The Panic Sets In

It is officially crunch time people!
I’ve just returned from a nice short little trip to Canada to see the boyfriend’s sister’s new baby – cute as a button he is.

Now, I have returned and with 9 days until I hop on a plane to Chicago for Anime Central it’s definitely going to be a rush rush rush to get everything finished all perfect. I’ve got finishing hemming left to do on the bunny suit, and a collar, cuffs, and ears to make. I’ve also got to sort out my Rikku belt because last years was just sad, and needs updating for all the new changes I’ve made to the costume.

Lists must be started for packing so I do not forget anything – because I will forget something important and then kick myself later for it if I do not.

Somehow I’ve got to pack two pairs of shoes, a wig head, two wigs, two cosplays, AND clothes for a week PLUS photoshoot outfits into my tiny tiny suitcase. I’m hoping I can dig around in our storage and find a larger one that doesn’t smell like mildew. Wish me luck!

Tomorrow and Wednesday are my finals at school and then I will be free and clear to work on finishing touches for the con. I hope to have Haruhi finished by Friday and that way I can have all of next week to worry about making sure everything is packed all proper like.

Overall I’m very excited and hoping that I don’t run into any issues in sewing, or do something stupid like run out of thread.

Oh yeah – and Children’s week to start and finish….hoorah!

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Belated Day 8

I basically failed at this.
Actually my boyfriend was in town and then I got very busy with my work and school schedule and I completely just did not have time for the blog – SO here’s a large update.

Rikku is pretty much completed. Sleeves are re-made and finished. Skirt needs eyelets and yellow stringies and it will be finished. Wig and contact lenses have been ordered and are on the way and should arrive before the end of the month.
I purchased a large roll of paper today which I will be using to pattern out my Haruhi bunny suit. Probably going to make the suit out of some fabric scraps I have lying around before I start cutting into really expensive satin and just merrily sewing. Her wig has been ordered, but I still need to get some yellow ribbon for her hair. Fishnet stockings have also been ordered and ship and should actually arrive tomorrow. I ordered some with a backseam embellished with rhinestones for just a little extra added detail.  I also still need to order my spiral steel boning and underwires for the suit which I should be able to do a little later in the week.

Altogether everything is coming along quite nicely and I feel a lot more confident that I’ll be able to finish with plenty of time.  I may even have time to make a North High uniform if I don’t feel like being in a bunny suit all day.  I’m feeling much more confident that everything will be finished with plenty of time before ACen.

And without further ado:

Day 8 – A photo that makes you angry/sad

In all honesty I couldn’t think of anything and this is what I came up with :p

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More Anime Central

Day 6 – Whatever tickles your fancy

Ha see, I bet you thought I was forgetting my daily posts with the title there huh!

I plan on beginning work on my Haruhi body suit this week which I’m both nervous and excited for.  I’ve never made a body suit before so it should be a very interesting learning experience.

Unfortunately I somehow managed to break 3 machine needles the last week I was sewing, so I’m completely out of needles and have to drive about 30 minutes to get more.  It’s unfortunate the fabric shop is so far out of the way, or it’d be less of a hassle for me to get the supplies I need.

So the last…week and a half or so, my projects have been sitting near completion without being able to be finished.  I got through one of Rikku’s sleeve remakes I just need to tie and sew the bews in place, the other one is ready for assembly.  My skirt has yet to be done.  I have some material cut for it, but I haven’t sewn any of it.  I’m hoping that this fabric will hold up to the eyelets better….I really don’t want to have to hand sew them…ugggh, although I can if it’s necessary.

I also have to purchase a roll of spiral steel boning this week so that I can finish my corset and also finish my Haruhi bunny suit once I’ve got it assembled to that point 😛

Overall looking forward to the next week of sewing 🙂

I cannot wait to debut all my Rikku changes, as well as the Haruhi bunny suit, AND my steampunk fashion show outfit at Anime Central in May.  Stress is mounting as the date draws closer, as I still have to order and style 3-4 wigs….BUT!  I am confident that everything will go off without a hitch once I’m there and it will all be faboo 🙂

