MeltingMirror Cosplay

  • Home
  • Costumes
  • Upcoming
  • CosBlog
  • Media
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • Costumes
  • Upcoming
  • CosBlog
  • Media
  • Contact Me

2020 Cosplay Year in Review

31/12/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Wooloo | Rohan | Cosmog
I had grand dreams of being ultra productive in 2020. I managed to crank out three new costumes for Katsucon in February (which is more than usual from me) so I was expecting to have many more completed costumes by the end of the year. Then the pandemic happened, I started working from home, and I figured, what a great time to get ahead on projects! I was going to produce the most costumes I ever. Well, it didn't work out that way. The only 3 costumes I finished were those 3 from Katsucon. I've been sporadically working on projects but never finishing them, and that's fine. Maybe I needed a break from the hustle. I think many cosplayers have felt the pressure to keep up and continue to push out new things on a regular basis. Every year when Katsu would roll around I would anticipate a friend of two burning out from the stress. Know that your health and mental well-being is a priority and if this year has shown us anything, it's that the costumes and conventions can wait. So instead I focused on creating content with costumes that I had in my closet. I finally put all my self-shooting equipment to use. I got to filming short videos and actually enjoying making Tiktoks (le gasp!). Long story short, do what makes you happy, even if that's relaxing on the couch and reliving your high school weeb days.
Picture
Photo: Paul Hillier

What I learned

  1. I will keep cosplaying even though a pandemic
  2. I never realized how much deadlines played into my motivation. The only costumes I finished were for Katsucon
  3. Hand knitting is fun, easy, and fast
  4. My makeup skills improved. Thank you beauty gurus! Get a good fluffy shadow brush for diffusing your eyeshadow
  5. Don't be afraid of extra long false lashes, they look phenomenal for dramatic characters.
  6. After reluctantly joining it last year, I realized how great Tiktok is. It's currently my favourite place on the internet
  7. Getting a great pose sometimes means taking the risk of looking like an idiot.
  8. Posing can be a workout for muscles you never knew you had
  9. If you are in costume and creating video content, record in character B-roll to use for future videos. It's a good investment of your time.
  10. I really like to hoard fabric. I bought so much new fabric for upcoming projects during quarantine but didn't really progress on those projects 
  11. Strategically use the finished edges of finicky fraying fabric instead of having to hem or serge it yourself. Work smarter, not harder ladies.
  12. I much prefer schedule social media content (Ig/Facebook) way in advance rather than dealing with the indecisiveness of figuring out what to post on the day of. It also grants you a little more perspective. Some costumes/photos I thought I posted recently, when in fact, it was over a year since I last shared something about it. 
  13. I love a nice curated and colour coded Instagram grid but it is so much work!
  14. Self shooting takes some practice but isn't as intimidating once you get the swing of things.
  15. Self shooting can also be exhausting since you are taking care of all the roles yourself, from makeup, to modelling, to photography. Then you have to edit everything afterwards.
Picture
Photo by lichonphotography.com from our shoot on Vancouver Island in January

Most Expensive - Rohan

I had to drop quite a bit of money on leather and leather crafting supplies to make the belts and the headband. I also had to order the pen heads twice since I stored the first batch somewhere and forgot them once it was time to make the costume.
Picture

Least Expensive - Wooloo

I bought chuncky yarn at a great discount to makes this cute costume. Ordering a new pair of fangs (since my last pair were old and yellowing) was almost as expensive as the yarn. All of the black under-layers are from my wardrobe.
Picture

Favourite Cosplay - Rohan

I love many things: I love Jojo, and I love being comfortable. So Rohan is my favourite costume of the year. It's rare I get to be conformable in costume and look this good. Having a character that is meant to have fun and interesting poses definitely helped me go out of my comfort zone in photoshoots. I just have to remember to channel that Jojo energy with my other costumes.
Picture
Photo by lichonphotography.com from our shoot in Victoria in January

Forward to 2021

Picture
I don't know if I'll get miraculously more productive in 2021 but I hope to put a dent in my outstanding projects as usual. I don't foresee going to any conventions until maybe the end of the year, and even that is a stretch depending of how vaccinations go.

