Temari Cosplay Update

I almost have all the pieces of Temari’s first Shipuden outfit.  I’m buying the kimono, obi, headband, netting, and gloves.  I bought a base for her fan and should be receiving it in a week at most.  I still have to order her wig and buy the materials for her shoes since I’m making them myself.  I also have to get a bunch of paint for the fan. 

Cosplay Plans for the First Con of 2011

My first con for 2011 is coming up in May so I’m making cosplays for it of  course.  It’ll be my first con attending as an attendee, and I’m really excited!  It’s a four day con so I’m hoping to debut a new cosplay each day.  So far I’ve got four cosplays picked out with a fifth as a backup. 

For day one, I want to go as Temari from Naruto Shippuden.  I really like her black kimono and from what I’ve seen of her character, she’s pretty awesome.  I’m going to watch more of Shippuden to get a better idea of her character, but she’s the first Naruto character I’ve wanted to cosplay besides Sakura.  I’m buying this cosplay since I found a really good deal from another cosplayer and it would be more cost efficient to buy it.  I’ll post pictures when I get the costume hopefully within the next two weeks.  I’m going to make her wig and shoes myself, but I don’t quite know what I’ll do for her fan.  I’ll figure it out as time goes on.  I’m stoked and nervous about this cosplay all at the same time.  It’ll be my first time cosplaying a popular character from a new anime. 

I also want to cosplay Anna from Final Fantasy 4: The After Years on day one because there is going to be a Final Fantasy photo shoot that day.  Her outfit consists of an ankle-length dress with a blue sash, waist-length orange hair, and an orange barrette.  I can probably buy the dress and either find or make the sash.  The barrette shouldn’t be too hard to find either.  As for the hair, I should be able to use my own since it’s a similarish color now that I dyed it. 

For day two, I want to go as Kotomi from Clannad.  I’m planning on wearing a white sun dress, since she wears a white sun dress in one of the episodes and I don’t have much money to spare.  I’m going to look around at second hand and thrift stores for this cosplay.  If it doesn’t work then I’ll try for another one of her casual outfits.  I’ll be styling her wig too which I am excited for too.  I can’t wait to try out my ideas for how to make her hairstyle work while staying as true to the anime as possible. 

Day three will be Akari from ARIA the Animation.  I absolutely love her summer uniform and can’t wait to wear it.  So far the costume is 2/3 done.  I just have to make the fuku, shoes, glove, and hat.  I’m ordering a new prestyled wig cause I’m new to wig styling and it’s more cost efficient if I do.  I don’t have a lot to say about this cosplay because I’ve been talking about it a lot in my other posts.

Day four I’ll be one of two potential cosplays, either Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist or Sheeta from Castle in the Sky.  I say one of two because I don’t know if I’ll have the Maria cosplay done in time.  I also thought of having Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya as a back up but that will depend on finances.  I found one that I can buy for a good price, but I don’t know if I’ll have enough money or not yet.  I’ll also have to buy a wig for it now that I’ve dyed my hair.  I don’t think Haruhi will end up being an option.    

 

Three potential cosplays, Sheeta and long haired Haruhi.

As I said I’m really excited for this con.  I’m going there to have a great time and meet lots of new people.  There are a whole bunch of things I’d like to do at the con,  like group photo shoots, a formal dinner/ball, and the cosplay contest/masquerade.  I want to enter my Akari cosplay in the cosplay contest/masquerade.  I’m a little nervous about doing so, but I’ll just do my best.  I might make a few group/photo shoot cosplays as well.  I still have a lot to do to prepare for this con especially if my friend(s) want to cosplay with me, but if that happens it’s for a different post.  Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you again soon.  ^_^ 

To the glory of God the father and Jesus his son.

Signing off, Narnian

Knitting Update and Pictures

As I mentioned in the post “Knitting Project Update – New Yarn and Future Projects” I’m currently knitting a sweater.  It’s my take on the Nora’s Sweater from the Interweave Knits winter 2009 magazine.  Currently, I’m about halfway done with the project.  I have the back, back inset and about half of the left sleeve done.  I still have to make the right sleeve, front right and front left panels, and yoke not to mention sew it all together. 

