Swag, AX 2013 Plans, and Update

Finally an update! 
Goose and I got a ton of things from this year's Otakon.

SWAG!

 (Warning! Picture heavy post ahead!)

Last Minute Progress

Here's a quick list. I'll post pictures when I get a moment to breathe.

Kaylee's jumpsuit, pouch and belt are all complete and distressed.
Wash's jumpsuit just needs to have the patches, pocket and shoulder details hand-stitched on.
Wash's harness needs to have one more area stitched, then all of his details glued on.
Zoe's vest and pants are all done. All the pleather pieces are darkened and weathered, but I need more snaps for the shrug and to attach it to the vest. The holster is mostly complete, it just needs the parts where the gun holds on.
Zoe's gun needs one or two more coats of paint and all of the bullets are painted and drying.

18 hours until Goose, Madhouse and I are on the road. Still need to shop for supplies, do the laundry, make the apartment ready for the weekend for our fur-babies, and pack!
Running on less than 5 hours of sleep today, but it's all worth it in the end.
Can't wait for Otakon!

Changing Plans AGAIN

With all the progress Goose and I are making on our Firefly/Serenity cosplays, we feel bad if we sacrifice quality for quantity. I don't know why we try to plan more than one costume to build per year. Maybe if we get more diligent next year we can plan more, but for now, it would be better to stick to one costume each to work on. We are going to hold off Ilomilo for another con (especially since the weather looks like it will be very warm at Baltimore next week) and make our Kaylee, Wash and Zoe that much better.
Goose and I will post soon about our progress!

Massive Productive Weekend!

This past weekend was the only full weekend that Goose and I had for cosplay, so we made the most of it by working from 8 am to 10:30 pm on Saturday and 7 am to 10:45 pm on Sunday. Here's what we did!

(Warning! Image heavy post after the jump!)

Never Enough Time!

Once again, Goose and I are hurrying to the finish, despite goals of starting and ending sooner. I love reading the Otakon and cosplay.com boards, but since everyone is counting down to Otakon, it makes it hard to read. Just reminds me of my crunchy deadline.

This past weekend, I have finished the base for my Zoe capris. They still need to be fitted, hemmed and the details of the boot cuffs added. Goose has finished the frames for Ilo/Milo and the foam has been cut to size. They just need to be shaped and the pockets for the fabric made to fit in the foam. After that it's stamping the Ilo/Milo fabric, making the face, arms and legs, and Goose finishing the support system. I started working on Goose's Wash jumpsuit and have finished most of the torso base. I need to sew on one more sleeve, sew the pants, attach the pants and put in all the zippers. Goose is working on the patches for Wash (which is proving difficult without a proper drawing software).

What's left to be done: (Because I love lists...)
Firefly
Zoe
-Capri Details and fitting - Akira
-Vest (pleather for the vest, shrug and holster should arrive this week) - Akira
-Shrug - Akira
-Holster - Akira
-Mare's Leg - Goose
-Knife - Goose
-Darkening and distressing leather - Akira

Wash
-Jumpsuit - Akira
-Harness - Akira
-Patches - Goose

Kaylee
-Dye the fabric for the jumpsuit - Akira
-Jumpsuit - Akira
-Teddy bear patch (furry fabric should arrive this week) - Akira
-Details - Akira

IloMilo
Ilo and Milo
-Finishing securing the frame and supports - Goose
-Shape the foam - Akira
-Make the pockets for foam - Akira
-Sew together the skin - Akira
-Attach the skin to the frame - Akira
-Hands and Feet - Akira
-Face - Akira

If I'm really diligent, I'm sure I can get most of the sewing for Firefly done this week, depending on when my shipment of pleather arrives. And Goose has really been stepping it up for the mascots. I think we can get it done if we work really hard every day until the day we leave for Otakon. (*knock on wood*)
I'll post construction pictures if I remember to take them in the blur of the next few weeks.
Wish us luck!

Progress update (AGAIN)

- Finished gluing the base of my chest and shoulder pieces for Lanfan (must buy heat gun for wonderflex shaping around the edges)

- Gloves 25% done

- Bracers about 50% done (still need to make the outer sleeves for Old Man Fu, attach the clips to that one, add the decorative wrist piece on one of Lanfan's and both of OMF's)

- Finished one gold tie for the Lanfan mask

- Carved out the excess stuff that I don't need for both masks (must get more fine grit sand paper to start sanding..)

Tomorrow, I plan on finishing the sleeves for OMF's bracers, make the lycra leg sleeves to go over our shoes (once I find it in my bins of fabric..) and draft the beginnings of the greaves as well as finishing my other glove.

