Ava's Crystal World: 2016

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Review: FujiFilm Instax Mini 8

A lot of Lolitas have them and that's how I first came in Contact with this Camera too, through Lolita. I saw Lolitas with strange big but colorful Cameras at Meet-Ups and Events taking Pictures of thierself with friends and wohoo...a few seconds later the just taken Picture came out of the Camera. So retro and soooo cool.
On the Christmas-Event 2014 a Lolita showed me her camera and the Pictures she made. The Pictures had super cute Frames. Kawaiiiii <3
I knew, that I would buy me a Instax Camera as well, but why should I? Christmas was near, so I put it on my Wishlist and got it a few days after Christmas from my parents. Thank you Mom & Dad <3

Now a few facts about the Camera:

Manual (PDF)
Instax Mini 8 - Information Sheet (PDF)

Accessories: Selfi-Mirror, Colour-Lense, Sticker, Bag, speical Pens to write and paint on the Picture

Instax Mini-Films: First of all you have to know, that Instax Films have a expiration date! I guess this is a result of the chemical Componenten that are responsable for the developing of the Picture. If you have a expired Film it could be, that the Picture will not develop properly.
Because of the expiration date most Motive-Films/Special Editions are only avaiable for a limited time. They get produced once and if they are sold out or expired they wont be re-stocked. But you don't have to panic. If a Motive was very popular it mostly get's re-released in a litte chanced design.

This is my Instax <3

Résumé: Well, of course this Camera is not practical for high quality pictures. If you want something like this, you should not buy this Camera. A Instax is more Toy than Camera. It's funny to take pictures and look how they appear slowly on the film. I use my Camera mostly on Lolita Events. Through 2015 I made around 40 Pictures.

These are only a few Films. Some of them my not be purchaseable anymore. If you are searching for a Shop where you can buy Instax-Films I recommend you this Seller from etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/de/shop/TitaniumSeller

I ordered there twice now. They are super fast (around 10 Days from China to Europe - normally I have to wait 3 to 4 weeks), the Films are very well packed, the expiration date of my two Films was between 16 and 20 Month in the future and the Price is fair.
Of cause you have to make your own experience, but I'm very happy and will order from this Seller again.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Metamorphose Temp de Fills - Wheel of Time Pinaford JSK

http://lolibrary.org/apparel/wheel-time-zipper-pinafore-jsk

This Dress is so special and cool with the Zippers in the Skirt <3 Unfortunately I deceided to late, that I want to have it and of course the Dress was sold out back then. Luckily I found this Dress one Year later on Lacemarket.

The Underskirt is not from Meta. It was made for me by Lady Sloth, but of cause I asked her to make it like the Metamorphose Underskirt.

Cut: This Dress has adjustable Straps and additional removable Neckholder Straps made of Fake Lether. On the Top of the Dress are 3 big buckle and also some Fake-Leather with little brass bottons. Of course this Dress has Shirring in the Back, removeable Waist Ties and a side Zipper.
The Skirt has two Zippers on the front. You can wear the Dress with closed Zippers like a normal JSK or you can open them and wear it with a Underskirt that is visiable when the Zippers are open. Soooo cool. I love it.

Print: The Print showes pocket watches and hourglasses in a very vintage style. On the Buttom is a row of cogwheels and the Brand Name. If you look closer you will find Keys, Maps and more Cogwheels in the Background.

Allover Impression: It is sooo coool and I love Steampunk, even if I'm not very talented in creating a good Steampunk-Outfit (I was very unhappy with the golden tights).

If you have any Questions about this Dress, please ask =)

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Chibitenshi Review (Shopping Service)

Hail to Chibi-Tenshi // Tenshi Shop! What have I done without her? Well, I would have saved a lot of money, because I would not have been able to buy a lot of amazing Lolita-Dresses xD
She is so friendly and tries to help as best, as she can to fulfill the wishes of her costumers. I already used her Service a couple of times and until now, I never had Problems.
Usually she answers within 24 hours to Mails, sometimes it takes a little longer, up to 48 hours. A great thing of Chibi's Service is, that she can also go to local Stores but you have to consider, that she does not live in Tokyo. So if there is something like a special Set, that will only be sold at the Shibuya-Store or Lafort, she won't be able to get this for you. Another Point that is a little frustrating is that she often does not have space for your order left. Like every Shopping Service Chibi has only a limited number of Dresses, that she can order per Print, Color and Cut. So if you see, that a new Dress is announced it can happen, that Chibi hasn’t a free Slots left. I already had this Problem a couple of Times. So frustrating. The other girls are so fast.
The normal Way to use the Shopping Service is to write her a E-Mail or use the Request Form from her Homepage here. I used the Request Form for my very first order, after that I only sent her my request by mail.

