Sakky's Sailor Moon Blog

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2011-11-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

I the cell phone camera snapshot I took of my collection last night, you can see I've got a random assortment of shelves on which I display my collection. They were all free. I kind of like the haphazard look of it, but I know that eventually I am going to need to set up a more protective display for my items as I intend on reproducing. Rather than section of a room of my house that will forever be inaccessible to my offspring, I am considering saving up to buy and install cases with glass doors that close so the collection can still be viewed but will remain protected from prying hands, with the added benefit of also being kept a little less dusty. Right now, the collection is in kind of it's own room. It will eventually need to more to a more central location in the house as that room will inevitably become "the baby's room." It would be nice to both protect my collection and have it look a bit more presentable.

I'm looking mainly at Ikea for ideas because the DIY assembly part makes them a bit more affordable. Some of the options I am considering would make a significant dent in my collection additions for a while as I expect husband-unit would require they be paid with Sailormoon money.

(For those who aren't intimately familiar with my finances, "Sailormoon money" is what I call my disposable income from commissions and art alleys - this is the only money I use to fund the collection which allows my other - "real money" - from my paycheck to go towards normal household living expenses.)

On the least expensive end we have the DETOLF Glass-door cabinet at $64.99. A few of my friends have this cabinet. It's handy because you can see in on all sides. The draw backs (as far as I can tell) are the limited width (only 16 3/4" so this beast isn't fitting in there), and the fact that the shelves are not adjustable for height. That alone is enough for me to think this one is not going to work.

The KLINGSBO Glass-door cabinet is next at $129. It's an inch wider than the DETOLF and it has the added benefit of having a lock. I like the way it's raised up a bit off the floor, but because of the flared feet I wouldn't be able to set them directly side-by-side. Also, that DX doll set STILL wouldn't fit. >_>

Leaving price aside for a while, another option I checked out is the BJURSTA Glass-door cabinet at $349. It has a sleek look and I kind of like the little drawer because it would be a neat place to store flat items. The ultimate drawback for this shelf is the lack of knobs. It opens and closes with a light pressing motion. I am sure I could rig a way to lock it, but it wouldn't be as easy as ties on knobs would be. It also doesn't come in white which is kind of the color I'm leaning towards.

That leaves me with the HEMNES Glass-door cabinet for $325 and the LIATORP Glass-door cabinet for $369. Other than the fact that the HEMNES is about $40 cheaper, it also has 4 adjustable shelves instead of the 3 the LIATORP has. In the LIATORP's favor we have space with an additional 7" in height and an extra 2" for both depth and width. Not a huge difference, but sometimes those extra inches in height can really help with some of the taller wands.

In general, I think I'm leaning towards the HEMNES. I kind of prefer the solid shelves to the glass ones and it's more modern design would allow me to place multiples side-by-side. The downside is that I estimate I would need at least 4 of these to hold the collection at it's current size. That's a whopping $1300. T__T Though I could probably not get them all at once and slowly convert the collection into the new cabinets as I can afford to do so.

The question now is: how many toys do I want to give up in order to get my collection behind glass?

LE SIGH. ♥

Is it really handmade?

2011-09-06T17:26:00.002-04:00

I've been chatting with a few Moonie friends recently about this topic so I figured I would make a blog post about it and see what kind of discussion there is to be had in the community.

I've noticed recently a few really fancy looking cosplay props popping up online. Some of them are SO well made that to me they look like copies of the actual RPG toys made by molding from the originals and casting in a new material. A few of these listings say things like "handmade" which would make me think that at least if they are cast copies then the original version was first hand sculpted. If so, that's really awesome, because I can barely tell the difference! However, it seems more likely to me that many of these lockets and items popping up are actually made from molds that were taken from the real toys.

I think there's a difference between hand making an item and taking a licensed product, making a mold, and casting a version of it to sell. I am bias here because I do hand make cosplay props and I do sell them. Fundamentally, we are talking about selling fanart here, which I know gets people all riled up in some circles - but let's put that aspect aside for a moment and talk about bootlegs. What is a bootleg?

To me, a bootleg is a item that tries to be the original but fails - because it isn't. If you see something that's a bootleg or a knock off of some official thing, you can usually tell because of little things like the colors being off, or the packaging having strange things on it. The goal of a bootleg is to be like the original so that you will buy it because it's "close enough" or maybe you might even think it is an official product (like those sneaky Crisis Compact bootlegs and those darn Artbook bootlegs! >,<)

I would say that most fanartists, though striving for accuracy, actually take a decent amount of pride in their little flairs of creativity with the items they make. I know that I like to make items that are accurate and pretty, but also have a touch of my style. I don't typically make molds of my items because I like to do them each as a custom, a special order for the person requesting it. As I said, I think if an artist hand sculpts and item, makes a mold of it, and then proceeds to make casts of it, that's okay. It's a bit like selling a print, in that way.

Maybe because I am an artist I take a little bit of offense to the idea that someone might make a mold of an official item, cast it, paint it and sell it. Is it nice to have a near-perfect replica of an expensive and hard to find item? I'm sure it is! But something just bothers me about it. To make the 2D analogy, it's like tracing. Maybe it is because I hand make the props I make that I feel like it's not the most honest way to do prop making. I do feel like that practice comes pretty close to how I'd define bootlegging and at the very least should not be called "handmade." Maybe "hand painted replica" instead?

I know my bias is obvious here, so how do you guys feel about this kind of practice? Do you think that there is a difference between hand sculpting custom cosplay items and making molds of official merchandise and then making copies from that? As a cosplayer, would you rather have accuracy over a personal touch? As a collector, do you think a replica or cast can take the place of an official item? Under what circumstance?

Looking forward to hearing your respectful conversation on the topic. ^0^

YAY BUYING THINGS! ^o^

2011-06-06T19:32:00.001-04:00

I am back from Animazement and I made a lot of money selling my art at the convention so I've been on a buying spree. I'm trying to be selective about what I get, even though people like Ochi don't believe I'm capable of such a challenging task! :P I wanted to save up for something awesome and cool like a lip rod or something, but I'm also impatient and there are a lot of things on my wish list that I'd like to get more than some of the big ticket items.

Wish list is here.

So far I am waiting for the following to arrive:
- a ton of books from the aforementioned Ochibawolf (she doesn't complain when I'm indiscriminately buying from HER)
- a PGSM Beauty Nail Set (I caved and spent $50 on it inc. shipping. Ugh it's the last one I don't have and I really wanted it >_>)
- SMR Excellent Sailor Venus and Jupiter (bought Venus in a private sale and Jupiter was won in an eBay auction)
- 6" Irwin 1997 Chibimoon doll (still trying to find a few of these)
- SMW Chibimoon doll (stoked about this one, I think it's the last one I need other than a DX1 set)
- Italian Luna Pen (caved and bought it after watching Ochi's review)
- SuperS Venus doll from Bandai (I think I'm going to focus on the SuperS dolls for a while since I don't really love the Beauty Change Stars ones that much...)