So far the sweater looks beautiful.  I chose a rich purple for the base/main color and a redish purple for the secondary/accent color.  Originally the color differentiation started out as an accident.  I accidentally got two different colors of purple thinking they were the same color.  Nevertheless, I love the results.  The color variation adds to the sweater’s character while not distracting from the pattern’s graceful design. 

I have a picture of my progress to share.  I’m really happy with my work and can’t wait to see how it turns out, especially since I have to buy more redish purple dye so I can match the color variation of the back panel on the front panels.  The picture was a quick picture I snapped for my Ravelry account.  It’s not the best quality, but it shows the progress well. 

I also have pictures of my previous knitting project.  I made the Aquitaine Pullover from the same Interweave Knits issue a few months back, but I never posted pictures.  So I took a couple and thought I’d share. 

It was my first major sweater project.  I’m rather proud of it.  The pattern turned out well.  It’s also really comfy and the color match much of my wardrobe well.  I might end up entering this in a local fair if I get the chance.  I’d like to enter the purple sweater as well if it gets done in time. 

To conclude, thank you for reading.  Your views mean so very much to me.  I really appreciate it.  Have a good day and a wonderful week. 

Akari Update 7 – Wig

After much searching and price checking and wig hunting, I’ve decided to buy a prestyled wig for Akari.  I found that I can save more time and money if I buy the wig instead of making it myself.  As this is the case, I found a prestyled wig that I can buy from Clarissa-Kids on Ebay and Taobao.  The Taobao wig is less expensive so I’ll be buying it from there, especially since I know a group of people who want to do a batch order to save on shipping.  The wig will cost around $25-$30 USD including shipping.  I’m really about finding this wig as I didn’t want to style it myself.  I’m new to wig styling and Akari’s hair is at least at an intermediate level so I’m really nervous about styling it myself.  I don’t want to ruin a wig and I certainly don’t want to have a mediocre wig especially if I enter this cosplay in a cosplay masquerade. 

Updated Cosplay List – March 2011

As I’ve said before and we all know, I change my cosplay list nigh constantly depending on finances and circumstances.  This year is the year of the cosplay for me.  I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and or gathered before I go off to college fulltime next fall (fall 2012).  I’m using the time I have left to make sure that I’ll have backup cosplays to fall on so I won’t have to worry about it as much next year.  I’m also just trying to enjoy life before I have to completely become an adult.  The transition from child/teen to adult is a new, difficult, scary, and challenging one, but it is worth every moment as well.  I can’t wait to be fully on my own and self supporting. 

Back on topic, I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and/or planned this year as possible.  I still have another school year to make and/or gather cosplays, but I’m trying to get as much done this year as possible, especially since I’m planning to go to two new cons this year.  I’m so excited!  I’ve gotten most of my cosplays figured out so far, but I’ve added a few new ones to my list as well.  I might buy some of the new cosplays to save on cost, time, and other expenses, but overall I’d like to make as many as possible.  Just because I bought the cosplay doesn’t mean I won’t wear it with pride or be less of a cosplayer, it just means that I’ll have more time and funds to channel at the cosplays that I really want to work on and enter into contests.  I won’t enter a bought cosplay unless it’s for a skit because that wouldn’t be far to the other contestants or to myself.  I’d be cheating, and I wouldn’t feel right about it. 

To recap, my cosplay list for this year so far is:

Akari Mizunashi from ARIA the Animation (Summer Uniform)

Vorfeed from Lost Universe

Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist (State Military Uniform)

Sophia Forrester from Last Exile (Silvana Uniform)

Sango from Inuyasha (Slayer Uniform)

Meliara from Court Duel (Original Design Purple Gown)

I was thinking of changing Meliara to Nee, another character from Court Duel by Sherwood Smith, but I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll actually do that yet.  As you can see, I’m making a lot of uniforms this year.  I guess this is kinda the year of the uniform as well as the year of the cosplay.  It’s the year of the cosplay uniform! 

