Castlevania: OoE wins!

No matter how much I try, there just isn't any way to resist Castlevania.  I've been a fan for far too long, and the idea of wearing something so detailed and unique = I excite!

More or less, I've decided to take on Shanoa & Albus as my next major nerd project.  While I realize this is going to test my patience in many ways over the course of the next few months, I feel confident that I can do them justice.  Plus, I'd love to hone my skills at armor building and also learn how to tool, dye and oil leather by hand.

For goals, I hope to continue my exercise regime, and lose that last 5-10lbs of "plateau" weight.  Honestly, I could do better with my eating habits as well -- not so much in the type of foods (Everything we eat is pretty wholesome and healthy!), but I would like to add more veggies and seafood into the mix.

As far as research goes, I've started a huge folder of reference material already for both costumes.  Next stage will be sketching and planning, a material break down sheet, (With estimations on cost) patterns possibly needed, etc.  Once I figure out which costume I will tackle first, I'll start purchasing my materials both online, and from local sources.

Extras such as wigs, contacts (Yes, I am going all out here!) and shoes/boots will be purchased if they're suitable in my budget, or if I can snag a deal.  I'll end up picking up another roll of Wonderflex sometime in the next few weeks, along with pattern paper.  I have some great ideas for the chest plate/armor, and I am already feeling the need to start.  For the tattoo's, I hope to hand-make stencils (For both the back glyph and smaller bicep ones) and utilize a cosmetic airbrush paint + my airbrush to make it easier.

Really, the idea of taking on Shanoa's armor, and Albus' tooled leather vest + gun are probably the most harrowing points of interest when considering the construction.  Obviously I'm not made of cold hard cash either, so that will also be something nagging in the back of my mind.  Can I somehow manage to put both together for under $300?  I can damn well try, I suppose.

-- Ely

Dragon's Crown!

Vanillaware's highly anticipated game (Probably much attributed to throw-back style of Golden Axe, and of course the characters sorceress & amazon, lol!) "Dragon's Crown" is set to his markets next year, Spring 2012.  By that time, I hope we have a PS3 so we can actually play it!

As far as my long-running-list of somewhat interesting nerd costumes to make, the elf and wizard seem highly plausible, if not fairly easy to make compared to other ideas I've thrown out there.  This blog is becoming such a mash of, "Oooh, I like this shiny... but I like this shiny too!" *__*;  What's wrong with me?

Cheers from nerd-dom,

-- Ely

Hawt damn. I love Castlevania designs.

I've been into Castlevania for a long time; probably from the early ages of it being on SNES, and into it's latter years of PS1 glory.  I haven't picked up the 3D versions honestly due to lack of interest, but at least have played through the NDS versions as they've come out.

I am still in love with Castlevania: SOTN, and have considered picking it up and playing through it again.  What's not to like about it? Alucard was badass, Richter was pretty awesome, as was Maria Renard.  At one point, I had considered making her outfit for myself, but it just never took off for whatever reason.

Some of the newer games have appealing designs as well.  Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia was a pretty decent game; but what I love (Of course) are the designs!

 (Shanoa left, Albus right)

It's like daaayyuummmm~ part of me wants to attempt the challenge, the other part is all, "Wtf, run for the hills!" Not so much because of Shanoa's costume, but Albus'.  Freakin' Albus with his tooled leather vest and all those holsters, buckles and rivets.  OH YEAH.  AND THAT FREAKING GUN, TOO. D:  Why am I attracted to complicated things? I... have no words.  Really, no defense here.

-- Elysium

P.S: Dracula is one sexy mother*ucker.  Also, a possibility.

(Cosplay Ideas) Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and thoughts on HOTD.

NOTE: While I love the game, the designs and whole collective, I've decided that I won't be doing this costume.

Recently my husband started playing 'Muramasa: The Demon Blade', and nonchalantly pointed to Momohime, "You could cosplay her."  I was sort of thinking he was joking, but then it got me thinking.

Yes.  I could totally do that.  I'm all legs here, so it could work!  Not to mention, I've been wanting to dabble in something Japanese-esque, and the design itself is freaking gorgeous.

Looking at the design itself does intimidate me some -- mainly the armor and decor.  Otherwise, it's really just a yukata style outfit with longer sleeves, green obi and knee-socks.  I wonder?

Will this be something I could potentially take on next?  Not sure.  But I love the idea of wearing it!

In other news, we finished up watching 'Highschool of the Dead' a week ago or so.  It was suggested to me by a close friend (Who had interest in cosplaying Kohta Hirano, the gun-nerd) that if we could do a mini-group cosplay, HOTD could be something easy to pull together.  However, looking at the female cast I realize a few things:

A) Going to have to hit the gym and watch the diet if it's something I want to attempt.
B) Gotta bust out a pretty intense push-up bra to do any of the characters justice.
C) Just not sure if it's something I can pull off?

Out of the four doable female characters, I can only see myself going as Rei Miyamoto, or Saeko Busujima.  I'd probably then ask my husband if he'd be interested in doing Takashi Komuro, just 'cause.  But I'm not sure.  The costumes are easy enough, and I keep thinking how awesome it'd be to do some blood spatter distressing on them.  Also, I don't think I could create an actual gun prop... so I'm not sure how cosplaying Rei could work.

-- