2010 will be the year...

last modified: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 (12:06:16 PM CST)

I think most can agree that 2008-2009 were pretty awful years, with problems and struggles for everyone.

I'm excited about 2010 - it's a near year, with new goals and aspirations.

2009, for me, was hard, but I handled it well. My resolution last year was to lose 50 pounds - and I did! My goal for this year is to lose another 50 pounds. My previous starting weight was 249. My weight now is 200. My goal weight is 150 - I'm halfway there!

My Cel goal for 2009 was to cut back on my purchases to cels and art that were either 1) on my wishlist, or 2) really, really, really want more than anything else. I only updated a handful of times, but I managed to stay within budget. My cel goal for 2010 is to narrow my collection down to mainly high quality Bebop and Ah My Goddess. Of course, I'll still have my OP Escaflowne and gorgeous Gene Starwind!

My goal for 2010 is to buy my first Rilezu, as well. :3

I do have some financial goals for 2010, and have already started working on them.

I will be attending Otakon in 2010, as well as in the Artist Alley at Animazement in Raleigh. Other than cels, my hobby for 2009 morphed into a business... I've been selling geekery sculpey charms and necklaces on Etsy! NeliaTenlion.Etsy.com - it's fun, and keeps me from spending money on cels!

Regardless, I'm stoked about 2010 and think this will be a great year!

Our Life Choices

last modified: Sunday, November 22, 2009 (3:06:02 PM CST)

With so many things happening at once, it's easy to lose your bearings. Christmas is creeping up on us, and so many folks are having to twist and turn their wallets to squeeze every last drop out to make someone else they love have a great Christmas. This time last year, I lost my maternal grandfather, so this Christmas will be hard on my mom.

However, positive life changes have been happening, slowly but surely. I helped my father to purchase a new truck - With good credit and a nice deposit, we were able to get him a 2010 Silver Toyota Tacoma shortbed. It's very nice, and has relieved his knee pain caused by the old truck's clutch.

I've been fortunate to have a well blossoming Etsy store ( neliatenlion.etsy.com ) where I can create so many awesome things to make others happy.

Just a few nights ago, I made a road trip to Myrtle Beach to see Taking Back Sunday and the All American Rejects in concert - very amazing show!

In the cel world, I haven't really purchased many new goods as I've moved so many of my old cels out and on to new homes. My page has over 25K views - I'm so proud!

Regardless, things have been looking up. One of the best things to happen in the passed few days was my preordered DRAGON BOX came in (all you DBZ fans know what I'm talking about!). It sure is beautiful!

Wow, it's been too long.

last modified: Saturday, August 22, 2009 (1:52:59 PM CST)

Man, oh, man, have times been a'changin'.

The economy had kept it's wretched hands off of my family for the past couple years. While the recession and downspiral of work and currency effected everyone else, I had held my breath in hopes it wouldn't hit home.

But it did.

My mom, an independent trucker, lost her job. My Dad, a publication distributor, lost his. I've seen my Stepdad get laid off at the plant he'd worked at for 7 years - losing one week of work every month while the plant shut down. And then me. They laid off the weekend nursing shift.

When we're faced with tough decisions, we have to really lay everything out on the table. We have a better understanding and appreciation for what we have.

In the past six months or so, my gallery has gone from hundreds of cels to fifty. I still cling to my favorites; cels that will never leave my hands. They aren't just pieces of plastic; and they aren't just art. They're memories. They're emotions and reflections, and when I look at some of them, I can remember how my heart raced when I placed that final bid, and the relief I had when I saw those words, "You won this item!"

Collecting is nostalgic for me. I haven't purchased a nice, new cel in many months. I've been browsing more than bidding, and keeping my eyes peeled for those higher quality cels. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on lesser quality cels, I've been putting that money back for the one or two gems a year I come across.

I promise, though, that when I find and buy the next gem, I will share it with the world. :)

It's kind of nice...

last modified: Monday, May 18, 2009 (11:39:39 AM CST)

Although it hurts to say goodbye to so many cels, I've managed to get my cel books from 4 down to just 2. My goal is to have 1 cel book with 24 of my favorite characters and scenes from AMG, Bebop, Gunsmith Cats, and a couple others. I haven't purchased a cel in quite some time (actually, scratch that, I was able to get a "trade" cel of Belldandy that I'll be adding soon; along with a backorder of celga items).

I don't know, I feel as if I've reached a higher level in cel collecting. Instead of, "OHMANPRETTY *clickbuy*" I'm pacing myself and really thinking about what I want and what I don't want. Cels and art that I could do without, while focusing on the higher end items.

Anyways, that's what's been up. I'll be attending Animazement and Otakon as an artist this year, so it'll be fun!

