Cosplay Wish List: Basch

I was stricken with sudden inspiration to make a gender-swapped Basch fon Ronsenburg (Final Fantasy XII) cosplay at some point in my life.

He has one of my all-time favorite Final Fantasy outfits. It fits the series in that it's both ridiculous and non-utilitarian. That being said, wouldn't it be super killer?

Let's just add this to my overwhelming desire to cosplay Ashe in spite of the fact that ain't nobody got time to make that costume.

Progress: Daenerys and Lightning

I've got almost exactly one month before St. Louis Comic-Con, which means it's time to put my cosplay crafting into high gear!

I'll be cosplaying Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. There may be a third costume, depending on how much time I have before the con. If I do a third, it will absolutely be something simple and fun.

As far as Daenerys goes, I dyed the top with Rit. The color ended up being different than what I wanted (the brown is a reddish tint rather than a bluish one), so I'm toying with the idea of trying to spray another color of dye over the top. I don't know how well it would show up, but then again, I'm only looking for a tint. I've also got to finish the detailing. The challenge with this costume is that Dany wears so many different versions of it throughout the course of the first two seasons of the show. The versions vary in color, detailing, structure...just about everything that one looks at when making a costume.

The other challenge is restraining my chest. I've got a large one, and halter tops aren't exactly my thing. Thus, I think I'll end up making a bandeau top out of dark brown fabric to wear underneath. That will smash me down a little and also provide a safety plan if something should come undone at the con.

Lightning is coming along, too. I bought two curtains at Goodwill ($8 total), both of a fabric resembling a tie between linen and duckcloth. One was white, and the other tan, to make the vest:

I used a vest I own and traced it onto the white fabric. The lining doesn't go throughout the whole vest, mostly because I planned so poorly. The fit is absolutely terrible. I've got a lot of adjustments to make for it to look any good. Of course, I've still got to do all of the detailing on this as well.

I've also started on the pauldron and the gunblade, but I'll do a separate post for those, likely in a tutorial fashion.

A Year?

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I've updated.

I take that back. I can absolutely believe it. I've had no time over the last 11 months for costuming, but I'm very happy to say that I'm back!

I'm currently at work on two things: finishing Daenerys (poor, neglected khaleesi) and beginning a new challenge.

I tend to overspend when I'm crafting. The thing is that I'm broke right now, and I would like to change my habits anyway. Thus, I'm challenging myself to stick to $40 for my newest adventure (and one of my cosplay dreams!): Final Fantasy XIII's Lightning.

Lightning is going to mean some magical adventures to Goodwill, but I really think I can make it work. Of course, that means wig, boots, supplies, and gunblade (weapon) all for $40 or less.

I've already got a turtleneck that I'll be re-purposing, and I may have a skirt. I'm also toying with the idea of cutting up an old prom dress to make the cape. Either way, I'll keep you updated on my adventures.

As for Daenerys, I just dyed the top today. Once it dries, I'll do the detail stitching on it. Then, I'm going to weather the skirt. The biggest challenge for Dany will be styling the wig, as I have no experience doing that.

The ACEN Diet

I hate the d-word. I really, really do. So, this is the first and last time I will use it: diet.

Stay with me here, alright?

I'm comfortable in my skin. For the first time in my life, I've actually been able to say - for about a year now - that I love my body. I have a big bust, round thighs, and some big ol' hips. My feet are large and kind of weird. Despite having been in braces for four years, my teeth aren't perfect. My skin is pale and splotchy in places. And I love it. All of it.

Don't get me wrong: I have my bad days. Sometimes, I look at my skinny friends and wish, wish, wish that I looked like them. Really, though - deep down - I don't. I like me. And that took over a decade to figure out.

Of course, there are always ways to improve oneself. I'm not a terribly healthy person. I love Coca Cola and candy, and I don't eat enough protein. I don't exercise, either; while I love walking, I don't have time for it. My thunder thighs are things of beauty, but they're also weighed down by some excess fat. My tummy and my arms could use a little more muscle and a little less jiggle, too. Thus, in the spirit of being healthy and looking nicer for a slew of upcoming events, including ACEN, I'm cutting down on some things. First, I'm drinking Coke Zero instead of Coke - at least for a while. I'm foregoing sweets for the most part, and  kicking up the fruits and veggies.

My goal is to be happier and healthier, mind and body, in the next couple of months.

Elena Gun Progress

I mentioned that I started anew the Beretta M9 for my Elena costume. I used a cardboard base, just like last time. Instead of measuring it, though, I just free-handed it and then adjusted the size until it felt natural to hold. I taped the cardboard together and then did a layer of papier-mache to smooth things out. Basically, the process is the exact same as the one detailed in the post below. This time, however, since the proportions turned out right, I went at it with some Paperclay:

It took about 1/3 of a standard package. I waited two days to make sure it was completely dry and then did some sanding. I followed JiaJem's tutorial on armor to a tee. Two lessons: never sand indoors, and usa an electric sander, if possible. You wouldn't think that sanding something that small would be so difficult, but it really is. So my next cosplay investment will indeed be a mouse sander, preferably something in the $25-30 range. 

I filled in the cracks and craters with more Paperclay, let the gun dry, and sanded again. Alas, Christmas Break ended, and I didn't want to deal with trying to sand at my apartment at school. Elena is thus going on hold until Spring Break, when I hope to finish this thing.

Joyeux Noel

Now that I'm on Christmas Break, I'm finally getting a chance to do some crafting. My list of things to finish includes:
1. Clothes for my poor stuffed snowmen who have really taken a beating over the past 15 years. Their threadbare-ness is starting to scare me, so I'm making them some clothes for protection.
2. A baby blanket that I bought the fabric for last spring. Fail.
3. Elena Fisher's Beretta M9 for my multiple in-progress Elena cosplays. For info on that in a second.
4. A new purse.
5. Poor, neglected Daenerys.

Quite a lot. I'm really enjoying it, though. I've also been playing Dragon Age II, which is fabulous so far.

Anyway, about Elena. I attempted to make a gun awhile back, but the proportions were off and it ended up being too large. Therefore, it never got past the papier-mache stage:

I used this tutorial, which was actually very helpful in getting my bearings. Because I need to make a replica of an actual pistol, though, rather than an anime gun, the measurements didn't work for me. I decided to scrap measurements (for the most part) and just play around with the cardboard until I got something that looked and felt right. I constructed a cardboard base, coated it with papier-mache, and then put on a layer of Paperclay, as per Jia Jem's amazing tutorial. The Paperclay is still drying, so I'm not ready to sand yet. I think it's going to take a second layer because of cracks and such. In the meantime, I'm working on the baby blanket and snowman clothes.

Khaleesi Pictures

Upon returning home for Thanksgiving, I found the lost camera cord! So here are some progress shots of Khaleesi:

The top is going to end up being a halter, which all you ladies with larger chests will recognize as the bane of your existence. Thus, I needed to put some more support in it. First I made a lining out of brown fabric - that brown is about the color that the whole thing will be, once dyed - and then I cut up an old bra and sewed it in.

I've not been able to find a photo of the back of the top, so I'm improvising. I'm still not sure how I want the fabric to lay yet, so it's just pinned for now.