​I just know I miss my friends, and I want to travel the world once things are safer. I also want to go on more wilderness photoshoot adventures. Hopefully in warmer weather, since I'm always freezing on my wilderness shoots.

I hope you are all staying safe and hopefully I'll see you online and maybe at a convention next year or the following year, who knows.

1 Comment

Katsucon 2020

20/2/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

Thursday

PictureWooloo
No better way to start the weekend than an early morning flight and several flight delays. After 12 hours of airports, flights, and cabs I finally made it to the Gaylord. I got my badge, grabbed some food, and had some mild hangouts.

The Thursday night is getting busier and people start the party early on the gazebo level. I might have been up for it if I wasn't so exhausted.

I was supposed to wear Wooloo on Thursday, but I was too tired. So I wore it on Saturday. I realize that 2 costumes in a day is exhausting especially if the makeup is drastically different. 

Picture
Chinese New Year decor at the MGM

Friday

PictureCosmog
On Friday I wore my new Cosmog ginjika. The headdress is nice and light and I love how the look came together. I found out later that the body jewelry was scrapping my shoulder and left a bunch of scratches. Oh well, the photos look nice and a lesson learned for next time.

I shot at the Voltaggio in the MGM with Paul Hiller and the blue colour scheme was a perfect match for this outfit.

After the shoot I ran back to the Gaylord to check out the Cosplay Met Gala. I missed the runway showcase but it was nice seeing all the costumes up close afterwards  and catching up with a few cosplayers from all over the country and abroad.

I checked out Anna Fischer's cool shooting setup on one of her beds in her room. It's impressive what you can do with some fabric and cheap lights.

I changed out of the costume for the rest of the day and just spent my time visiting friends,

Saturday

PictureRohan - Jojo
At long last I cosplayed from JOJO. I wore Rohan for most of the day since it's such a comfy costume. I shot with Dangrr Doll at the lobby bar at the MGM. I can't wait to share those photos. I did a lot of unintentional core exercises posing for those pics.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon helping Dangrr and co setup a full flower arch and tea table set. It was beautiful. I also helped take pics of all the Fire Emblem characters - on everyone else's phones rather than my own.

I switched in Wooloo briefly to wander the con floor to see friends and snap some hall shots. I was in it for maybe 2 hours before I changed out of it. It's comfy but heavy and warm.

Sunday

PictureRohan - Jojo - Vers.2 with more makeup
I wore Rohan again but with some different makekup. Gotta accentuate those Jojo lines. I shot with Elemental Photography this time around on the Gazebo level. Again I engaged my core for the shoot. I then helped out Elemental with lighting her shoot with Sarcasm-hime. I spent the rest of the day trying to see all the people I missed during the rest of the con.

The Sunday of Katsu is getting busier as well. Usually it would die down after 2pm but there were still lots of people around and at the Gazebo into the night.

It was my first time staying the Sunday night and I think I will keep doing that for future years. I also went to see Sonic with friends. Was it good? It was ok. Not worth the $20USD movie ticket though. I think I would have been satisfied with a non-HD viewing.

Monday

I've been going to Katsu for 7 years and this is the first year I actually got to see the city. We went to the museums at the Washington mall. The weather was great and the exhibits were fun. They were surprisingly dusty and especially crowded because it was a holiday.

I only run into slight delays getting home. I made it home after midnight and had work the next day. I do not recommend it. 

Overall Katsu was a blast and bringing comfier costumes made it more enjoyable.
0 Comments

2019 Cosplay Year in review

30/12/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
| Atalanta - Fate | Allura - Voltron | Korra - Book 4 |
| Benimaru - Slime | Evil Queen Regina - OUAT | Original Fall fairy |
What do I say about 2019? It felt like an unproductive year because I wasn't able to accomplish what I wanted, however, I know that is not entirely true. Keeping up with the Jones in cosplay is very unreasonable when you work full-time so I learned to let it go and not push myself too hard for events. Overall I had a blast at the conventions I attended and I have made some lasting memories with friends. Another highlight is that I made my first male cosplay in years with Benimaru. I also feel like I have gotten much better at switching up my poses. So overall, I would say it was good.