Long time no update!

last modified: Monday, April 27, 2009 (4:08:34 PM CST)

Yeah, it's been a while, huh? Since January?

I've taken a step back from collecting, so if you see my gallery, you'll notice my numbers of cels dwindling. I've had to step up and become more responsible, which includes having to stop collecting. I have not purchased a cel in months.

The good news is that I have a backlog of commissioned pieces that I've uploaded, as well as a lot of folks in the community are happy - so far I've given almost 20 pieces of art new homes. It's a good feeling to make others happy.

The lesser news is that my job has cut back on hours and pay, so my urge to give my cels new homes is a reality in order to cover the expenses of survival.

Cest la vie.

I WILL be at Animazement (con in Raleigh, NC) next month selling my charms and art. :) Don't think I've ever seen cel dealers there. :\ I will be getting some things signed, however!

But yes. Things have been decent.

Surprises while cleaning!

last modified: Thursday, January 29, 2009 (5:01:00 PM CST)

Ah!

It's been a while since a cel update! I have some items from my deputy that were purchased a good six months ago that I'm finally getting around to uploading. I've also been cleaning my house and finding cel boxes -everywhere- (places I had stored them to keep them out of light, etc.) with tons of sketches and cels in them! So expect some updates!

I also fixed the thumbs on some images I forgot to switch over to the new format. I had added banners at the tops of pages, so that's another new quirk in my gallery. :)

I'll be updating over the next couple of days with cels and sketches from Escaflowne (2), Ah My Goddess movie (2), Ah My Goddess TV (2), Sailor Moon (1), and maybe others!

I've been buying here and there - cheap things. The prices of cels really seems to keep coming down... I guess it makes me glad that I've never spent over $500 on a cel. 8|

Bang.

last modified: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 (8:15:27 PM CST)

Ladies and gentlemen, a surprise and well welcomed addition to my gallery:

http://stargazersdelight.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=262678

"Bang."

I hope you enjoy. = )

Your hands shake.

last modified: Sunday, November 30, 2008 (8:39:35 PM CST)

Your heart is pounding in your ears.

With every click of "Refresh", it seems to get louder.

Your pupils dilate.

Faster, you refresh, checking the "High Bid" words frantically.

Your breathing is stopped as you see 28 seconds left.

You know that this may be the last one you see for a long time. You remind yourself that out of 5 years of collecting, you've only seen a handful of this series.

Click. Refresh. Click. Refresh.

11 seconds.

You curse, seeing the bid jump. With trembling hands, you enter your absolute max.

5 seconds.

You hold your breath in for that last mouse click, and with a heave of exhale, and a gasp, you see it.

"You won the item in the last few minutes. Congrats, you beat the competition!"

You nearly scream. You call or IM someone. A wave of joy rushes every nerve and you can't believe you won for under $100.

You realize that it's been a long, long time since you've felt this way about this hobby. You're happy again.

Thanksgiving update.

last modified: Monday, November 24, 2008 (11:43:55 AM CST)

Well, I just want to say thanks to all the nice emails and comments I got on my last post. I've been doing a lot of thinking, and after talking to a couple of folks, realized that I'm NOT going to make everyone happy. This hobby, like any other, has competition and drama. My best bet is to just sit back and watch the community. :) Like I said, I'm not going to be commenting, but I will be here, updating, and collecting.

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I want to say what I am thankful for. My biggest gratitude is to my Dad, who has single handedly taken care of me all these years, and I'll never forget that. I'm thankful for my job and the stroke victim I take care of, John, who has brought a sense of pride to my life. I'm thankful for my boyfriend, who has stuck with me for over four years. I'm thankful to be able to enjoy this hobby with some very nice people that I've met along the way - Wendy, Kittens, Tex-Chan, WC, Sensei, RF, and Jaug (among many others) who have held this community together with their kindness.

I'm also thankful for the update I'll be having this week, and have had the last few days!

I've got a rather large update scheduled for this week! Not only do I have a Cowboy Bebop wishlist cel coming soon (one hint: "Bang."), but also have quite a few newly scanned pieces that will be a wonderful addition to the gallery:
- TONS of Izumo sketches that are gorgeous!
- Many Ah My Goddess TV sketches including Mahler, Urd, and Belldandy
- Cowboy Bebop cel
- Ah My Goddess movie sketches including Infected Holy Bell and Belldandy
- Sailor Moon sketch

And I've already updated:
- Sailor Moon with a precious cel of Usagi and Chibi Usa
- Ah My Goddess movie with a funny cel of Keiichi and Urd
- Ah My Goddess movie sketches with two pieces of Peorth
- Ah My Goddess TV with a sketch of Urd and the lucky cat! XD

So, I hope y'all enjoy this Thanksgiving update, and happy cel hunting!!

