Hero's of Cosplay

Hello Darling Dolls

Like many people who love cosplay I am watching the series Heroes Of Cosplay produced by the SyFy Channel.  Yes, I know there are a whole bunch of opinions out there on the people and the series in general which I am not going to get into.

In my eyes its not what I wanted....I was hoping for more of a 'showcase' on the various artists, more 'how' and less drama.  However I know that everyone of us wants something different so I'm just going to watch and enjoy what tips I can pick up.

All I ask of the viewing public is to take it all as light viewing.  If anything its a chance to see some great costume inspiration.  I admit seeing how many people enter comps in 'reworked' characters or their own creations inspired by characters has given me a bit more confidence in actually putting my Femme Joker onto the workshop's con-creation board and off the 'board of dreams'.  In other words it has inspired me to take the risk to build something from my imagination inspired by the original character.  

So I will be watching the series probably while sewing to help keep me motivate.  And with that I'm heading back to the workshop.

Happy cosplaying dolls ;-) 

RWBY work log

Hello My darling Dolls

It's been a long time since I've been so obsessed by a character and costume, but its official RWBY is taking up a lot of my free time.

So far the cape is 90% done. I still need to trim and finish off the bottom hem, but I'll wait till I have the boots to ensure its the right length. Needless to say its better to have to cut it down rather than trying to add a longer panel to it.

I still have to start the dress which will end up being a combination of 3 patterns I have in the workshop. Plus the belt with ammo and extras, but I'm most worried about the making of the massive weapon she carries. Hopefully I can find some reference photos of the weapon in its smaller state that I can take to the con's.

Oh well that's enough from me tonight....time to get back to the RWBY soundtrack on my iPod and get sewing

RWBY.... the insanity begins

Hello my Darling Dolls,

Yep since we last spoke I have been gathering and watching as much of RWBY as I can get me hands on as I decided she was to be my next cosplay project.  So far so good, however I am dreading making her weapon.  Currently the costume build will be broken down into parts as I really need to get some traction on this if I want to showcase it at Armageddon in October and then at Brisbane Supanova in November when I will be able to share it with the Rooster Teeth team.

Current list includes

1. Cape
2. Dress
3. Boots
4. Weapon (either full size or smaller gun version)
5. Corset
6. Belt with bullets etc.

So all in all a tiny project LOL, not to mention I also have to make the following costumes

• Junior - RWBY 
• Booker DeWitt - Bioshock Infinite
• Elizabeth Dewitt - Bioshock Infinte
• GoGo Yubari - Kill Bill
• Crazy 88 - Kill Bill
• Harley Quinn - Batman Arkham (I am remaking this as my skill set has increased since the first build of this costume)

So I'll leave you know and head back to the work room

Happy Cosplaying Dolls ;-)

RWBY

Hello Darling Dolls,

I admit I usually get into anime, animation etc series usually long after its screened and knowing my luck also ended.  However thanks to the amazing guys at Rooster Teeth have allowed me to start watching a series from the beginning as it screens for the first time. 

For the those who you don't know Rooster Teeth (I'm sure most of you do), they are mostly known for the machinima of Bungie's Halo which became RedVsBlue.  I still remember when I watch my first RedVsBlue back in 2002 (I think) and I fell in love with these guys sense of humour.  Plus I got a major case of the feels when I met the team for the first time at a Melbourne Expo when they where at an empty booth with just a handwritten sign saying "swag and merch stuck in transit'.  It was one of those times where I wasn't quiet sure who they were but the name sounded familiar.  Anywhoo I'm getting off topic.  The Rooster Teeth team are now known for things like Achievement Hunter, Let's Play and my fav Rage Quit on the Rooster Teeth YouTube Channel.  It still makes me smile to see the growing lines of fans at each convention over the last 11 years since we first met at conventions. If you want to see any of the team be prepared for a couple hours queuing.

But the real reason for this entry is the new series RWBY (pronounced Ruby).  Its their new anime-style web-series created and directed by Monty Oum which was released to the Rooster Teeth community and channels mid July 2013.   So what is it??????  Basically the story takes place in a world filled with monsters and supernatural forces.  Like most of my favourite Anime's it focuses on four girls at the Beacon Academy where the are trained to wage war and survive battles against the shadow creatures of the Grimm to save the world.  Honestly this is all I know right now as only the first three episodes are up online at the Rooster Teeth site, as this series will be release on a weekly basis I think.

So far I'm loving every episode especially since its not like a 'normal' Rooster Teeth project, I do warn the guys expecting another RedVsBlue style its not like that at all.  

Now I just have to figure out who I'm going to cosplay from it.  So far Ruby is winning with Blake Belldonna and Gylnda Goodwitch coming in second.  So  just in case your interested I've attached a few trailers and previews for you to have a look at.  So remember to support your up and coming artists are the great team at Rooster Teeth.

Tinkerbell - work blog

Hello My Darling Dolls

After OzComicCon and PAXAus I have been drawing a bit of a blank as to what I'm making next.  So..... I have decided to start my Tinkerbell cosplay.  The deadline for Tinkerbell is October 2013 or April 2014 depending on weather, but I find as soon as I start working on one cosplay I get more and more inspired and suddenly I'm working on multiple costumes.

