Friday, September 30, 2016

Childhood's Despair, Girlhood's Rondo

Have I not been gone for too long? I have indeed. I have been quite taken by school (and not in the entranced, beautiful way!). As part of an assignment, we had to write a short, at most two-page-long story. I feel that what I've made has a charm that would suit this blog just fine, and maybe you would enjoy. It is somewhat of an extension of my previous story/poem "Alice Under The Lantern", and I feel that it reflects what I wanted to achieve initially more successfully.
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Alice stands under a lantern. The big clock in the sky is talking to her in ticks, maybe it’s morse, she doesn’t know. She doesn't like it very much but she keeps waiting. She knows Mr.Rabbit will come for her if she's patient. She keeps waiting.

Alice sits under a lantern. The night is cold and the floor is damp and the moths are swirling. Swirling around the moon, also called "the lightbulb overhead". She forgot to wear her coat again, and she thinks she should have brought it with her tonight. She thinks of Mr.Rabbit’s coat while she waits, looking at the moths overhead. They kiss the moon and then fall dead.

Alice is only so many years old. To some she's a youngster, to some she's getting old. She's had a long life compared to others, short life compared to more. The clock doesn’t care, he’s on his merry way. Time doesn’t matter to him, does it to her? Alice waits.

Alice swings her feet next to the lantern. She can't see her reflection lost inside the black-backwater mirror. She should have worn glasses, like Mr.Rabbit does. But then her eyes, would they not be lost? She thinks of Mr.Rabbit’s rabbit coat. And here I thought wolves wore sheepskin, not angora fur.

Hi, Miss. Alice. What do you look at with those glass-like eyes of yours?” It's already past midnight. Passed even, is Cinderella's time for bed. The clock has stricken, and won’t for another long, long time. I raise my voice to her cold ears, but Alice would rather hear a step… Of two drunkards along their way. I can't sing to her anymore, my voice has grown tired. “Still you do not answer” I once was all she desired.
The days I spent with you have been broken and thrown by someone else. What ever-river-black fantasy lies inside those blue pearls? Ever inside here, ever asinine, ever childish heart. “Hi, Miss. Alice.” Isn’t he such a dream? Ever late, ever fickle and forgetful, and Alice doesn’t seem to care. Inside her blue starlit threads, the current time’s darkness is at a loss of words.

The light is morose and morbid, but nobody knows that anymore. The only words from said darkness come out screeching and coarse. “Who is that annoying person?” she wonders. And the voice is not mine. But in the light she can’t really see, the cat that’s speaking over me.

She stands under a lantern. The big cat in the sky is talking to her in clicks of his tongue, maybe it’s morse, she doesn’t know. She doesn't like it very much but she keeps waiting. She knows Mr.Rabbit will come for her if she's patient. She has been waiting.

Hi Miss. Alice. What are you trying to hide in those honeysuckle locks of yours?” The cat doesn’t sing but he speaks. He speaks louder and clearer than me, and Alice listens... “Have they never told you you should talk to strangers? You may learn something new.” And here I thought that lions had no stripes.

“I know my favourite stranger.” And he’s the only one she sees. She knows Mr.Rabbit has come for her, that choking smell is his. She likes it very much. She has finished her waiting, now the rabbit is close.

Alice and her pet run along three pages. From white to black and blue. The rabbit and his pet run along three streets, the lights from blue to red. They run and run and run until the fine rabbit becomes a hare, and the fine Alice becomes a hag. Mr.Rabbit  is only so many years old. To some he's a youngster, to some he's getting old. To Alice…

Ever-deep inside her fruitsome heart, she’ll do the rabbit’s dance. What ever-river-black sentence lies inside those cage-like teeth? Ever inside her, ever asinine, once-upon childish metamorphose. The blue roses I gave to you are slowly turning dark red.

Toujours,
Leur Lapine

Friday, August 26, 2016

Lifestyle 365: Gorgeous Gardens!