Eggshells.

last modified: Saturday, November 08, 2008 (10:12:20 AM CST)

I'm sick of walking on them. So many in this community are so touchy and dramatic, it's hard to even talk to people without them taking what you say the wrong way.

I'm just going to keep my eye out for Bebop and AMG cels. Otherwise, I'm done commenting and actively participating. I'm still sharing my cels here, because this community isn't the only one that looks at my cels - real life friends and family do, as well.

I recently purchased my biggest AMG wishlist, and that's exciting. It's been a week to date, so I'm nervous to get it.

I also was very politically active this go around, so that was a time-consuming change of pace!

I also got a haircut, which is all short and cute.

Annnd, I think that's it.

Site revamp

last modified: Sunday, October 12, 2008 (10:25:01 AM CST)

Hi all!

Updated yesterday with a few sketches, and I have more to come!

Also, please take a moment to run by my new gallery looks! I revamped the entire site, including adding new thumbnails, new headers, new background, and new information and banners at the tops of pages!

A long and grueling process, but I'm very pleased with how my gallery looks, now. :3

I'm still on the lookout for some cels from various series:
- SKETCHES from X/CLAMP
- Hanken sketches or cels
- And as always, Ah My Goddess and Cowboy Bebop!

Just curious...

last modified: Friday, August 15, 2008 (10:45:30 PM CST)

Is it bad to separate a cel and sketch from eachother? Isn't it one of the biggest taboos in this hobby?

Single Cel Update

last modified: Monday, June 02, 2008 (4:27:12 PM CST)

Things have been decent lately. = )

I've been taking my medicine like I'm supposed to, as well as kind of 'taking it easy'. I have a cardio appointment on the 4th, and an echo at the end of this month (yay ._. ). Other than that, I'm still hanging in there. ^_^

I'm pretty excited - I really haven't bought any new cels in a few months. I had some from Y!J that were purchased back at the beginning of the year that were shipped a couple months back, and uploaded, but not any 'new ones'.

So, I'm pleased to announce, I picked up a gorgeous new cel. It was actually cheaper than most of my other cels, and it's my first Mandarake cel. :)

I present, Cowboy Bebop Movie Spike!:
http://stargazersdelight.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=243194

So, I hope you all enjoy. = ) I'm very pleased with him. Like I mentioned, I actually don't avidly collect, but a friend of mine mentioned this cel to me, and I promised myself I would only get him if he went for under a certain amount, and he did.

Otherwise, I'm slinking back to the dungeon of my life. I hope you guys are doing great and enjoy the single-cel update. :) I'll be adding original art later, as always.

Today's my birthday!

last modified: Sunday, April 06, 2008 (4:32:28 AM CST)

Ah, the big 21!

I'm leaving for Washington DC in a few minutes. :) Ah, a few days of peace and quiet!

My art is a feature on Kotaku?!

last modified: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 (3:32:34 PM CST)

BODY art, that is!

Typically, I've been keeping kind of here and there with cels, and still have some beauties coming in. However, I also got my first tattoo a few weeks ago.

Here is my tattoo:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/NurseNikki/Tat.png

About my first and only (so far) tattoo:
I chose the Dog with headphones from the Silent Hill 2 Dog Ending. The concept always made me happy - James (protagonist) wanders through Silent Hill with awful things happening to him, only to find out in one of the alternative endings, that there is a dog controlling everything. Silent Hill 2 is my all time favorite video game because of it's storyline, and the thought of getting not only a dog with headphones, but a dog controlling the world, made me happy. It made me smile. That's why I got it. It's about 3 inches in diameter, and cost me about $100.

Every time I look at it, it reminds me that things aren't always as bad as they might seem.

And now, it's featured on Kotaku!
http://kotaku.com/349694/ink-meets-flesh-a-gaming-tattoo-primer

How neat!! ^_^ I'm really excited about it, because I've been getting all sorts of positive feedback about it!

But yeah, that's about all that's going on, other than the two dozen or so new cels I'm waiting on arriving here.

Another Life Gone

last modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 (5:58:41 PM CST)

I hope that Heath Ledger finds peace in death.

It's unknown right now as to what's going on, or what happened with him, but it's just so, so sad.

I have The Patriot, saw The Brother's Grimm in theaters, watched Brokeback Mountain, and was just getting geared up for Dark Knight.

This is so sad, and such a waste of a wonderful life. How terrible... Sometimes lives end suddenly, when we would have never expected it.

I only pray that he was ready.

He was a master artist. May he rest in Peace.

