Feathers plus glue= one stop closer to cosplay completion

I never actually thought I would see the day when I could say I was covered in glue and feathers, but I did. It wasn’t too bad really. The glue was messiest when it no longer wanted to squeeze out of the bottle and I had to use a brush and my hands but nun the less I managed to make this project work….”what project” you say? Well I was making wings of course!

They were not easy either. They were for my Yuna costume. But I didn’t want traditional angel wings like the Trinity Blood or Ah! My Goddess ones. I didn’t want them to look exactly like Yuna’s wings either as she has her wings curving around her arms much more than the normal curve in wings. I wanted cute little ones that I could use for multiple cosplays, or just to frame at the head of my bed (way better than deer antlers). This was probably the most tedious cosplay I have ever done. Feather by feather I worked. But I really don’t mind that kind of work anyway its relaxing and peaceful, the research and anxiety were NOT. The research I had to do in making these wings was ridiculous, but I finally settled on an online tutorial;
www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/wings/wings.html .

Just so you know this is the constructions process;
1. Gather materials (full list on tutorial at link provided)

2. Contruct frame (with copper tubing and chicken wire, picture above)
3. Add craft batting to frame with tacky glue or better but super expensive Fabritac (pic above and below)

4.Add Feathers liike crazy! (Not really, use the best ones with the fewist imperfections and make sure you have rights and lefts on proper sides, as well as the insides of the featers showing on the inner wing and the feathers layed normally on the outer wing).5. Once feathers are on add craft batting back ove the top to disguise the tops and have a nice place to glue the "fluff". (Notice the pretty layers and boquet in picture above and fluff and face in pic below)

Rare photo of my face *gasp* limited viewing! Short time only!...dorky smile, Bender on stomach..hehe

The wings turned out well but I still have to nit pick at it. My biggest gripes are that I used regular silver duck tape to hold together the frame and you can still sort of see it under bright light. Also the feathers are not perfectly white like my costume and may look…off, I guess. Also attaching the feathers is largely annoying. These wings while light are still heavy enough to be a problem for the skimpy dress that has to somehow hold them up. I figure hooks for attaching and blear straps for extra support. The project took me about a week of work but could of taken me less if I hadn’t been so nitpicky and hesitant to do anything or move on. I just wanted them to look purdy!

I am VERY happy with the results though. As for wearing them, crowded cons will get annoying, also they stick out far enough for me to have to grapevine through doorways, but that’s about it. I figure with the way I’m doing it they are detachable easily enough.

Yes my wings are Big and Bangin', but I prefer the Creation Narritive...

Yes, I can draw...much better than I can write

I wanted a more complete or whole participation in Sakuracon this year. Sooo… I entered a contest! The mascot contest! I am obligated to not actually show you the picture…and I was considering asking them if I could show a draft or something, but then checking the forums they have actually just updated saying that people are not following the rules for not posting there entries and gave these explanations

“1. The art becomes Sakura-Con property-we want our mascot to be UNIQUE and NEVER seen before we announce it. 2. The most important reason: we want a fair contest. We've been criticized in the past because an artist won after first advertising the entry all over the web and asked staff for votes. So we made posting your entry against our rules.”

So Once I can get my scanner online I will gladly show you some of my work.

I’d show you something now but all I have currently is crap.

Takoyaki for everyone...or 7

Finally went to Daiso for another trip. This time I had a few kitchen aids in mind. First off I wanted a tamagoyaki pan, (checked off my list at the regular dollar fifty price) next I needed a cooking grill for making yaki onigiri (also $1.50) and finally the tamagoyaki pan…

No go. They sell out like, like, like…oh I don’t know, the sell out like anything on sale on the day before Christmas. They are never there. They are SO not in stock that I doubt the store ever had them in the first place…Anger.

So after much online searching I decided that 20 dollars was a suitable price…even though if I had waited a week I could have got one for 9 dollars on Amazon…but I am not that patient. Besides! I have wanted a takoyaki/abelskever pan FOR-EV-ER! I waited for an opportune moment but I could never get the 3 (under line the 3 five times won’t you?) dollar pan at Daiso. Okay! Do We Understand the Frustration? I payed 20 instead of 3!!! WTF!