I've also got a lot of things I haven't taken photos of yet like the three additional 1000 edition prints I've found in the last few weeks and those tee shirts I bought a while back.

Things I bought at Animazement: Uranus & Neptune Petits, SMR Ex. Sailor Mercury, SMR Ex. Sailor Mars

Ochi is going to teach me how to use Yahoo Japan and then we're all in trouble. (This journal is very Ochi centeric, huh? You think I have a crush on her or something?)

Before I blow all the rest of my money I'd really like to get the last two Cutie Figures that I need (Mercury and Jupiter) and possibly another Dream Pocket doll (still need Eternal Sailormoon, Sailor Venus, Sailor Neptune). There's a few ESM ones floating around but they are all like $120 and that seems too much to me. I would also really like to score a Japanese Pink Sugar Stick sooner rather than later. I think it's my last remaining wand to replace.

There is that $555 World Musical Gashapon up on eBay that I'm sure some of you have seen. I actually contacted the seller to see if they would take offers on it and they said no. Wa. I want it. >,<

For the record (because people still ask about this): I do not spend any of my "real job" paycheck on Sailormoon toys. ALL of the Sailormoon merch is paid for through commissions, merch sales and the money I make at conventions. <3

I really want to do another collection video but my camera keeps crapping out on me and now I'm running out of time with Otakon creeping up in July. I will probably end up doing a video after that.

I guess that's all from me! I am so proud of myself for being very strict and not spending money before Animazement so that I can be able to spend it all after! xD It's really fun. >_> AND NOW I HAVE A NEW MAIL MAN AND HE DOESN'T HATE ME. (yet.)

Ochi rocks. THAT IS ALL.

Starry Sky Orgel (AKA Star Locket) Comparison Guide

2011-04-28T17:25:00.029-04:00

Author's Notes: This guide is incomplete and contains some guesswork by me and my friends. It will be updated as frequently as needed. I'm looking for many more pictures and any more information. If you have information or photos to add please let me know!

This post is for informational purposes only and I mean no disrespect by using the images in it - I'm am actively seeking to give credit on any images that don't currently have it. However, if I have listed photos that are yours and you'd rather me not use them in this informational post please let me know and I will remove them. Also, if I have used your photo and you would like for me to list credit please just tell me and I will add it immediately. Thanks!

The elusive and desirable Starry Sky Orgel, most commonly referred to as the Star Locket. It is one of the ultimate shiny things in the realm of shiny things for Sailormoon collectors. We seek it, we long for it, we hunt it; sometimes we shell out hundreds of dollars for it.

It's not the most expensive or rare item one could acquire, but something about the Star Locket entices us. Is it the symbolism because of it's importance in the story we love? Is it the little plink-plink sound the spinning barrel makes while playing that just-a-bit-too-fast tune?

It's all of that, of course. It's just magical!

When I first started seeking this shiny I was pretty confused. Even after having owned two of them and seen many others in collections, I remain slightly confused about how many different versions of this toy were made. To try to sort out my understanding of it and to share this information with other collectors, I am making this post to document what I know and have seen about all the versions of the lovely Star Locket. Please feel free to contribute your knowledge too!

Version 1: The Original 1992 Japanese Starry Sky Orgel
Front of Box | Back of Box | Close up of front | Close up of back | Open locket | Back of locket
Images provided and hosted by tsuki_no_eifie

The original Starry Sky Orgel was released in Japan the same year as the manga, 1992. The toy was made in Japan and sold in Japan. Like all the Orgels, it is a gold star shaped locket with a round lid that opens up revealing a pink gem nestled beside a gold moon. When you turn the key on the bottom of the locket, the gold moon spins around a silvery holographic background with pink phases of the moon on it. The original Japanese locket is very gold in color when compared to its European or Hong Kong counterparts. The ring around the lid is slightly less gold in color.

This locket has no marking on the underside of the lid. The box for it is a reddish pink color and the writing is all in Japanese. The Bandai sticker (if present) will be on the upper left of the part of the box that sticks up. There is picture of Sailormoon on the front left corner of the box and a copyright along where her skirt is that says, "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN JAPAN." There is no box around this text - it has a slight white outline while it overlaps with the picture of Sailormoon.

The back of the physical locket also says "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN JAPAN". No other gold version of the locket was made in Japan (we'll get to the pink one later).

Version 2a: 1992 "Made in China" Starry Sky Orgel

There are other Star Lockets with the 1992 date on it; here is one. The major difference between this locket and the original 1992 Japanese locket is that this locket says "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN CHINA" clearly on its back - not Japan. I owned one of these lockets for a while but it did not have a box. You can see in the image that this locket also has no "2" marking under the lid. It's color is also very gold when compared to the Hong Kong or European lockets. Because of the strong similarities with the original Japanese locket, I thought it was an original Japanese locket. However, I am now 100% convinced that this locket was produced separately at the same time as the Japanese locket.

I have not come across this locket in a box yet so I cannot give details on what it might look like. Please note that the chain on the locket in this picture is not the original. See the following listing for more information.

Version 2b: Another 1992 Made in China Locket
Images provided by thelittlewolf.

This locket is similar to the locket above with a few differences: it seems to be more silver than gold and the "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN CHINA" mark on the back appears bound by a box which is something I have not seen in another other versions of the locket. Thelittlewolf's photos also informed us that here IS a "2" under the lid of this locket. It seems to be the only 1992 version so far to have the "2" under the lid. This one is weird! xD

Version 2c: 1992 Spanish Starry Sky Orgel

This locket is a candidate to be either of the two mystery Made in China 1992 lockets above. I was only able to located one photo of this locket. It appears to be in Spanish and I've been told on good authority (;P) that there is a Guadalajara in Spain. The box is fairly similar in proportions to the Japanese box. From this one photo it does appear that it might be slightly more gold on the surface than it is on the rim around the lid. It's hard to tell unless you can see the lockets side by side to make the comparison.

I cannot verify what the back of this locket says, but the back of the box does have a 1992 date on it and it says it was made in China. If I could verify its color or if it has a "2" under the lid then I would figure it to be the same as one the lockets above. Of course, having a picture of the back of the locket would be ideal.

Looking to credit these Spanish Locket photos! Please contact me if you know where the originals were from. I am unable to locate the original owner.

Version 3: 1992 European Starry Sky Orgel
See image here.

The European locket might be lighter in color than the Japanese original. If so, then it's "gold" is much more muted, similar to the color around the lid of the original Japanese locket. I remember seeing it beside an original Japanese one and noticing the color difference, but I'd like to verify this again to be sure as I've also been told that it is gold like the original.

Clearly the box for this version is very different. chelseacandy was kind enough to provide a picture of the back of her Europe an locket. It reads "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN CHINA". She said it does not have a "2" under the lid. This verifies that the locket in Version 2a could actually be a European locket. All that's left in this case is to compare a European one to an original to check the color. It also means the the European locket and the Spanish edition might be the same locket in different packaging.

