Then gather the unhemmed top and hand stich it into a gather. I found that making the stitches smaller up top allowed for more ruffling to come down through the rest. Depending on the size of your gather, it'll look a little something like the above. Set that aside to start working on the collar part.

When doing the collar part, you'll want to make sure it's not to thick or thin, for when you're going to turn it inside out. Because I was putting a ribbon through mine, I made it a bit thicker just for insurance, but it still fits under the collar of my blouses well. This is also where you want to decide how long around you want it to be. If you're opting to fasten it in the back, measure a comfortable circumference around your neck with a little slack for the seam. If you want it to go from front to back to tie in the front, double the circumference, then add extra for tying a knot or bow, depending on what you'd like. Cut out the appropriate length for the collar, and sew the edges of the sides down. Next, sew the top and bottom, but make sure to leave some space for the gathered piece in the middle. If you'd rather sew it all the way across and just sew the gathered piece to the back, you can do that too, but be mindful that you'll be feeling that ruffle against your neck, and it might be uncomfortable or tickle, depending on your fabric.

Next, turn your collar piece inside out. This is the first one I made, and it turned out being to thin for me to comfortably stick the ribbon through, so I cut another piece; the steps are still the same though. Pin the sides of the empty space you left for the gathered piece, then go ahead and iron down the crease. This'll allow you to remove the pins to repin the hemline with the jabot tucked into it, without having a mass of pins everywhere between the layers.

So it'll be something like this. All that's left is to bite the bullet and sew everything into place. If you want a little more stability than just the pins, go ahead and baste the gathered part to the back side of the collar, and re-pin it down. Try and get it so you have the ruffles in a place you want them, since you can't move them once they're down; don't worry, it won't affect the bottom as much, you can still shift those around, they just tend to move back if you fastened a top part overlapping.

The end result looks a little something like this. ^_^ The ribbon is threaded front to back to front and tied as it would be if around my neck. And there be my jabot made in a few hours over two days. I wore it with my coordinate and it looked right at home. I iam mmensely pleased with it, considering I was going crazy about it's overall look with the muslin, the sewing machine threw a fit, the fabric kept fraying, and I had only two days to do it once I finally said "Damnit, DO IT!" I'm going to wear it this evening in fact, with my cane accompanying.

Now without giving too much away, that's all for that. Next post will reveal all~ ahahahahahaha! *Koff.* Nghhhh, I hurt my throat promoting SM and GSO on Thursday... It feels really scratchy. *Sigh.* Way to add to my unenthused and overall unwell feeling.

I bid you goodbye for the moment, mina-sama, so I can tend to somethings and get tea into my system.
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Sunday's Meet Up that wasn't.[PICTURE LADEN]

Good afternoon, mina-sama. It is terribly late I know, and I know I stand by better late than never, but even I know that that has it's limits sometimes. However, at least another meet up hasn't passed before I got around to this. So here's the Reader's Digest version of two Sunday's ago.

Because the D.C. area weather is crack-pot insane, it rained. Bad. So I, being the awake and alert one, called on Toriberry and Nobu in turn to see if an alternate plan would be had. Toriberry suggested just the three of us--and hey, anyone in Dorchester or St. Mary's who cared to join us--have it in either of their dorm's lounge basement area. Decided, I dressed out. I felt amazing. I felt Aristocratic. Even the bulk of bags--a sleeping bag in case we decided to go outside anyway, my sheet music, bento, and JKL--didn't make me feel uneasy as Otousan dropped me off. I called once I got closer, to see which basement Toriberry and Nobu had decided. Nobu was waiting for word from Toriberry. I was waiting for word from Toriberry. As I began to suspect going on three hours later, with a periodical call in between, Toriberry had returned to the realm of the Asleep, and was not to be roused until I was already at rehersal for that evening.

