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2022 Cosplay Year in Review

22/12/2022

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King of Swords | Umbreon | Sylveon | Morana | Risotto | Raihan

It's been a productive year. I managed to complete a few costumes on my long "to be completed" list and I got creative with Pokémon costumes again. 2022 was my return to conventions after pandemic lockdowns. I'm still adjusting to post-lockdown conventions while trying to stay safe and dodge covid for another year. Luckily, I was never the type to share drinks and I always had hand sanitizer with me pre-pandemic, so I was going in with good habits. I never want con plague, not then and definitely not now. It was nice to be back and seeing friends I haven't seen in years. Also, it was a shock to be assaulted by con funk after being spared for so long.
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Sylveon cosplay | Photo by KevinUncaged

What I learned

  1. Flash tape was my MVP this year keeping the girls secured and hidden. I've been using athletic tape and using Vaseline or cream to protect sensitive parts
  2. Pur cosmetics lash glue is great for glueing stuff to your body. My gold foil would not budge on my King of Sword cosplay
  3. Patience can save you money: I was so eager to make my Raihan cosplay that I started accumulating materials as the game released. I'm a slow crafter and before I could even finish 30% of the costume there were decent quality full costumes for less that the material costs I've already incurred. I love my costume and it's of a higher quality but I should have waited to buy it and save myself the time.
  4. Persistence pays off: If you are dedicated to a project it's safe to wait for the right materials. I've been on the hunt for striped fabric in the right width for Risotto for months and the one I settled on was perfect.  Similarly, for Morana, I could not be bothered to make her white dress since it's a pretty standard look. I managed to find a Victorian inspired cotton dress on AliExpress. It was cheaper than buying the materials myself and I didn't have to put in the labour.
  5. Keep your reference photo handy, because your mind can play some tricks on you. Refer to it frequently to avoid mistakes.
  6. A halo crown + beads is an easy way to add elegance to a costume
  7. Consider painting your appliqués to get the desired colour for your project. You can also dye them and of course add beads and rhinestones for extra pizzazz.
  8. Gathered ultrapreme looks great! It looks so rich and is very soft. I used this for the bottom of Raihan's sweater. 
  9. Saving on HTC vinyl: Typically when you have a vinyl design, you have it cut by a vinyl cutting machine in the shape you need, then you apply it. Raihan's design had mainly straight lines in orange vinyl. Instead of cutting out the design as is, I just cut out strips and applied them as need be. So I was able to do the whole costume with one roll of vinyl and with minimal waste.
  10. Get threading tools (drawstring threaders) to make inserting ribbon, chord, and elastic into fabric channels easier. Ex. like the ribbon in a hoodie
  11. When you wear light-coloured brows (blonde/white/silver) add a dark shadow with eyeshadow so they don't disappear on your face and it softens the looks without them looking too harsh
  12. When sewing a sticky fabric (like vinyl) use wax paper as a protective layer between your fabric and your foot to glide the fabric through without it catching. This also works with paper towels but wax paper is fairly transparent so you can see what you are doing.
  13. When working with spherical props consider flattening a side or hollowing it out attach it to other items. A flat or hollow area give you more surface to work it. I had to hollow out some of the foam balls I used for Risotto's hat otherwise they hung awkwardly and ends of the fabric were visible, which didn't look nice.
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Photo Paul Hillier

Most Expensive - Risotto

Surprisingly this was not too expensive at about $150. Although I wasn't the best of tracking my expenses in the pandemic years. I managed to get a good deal on vinyl from Aliexpress to keep the cost down. The loafers cost as much as the fabric but they are so nice and I wear them all the time.
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Photo Amaleigh Photography

Least Expensive - Umbreon

Sylveon and Umbreon are basically the same price (around $65) but I had to buy more rhinestones and ribbon for Sylveon. Both costumes were an Aliexpress special: fabric, appliques, halos, and rhinestones. I also used a lot of accessories I had lying around. Check out those bracelets meant for a Riju (Breath of the Wild) cosplay that never happened.

Favourite Cosplay - Risotto

I don't really have a favourite this year but if I have to pick, I'll pick a Jojo costume. I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the sewing went considering vinyl is such a finnicky fabric. The hat is fun and was an interesting puzzle to pattern out. I managed to get the stripes on the pants to align neatly. How satisfying! And the shoes are cool and comfortable. Plus any excuse to do crazy poses is a good one.
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Risotto cosplay | Photo Paul Hillier

Return of the Cons

I was fortunate enough to go to four conventions this year: Yeticon, Anime North, Otakuthon, and Capital City Comic Con.