But this really is the wrong attitude. I mean I have the freaking pan now. I should be, like, grateful. I’m so grateful I have already said the word “like” 5 times already. Bad form, bad form…ah well.

I am already scheming ways to use this pan. I have already made spherical crab cakes (yummy!) and will make cherry jam filled pancakes and lavender sugar pancakes tomorrow morning.

Drunk on Anime

I have heard it said that it takes an annoyingly long time for animes be licensed and dubbed before they are ready to sell to us red blooded Americans. I knew it to be true of course as its only logical but I never really had the experience of going through the whole process with a series until XXXHolic. With XXXHolic I read the manga when it first came out, was overjoyed to hear that there was a not yet dubbed anime (which I sort of watched on youtube), and then a good…2 years later learned the Northwest U.S premier of it was going to be at Sakuracon. I mean WOW. 2 years later! The manga is insanely popular with its heavy emphasis on Japanese myths and all sorts of fairy tale and occult stuff. I really do love the manga. But I never got to watching more than…say 3 episodes of the fan subbed anime.

But the best part is not only is the English dub premiering at Sakuracon, but they have two of the voice actors from the series (Watanuki and Moru)!!!

Clamp really is amazing with the stuff they come up with. I remember I used to watch Card Captor Sakura as a kid (but never got to see the entire series) and they have so much stuff out there too. I personally only got into Chobits and XXXHolic. I like others as well, such as Tsubasa, but I like to think that XXXHolic is my thing and Tsubasa is my friends thing (yes it’s weird) just like the way the two mangas connect at certain points. XXXHolic actually connects to many other clamp series in the apperance of the occasional character or item thrown in at times such as the chobit ears used as a communication device or the apperance of Kazahaya and Rikuo from Legal Drug as workers at a Pharmacy (lol). I did finished Chobits with thankfully 8 volumes, but now that I’m older don’t like it as much. This is due to the fact that I actually think about the sex in it and am not as oblivious to the more adult stuff and the more controversial issues brought up in the manga. Chobits is like the anime version of the Notebook (movie) for me. I can’t like it because I’m morally torn between “should she have left her finace?” or “Its’ all okay, they were meant for each other.”

Okay, I’m way off topic now. My point is I’m super stoked for the Premier and can’t wait to hear one of my favorite mangas come to the “little” screen in English.

Cosplay Crafts

So I was going over final cosplay preparations as Sakura con is approaching fast. I decided since Yuna is already my most expensive costume I would do all the jewelry for the costume. Now let me tell you I haven’t done any metal/clay/plastic work in a LONG time so the results were okay but not the granddaddy of all time. Yuna’s Wedding costume consists of her blue saffire drop earrings, and her silver flower necklace. The earrings were simple to make the hard part was finding the beads. The necklace was the most difficult clay work I have ever done and it took me a while just to me satisfied with it. Clayworking takes patience but is well worth it. I used a tutorial from cosplaywiki. OR you could go to the origional site http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jongleur/index.html
This site also has plenty of other tutorials for clay jewelry that are quite stunning.

By the way the rest of my costume is almost done, I hate cutting my costume so close (what are you talking about Marie?? You have two more months!). I just ordered the feathers so I should be able to get the wings done soon. The dress is almost completed as well. Its…how do you say…amazing! My grandmother is possibly the most Amazing seamstress ever! This dress is gorgeous. It looks full bodied and not just thrown together. It is sturdy not flimsy yet still miraculously elegant. It looks like it could last the harsh 3 day con environment (I can’t say the same for my wings) and 10 more cons after. The top and bottom are pretty much done I just need to cut out the front of the dress and line with the wings (which are coming) and the top is just a few details away. I’m very excited! Why? Because my other 2 costumes I look like a complete dork! I’m wearing the possibly most abstract pieces of clothing for Miss Golden week and a purple wig, dorky glasses, and 90’s clothes for Arale. I’m very happy to be a princess for a day (not so happy about the heels or that it’s so skimpy of an outfit).

