What happened to Mikey's finger? Did you eat it?

Ninpo overuse trying to save an unwanted foe

10 days ago, I decided I would get started on that linen summer dress with the swooshy skirt I've had all the materials for since last summer. So, naturally, 9 days ago, I did unspeakable things in a text editor software to reformat this free Apex Legends Nessie pattern by Jackalodreams on Deviantadt so most pieces fit on less pages. Then I printed it at 200%, taped the pieces together and... Things got a bit out of hand.

Long story short, I've got a new purse, and it made at least three separate adults who saw it smile squeal in public.

Construction notes after the break!

I think it only took me an evening or two to make, the main thing was getting all the materials. Zipper is from a duvet, all other hardware, eyes included, are 3D printed with PLA. (Pro tip: don't size up safety eye STL files unless you have a way to size up your fabric thickness accordingly.) Patches are mostly from stash, as is the lining (just some random jersey) and belly fabric (basic double gauze). Body is a fuzzy blanket I found on clearance. Tag is a piece of cotton calico with some quick and dirty hand embroidery on it.

Getting the tag, zipper and D-ring caught in the butt seam made me fear for my little Brother sewing machine, so maybe don't do what I did there. I didn't have the patience to figure out something else, and I didn't not want to put in a tag. Still, all the fabric edges are finished, every seam is locked, the patches are sewn on instead of ironed on, so this thing, when empty, should be machine washable at 30°C.

This deceptive little beastie took an entire 400g bag of polyfill to get structurally sound, even with the pouch pre-filled with way more things than I expected would fit. It's a pretty practical size inside for everyday errands. It came out extremely squishy, to the point that I could probably use it as a pillow on a long drive or train ride. The different textures of eyes, patches, tag, body and belly go together nicely.

The shoulder strap was borrowed for about an hour from my wife's purse (thank you, sweetie!) when Hermes smiled down upon us and had us catch one market stall selling fashion straps that was several hours late in packing up and closing. (Lesson learned: drinking a can of Monster before running small errands is a good thing.) Don't have pictures of the new one yet.

It's the size of a medium-large plush, so not ideal for tiny stores while wearing a thick winter coat, but otherwise it did quite well on its first outing.

Just gotta attach the zipper pull with a jump ring, as the sewed on McGyvering I've got right now isn't the most practical.

Basically, I have to learn to sing in front of people and if I put up a video then technically I’ve done that and I don’t have to do it in front of people I can see?

It is a legitimate phobia at this point.

Excuse how bad I sound please.

OK SO I was doing some sample audio to test some stuff out, including how it would sound if I did some voices, including some emotional ones.

Now, I am not an experienced voice actor.

However, while listening to my sample of an emotional scene I keep FORGETTING that I was voice acting. So I hear myself crying and "AAH!"-ing and such and freak out until I realize "oh yeah I'm fine" lol

Me when I finally figure out how to do a new embroidery stitch without it looking like total ass:

I think I got the part between pants and boots fixed. It doesn’t look that bad anymore. :) It’s over a year that I worked on my clothes in Milkshape, I also haven’t worked with hair for a long time. I nearly forgot everything I knew. :(

for me, learning is less about visual/auditory/kinesthetic or any other media/modes of providing and delivering information, and more about how well that mode is used

Essay: "The Problem with Modern Feminism"

Feminism is a term that is both hated and loved by many. A concept that is ever-changing as a new era comes and goes and new definitions seem to appear for it whether it be toxic or positive by radicals or traditionalists A movement originally used for the right of women to be equal and expand their horizons rather than to be seen as worthless and nothing by those that hold power in patrichary now seemingly twists and turns into something new in this new generation of women compared to our ancestors time. There is a debate between the different types of women in her role and their place in life, according to many, depending on who you talk to. In this essay, we are going to talk about the concept of feminism, its good, its bad, and its ugly.

