The Dream Life

I was able to catch up with QuentinRyan, Warner Bros. prop replica artist who got his start from the love of none other than "The one named Sailor Moon". His newfound success has skyrocketed all at the age of 22. He is an exceptional artist, and an all around great guy.

Quentin dishes about unusual talents, his luck with love, and his new life he has to look forward to. It was my pleasure chatting with him-  so read on for the exclusive inside interview (and sneak peek at the new Sailor Moon 2013 merch)!

Lindsay Taylor (LT): Let’s go over the basics, shall we? We all want to know how you came to love Sailor Moon.

QuentinRyan (QR): I remember watching Sailor Moon with two of my childhood best friends every single day as soon school would let out. Those two childhood friend's are males also. I literally would rush home from school and we would all watch it.  As soon as I watched the first episode I was hooked. The story line behind Sailor Moon is what caught me. I had never seen a team of dominate females be in the lead the way Sailor Moon and her fellow teammates were. I was so used to an all male force, that the change is what caught me the most. I am a strong believer in equality, and in my opinion, Sailor Moon brought a balance in Anime and proved that females can do just as much as a males. Not to mention the amazing transformation sequences.

LT : Do you have a favorite character?

(QR): Sailor Pluto, hand's down! It's hard to choose, but she is my favorite.

LT: What about prop making? How’d you discover your natural ability to make such breathtaking replicas? How did that start?

(QR): It’s actually  kind of random. I stumbled across a YouTube video of Sailor Moon and after I had watched it I went on eBay to browse and see what kind's of Sailor Moon toys I could find. Well, I kind of went into shock when I saw how much they were selling for – hundreds and even thousands. So, I decided to make a brooch myself. Admittedly I wouldn't consider my first piece's masterpieces, but I taught myself over time and with more patience, and investments in higher quality materials, they grew into what they are today. Making props is an extremely time consuming business. I do everything myself. Almost all of my props are hand sculpted from a single block of clay when I first design them. Usually I sculpt a design for a new prop at least three time's before making it official. If it doesn't make me smile, I will not take a picture of it. I don't care if I sell one single prop. My goal is to make them because I love them, and I plan on making every piece I see in Sailor Moon – and then onto other things!

Flawless Sailor Moon Season 1 Compact

LT: Your hard work clearly shows, they are so beautiful. But… I’m curious, are there any other hidden talents you have I should be aware of?

(QR): This might be weird to hear for a guy, but I am extremely flexible. I could squeeze myself through the bars of a jail cell if I wanted to.

LT: On your newfound and hard earned success, what keeps you grounded?

(QR): Laughing. There isn't one day that goes by where I don't laugh at something. I'm a pretty sarcastic, joking and cut-up type of person My friends are another thing that I need more than anything else in this world when thing's get crazy or I'm extremely stressed out. Our personalities are similar, so we always laugh and joke around. I love them dearly.

LT: Can you tell me a little but more about your success in the prop industry? I know you’re working with Warner Brothers, how did this all come together?

(QR): I've been so lucky to have worked with several production companies. Most Sailor Moon fan's know of Shivnath Productions, the company who made Sailor Moon The Movie (Independent Short). Working with the director, Elana Mugdan and her crew was incredible and they are all friend's of mine after it was finished. I was first contacted and asked to make prop's for The Dark Knight Rises (2012) for the character Selina Kyle (Catwoman) and they had found me on both Google and Facebook. That is probably one of my most cherished experiences so far. Afterwards, I was contacted again directly by Warner Brothers and was asked to join the Warner Bros. Entertainment Team in December 2012 as a full time artist for on-set films. I never would have dreamed that I would have had any chance of that, but I couldn't be more excited and I accepted their offer. I didn't want to leave my business here behind, so I will always make Sailor Moon replicas and other replicas/props in my spare time.

LT: That’s a wonderful opportunity! I know you’ll do amazing things with them. We’re going to switch gears for a second, Valentine’s Day just passed, the ladies want to know if you spent the day with a special someone..?

(QR): Nope, I'm single. I gave up on love for a long time, but here recently I realized that giving up only make's life harder, so I'm just waiting for the right person to walk by me. I love romance, especially old-fashioned romance. I'm the 'lay on top of a hill, bundled up in a blanket, counting the stars at night' type of guy. I think relationship's should be something to remember and couple's should do things to look back on. I give it my all.

LT: Well, that sounds too good to be true… (Hear that girls? I’m sure there’s already a line for him somewhere) Along with finding love, What dreams do you have that you want to accomplish, or what job are you after next?

(QR): In the future I see myself doing exactly what I'm doing now. Making props for movies is what I want to do. It's something I love and it makes me happy, so I'm making a career from it. When I start working with the Warner Bros. Entertainment Team in September 2013, I will be living in Burbank, California close to their studio. I hope I can stay there permanently!

LT: Sounds like a dream. Do you have any special words for your fans who have been there from the start, and watched you gain this success?