And we both need a hair cut at some point. I need bangs and face framing layers again, and Nave needs to have about 2 inches of his hair chopped for Malcolm. 

FMA progress, an Inara vest and a Malcolm coat!

So ever since I got this new phone, I've been taking a lot of my progress shots on instagram and posting them on twitter.

Warning: IMAGE HEAVY!

Here's what's been happening:

Inara earrings/tutorial post

Completed earrings!

Disclaimer: I do not own any sort of rights to the character, Inara, who was developed by the wonderfully amazing Joss Whedon. Also, I am a small potatoes blogger who does not and will not be asked to do product endorsements or site advertisements in the near future. I am a hobby jeweler and costumer. All opinions and mistakes are mine. 

So those earrings only took me a night! I am so proud of myself for actually pulling off (mostly.. sorta.. kinda?) screen accurate with artistic liberties taken earrings for the training house costume. For those of you who have seen the movie and squinted at the screen shots, you know that there really isn't ever a clear shot of her earrings.

Or at least, I can't tell what the earring bases are. The most I could see was a fluer-de-lys design near the top.

Here is the materials break down and techniques for those who actually do find the blog and are interested in how I made these.

More Progress

Since this weekend was a long weekend, Goose and I were extremely productive. After I finished cutting out the squares from the last post, I stitched together the panels for the four sides of Ilo and Milo.

(Picture heavy post after the jump. But all the stuff I've posted to Instagram.)

Mini progress update!

I finished cutting the squares for Ilo and Milo's checkered patterned fabric.
First I figured out the proportions for both Ilo and Milo versus my and Goose's measurements. That makes Goose's squares 13" and mine an even foot. With one inch on either side for the seams and a little give, Goose's squares were cut at 15" and mine at 14".

My cardboard template

I finished cutting all four colors in about a total of two movies and one season and one episode of Pushing Daisies. Then I'll need to work on sewing four panels for each side of both mascots. Here I go!

One night's work of tracing and cutting

The squares are done!

Let the Countdown Begin

We're in the middle of May and that leaves us a little over two months to get everything completed. *flail*
Now that Goose and I are done with our wedding stuff (yay, we got married in April *little fanfare*) we can finally get started on our costumes. Not a lot of time for five costumes to make, but we'll make do.

I just ordered parts for Zoe (contacts, wig, boots and Mare's Leg pieces) and a Hawaiian shirt for Wash. There are a lot of pieces that we need to build IloMilo and I'm still lacking all the fabric I need for the three Firefly characters.

I don't assume the clothing for Firefly will take very long at all. I've made jumpsuits for my Portal cosplay and both Goose and Madhouse are wearing jumpsuits. Zoe's vest, shrug and pants will probably take me one weekend of good solid work. Probably a week for all of Firefly's base construction, not including the props and details. Both Goose and Madhouse have a lot of patches, or little details hanging around. Then we'll have to construct my gun, holster, bullets, and Goose's harness. That will probably take another week or two.

The things that I'm more worried about are Ilo and Milo since they both are experiments and Goose and I will have to figure out support, framing, and the skin of the mascots. We have designs of what we think will work, but as of now, we only have theories. Ilo & Milo construction will take the better part of a month to complete if we work consistently and efficiently. This is all assuming that our theories and designs work out the way we're projecting them.

With a lot diligence and luck, we'll be able to get everything done by July 26th, but it'll be close. Again, we'll probably be working up until the day. But hopefully not working while at Otakon. Next year, we'll hopefully get started much sooner.

One More Thing!

Source: Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures

Or three more things...

Plans Made and Plans Cancelled

As it is the last week of October, Goose and I have been making some decisions. We've decided to cut out four of our six costumes we were planning for Otakon 2012. With time, money and general lack of workspace, it would be better to focus our attention and time to one costume for each of us per year.
That also means, unfortunately, that we won't be able to be in a group cosplay with Kaye and Nave, but that can always wait for another time when we have less things to buy and more space for a workshop. (We will be in between apartments soon.)
So for this year, Goose and I will be dressed as Milo and Ilo (respectively) from the Xbox arcade game Ilomilo. *fanfare*

Ilo - blue; Milo - Red: Image from: link

 

We loved the game and we love any excuse at all to make couple cosplays. We have some fabric that I bought at Joann's for 50% off (thanks to awesome coupons at the register). I just need to see if the paint we bought for it will get the effect we're looking for. We already are imagining how hot these mascots will be but it should be a fun process from building the frames, to making the skins to learning the dance. (Yes, they have a dance.) We've already decided that we will have to invest in some Camelbak packs to strap on while we're inside and install exhaust and intake fans anywhere we can. We're just excited about the new construction possibilities and that there will be pieces for both of us. Goose will work on the structure, design and building of the frame, as well as figuring out how we'll hold these on our bodies. I will be working on the design of the body and skins as well as any props we decide to bring along. Hopefully, it will come out well and recognizable.
Wish us luck!