Here are a few recap pictures for my present cosplay list.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Akari, Vorfeed, Maria, Sophia, Sango, sorry no picture of Meliara.]

 

I’ve added to the original list quite a bit since January, but I won’t include all the additions since I don’t know how many will actually happen, but then I don’t even fully know that for the original list either.  Anyway, I’ll include the additions that I actually have or can easily get the materials for first.  The lower on the list the cosplay is the less likely it will happen.  As such, here’s the new list. 

Temari from Naruto Shippuden (Time Skip Kimono)

Rapunzel from Tangeled (ending spoiler -_^)

Yui, Megumi, and or Mio from K-On!! (School Uniform – Both winter and summer versions)

Susan from Prince Caspian (Red Battle Dress with Corset and Chain Mail)

Aerith from Final Fantasy Advent Children

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Earth Kingdom Outfit)

Nausicca from Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind (Ending Outfit)

Nagisa, Kotomi, and or Tomoyo from Clannad (School Uniform – Summer and/or winter)

Euphemia and/or Shirley from Code Geass (No Specific Version Yet)

Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (School Uniform with long hair)

There were a few more I wanted to add, but I moved them to next year’s list.  So far, I almost have the Temari cosplay.  I’m going to buy it from another cosplayer.  I want to make the Rapunzel cosplay for my birthday in 10 days.  I’ve picked out most of the fabric, but I still have to get it and the money to buy it.  The K-On!! cosplays are still on the back burner though I might have the jacket fabric already.  The Susan Cosplay is part of 4-H and will be finished this year.  Aerith is a maybe for later this year once my hair grows out longer, although I could use hair extensions.  Toph is on the back burner as well.  I want to finish her Fire Nation outfit before I start on her Earth Nation outfit.  Nausicca might be another 4-H project.  Clannad is a maybe.  Code Geass is just an idea I’ve been toying with for a while.  I love both the characters so cosplays are inevitable I just can’t decide on a specific version to cosplay for either characters.  Haruhi is also a maybe and, if done, will mostly serve as a last resort/back up cosplay for if everything falls through.  I found a good deal on premade Haruhi cosplay and I’ve been told that I look like her so that’s why I’m thinking about the cosplay. 

Here are some pictures of the newest additions.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Temari, Rapunzel (her hair would be different), Yui, Megumi, Mio, Susan, Aerith, Toph, Nausicca, Nagisa, Kotomi, Tomoyo, Euphemia, Shirley, Haruhi (yes, I’d do the funky hairstyles per day too).]

    

 

I still have a few cosplays that I need to finish.  They are as follows:

Yuna from Final Fantasy 10 (Amano Artwork Interpretation)

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Fire Nation Disguise)

Sheeta from Castle in the Sky (Pirate Uniform)

Susan from Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Narnian Trailer Dress)

My Yuna cosplay still needs to be finished.  It’s been over two years, and it’s still not done!  Luckily I don’t have a lot left to do.  I have to finish the hibiscus and ties, remake the skirt (I want it to be fuller), add the ties to the sleeves, make a staff, and that’s about it.  I also have to find or make her earrings too.  Toph just needs a bit of work.  I have to remake the belt thing, line the over-the-shoulder thing and add the back button, fix the bracers, restyle the wig, and make the crown.  I might make her shoes too, but I’m not sure yet.  Sheeta’s wig still isn’t done cause I haven’t gotten around to styling the bangs.  I also have to make her headband and hair ties, and fix the belt as well as find a pair of brown flats.  Susan is the almost done.  I just have to hem the dress and remake the collar.  I might embroider the collar too if I get the time/chance. 

I have pictures for the yet-to-be-finished cosplays as well.  They are as follows.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Yuna, Toph, Sheeta, Susan.]