Amazing finds

last modified: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 (3:16:56 PM CST)

After watching a temporarily deteriorating community, I've made the wrong right and attempted to get back into my hobby. As I think of the choices I make, I don't feel as bad for my mistakes, as I've compensated for them. I also watch the immense hate that is seething through this community - targeting and attack individuals, and making this community partially distasteful. But there are still wonderful collectors here who are amazing people. Gems of our community.

Enough of that.

My collecting was put on an 8 month standstill, as I began a new job, kept my other job, and attended school full time. Now that I'm accustom to my new schedule, I've had the time and resources to purchase artwork once again. This has been helped by a steady financial situation, along with the affordable Ah! My Goddess and Cowboy Bebop cels that have been rising from the shadows of books and boxes.

I've been fortunate enough to acquire some amazing new cels! They are in transit and ready to be added to a wonderful new home. They were all so reasonably priced - which presents the question, are the prices of cels decreasing?

I mean, think about it. Two years ago, Ah! My Goddess cels fetched whopping prices. Cowboy Bebop were ridiculous - even the tiniest shots were obscene. But now, I've gotten a perfect Faye for below $200.

What is the reason for this price decline? Are there not as many collectors? Are the series just not as popular? Are CG shows taking over, and cels simply becoming "a thing of the past"? Just something to ponder.

Anyways, among the new darlings are:
Ah My Goddess:
- Sketch of Infected Holy Bell and Belldandy
- Young Urd
- Infected Holy Bell
- 4 cels of Peorth
- Belldandy with wings

Cowboy Bebop:
- Gorgeous angry Faye
- Even more gorgeous wet Faye
- Katerina (first episode bounty)

I absolutely can't wait to get them! I've also talked to Sletia, and I've considered just putting the "Coming Soon" cels in their respective categories, then simply updating them whenever the time comes.

Perhaps, perhaps...

Anyways, this broadcast is about over. I hope that everyone has a wonderful, safe, and fun holiday season!

Getting Better + Happy Updates!

last modified: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 (2:35:43 PM CST)

Jeez, I've been kind of in-and-out with cels lately. I've been really busy with a few things.

One, well, I just got my home in my name. :) I'm officially a homeowner, so that is really exciting. A lot of adults older than me can't even say that. Things are looking up in that front, because I got a Home Equity Loan to pay off my debt, my Dad's debt, and put some cash back. My monthly payments? $150. I can definetly double up and get the loan paid off in 7 years. :) It's more than perfect - everything just seems to be falling into place. I can also help my boyfriend, who's been struggling with various things since his father passed away last February.

I was very, VERY sick last week with bronchitis and laryngitis, but thank goodness that's over with. I was bedridden, but now I'm definetly better - I'm actually vacationing in Ohio right now, with my boyfriend (Spacenoid's Delight). I've had some time to work on some artwork of my own, which makes me feel 110% better. ^_^

I'm happy with my recent update of original art aquisitions. Ecthelian is an artist on DeviantArt who has done a few pieces for me, and is definetly one of my favorite artists to commission. Everything she has created has been more than perfect in my eyes. :) Please take a peek at Original Art section if you can!

On the cel frontier, I'm proud to say that I will soon be owning some absolute DREAM cels - one of which is a perfect cel of Ein from Bebop, Belldandy crying in her goddess outfit from the end of the AMG movie, Faye pointing her gun at Spike from the last episode of Bebop, sexy Peorth, and a few others. :)

In anime, I'll be attending Otakon AND Animazement this year, which is exciting. I'll have plenty of cash to get some cels, and hopefully be able to meet more RSers. I atteneded the RS Meet last year at Otakon and met some really cool folks. :)

I saw Eternal's Weblog, which I recommend everyone reading. It's really good, and points out some stuff that needed to be addressed. It's a problem with no real solution, but still, it's something to ponder over. :)

Chit-Chat

last modified: Sunday, September 18, 2005 (10:42:20 PM CST)

I guess this is like a journal, eh? :) Well, I guess I'd have to just talk about cels here...

I signed up for Rinkya, and purchased a Hitomi movie cel, which was really nice. I love her hair. I also sent the first of two payments for two Ah My Goddess cels (both Belldandy), and put two other cels on hold (Holy Bell and Peorth). Then I got to talking to Delia Noonchester about her missing Ah My Goddess cels - I saw her and met her at Otakon, and she told me about her stolen AMG cels. = ( So, I told her I'd keep an eye out. When browsing, I saw she's having discounts on her cels, so I made an offer for an OVA Hitomi. Hot dang, she let me have it for SUCH an affordable price! Such an awesome person. :)

Otherwise, my boyfriend's started getting into cels, and has ordered himself some Gundam X cels which he's allowing me to post in my gallery.

I honestly can't wait to see these new Ah My Goddess movie cels. I just know they'll be gorgeous!