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Gun Mod fun…and more

My friends, today is all about spray painting plastic stuff!
I spent the better part of my day in class, but now that I’m home, I am currently in the process of spray painting my brother’s old Nerf gun into amazingness.
I picked up some Krylon Fushion paint this afternoon between classes, along with some other acrylic paints for later. So far it’s coming along quite nicely. I’m giving it just a bit longer to dry before I decide to put it back together. I’ve only got a bit more sunlight left for the day and I’m not very keen on leaving it out overnight.
Work on my super sekrit project for ACen is coming to completion. Just have one and a half more pieces of clothing to finish constructing and then it’s just accessories (and those are the hard parts).
Picked out wigs for everything coming to Chicago with me, and hopefully I will be able to get to purchasing those soon so that I have plenty of time to style them. I want to make sure I’m completely finished up with everything before the first week of May since finals will be that week! ACK!

I really feel like ACen is the PERFECT way to kick off my summer vacation and I am SO looking forward to it! Will and I are working on narrowing down specific locations for shoots while I’m there and I CANNOT wait. Keep a lookout on my DA for upcoming photos – within the next month or so we will be doing a shoot in downtown Raleigh which I’m really looking forward to.

More cosplay updates to come as I begin work on my Haruhi bunny suit! Wish me luck!….which reminds me, I need to order corset boning.

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Plans for Anime Central

I am getting very excited as plans for ACen are finally coming together.
I know for sure I will be bringing
Rikku – FFX2
Haruhi Bunny – Haruhi no Suzumiya
and my Kimono in addition.

I possibly have one other trick up my sleeve but I’m keeping that under wraps for now.
I’m really looking forward to a few scenic shoots with my friend (and photographer) Will Froelich. If anyone is interested in shooting with me while I’m there let me know and I’ll see if we can squeeze you in :p

I’m really looking forward to being back in Chicago again getting to see old friends, old places, visiting lots of stuff! I know we’ll be making a trip out to Lake Michigan to shoot which will be totally awesome!

Plans are still coming together but they’re beginning to become more concrete.
Time to get crackin on those cosplays!

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Cosplaying and Anime Central

So last year was my very first adventure to an Anime convention.  I attended Anime Central in Rosemont, IL (that’s near Chicago for those that don’t know).

While I lived there last year, I do not this year, however I will be making the trip out just because I enjoyed it so much.  I did dress up.  I dressed as Rikku from FFX2 and I will be dressing as her again for one of the days – I have a few slight modifications I’ll be making to the costume over the next couple of months as well as purchasing a wig…..extensions were good last year but the stupid clips made my head hurt after wearing the headband all day….plus I’ll be able to style the hair better on a wig.

However, I will also be making a second costume this year.  I have an issue in that I’m not an avid fan of Anime in general….I’m more of a game person – but it was suggested to me that I wear Haruhi Suzumiya’s bunny costume.  Now I’m not a fan of the anime, nor have I ever watched it – but I am absolutely in love with the Playboy bunny style of this outfit of hers.  Plus she’s super cute, so I’ll be making the costume.  My main reason for making this is because I know it will be a challenge for me.  I’ve made corsets before but never on this scale.  That suit’s gotta have enough support to stand up on it’s own and hold D boobies.

I spent most of today digging – and found a dissection of an original Playboy bunny suit which I will be using to draft the pattern for my own suit.  The originals have 7/16″ spiral metal boning in them, which I’m a tiny tiny bit afraid of – I’ve worn corsets made with metal boning before, but never the spiral variety.  The difference between straight up metal boning and spiral metal boning is that with the spiral you have multi directional bending (ie front to back and side to side) whereas with the other you only have one direction you can bend (front or back) – so I’m interested to see the range of motion that this type of boning will allow…..maybe it will be slightly more comfortable!  Although, I doubt it.

I also have one other possible costume in store for ACen but it will be for the fashion show, and so I will keep it a secret for now.

I’m so looking forward to ACen, I’ll be able to attend all three days this year, and I’ll get to see the famous Yaya Han again – which should be fun.  I only saw her in passing at her booth last year but I think I’ll be sure to make a special stop and allow a little more time for chit chat (if she has time of course).  I’m also hoping to see Limebarb there since it is so close to where she is located – but we shall see.

Totally excited for the coming con season (which technically has already started) and also excited for my new job which will allow me more play room in my fabric budget 🙂

Check back for more costume updates – maybe even some progress photos once I get started!  Should be fun times!

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