(QR): Most definitely. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for them. Their support and love has gotten me through the hardest times of my life, and I love each and every one of them more than I can ever express in words. Their words, support and love I will cherish for the rest of my life. I love them all.

Here is a sneak peek picture of the new Sailor Moon (2013) Season Two, Moon Crystal Power brooches -- also these are the same designs for the new 2013 communication watches that will be released this month! 

There you have it!
Quentin is most definitely taking off, but he's still super active in all forms of social media (thankfully!)

Follow @MoonJustice

Something strike your fancy? Browse his Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonjustice
He's hip: http://quentinryan.tumblr.com/
Stay updated: http://www.facebook.com/moonjustice/info

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See it, Want it!: Checks & Balances

See it, Want it!: Checks & Balances: I know I tweeted that I was going to make my next blog post about Miley Cyrus but I decided to switch it up a bit and go with the Gomez. ...

This kid.

There’s no need to compare him to The Biebz. But it’s just so tempting, the comparison practically begs to be made. So we’re going to do it.

Meet Austin Mahone. 

I was at the gym, in the zone, breaking a sweat on the treadmill listening to my own music when I happened to glance at the flat screen overhead. That’s when I saw him. This kid was performing some really intense choreography that requires more than hitting the moves, it requires a certain style and confidence. When you watch him dance, you don’t get the feeling he’s counting “One… and two… and three… and four” under his breath. Austin Mahone is mastering moves with style, poise and grace and most importantly, innate rythm, all before Bieber ever even got a pair of high top Nike’s. (Swoosh)

Mahone has a pretty sick style that’s a little more urban than the Biebz and really gives him a run for his money. I mean, this kid I’d certainly say, has more swag. That’s exactly what got me to switch over from my music, to listening to the music video on the treadmill. It's his performance factor.  Big pretty eyes, nice hair, huge million dollar smile is all part of Austin’s package deal, but that’s about where it stops. 

His sound…needs to be worked on. It lacks direction. He has a great voice but the over produced quality of his songs sound like a Kidz Bop record. That’s where I shook my head, and everything fell apart. It left me kind of heart broken because I see so much potential in him!
If you pick apart pieces of Bieber and Mahone, carefully structure them back together and you’d have someone with 3X the popularity of J-Biebz alone. Take Justin's sexy lyrical style similar to Chris Brown, and give Mahone Justin’s producer, give Justin Mahone's dance execution and I see great, great things. But you can't just do that to people.

Check out Autsin’s newest music video.

Oh yeah.

Flo Rida is in there, too.

Xoxo....Jordan?

You can call her, the Gossip Girl of the Tumblr world. Just because the show has gone off does not mean that Gossip Girl is dead. Quite the contrary. This girl single handedly gives the Gossip Girl community all the Chair and Derena they can handle- and then some.
Jordan's coveted Gossip Girl blog was one of the first blogs I followed when I joined Tumblr, and i'm so glad I did (because no one can see too much of  Blake Lively's radiance, or Ed's jawline, let's just be real here).
The girl behind this blog though, is equally as fabulous.

Look at that gorge hair!

Check out what Jordan has to say on her future, fashion & fame!

Lindsay Taylor (LT):What got you into fashion?

Jordan Jex(Little J): I got into fashion when I realized it made me feel a certain way. I could go from being in the worst mood ever, to feeling completely stress free once I was surrounded by clothes. It all probably began when I was growing up, and I’d find myself being gravitated towards the clothes more than anything else in the store.

LT: Who are your biggest style inspirations? 

Little J: I have so many, but my biggest ones are along the lines of Taylor Swift, Blair Waldorf, and Kate Middleton. I just love the idea of elegance. To me, there is nothing better than a dress and a pair of tights.

LT: Do you have a favorite designer?

Little J: Right now my favorite designer is probably Betsey Johnson. I think all of the designs are extremely fun and creative.

LT: How would you describe the success you’ve had on Tumblr with your Gossip Girl blog, did it surprise you?

Little J: The success on my Gossip Girl blog was  a complete surprise. I went from blogging about my favorite show, to having thousands of people come in and make my blog a hit. I’m extremely thankful for the show inspiring me, because I don’t know what I would do without my blog(s).  

LT: What plans do you have for your future?

Little J: In the future, I plan on getting a degree in Fashion. My biggest career dream though, would definitely be working for Barbie at Mattel. I would absolutely love to be a Barbie designer and help put all of their outfits together.

LT: What’s your guilty pleasure?

Little J: Clothes wise, my guilty pleasure will always be sequins. If it has sequins, I own it. I absolutely adore glitter or anything that can shine. I think it helps you stand out, which I think Is much better than blending in with the crowd. 

If you just love all things GG and need your daily dose, I'd definitely say head on over to her blog where there's always an intense convo, shipping wars, and fashion discussions!

This was my personal Blair Waldorf minion inspired look, satin headband and all, complete with pearl earrings, Juicy Couture bracelet, and a white gold necklace. 

Did you ever have a Gossip Girl inspired look?