What I've learned

  • Be careful when reheating worbla over top of insulation foam - it can melt and create a hole plus toxic fumes
  • It may look like a lot of rhinestones but more is better on big dresses. I put so many on Allura's dress and you can barely see them. I need to add more
  • Angelus paint is great on faux leathers and stretch fabrics
  • Fake fur backing is too porous for most fabric glue. You need to stitch it down
  • Beware of constricting your pits when creating a costume with multiple layers of thick fabric.
  • Arda Silky wigs dye as easily as the regular wigs, however, they do not like being airbrushed afterwards and it does not adhere as well.

Most Expensive Costume

Picture
Photo by Paul Hillier

Least Expensive Costume

Picture
Photo by Erik Paredes
I bought 6 bolts of crinoline, a lot of black twill, a ton of rhinestones, 2 sets of string lights, and some flowers. I did save money by reusing the the wig from my Swanna costume. I wasn't the best at tracking my purchases this year so Allura came in at about $275.
Korra was very affordable since I was using up leftovers from other Korra costumes, like the sleeves. I also had many of the material sitting around like the suede and fur for the skirt. So this came in at around $50.

Favourite Costume & Prop

Picture
Photo by Paul Hillier
I got to push myself by learning so many new techniques for Atalanta such as using iron on vinyl, stenciling with Angelus paint, and designing with Photoshop. The favourite prop wins by default because it's the only one I have for the year, although I've been working on many other props for other unfinished projects. If you are curious on the construction of the costumes, check out the costume page.

Tutorials

I only made one tutorial this year. So I supposed I wasn't productive in that arena. However, I post a lot of progress photos on my social media accounts so it is out there, just not packaged in a blog or video.

The video is about styling a flipped bob which I used for a Little Witch Academia cosplay and eventually for League of Legends - Lux.

Events

Picture
Some notable photoshoots from this year. L: with Amurita & Michaëlle Charette. R: Jumping with Paul Hillier
I went to 7 conventions this year, mainly in Canada [OCC, Anime North, Yeticon, MCC, Otakuthon] with two trips to the US [Katsucon & Colossalcon]. It was a pretty relaxed year considering I was only judging masquerades at a handful of events, usually I am for most events and it doesn't leave much time to enjoy the con or see friends. Yeticon is new favourtire convention of the year since I really took advantage of the many of the events and there were times where there were too many things I wanted to do all happening at the same time. I look forward to going next year.

Forward to 2020

Picture
I have some many ongoing project that I want to finish in 2020. I was pretty disappointed that I didn't complete them in 2019 but that's life, I'll finish them eventually. Regina and Korra were both costumes I had been sitting on for years so I cleared some of the backlog.

My goal is to produce more of my own content by shooting it myself. I already have a head start on this, so stay tuned. Everything in moderation though.

I also hope to keep on top of my blog next year. I'm likely to take more recovery days after conventions and hopefully that will give me more time to publish my post-con blogs.

For the latest in what I'm working on and where I will be attending, check out my Upcoming page.

Thx you for the support and see you in 2020!

1 Comment

Fall Fairy themed shoot

22/11/2019

0 Comments

 
​This is me messing around with fall themed florals and practicing self shooting. I'm a sucker for warm tones. I'm also happy to put this wig to good use since I've only worn it once for a c competition and nothing else.
0 Comments

Thierry Mugler -Couturissme

24/3/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
What a treat for the eyes if you like high fashion and enough embellishments to last you till eternity. For anyone who like fashion, creating garments, or sparkly things, then I can see you enjoying this exhibit. I broke down the photos I took by themes although they may not have been in the same rooms.