That pretty much concludes all I was going to say.  I might add a few more cosplays or change out some of the possible cosplays as the year goes through, but I want to save some cosplays for next year even though I’d like to have ten new cosplays this year so I can wear a new cosplay each day of the cons I plan to go to.  I also have a tradition of making a new costume for my birthday, and I might make something for any fun events I go to.  I’m trying to keep the list reasonable while thinking ahead, especially as I plan to go to new cons.  After all, it is my goal to go to one new con each year until I run out of cons or get too old which I don’t think will happen for quite a while. 

As always thank you for reading.  The page views and comments mean a lot to me.  ^_^  I hope to talk to you soon! 

To the eternal glory of God.

~Narnian

New Leather-crafting Project

As part of my last year in 4-H , I’m doing a leather-craft project.  For this project, I decided to make Susan Pevensie’s Battle Outfit from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian movie.  Only the corset will be made of leather, but if I make the corset then I have to make the rest of the outfit.  This is one of my favorite dresses that Susan wears in the entire movie series  Originally, I made this outfit for the premiere of Prince Caspian with a lot of help from one of my sewing friends.  The first costume was an embarrassment to say the least, but I loved it.  For a first costume based on small or blurry pictures it was great, but I’m a perfectionist when is comes to sewing so I want my costumes to be perfect or at least close enough.  All that to say that I’m working to remake my first costume over the next year and a half.  I’m giving myself a huge time span because I want everything as perfect as possible and most of the pieces will take a while to make, like the chain mail.  I’m also giving myself plenty of time for school and shipping if I order any of my pieces. 

Ok, so by now you’re probably wondering what the outfit looks like, especially after I went into so much detail to explain why I’m making it (again).  Don’t worry pictures are coming next.   You can find really high quality pictures on NarniaWeb.com’s costume sub section.

 

I’m going to start working on the corset first as it’s for my leather crafting project.  From there I have no idea what will be make next as I cannot guarantee when I’ll find the materials for the next pieces.  I can’t wait to start working on this project!  I might make the accessories as well, but that’s a bit unsure at the moment.  I’d really love to make the bow, quiver, and bracer.  ^_^

Thank you for reading and please keep in touch.  This is Narnian signing off.  Later!

A New Anime to Fall In Love With

Despite having massive amounts of homework this week, I was able to finish watching K-On!.  It’s a fairly new anime that I stumbled across when strolling around the Cosplay.com forums.  At first I was unsure of it, but as time went on it grew on me.

K-On! is the story of four high school girls who revive the near disbanded Light Music Club at their school.  The first season of the anime follows the beginning of the girl’s high school career and friendship as they start a band named After School Tea Time, become acquainted with high school, and gain a new club and band member.  It’s a cute upbeat anime that is a great stress reliever amid cramming for tests and school assignments.

At the beginning of the show there are four members in the Light Music (keion) Club.  Yui is the spacey, upbeat guitarist who is obsessed with sweets and snacks.  Mio is the quiet, shy bassist who is easily scared and acts as the mother of the group.  Tsumugi, or Mugi, is the kind, girly pianist who finds everything about normal life exciting.  Ritsu is the energetic, quick mouthed drummer who often teases Mio and is the self proclaimed president of the club.  There are quite a few secondary characters as well as a fifth member of the club introduced half way through the season.  Azusa aka Azunyan, the fifth member, joins the club as a secondary guitarist.  She is the youngest member of the club and has a no-nonsense attitude but loves to have fun.  Sawako is a major minor character so I’ll mention her as well.  She is the Light Music Club’s supervisor with a devious personality hidden under her sweet façade.  Ui and Nodoka are two other major minor characters.  Ui is Yui’s responsible younger sister who looks after Yui like an older sister.  She also loves to cook.  Nodoka is Yui’s childhood friend on the student counsel who helps the Light Music Club at times.  That’s all I’ll add for characters. 