Let us all rejoice among the flowers!

A you may have read on my previous post, I have begun taking certain prompts from Lace à la Mode's 365 Lolita Challenge, as an opportunity of sorts to get used to blogging. For today's selection, I'll be elaborating on prompts no. 180, which is to share my favourite gardens. Now, I shall restrict this to gardens that I have personally visited, because otherwise I would be doomed to indecision and longing.

My favourite gardens are some that I have visited whilst in Belgium. I have been in quite a number of beautiful gardens in my family's summer travels, like those of Schönbrunn, Charlottenburg, and Versailles. Regardless of their fame, I feel a stronger connection to these gardens and their beauty. To me, they are a real memory of my daily life, and my once-reality.

To start it off, my favourite garden would be that of the Breivelde castle. This castle is now a brasserie, and its gardens are now a public park. It is located in the town in which I used to live back in Belgium, and I would cross it on my way back home on school days whenever I felt I needed to relax and get away from the everydayness. I would sit inside of a pine tree, hidden by the needles, and just listen to music, the wind, and the footsteps.

My second favourite garden is once again, a public park. This is called the Petit Sablon or Kleine Zavel. We went through the park in a field trip for our history class, and out teacher told us something about the statue of Egmont and Horne, but I cannot remember what it was. However, a fun fact is that the Count of Egmont had his castle in the same town that the first park is located in! It is now a library in the city centre, surrounded by another lovely park that hold concerts on thursdays.

Sometimes I wonder if my admiration of foreign parks seems strange to people where it is normal to have well taken careof public areas. In my state it it very uncommon to find a well-maintained public park. If they are not tended to by those who live nearby (which in itself is quite unusual) they will be dried and dirty, and occasionally foul-smelling. Thus far I have found one park in a more touristic area that is pleasant to stroll around. It is quite small and does not have much flair or fancy, but even in its simplicity, I find it quite enjoyable. This park, sadly and much due to some ill-mannered visitors, does not make it into the list.

Now then, I hope that you may have found a way to enjoy my ramblings and reminiscences. If you ever find yourself in East Flanders (or Belgium for that matter, as it is quite small), do make a short trip to any of these parks on a day of nice weather. In case that you visit in spring, you must go to the blooming fruit trees of Hasselt!


Encore et toujours,
Lapine.




Sunday, August 14, 2016

First Lifestyle 365: Citric Designs!

Hello, my sumer flowers!



Whilst wading through a stream of Facebook posts, I came across a page that I followed quite bait of time ago: Lace a la Mode's 365 Lifestyle Lolita Challenge! Her challenge's purpose is to prompt Lolitas to take part in certain ladylike and lolitalike activities, to add a boost of lifestyle to our lives. It is a given that this suits my taste like a tailored glove, so I've decided to select whichever prompts I feel I'd enjoy and work on them! I think this may really help me as a start-up of sorts. 

Today I am tasked with #211,and my drink of choice is the Citrus Cooler, but it is not the usual Citrus Cooler cocktail that you receive from a google search (especially not the Gatorade)! It has the same name, but is a non-alcoholic drink from a local restaurant I enjoy very much. Inside it is ginger, lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, sugar, mint, and sparkling water! It has a gradient ginger-yellow to orange colour, and is perfectly sweet, sour, and refreshing.

I wanted the coord to have a fresh, summery, and whimsical vibe, and chose a muslin peach-gradient Chemise á la Reine. The dress can be easily replaced by something like Atelier Pierrot's Cantata or Trianon OP's, but I chose not to go with either of them because chiffon does not breathe as well as muslin or gauze, and I felt like that took away from the summer freshness and ease of movement.

The accessories are very cute and fruity, with heart-shaped sunglasses that resemble the drink's colour, and citric hair clips (I am glad to have found all the fruits inside the drink in a hair clip form!). I could not find mint leaves, so regular green sprout hair clips add a light-hearted feel to the look. All in all, I really enjoyed this prompt, and will definitely be doing this more times. 
What do you guys think about it? I'd be delighted to hear your opinions!



Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Today, it is my birthday.

7:30 PM

I'm going to be seventeen in thirty minutes.
Or will I have just completed my seventeenth year?

In twenty nine I hear the ticking,
but I can't hear the minuet.

At twenty five I feel my feet,
they tap as I begin to hum.

In twenty minutes I'll be older,
and the orchestra directs the time.

In his hand the baton is ticking,
and now the tenth minute arrives.

Dressed in black tie, the busybody.
The crescendo begins to rise!

I took to long to look at him,
and as I write the man yells "five!".

In 60 seconds the piece is ending,
but the next concert shall begin.

"Eighteen's too soon!" says the third second,
The second one has not yet arrived,
the first second tells me now to focus,
and the bell shall quiet all my grime!

Happy birthday.

Leur Lapine


8:01 PM

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Tenshi Auction Service Review

It has been quite some time, but for you I bring this interlude post. I am an avid online-buyer, being a Lolita, of course. However, I have never had the experience to review any of the stores I have bought from. This is due to me being both shy and not very relevant in any online community, as well as having bought from stores that have previously been reviewed, and thus it seemed unnecessary.
The description I have just given will probably make you think, "¿Then why are you reviewing Tenshi, who has been immensely reviewed?". Well, firstly I am very, very excited about what I have gotten, and wish to share it with whomever I may. Secondly, I wanted to. Thirdly, I already did it.

Now, without further ado, the review. (Mind yourselves, it is filled with lots of text.)

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Designs 14 and 15 (End!) – 15 Lolita Designs in April Challenge

Somewhere in the world, it is still April 30th!

And that means it is... ehm...  time to post the very last two designs! 

For the last designs I wanted to make a king and a queen. But I wasn't quite enjoying the queen's look, so I archived her for later, and in her stead are a pair of shoes. (Poor queen!)

The layout for this is somewhat catalogue-ish, which I am very much enjoying. The Robe du Roy JSK has a faux ermine collar and trim, along with golden tassels for a belt. The King's Blouse is not too elaborate, with three tiers of sheer lace on the sleeves, and four-button cuffs.

The Crown & Käfig shoes have golden gothic buttresses at the heel, as well as a sheer, shimmery golden ribbon. The front is shaped like a bird cage, with a door-lock buckle.

I can't believe the challenge has come to an end! I have made more completed (albeit simple) drawings this month than any other. I also developed an addiction to cotton lace (and drawing it). I'm very glad I took part in it, and hope to take part in other possible future challenges as well! Thank you very much for keeping (or putting) up with me this month!

Friday, April 29, 2016

Design 13 – Lolita 15 Designs in April Challenge

Wake up and smell the...!

Smell the procrastination. Today has been a slow day, especially considering the fact that my brain keeps believing it is Saturday, instead of Friday. It does not help that I had no classes today. The month's last Friday is always a slow day. But no matter how slow a day, it is still a day until midnight hits! What does that mean? It means I am not late! So, without further ado...

Today's design is inspired by Tikki, of Miraculous Ladybug. 

Taking into account that she is a floating, red chibi insect, I had quite a large amount of creative space. I wanted to do a subtle ladybug representation on her dress. My first draft for this design involved an embroidered "Miraculeuse" with a heart ladybug appliqué. Needless to say, it was a little too straightforward, and I could not figure out where to place it. So, instead, I used the waist ties to mimic her strange tail, and made the shape of the collar and skirt opening to be like a ladybug's wings. The spots on her head became black bow clips, and her tights have red and black circles with "LB" drawn in them, in white. 

It would have been more bug-like for her bustle/tail to be black, but I felt like I had used the red-black duo combination too much (for Antibug and Marinette). The dress is velvet, and the lace for this design is hand-drawn. Her necklace has a ladybug pattern.