Musings of a Cosplay Judge:
The majority of the pieces were amazing and feats of construction, but there were also a few pieces that had okay construction that wouldn't win a best in class in certain competitions I've been to. This is crazy when you think about it but also a reminder to calm down and take it easy because even a high end fashion designer can make a few sewing mistakes. Who hasn't dealt with puckering seams. Occasionally you'll lose a few beads. Sometimes you need that applique on stat, which means 1cm wide stitches.
​Lastly, lamé is kind to no one.

Beading

Creatures

Black and White

Robots and mechanical

The rest

Which look or theme is your favourite?
0 Comments

Katsucon 2019

19/2/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was my sixth year at Katsu and it had it different vibe than usual. It felt less crowded, probably thanks to the new badge policy. It also gave me a nostalgic con vibe thanks to hanging out with friends and meeting many new people. As always, I didn't run into many of the people I knew were there over the weekend, a fact of life for modern cons. Luckily I was able to have quite a few good chats with some old friends that live far away and I miss them already.

​​Another observation, Katsu always had a party vibe to it, but I feel as if it is becoming Dragoncon north with the partying (congregation of drunk people) in the lobby of the Gaylord which is leading to many memorable moments. See the DVD X It crossover, Mothman, or the Danny Devito shrine.

I took it relatively easy over the weekend. I managed to finish all of my costume in time with minimal hotel finishing touches (adding a handful of rhinestones to my dress and sewing down some buttons). I kept it to 3 costumes for the weekend, 1 per day and I was maybe in them for maximum 4 hours each. I find this give me more time to enjoy the con, see the sights, and relax. I'm technically there on vacation so it should feel like it by the end of each day.

Picture
Some highlights of the weekend:
  • My fastest experiences of going through airport security, both there and back
  • Staring at amazing costumes
  • Offering apples to Snow Whites when dressed Evil Queen Regina
  • Quality friend time
  • Warm reception for my new costumes - thank you for your kind words
  • Cosplayhipster's makeshift photoshoot set on a bed
  • Exploring the MGM and it's cool photoshoot locations
  • The nice weather, yet spending the bulk of my time shooting outside on one of the colder days
  • Forgetting my Atalanta ears at home and managing to find a near perfect substitute in the Artist Alley. Thanks Cabbits!

What were your highlights this year? Any memorable costumes?
0 Comments

2018 Year in review

29/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
| Atilla (Swim) - Fate | Storm (Swim) - X-Men | Ariel - Little mermaid |
|Storm - X-men | Lilith - Trinity Blood | Sudowoodo - Pokemon |
​| Alexandrite - Houseki no Kuni | Vivian - Dragon's Crown | Diana - Little With Academia |
Another year of cosplay has gone by. Each year I feel as if I didn't produce enough work, then I look at what I've actually accomplished and realize that it is more than I initial thought. It's important not to get caught up in other people paces and keep moving forward at your own speed and on your own path.

Many of the projects I was working on throughout the year were not completed (which is why I feel like I was lagging behind), but they are well on their way and they will be done when they are good and ready!
​
Additionally, I didn't go on an elaborate cosplay photoshoot trip this year so I feel as if I was missing a part of my yearly activities, however, I had a great time at all the events I attended and made many lasting memories with friends.

​So let's jump right into it.
Picture
Erik Paredes Photography

What I Learned

  1. Swimsuit version of characters are a fun and easy way to fit in more costumes in your lineup.
  2. Give extra life from your wigs by doing swimsuit variations
  3. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy the whole costume than buy the materials alone - $30 for my Diana cosplay!
  4. White spandex is almost sheer no matter what you do. You have to double it up or just switch to ultrapreme
  5. Stacking wigs (Storm) is easier than it looks.
  6. Cellophane is pretty unruly in wigs once the wind hits
  7. Painting velvet require patience and it doesn't provide the best finished look.
  8. A good contour and highlight can go a long way
  9. Wear a dust mask when working with lots of feathers of you'll be blowing coloured snot
  10. Make a stencil for fine detail tattoos to save time
  11. You can make fun things with leftover fabric - Sudowoodo was just an excuse to use that taffeta and the costume was fun to make and wear.
  12. Don't spend obscene amounts of money on embroidery thread that you don't need. Get an accurate estimate.