It sounds bad. It was disappointing, I will admit. But GSO is a marvelous conglomerate of creative and imaginative folks, who took a shine to my Aristocrat in an instant [some even asked if I had made my jacket]. And I happily chose to deny work for going out late to dinner after rehersal, where in crowded around the round table at the Chinese restaurant we all love, I felt even more comfortable. I felt Aristo. I had embodied Aristo.

And since things didn't quite work out on campus as far as our impromptu meet-up, I supplemented with a photoshoot at home. And since neither Otousan nor Mother properly know how to take good shots with my camera, I did it myself. For your viewing and critiquing pleasure.

So immensely in love with how these turned out am I. I can even forgive the humidity of the rain for essentially ruingin three consecutive nights' work to straighten it. *Sigh.*

That is all for right now, ma cherie, this was only meant to be picture laden anyway had I gone to the meet-up or not. Until our next one, which hopefully will not be out in Woodbridge... [although apple picking sounds immensely fun.]

OBJECTION! [...did that go over your heads, mina-sama?]
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Kiss thy eyes and lay thee to Sleep

Good evening, mina-sama. It's the middle of the week, several days after our meet-up that wasn't this past Sunday. I promise to get to that in the next post, along with more food [ah, how ironic considering how long it took to get food for the first official post]. But for now, I am so immensely tired, and so... so unroyal feeling that I don't know what to do with myself. But my thoughts are roiling endlessly as always, and when I was younger, I could always turn to writing utensil and paper to set my mind to a calmer, more focused state. I hope to replicate that feeling here and now, though typing can only do so much. I have exquisite handwriting, and call it a egotistical failing of mine, but I love to look at it. However, Lucida Grand Console is a fine font, considering... [this is rhetorical, nothing follows]

Off and on recently, after a high on Trinity Blood fanfiction more prominently featuring Isaak, Cain, Petros, and *che gasp* Guderian, I have been thinking about some one-shots I'd like to do, namely one with a mind game. This will probably not come about in a timely fashion, so I do not mind revealing it will be GuderianxCainxGuderain [in that Guderain will be both seme and uke], with Cain being the secretly ADD seraphim blond brat that he truly is, desiring to have a 'hat stand' bodyguard at his side, as Tres Iqus is to Caterina Sforza and Guderian himself is to Isaak Fernand van Khampfer. I dunno why, I'll think of it when I get there. Like I said, Cain's a brat at heart though; sadistic, twisted, mind-numbbing, stupidly hot brat... *Koff.* So it will have something to do with that. And that motive will have something to do with the mind game to be played as things get a little heavy between the Crusnik and Reißzahn, ohh yesssssss~

But not that I've figured it out. It's hard to play mind games with myself, because eventually, I start to make one side lose on purpose, not out of being outwitted. Maybe it's laziness... Either way, I'll either have to make the game short, or find another means to do it. I have had the thought to try and make it a one sided dialouge sort of mind game; after all Cain is the sweetly manipulative dripping poisonous words type, and Guderian is so sexxxily stoic and silent, I could maybe play to that. But playing painfully silent characters is sometimes just as hard as finding the right words for dialouge. All of what isn't said must now come out in actions, and while I've done that before, it's been a while. It'll be a nice refresher. Pretty Reißzahn, wonderfully blond lupine Reißzahn, oh how damn well cute you are in all your werewolf glory. Maybe I will go with the golden silence route. Hmm...

Tonikaku, I usually think out the delicious parts first, to keep the idea in my head, but I won't make it just that, although it will consume most of it. It would be a nice prelude methinks to have Guderian being Cain's ideal perpetual, loyal, stoic shadow in other forms before delving into the Crusnik's other wants. Isaak let's Cain borrow him because it would be blasphemy to try and clone such a perfect specimen [in the magician's words], and so sets the gears in motion with his "parting" words to Guderian, "No matter how subtle it comes out, make him beg for everything he requests; I might not get you back in one piece otherwise." Meaning if you give an inch, Cain will tear you to shreds. Nicely. While smiling. [The kind I like to imagine bitchslapping.]