Feminism, according to Merriam Webster, is defined as "belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests". Another quote, according to Britannica, is: "Feminism is the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. Although largely originating in the West, feminism is manifested worldwide and is represented by various institutions committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests." And another, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, quote: "the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state." So we get the idea; it's supposed to be for women to have equal opportunity, equal choice, and be treated as equals as human beings like our counterparts. Where women can go for their careers and delight in the activities they want, just like men do with their careers and what they delight in doing, But according to others, it's an entirely different story. While some radical feminists argue for equality between men and women, others adopt a more extreme position, viewing men and women as inherently different and claiming that women are superior to men. This can include rhetoric such as suggesting that men are inferior to women, promoting the idea that men should be killed or enslaved, and expressing indifference to or even amusement at men's problems, such as sexual assault and other violent acts. These views, although not held by all feminists, are often criticized as being misandrist and unhelpful to the broader ideals of gender equality. Traditional women's view of feminism is typically marked by the belief that it is a woman's place to be subordinate to men and to stay at home rather than pursue a career or expand on other aspects of her life. They believe that feminism is bad because it encourages women to question the established gender roles and social structures that have historically kept women in a lower position in society. This view can also include the belief that women are naturally better suited for duties such as homemaking and childcare and that seeking higher education or employment opportunities is not in their best interests or the interests of society as a whole.

Here's an outsider view: It is a woman's choice whether she should be married, single, career-seeking, or at home. Both radfems and tradtionalists don't understand, as they have a narrow view of what true choice is. For the radfems, yes, the men you deal with are evil in nature, and the ones who mainly hold power, like industry or government, are ones who seek to put you down, but do not assume that other men will be the same way. A double standard has been created by the ones who hold power to encourage division and constant battle, which leads to both sides belittling each other rather than being helpful to each other about free choice and equality in achievement options. For the traditionalists, nowhere did it say a woman couldn't expand her career while taking care of the house and the kids, and nowhere did it say that men couldn't help with the house while working to provide it, nor did it say that men beat their wives, belittle their wives, and cheat on their wives. If we go by true traditionalism, it's actually equal; it's just assigned roles, but men in the roles took advantage of their position to abuse rather than uphold it like they should. Since some traditionalist women go by the Bible, here are examples: 1 Corinthians 7:3–4 (KJV), Colossians 3:19 (KJV), Genesis 2:24 (KJV), and 1 Peter 3:7 (KJV). Where in there does it say a man can beat his wife? Where does it say a woman is inferior? Nowhere does it say they could not work together to help the household. A woman can still take care of the house and the kids and expand on their careers, and a man can take care of the kids and the house while also doing their careers too. There is no inferior or superior; it's just roles you guys twisted into making it look that way.

So what is the problem with Modern Feminism? Modern feminism often centers around its perceived co-option by marketing strategies rather than serving as a genuine human rights movement. Critics argue that it has become a tool for industries to enhance their sales, targeting the masses with a diluted version of feminist ideals. In this context, feminism is portrayed more as a commodity than a catalyst for positive societal change. This commercialization has the potential to overshadow the core principles of feminism, transforming it into a means for profit rather than a pursuit of equal rights. One manifestation of this criticism is the association of feminism with a hypersexualized image, exemplified by popular figures like Beyoncé and Cardi B. These celebrities, while advocates for women's rights, are sometimes accused of perpetuating a hypersexualized and prideful persona that conforms to societal expectations rather than challenging them. and though there is nothing wrong with empowerment through women's bodies and image of their own design, The use of demeaning language in media and music, such as the frequent use of terms like "bitch" and "slut," contributes to the perception of feminism as a movement that is more concerned with projecting a certain image than empowering women to make independent choices about their bodies and lives.

In conclusion, feminism, at its core, champions a woman's right to choose her life path—be it traditional, independent, or otherwise. Criticism should focus on a person's actions and character, not their gender or aspirations. Genuine respect for individual agency, free from imposed standards, fosters an inclusive society where women can authentically pursue their chosen paths. Radfems shouldn't be entitled to not get criticism because they are women, and traditionalists shouldn't be entitled to be criticized because they are Christians or of any other religion.