Almost October!!!

Hello, no one in particular!

Well, it's almost October and very little has gotten done on our side. Goose and I have bough materials for our mascot costumes, but things have been put on hold for life stuff. Stupid life. Can't ever just sit back and let us do our hobbies.
We just need to wash the fabric and test with our paints for it to see if we can get the look we're going for. Then build frames and buy a ton of high density foam (which costs a ridiculous amount, by the way) for softness. There's a lot to do for Otakon 2012 (Yes, we already have a full docket of costumes) and so little time to do it. Kaye and Lira are both coming to visit in February so Goose and I have really about four and a half months to get things at a point that we can start working together. And really we won't be able to do much in April since Goose and I will be unavailable. (But that's not costume related.) So essentially we have nine months to complete six costumes and three props.
Hopefully, we can continue to put into our savings and buy all the materials we need. (Might be a pipe dream.)
Currently, we will be working on two mascot costumes. Since it's getting closer to Halloween, Joann Fabrics should have some sales on patterns, fabric and materials and those cheap costume shops are all open meaning it might be an easy time finding cheap prop bases.
Also, hopefully this year we can avoid late night final costume sewing at Otakon by starting early. That way it will be a relaxing (at least, as relaxing as Otakon can be) vacation for all of us.
Right now our list of responsibilities is as follows:
Goose has three big props to work on and engineer, and two frames to build for the mascots. That prop count may increase if Lira decides to join the group next year.
I have six costumes to sew for Goose and myself. Kaye and I are collaborating on materials and build technique, but both of us will have to sew the costumes separately since we are so far apart.
Madhouse (from my last post) wants to join us again next year and is making her first cosplay. Hopefully, we'll be able to document that progress as well.
Here's to hoping we can finally get started on our things.
*fingers crossed*

Otakon 2011 - Sleep Deprivation, Sardines and Silliness Ensued

We're back from Otakon 2011. On my part, I must say it was very enjoyable. The drive down from MA to MD was very fun with Kitaku and Madhouse. We left very early in the morning and got to Baltimore in time to pick up Lira from the airport. Our hotel room was smaller than last year by quite a bit. The only thing it had going for it was that we didn't have to go outside into the 95+ degree weather. Kaye had a photoshoot outside in her GORGEOUS Tomoyo-hime cosplay and her poor crown couldn't handle the heat. She had some beautiful shots all the same!!

The Garnet Rod that Goose and I put together did not make the trip very well. It broke in half at a rest-stop in NJ despite Kitaku and Madhouse trying to be careful around it. Goose tried to fix it up once we got to the hotel with many layers of epoxy and gorilla tape. It seemed to do the trick, but again during another shoot in hot weather, the epoxy melted and the only thing holding it together was the tape. It lasted a few shots, then Goose and I decided there was no salvaging the poor thing and he snapped it into eight pieces. No more soft wood for long staff pieces. And we need to make things sectional. Our Sailor Senshi costumes did come together (even if it was last minute) beautifully. Kaye and I worked tiredlessly through the night on Thursday while Kitaku, Lira, and Madhouse tried to help. They were very diligent workers. Mostly I did machine sewing while the other three worked on wigs (specifically Kitaku's beautiful Sailor Moon wig that Kaye put together), collars, ribbons, etc. Kaye was working on finishing her crown for her Tomoyo costume. The room's consensus was that it was beautiful and amazing and we all were very impressed.

We walked around the dealer's room and found a lot of stuff we wanted. Then around artist's alley and I got a few things from webcomic artists I follow like Bill Holbrook of Kevin and Kell, Gina Biggs of Red String and Caldwell Tanner of Loldwell and Collegehumor.

SWAAAAAAAAAGGGG!!!!!

Goose and I brought back our Portal 1 cosplays from last year and got a lot of pictures and recognition with it. It's so comfortable, but it's time to revamp the jumpsuit and the gun. The gun is becoming very temperamental, fixing itself only right before photoshoots, while I shake it and bang on it until the electronics set themselves right. The jumpsuit is fraying since the cotton I used for it was very thin and LOVES to fray. Not to mention I want to try my hand at making a full jumpsuit that has sleeves so I can use it for Portal 2 Chell. That's for another year though as we already have our line up for Otakon 2012. (And we've had it ready for about half a year now already.)

Goose and I are already browsing the forums and will be looking at finding a bigger room around. Passkey opens August 8th, so we'll be up late the night before looking at possibilities.

Still tired after a great weekend and looking forward to working with Kaye and getting ready for next year.