"Reißzahn~."

"Mein Herr Cain-sama?"

"Reißzahn, do you make that crysanthemum tea that Dietrich and Isaak like so much?"

"I do, Cain-sama."

"I want some. Steep an entire teapot just for me."

"As you wish, Cain-sama." The pause between acting on his words made the Crusnik curious.

"Reißzahn~ hurry, I don't like to be kept waiting, and I want to deepen my special bond with my lupine bodyguard whom I own for the while."

"I wonder which tea set to bring to mein herr for crysanthemum tea..." Another pause somewhat punctuated with a tiny rumble in the back of his throat.

"You will make it the silver and red set, won't you, Reißzahn? Say you will, you will." If the Crusnik had been looking closely enough--being across the room--he may have caught the minute lift in Guderian's lips.

"And so I shall, Cain-sama. Please excuse me to bring you your tea."

Ah yes, even that alone--watching it play in my mind--leads to reprecussions down the line. It is a subtle beg, you see? Please will come later. At the very end perhaps. Saa~?

Completely derailing that was. I'll reward you soon with my full coordinate photos, I promise, mina-sama.

Reißzahn~... Reißzahn~... Iie, Guderian, ore no...
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

Cane Completed

Good afternoon, minna-sama. I'm a bit behind as I meant to do this Saturday, however better a little late then before it's first debut, ahaha. It's debut will either be sometime this week, or the meet-up next Sunday. I am looking forward to it very much. I still haven't decided and food things. I don't know if I'll be able to get down to Super Grand on Saturday. More food as thusly been acquired in the house, so I'm looking into a few homemade things... we'll have to see.

Now, onto the very exciting news. I have finished my cane. As I thought, it was neither terribly difficult nor expensive [considering the finished product], and since it was completed so speedily, I don't have step by step pictures. However, hardware and carpentry is a little easier to instruct with just words, so I hope that will suffice. If you don't want to put out for a $40, $50, $80, up to a $100 or more accessory cane, then look no further. Doing it yourself opens a world of possibilities to custom fit it to your exact specifications. And it'll save you a bundle, even with the more expensive tools you could buy.

You don't need very many tools, but it is essential to have a power drill. If you don't have one, you may want to look into getting the hole for the handle done at your local hardware store. If it's Home Depot or Lowe's, the first "cut" should be free. You need a dowel--choose your own thickness, but mine was 7/8ths inch--a foot to put on the end [because you don't want the end of your cane to get splintery or weathered], a handle, and paints. The dowel I got at Home Depot for about $3 [since it was solid oak], and it was already the right height for me. If you need something taller than what they have, try looking into long planks to be cut down, and if you need something shorter, as mentioned, the hardware stores usually offer a first wood cut for free. Try measuring at home to know your comfortable height. My rubber foots I also found at Home Depot, in a four back, for about $2.50, under furniture ends. Make sure you get one with an opening that is slightly smaller than the width of your dowel, because you don't want the dowel to slip out of the foot. Paint is optional, if you choose to go for the wood--or if you happen to get a silicon, metal, or plastic rod--look. Finish gives it a nice polished look, to be certain. I happen to stop into Michael's on my way back from handle shopping and they were having a sale on spray paint; a can of silver and black were $0.99 each.

The handle proved to be the most difficult to locate, and also is the most expensive piece. What I ended up using--in case you cannot read the print--is a draipery end. It was able to screw off from the rounded metal piece, thus being a stand alone makeshift handle. For the pair, it was $12 at Target. If you have a Bed Bath&Beyond near by, you can also find similar designed ones there, but I found they were more expensive. When picking your handle, keep in mind it's comfort in your hand. Even though you might not lean on it to assist in walking, you'll still have to keep a hold of it, so get something that fits and feels good in your hand. Though I originally wanted a multi-faceted crystal like thing, the glass globe is growing on me. Also, keep in mind it's additional height being added to the dowel, and be sure to accomodate when picking the height of the dowel and handle [and be conscious of whatever height you might stand at in shoes you're likely to wear while accessorizing with your cane].