I had a relaxing time as per usual at Yeticon. The scenery is always beautiful but the wind was miserable this year and made it so cold, which was a pain since I packed mainly light costumes. It was the opposite at Anime North where it was horribly hot. Thankfully my Eeveelution costumes are as light as can be. They are probably the most exposed costumes I have. Although I was a little nervous wearing them out, I had no regrets once I step outside in the hot weather. Judging the masquerade was like riding a bike, it was nice to be back at it and seeing people's creative work.

I had a good time at Otakuthon, although I was trying to avoid the worst of the crowds. The fun I had that weekend was doing things around the city (going to the spa, checking out an art show) since it's been years since I could visit. Lastly, Capital City Comic Con, was my return to guesting at a convention. It was a great event and everyone was so friendly. Getting back to the west coast (Victoria) made me really miss travelling. There are so many beautiful sights to see on Vancouver island and Lichon Photography showed me around. I got to see a few small waterfalls and of course we took photos in the woods.
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Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver island

Forward to 2023

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I'm  being cautiously optimistic for 2023. Here's hoping I can make another 5-6 costumes and maybe clear some other old costumes on my "to be completed" list like this Sakizo costume I've been working on since 2019. You can also expect more Jojo costumes and pokemon gijinkas.

Besides that, I'm mainly sticking to projects I can make with my fabric stash. After moving recently, I realized how much stuff I have and I need to reduce the amount before committing to new things. Also I don't really have place for any new costumes, which means I will be getting rid of some older ones to make room. 

I hope you all had a great 2022 and I'll see you in the new year.
​XOXO

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2020 Cosplay Year in Review

31/12/2020

1 Comment

 
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Photo by lichonphotography.com from our shoot in Victoria in January

Forward to 2021

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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.

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2018 Year in review

29/1/2019

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| 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.
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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

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Elite Cosplay Photography

Least Expensive Costume

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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

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HM Photography

Favourite Prop

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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

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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.
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  • 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

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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!

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2017 Cosplay Year in Review

24/12/2017

1 Comment

 
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Primarina at Colossalcon - PhotosNXS
This year was a slow moving one for me. My day job gobbled up more of my time so I didn`t produce as many costumes as I would like (granted I say that every year). I also went to more events that ever, which also ate into my costume making time, but I had a great time exploring new cities and new events. Finally, I wrapped up the year by going on another cosplay adventure into the wilderness. Let`s go through my year in cosplay.

MILESTONES
  • First time being invited to conventions outside of Canada (Anime Matsuri & Mechacon in the US)
  • First Livestreams - Styling Nidalee's Wig & Styling Storm's Wig​
  • I hit 3k on Instagram. Thx!

NOTEWORTHY BLOGS
  • My Cosplay Photoshoot Trip to Kelowna
  • My first time at YetiCon

Costumes

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| Ducklett | Primarina | Pharaoh Nidalee |
| Sawsbuck - Spring - Summer - Fall - Winter |
WHAT I LEARNED
  1. ​Stretch mesh can dye easily
  2. Crinoline on the other hand, does not
  3. Feathers can be dyed with regular dye, you just need more product
  4. Finally, and surprisingly, you can also dye starfish (not for too long or it will deteriorate)
  5. PVC pipe connectors are super useful for props
  6. I may have a fake flower purchasing addiction
  7. Floral wire + florals make for easy headpieces
  8. Get a sturdy headband if you are going to be wearing it often, especially for heapieces
  9. If there is an option to gold leaf something, do it
  10. The answer is more accessories
  11. Organza is a magical material that you can airbrush
  12. Don't be afraid of big false lashes
  13. Fur collars are amazing
  14. I love making headpieces
  15. I also love making my own original designs
  16. Location shoots are the best shoots
  17. I have a surprising tolerance for the cold in the name of photoshoots
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Sharla (2014) shot at Yeticon (2017) with Elysiam Entertainment

Most expensive

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MH Photography
Collectively, all of the Sawsbuck costumes cost $770, which is quite the bargain if you split it four ways. I re-purpose certain items throughout the designs, such as the corset. Of the four designs, the fall one was probably to most expensive since I had to buy some of the flowers at a slight discount (instead of a deep one) due to timing.