Anyhow I somehow I have to get this pile of fabric to look like this.

After a few hours of research I made my way to Spotlight (my local fabric store) and picked up fabric, fixings and ended up with heaps of patterns as they were all on sale for $5.  I gotta love $5 patterns, and now I have a heap of base patterns to use over the coming months.  Tip to all you newer cosplayers just because the pattern says its for a 'formal dress' for example they can be great to use for your cosplay.  I'm slowly learning to see past the picture and just at the design.

I ended up grabbing a simplicity cocktail dress pattern and started to re-design for Tinkerbell.  Currently the base layer is emerald poplin (a great base at $2.99 per meter) and then with an overlay of lime organza.  It actually better than I expected once I started to stitch it together. 

However after 5 hours I had the brilliant (I use this term loosely) to add layers of single leaves all over the dress to really up the fairy feeling.  Each flower has to be cut out, then outlined with glitter paint.  Sadly the pic below doesn't show it too well at the moment.  2 done only another hundred or so to go, the to figure out how to stitch them on.  Then I need to figure out how to make the wings.  

Wish Me Luck Dolls

PAX Australia

Hello my Darling Dolls,

Well its a week later and I'm finally starting to recover from OzComicCon and PAXAus, however I do feel the dreaded con-plague in my system so the recovery may take a little longer than normal.  Today I mostly will be talking about PAXAus as this was my latest convention and I'm still on a high from it.

 

Needless to say 1000's of gaming fan's turned out for this inaugural event which was great to see as we all braved Melbourne's cold and often raining winter.  Thankfully the team at PAXAus had installed heaters and covered walkways for us all.  Even with the weather and huge crowds this event was a success in the eyes of this avid con-goer.  

Yes there were lines but the enforcers were great. The D.O.E group arrived uber early but we managed to be one of the first 50 people through the door at opening.  Surprisingly the 2 hour wait passed quickly thanks to our DS consoles, music, coffee and beach balls.  Yep throwing 10 beach balls into a crowd of people waiting managed to keep us busy for ages as a strange version of volleyball/basketball ensued. 

Once inside PAXAus we were greeted by a feast of booths from developers, vendors and publishers from all levels.  It was fantastic to see the Big Boys like Riot and Nintendo standing side my side with local indie developers and studios.  

Pitch Your Game Panel with
 Eric Neustadter (xbox), Nika Harper (Geek&Sundry and RiotGames) and Jeff Kalles (Penny Arcade)

There were some fantastic panels (assuming you lined up early enough) like the 'pitch your game' and 'Cos we can - cosplay panel'.  It was great to hear the back and forth between the speakers and gamers, so many laughs.  It was also great to hear new places to pick up cosplay stuff from some of the experts.  Advice for con-goers next year follow @PAXaus_lines on twitter to ensure you know what is happening with lines for panels, this twitter feed saved me so many times and really helped me to plan my convention.    

Of course I can't talk about PAXAus without mentioning Riot Games.  WOW what a stand! Between the competitions, giveaways and skill sharing; I was blown away by the skills on show plus the Cosplay Parade. What can I say, except OMG!!! Not only did it showcase some amazing skills of the Australian Cosplay community I got the chance to meet up with some of my online buddies.

Me dressed as Annie (classic skin) with Tibbers from League of Legends

I was so amazed when a Riot Team member suggested I go up on stage with the amazing Cosplayers, and after much persistence from the D.O.E crew and fellow cosplayers I ended up on stage with Nika Harper showcasing my Annie from League of Legends. I need to say a big thank you to Riot Games for the awesome swag.  After the parade I walked away with a new G100s Mouse, a Gamecom gaming headset, multiple lanyards, wrist bands, skins for LOL and one of my now prized possesions.... my official League of Lengends Cosplay 2013 badge.  This badge is one of the coolest things I've ever received from a cosplay competition, and it did create a major case of 'the feels' once getting off stage.    

Top - swag, Bottom left - Tibbers and lanyard, Bottom right - cosplay badge

So yeah... basically it was awesome!!!! Pics of the D.O.E are slowing surfacing and I will upload mine soon.  Plans for next years PAXAus are already underway with the PAXCosplay group arranging a massive LOL group and the D.O.E planning which passes to get. 

Tell us about it Janet......

Well the night is finally here, in a few hours I will be dancing the time warp with a bunch of rocky horror show fans.   Yep I'm cosplaying and of course I'm going as Magenta.

Tiki as Magenta

So this is how I'm beginning my cosplay weekend for OzcomicCon as Magenta in honor of one of my favourite actress' Patricia Quinn.  I can't explain the excitement of meeting this amazing woman.  Then Saturday will see Alice take the stage followed by Hatsune Miku.  

I'll be instagraming all weekend as well as posting on the Den Of Evil cosplay page so you can all follow what we are up to.  As always if you see us come and say hi we would love to meet you all out there.

Well I'm off to dance and as Frank-n-furter would say "Don't dream it be it."