Cosplay USA

I’ve been hearing for a while that Walmart will be removing its fabric department in most stores. I can’t say I took it very seriously. Never once did I think of Walmart as my #1 choice in fabric stores, but since I’ve been doing more designs/commissions and with money being tight, I’ve looked to them more and more. I told myself I’d believe it when I see it. Well on Sunday I saw it. The local Walmart took out the fabric section. Thankfully there is still a craft row, but I’m not sure how much is leftovers and how much will be kept permanently. Last time I was at a Walmart fabric department, I noticed there was very little fabric compared to usual findings so I gave it some thought then. I guess I was in denial. It must be true. Fabric is very profitable so I don’t understand why they did this. My only thoughts are that modern technical society is moving away from practical, creative, and organic activity.

Bummer.

Making your own patterns can be simple and rewarding. Here are the materials you would need. You can substitute and try other things of you have a hard time finding any of these items. It is also fun to experiement and try new things.

Any type of paper works as long as it is durable. You can use paper grocery bags, old posters, newspaper, junk mail, or even tape together smaller types of paper. Some patterns and shapes are so large you cannot avoid taping your paper together. Remember, it doesn’t need to look pretty, it just serves a purpose.

You’ll also need a ruler or some sort of flat edge. For round shapes and circles I use household items that are the desired size for my patter. This can include cups, plates, cds, etc.

The most important part is a measuring tape; otherwise your pattern will not likely fit. The best kind is the long ribbon-like measuring tape because it is free and flexible. The second best kind is a winding ribbon type measuring tape. These are similar to the ribbon kind but it winds itself up. The last choice would be a metal measuring tape like those used for household and hardware. If you’re in a bind, you can use a piece of yarn or string and mark it according to your measurements and use it as a guide while marking the pattern. The strangest thing I’ve ever used for this is long strips of paper. I maked them at intervals and fold them in half to find the exact halfway point instead of using math.

The last thing you need is pretty obvious; a pen. The larger the pen the better. I have lots of different colored sharpies I use to mark the measured points and final lines on the pattern paper. I also note on the pattern piece: 1) What costume it is for & 2) What part of the costume it is. Sometimes I forgo that part and I regret it later when I find lots of shapes that look like patterns and I have no idea what they were used for. This also helps prevent me losing the pattern pieces or accidentally reusing the paper to make a new pattern from a piece I needed. Yes, it has happened. :)

Something else you’ll need that isn’t necessarily a material is lots of open space. If this cannot be found in your home, don’t forget other places! I’ve used my workplaces’ cafeteria on many occasions. Inside is best, but outdoor locations work too as long as you’re safeguarded from the elements like wind and rain.

Grab your supplies and give it a try!

So America’s Next Top Model Cycle 11 is underway again. I swore I’d stop watching after the past two seasons and the one before that I didn’t watch all the way through. I don’t get any television channels at all, not even Telemundo! Every time a good show is coming on I usually I try to go to my boyfriend’s house or somewhere else that’s convenient to watch. Unfortunately I work every Wednesday night so far, so I’m up at this hour hounding YouTube for the first guy that usually puts them up. I checked his login and he hadn’t logged since last week, so I didn’t get my hopes up. It seems other people truly did hound him because he logged in and is putting up the segments now. I rabidly refresh to no avail. The official website used to post them. They had horrible buffering issues but now they don’t post them at all. :(

This time around there’s a whole new set of girls and there’s some to like and dislike as usual. I think the only reason I still watch is that I accept that it’s a lot of b.s. drama and the best person will not win. It really relies on the girls’ ambition to continue pursuing work as a model. Winning doesn’t make you and losing doesn’t break you in regards to the show. Personally I think Whitney shouldn’t have won last time but whatever. Also Saleisha is so rigged. She had no good photos at all and used to attend Tyra’s private modeling school supposedly. Then I didn’t watch much of the cycle before that. I distinctly remember watching an eary episode at my brother’s house and picking out Jaslene from the bunch and asking, “Is that a man!?” My brother said “No, she was just raised by drag queens…” And that was the truth. This time around there is a true transexual and I’m routing for her. She truly has the odds against her and is trying very hard, not to mention actually takes the opportunity seriously. It’s also a hard life as a transexual. There have been hundreds of hate related murders of transexuals in the past 10-20 years. I wish the world would not focus so much on things that don’t matter and don’t effect them. :/ Isis, the transexual is trying to simply be a woman. Jaslene looks like a man and she doesn’t even know it! Sorry, that’s my two pennies. What do you expect? This is my blog.

There are some really pretty ones this season also. McKey is cool although she needs to shift mental gears from boxing to modeling or decide what she wants to be/what’s in her. Elina is pretty *^_^* but what a horrible attitude. I want her red weave sewn to my head dammit! Super red hair FTW.

