Friday, February 28, 2014

Current Project

I got permission today to show you guys my current project: a sheer Civil War dress for my Mother in Law's Birthday!




More info on the making-of Monday.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Japanese and Korean Music

I was recently introduced to a Japanese pop-metal (yeah, that's a thing) band called BabyMetal and their new song GIVE ME CHOCO!




I find it annoying, and adorable, and I'm a little sad that I can't see the outfits better because they look cute.


I've only done two Asian music cosplays, my Ayumi Hamasaki's Ladies Night dress:






And Ayumi's Song 4 U White Queen dress:







Neither of those are my favorite work, though, I think that has to go to her song Jewel:



I'd really love to do either that coat, or the ballgown that's in the second half of the video:


Perhaps I should throw that together, certainly would satisfy my current desire for bling!



My other Asian music obsession right now is not Japanese, it's Korean.  I have two songs from K-pop group 2NE1 on my short playlist right now:



I Am The Best




Can't Nobody


Their new album, Crush, dropped yesterday and it's awesome!  I can't wait for the videos from it, first of which comes tomorrow!  Their tour, All or Nothing, starts Saturday, and I bet it will be amazing.  Look at how Sci-Fi Geeky their trailer is!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Behind

Sorry for not posting in so long.  After Katsucon I came home sick and tired, and I was pushing through a sewing project I can't show you yet, so I didn't have much to say.  Here's some randomness you can chew on until I can properly post tomorrow:

American Duchess Shoe Giveaway: http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2014/02/nankeen-regency-boots-giveaway.html




World Cosplay Summit 2007 Winners (France):



World Cosplay Summit 2009 Japanese Entry




Costume Designer's Guild Award Winners:

EXCELLENCE IN CONTEMPORARY FILM

Blue Jasmine – Suzy Benzinger


EXCELLENCE IN PERIOD FILM

12 Years a Slave – Patricia Norris


EXCELLENCE IN FANTASY FILM

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Trish Summerville


OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION SERIES

House of Cards – Tom Broecker


OUTSTANDING PERIOD/FNTASY TELEVISION SERIES

Downton Abbey – Caroline McCall


OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TV MOVIE OR MINI SERIES

Behind the Candelabra – Ellen Mirojnick


EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL COSTUME DESIGN

Call of Duty: Ghosts Masked Warriors – Nancy Steiner

Friday, February 21, 2014

World Cosplay Summit: Katsucon Update

The Katsucon qualifier was last weekend, and here's how it went:




Bejitaballz, 1st place




Kiwi Teacup, 2nd place (tie)




Kirayume Cosplay, 2nd place (tie)




I can't wait to compete at Anime St. Louis, hopefully I will get to meet all these wonderful cosplayers at ACen!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Cosplaying Luggage

What's your favorite travel luggage?  Being a costumer luggage has always plagued me.  I make big, complicated costumes that require a lot of components so I always have a ton of big, heavy luggage.  I got by for years on cheap WalMart luggage, but it always kept breaking.  Recently I invested in this luggage for a trip and, unfortunately, one of the suitcases broke the first week out.  I had pretty good luck with the rest of it, though, so I'm going to try getting it warranty replaced before giving up entirely.  There's a new option out there, though.  A Japanese company is developing luggage with cosplayers in mind.





CosCase has a few interesting features.  It includes elastics that hold oddly shaped pieces on to the side and the back.  It's designed to be thin enough to go on a train (I'm assuming Japanese train here, no clue on how big that is).  It also comes with a tray that turns it into a table and includes a makeup mirror:





All sound like great features, but I am still dismayed that it is so tiny!  It may be ideal for a carry-around, but for travel I need something much bigger.  I may still get one when it comes out.  Are you more interested?  Here's a link to the kickstarter-like campaign to get it into manufacture, and here's an article about it in English.

So what does my ideal luggage look like?  I'm loving the hard-sided luggage I have now, I've had pins and sharp things poke through the fabric of other luggage.  I love compartments.  Not necessarily pockets on the outside, because when you open your suitcase flat in a hotel room they become difficult to access, but inside pockets make organizing things to live out of a suitcase so much easier (I hate having to unpack into hotel drawers and then repack, why can't I just keep things in my suitcase?).  I'm not so sure about the makeup mirror and tray, but I love the idea of outside straps to hold things on the move.  Sturdy enough to withstand the baggage handlers at airports and train stations is a must, and easily wheeled is important, too, when you have two big suitcases plus a laptop bag and carry-on.  Light is important, because I want to be able to pack more into it.  What's your ideal luggage situation?

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Otilia



Awards:

Best in Show Presentation: LoneStarCon




Documentation



Pictures: