ladyofthethread (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladyofthethread) wrote2007-06-21 12:39 am
ladyofthethread) wrote2007-06-21 12:39 am
Cosplay musings and progress report
Just a couple more weeks until AnimeNext. It’s probably going to sound a bit odd but I’ve been feeling a bit bummed about that fact. I’ve realized I won’t really have any gatherings/group shoots to go to this time (unless a Fruits Basket shoot gets planned and I pull out my old Ayame). I guess I’ll run into people to chat with throughout the weekend but I’ll probably wandering alone most of the con, like usual.
I know I’m not the greatest at talking to people and not the most sociable but, sometimes, I wonder a bit if I just scare people off or something. :-/ Do I come off as unfriendly or intimidating because I tend to be quiet and reserved in person? I had a guy who recognized me at AnimeNorth and said hello PM me at cosplay.com afterwards, apologizing because he thought he might have offended me or creeped me out; he didn’t. I’m just bad at conversations with new people and was a bit surprised to be recognized. ^_^;; (I’ve always figured few people know who the hell I am given my obscure costume choices and the fact I don’t make it to many events outside of NY/NJ.)
Lately, I’ve also felt kind of disappointed that my costumes so far this year haven't been particularly spectacular. Ayame took a long time but was mostly tailoring and the equipment problems with that one kind of wore me out. x_x; I think I'm still a bit depressed that I spent so long on it, ended up not liking how it looked on me, and didn’t even manage to get some decent pics of it. After that, I felt like, “Can I take a break for a few weeks yet?” but kept going because I didn’t have much time between my main cons for this year and wanted to have new stuff to wear.
Count D’s vacation outfit went together quickly but it was simple and more for fun than anything else. (The contacts thing not getting worked out in time for Anime North was frustrating, too. -_-) And the Chinese dress I’m making now for his sister is pretty but another outfit where tailoring is the main thing. I had to put Sora from Kaleido Star (which would have been a much more interesting outfit) on hold due to lack of time and it just seems like a rather blah year in terms of what I’ve gotten done.
I kind of feel like I should be doing something with more creative embellishment/new techniques. :-/ Like how I handquilted the collar on my Renrin costume a couple of years ago and appliquéd all the trim on my first Ayame coat. Haven’t really done much like that lately unless you want to count handmaking frog buttons for my new dress or the sleeves I made for Sora a few months back.
Anyway, I’ve been working on the dress for D’s sister and it has been going pretty well so that cheered me up a little. I ended up buying the floral brocade I mentioned a few entries back in yellow because the phoenixes blended into the background more than on the red (the dress is really only supposed to have flowers and no birds). Plus, I decided the red might be too sexy for the character. ^_^; D’s sister appeared rather simple-minded so I figured ingénue-ish colors would better reflect that.
I’m doing the lining and trim in pink and want to get pink chiffon for the shawl. I wasn’t sure how the yellow would look on me/with the black wig but I’m reassured now after getting the main construction on the dress done and trying it on. ^_^ (The brocade was really expensive, $62 total for the 4 yards I needed because it was so narrow. And after my Ayame earlier this year, I was worried I’d make the dress and find it looked terrible on me.) I just hope I don’t go crazy when it’s time to find shoes; the other reason I hesitated about the yellow was that I thought it’d be harder to coordinate shoes for the yellow and pink color scheme.
After finishing this costume and a few repairs to other stuff (T-Chan needs a few stitches ^_^;), I’m looking forward to several weeks off from making new costumes. I’m just not used to having 3 cons so close together and making a new costume in time for each one. x_x; I don’t know how those of you who do multiple new costumes for a con manage it!
Shall try to get back to some other hobbies like theatregoing and my father wants me to take some computer classes so I can help run the office at the store. The classes are starting mid-July so AnimeNext will be over and hopefully, I’ll have caught up with my backlog of paperwork.
I know I’m not the greatest at talking to people and not the most sociable but, sometimes, I wonder a bit if I just scare people off or something. :-/ Do I come off as unfriendly or intimidating because I tend to be quiet and reserved in person? I had a guy who recognized me at AnimeNorth and said hello PM me at cosplay.com afterwards, apologizing because he thought he might have offended me or creeped me out; he didn’t. I’m just bad at conversations with new people and was a bit surprised to be recognized. ^_^;; (I’ve always figured few people know who the hell I am given my obscure costume choices and the fact I don’t make it to many events outside of NY/NJ.)