Clark is wierd. :/ She has no lips. Hannah is ‘hyuck!’ I think she just came into this too prematurely, but it’s a good learning experience right? She can make what she wants of it and probably wouldn’t have had the opportunities provided otherwise. Just getting the advice, makeovers, and photoshoots for portfolio are great things if they really want to model.

I have things to say about just about everyone on the show. Don’t take it the wrong way, please. I’m not a judgemental person but this is harmless conversation as I await uploading about some television produced ~competition~. I say ~competition~ because that’s where judgement comes into play. We all have different judgements; here’s mine; and I don’t really like the show’s judgement. Saleisha omg.

Why am I still watching? I don’t know but I must refresh the browser to see if it loaded! :X

Well it’s that time of year again, love it or hate it. Or you can be emo and claim apathy. For the rest of us it effects our everyday clothing and cosplay choice. The weather is changing for fall and the leaves are starting to come down in golden and red shades. It’s time to dig out the coats and jackets. I’m having a hard time finding a good one in my closet so it’s probably time to go get a new coat.

If you’re going to indoor cons, your choices probably won’t be affected much. The only things I would advise against are bathing suit and summer themed cosplays.

Most conventions and cosplay events, you *will* go outside at some point. Food and other parts of the venue are not usually directly attached.

When the rain season comes, that’s what really sucks. I cannot comment on snow since I’ve never been close to snow in cosplay. I’ve always seen rad photoshoots in snow, but I’ve never had the opportunity. I don’t imagine it would be great for the costume or camera equipment though. As for the cold, I think I could handle that, I’d just pretend I’m ice skating. :D

This time of year is really great for some things though. Most costumes have several layers and wigs can become very hot. During the fall and winter months, a wig is as good as wearing a beanie! Don’t forget thick tights if you’re going the route of Sailor Moon type costumes. You can also wear flesh colored garments underneath more revealing costumes.

If in doubt, bring a large duffel bag with a change of clothes! You can usually stash it in the car, a friend’s room, at hotel bag check, or ask the event operations staff. Be sure the bag is large enough to fit the costume as well as your change of clothes. That way it is travel ready and protected from the elements.

During the summer, it’s so important to stay cool and hydrated while cosplaying. I think it’s so funny now to say “stay warm” when just a few months ago at Comic Con people were dripping sweat in costume (not pretty!). I can’t forget the poor Venom cosplayer that was like a human heater.

So in general, take care and have a great time at the Fall conventions! There are lots of them every Fall. I’ll post some highlighted October cons in this blog soon. Good times.. B)

I expected to do some shopping today; mostly more craft items and food for the cats and guinea pigs. While waiting for our food, we stopped into Game Stop. After browsing a few minutes, for some reason DOAX Volleyball 2 stood out to me on the shelf and it was brand new of $9.99. Any X-Box 360 game for $9.99 is basically unheard of. Platinum Hits are generally $19.99-29.99. Yes I know this isn’t the greatest game ever made, but it may as well be to me. I LOVED the first one. I didn’t love it because of provocative women; I bought it to play dress up, giftgiving, and casino with provocative women. I’ve been waiting to borrow the game from Robert for many months. I didn’t realize the price had dropped so low, and brand new? That’s even better price than the original for X-Box.

I cracked open the booklet and read it on the way home because I was excited. :} Not that there is a whole lot of good info. I read that Lei Feng is actually a genious. Could have fooled me! She acts like there is nothing in her head on the first one and flops it around chattering cute japanese words and loves any gift you give her, even the tacky ones. It’s funny this is a Volleyball game at all since I enjoy the other parts and play Volleyball is a “break” to the other features like shopping and casino and since it’s a vital part of progression in the game; if you don’t pass the day with Volleyball, night-time gifting doesn’t happen.

I hope this one will be as cool as the first. :} Seems they added other nonsense I don’t care for like butt-bumping contests. Unless it means more money for in-game clothes, I don’t care! I will probably have to look up the girls’ likes and dislikes again as I’m sure they changed since last game. And who the hell is this new girl? Don’t they have enough variety… I wish it were the latina wrestling chick. :D

As much as I like this game and series (been playing since Dreamcast era), I’ve never understood or liked DOA Volleyball cosplay. It’s so hard to portray the exact character without their trademark uniforms that people just look like random girls in swimsuits. Random girls in swimsuits are very awkward for anime cons since the pervert factor is amped up 50x. All in all it seems like an excuse to wear a swimsuit at a convention to me. I think it would be fun to utilize the pool for photoshoots, but I’ve seen rad mermaids and pirates for that.

Time to play. Ahoy Risa-san and Kasumi!