Cover ~ Kanae Ito/Shugo Chara "Happy X'mas"

Another year, another Christmas! I hope everyone has a lovely holiday, whatever you celebrate ^_^ Stay cozy and eat lots of delicious food! And maybe take a moment to listen to this *adorable* song from the Shugo Chara anime series! I love the series, and it is full of really wonderful music. Singing this song has made me want to rewatch it all again X3

I hope everyone has had a good year, and here's to another wonderful one to come! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"Happy X'mas"
Original by: Kanae Ito (Hinamori Amu) in Shugo Chara

~ COVER ~
Vocals: Kyttyee (http://www.youtube.com/KyttyeeChii)

Feel free to use these lyrics/mp3 if you enjoyed them! Just please make sure to credit properly and include a link back to this video ^_^

***************************************************

~ MP3: http://www.mediafire.com/download/77a1rfu15cs18y8/Happy_X'mas_[Kyttyee].mp3

Project 365 // 015 - 021

One day late, I know... o(v_v;;)o

015 / 365: I love astronomy, and I had been wanting some sailor elements to add to my wardrobe, and this series satisfied all of those! The print details are absolutely gorgeous, and I'm very glad I decided to go with navy instead of black or sax blue.



016 / 365: This year's My Little Pony Annual, now with 20% more superhero ponies! I definitely enjoyed it <3 data-blogger-escaped-br="">

017 / 365: Fall is coming, and all the green things are beginning to wither away into winter mode. However, this little rosebush in my apartment's courtyard is still a nice bright spot of color!


018 / 365: Candles make me feel cozy, especially sweet-smelling ones like this one. They're perfect to light on colder nights!


019 / 365: All of the ponies! I finally got all of the compilation volumes for the official My Little Pony comic thus far, and I am now all caught up on the stories!


020 / 365: Hanging out in weekend drawthreads is my new favorite thing, despite some frustrations with ungrateful requesters. I feel bad that I don't draw as well as they expect, but I'm trying to learn and get better! Cute bunnies are cute, and cute boys in bunny hoodies are even cuter ^w^


021 / 365: Ever since I started using Clip Studio Paint (I got it because it was on SUPER sale), my lines have felt a lot more comfortable. Practice, with a bit of help from input stabilization software does wonders! I'm pretty pleased with how the final version of this sketch turned out.


May all of your next weeks be filled with happy cuddly things!!

Project 365 // 008 - 014

This is a bit of a challenge, since I'm not used to taking lots of photos all the time! But I'm still managing... barely...

008 / 365: With the news of the Hub Channel being absorbed into Discovery Family, and hopes of a Season 5 announcement, I've rekindled my love of ponies by delving into the dangerous world of My Little Pony comics! This is also thanks to the discovery of a really awesome comic book store near my apartment ^_^


009 / 365: With the new music project slowly taking some slightly more legit form, I've been busy this past week recording a couple of demos for it!


010 / 365: I was sick this day, and didn't really go anywhere. But being sick and colder weather is a great excuse for wearing cuddly fuzzy things, right? Even better if they're full of Hello Kitty, right?


011 / 365: Finally made myself a pop filter out of an embroidery hoop, some hosiery, and a wooden spoon. Yes, a wooden spoon.


012 / 365: Fluttershy best pony! More love for My Little Pony <3 data-blogger-escaped-a="" data-blogger-escaped-again="" data-blogger-escaped-and="" data-blogger-escaped-been="" data-blogger-escaped-br="" data-blogger-escaped-drawing="" data-blogger-escaped-enough="" data-blogger-escaped-even="" data-blogger-escaped-fanart="" data-blogger-escaped-few="" data-blogger-escaped-finally="" data-blogger-escaped-finish="" data-blogger-escaped-fluttershy="" data-blogger-escaped-get="" data-blogger-escaped-i="" data-blogger-escaped-ll="" data-blogger-escaped-maybe="" data-blogger-escaped-months="" data-blogger-escaped-now.="" data-blogger-escaped-on="" data-blogger-escaped-since="" data-blogger-escaped-song="" data-blogger-escaped-start="" data-blogger-escaped-that="" data-blogger-escaped-to="" data-blogger-escaped-unlazy="" data-blogger-escaped-ve="" data-blogger-escaped-working="">

013 / 365: Having fun drawing a lovely outfit photo for a fellow Lolita! It's nice getting back into drawing again, although I am still terrible with a tablet. Nice sketch like this somehow gets all derpified and weird when I scan and redraw/clean it on my computer for digital coloring >_<


014 / 365: Drawfriends in drawthreads are fun! Yes, I drew someone's waifu request... But I love Minami-ke so it was for me too! But Chiaki is best girl. Also... further frustrations with tablet... lines get all sketchy/squiggly, things get weird and derpy-looking, I can't control where I'm drawing TT_TT Please teach me the ways of tablet, senpai...