That's the normal Way of a Shopping-Request:

1. Send your Request by Mail or using the Request Form. If you send a Mail be sure to include all neccessary Information of the Item and yourself like your Shipping-Address, PP-Address and Shipping Instructions (EMS, Airmail...)
2. Wait for Chibi's answer. She will order directly for you, if there are no open questions or other Problems.
3. Wait for PP-Invoice. Usualy Chibi will not send you a Invoice before she has the Item and knows the exact Shipping-Fee. You have to consider this, when you send her a request! If you order something like a coat consider that Shipping might get very expansiv!
4. Pay Invoice and wait for Shipping-Information
5. Receive Tracking Number and wait for your Parcel
6. Receive your Parcel and be happy ^^
7. Place a Testimonial here

I'm very happy with the Service of Chibi-Tenshi and will continue using it.

http://tenshishop.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tenshishopping

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: "Under the Sea" - Amsterdam Impressions

The Event is over and I left Amsterdam one day earlier than planned because I became sick. Now I'm sitting at home and trying to defeat the cold I catched. Luckily my body managed to stay as fit as possible so that I had no bigger Problems during the Event.

Here are some Shots of Amsterdam that I made:

This Picture is from the Sunday-Location. I love this chandelier <3

My Outfits:

Yes, it's AKIRA on the right! She was so patient! I suspect almost everybody asked for a Picture on Sunday. There where waiting lines through the whole room.

And there where that many People at the Event. And everybody looked so damn beautiful. Aaaahhh I felt soooo underdressed.

Here are some YouTube-Videos I found:

I'm in this Video...more than once! I didn't knew ^^

Here is the offical Gallerys:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskAbfiwn

And here are Blogs with Reviews:
Puppenschloss Blogspot
Marinette in Wonderland Blogspot
Cutetravels.com
Roselolitawonderland Blogspot
Roselolitawonderland Blogspot.de (Post 2)
Luniechan Blogspot
Roselolitawonderland Blogspot
Marietuonetar Blogspot

Friday, April 29, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: "Under the Sea" - Amsterdam: Outfit Planing

Hello Folks,

you might be wondering why I have'nt told you anything about my planed Outfits for the Lolita-Event "Under the Sea" until now. Weeeell...unfortunately the truth is that there was not much to tell. It turned out, that the Dress I originally considered to wear will not reach me before June or July. This is really frustrating.
At the Moment my "Emergency-Outfit" for the first Day will be Edward Skull Tartan Skirt from Alice and the Pirates, also in a Pirate-Lolita Coord.

For the second Day I considered to wear Labyrinth in the Reminiscent Mirror from Baby the Stars Shine Bright. I really love this Dress and would like to wear it but here is the Problem: The Pirate-Outfit of the first Day will be mostly combined with black. For the Labyrinth JSK I would need everything (Shoes, Petticoat and Accessories) in light colors, mostly white and I really don’t want to carry everything in two colors to Amsterdam. I don't have enough space in my case >.<
I guess I will have to pick a other Dress for the Second day or for the first day so that I can combine both with black or both with white.

What should I do? Ignore the Motto of the Event or Change to a Dark Outfit for the Second Day?
At the Moment it looks like I will take my La Traviata JSK from Alice and the Pirates in Black/Gold for the second Day, but I'm still a bit frustrated with the whole Situation.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Under the Sea - Amsterdam 2016 Vendors + Donators

Hi everybody,

if you want a List of the currently announced Vendors and Donators at "Under the Sea" please check out my Post here and scroll down.