Version 4: 1995 Hong Kong Starry Sky Orgel

The 1995 Hong Kong edition locket can easily be mistaken as a Japanese locket if you only see the front of the box. The box has a lot of Japanese text on it and looks very similar to the original Japanese box. However, there are some subtle differences. First, the front lower left of the Hong Kong box says "MADE IN CHINA" in a pink box. This is the most noticeable difference and the easiest one to spot even on small images. The back of the box clearly shows the company listing in the lower left corner as: Bandai Asia Ltd. Co. Hong Kong.

Other differences include the text above the locket's name: on the Hong Kong edition it is smaller and written in English instead of the Japanese that is on the original. Also, the spacing is slightly different around Sailormoon on the Hong Kong box. Notice that there is almost one whole 'fist' length between Sailormoon's raised fist and the edge of the clear window to the locket. This is a much smaller space on the original Japanese box.

This locket is most frequently mistaken for the Japanese original while in the box. When I bought my HK locket I believed it to be the original Japanese in the box because the seller listed it as such. I didn't know enough about the differences to see it. However, short of having the original, this is the box I personally like the most.

This locket is slightly less gold than the original Japanese locket or the 1992 Chinese release. This photo shows a comparison between the HK locket and the 1992 locket that might be from Spain (Version 2a). The Hong Kong locket also has a "2" in the center of the underside of the lid. This is not present on the Original Japanese or the Version 2a release.

This is my locket. The back of my locket says "BANDAI ASIA 1995". Because my locket does not have the Korean sticker on the back I am assuming the HK and Korean locket both have the same writing on the back. The sticker on the Korean one (see below) seem to be the only way to tell the difference if they are loose.

Version 5: 1995 Korean Starry Sky Orgel

This is probably the version of the locket that I see the most often. This box has Korean writing on it which looks quite a bit different from Japanese (even if you can't read it). Most noticable is the big yellow banner at the bottom. Here's a close up.

The back of the Korean locket says "BANDAI ASIA 1995". I have also seen some of the Korean lockets have a sticker on the back (photo from SaturnBunny) with Korean writing on it. You can see the same sticker on Super-Moogles's Korean locket here.

The Korean locket also has the "2" under the lid. It is slightly less gold in color than the original.

Photos courtesy of Super-Moogles <3

Version 6: 1993 Japanese Pink Starry Sky Orgel
See video here

Following the R season release of the anime in Japan, Bandai produced another version of the Starry Sky Orgel. It was the same as the first but with one major difference: the body of it was pink instead of gold (the lid, for whatever reason, was still gold). The box is styled to match the R season toys, however the back of the locket says "BANDAI 1992 MADE IN JAPAN" even though it was released in 1993. This locket had a very short run and is considered to be a very rare item and highly collectible. This locket is unlikely to sell for less than $600, even loose.

Photo courtesy of PlutoMoment.com

Where can I buy a Star Locket? How much does a Star Locket cost?
If you want to make this awesome item a part of your collection then there are a few places you can look to find it. Occasionally it pops up on eBay either loose or in the box. You might also be lucky and find it for sale from a collector in person on YouTube or in a closed collection community like SeraSell on LiveJournal. Another place to keep an eye on is Yahoo Japan auctions. You cannot bid directly on these auctions so you will have to use a third party bidding site like FromJapan or Japanmart.

In the last 12 months all versions of the Star Locket have averaged to be about $300 each. Even loose they can still fetch over $300. This seems to be up from previous years when it was averaging closer to $200. But in March 2011 someone lucked out and picked one up for $22.70 in an auction so you just NEVER know when you might find a deal. :P

As always, happy hunting!

Scammer Alert: auroradumar

2011-02-15T11:07:00.002-05:00

This was originally posted on SeraSell, but now that the issue has been resolved I feel comfortable posting this for everyone. Just a heads up!

____________________________________________________________

Hey eveyone! Ochibawolf and I have both recently had a very unpleasant experience with an eBay seller so we wanted to share the story with you all in hopes you can avoid the trap we both fell into. The seller in question is auroradumar.

In December, Ochi and I each won an auction for a Cutie figure: mine was Mercury; hers, Mars. Both figures were listed as being in “excellent condition” and “not been removed from the box.” The box was listed as “good condition, with little wear and tear.” The seller noted that the box still had “the original tape.”

Ochi and I both got into a bit of a bidding war with some other buyers but ended up winning our respective figures. We each paid promptly. I received my Mercury figure on January 15th. Ochi got her Mars on the 17th. Ochi noticed that her Mars figure seemed to be missing the stand which can be seen on the back of the box in the pictures. Also, her box was not “with little wear and tear” considering strips of the box wear torn off.

At this point, Ochi filed a claim with eBay that the item was not in the described condition. Then she contacted me to ask about my Mercury figure. I told her my figure was new and unopened but when she told me about hers missing the stand I decided to check to see if mine was also missing the stand.

When I got home that night I looked in through the front of the box and I couldn’t see the stand. While I was peering at it without the awe of ‘omg new toy,’ I noticed some weird thing on her arm. It looked like some kind of goop. I decided to open the box. Boy, what a SHOCK. Poor Mercury’s arm and leg almost fell off!! It’s clear that someone broke this figure and then tried (poorly and without any skill) to repair it. I was horrified.

I contacted the seller and politely inquired about a return/refund because of the condition of the figure. I told them that I didn’t think they were trying to mislead me. I can see how one would think the figure was unopened since I too thought it was fine when I first got it. Long story short, the seller seems to think that Ochi and I are in cahoots to scam them out of their money when it’s pretty clear they were trying to scam us in the first place (or they really just didn't LOOK at the items they were selling). After failed attempts at nice communication with this seller I gave up and also filed a claim.

Ochi and I were both awarded in our favor for our claims and we have shipped our figures back to the seller. eBay has issued full refunds to both of us. However, we are concerned the seller is just going to relist them so we wanted to make sure the community had all the information. Please see this Google Doc for a record of the communications.

I would also like to concede that it is possible this seller really did think these items were new and unopened. It might be that they did not intend to lie about the condition of the figures, but given the circumstances and their conduct it does seem pretty unlikely. Ochi and I are both really happy that eBay sided with us in these cases and we hope we never have to deal with something like this again. :(

Collection Update & Star Locket Comparison

2011-02-05T18:06:00.000-05:00

I haven't really posted a collection update in a few months. Obviously I've gotten many things (hehe) but I will just go over some of the coolest here. As always, you can see the whole collection in painstaking detail on my DeviantArt account, Sakkysmoonbag. Skip to the end if you want to help with a Star Locket Tutorial!

Back in November I picked up all three Starlights Beauty Change dolls on SeraSell. They were $100/ea which is probably a little more than average, but as usual my habits of wanting to buy directly from other sellers I trust out weighed my desires to try and wait for a deal from an unknown seller. I'm really glad I got them all together though. Of course, now I'm eying other BC dolls, but they are so expensive and I don't have all that much space for dolls these days. >_>

In December, I found a Heartful Harmony (also on SeraSell). It was $117. It's an expensive item for being so weird (it's not canonical in any way) but I had it on my wish list because it plays Moonlight Densetsu. You can see a video of it here. I have seen it sell for less (averaging around $80-90) but I was happy to pick it up in such great condition.