Most Expensive Costume

Picture
Elite Cosplay Photography

Least Expensive Costume

Picture
By a long shot and to the surprise of noone, Lilith is the most expensive costume of the year at $390. The gold fabric was meant for another project that I got on deep discount, so I saved some money there. There was just so many little things on this costume to buy which added up: beads, jewelry, gems, bells, feathers, flowers, and embroidery thread.
Ariel cost $9 (Swimsuit top) since it was made using things I already had laying around (seashells, rhinestones, beads, etc). I reused the tail from another mermaid costume (funnily enough it was an Ursula cosplay) and the wig (Cancer & Mousse).

Favourite Cosplay

Picture
HM Photography

Favourite Prop

Picture
MH Photography
Easy to make and fun to wear. I could goof around in this costume and be the tree I always wanted to be. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the simple things.
All of my prop making skills were put to use with Lilith. The wings and wreath contraption were my proudest accomplishment, however, I really like the hat, nails, and all the other little details that went into making this beast.

Tutorials

  • How to Style Blunt Edges on a Wig [video]
  • Houseki no Kuni - Wig styling Tutorial [text + images]
  • Cat tail - Cosplay tip
Check out my costume pages for more info and progress photos on all the costumes I've made.

Events

Picture
I went to quite a few events this year but with my busy day job I didn't have as much opportunity to write my usual con reports. If it is something you miss, let me know. I want to get back into it so long as people are interested in reading them.
​
  • Katsucon - Washington DC - Convention Report​
  • Ottawa ComicCon - May
  • Anime North - Toronto - May 
  • Colossalcon - Ohio - June 
  • YetiCon - June 
  • Montreal ComicCon - July 
  • Otakuthon - Montreal - July
  • Crunchyroll Expo - San Jose - Aug 

A stand out event for me this year was Cruchyroll Expo. It a was such a great experience and I am so grateful for everyone who showed up to say hi at my table or came to my panels. It was my first time out in California and I hope I can make more trips out there in the future.

Forward to 2019

Picture
There will be more gijinkas and original designs. I love flexing those creative muscles in cosplay. I'll also be dipping my toes in Fate with a few costumes I've wanted to make for awhile now.

My biggest challenge will be the usual time management while balancing work, life, and hobby. I am very excited about multiple projects that I am working on and I can't wait to share them.

New for 2019: I have invested in some resources to snap some of my own photos and so far so good. I'm having fun with set ideas and I can't wait to see where I can take things.

I will be attending my usual events, however, if you want to see me at your local convention, please let them know that you want me as a guest. I have a several open weekends and I would be more than happy to run some panels and judge a few costume contests.

​Cheers to a new Year!

0 Comments

Houseki no Kuni - Alexandrite - Wig tutorial

27/3/2018

1 Comment

 
I made a sparkly wig for an Alexandrite cosplay fit for the Land of the Lustrous. All the decorations are removable so that I could reuse the wig for other costumes. 
Picture
Indoor light
Picture
Natural Light

Materials

  • wig (Cut and styled) - I used a Silky Venus in Cerulean from Arda
  • craft scissors (sharp ones)
  • Clear tape
  • Needle and thread to match the wig
  • Measuring tape
  • E6000 glue
  • Glitter that matches your wig
  • Felt or buckram (that matches or wig - if not get some paint that does)
  • Two-tone Cellophane/wrapping plastic that compliments your wig 
  • 15+ bobby pins
  • Hair clips
  • Gloves (latex, vinyl, whatever works for you)