Least Expensive

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U.V. Photography
I spent a whole $85 on Ducklett and most of the money went into the trims and appliques. It's such a nice and simple costume that is easy to wear. I don't get to use sequins often in my costume so this was a treat, also I got to use all that feather knowledge I built up over the years to make this beautiful skirt.
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Swanna (2016) shot at Lake Chilliwack with Lichon Photography

Favourite Costume

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Erik Paredes Photography

Favourite Prop

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Sometime I can surprise myself with my practicality. Sawsbuck's headpiece has removable/replaceable flowers and antlers,  interchangeable floral bases, and easily slips on top of wig

The Sawsbuck collection of costumes hit a sweet spot for me: I got to rekindle my love of design, I got to make a bunch of fun capes, I fell in love again with crafting headpieces, I got to embellish the crap out of each design, I had fun shopping for complimentary accessories, I got to be thrifty by reusing certain parts of the costume, I improved my corset making skills, and I got to play around with some intense makeup. All-in-all good stuff, 10 out of 10 will do again.
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I brought Queen Beryl with me for my Kelowna trip. Fun fact - the ground is pure mud. Photo by Lichon Photography.

Events

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This banner at Anime Matsuri was insane
So Many Conventions! I think this was my busiest year yet, especially since I had to travel further for these events. Here`s where I`ve been:
  1. Katsucon - Washington DC - Convention Report
  2. Anime Matsuri - Houston TX - Convention Report
  3. Costume Con 35 - Mississauga - Con Report
  4. Ottawa ComicCon
  5. Anime North - Toronto - Convention report
  6. Colossalcon - Ohio - Convention report
  7. Yeticon - Blue Mountain - Convention Report
  8. Montreal Comiccon - Convention report
  9. Mechacon - New Orleans - Convention report
  10. Otakuthon - Montreal - Convention report
I also did another cosplay trip out west to visit my friend the super talented Lichon Photography. We shot 5 costumes over 7 days all around Southern BC, mainly Kelowna. It was amazing and the photos are to die for.

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to judge masquerades and to be invited to events, so I would like to thank everyone who put my name forward, those who came out to see me or buy prints. Your support means a lot to me. I`m glad my costumes could bring a little joy to your day. If you would like to see me at an event near you, get in touch with your organizers or contact me.
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NIdalee - Photo by White Specs

Forward to 2018

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Since I have fewer events planned for 2018, hopefully that means I can create more costumes. I have quite a few projects on the go, but the biggest one I hope to finish is Lilith from Trinity Blood. I have also been dragging my feet on a Storm for years that is finally coming together. Hopefully I can knock out some more outstanding projects in 2018.

I have another cosplay photoshoot adventure planned and it is going to be even more intense than the last ones. More details on that to come. The plan is also to produce more regular content from home. I`ll do my best to work some magic.
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The urge to return to NYC is also strong, the fabric district is calling me, although I`m not sure if I can swing either NYCC or AnimeNYC in 2018.

If you want to know what I`m up to, please check out my Planning page or you can find me posting progress pics on my Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. If you want to support my work, you can buy me Ko-fi. I hope your 2017 went well and see you in 2018!

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2016 - Cosplay Year in Review

30/12/2016

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Photo by Elite Cosplay
Although many people would agree that 2016, in terms of world events, was a pretty crummy year, on the cosplay side of things it went pretty well for me. I cranked out 7 costumes plus I went on my first ever cosplay destination trip. It was the best idea I have had in years. No regrets there. So let's dive into more detail about my cosplay year in review.

​2016 MILESTONES
  • I started an Instagram account - Finally
  • Made my first League of Legends and Sakizou costumes after admiring them for years.
  • I'm finally satistfied with an armour build I have made - Sivir​

​NOTEWORTHY BLOGS
  1. Cosplay Trip to Banff
  2. Planning your Cosplay Trip
  3. OUAT Glowing Heart Tutorial
​*Note to self: post more blogs in 2017

Costumes

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Seven costumes makes for a productive year by my standards and I got to use quite a few techniques along the way. For more details about how they were made, check out their pages. 
| Cancer | Kida | Swanna | Aion | Sivir | Mousse | Taliyah |
WHAT I LEARNED
  1. ​Always test dye your fabric with a swatch first
  2. Before you dye something wash the fabric because it may shrink your pattern pieces
  3. How to style a curly-up do wig
  4. GemTac is awesome for applying rhinestones
  5. And flat nosed pliers are my favourite tool for applying them
  6. I like rhinestones. I had 2 rhinestone encrusted costumes this year and I have many to spare
  7. Double-ended screws are the way to go for seperatable props 
  8. Feathered corsets look complicated to make but they are pretty straightforward
  9. DONT HAVE LOOSE SEWING NEEDLES NEAR YOUR CARPET
  10. Silicone molds are awesome and can save you a lot of time if they are pre-made
  11. Hot glue and gels make for great casting mediums
  12. E6000 Fabrifuse is my favourite glue for fabrics
  13. The sparkly cheap trim you bought can pass for decent in photos
  14. If there is a gaping hole in the side of your dress as part of the design, you`ll need more than fashion tape for it to fit right.
  15. Chicken cutlets don`t breathe and make a sweaty mess in the summer
  16. Cheap garter belts don`t stay up without help
  17. Always have many sharp blades ready when working with eva foam
  18. Double check you packing list because you may not be lucky enough to have a friend with the exact shirt you need next time
  19. Cosplay adventures in the wilderness are fun. Especially with friends
  20. You can plan a cosplay trip and have it work out!

Costume Expenses

Most Expensive

It's a tie! Both Sivir and Kida cost about $218CAD. Most of the cost of Sivir was in the wig, worbla, and spraypaint, while Kida's cost were loaded into silk and rhinestones (most of which I didn't use but I repurposed them for Swanna).
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Photo by Erik Paredes
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Photo by Thistle Photography

Least Expensive

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Photo by Eurobeat Kasumi
Cancer - designed from Sakizo - was the cheapest costume I made in 2016 at $18.36. The red silk for the corset was leftover from my Rempo costume from 2010. The silk for the shorts and the ruffles were also leftovers, while the shoes were from my closet. The only thing I bought were the tights, the garter belt, and the flowers. The wig was sponsored by Arda

Favourites

Favourite Costume

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Photo by Thistle Photography
It is honestly a toss up with this costume and Sivir because they were both labour intensive projects with great photoshoots. Kida slightly wins in the end because she is more comfortable to wear.

Favourite Prop

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Photo by Erik Paredes
When you plan something and it works out as you expected, it's a good feeling. Sivir's weapon is lightweight, it comes apart, and I`m happy with the paint job. Luckily, it's easy transport since I had to haul it to and from shoots.

Favourite Event

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I`m switching it up this year since no convention could really compare to amazing time I had in Western Canada with my friends. I always want to be surrounded by mountains and turquoise water. All that fresh air and exploring was so refreshing plus much needed change to my usual con routine. A special thanks goes out to my fellow explorers Calamity, Shushuwafflez, Nomadic Goldfish, Vickybunnyangel, Lichon, Tricky Love and Thistle.

​Another highlight of the year was going to the League of Legends NA finals in Toronto. Participating in riftwalk was a blast and nothing beats watching the games live.

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Forward to 2017

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I was able to accomplish my goal of using leftover fabric on new projects in 2016 and I hope to keep that up for 2017. I'm already working on four very ambitious projects including my original Pokemon gijinka design for Sawsbuck (Headpieces on the left). I also hope to visit some new events as well. I may not be able to have another adventure in the wilderness next year but I'm already poised on planning my next big trip :)

I hope to add new ways of showing my work or work-in-progress with you all. I'm exploring my options - Twitch, Patreon, etc. I'm a slow adopter so bare with me.

​For a list of my upcoming events and costumes you can visit my "PLANS" page.

See you in the new year!

MM

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Cosplay Inventory - Keeping Stock of Supplies

19/8/2015

2 Comments

 
PictureI wish my scraps were this neatly stored
I’ve found that keeping track of my cosplay inventory, as it slowly expands, is a valuable resource to saving money. My situation is little different than most since my workshop is out of town so I don’t have access to my materials all the time.

When it comes time to shop for new materials, knowing what you already have lying around is useful information. Even if you live where your supplies are, sometimes its difficult to remember what you have on hand. Here a list of a few thing I recommend keeping an inventory of.

A general inventory template can be found at the bottom of this blog.



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When Cosplay takes Over

11/8/2015

13 Comments

 
On a slightly more personal note than my usual posts, this blog will explore my pitfalls in getting too enthralled by my hobby.