Of the five main characters Yui (third from the left) is my favorite character followed by Mio (second from the right), Ritsu (middle), Azusa (second from the left), and Mugi (far right).  Sawako is on the far left.  I like all the characters, but I can identify with Yui the most which makes her my favorite.  She is such a funny character and a lot of her mistakes are mistakes I’ve experienced as well.  Like the time I left my instrument at home on my way to music lessons or the time I forgot my lines for the school play because I was too busy studying for a biology test and had to relearn my whole script.  We both can be very spacey as well and we have responsible younger sisters that help take care of us. 

Even though I can’t identify with Mio as much as Yui, she’s my second favorite character.  We are both shy, don’t like to waste time though we like to relax at times, get good grades in school, and don’t like scary stories (suspense is fine, scary is not).  I can identify with Sawako (far left) as well.  We are both obsessed with making cute costumes and dressing others up.  I’m not as extreme as Sawako when it comes to making others wear the costumes I make.  I’m also not as devious nor do I wear a sweet façade to hide a hardcore past.

On to my favorite part, the costumes.  I love the oufits in K-On! especially the girl’s uniforms and performance costumes.  The school uniforms are so cute and the performance costumes are adorable.  I’d love to make a lot of the outfits found in K-On! not just for myself, but for others as well.  I’m currently trying to get my sister to dress up as Ui or Azusa while trying to find a group to cosplay with.  I really want to cosplay Yui and Mio as well as Megumi.  You don’t meet Megumi till the second season, but she makes a brief appearance or two in the first season.  She’s the student counsel president. 

Yui is the character that I want to cosplay most so naturally I’ve picked a lot of her outfits that I want to make.  I really want to make her school uniforms (both summer and winter), as well as her first performance outfit, Fuwa Fuwa Time outfit, Don’t Say Lazy outfit, second performance yukata (original and warm version), and pink bathing suit (which I would only wear for swimming).  I also want to cosplay her in a few of the outfits Sawako made in episode 9 as well as the waitress outfit and maybe a few others from episode 12.  I’ll post pictures of the outfits next. 

Winter Uniform

Summer Uniform Variant 1 

Summer Uniform Variant 2

First Performance Outfit

“Fuwa Fuwa Time” Outfit

 

“Don’t Say Lazy” Outfit

Second Performance Yukata Original Version

Second Performance Yukata Warm Version

(the only difference is the fluff on the sleeves and collar)

Pink Bathing Suit

I want to make quite a few of Mio’s outfits too.  So far I want to make her school uniforms (summer and winter), second performance yukata (original and warm version), New Year’s kimono, blue bathing suit (again only for swimming), maid outfit (I want to make this for Yui too) as well as some of the extra costumes Sawako made.  I had also thought of making her first performance outfit and Fuwa Fuwa Time outfit, but I’m not sure yet.  Time for pictures!

 

Winter Uniform

Summer Uniform

Second Performance Yukata

New Year’s Kimono

Blue Bathing Suit

Maid Outfit

First Performance Outfit

“Fuwa Fuwa Time” Outfit

Here are the extra costumes.  They could be used for either Yui or Mio so I’m putting them in their own place.  They could also be used for the other members of the band.

 

   

  

There are a lot of other outfits that I like from the second season (K-On!!) that I like as well.  I’m not done watching the second season yet so I’ll wait to post those outfits and my review.  I want to keep all the second season outfits together and distinct from the first season for filing purposes.  It’s easier to find and reference that way. 

To conclude, K-On! is an awesome show.  It was really fun to watch and very heartwarming.  The lack of a plot was a bit annoying at first, but it grew on me quickly.  I hope you found this review and these pictures helpful.  I’ll post more detailed costume studies later.  Right now I have to get ready for school and finish studying for my test on Wednesday.  Thank you for reading.   It means so much to me.  Please comment if you like this or any of my posts or have anything to add or correct.  See you after Wednesday! 