(Slightly off topic: there are lots of videos of Sailormoon toys on YouTube and I find them helpful as references for various things. I was thinking about also doing videos of my toys and stuff but since most of them are up in some form already do you think it's too repetitive? Or are different perspectives good?)

Also in December, a fellow collector contacted me about a Nakayoshi Chibimoon. I wasn't too keen on spending all that much on one doll but she was so cute and she came with her box so it was hard to resist! She was $206 which I think makes her the most expensive price I've paid for one doll. Since then, I've been trying to sell my World Musical Doll to make up for it. xD

In January I snagged a Super Sailormoon Petite for $50. I'd actually lost one in auction only a few days before I found this one and I was happy to get it from a trusted seller. She's in really great condition. I wish I knew more about the petite figures, particularly Moon and the Inners. There seem to be so many different versions of them and it can be very confusing.

I also went eBay crazy in January and bid like mad on a Sailormoon World Sailor Saturn doll. I don't know what made me do it, but I just kept bidding and bidding with complete determination to win. I swear sometimes I have no control. I won in the end for $135.49. Ugh. I don't know why I did it but DAMN is she cute >_> She's also unopened and it's the version with the proper boots.

The last few awesome items have just come in the mail in the last few days. It's really exciting since these are things that I have been looking for for a really, really long time. I am sure some of you know what it's like when you have something on your wish list for so long and you just feel like you can't get your little hands around it! D:

FINALLY I got my Eternal Article AND my 1992 Starry Sky Orgel! <3

I'm absolutely GIDDY of course!! :D The Eternal Article I had to finally break down and spend $300 on eBay (though it included shipping). I was really determined to get it for $250 or less but I just couldn't WAIT anymore. It feels REALLY good to have at least one version of all the compacts now. And the Orgel was just a stroke of luck! Another collector contacted me by email and offered it to me along with a PGSM Deluxe Henshin Accessory Set. The locket was 100€ (about $120) and the Accessory Set was 45€ ($60). Considering how expensive that set has been selling for on eBay I was really happy to get it for that. Now I have earrings for my Mars costume! *dance*

Incidentally, this seller also has the following items available. I'd be happy to make a referral if we've done business before.

Eternal Sailor moon Dream Pocket Dolls 45€
Sailor Star healer Dream Pocket Dolls 30€
Sailor Neptune Beauty Change 50€
PGSM Chatterbox Luna (in box) 55€

Now I have two Orgels so I'm not really sure what I will do. Because I am over $300 in the negative I am tempted to sell one, but I'm not sure if I would keep the Japanese one in the Chinese box, or keep the Chinese one in the Chinese box, or keep the loose Japanese one and sell the Chinese one with the box. It's a complicated decision. For now I will likely keep both for a while and ponder it over. I really would like to pay off this giant debt but I don't think I'm quite ready to part with either yet.

Also, here's the stuff I have for sale. :P

I took the time to do a few comparison photos of the lockets for you guys. I posted it on DA:

Star Locket - HK vs. Japanese by *SakkysMoonBag on deviantART

Star Locket Tutorial
I really want to make a guide to all the different versions but I need help from people who have them. So far I have photos of:

1995 Made in China Hong Kong edition with box
1992 Made in China Japanese edition loose
1995 Bandai Asia Korean edition with box
1992 Made in Japane Pink Japanese edition loose
1992 (?) Unknown Spanish edition with box

I don't have permission to use the images of the Pink Locket so if anyone could provide photos of that for me I'd rather have permission to use them. Also, if anyone has a 1992 Japanese locket that says "Made in Japan" on the back could you provide pics? Or if you have any other version not covered here then I could use the info and pics. :D I hope to make a video so we can sort it all out forever!

November Collection Update

2010-11-12T15:24:00.006-05:00

I've been pretty busy buying and selling and trading in the last few weeks. I managed to get a hold of some pretty neat stuff!

But that Eternal Article continues to elude me. :( I found this one recently and immediately made a $200 offer (probably with in just a few minutes of the listing because I've been stalking the crap out of eBay) but the seller and I couldn't come to an agreement on the price. Sorry, I can't really bring myself to spend more than $250 on that locket considering how stupid its sound effects are (and the fact that it has sold for less than $200 in the past six months. Still kicking myself for missing that one...) I just have to keep being patient and believe that it will eventually come to me for the right price at the right time. Ah, it's just so hard to wait. ._.

ANYWAY onto the good stuff. ^o^

This plush wand is so freakin cute. I saw it in a lot with another plushie that I'd already bought for $18 so I decided that I was at least willing to go that high for the lot. It ended at $15.50 and it worked out that the other two plushies in the lot were ones that I didn't have (they were Big Size Moon and Big Size Venus from that weird SMS set of three. So I hopped on eBay and picked up Mercury to complete the set). I want to make a pattern based on it so I can sew my own and make it have sound and light up!! Like I have time to be making random plushies.... haha :P

My next find was this adorable Star Maker Petit. I didn't have any Starlight Petits and this one is in such nice condition, all wrapped in plastic to protect the box. She was $25 which is probably a bit much but at the time I had money to burn and I really wanted a Starlight Petit. I wish it was Healer though, she's my favorite. I have a few other Petits, Moon and the inners, but they aren't all the proper ones with the names on the stands. I might at some point have to start replacing those. I can't seem to find any of the outers so maybe I will end up selling them if I get impatient.

These are my first Dream Pocket dolls. I wasn't planning on trying to start getting this set because I know some of them are really hard to find and they can get pretty expensive. But I got all five of these for $90 so I really could not pass up that opportunity. I mean, when something like that comes along you just go for it, right? Right!

So now at least I have all three of the Starlights! They are adorable dolls. :3

And the best part about the last few days was the Super Awesome Trade of Super Awesome that I did with a member of SeraSell. I traded my extra World Eternal Tier and Moon Chalice (the part that attaches to the Tier) for this:Is it not the most glorious thing you have EVER seen?! What a pretty wand. I'm so happy with it. I really love the crystal on top, though I have no idea why it is pink. You know what the most ridiculous thing is about this wand? It's name. Moon Stick. Really? We couldn't have called it "Silver Crystal Moon Wand" or "Crescent Moon Wand" we just called it "MOON STICK." Blah. I will call it Beautiful :D

So that's all from me this month. I have another restoration project in the works but I'm going to be fairly busy with plushies for a while so I'm not sure when I will get to it. I don't really have much money kicking around right now so I probably won't be making any big purchases unless a really awesome deal comes up. I'm still selling a Spiral Moon Heart Rod and I've got a few random posters and things for sale up on DA but I think the next few weeks are going to be pretty quiet.

But here's hoping they aren't! ^o^

Crisis Compact Restoration - A for Effort! C for execution.