As you may already know, I love cosplay - I live-n-breathe the stuff. Swimming in cosplay content everyday online fascinates me, and brings me joy. Although recently, I've started noticed that my hobby has been changing into an obsession; at times, with unhealthy consequences.

When you're essentially running yourself ragged to get your costume done for a convention, even after you've promised yourself to not go through that hell again - you may have a problem.

When you're only getting limited sleep, and it makes it harder to function during your daily duties - you may have a problem

When you have to turn down multiple engagements with friends, and hermit away in your cosplay cave to finish your work...you get the point.

There's an inherent flaw in the "sleep is for the weak" and "suffer for your art" mentality, especially when it's considered normal for cosplayers. It's a running joke, and even worse, it's expected. I think I pushed myself way too hard over the last few weeks. So much so, that my stomach is still recovering from being shot for the entire weekend, and my appetite was all over the place thanks to the stress and lack of sleep. My memory also fell victim, causing me to repeating myself - to the annoyance of those around me.

Although I had an overall good time over the past weekend, my Friday was a stress induced mess which turned me into an inconsiderate person. I thought I was being reasonable under pressure, but after looking back, that was not the case. I really have to thank my friends for putting up with my frantic state. I was so obsessed with making sure everything went well, that I didn't even realize I was stepping on toes. When everyone is stressed to the hilt, even seemingly innocuous comments hit like a brick wall. Most of the day was a blur that I don't even remember. This goes to show you that even though you go into something with good intentions you might mess up when stress and lack and sleep are involved.

Side note: I have a way better understanding of how everyone got their 'mean girl' edits in cosplay shows (or any reality competition show for that matter). Lack of sleep, stress, and a tight deadline does not make for a friendly atmosphere.

The Perfect Balance

So here's the true dilemma: how do you find a healthier hobby/life balance? As of late, I've made the mistake of letting my hobby take up a too much of my life. I feel as if I've neglected my friends over the last few months; I know more about people's costume progress than what's happening in their day-to-day. The tricky thing is, so many of my friends and I bond over the hobby - especially those I only get to see at events.
I don't know if I can achieve a perfect balance, since I have continuously set my standards so high, but I sure as hell can try - I'll make sure it does. For me, it starts with better time management, and a shift in priorities.

Time Management: I've started to be less rigid with my line-ups for upcoming events. This way, I don't get people's, and more importantly MY, hopes up for the delivery new costumes. It's not the end of the world if I have to re-wear an old costume because the new one isn't finished. I should have backups ready to go in-case I have to drop something, or resign to the fact that I'll wear Version 1.0. Another key point is to not be pressured in having to deliver new content ALL THE TIME. Let's be real, the people who can pump out various costumes a year probably don't have the same work/life commitments as I do.  It's unrealistic to try and keep up. It'll serve me better to work at my own pace.

Priorities: It's always good to sit back and reflect on what you find important. If friends are what I value most about my cosplay experience, then I need them to take up more time in my convention planning. Nothing made me happier over the weekend then being able to spend time with friends I seldom see, and be able to have a genuine conversations with them. Part of why my Anime North wasn't the most enjoyable this year was due to me only being able to have 5 minute conversations with my friends throughout the weekend, and got to see the sights for one whole hour.

So dear readers, what I hope you take from this is that cosplayers are real people with real life problems. If you notice a friend is pushing themselves too hard, help them slow down and get them out of their cosplay hermit shell. I'm grateful that I've surrounded myself with such great friends, because great friends give you a reality check when you need it.

~MM
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Controlling Cosplay Costs - Cosplay Budgeting

20/11/2014

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PictureThis casual cosplay reuses a wig, horns, and ears, uses a cheap modified bathing-suit, and includes inexpensive accessories.
I'm going to detail most of the advice I give out at "Cosplay on a Budget" panels, which are almost a permanent fixture at cosplayer heavy conventions.

If you ever get a chance to check one out at your local convention, do it! They may have even more tips to give you, especially ones specific to your region. Some of my tips refer to  Canadians/Americans companies, but overall it is general advice for all.


