Fanime Countdown! + photos and a completed cosplay

24 DAYS.

Not ready. Getting there, but not quite.

Lucky for me, the NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival was 2 weeks ago, so I had a new cosplay completed for the occasion!

and because it's finished, I'll be bringing Irabu to Fanime because it's a comfortable eyesore.

so have some photos:

 

 met up with Crystal and Trevor as soon as I arrived in JapanTown! And then we went on an adventure to find takoyaki...unfortunately, I think the booth trolled us. Didn't taste any octopus out of the 8 I bought OTL

 

We took a lot of pictures in line (it was at least 15 minutes long TwT). This is devoted to the back of my head and Trevor's unmatchable photobombing skills. 

 

 (photo by Kei Tsubasa)

We roamed around for a few hours (Crystal and I were interviewed for a TV program!), and found good spots to watch the parade. There was a lot of playing around. But mostly tie-pulling. They're just jealous because I finally have a ducky tie and they don't.

 

(totally aware of how out-of-focus this it)

All in all, I had a great time. This costume was recognized much more than I expected. Kuchu Buranko is a pretty unappreciated series because of the obscure characters and animation style. But the people I met through this cosplay were all so friendly!

About the costume:

The pants were the only thing I made completely from scratch. They're pink quilting cotton, and painted with my odd mix of acrylic paints. The ears are green felt attached to a headband. I bought the glasses from Forever21, popped out the lenses, and painted the frames with red acrylics and nail polish. I bought the tie from DAISO, made a duck stencil, and painted the ducks with fabric paints. Details on the wig are in my previous blog post. The lab coat was a birthday present from my mom...even though I found it and picked it out from a medical uniform store. The shoes are my trusted cosplay-sneakers from Japan (yayyyyyy).

And now for some progress photos!

 

still working on Kyary's skirt...needs a few more bags. Ever since I stuffed them with tissue paper, gaps started showing up.

Type H makeup test~ I finished the armwarmers, too, but I'm too lazy for photos...

I really need to start finishing more cosplays. I have lists made, but I need more motivation! 

 

Pre-event Cramming and Update!

Fanime is only 40 days away. Am I ready? Woops. 

And remember me saying how easy it is to be distracted by TVXQ? That's still true. Just found videos from the SMTown Live in Tokyo (even though it was a year ago...), amazing things. And since I last updated, I didn't do a photoshoot at the beach, and I cut two cosplays away from my list: Ciel and Kuranosuke will never happen. I have the rose dress over halfway completed, so I may finish painting it and sell it for some extra money. 

The NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival is next week! Well, it actually started yesterday, but the Grand Parade is in a week? I have my 18th birthday that Saturday, and then I'm heading over to SF while wearing Irabu-sensei from Kuchu Buranko (just need a labcoat orz)

Here are some progress pictures to snack on~

 When my wig first arrived from Epiccosplay~ Won't be using those glasses, but those are my bear ears!

 My most recent progress from a week by myself. Hand-dyed the wig with FW ink, and then covered it in hairspray and literally painted on the wig with acrylics and Sharpie paint pens.

 Clown pants! Hot pink quilting cotton hand-painted with handmade fabric paint...that makes me sound cool. It's just acrylic paint with this weird mix-in solution you can buy at Joanns OTL

In regards to my Fanime projects, everything is at 50%+ completion...

For Type H: make bootcovers, assemble/dye wig, buy accessories (belts, ect.)

For Panty (uniform): PAINT SOCKS
For Panty (default): dye dress some more...I think that's it.
For Stocking (default *commission*): white details, blue sash+bows

For Kyary: buy shoes, curl wig, fix monster-bow, add more bags to the skirt, LEARN BEST DANCE EVER

So I just forgot that I finished and got pictures of Shiemi...

(Taken at the NorCal Spring Gathering in San Jose) 

 Taken by Ben Lam

Taken by EurobeatKing

About the costume:

The yukata is made from a quilter's cotton, and is completely hand-painted with a mix of fabric and acrylic paints (mixed with a "fabric paint medium")...Actually, almost everything is made from quilting cotton and then colored. The layer I'm wearing underneath my yukata is a silk-crepe nagajuban that my Grandma gave me (along with a kurotomesode orz).
Wif is from Epiccosplay (originally bought for Irabu-sensei). Wefts were attached for length...so I wouldn't need to splurge on another wig. Nii-chan is made from two types of felt and was done completely by hand. Contacts are Blytheye GREEN from thedollyeye.com

That's it for now...this is definitely the fastest entry I've ever written.

I made sure to avoid TVXQ lives this time...had to switch to iTunes. You can't understand how difficult that switch was for my health.

Hope to finish everything soon! I have a lot on my plate with college choices, AP tests, graduation, FANIMEARGGGGGGG, and a possible Japan trip over the summer. I'm surprised that I haven't ripped my eyelashes out yet.

Upcoming Cosplays for 2012

I'm slowly attempting to be more active in the cosplay community, I promise! But it's very difficult when school is involved...even as I write this, I keep getting distracted. TVXQ lives don't help.

Jung Yunho is the ultimate distraction. Best non-waste of my time.

AOD is coming up is SF, but due to a conflicting event with my family, I won't be able to attend. In compensation, I'm hoping to fix up Yuna for an epically freezing beach shoot. 

