Progress

So normally what I do is I wait until a costume is done and then I post the progress and everything behind it. But I really want to keep active with this blog. And if I wait until it's done, I won't make posts all that often. So what I decided to do now is post my progress as I come along, so I can be more active here.


Amanda progress. Cut and styled the wig. This was the first time I really got the chance to use thinning sheers with a wig. The scarf needs a bit of working on, I need to fix it up a bit before I call it finished.


The hood and trim for Miku. The hood pattern was something free I found online, while the collar had to be drafted myself. I was a little unsure of how to do it, so I sort of winged it and I'm happy with how it came out. The most tedious process was the stitching detail along the hood. It wasn't hard it was just time consuming. But I'm happy with the result.


The plush for Miku, on her head. The plush was stuffed a bit too much, so I had to take a good deal out from the body so it could sit right under the hood.


And of course the apron. I was really happy with the shape of it, getting it how I wanted. I still need to add the embroidery along it. I haven't done embroidery before, so it'll be an interesting sort of experiment.

Cosplay Meme

For fun, I decided to post this cosplay meme that I found on Deviantart. Still working on various things!

Projects 2010-2011

It's been super busy getting back from Otakon and then starting school. So I'll try and keep up as much as I can. I never really took the time to write up what I thought about Otakon, maybe I'll get to that eventually, but it feels a little too late now. I might try and keep up with that more with upcoming cons, but for now I can at least sort of showcase my costumes.

Part of this counts still in 2010, so I'll keep using the 2010 tag until 2011 hits. I still have a con in 2010 anyway. So far this year (and next) I plan on going to AUSA, Katsucon and Zenkaikon. I'd like to make it to Tekkoshocon but we'll see about that. And I have no definite plans for a summer con yet.

As for what I plan on wearing. At the moment I'm still working out what I want to wear where. But so far this is what I plan on making.


From left to right: Miku (Vocaloid: Project Diva 2, Amanda: MGS Peacewalker & Sister Teodora: Assassins Creed 2)

Teodora will be the most challenging, so we'll see how this goes!

Side Project: Helsingard

This is probably the fastest I've ever completed a project. I had basically two days to get this done. While I worked through the first day, I spent all night of the next night to get it done. But I'm really happy with the results.

I used anti pill fleece much like I did with the previous two. And this was the first time I had to make these half circle shapes. I used some techniques from Metorid Hat to help me get the half circle shape that I really needed. Not much else I can really say about this plush, other then I was tremendously happy when I finished with it.

This version of Helsingard is from the upcoming animated feature Atomic Robo: Last Stop. It was made for Baltimore Comic Con and will be raffled off.

Finished

Side Project: Metal Gear Rex

While waiting for Otakon to get here, I decided to try and make as many plushys as I could, to help get some extra income. In between MK.II's I decided to make a new Metal Gear. Because Metal Gear Solid is my favorite out of all the games in the series, I decided I had to make Rex. Rex's design was really easy to figure out when drafting a pattern for. Basic geometric shapes. But it was far more complicated then MK.II when it came to sewing and details. There were more detail to worry about and to figure out when attaching everything. Rex is also smaller then MK.II by a few inches. MK.II is also wider.

But overall I'm really pleased with the results in the end. Rex turned out really nice. I was even more surprised when I was able to get him to stand up. I didn't think I'd be able to, because of how thin his legs are. But it worked out really nicely. The only thing I think I want to fix in the second version is to figure out something better for the rail gun. What I have now is alright, but it's really, really basic. Maybe I can find a better way to translate the gun into plush shape.

Progress: Head


Progress: Body


Progress: Body + Legs


Finished

Side Project: MK.ll

So I've been trying to get into bringing some kind of prop to go with my cosplays, mostly because it's easier to pose with if you have one, and it makes things just a bit more interesting. Sadly I tend to struggle with posing, I run out of ideas or can't think of So I decided to make a plushy to go with my Sweet Snake Otacon cosplay. The plush adds a bit more to the cuteness factor of the cosplay, and I'll have something to pose with. This was my first time making a Plushy, so it was quite the adventure. But with some help and advice I was able to get it down pat and I'm very pleased with the results. It was a fun little experiment and now I have a cute prop to go with my costume.

The material is anti-pill fleece. It's really soft, the spare fabric I almost wanted to use as a blanket. The eyes are buttons and the arm has a wire inside to pose and move the arm. The feet have little buttons to represent the wheels but I'm thinking for later versions I might not include them. Those buttons specifically were a bit expensive.

Vers. 1 progress


Vers. 1



Vers. 2 completed

With this one I added a stitching detail to the body, to give it a little more definition and detail.

Eileen Galvin (party dress variant)

I had done Eileen previously for a con, but just her regular daytime outfit. A friend of mine asked me to be her Eileen to her Henry so of course I wanted to. Plus, Silent Hill 4 is probably one of my favorite Silent Hill games, next to 3. So after that, I decided I was going to make her party dress. Normally I make these kind of posts BEFORE a con but because of the nature of the costume and needing help with it, I had to wait till after Otakon until I could finish this up.

This was probably the most reveling costume I had ever made. Which isn't a terrible thing, but just not something I was used to. A lot of side boob action going on. The dress was mostly constructed from patterns I had laying around, the top found and modified. The bodice was a little difficult because I sort of had to construct it on my own, and the fit was off. It was a lot of me trying to fit it and refit it, which is always a little irritating. The fit is still a little loose, but I don't think is too noticeable.

The fun part was getting the makeup to look all beat up. I had never really done that kind of make up before (I'm generally not that experienced in anything more then trying to make my skin look even and decent) so it was a fun little experiment. The make up used is just this cheep Halloween stuff that I found on the internet, and me playing around with it and looking up tutorials. I had a lot of really helpful advice for it to help improve what I have, which was awesome.

For the progress shots I have, the hardest part was trying to bandage myself up. Thankfully for the con I'll have friends to help me do that. It's a little awkward to do everything one handed. Unfortunately I couldn't do the makeup for the numbers written on her back by myself, my arms just don't bend that way. So for Otakon I'll have to have someone do it for me. The makeup is actually fairly easy to do and I have confidence in my friends in getting it done.

For her purse, I really lucked out and found a purse at a vintage store. I covered in the leftover fabric from my dress and I had a prop and something to carry all my stuff in which is even better in this outfit. The worst part? Probably the shoes. My feet were pretty sore after all of that. But the makeup was really surprisingly resilient. It was still on even after the heat and walking around. What was a bit funny though was walking into a bathroom and having a woman stare at me. Well probably not too funny, she probably thought I was actually hurt. But thankfully the make up washed off pretty easily, except for the stuff on my back I couldn't reach. Had to wait until that faded off.

Progress
Dress


Makeup Test


Finished