Assembly Part 1 - Cellophane wefts

  1. Expose the row of wefts where you want to install your cellophane wefts and pin the excess hair away using a hair clip. Measure the length of your wefts to determine how long your cellophane pieces need to be (ex. 32in/82cm). Measure the distance between one side of the wig to the other where you plan to install the wefts (ex. 15 in/38cm). I installed two rows, one slightly above the nape of my neck and another one slightly below where the top of the wig where the weft pattern change and you can't us bobby pins.
  2. Cut out a segment of cellophane in those measurements (ex 32inX15in / 82cmX38cm).
  3. Fold over the edge on the short side to fortify with clear tape
  4. Cut vertically up to the tape, without cutting through it, making cellophane stands of hair. I made mine about 1.5in/3.8cm wide.
  5. (Optional) Taper the ends so it looks more hair like, since the square ends don't blend well. Keep the square ends if your character has blunt edges.
  6. Secure your cellophane wefts to the wig with bobby pins.
  7. Repeat for a second row of wefts.

Assembly Part 2 - Sparkly Hair Part

  1. Cut out a piece of felt to act as the base of your new cellophane hair part. Since the wig I`m using has a round skin top, I cut out a small circular piece. I used Flexifirm but felt or buckram will do the trick. In retrospect, I would make mine a little smaller, 1in/2.5cm would have been better than 2in because it would be easier to blend into the wig. Paint it to match the wig if it doesn't already.
  2. Once dried, hand stitch to the top of the wig.
  3. Put on your gloves, then apply a thin layer of E6000 to the round then cover in glitter. Note: E6000 is pretty toxic so use gloves and be sure the place is well ventilated.
  4. Measure lengths for cellophane strands and pay close attention to any curves to your wig. For example, Alexandrite has bangs parted to the side, so I had to cut curved pieces to match how the hair sits. Also taper the ends of the strand that will be glued down. You don't want blunt edges sticking out of the sides.
  5. Add more E6000 to attach cellophane strands. Let dry between layers of application or else the lower layers may come loose. I had to build up about 3 layers to get the coverage I wanted by overlapping cellophane pieces. You can add a little more glitter on top once done.

Add more Sparkle & Pizzaz

I added some extra glitter to my wig to blend in my "glitter top" by hand applying chunky glitter to cellophane strands using toothpicks and E6000. I've seen people use rhinestones or glitter flakes and I've seen people make cowlicks with cellophane. Do what you want to be your true gem self.

How to Wear

Since I wanted my wig to be reusable for other costumes nothing is glued down, however, I ran into an issue when I tried on the wig. The short wefts, the one close to my face, especially any wefts that are curved, can easily be kicked up by the slightest breeze. To secure these strands I used some eyelash glue and tacked them down at the ends.

​If you are going for a more permanent solution I would suggest something like Gemtack since it dries nice and clear.

Be truly outrageous!

Which gem will you be making? Share your finished projects, I would love to see it.

via GIPHY

1 Comment

Study of Pose - Book Review

5/3/2018

0 Comments

 
I grew up on Top Model and gleaned a few tips from Tyra back in the day but since I started cosplaying I haven't really dug deep in the art of posing. Which may sounds surprising, but I tend to focus on the crafting process. What better way to learn than to get a hold of a book. So it's no surprise that my book review of Study of Pose will be coming from a cosplayer perspective.
Picture
Photo from Amazon

Look and feel

The book is the thickness of an encyclopedia at 6cm or about 2.5 inches thick. Each page has a single black and white photo of the model and the page to the left plain white and only includes a number, keeping count of the 1000 poses. This book takes up a lot of space so you better make sure you have room on your shelf.

The pages a pretty thin, which is expected or else it would take up even more space. What may irritate some is that on the first pass through the book you have to unstick the pages from each other. If you are not careful you may damage the pages in the process.
Picture
Photo from Amazon

The Content

If you don't know Coco Rocha then you are missing out on one of the most fascinating models to watch. Some models are known for their signature looks or struts on the catwalk, but Rocha is known her her infinite poses paired with her great expressions. Full disclosure I have a soft spot for Coco who is a Canadian modelling success story.