Woohoo! Another week down! Let's hope next week is also full of fluffy lovely things for everyone ^_^

Outfit Post ~ Back to Basics

JSK: Metamorphose Temps de Fille
Necklace: Kumacrafts
Boots: Skechers

I finally got a nice area figured out in my new apartment for taking outfit snaps, so hopefully I can return to more regular outfit posts. I dress up less frequently these days though, since a lot of the time I'm just throwing clothes over ballet tights and leotard to head to the studio. That said, it made me really happy to actually be floofy and pink for a day, which I haven't had a chance to do in a long time ^_^

Project 365 // 001~007

I've decided to begin a Project 365 in order to challenge myself to better document the little things in my life so I can remember and enjoy them later on. As such, I will start uploading a week's worth of daily photos each Sunday, and it'll serve as a nice little weekly wrap-up for keeping up with what's going on in my life!

001 / 365: It got cold very quickly recently, and my wrists have been cold, so I decided to make up my own wristwarmer knitting pattern. It took several attempts to settle on something I actually liked, but there's finally progress!


002 / 365: I've been fiddling around with a good way to record things I play on my electronic piano for a while now, with no truly satisfactory results. I finally caved and bought an external USB soundcard with stereo input, and I cannot possibly be more pleased with the results! So look out, there will be more piano adventures in the near future!!


003 / 365: Hey, look! Finished wristwarmers! Since I have tiny baby wrists, I would make them smaller the next time I knit this pattern, but I'm quite pleased with how they turned out ^_^



004 / 365: Sketching mascot illustrations for a new J-pop/rock music project I'm starting with a friend.


005 / 365: Having a good way to record my piano playing has inspired me to practice more, because now I can actually use some of my own instrumentals for my cover songs!


006 / 365: ARRRR!! It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Ahoy ye landlubbers, Captain Totoro really likes pink floral headscarves - pirates can be frilly too!


007 / 365: This sign makes me giggle every time I walk past, because the I parse it in my head is: "Neighbors? Please, no. Dogs please!" As if the sign writer really hates neighbors and would prefer dogs instead...


And that is my week in a nutshell!! Let's hope I can keep this up ^_^ And I hope you all have a lovely sparkle-filled upcoming week

Cover ~ Aoi Teshima/Tales from Earthsea "Teru no Uta"

I've always found the music in Studio Ghibli movies to be among the best soundtracks I've heard, and Tales from Earthsea did not disappoint. "Teru no Uta" is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity, particularly when pared down to a single piano accompaniment. I cannot ever hope to match Aoi Teshima's beautiful rendition, but the song moved me so much I was compelled to make my own cover of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

"Teru no Uta" (Teru's Song)
Original by: Aoi Teshima for Studio Ghibli Tales from Earthsea

~ COVER ~
Vocals + Piano: Kyttyee (http://www.youtube.com/KyttyeeChii)

Feel free to use these lyrics/mp3 if you enjoyed them! Just please make sure to credit properly and include a link back to this video ^_^

***************************************************

~ MP3: https://soundcloud.com/kyttyee/aoi-teshima-tales-from
Alt: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/7800en1blit9r7s/Teru_no_Uta_[Kyttyee].mp3

Outfit Post ~ Waltzing in the Park

The Midwest Lolita Megameet was a couple of weekends of ago, and it was an absolutely fun time! We were in a new location this year, and I think it overall worked out pretty nicely. The weather was lovely, and it seemed like everyone had a good time.

JSK: Innocent World
Bolero: Baby the Stars Shine Bright
Necklace: Chocomint
Shoes: DreamV

And here's some bonus photos of our frilly security detail putting up some gummy bear duct tape boundaries for our picnic area!

Blobtoon #19 ~ Bon Odori!

I went to the local Mitsuwa's Bon Festival for the first time in a couple of years, with a few of my friends who I met through Lolita, and had such a blast! We entered the yukata and cosplay photo contest, ate shaved ice and takoyaki, and best of all, we all actually joined in the dance!! \(^o^)/

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Blobtoon #18 ~ Puddle Stompin'

I'm siiiiiii~~~ngin' in the rain...

