New Apartment = NEW STUDIO

So some exciting announcements Blog readers! I just moved into my brand new apartment! I am typing this in my garage while I wait on paint to dry on Sophitia's Sword and Shoe pieces. This garage is the most amazing studio space! I've never had a place to keep all of my cosplay supplied before and a place to easily work on a multitude of different media. I can easily shift from sewing to props now! And the best part? I can keep my mess in one place!

Because of moving craziness I've been lazy about posting. But I have been working! I've been modeling as well! Check out these teasers from the Super Girl and Celes shoot!
Another excellent item of note: yesterday I was featured on the Game Informer Cos Blog! I'm feeling pretty excellent about that.

Sorry for no progress pics this time! Not entirely sure where my camera has gone with all the moving madness. Animazement is in one week though!

Sophitia's Accessories

Got alot of work done today, mostly the painting of Sophitia Accessories, which put Sophitia at almost done!

Just a teaser for now, these are the arm bands which are craft foam heated and molded over Mason jars so they'll fit on my arms right. Then painted with hammered silver spray paint, blue acrylic, and puff paint. The jewel was found at Michael's in the flower arranging section. I then covered the whole thing with a clear gloss.

Sophitia's Shield

I know I haven't posted much progress but I have been making some. I actually finished a whole costume and wore it!

Here's a terrible picture for your enjoyment:

I'm of course on the left as Celes Chere, Amano styled. I brilliantly forgot my arm bands on this occasion but they are done. I'm wearing her to Animazement of course and even though she was a last minute weekend cosplay that was not at all planned. I might even be wearing her in our skit this year! Whoa now.

In other cosplay news I'm FINALLY making headway to finish Sophitia. Here's her most excellent shield.

Now everyone that knows me knows I am not a prop master. I tend to avoid costumes with props. I did have to enlist my family for this one. I needed the help, her costume just started intimidating me with all it's armor pieces and props. So my mommy came to my rescue! Have I mentioned she's the best Cosplay Mommy ever? (Which I am making the equivalent to 'Stage Mom' just not as scary). This beauty is thin plywood with spray insulation foam sprayed on top then cut to shape. We then stretched white craft foam using heat over the concoction. Mum left me to pain the shield. I used silver hammered spray paint for all the silver bits. The blue was a mixture of flat and metallic acrylic paint. The gold was painted with standard yellow gold spray paint then on top with gold metallic spray paint. Valspar makes the best stuff, it has glitter in it! I then covered the whole thing with a clear gloss.

Next up is... everything else. >.<

Celes Chere- Amano Version

I was so ahead of schedule on costumes I added a new one. Yeah, I know I'm crazy. But I found that I had everything to make it after finding some amazing sale gold brocade.

I have an obsession with brocades and patterns. I love adding just a little more detail to my costumes with fabric.

I used some of the five yards of yellow gold jersey knit I had for Psyduck and made pants and lined the vest made from the brocade. The corset is something I had in my closet and the pink belt is made from the obi of the kimono I cut up for Rydia. Recycling!

There are so many details I've added since taking this picture, including EXCELLENT boots, bias tape around the vest and others... But you'll have to wait to see the final result!

Can I Get a "HELL YEAH?!"

So I finally got off my beautiful ass and made the central piece to the entire Rydia costume.

I used a Green Pepper pattern for figure skating costumes. The leotard pattern was in two pieces but I elected not to do that and butchered the pattern to my own desires. I used olive green jersey knit which is soft and glorious!

It turned out to be alot simpler than I had in my head. Thank goodness. That is one more costume mountain made into a molehill. It fits perfectly with no adjustments. I elected not to finish the edges because the fabric won't unravel and I feel like it would look clunky with finished edges.

The straps are brought together with a gold metal wire star with jewels on either sides. The capes are also attached at the shoulder.

The gold sash was a cop out. I was going to use the same fabric I used for Lenna's sash and then realized I can't two costumes at the same time, and Katherine won't be wearing Lenna at AZ after all so I borrowed it from Lenna.


As for the capes... they're probably my favorite aspect of the costume. I used 30 yards of wired Christmas ribbon I got on sale after New Years. The base fabric is a light green crinkle fabric that is light weight and sheer. It's close to the white most people elect to use while doing this costume but without the harsh contrast. The ribbon is patterned and frankly it's pretty amazing in person.

Now left on the Rydia TO DO list:

• Arm bands for under sleeves.
  
• Thigh highs, this will require a friend to draw/paint on them while I wear them.
• Hair beads.
• Earrings.

And that ladies and gents will conclude Rydia!!

Rydia Makeup

So... I'll let this speak for itself:

Rydia's Sleeves

I have a huge stack of fabric from which to draw from for Rydia. I have collected since last fall for this costume and I've amassed quite a collection. But the fabric for these sleeves came to me while sitting in my closet.

Yes. While sitting in my closet.

I got terrible nostalgic one day and allowed myself to be floored by a green kimono in my costume collection. I made this kimono my senior year of high school. I hadn't worn it often and it wasn't very special to me. While I may say I did do a tremendous job on the stitching of the garment. The last time I wore this kimono however was the last time I spent with a good friend of mine, one of my first friends I made while attending college at Lees-McRae. Last summer she passed away.

I don't think I ever got the chance to fully mourn her. I did so in that closet last week.

While touching the fabric I was flooded with memories of her, of our time together, of her amazing strength. She was one of the few people I could always count on, and truthfully I think I took her for granted half the time.

So I took the kimono down and I cut the sleeves off. I figure if I am to put so much time, energy, and love into this costume it should hold just as many memories.

So Kasey... this is for you.

I began by cutting off the bottom edge of the sleeve. I then took spray fabric paint to the first sleeve. It literally just painted one sleeve. Don't waste your money on spray fabric paint, it's great but there isn't enough in the bottle to make it worth it. Instead I moved to using watered down acrylic paint.

I painted it nearly perfectly, I let it dry overnight. The next day I decided it was way too stiff and to my absolute stupidity I stuck it in the washer.

Needless to say, it washed completely out.

So the next day again with a blank slate I set to paint the sleeves again. This time I set the paint with heat and it wasn't nearly as stiff this time around.

I then attacked the sleeves with great vigor using a hot glue gun (out of laziness) and spray painted plastic beads. I created pretty swirly patterns to mimic the stars on Rydia's sleeves, but to put my own spin on the look. I then finished the sleeve bottom with trim.

I attached crystal like gems to each side of the sleeve and hanging stars onto the trim.

I am thrilled with the result! Here are some teasers. I also think Kasey would approve and yet think I'm completely nuts as she did.