Dressed in a plain leotard, Coco does what she does best and strikes a collection of 1000 poses which the photographer, Steven Sebring,  captures from a stationary spot. One pose flows into another from page to page with a change in body angle and expressions. The entire book is like seeing Rocha's process laid out step by step. The lighting is very strong with deep shadows so silhouette and shape are easy to take notice in the poses.

The goal was to learn some new poses and expand my posing vocabulary and I think it did the job. I found myself associating certain poses with certain costumes I have done recently or thinking about what kind of character would pose like that. It also reminded me to switch up my facial expression. Rocha is very expressive which adds extra life to the looks. For example, a hunched pose clearly isn't going to be paired with a smile.

Rocha is pretty flexible and some poses would be especially hard to recreate. Another thing to keep in mind is that you are limited by the mobility of the costume you are wearing. On the other hand, if you have a prop you just opened up another collection of possibilities. Props can be a crutch to lean on when posing, so I'm glad I have this book to use to "accessorize" my simpler costumes.

A few things to note:
  • The poses are mostly feminine so it's not a good reference for men's poses
  • There are a collection of standing, sitting, lying down, and jumping poses throughout
  • Some poses are pretty abstract and might not have a use for cosplay
  • Since all images are shot from the same angle you don't see how camera angles changes how the model interacts with the camera
  • Naturally, once you get to the 600th pose some of them start looking a little repetitive
Picture
Photo from Amazon

Final Word

The way I framed this purchase was almost as if I was getting a textbook to study. I wanted a resource that I could learn a few things from and that I could turn to in preparing for shoots and this does the trick. Is it the end all be all for posing? No, but then again no textbook is going to tell you everything you need to know about a given subject. It is called the study of pose not the Bible of Posing.
I would suggest this book to cosplayers who want to be inspired to diversify their poses but also have a passion of fashion and modelling in order to justify the $55CAD pricetag.

EXTRA NOTE
Right as I was about to wrap up this review, I did some additional research and I found that there is also an I0S app that has all the poses in 360 so that you can zoom in and examine them even closer and from different angle. This may be a be a better idea for most people to enjoy the work at a lower price point of $28CAD.
0 Comments

Katsucon 2018

20/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
With Jayuna and Jazzmin
Katsucon is a yearly tradition for me where I look forward to seeing amazing work while also catching up with friends. With those two things in mind my mission was accomplished. I was really worried I wouldn't finish my projects in time but luckily I was able to pulled through without pushing myself too hard. The grind to finish Katsu costumes, aka "Katsucrunch", got the best of many people this year, which serves as a good reminder to take a step back and reevaluate things with high stress projects. I learned that lesson the hard way at WCS.

I have to give special thanks to a few people who made this weekend great. First off to Kurumasha for helping me finish my projects and lending me her wig. Second to VickybunnyAngel for being an amazing roomie, helping me in and out of costume, and also helping with makeup. Third to Jayuna, for helping me out of costume when Vicky wasn't there. Lastly to everyone who I caught up with ans shot with over the weekend. Thank you for your time and sharing it with me.

​All right let's dive in!

Thursday

Picture
I flew in on Thursday morning and made friendly with some local cosplayers on the same flight. We split an Uber to the hotel and I totally felt like a con mom asking them about what they planned to do for the first year there.

When I arrived, I picked up some supplies for the weekend from CVS then got ready to shoot my Spring Sawsbuck that afternoon. I shot with White Specs and Vicissijuice back to back. It was my first time shooting with her and I look forward to seeing the photos. Afterwards I immediately took a nap because I was very tired. After sleeping for 2 hours, I got up and worked on finishing up Lilith while watching the Olympics. Figure skating woot woot!

Friday

I was pretty certain that I would't finish this costume in time but I was able to wear Lilith on Friday of the event. I was suppposed to finish this costume for Katsu of last year but I just kept putting it off. There are a few details that still need to be added or improved but I am still happy with what I got to wear for a few hours.