I added all of them...well, I hope so ;)

11.05.15: Finally I found a List of the Vendors and Donators on the Streetfashion Europe Homepage.

Vendors

Donators

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Music: Ava's Favorit Soundtracks (Part 3)

Let's get ready for Round 3!

Spirited Away - Inochi no Namae, & Futatabi - Joe Hisaishi

James Bond: Skyfall - Skyfall - Adele

Van Helsing - Reunited - Alan Silvestri

The Amazing Spiderman 2 - It's On Again - Alicia Keys feat. Kendrick Lamar

Rambo - Battle Adagio - Brian Tyler

Terminator 2 - Main Title - Brad Fiedel

Sword of the Stranger - Ihojin No Yaiba - Naoki Sato

Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End - Drink Up Me Hearties - Hans Zimmer

Avatar - I See You - Leona Lewis

Poccahontas - If I Never Knew You - Alan menken (Jon Secada & Shanice)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1t2c8_jon-secada-shanice-if-i-never-knew_music

What will be next?

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Alice and the Pirates - Masquerade Theater

http://lolibrary.org/apparel/masquerade-theater-jsk

Masquerade Theater or "The Phantom"-Dress, how I call it, was THE Dress that gave me the last little push to start with Lolita-Fashion. I'm a big Musical-Fan, especially of "The Phantom of the Opera" and when I saw this dress during my Lolita-Research I directly fell in Love with it and thought "I want this Dress! I need this Dress! I must have it!". Luckily I found a Asian-Girl which bought this dress a few Month ago and when I asked her, if she would be willing to sell it, she said yes.
Of cause my preferred color was the red version, but ivory was my second choice and I was very happy with it. Unfortunately the dress got very expensive because of custom duties that I had to pay ;(

The Dress itself was and still is one of my most favorite Dresses, even if I don't own it anymore. I had to let it go. The Dress was very strait on me, therefore wearing it was not very comfortable, but I found a good new home for it ^^

Cut: I loooove the cute of this dress. It's one of my most favorite Cuts, which Baby/Alice ever made.
The Straps can be completly removed. On the Chest is a big Bow that is not removable. This JSK does not have Waist Ties. On the Back it has Shirring and Corset-Lacing, but actually you can't really use the Corset-Lacing. You would destroy the Lace, therefore it's only for the appealing look. This is a major Problem with a lot of Baby/AatP-Dresses..I don't know, why they keep doing this =/ The Skirt has Lace on the End. Due to the Corset-Boning, this Dress makes a great silhouette.

Print: IT'S THE PHANTOM!! What else do I have to say? On the Skirt are Scenes from the Phantom of the Opera, like the Boat with the Phantom and Christin on the underground Lake. The Letters that the Phantom writes, Roses, Angels, Music Sheets of Don Juan (the Opera which the Phantom writes) AND of course THE CHANDELIER!!

Allover Impression: Yes I love this Dress! The only negative Point for me: the Measurements. This Dress is only for petit Girls. I don't think that I'm a "Fetty-chan", but I signed up at the gym especially for this dress. Crazy right?

As I said, I sold this Dress a little while ago. I think it was the right decision, but I miss the Dress. I'm now searching for "Angel of Music" (Size M, black) from Haenuli to get a new "Phantom"-Dress.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Music: Ava's Favorit Soundtracks (Part 2)

Aaaaand we are starting Round 2!

Movie - Title - Composer/Artist (if I know)

Aion: The Tower of Eternaty - Forgotten Sorrow - Kunihiko Ryo

Skyrim - Dragonborn - Jeremy Soule

Cars - Life Is A Highway - Rascal Flatts

Rurouni Kenshin - The Beginning - One Ok Rock

Need for Speed - California Crossing - Nathan Furst

Illusion - Ocean Princess - Thomas Bergersen feat. Merethe Soltvedt

Vampire Diarys Season 5 (I'm not sure about the Season) - Don't Let Me Go - Raign

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - Ennio Morricone/Yo-Yo Ma

Outlander - Skye Boat Song - Starz

This is from the Category: Strange but Funny ;-)
Forbidden Zone - Bim Bam Boom - Danny Elfman

Do you want more??