🌪what brings you joy in life?

being alive IS the joy :) i wear my rose coloured glasses everywhere. my magic power is being able to alchemize the beauty out of anything <3

Yesterday's Market went so very well. I met SO many people that have been following my cake journey. It's a little surreal to realize that people know who I am. What a wild ride this cake biz adventure is. I'm exhausted today though so I'm just going to bury myself under a few blankets for the afternoon.

Preparing for a project by listening to audio descriptions of various stories, The Owl House S2E1:

Luz: "she's doing her best now"

Description: she breaks a jar of apple blood

I made a hat

I applaud you for the math, it's my least favorite subject because it's so confusing to me!!! I agree with the books, I would protect mine with my life as well! What's been your favorite thing to learn? I'm teaching myself needle felting and embroidery right now as hobbies and it's been so much fun, but I'm also learning coding and IT stuff for a career!

Well, most of the time I'm confused with math as well but somehow I keep going. My favorites thing to learn is hard to pick again, but I love learning languages. I can speak four languages and I'm learning my fifth right now. I was raised bilingual, so I can speak German and Polish pretty much perfectly. Then I learned English in school and now I watch most shows in the original. But then again, English is hard not to pick up in a such a connected world. Later, I learned French in school and did the DELF B1 exam (an exam that gives me a diploma at the end, which shows I know all the basics and it can't be taken away from me even if I forget some things later on in life). Now I'm learning Spanish and it's a lot of fun. Since I can compare the words to other languages I can memorize them better and most of the time, I can guess the meaning of a new word before I look it up because of the similarities to French. I think I want to learn Russian next. Since everyone is scared of a possible extension of the war over Europe I thought it would be neat to know the language of the enemy (that's what my old neighbor who lived through world war two always says as well). I already looked up how to beg for your life for fun, lol. My Duolingo streak is over a thousand days now. Your hobbies sound so cool, I would love to learn embroidery one day, too. I also thought about glass blowing, but sadly there are no courses on that in my area (and I don't have the time, but sometimes I try to repress this though and daydream about all these cool hobbies I could pick up). Wood carving would be easier to learn, you don't need an oven for that. Coding and IT stuff are super interesting. What programming languages do you know? I started learning Java this semester and passed an exam on it. Next semester I want to continue learning programming, diving a little deeper into object-orientated programming. At least if I didn't fail the math exam. I'm kinda always scared not to pass too often and get kicked out. Sometimes it feels like I'm lying under the sharp blade of a guillotine that could kill me at any moment, but I can never know when or whether it will fall at all. I'm currently still waiting for results. If I failed, I have one last chance left. But I would have to retake the exam orally instead of the standard written form. And I'm afraid that's pretty embarrassing. Today I told someone that me choosing to go to uni despite it being so hard, brushing off concerned warnings of friends saying I like challenges is strangely similar to the dozens of stupidly brave folks who climbed the Mount Everest just to die on it. Sorry for the rambling, the question leaves room for a lot of random infos :)

I went into my Test-hood today to make previews and check all the things I have in mind for “Hendrik Hupfner Clothes Collection Part 2″. Some of these will be part of it, some maybe not, I’m still not sure. Some will be also for teens, some only for AM (if there isn’t a teen version to work with), some have to be renamed. Some outfits, some tops. And I noticed that I also could make the last three tops for TM, too. Why didn’t thought of that before? o.O

An Adventure in Art

AKA - The learning curve.

So, I bought a graphics tablet and downloaded a new program to work with it. It has been an adventure.

The first thing I tried was... horrifying. Then I tried free sketching something. Fred, of course.

I mean, it was recognized by friends as being Fred. So, that could have been worse I suppose. However, I noticed my sketchy style of drawing would make a pretty feather. So, I tried that.

I liked how it turned out. I decided that this meant I should learn how to colour it.

Rainbow of course. What else would I do? And then I excitedly learned to blend in the program!

And, I am happy. Sure, it's nothing that spectacular. I'm sure most people could do better, but I am happy. I am proud.

It is a start.