2010-10-24T21:31:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I bought a Rainbow Moon Chalice/Holy Grail that had some light damage to the base. I did a restoration on it to recover the original pink color and made a little tutorial about it. You can see it on deviantART here.

Seeing as that went well, I decided to try something a little harder. I bought a IRS Crisis Heart Compact with chipped paint to see if I could restore that. I bought some gold mirror finish chrome paint online and when I got the locket I look it apart and covered up the stuff I didn't want to paint. I started laying thin layers onto it on Saturday morning and did a new coats every 15 mins into the afternoon. By about 2 PM it was starting to look *really* good; not as reflective as the original surface, but still very pretty and very shiny.

I wish I'd taken a photo. :(

Once I was sure the last coat was dry, I grabbed some high gloss acrylic to seal it. Boy was that a Bad Idea. The acrylic had some kind of crazy reaction with the chrome as soon as it hit the surface - it congealed like sour milk hitting hot coffee. It made an instant, huge mess. Panic set it. I tried to wipe it away, clean it, clear it. Things congealed more, got stuck to the cloth, made clumps if goopy paint globs and blaaaah it was a MESS. And then some of it hardened into big lumps so I took fine sandpaper to get it off but I wasn't careful enough and the plastic was scratched all over.

I was SO depressed. I actually cried.

Subsequent layers of the chrome paint looked terrible. Every little lump and inconsistency shown with GLARING MOCKERY. "YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID TO ME? YOU SEE HOW YOU FAILED?!" D:

I moped around the house all day complaining how I'd totally ruined it and my project was a complete failure. I was a complete failure. It was a bad day. I got a bloody nose (probably from the spray paint?) I cut my finger on some glass. Totally unrelated. I cried more anyway.

Once I worked myself out of that funk I decided to try ordinary gold spray paint to see if I could salvage what was left.

This was the end result:

This is a comparison with an undamaged compact:

So it's certainly not as sparkly as it once was, but I don't think it looks bad and I'm glad I opted for the non-shiny plan B. It looks better to me than it did with the paint missing anyway :D

Since it's an IRS locket, I tested it out with my Kalidescope to make sure everything still worked. Lights and sounds, everything is a go! So even though it didn't work out as miraculously as my last go, I still consider it a mild success and I know that I will do better with the chrome paint the next time. ^o^

The Shiny Picture!

2010-10-12T10:37:00.004-04:00

Always wanted to do one of these! I just wish I had my Eternal Article ^o^

Sailormoon World Musical Doll

2010-09-30T11:19:00.003-04:00

She arrived today!

Isn't she lovely?! I paid $176.50 for her. To date, I believe that makes her the most expensive doll I own. I still consider that to be an excellent deal and I stand by my early stance that this is a REALLY good time to be buying things!

I really just with the big eBay sellers would catch on and lower their damn prices so I can get my Eternal Article already! *shakefist*

Does anyone know if they made one of these for each of the girls that played Moon? If so, wow - I've got a long road ahead. xD I really like the hair on this doll, it's super pretty and her face is really cute. She doesn't appear to have a stand or a wand. Should she? I think it's a little weird that Super Moon is on the box but isn't this an Eternal fuku? Funny packaging is funny.

The original price tag is still on it: ¥3,000, haha.

So, that puts me back into the debt hole. I have a few things for sale still. Those sales will help a little and then Another Anime Convention is in October. I'm in the Artists Alley and I have a ton of Sailormoon related stuff to sell. Trouble is, I don't have much of any other anime so I really need to gear up my game if I'm going to appeal to a wider market.

I also got a Bandai Asia Prism Heart Compact the other day to replace the Italian one I have. The Italian one is in better condition, but I really want to have the Chinese or Japanese RPG toys. I just like the boxes better. I figure I can always upgrade later.

I've got a few 6" dolls and some other trades on their way to me so check my DA later for those updates. I don't expect to make any more large purchases between now and after AAC (though I am really eying that Star Wand on eBay for a BIN of $150 >_>).

YAY THE SHINY! ^o^

The Space Issue

2010-09-23T11:44:00.002-04:00

x-posted from LJ (which is the mirror? I can't remember :P)

It's finally happened: I'm running out of space. ._. See?

My husband has said absolutely no more bookcases in the room where I display my stuff (even though I'm certain I could fit one more!). I am now facing the dilemma of what to do as I continue to acquire stuff. >_>

I am certain there's still some expansion on the existing shelves that I could have with some serious rearranging. I have a whole shelf that just has gashapon on it and I can spread those around to make room on that shelf for larger things. I have a few shelves near the bottom that have lots of space to fill, but I worry about stacking things in so tightly that you can't really see what's there. I also have some shelves that are actually being used as storage for boxes and some other things like comics.

I've been getting a lot of boxed dolls lately and they really do take up a lot of space. I think the dark blue boxed dolls are probably the set of which I have the most, so I was thinking if I had to pack stuff up, it might be those that get put away. But the thought of not displaying the entire collection really bothers me. What's the point of having these pretty things if they aren't there for me to sit and look at and enjoy? I feel like if things are going to be packed up and put in storage they might as well just be sold. But I spent so much time trying to GET these things, is it really worth it to then turn around and sell them in trade for space for different things?

Or, do I need to recognize that there are just some things that I want MORE and I need to be willing to part with the things I want less to have them? Do I need to have 6" long face Irwin dolls in dark and light blue boxes? Do I NEED to have two sets of 17" dolls? I like each set because they are unique - thinking about parting with one of them seems like a terrible decision to make.

I know a lot of people don't collect the dark blue boxed dolls because they are "ugly," but I really like them mostly because of the villains that were made. Do I get a point where I sell the old versions of dolls when I have the new editions? Do I sell my 1997 11" Super Sailor Moon just because I have the 2001 version? They aren't the same doll and they have aesthetic differences and intrinsic value in those differences. At least to me they do.

The other option is deboxing. Ordinarily I'm not a deboxer of unopened dolls, but I don't think the dark blue Irwin dolls really maintain that much higher a value by being sealed. I think as long as I kept all the bits and could repackage them up to look nice they would maintain a resale value. Not to mention, how likely am I to want to sell them anyway? I assume at some point in my life I will decide this is silly and I need to sell all or most of this stuff... (right?) ... but I have no idea what the market for Sailor Moon toys will be like then (if it even still exists) so should I WORRY about resale value? Or should I just display the dolls with their stands in nice, neat little rows of compact space? Should I make the sacrifice of the nice pretty box in order to have the option of keeping them all on display?

The sum of my problem is that I have over 80 dolls and most of them are in boxes.

OVER 80 DOLLS. These really take up the most space. And I don't really even have the Japanese ones that I'd really like to get. I feel like I haven't started. ^o^ There are another 70 dolls on my wish list. Can you imagine? Where on these shelves could I fit 150 dolls in boxes?! It would be like the entire collection! xD

tl;dr I need to be realistic at some point and commit myself to either SELLING or STORING.