Monday, February 1, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Under the Sea - Teaparty Amsterdam 7. + 8.May 2016

Hello World! I thought that nobody's readying this Blog, but I now know, that one Person (a real Person, not Google) visited and read my Blog - yeaaahhh! ^^

This Year Streetfashion Europe is holding a big Lolita-Teaparty and Meet-Up in Amsterdam. The Motto is "Under the Sea". Me and my Friends got Tickets for both days. It will be the first Time for me to travel to the Netherlands. Therefore it will also my first Visit in Amsterdam. I am very excited and already trying to create Outfits for both days.
Unfortunately I don't have anything that matches the Motto like AP's Marine Kingdom or Dream Marine and I will not buy one of this Dresses for the Event (because I don't like them). My current Plan is, to make a Pirate-Lolita Outfit and for the Second Day..well I don't have many Ideas right now.

The Organisators already announced a lot of Vendors, Guests and of course the Location.

Location:
The Teaparty will take place at the 5* InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam. Check this Pictures. Doesn't it look totally stunning? A Perfect Location for a Teaparty ^^

The Event on the second Day will take place at the Royal Tropical Institute. Looks great as well!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Loli(Ta)lk: Glitzy Wonderland Review

Hello everybody, it's Time for a new Review!

I was searching for a Lolita-Raincoat and finally found it at Glitzy Wonderland. That's how I discovered this Shop. It was the only Shop which offered a Lolita-Raincoat at that time and I thought "Well, let's give it a try".

The Shop itself:
It does not have this incredible Amount of Items like my-lolita-dress and of course a lot of Items are the same, but they also offer Items, I have never seen anywhere else before.

Costumer Service/Communication:
I already ordered twice at this shop. I did not have any Problems with my first order. My second Order did not work out that smoothly. I ordered a Blouse and paid for it with Paypal but besides the usual PayPal-Mail I did not receive an Order Confirmation or anything else per Mail (like a Shipping Notification) from the Shop. I contacted the Costumer Service with the Contact Form on their Homepage but did not receive an answer within the next days.
After that I sent them a direct Mail and got my answer within 24 Hours. The Blouse was already shipped. I received it a week or two later without any issues.

Shipping/Packaging:
Standard Shipping is free at Glitzery Wonderland. That's why I would never order more than one Item per Order and take the risk, that a bigger parcel causes attention at customs.
My Raincoat was packed in a grey plastic bag. No additional padding, but this was not necessary for the Coat.
The declaration on the Bag was like expected. I did not had any Problems with customs. I received my first order (the Coat) around two weeks after I got the information, that my order was shipped.
I can't tell the exact Time of my second Order, becaus I did not receive a shipping notification, but I guess it was around 3 weeks.

Résumé:
My Résumé after two Orders: I would order from Glitzery Wonderland again. I guess the lack of information at my second order was a Computer-Problem and in the end I received my order. The only negativ Point is, that I did not receive a answer after using their Contact Form.

A Review about the Rain Coat will follow ;)

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Music: Ava's Favorit Soundtracks (Part 1)

Hey everybody and a happy 2016 to you!

As I already said in my SST-Post here is the first Part of my Soundtrack Favorit-List.

Movie - Title - Composer/Artist (if I know)

Oblivion - Oblivion - m83

Games of Thrones - Mhysa - Ramin Djawadi

Little Shop of Horror - Prologue - Alan Menken, Howard Ashman

Daylight - Whenever There Is Love - Bruce Roberts, Sam Roman

Silent Hill: Revelation - Silent Scream - Akira Yamaoka

Silent Hill 4: The Room - Room of Angel - Akira Yamaoka

Lethal Weapon 3 - Runaway Train - Elton John, Eric Clapton

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - The Hanging Tree - James Newton Howard
Unfortunately I could not find a good Video on YouTube. Please try this:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2aucu3_the-hanging-tree-the-hunger-games-mockingjay-pt-1-score-james-newton-howard_music

Avatar - The Path To Heaven - James Horner

Laputa: Castle in the Sky - Carrying You - Joe Hisaishi

I love this Concert! I don't know, how many times I've watched or listend to it already.
Here is the complete Concert:

That's it for now. I hope you like the Songs I picked.