More blogs in the 10 year Cosplay Retrospective Series:
Week 1 -Wigs | Week 2 - Make-up | Week 3 - Armour | Week 4 - Cosplay Closet Purge | Week 5 -Planning | Week 6 - Inventory | Week 7 - Controlling Cosplay Costs |


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6 Things to Consider before you Start your Cosplay

6/11/2014

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This blog details some of the advice I give at panels for cosplay beginners such as "Cosplay 101" or "How to start cosplaying" since not everyone can make it out to Canadian events. I hope you find it useful.

More blogs in the 10 year Cosplay Retrospective Series:
Week 1 -Wigs | Week 2 - Make-up | Week 3 - Armour | Week 4 - Cosplay Closet Purge | Week 5 -Planning | Week 6 - Inventory | Week 7 - Cosplay on a Budget
Temperature
What event do you plan on wearing the costume and what is the weather like? Is it in the winter or the summer? Are you going to be inside or outside most of the time?

Try to plan heavy costumes with many layers for winter events and light/skin baring costumes for summer events. If your costume is a full length fur coat, you might want to reserve it for winter cons.


But if you insist on bucking the trend then be sure to plan accordingly. Use ice packs, fans, and stay inside air conditioned rooms in the summer with warm costumes. Consider booking a room in the event hotel to wear the lighter costumes in the winter.
Cruella Cosplay
Cruella is no doubt a winter con costume
Ms.Fortune Cosplay
Shorts and crop top means I'm only wearing Ms.Fortune in the summer.
Ragyo cosplayAll the feathered trim could be removed from the cape for easy transport. The coat had wing extensions that were also removable so I could go through crowds. I also brought some flats because I had towering painful heels.
Comfort & Assistance
Is your costume comfortable or uncomfortable? Will you need assistance getting around the event? Is your vision limited?

The comfort of you costume will determine how long you can wear it, so you should budget your time accordingly. Prioritize your events (gatherings, panels, etc) to make sure you can attend and enjoy them.

Inconvenient or awkward costumes may require you have an assistant (aka handler) to help you navigate the crowded con floor. Be sure to check the convention policy on large costumes, as some events require you have an assistant for large or vision impairing costumes.

Consider some back up options to deal with uncomfortable costumes. I often bring a pair of flats if I'm wearing painful high heels. Also, you can make certain costume parts easily removable for maneuvering through crowds, such as wings or armour. I sometime bring a tote bag with me to carry certain costume pieces from one event to another.

Styria cosplayBladder buster costume
Bathroom
Can you go to the washroom in this costume? How much time will it take you to go to the bathroom in this costume?

This is very important because with cumbersome cosplays where you need to set time for washroom breaks. Respect your bladder and go to washroom whenever you have a window of opportunity.

My Shiva costume was 30+ minutes ordeal to go to the washroom and that's not including putting everything back on again.  I made sure to capitalize on some free time while waiting in the greenroom when I was competing in the masquerade.

Granado espada cosplayA great sales associate helped me get all the materials for this costume in one trip.
Materials Choices
Knowing the properties of the fabric you need to buy for a costume will help you narrow down which one  you need to purchase. Here's what I consider before I settle on a fabric.

  • Matte vs Shiny
  • Light vs Heavy: does it billow in the wind  or does it barely move?
  • Sheer vs Opaque: is it see-through or not?
  • Smooth vs textured
  • Non-stretch vs Stretch
  • Solid vs Pattern
  • Do you need to dye it?
  • High budget or low budget

Some examples:
Charmeuse silk would be classified Shiny (somewhat)> Light
> Opaque > Smooth > non stretch > Solid and/or pattern (depending on the costume) > dyeable > high budget.
Compare to satin which can be heavier, have slight texture, can be stretchy, can be dyeable (only with polyester dyes), and low budget.

If you can determine which attributes best describe your fabric, someone at the fabric store can probably help you pick something out.
Having a reference photo handy always helps, especially if you have a hard time naming fabrics.


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A 10 Year Retrospective on Cosplay: Week 4 Cosplay Closet Purge

18/9/2014

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Sometimes it's hard to say goodbye

Picture
Unless they have unlimited storage space, eventually cosplayers have to go through their cosplay closet and make some tough decisions. I'm throwing this blog in the "retrospective" series because I find this is an activity I've done repeatedly throughout my cosplay life and a little wisdom helps make the process easier.

More blogs in the 10 year Cosplay Retrospective Series:
Week 1 -Wigs | Week 2 - Make-up | Week 3 - Armour | Week 4 - Cosplay Closet Purge | Week 5 -Planning | Week 6 - Inventory |

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