Here's what I've been slowly slaving over for the past few months (Since Fanime 2011 ended, my ability to work has just crashed and burned OTL)

 

Ciel Phantomhive from Kuroshitsuji (Volume 18 Cover)

I bought velvet when I visited Portland this summer, but that was the most progress I've made. I have the wig and horror-shoes from my last Ciel cosplay, and I probably have the socks somewhere. But am I ready to sew all of those ruffles? Someone shoot me now. I'm currently debating whether or not I should bring this to Fanime 2012. While I'll hopefully be proud once it's finished, but the shallow part of me says to bring as many female cosplays as possible because they're more popular XD

 Irabu Sensei （中） from Kuchu Buranko

Easy cosplay. But laziness prevails. Have the shoes from my last trip to Japan (already used in 2 previous cosplays...), and my wig recently came in the mail. The wig needs the most work. But hopefully the idea of having a sexy nurse follow me around will act as an incentive to finish.

 Kuranosuke (Episode 10) from Kuragehime

This is ridiculous. The dress has been dead on my costume rack for MANY MONTHS. It would be done, but the roses has decided to be nonexistent. Have the necklace, wig, and stockings, too. Only wish to finish is the glittering idea of secretly being a man. And tall. 

 Hagane Miku (TYPE H) from Vocaloid 02

 Having a group! But this is also sleeping on the rack. Or being crushed in the bottom of my fabric hamper. That's how long it's been since I've worked on it.

 Panty (School Uniform) from Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt

Skirt, wig, and shoes are really the only things done. Silly partner won't finish Stocking, either. We're obviously made for each other. The only work we seem to consistently finish is our trips to the fabric store or DAISO. 

 Shiemi Moriyama (Kimono ver.) from Ao no Exorcist

Yukata has been sewed. Currently painting. Aiming to finish by the NorCal Spring gathering in March. Was thinking about wearing this to Fanime for the Ao no Exorcist gathering, but Saturday will probably be for PSwG.

 Panty (Default) from Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt

This is most complete cosplay on my list as of right now. Shoes need to be painted because I'm crazy and bought fabric that wasn't very bright. Dress needs to be taken in around the waist, and I need to attach the halter strap. Also need to finish Stocking (made as a present for my lazy cosplay partner). Dress needs the zipper and all colored details.

  Kyari Pamyu Pamyu from "Tsukema Tsukeru"

First J-pop cosplay! Planned on doing PONPONPON, but I obviously prefer boob-lashes and a skirt made of snack bags. There's no going back now, I bought the knit and bias tape for the top yesterday. Probably bringing to Fanime for absolute trolling. I could attend AX, I'd definitely wear this. But I need to work for my money D:

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SLAVING OVER

and I really want to do 2NE1 cosplay. Maybe this summer. Who knows.

Money is such a pain. 2012 has been devoted to concerts, clothes, and nerdy things. If the world doesn't end soon, I'll be broke. 

On another note, I think I'll participate in the SM Entertainment Global Audition (they're coming to SF next month). And as often as people say that SM is a slave-driver regarding the people who are signed under them, I still want to try. I would go as a singer, but I don't think I can sing in front of others like I used to. So I'll attempt to the shortest model ever. If I can make it, MORE MONEY. I heard SM pays for education, too, which is a big help because of college.

MINDLESS BLABBERING IS DONE

enjoy a photo of my ultimate distraction coughBEAUTIFUL-HUSBANDhackhack

 I'm not crazy, internet. I promise.

Long time, no blog!

I'm sorry that I haven't updated since Fanime 2011...I always say school is busy, but even when it isn't, I'm pretty lazy. After Fanime, I had my final exams and started a summer job. I had time to sew, but I didn't attend any gatherings.

BUT

Around February 2011, I was secretly invited to join a group doing Vocaloid's "Sandplay of the Singing Dragon" as Len. The selected cosplayers had great portfolios, and I had idolized most of them already, but was too nervous to introduce myself. So we every-so-slowly worked on our cosplays (mine wasn't done until the day of our shoot. Hello, procrastinator~), and presented our group at NorCal's last YaoiCon. Unfortunately, our Luka didn't receive her cosplay in time, and our Miku couldn't make it to the shoot, so we found a replacement Miku and shot with the original six characters (Miku, the twins, Meiko, Kaito, and Gakupo).

About the costume:

Because I was working with a twin, and a very detail-oriented twin at that, I bought enough material for two cosplays, and split it among myself and Rachael (my Rin). Rachael sent her materials to a commissioner because of her hectic schedule, but Len's design isn't too difficult, so I drafted the pattern for the coat myself, and the pattern for the shorts was taken from a project I did at school. Both coats are made of black bridal satin and lined; the edge is satin ribbon while the gold is a braided, bead trim. Both my shorts/glove and Rachael's skirt/neck ribbon are red stretch velvet. My belt buckle is a mix of Sculpey, Model Magic, and rhinestones, all coated with silver spray paint. The next time I wear this, I need to fix my belt, BUY sock garters, and attach some more buttons to my sleeves.

Picture Time~

 Group shot!

 With Richard Bui, our wonderful photogrpaher~ hurrrr, I actually look tall. This never happens XD

Photo by Jia-Ling Pan, we missed you as Luka!

Thank you for looking, I'll be sure to post soon with my current projects. Let's hope I'm not overrun with laziness OTL