July Update

Hello all! It's hard to believe 2016 is already halfway done?? I have just under a month left of my contract in Alberta before I move back to Toronto. And by that extension I have about 1 month left to Otakuthon. Costume progress is coming along pretty well, considering I have also done 7 "Costume Saturday Challenges" and helped create over 300 costumes for the show I am working on--all in the last 2 months.

Since we're halfway through 2016, I have updated my costume progress collage. Again the percentages are just arbitrary numbers I assigned based on how I feel how much I have left to do.

Presea: Finally complete! Huzzah! It's been years in the making~!

Jack Frost: That sweater took forever. I am not looking forward to "frosting" the pants. Still need a staff.

Phoenix: Probably won't make any progress on this until the fall.

Sakura: I hate my fabric choice, a lot. Considering starting the dress over with new fabric that isn't awful satin. But I have a buckram base hat and the bodysuit constructed at least?

Leia: Pushing it for Otakuthon! Costume needs some tweaks to fit better, wig needs styling, and accessories still to do.

Link: Fabric things have been patterned and cut. I should probably sew them.

I think that's all for now. I need to work on those blog posts...

January Update

It's 2016 suddenly--and that means new projects for the new year!

...I realize I've been disappearing a lot lately. I am having trouble sticking to a regular posting schedule. I could apologize, but I won't. Blogging is a hobby, and as much as I love it, sometimes real life comes first. My plan for the new year is to post once every other week. I think that will be more manageable for me. Upcoming content includes Vaporeon, Vaporeon and more Vaporeon. With a few DIY projects I did this winter.

My first project I've started is to build myself a website for my portfolio. It will be nice to have a professional-looking site to house my costume and design work. It's taking longer than I thought though, because technology is my worst enemy. And also because I misplaced a lot of files when I transferred everything to my new computer this fall. I've spent the better part of this week reorganizing my hard drive. Uuuuuugh.

Without further ado, I present this year's cosplay projects!

6 costumes that are in varying states of completion (represented by the arbitrary percentages I have labelled them with). I make no promises on any of these, but the general goal here is to finish what I've already started before undertaking any more hugely complicated projects.

Presea: Costume started in ...2012/2013??? I wore it to Otakon the same year I did Kero & Suppi, but I have zero finished pictures. Unfortunately, the giant battle axe sustained serious paint-chipping damage in transit. I just need to sand down and re-paint the axe and this costume is finished. I would really love to do a photoshoot of this in the spring.

Jack Frost: I started this costume the same winter the film was released (2012), but I grew disinterested because it quickly became a costume that was SO overdone that con season. The costume pieces are built but need detailing. I think this will provide an interesting fabric painting challenge for me. I would love to have this done for a winter photoshoot, if I can.

Phoenix: An original design I did for my final project in university. My focus there was building the armour, but since I learned so much during the process, I want to go back and re-work some things. I don't expect to finish this costume this year, but I would like to build the tailored vest. The goal deadline is CostumeCon in 2017--which I think is a realistic deadline.

Sakura: Started this past September. It feels like I am trying to build every single Sakura costume in existence. I assure you, this is not the case. Just this one. And the other 2 I've made. And maybe some more after that.

Leia: Started this past October. Building the uniform pictured above as well as the poncho and helmet from the scenes on Endor. By far one of my favourite Leia costumes--except for perhaps her bounty hunter disguise from the same film.

Link: My excuse to bring out King of the Red Lions again. He's been sitting in our basement collecting dust. It makes me sad. The best part about making a Link costume is deciding which props to build. I think I want to make the mirror shield... But not sure what else...

Anyhoo, those are what I plan to work on this year. I may add another project to the list later on--as is always bound to happen when inspiration strikes.

In other news: I am taking a millinery course in night school starting later this month. Hat-making ahoy! Pretty stoked for that. But this may lead to some previously unplanned Downton Abbey costume. I love the heck out of that show and miss it already.

Hats off to a new year! Lets make it a good one! ;D

April Update

Helloooooooo! Being on hiatus makes me sad, but rest assured I have been generating lots of content just for you! Hats, shoes, armor and more! The new posting schedule is now every other Thursday, starting this week.

I just handed in my independent study for marking today. Which means I am super close to finishing my degree! And I am super excited to be finishing my degree, because I am really done with school at this point. School is for chumps.

The Phoenix (as I have been calling it) is getting there. The armor is built (though still needs a paint job), and the rest of the costume pieces (wig, tunic, pants, shoes, etc.) can be started. I desperately need to take a break from working on this, though. There are some pieces I want to re-work/redo.  I am hoping to debut the costume as some point this summer, though I don't know what con that will be...

I am excited to resume working on Toph and Vaporeon. Hoping to get both of them finished for Anime North.

In other news, Mike aka EleventhPhotograph moved to Japan to teach English, leaving me woefully photographer-less. :'( I'm gonna miss that guy! If anyone has a good photographer to refer me to for this con season (probably someone local, because Mike was also my roadtrip buddy) who would be interested in shooting with me, or if you yourself would like to offer up your photography services, let me know! (Paid opportunity, of course!)

I can't believe is almost con season again? (Though for some con season has already begun!)

In other other news I have a few shows/exhibits coming up?!

Firstly, I will be having one of my pieces on display in an exhibit at the Textile Museum of Canada. The exhibit is Making History, and includes the best projects from my Costume History class, where we had to recreate a historic garment/technique/photograph.  I built a 1800s style kilt, with my partner Katie (who built a 1600s style Great Kilt). Both will be on display at the museum starting this weekend!

Secondly, my Grad Show, Create is happening on the 23rd! My armor project will be on display, as well as my fellow classmates' cool projects. Feel free to come and support our graduating class--there will be food and drinks, admission is $10!

Finally, images of my set design for My Fair Lady are being included in the Ryerson University exhibit/installation for Prague Quadrennial in June (in Czech Republic!). The exhibition looks like it is going to be pretty fantastic! I have decided to go and I am very much looking forward to it. :D I am turning it into a bit of a Eurotrip/graduation trip, so I will probably be hitting up a couple different places on my adventure--Munich, probably Nördlingen, Innsbruck and Milan! If there are any costumers/cosplayers in those cities that want to meet up, let me know!

Lots of good stuff to look forward to! Cheerio!

March Update

Hey all! These past few months have been pretty crazy, going from one project to the next, I haven't had any time to write some real content for the blog. And won't until May or June probably. Let's be honest. I've been far too busy at work constructing my projects for school.

I suppose it's time to reveal my current project: my Independent Study! This is an original design costume for a project that is essentially the Theatre School equivalent of a "thesis". Basically a final project. My main focus of the project is creating the armor, which is what my independent study is on. The rest of the costume will come later. :) This is going to be my introduction to Worbla, so get excited everybody!

In other news, my set design for My Fair Lady got accepted to our Ryerson Theatre School student exhibit at Prague Quadrennial, so I will be traveling to Prague this summer to do a short presentation and see the rest of the Exhibition! Super excited! :D Not bringing the model itself, just images. (Thank god! As I can barely bring that thing on the subway let alone on an airplane!) Only needs some minor adjustments in order to meet the standards.

For the next bit, most of my updates will be progress pictures posted on my facebook and instagram pages! Take a look there!

See you on the other side...