Now with all your parts gathered, it's time to get to work. Set down some paper on a flat surface--outside is ideal...--and put the footer end on it. You don't have to spray paint this if you don't want to, but I did for effect; contrast to the black of the cane, and compliment to the grey-silver in the handle. Follow the directions on the can if you've never spray painted before. For your dowel, the body of the cane, you might have to get a little creative on how to do it all without making a mess of your hands. If you don't mind that, go ahead. I put on a glove and held one side, giving a good coating, then holding as little of the painted end while doing the rest. Just keep in mind your foot will be covering an inch or two of the bottom, so if there's an uneven coat or marks from stickiness and fingerprints, don't pay it much heed. I hung the dowel on my clothesline between coats of paint and acrylic finish, but use what you can to make it work. If you did paint your footer, it's up to you if you want to give it more than one coat.

After you give the color you want, spray on a finish of some sort to give your cane some gloss. I don't know how much something like that costs--it may be the same price as any regular can of spray paint--I just happen to have a dozen or so cans of variety polishes in the garage. The high gloss finish works the best. Two coats looks best, more is up to your tastes. I put the foot on at this point, to protect one end.

Next comes the fun part; yay for powertools. I recommend practicing your drilling [to make a straight hole] in a spare hunk of wood, and using a hole slightly smaller than the screw of the handle, to ensure a snug and tight fit. If you don't have plywood hanging around, just go for it, and go slow. Tap out all the sawdust that builds up in the hole. Even if you think you've drilled the hole deep enough, go another inch. I ran into trouble with a hole I thought was deep enough, but apparently wasn't [that or it was too tight to screw in deeper]. If you've done it right--so to speak--then the handle will screw in right plum to the top of the dowel and bottom of the handle, and tada, cane complete. If you run into trouble like me, don't panic. Hopefully, your project can be saved.

Luckily for me, the screw in the handle was double sided, going up into the knob itself. I unscrewed that part, drilled back into the handle, and was able to use the extra room of the handle to screw it plum to the dowel. If your handle isn't like that, you may want to use pliers to unscrew it back, and make the whole deeper, or if you can feel it getting tight with a lot of the screw still exposed, go back and drill, making it a tiny bit wider all around by scraping the sides. Hopefully though, you won't run into trouble. But whichever way it has to be achieved, once you've got the handle on, you're all done. Good job! Admire your handiwork.

Tada~ behold the finished product. I am immensely pleased with it, and am ready to take it with me to the meet-up. It's of a workable height even in barefoot, but I know with my dress chunk shoes, the height'll be an excellent fit. I am eager to walk about with it, but I think I'll wait a little aside from the meet-up for cooler weather, unfit to ride my bike in.

You can do it too, minna-sama, just break out your creative juices and see what you too can come up with. As for me, I'm onto my jabot next. I hopefully can finish it by this weekend, as an accentuating neck piece would go nicely with the tailed jacket vest. [Afterwards, it's on to the half skirt, Ukoku Sanzo cosplay, and Nudy Boy shirt.]

And the image begins to fall into place... the aura of prestige and poise befalls the stage... wherein a lone Aristocrat stands...
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak

The Week in Review

Good afternoon, minna-sama. While my morning was less than pleasant, it seems one of my reliable skills is to be able to tolerate things I don't like with surprising ease and grace. And so I am back in a place I have come to feel rather comfortable in, though it is damn chilly as always, and decided to get to this before something else undesireable reared it's ugly head once I returned back home. Imagine that, feeling better at work then I do at home. Tsk, what is my little world coming to?