I don't like either. :\

Collection Update and Sales

2010-09-21T11:09:00.004-04:00

First up, I have a few items for sale, prices do not include shipping. They are:
Japanese Tuxedo Kamen Figure - unopened, $7
Set of long face Irwin light up tiara dolls - $45 for the set
CHIX pocket manga volume 2 - $15 OBO
CHIX pocket manga volume 1 - $25 OBO
Irwin 2001 Sailor Uranus doll with weapon, wand and stand - $35
Irwin 2001 Sailor Neptune doll with weapon, wand and stand - $35
Irwin 1995 "Silver" Sailor Pluto doll - $12
Irwin 17" Sailor Moon doll - $16
Unopened Sailor Moon 11.5" Irwin doll in yellow box - $20
Eternal Sailor Moon boots - $10

After my big haul in August I decided not to buy anything else until I paid back all that stuff. What I did pick up was just lovely! Here's the best of the more recent purchases:

Thrilled about this gem, only $70. Certainly got a deal here and I am very grateful for it. These dolls are incredibly detailed and very lovely. I especially like that it comes with an Eternal Teir. Someday I will snag the other Mini set that I don't have and this shelf will be very happy indeed.

Massive win here as well since this lovely item only set me back $80. I haven't activated it yet because it's still very well packaged and I do want to keep it in the best condition possible. Eventually I might be prone to at least popping some batteries in it to see it light up, but for now I'm just content to HAVE it.

The little figures inside are still in their plastic bag and the top is still wrapped in plastic. It's in really amazing condition! I was considering buying an unopened one from a dealer at Anime Boston this April but now I don't have to. Not only does that save me an awful lot of money, it also saves me the worry about not wanting to open the box because I want to look at the shiny. ^o^

This box is in such a faded condition that I'm not even displaying it (I've put it away for safe keeping). Fortunately, the item itself didn't suffer terrible light damage - only the bottom part has oranged in the front. I plan to paint it so that it looks restored but I fear there is nothing I can do for the box. In the long run, I will likely try to find another one with a nicer box (preferably a HK or Japanese edition) and sell this one.

Sad that it happened though. Light damage is really one of the easiest things to prevent. Protect your collectibles! Store them in low light areas! <3

This wall scroll is probably a bootleg since there's no copyright info on it, but it is a really cool scroll! I need to find somewhere to hang it since I really like it. ^o^

I got lots of other great things from this same sale. You can see all my latest items (as well as many older items that I just hadn't got around to posting til now) in my DeviantArt gallery. Hopefully soon I will have a new site and domain up to show case the collection! I need to get off my lazy bum and get to work on that :P

I am all caught up with uploading old items to the DA gallery with the exception of some cards that I haven't sorted out yet. I have a few commission payments that are clearing at the end of this month so it looks like I will be back on the buying trail towards the beginning of October. Mmmmm buying...

The Economics of the Fandom

2010-07-15T19:52:00.005-04:00

It's not a good time to sell, but it's a great time to buy.

Much like the housing market, the Sailor Moon collectibles market seems to be in a depressive slump. As more and more people run into financial trouble, they have less money to spend on superfluous purchases like toys from a 90s show. Subsequently, there are less buyers out there for every item on the market. Less buyers means less demand, and less demand means falling prices.

I've seen it in my own personal purchases ($68 Starlight headset, most recently) as well as in auctions on eBay. Even in private sales it seems like people really aren't willing to pony up for items as quickly or as much as they used to compared to the last 3 years I've been collecting.

The "market value" for everything is declining. Of course, this also devalues - monetarily speaking - my collection. Knowing that I bought while the market was high has hurt on some items - I did just see a Cosmic Heart Locket sell for about half what I paid for it just a few short months ago - but the sentimental value of the collection thankfully doesn't change. ^o^ Some sellers haven't caught on that demand has dropped; or maybe they never knew the value of the item in the first place.

Though my wallet might be hurting, I'm pretty excited about the opportunity for good buys. I'm like a hawk on the wing, lurking over the fallen prey of the economic crisis for the shiny spoils.

Is that too gruesome? ^^;

All that being said, you know things will turn around eventually and we'll all be back to shelling out our cash for the pretty things we want. Until then, I think I'll hold off on some sales and look for some sweet steals. :3

Family of Moonlight & Other Updates

2010-06-08T11:03:00.002-04:00

I've become a contributing writer for the blog Family of Moonlight. The people helping with the blog are the 'Tsuki Family' and they all great people. Check out the blog! My responsibilities include covering eBay as well as some aspects of the fandom like fan characters, but the blog has a broad focus on the the fandom in general and you can feel free to submit ideas for posts :D You can read my most recent eBay post here as well as my interview with Shai (on of the Sailor Crystalstars) here. Definitely keep watch on that blog; there should be lots of fun articles coming through!

Collection updates are very excited. I just picked up a Sailormoon lot full of lots of wonderful things. You can see them all in this Photobucket album. I'm still sorting through it all and figuring out the details about what's there so if you know information about these different items feel free to let me know. I'm also looking for estimates on their value.

I just purchased a complete set of swing keychains from Hitoshi Doi for $50. I figured I'd better get the PGSM ones now too, so I did. And I just found an Irwin Pluto plush on eBay with a BIN of $20 so I got that too. xD It doesn't appear to have the leg tag, so that's a bummer. But it's better than nothing! :D

So I really didn't hold myself to not spending myself into a hole again. T____T

Oh well, I guess it's worth the THRILL right?!

Things for Sale+ Collection Updates

2010-04-28T09:45:00.002-04:00

I have a few items for sale on my DeviantArt collection page including a Chibimoon keychain, some VHS, and a few gashapon (Rei is the only one that's not a bootleg).

I am also selling the originals of three of my "Sailor Legs" illustrations. They are $20 ea. and come matted. You can see them here. (Chibimoon and Saturn is on hold right now; more of these might be available soon I just need more mats.)

Anyone know the going value of a OOB PGSM Sailor Moon with wand and stand? I'm debating selling her but I'm not sure yet. T_T

I am waiting for the following items to come in the mail:
- PGSM Talking Luna
- Luna Pen (European version)
- 6" World dolls (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)
- Luna P Sphere
- SMS Uranus Plush
- Meet Sailor Mercury
- a Sailormoon pillowcase
- 11.5" Irwin Venus in box
- DiC Pluto key chain (with no key chain bit and no packaging xD)

As I was typing this list, PGSM Luna and my Luna Pen arrived! JOY! ^0^ OMG wow talking Luna is so cute. She keeps asking me if I'm the Princess. :3 Does anyone know what kind of battery I should use in the Luna Pen? It says 1.5v. Is that the same as a AAA or is it a special kind of battery? YAY TOYS!