Coming SOON!

Exams are days away and I've been very busy...but I promise that I will get up some new posts soon!

Plans for the future...

1. Review of Manga and Anime (new and old, new for your benefit and old for me even if you don't care!)
2. Cosplay!
3. Music reviews! My first!

some spoilers may include the words...claymore, headbands, ears, wigs, Air, wings, or necklace. Okay so most of it is cosplay...but I will have more reviews...I promise!

Oh Bento!

I have been completely overwhelmed by my abundance and busy schedule. I should be GRATEFUL that while so busy, do to upcoming semester exams for junior year, I don't have to worry about food. But no, I get MAD at my parents because I am trying to get some cooking in and they are bringing home Thai and Mexican takeout. What can I say "I don't want the sukiyaki beef to go bad!" too late...I have some bentos that I have been lazy and haven't told you about yet. For relatively good reason, first off, If I don't like the food I cook then you definitely aren't going to like it.

That's why I'm initiating a rating system where I will "grade my performance". From now on My creations' will get a score out of 5 stars...or ice cream cones (whatever I feel like). Almost a disclaimer, but not. The recipes will be revised though so they should be better then the original rating/recipe. I should also probably start pre-writing my posts on Microsoft Word first, as it automatically corrects all the misspelled words (I have to use spell check every other sentence).

Back to the bento. This was my favorite bento of recent as it was deliciously India inspired. What you are seeing is rice covered by two wonderfully spicy coconut and mango chutneys. I give this recipe Five Stars! Whoot!

Mango and Coconut Chutney Bento

By Me! Inspired by.... other recipes. Alton browns chutney + thai mango salsa recipe=My recipe!

Ingredients; For mango chutney

• 1/2 diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons of Sriracha chili sauce
• 2 Mangos cubed 1/2"
• teaspoon ginger (I use paste)
• 1 oz cider vinigar
• 1/2-3/4 cup cubed pinnaple
• Optional: garlic
• salt to taste
  

Saute the red onions in a tablespoon canola oil and a teaspoon of salt until soft and fragrant, mix the rest of the ingredients together and add cooked onion.

Coconut Chutney was a mix of like five obscure Internet recipes

• 1/4 tsp dried chili flake (more to taste if desired)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon curry powder
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp ginger (paste)
• 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• Small can 14 oz/1 cup Beans or(use what you prefer..I used kidney because...well I wanted too, traditional Indian lentil's are also good choice)
• 1-1/2 cup frozen peas
  

Heat the oil and start cooking the spices, take off the heat add mustard and ginger and mix, immediately add the coconut and mix the "spiced"oil throughout. The coconut should turn yellow, from the curry poweder. Prep the beans/lentils and peas (cook and drain) and mix with the coconut.

This bento is tandori chicken on the right and rice topped with fish cake and furikake.

Don't even bother asking why there is bread in the left compartment...

Online Manga

I'm not talking about illegal downloads or scans. I'm talking about stuff that started online and is good, legal, and free.


MegaTokyo is one of the most popular web manga out there-I would start reading this again if I could remember where I left off...400's? Anyway I met the creators in person at a Q and A at Sakuracon. I think I asked about Japanese culture and..their favorite colors...I think.
http://www.megatokyo.com/index.php

Katie Bair is famous in the cosplay community for her fabulous wig skills, she is also a manga-ka, and doll maker. She hosts a online custom wig store as well as online manga such as the one I perticularly like, Aesir Corp. http://www.aesircorp.net/

While looking around her sites I found this really good link page which mentions some of the more popular (or not) online manga I haven't read such as penny arcade and other fun sites. http://www.katiebair.com/links.html

Penny arcade is really popular, but I haven't got to reading much of it.

My friend has a web comic thats...well...amazing! Its about Elves and adventure and awsomeness! The The Chronicles of Everglade! http://www.elvenparadise.com/

Shameless Plugs and Convention Facts

Hungry for convention-y "things" as Sakuracon rounded the bend and steepened its slope downhill towards its March due date, I hopelessly searched the Internet in order for the hunger to subside.