Knitting Project Update – New Yarn and Future Projects

Joann Fabrics & Crafts had a yarn sale this week as part of National Craft Month.  I got to go on Friday and was able to get a lot of awesome yarn for my upcoming knitting projects.  I got enough yarn for four or five projects for under $30.  I also got a couple knitting needle sets and the newest issue of Interweave Knits.  ^_^  I’m very happy with what I got for the price though I want to find a way to get higher quality yarn at a better price. 

My next knitting projects all come from various Interweave Knits magazines.  After I finish my current project, I want to work on the Embroidered Apron pattern in the 2009 issue of Interweave Knits Weekend.  Once that’s done, I want to work on the Gooseberry Cardigan from the same issue and maybe make a Dumpling Bag from the Fall 2008 issue of Interweave Knits.  Those are all the projects I’m certain I have yarn for though I really want to make a lot of other projects including a few birthday and Christmas presents.

With how quickly I knit and how easy the projects are, I’ll probably have all the above mentioned projects done by the end of this semester in May.  That is if I focus on knitting in class a bit more and sewing doesn’t get in the way too much.  I’m so glad that my professors don’t mind me knitting in class.  Most of the students enjoy it and even the professors want to know how the project is coming.  I still have to remember that I have a lot of other sewing projects to work on for 4-H and my spring geek convention.  Sometimes I wish there was such a thing as a knitting convention.  I would love to go and discuss and learn about knitting for a whole weekend.  That would be so much fun!  I’ll have to look into my idea to see if there is such a thing and if not how to make one. 

New Knitting Project – 3rd Sweater of the School Year

As the title says, I’m on to my third knitting project of this school year.  It’s another sweater, like the last two projects, but it uses a different pattern.  Each sweater I make is unique in it’s own way and greatly differs from the other sweaters I made.  This time I’m making Interweave Knits’ Nora’s Sweater by Pamela Powers in the Winter 2009 magazine of Interweave Knits.  It’s a beautiful sweater that incorporates pleating, lacework, and cabling all into one sweater while keeping the project relatively simple.  I really like the design and can’t wait to see how mine turns out.

So far, I’m about an eighth done with the back piece of the sweater.  I started it yesterday, so I’m rather happy with my progress.  The result is coming along well too.  It looks gorgeous and a little better than the picture.  But that’s because I’m slightly biased and putting my whole soul into making this sweater.  I want it to be the best it can be.  I’m getting better at sweater making and am hoping to show some of my work at my local fair.  If all goes well, I’ll enter this sweater along with one of the previous ones I made. 

When I get more done, I’ll post pictures.  It’s nice to have lots of progress pictures, but I don’t want to overload the site and turn it into more of a media blog instead of a costuming/sewing/crafting blog.  I might post pictures of my other sweaters.  My first one is done and the second is at least half way finished.  I took a break from the second sweater because the sleeve pattern/design was driving me insane.  Overly time consuming/difficult/repetitious patterns are really annoy to knit.  I’m really enjoying the pattern for the third sweater.  Even though it’s mainly uses the stocking stitch, I like how fast I can knit the pattern without having to think too much about what I’m knitting. 

I’ll keep you posted on the sweater and post pictures when possible.  When I get the chance, I’ll talk about some of the crafts I make other than sewing.  I’ve considered doing that more often, but I’ve also thought of making a separate crafting blog.  Then again, another blog means more time spent blogging in my already cram packed schedule. 

I’d love to hear what you think.  Should I start a new crafting blog or incorporate my crafting into this blog?  Remember that I have school, sewing, 4-H, extracurricular activities as well as a possible job to think about besides blogging and cosplaying/costuming.  I’ll leave a month long poll up in the sidebar.  If you’d like to post a reply to my question, that’s great!  Just keep it civil as in no rude, insulting, slanderous, obscene, condemning, and/or demeaning comments.  If you don’t have something nice to say, as in constructive, helpful, informative, positive, and/or insightful (for or against), then don’t say anything until you’ve changed your mindset to something positive.  This goes for all my posts.  If you don’t want to post, then voting is great.  But voting and commenting is even better!  *^_^*

Thank you for reading.  Have a great day, week, month and year.  Until next post!  See you then!