The mail man hates me - actually. He's always complaining about the number of packages I get. D: I'm sorry that you you have to carry plastic toys that weigh almost nothing from your mail truck to my office. I don't know, I thought it might be YOUR JOB, but maybe I'm wrong. D:

TATA FOR NOW <3

This blog has moved

2010-04-14T11:36:00.002-04:00

Blogger changed stuff so I had to migrate my blog! It was relatively painless and I think I will be able to keep using Blogger so yay :D

This blog is now located at http://blog.sailorastera.com/.
If you are on the old URL you will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://blog.sailorastera.com/feeds/posts/default.

Sailor Moon World Bootleg Gashapon

2010-04-08T20:46:00.004-04:00

I've had a ton of bootleg gashapon. Most of the ones on eBay are bootlegs. How can you tell a real gashapon? First of all, if it's $0.99 for a whole set, then it's probably not real. All the Set #1 figures have imprinted marks on them that say "© T.P.TA.T" followed by four dots in a diamond shape, followed by: "B. CHINA"

Bootlegs are either missing PART of this, or all of it. I have some bootlegs that have the four dots and the "CHINA" but no "© T.P.TA.T" and no "B." I have some bootlegs that have nothing at all. NONE of my bootlegs have ever had all the required markings!

The most noticeable things to look for are:

have you seen that SAME photo of that same set 100x on eBay? If so, it's probably a bootleg set
does it have THE WHOLE copyright? If not, it's surely a bootleg
Is it a KEYCHAIN!? Most of the world gashapon that are keychains are bootlegs (I have yet to see a licensed gashapon as a keychain)
deformed body parts (should the leg go straight but it curves? Should the arm be at one angle but it's at another? Yes, not all real gashapon are perfect but if it's WAY off then it's most likely a bootleg!)
the EYES. Real gashapon have nicely painted eyes and details that you won't find on the bootlegs, The bootleg eyes are poorly painted and smudgy.
Other paint issues! Gashapon are tiny so the painting on them can be spotty even if they are real. However, the bootlegs are noticeably worse sometimes missing paint on key elements of the outfit.

Of course, in most pictures you won't be able to see these kind of details. But don't be afraid to ASK sellers, "Does this figure have these markings?" If they are too busy to look or answer then they probably aren't worth buying from anyway :P

REFERENCES:

Set #2 Gashapon have markings on the underside of a foot, back of collar and under the butt bows. (Big thanks to xdarkdestinyx for pointing out the ones I missed!) They are as follows:
Super Moon - 1R under foot, full copyright on collar and skirt
Chibimoon w/Luna - 2R under foot, © T.P.TA.T on back of collar and B. China on back of pigtail (no marking for Luna, can't find the four dots on her but they could be under her bow - mine is glued)
Pluto - 3R, full copyright on collar and under back bow
Uranus - 4R, full copyright on collar and under back bow
Neptune - 5R, full copyright on collar and under back bow
Saturn - 6R, full copyright on collar and under back bow

Set #3 Gashapon are marked as following:
Princess Serenity - full copyright on underside of stand
Sailor V - full copyright on sailor collar and under hair, also feet say 5L and 5R
Ami in Swimsuit - full copyright under towel
Miko Rei - full copyright under hair
Makoto with Bento - full copyright on the bottom side of the figure
Mistress 9 - full copyright on underside of figure

Set #4 Gashapon are marked as following:
Supermoon - full copyright on collar and skirt
Super Chibimoon w/Artemis - full copyright on collar and skirt on Chibimoon (no marking on Artemis)
Hotaru - full copyright on underside of stand
Minako in Swimsuit - full copyright on the bottom side of the legs
Makoto in Swimsuit - full copyright on underside of stand
Human Luna - full copyright on the bottom side of the figure

Set #5 Gashapon are marked as following:
Eternal Moon - full copyright on inside of legs
Usagi with Icecream - full copyright on underside of base
Uasgi in Swimsuit - full copyright on the underside of pigtails
Rei in swimsuit - full copyright under hair
Ami in Pajamas - full copyright on underside of base
Chibiusa/Hotaru Chibi Set - full copyright on underside of base

Set #1 and Set #5 are the most frequently bootlegged sets.
I have never seen a bootleg from Set #2, Set #3, or Set #4.

If you want to know more specific locations or details for markings on a particular figure, feel free to ask <3 I am 99.9% sure that mine are all real.

State of the Collection

2010-01-27T12:35:00.003-05:00

Everything in the last post is still for sale; I'm going to put it all up on eBay this weekend.

I am current about $100 in the hole because of my contest prizes on my stock account. Whoops! ^_^; I also just booked a $200 plane ticket to North Carolina in May, and I dropped $100 on the Anime Boston convention and AA registration. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I will probably not be buying any cool toys in the next few days, weeks... months? xD Seems like a good time to reflect!

My goals with this collection started off as pretty much: get everything Sailormoon that I can get my hands on. After three or so years of collecting, I'm starting to realize that I should probably focus a little more. Presently, I have three bookcases in my house full of merch. I got the third bookcase because I had stuff just lying around in piles that did not fit on the other two. Unfortunately, that means bookcase #3 was full upon arrival.

So the question becomes: do I continue with this bookcase thing (husband insists I cannot fit another one in there) or do I start putting up shelving? I love that some people have their collections in these nice, closed cabinets. I don't really want to go spend money on something like that though - I have gotten two/three bookcases for free and the last one was $20 at IKEA. :P I guess I could put a few shelves up over my sewing machine and that could hold a few more things. The other option is to - omg - SELL some stuff to make room for other stuff. I realize that this is probably the most logical thing to do because at some point - no matter how creative I get - that room is going to run out of space. And there are so many pretty things I want still! D:

The collection has reached a sort of point where I know that from now on, most of the stuff I'm going to want to focus on is going to be big ticket items (lockets mainly, and toys). There's a few less expensive things that I still want (plushies, the last few gashapon) but for the most part, it's the shinies I'm after now. So, assuming I make some money at the conventions and assuming I can find said items for sale, there is a decent possibility that I may be offing some of the items I have which take up a lot of space but don't necessarily mean a great deal to me.

It's really hard for me to part with something once I have it though, even if it's a long face doll :P

Hmm, maybe we could build an addition...

Things for Sale & New Collection Pic

2010-01-16T11:33:00.001-05:00

I got a new bookcase and took an updated photo of my collection last night:

The Sailor Moon Display V by *SakkysMoonBag on deviant ART

I also have some stuff for sale:

SAILORMOON STUFF FOR SALE:

Sailor Mercury Keychain - asking $4

Spinning Adventure Dolls: Chibimoon, Jupiter & Mars- asking $10 ea.
These appear to be unopened though the boxes are a little squished.

Long face Super Sailor Moon with Luna Keychain - Asking $15
She's been out of the box but she's in nice shape. Update: she comes with a stand (I found it while cleaning)

PGSM Venus - asking $18
Box is in rough shape (crushed, plastic is loose) so I had her on display outside of the box. She comes with her stand, gloves and choker, but I do not have her bracelet.

Sailor Moon Centerpiece - $3 or all five for $12
I have 5 of these.