A special thanks goes to Vickybunnyangel for helping me get into this and pinning down my wing harness and also to Jayuna for helping me out of the costume. I was resigned to the fact that I would have lie down on the bed for close to hour waiting for a roommate to return to help.

I got to shoot with MH photography by the water before the rain came in. I had a "great" time balancing my long nails (not pictured but you'll see eventually) for pictures but they were worth the hassle because they add an extra layer of crazy detail to the costume.
Picture
Photo by Martin Wong
Picture
The rest of the day was easy going. My roomies and I went for dinner at Elevation Burger then we went to Felt for a party at the MGM. It was a nice change of pace from the hustle that happens at Pose. I didn't end up going there this year since the lines were horrendous.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with friends without having to circle the bar all night trying to find them. Also two couples got engaged, how exciting!

Side note: I got this new blue dress and it is a nightmare to get in and out of. It's a snug fit with minimal stretch and I wish it had a zipper. Luckily I wasn't stuck sleeping in it overnight.

Saturday

The big day. I decided to wear something somewhat comfortable and that was Storm. After years of putting this costume on the back burner she is finally done! She got such a warm welcome at the event even though I got blamed for the snow that arrived that day.

I did a shoot with U.V. Photography partially outdoors and indoors then I spent the rest of the afternoon meeting up with friends and getting to know new ones around the gazebo. I also shot with Anna Fischer and my god it is magic what she can accomplish with a few lights and gels.

I had another dinner with friends, this time at the Walrus for some delicious seafood. I find this is the best opportunity to catch up with people because the hustle of Katsu can get the best of you. Afterwards I went around the lobby visiting friends and playing more catch up.
Picture

Sunday

Picture
I was pretty tired come Sunday but I still got into Alexandrite. There were so many other gems that it made me so happy. I love to see the different ways people interpreted the wigs and the makeup. My interpretation requires 3 layers of highlighters. 

I spent most of time hanging out at the gazebo  level and doing the odd shoot here and there. I also got to catch up with Sweet Sensation photo, and I'm curious to see if my over posing worked out. Since it was such a simple costume I figure it was time to whip out the Vogue moves. I also did a brief balcony shoot before I changed out of the costume, which was a first for me.

After saying too many goodbyes I made my way to the airport and after nearly falling asleep at the gate, I made it home in one piece.
All in all I had a good time despite the crowding. Honestly, I expect this every year from Katsu so it was not a surprise and honestly I thought it would be worse. I wore my cumbersome outfits on Thursday and Friday to avoid the worst of it. Crowding makes it difficult to get good photos but a little ingenuity, courtesy, and determination goes a long way. I would agree with some friends with the point that some of the usual photoshoot spots are getting overused but I think that is part of the deal when you attend a con several years in a row. However, it's still leaps and bounds better for shoots than conventions held in warehouses every year. I will be returning next year so long as my friends will be there since that is the bulk of the fun for me.

How was your Katsu? Did you run into any issues?
0 Comments
<<Previous

    MeltingMirror's Cosplay Blog

    Learn more about my experiences in the cosplay world, from conventions to photoshoots and everything in between.

    RSS Feed

      Suggestion Box

    Submit

    Categories

    All
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    Aion
    Anime
    Anime Convention
    Anime North
    Artist Alley
    Awards
    Book
    Colossalcon
    Comiccon
    Commission
    Conbravo
    Convention
    Cosplay
    Cosplay History
    Cosplay Trip
    CostumeCon
    Crunchyroll
    Dance
    Dragoncon
    Exhibit
    Fanexpo
    Fashion
    G Anime
    Guest
    Judging
    Katsucon
    Lifestyle
    Makeup
    Masquerade
    Montreal
    Nadeshicon
    Nycc
    Original Design
    Otakon
    Otakuthon
    Ottawa
    Panels
    Photoshoot
    Popexpo
    Prints
    Props
    Retrospective
    Review
    Social Media
    Travel
    Troubleshoot
    Tutorial
    Wigs
    World Cosplay Summit
    Yeticon
    Youmacon

© MeltingMirror. All rights reserved
Picture