Well, per my less than optomistic prediction, I was unable to come and post during the week at all. Le sigh. I hope this doesn't become a trend, or before I know it, I'll drop off the face of this blog too, despite my best interests. So though it is a bit of a stray from the motis operandi of being an Aristo, I'm going to do a bit of a recap of the week.

The first day started with me going to the building I hoped I had my first class in--which it turned out I did--going into a computer lab, and quickly transcribing my schedule down onto an index card. Luckily, it didn't take much since it's the same for ges-sui-kin, and I have free days on ka-moku. In addition, I also memorized the rooms after the day was over [hell my physics class is in the same lecture hall as last semester. I sit in practically the same seat]. I seem to have a knack for taking sociology related classes with a dolldrum teacher, thus not setting me up for a pleasant experience. My physics teacher reminds me of a cross between my high school Japanese teacher, and my highschool AP physics teacher. It is interesting combination, to be sure, however he teaches--to an extent--and arranges grading/syllabus like Alan, previous PHYS106 teacher. And so paperwork was handed out and assignments were to be had.

The first picnic of the semester with Toriberry didn't quite go as planned, but that's alright, we'll get there. Also, I went in early to work, and boy did they need it. Poor bossman wasn't running around like a chicken with his head cut off, but he sure was in a bit of a frenzy. However, it was really only those first fifteen minutes that things appear to be crazy, because once I got there, not only did I feel so much better, but it immediately calmed down. Maybe this is me. I am a sedate being after all. And mid afternoon I caught up with Kahori and visited Professor Liley again. Still wants donuts.

Wednesday was like Monday, only I was already falling behind. A LITTLE. ONLY A LITTLE. I ran into a few more people, waved in passing, chatted for a few, natter natter. Had to hurry my butt back to CBCB to drop off my bike to take the shuttle home. Oh yay.

Thursday was like Tuesday only less chaotic and better. I had Gamer Symphony Orchestra meeting--first of the semester--that evening. I worked in the morning, picniced with Chiii--which turned into picnic with Chiii, George, Martini, and Bill--and had my splendidly made bento, all before heading back the chapel for our meeting. Tis exciting, we've a lot lined up. I wore my Castlevania: Symphony of the Night shirt [subconciously again, as I did for the past two first GSO meetings] and my Castlevania: Judgement Aeon pants. Seems I am video-gamed out when I want to be, whether I know it or not. We've got about thirthy new members it seems, but we'll see who decide to stick around with us. The music line-up is phenomenal. Come visit out GSO store and support our orchestra outside of concert attendances [which are free~!].

Friday was like Wednesday, only it was Friday and thus the weekend. After physics, I hung out with Chiii again and played LoZ:Wind Waker for a bit. Cute miniature Link is a cute miniature Link. And we rode the tornado over, oh yay~. Having a bike made running a bit late completely managable, to which I am entirely grateful. *whew.* Speaking of said bike--which I believe I have at last named Fang of the Church Petros Orcini--I seem to be getting better at getting around in the mornings and in general on campus. I still thinks DOTS is one damn conspiracy, and I'm going to ream them a new one since I didn't get my free bike-lock yet. It is still a kenshin damn pain trying to go up the campus drive hill, but the victory is sweet going back down. Haaa, I'll get there.

I'm hoping for more productiveness, and more focus in these weeks. Next weekend is the meet-up, ne? It's on a Sunday, not a Saturday. I'll have to remember to get directions and bring small bills... I wonder if I can get food... hmmm, it wouldn't be enough to prepare just my own bento... I went grocery shopping, let's see...

Ah, what a perfect lead into my projects and food! I've completed my cane, minna-sama! Next post is definitely that, and progress on the jabot and other projects. I am so pleased; please tell me what you think when you see it.

I'll be tending to some work while I can, and so on that note I depart. Until the next time, hopefully sooner, minna-sama.

Of hand to kenshin... is what I thought.
Eternally yours,
Il Ruinante Isaak