Rain always reminds me of yellow rain hats. I never had an actual rain hat, but I did have a hat of similar shape and color as part of my school uniform in Japan, and it always reminds me of walking to and from school. And that time that a big black dog chased me and I tried to fend it off with my Hello Kitty umbrella. Good thing I was a fast sprinter back when I was little...

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Outfit Post ~ Christmas at Any Time

Skirt: Baby the Stars Shine Bright
Bolero: Bodyline
Boots: Jelly Bean
Necklace: KumaCrafts

Blobtoon #17 ~ Public Transportation ~_~

The bus I ride regularly to rehearsals has been super-crowded lately, for reasons I have yet to figure out. Also, I am too short to hold onto the overhead bars/straps, and just tall enough for everyone's backpack/bag to be the right height for whacking me in the face. YAY X)

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Blobtoon #16 ~ TraLaLaLaLaaaa!

I've been spending more time doing musical things lately (before tech week for Coppelia took over my life), and really been enjoying it a lot. I've bought myself a pink ukulele and learned to play it, and recently come up with my own piano + vocal arrangements of a couple of songs, as well as guitar + vocal arrangements for some others. And of course one or two with the ukulele (although I sure wish it would stay in tune better). Yay music!

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Blobtoon #15 ~ How Do I Into Apartments?

I had forgotten how much I hate apartment-hunting, since I've lived in the same one for a couple years now. But now I need a new one, and once again, the painful process ensues T_T

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Boi~oi~oi~oi~oing...

Our second exercise in children's illustration was the creation of transformation books. These are simple 3-page books built around the concept of [equilibrium --> disequilibrium --> equilibrium].

This was directly after the stenciling exercise, so we were instructed to make use of that technique to some extent in the creation of our books.

When we presented our books to the class, we did it with sound effects for each page, rather than using words to describe/tell the story. So I will proceed to attempt a recreation of my sound effects through text here!

1. Boing ... Boing ... Boing ... Boing ... Boing ...

2. Boingboingboingboingboingboingboingboing... ... HMM?

3. BoingBOING! BoingBOING! BoingBOING! BoingBOING! BoingBOING!

I definitely had a lot of fun making this little book. Also, it's my first book! Haha the sound of that feels a little funny to say ^_^

Blobtoon #14 ~ In a Manatee State of Mind

Oh, to be a manatee... Spending my days floating up and down, napping, and eating seaweed off other manatees' backs... Actually, I just think manatees are really cute and lovable o(*w*)o

Copic Sketch + Multiliner

Cover ~ AKB48/Team Surprise "Suiyoubi no Alice"

This song and its corresponding official MV are just too cute. I'm sure the fact they're all wearing exactly my sort of fashion helps. As I was listening to it, a video idea just popped up in my head, so I decided to try and make it! My living space is not ideal for this, but it worked reasonably enough. All the choreography is my own, although the necklace bit was inspired by the original video.

I originally did my usual karaoke-style cover for this song, but Youtube picked it out for muting. So I decided I would accept the challenge of actually playing my own backing track. The instrumental was a challenge to make, since it involved figuring out by ear how to play all the parts myself. It's simpler than the original instrumental, but given that it's my first time attempting this sort of thing, I'm reasonably pleased with it. It has separate piano, strings, and bass sounds (all played on an electronic keyboard). With more practice, I might even get better at learning things by ear!

"Suiyoubi no Alice" (Wednesday Alice)
Original by: AKB48 Team Surprise (Minegishi, Watanabe, Shimazaki, Matsui R., Sashihara)

~ COVER ~
Vocals + Synth: Kyttyee (http://www.youtube.com/KyttyeeChii)

Feel free to use these lyrics/mp3 if you enjoyed them! Just please make sure to credit properly and include a link back to this video ^_^

***************************************************

~ MP3: https://soundcloud.com/kyttyee/akb48team-surprise-suiyoubi-no-alice-kyttyee-cover
Alt: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/p3u23htg0rp78r6/Suiyoubi_no_Alice_[Kyttyee_COVER].mp3

Stencillation!

Over the past couple of months, I've been taking a children's book illustration class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). It was taught by Laura Montenegro, who is absolutely wonderful. We did a different exercise every week targeted at helping us become more expressive artists and to introduce us to mediums we might not have thought to use before. Now that the class is done and all the work has been turned back to us, I just wanted to share some of the artwork I did with everyone ^_^

This exercise was all about stenciling with cut/torn paper and tempera paint.

As I soon found out, the patterns I used for stencils actually ended up being really beautiful as well. I particularly like how my little multi-slit pattern turned out in the end.