But I am not alone, for you see, many anime addicted zombies flock to these otaku gatherings all around the globe and every season of the year.


According to multiple sources (just Google it!...fine...animecons.com!) as of 2006 the estimated attendence for conventions was recorded as such


Anime Expo - 40,647 total, 32,930 paid

Otakon - 32,902 estimated total, 22,302 paid

A-Kon - 12,500 estimated paid

Anime North - 12,500 total, 11,286 paid

Anime Central - 11,500 estimated total

FanimeCon - 10,000 estimated paid

Anime Weekend Atlanta - 8,949 paid

Anime Boston - 9,354 total, estimated 8,854 paid

Sakura-Con - 8,300 estimated total, 7,500 estimated paid

Katsucon - 6,400 estimated total, 5,664 paid

The ten largest anime conventions in North America during 2007 were as follows:

1 - Anime Expo: 44,000 estimated total

2 - Otakon: 22,852 paid

3 - A-Kon: 14,500 estimated paid

4 - Anime North: 13,500 estimated total

5 - Anime Central: 12,769 total; 10,987 paid

6 - FanimeCon: 12,000 estimated total

7 - Anime Boston: 11,500 total; 10,559 paid

8 - Sakura-Con: 11,000 estimated total; 10,500 estimated paid

9 - Anime Weekend Atlanta: 10,200 estimated total; 9,825 paid

10 - AnimeNEXT: 7,100 estimated total

So the top five stayed strong, my little Sakuracon moved up from 9th to 8th and Anime Weekend Atlanta switched with Anime Boston.

Pink=Sakuracon

Red=A-kon

Orange=Anime Central

Yellow=Otacon

Green= Anime Expo

Blue=Anime North

Cosplay!!!

I though it was time to do a little snipit about cosplay, one of the best, if not the best part of conventions. I am currently doing two unknowns and one resonably common cosplay. Now before I go off telling you what to do, know this. I have only been to 1 day of a convention and that was in my home town Sea-town (Seattle). That was Sakuracon....9th year? I was going to go for there 10th aniversery but..the parents schedualed a trip over it...they didn't really now how serious it was yet. But I will be going this year for sure! Now my three costumes (one for each day of the three day con) are Miss Goldenweek (Aprilfools day in America) from OnePiece, Arale Norimaki from Akira Toriamas Slump, and the more known is Yuna (wedding gown) from Final Fantasy X .

Before and after shots

Miss Goldenweek came first and she was definatly the most painfull. Her construction was easy in terms of sewing difficulty but there was a LOT (and I mean a lot) of dyeing and painting. She only apears in a couple episodes in the series so reference pictures were hard to find. The worst part of the cosplay by far was the shoes and the stockings. The first picture to the left you can see my three attempts to get decent stockings for the costume. I spent sooo much time and money on stockings and paint. My first method was (the one to the right) where I just painted the stockings...but didn't use fabric paint *sigh*. The second method (left) was to tape the stockings and then paint them using a spray can of fabric paint, but the stockings are polyester and didn't want to dye/die. I FINALLY was walking through Display and Costume (local Halloween/Christmas/cosplay store) when I found these socks. AT LAST!!

The shoes were an issue too as I wanted to where my old converse (middle) but they were too small so I had to wear these hideous used-to-be-white shoes (right). I finally got these nice converse for Christmas! (Left)

My Yuna costume is going to be great as I have the worlds best Grandma doing all the sewing for me! I had to go get a decent pattern and pic out some (expensive) Satin (on sale) for the Bridal Gown. Yuna's going to turn out to be the most expensive costume due to the fact that she also has feathers everywhere, a bouquet (2 of them), a tiara, gloves, white shoes (4 bucks at Goodwill! haha), and earings.

Thanks to driftingheart.net for use of these reference pictures

As for Arale well...she is one of those characters that changes clothes a lot. Once you get the general sense of her style you just put something together. Essentials? Her hat, purple wig, and glasses!