Lately, I’ve also felt kind of disappointed that my costumes so far this year haven't been particularly spectacular. Ayame took a long time but was mostly tailoring and the equipment problems with that one kind of wore me out. x_x; I think I'm still a bit depressed that I spent so long on it, ended up not liking how it looked on me, and didn’t even manage to get some decent pics of it. After that, I felt like, “Can I take a break for a few weeks yet?” but kept going because I didn’t have much time between my main cons for this year and wanted to have new stuff to wear.
Count D’s vacation outfit went together quickly but it was simple and more for fun than anything else. (The contacts thing not getting worked out in time for Anime North was frustrating, too. -_-) And the Chinese dress I’m making now for his sister is pretty but another outfit where tailoring is the main thing. I had to put Sora from Kaleido Star (which would have been a much more interesting outfit) on hold due to lack of time and it just seems like a rather blah year in terms of what I’ve gotten done.
I kind of feel like I should be doing something with more creative embellishment/new techniques. :-/ Like how I handquilted the collar on my Renrin costume a couple of years ago and appliquéd all the trim on my first Ayame coat. Haven’t really done much like that lately unless you want to count handmaking frog buttons for my new dress or the sleeves I made for Sora a few months back.
Anyway, I’ve been working on the dress for D’s sister and it has been going pretty well so that cheered me up a little. I ended up buying the floral brocade I mentioned a few entries back in yellow because the phoenixes blended into the background more than on the red (the dress is really only supposed to have flowers and no birds). Plus, I decided the red might be too sexy for the character. ^_^; D’s sister appeared rather simple-minded so I figured ingénue-ish colors would better reflect that.
I’m doing the lining and trim in pink and want to get pink chiffon for the shawl. I wasn’t sure how the yellow would look on me/with the black wig but I’m reassured now after getting the main construction on the dress done and trying it on. ^_^ (The brocade was really expensive, $62 total for the 4 yards I needed because it was so narrow. And after my Ayame earlier this year, I was worried I’d make the dress and find it looked terrible on me.) I just hope I don’t go crazy when it’s time to find shoes; the other reason I hesitated about the yellow was that I thought it’d be harder to coordinate shoes for the yellow and pink color scheme.
After finishing this costume and a few repairs to other stuff (T-Chan needs a few stitches ^_^;), I’m looking forward to several weeks off from making new costumes. I’m just not used to having 3 cons so close together and making a new costume in time for each one. x_x; I don’t know how those of you who do multiple new costumes for a con manage it!
Shall try to get back to some other hobbies like theatregoing and my father wants me to take some computer classes so I can help run the office at the store. The classes are starting mid-July so AnimeNext will be over and hopefully, I’ll have caught up with my backlog of paperwork.
no subject
If I find you this year, I'll walk around with you for a while. :-)
no subject
no subject
Hey I was thinking of bringing Momiji with me for Next maybe we can have a funny little photoshoot just for fun.
no subject
A photoshoot would be fun. ^_^ People were talking about possibly having one on cosplay.com but I don't know if it'll actually happen. Looking over the convention forums there lately, there doesn't seem to be much interest in doing FB shoots anymore. :-/ Almost no one was interested in the one at Boston. There wasn't even one at Anime North and I think it's supposed to be the 4th largest anime con in North America.
Anyway, I guess I'll see about possibly bringing the old Ayame. The new one has more layers and I was already too hot in it at AB so I don't really want to try wearing it in July! ^_^;
no subject
I know how you feel, I must come across like that as well (I'm quite shy IRL). Hopefully you'll run into some people you know though ^^
no subject
I still have the Sakura robe for D in pieces because the lack of fabric still depresses me. I don't know if I'll ever get it done now, I'm afraid to work on it because everything seems to go wrong with it.
D's sisters outfit sounds beautiful. I can't wait to see it finished! I hope you get lots of good pics at that con.
It's awesome you have other hobbies that get you out. I wouldn't know what else to do. All my other interests are also art related so I just sit by myself like a hermit and work on painting or jewllery or basket weaving or whatever. It's no wonder I can't hold a conversation to save my life.^^;
no subject
The costume for D's sister is going pretty well and a friend agreed to do a photoshoot for me at the con so hopefully, I'll get some nice pics of this one. I haven't managed to have a proper shoot yet for either of the costumes I've finished so far this year.
Well, I still tend to be rather reclusive. ^_^; My main hobby these days is cosplay although I also like reading and needlework, so it's mostly quiet hobbies for me. Not into parties or such at all and when I do make it to the theatre, it's usually alone. The tickets are so expensive and I don't know many people who'd actually be interested in going. ^_^;;
no subject
I really liked your Ayame and Count D outfits, myself. And I always love looking at photos of your newest projects. ^^ You're very talented with this sort of thing.
What kind of computer classes will you be taking?
no subject