Rydia Wig and General Head Progress

So the constant struggle with this costume is to decide which version to do. The classic Amano concept art version or the DS Re-release version. I still haven't decided but I needed to start working and since this week is the week of giving good cosplay head (lawls) then I decided to start. At this rate I'll have both versions >.<. So without any further ado:

General process here:

Starting with the feathers, the largest feather was an after Christmas sale find at Michaels. I painted a black feather gold with gold leaf for the second feather. The third non feather thing was a fake flower arrangement I attacked with gold spray paint back when I was doing Lenna. I love gold.

The flower is a clip I got at Claire's last September as part of a 10 for $10 deal. It was an odd shade of green and involved feathers and rhinestones. Not something I'd actually wear outside of costume mind you. So I added gold leaves from the fore mentioned flower arrangement, tipped the blossom with gold leaf and glued on a once white, now red rose also edged in gold.

The crown is foam and hot glue spray painted gold. I glued on green beads as the jewels, and attacked to two pins that hook to m hair under the wig.

As for the wig, I haven't done anything to it. I saved this beauty from my friend Stephanie who didn't love it as I love it.

So that begins Rydia! Lets see if this weekend between apartment hunting, bike riding, and website updates I can get some more progress on at least one of my costumes done!

Psyduck Headband

Whoa! Two progress posts in one night?! Crazy... guess I got off my lazy ass.

So this is quick... ribbon tied around the forehead to meet a hair comb in back with three hot glued feathers and a cute bow in the same ribbon. This creates the feather's on Psyduck's head and gives it a cute flapper look! I hope it's more flapper than cliche cartoon indian >.>.

Sophitia's Hair Clip (Do Da Diddy)

So as most of you know with Soul Calibur if you're not actively playing the game and pausing alot (which I'm not) then you have one basic reference photo. In this case:
Which is great for almost every other aspect of the costume... but what is up with that hair clip?! From this I could deduct that it is silver and has three things jutting from it. Word...

So I searched teh googles and found some fan art...
Okay... still have no clue what to do. So when I don't know what something look likes... I MAKE SHIT UP. So for this one I channeled all my own creative energies I had in this current point of the day (which honestly wasn't much) and I took things I already owned in my craft arsenal.

First was the silver glitter leaves, I chose these because I could build the look of the three silver jutting items and they seemed Grecian (leaves and all), they were also feather shaped. I edged the leaves with gold leaf to have them translate better to the next piece.
Then I added a pink piece of molded plastic leftover from god knows what, I painted the top gold with gold leaf (I use so much of this stuff I'm going to get cancer one day).
Then a blue glass bead to pull from the other blue details in the ensemble. I aged the bead with more gold leaf to give it a battle scorn look.
Glued it all together and then glued on a hair comb and voila!

Pictured on my brand new wig bought for the costume. It was super cheap (less than $20) and it's so soft, thick and beautiful! I got really lucky. The wig is un-styled, I just braided it really quickly and fastened with a flower since I have ONE ponytail holder to my name now.

Psyduck Progress

I'm trying this new thing where I take more photos of my costumes while in progress and take more detailed records of how I make them. Here goes!

Before I dive into today's project, here is the original design by Katherine Stocking (Cosplay Pirates and Best Friend)
It's adorable right?! I don't plan on deviating much from this design other than the wig. I'm opting for a more flapper feel to go with the head band so a short blonde bob wig.

So today I started at the bottom with Psyduck: the shoes.

I began with an old pair of gold flats I loved to death but they were starting to look rough. Because they were still comfortable and I'm a fan of recycling and cutting costs with Cosplay I saved them from a trash can fate.

I started by making a pattern with construction paper then I used the pattern I created to cut out pieces of craft foam. One for the sole of the shoe and one for the top. I hot glued them onto the shoe and brought the pieces of foam together with black gaffing tape (photographer sign numero uno). I then covered the shoe and foam with a natural cotton fabric of a khaki color using hot glue (my one true love).

Here's the end result:

I chose to photograph the shoes with the fabric for the main garment. Perfect colors in my opinion.

So stay tuned for the next part of Psyduck... or any of the other costumes on my docket.

What the Hell?! Con 2011

Did the whole local con thing again this weekend. Traveled to Guilford college yesterday with some new buddies. Overall, tiny con, but it had a big heart /cliche. No really, it has a huge chairty event in the form of a geek auction that made over $800 and everyone was just awesome. Totally sweet and fun. I had a great time. I would have had more fun but I wasn't feeling very well.

I did debut Steam Punk Alice however. Go me! It's about time I finished that! So here it is ladies and gents:


This is the only decent picture I have currently but fear not! I have TWO shoots this week in this get up. One tomorrow in studio and one Friday at a local arboretum. Very excited about seeing how those pictures turn out!

After Ichibancon, before Katsucon

So here are the latest costumes added to the resume:

Here is the Tokyo Mew Mew group with me up top as Berry, and Katherine as Mint, Sydney as Ichigo.
Here is the new happy dance costume: Chii from Tsubasa Chronicles!

Also a new group with Katherine:


Not even talking about panels, our craftsmanship contest and hosting masquerade (which was awesome) the costumes were win. A major success! Now let's buckle down and focus on Katsucon.

So I'm in the maid cafe which is exciting but it's cramping my super cosplay planning style. But I have decided to make BB Hood. Maybe Maetel if I find the time. And I'm waiting on the word from Hannah to finish/make one of two costumes. So I guess we'll see what happens.

Berry & Chii

So Ichibancon is in 6 days and I am very much not ready, but I will be. I work best under pressure. The main dress for Berry is done. The only thing left is all the accessories. Which will be easy enough to knock out before the convention.

As for Chii... yeah... I start that tonight... I do have everything I need though to make it happen! Including a box full of Christmas ornaments to deck this bitch out right. I'm much more into decorating and accessories aspects of costuming so I know tonight's basic construction will be torture.

Also the projected Cosplay list is up to 37 costumes... oh dear god. 2011 should be a busy year.

I'm selling a costume: http://www.cosplay.com/marketplace/showproduct.php/product/37039/cat/500

Buy it, I'm poor. Kthanxbai.