NON SAILOR MOON STUFF:

Wedding Peach, English, Vol 1 Asking $4

Three NewType Japanese magazines, some content shown, $5 ea or all three for $12:

This one has Sakura Wars Postcards and some Full Metal Panic featured art:

This one has Chobits Postcards:

Various Japanese gaming mags - make an offer if you are interested!

Found it on eBay!

2009-11-07T15:35:00.002-05:00

I've been staying off eBay for a while because I've been pretty broke. But the other day I ventured back on again!! Here's some of the stuff I'm watching right now:

A Blue Box 17" Mercury - I really do want to get all of these. Right now I only have Moon so this is pretty tempting. But I have a bid on something so I can't swing this now. I'm hoping it might get relisted...
This Stallion Reve - I'm watching mostly to see how high it goes. Call it morbid curiosity! I'd like to know what it sells for in a real auction to have a better idea of what I'd be willing to pay when I do actually try to find one for me
StarFighter Doll - I have this already, I'm just waiting to see if anyone's actually going to pay that much for it. I got mine for $48
PGSM Venus - I have her, but not in the box. And I have the other inners in the box so it would be nice to have Venus too... but I've got money tied up elsewhere so I'm hoping for a relist, again. :P
Mars Petite - I also have this already but not with the Mars card.
Super Moon Gashapon - one of a few that I don't have T_T
Super Chibi Moon Gashapon - another of the few I don't have D:
This wicked cute Serenity plushie - really? That's too friggin' cute!
This pink fabric - Does anyone have a small swimsuit pattern? ^___^;
Another Infinity Volume - in case I happen to come across $500 somewhere to offer...

That's it for now. The item I have a bid in on is at $70. I am not going to bid again if someone out bid's me. In some ways, I'm hoping someone does because I've realized there are other things I think I want more. D: However, since 'un-bidding' is SUCH a pet peeve of mine, I refuse to do it!

Basking in Victory

2009-10-27T20:03:00.003-04:00

Finally.

I just LOVE getting something when I've been after it for years. Of course, there's the thrill of a big ticket item that you've saved up for, but sometimes the small stuff can be as or more exciting when you've been on the hunt for so long.

PGSM Jupiter Purse. It will finally be mine! I've been after this darn thing since I won the first one at the Sailor Moon Fan Panel at Otakon 07. I was quick to find Moon, Venus, and Mars soon after, but Jupiter continued to evade my searches. I have a friend that has one. I offered her $100 (because I'm insane). I offered her 4 custom plushies, but she could not be bribed.

I waited and I waited and FINALLY the power of the moon has prevailed!! $35 later, my PGSM Jupiter purse along with the promotional poster for the set is coming my way!

Ohhhh the thrill of the catch.

Sailor Moon R Movie

2009-10-18T14:54:00.002-04:00

I'm rewatching the SMR Movie because I am planning on introducing some friends to Sailormoon with it. I figure it's a nice introduction because it shows the main characters really well, deals with Mamoru and Usagi's relationship, and it has closure as a stand alone story.

Unfortunately, they prefer to watch it dubbed. Gosh. I am watching it dubbed with subtitles now to see how bad it is. Once thing I notice is that the dub adds a lot of extraneous voice lines. Mamoru can't walk out into the flowers and just look like he's thinking about them, we have to actually here him think, "Ah, the flowers are so beautiful. This place is so nice!" Are American audiences just too dumb to get that's implied by his content expression? And when Fiore dissapears, why does Usagi have to say "He's going!" as if that's not terribly obvious. "Yeah, but where to?!" Mamoru replies. Honestly, it sounds so forced. Like, "Here let me hold you hand through every little thing that happens."

This is why movies like UP are awesome. They don't assume kids are stupid.

Can I really show this to my friends? I hate to ask them to read the subtitles when they don't want to, but I can't imagine them watching to dub and being impressed. xD

Of course watching this has reminded me that Terri Hawks isn't my least favorite Sailormoon, but I still like Tracey better. ^_^

Starry Sky Orgel

2009-09-30T22:09:00.002-04:00

At least, that's what my Japanese friend says the box says.

I bought one. I finally got a Star Locket. You know, a plastic toy painted gold that plays a little tinny tune when you open the top. You know, $250 dollars later.

I'm rather excited.

No more eBay for me for a while. Going to have to do quite a few commissions to pay this sucker off. :D

I also recently got a 17" Mars and a 17" Venus. I think I also bought another of the re-released manga volumes. I finally have all of the Japanese manga, though 4 or 5 are not first edition.

I LOVE THIS HOBBY

P.S. My price check list still needs love! Halp?

This isn't about Sailormoon at all.

2009-09-04T17:36:00.001-04:00

Really, it's not. ^_^;

This week has been kind of a mess. It's been a little frustrating at work (though nothing really to complain about) but just a huge emotional roller coaster online. Home is good, so at least there's that.

Anyway, I've learned a lot in the last few days. I learned a lot about myself, a little about my friends, and a lot about what I do and do not want. So here's a list, some self reflection if you will. This will be a check point for me. It will be my place to turn back to when I feel like I'm losing sight of things. If this seems TOTALLY out of the blue to you, just bear with me. :)

If something doesn't directly effect me or something I'm responsible for, then there's no need to get involved with it. Whenever I feel upset by something on the internet I need to ask myself, "Is this significant?" before I get all emotional about it.
Misunderstandings are a huge part of why things can go wrong in relationships. Communication is very important and I should always as myself, "Is it possible I have misunderstood?" before I get mad at someone.
I'm not going to get along with everyone, all the time. It's unreasonable to expect myself to be friends with EVERYONE and I can't beat myself up every time I find out someone doesn't like me or is mad at me. I can just do my best to be kind to people, be respectful, and learn from my mistakes.
This means admitting when I'm wrong. It's a very hard thing to do, but I've learned to do it in other parts of my life (like in art), so its time to learn to do this in personal relationships too. Sometimes, I am going to be wrong.
When I am wrong, and I've made a mistake, "I'm sorry" is not always going to solve the entire problem. I have to be patient with people and understand that it takes time to move through certain challenges, and sometimes you break things and they can be fixed. While I really hope that isn't the case this time, I know that I have to come to terms with the fact that sometimes my mistakes are going to have longer consequences.
I love my friends and I want to do what I can to be the best friend to them that I can be. Sometimes they have to teach me important things I don't want to learn, but that's what good friends do.

So that's it I guess. That's my 'take away' from my week. I really want to do all I can to avoid becoming swept up into emotional drama, especially online. There are so many important things in our short lives and I know how silly it is to get all worked up over little things. I will be a much happier person if I just go a little slower and think a little longer. I am an optimist at heart, though I find it hard sometimes to hold to that feeling when I feel drawn into negativity. So I have to be strong and remind myself that there is always something good around. I know I will still make mistakes but I have to just keep going and learn where I can and do my best.

Thanks for reading. :)

Sailor Moon - Genocide

2009-08-21T22:09:00.002-04:00

This is version 2. I just couldn't leave it alone. :D
Comments and critique are welcomed!