2013 - A Cosplay Year in Review

Alicia - Photo by Anna Fischer

This year seems to have flown by. I attended 12 conventions and events this year - a record for me. It was a taxing to say the least. I have also come to the realization that when you start attending more events, you reduce the number of weekends you can work on new projects. Although it doesn't feel like I slowed down this year, in terms of costume progress I have.

I only made 5 costumes - One was a big project but all the others were rather simple. Which makes me a little disappointed in myself. The funny thing is that I am juggling many projects so it doesn't feel like I only made five. Many of my old projects are getting close to completion. What also slowed me down is that I scaled down my commission business and upped my artist alley presence, and so my free time normally spend on costumes was spent on making products.

I was a bit unlucky this year. A persisting (even now) eye problem prevents me from wearing contacts, even regular contacts. Which means I spent most of the year putting on makeup within 2in of a mirror with my bad eyesight and wandering the convention halls with glasses. I can't wait till they get back to normal.

On the bright side I was invited to 4 events (G-anime, ConBravo, Quinte Mini Con, and Geek Market) as a guest this year, in addition to being invited as a judge for masquerades at another 3 events (Otakuthon, Ottawa Comic Con, and Pop Expo). I was very honoured to have been invited to the events and I'm glad I was able to spread some cosplay knowledge, help a few people out with their construction problems, and to be trusted with deciding the winners of the masquerades.

One of my highlight of the year was getting to meet a lot of new photographers, cosplayers and collaborators. Katsucon and ColossalCon were the best events for this. I look forward to seeing them again at upcoming events.

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2013 Costumes

Click Image to go to the costume page/gallery
Hana - Ms. Fortune
T-elos - Alicia
Storm

Things I learned:

• Don't leave things to the last minute. I'm finally finishing a rushed project from Katsucon 2013. Having to fix rush work just isn't worth it. I keep saying this myself hoping that it sinks in eventually.
  
• My last minute work is getting cleaner - According to a friend of mine.
• PlastiDip is a 'must' final coat to armour projects that will get lots of wear and tear. That T-elos pic on the left was taken after jumping into hot tubs and saltwater wave pools
• Worbla finishing: don't use old gesso, it adds more texture. Wood glue works well but you need so many layers.
• A single layer of wonderflex is sturdier than worbla, because the former has mesh.
• Double check your costume mid photoshoot. My first Hana shoot had my headdress nearly half off my head. I did a Ms. Fortune shoot with my collar upside down. Most of my T-elos shots have a crooked wig. Damn those straight cut bangs :(
• If you don't think your wig will arrive on time. Odds are it will arrive the day after the convention.
  

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Expenses

Amounts in Canadian Dollars

Travel and Convention costs = Approx $2,000
This doesn't take long to accumulate, especially if you leave in a smaller Canadian city. Flights cost are horrendous. I flew to both Otakon and NYCC, both cost me about $500 per flight. I may have to drop Otakon in 2014 because I don't think I really got my money's worth for the trip.
[2012 costs = $2100]

Cost of Materials = Approx $2,000
Clearly the five costumes I made this year do not amount to $2,000. (It's actually under $600). I tend to do this every year where I stock up on supplies and materials for various costumes that carry over to the following year. Seems like I need to hunker-down and complete more costumes before shopping for new materials. It also includes the purchase of new tools and supplies (such as gesso, paint, etc).
[2012 costs = $1500]

Overall = $4,000
.... holy crap. Time to cut back. Sorta. Maybe. I definitely won't be going over this amount in 2014.
At least I plan on redistributing more towards travel and less towards materials.
[2012 overall = $3600]

Most Expensive Costume
Hana @ $283.44

This costume has 3 kimonos - One is 5m of  pure silk, another is 5m of satin. Major expenses were also makeup - white face paint and red pigment; dyes; and cords/trims.

It is also my FAVOURITE COSTUME OF THE YEAR simply because I like big elaborate projects. The headdress was fun to make. It also easily disassembles for easy transit.

Least Expensive Costume
Ms Fortune @ $47.20

The funny thing is I spent $13 on body paint for the scars then opted for faux leather because the paint was too messy. Which means this costume cost about $40. It also helps when you have the perfect shorts already in your wardrobe and when the costume doesn't have much fabric to begin with ;)

This costume has MY FAVOURITE PROPS OF THE YEAR. I just love how perky the tail and ears are. Foam, wire, and faux suede never looked so good.

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Favourite Photoshoot

RAWR -eleventhphotograph

Colossalcon Lion Cub shoot:
I don't think it needs an explanation but here we go.
Even though I ended up with few photos from this shoot, OH MY GOD I got to hold a lion cub and it was adorable! Poor thing was stressing after having been passed around but he was still pleasant.

I was worried her was going to claw me and a) ruin my costume or b) scar me for life. Luckily neither happened.

I also got to hold a baby albino kangaroo. Cute as hell.

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Favourite Convention - ColossalCon

With some of my Colossal roomies

Katsucon is a close second, but for overall experience Colossalcon wins. I had a great time with friends, made new friends, hung out in the waterpark, saw the cute animal in the zoo and I saw great costumes at the event. I went on a string of photoshoots which was very productive for my cosplay portfolio.
I also got to collaborate with a long time friend Vickybunnyangel with our Xenosaga costumes.
I had a great time on the long road trip to and from the event.
All around WIN. Read the full report here.
I will attend in 2014 so long as my schedule permits.


I don't have a Worst Convention for 2013. Nothing really stood out as disastrous. I passed on Youmacon this year because of the bad time I had in 2012 and it seems like I made the right decision.

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Forward to 2014

2014 should be a year of big projects. I say 'should' because that is the plan but I don't know if I can accomplish it. I'm still working on the costume I posted in my 2012 blog (Tera) and I still haven't finished my lingering Granado Espada costume (2yrs and counting)
Leatherworking and airbrushing are things I plan to experiment with in upcoming projects.

I have Katsucon and CostumeCon early in the year, and each should have at least one showstopper costume. Anime North is not that far behind and I'm contemplating competing. I really miss it, so I hope to fit in one maybe two masquerades for the year.

I plan on attending Dragoncon for the 1st time, schedule and budget permitting.

Five (Drakenguard 3) is on my planned cosplay list for 2014. I hope I can finish it in time for either Anime North or Otakuthon.

To keep up to date on my upcoming events and costumes check out my PLANS page. See you in 2014!

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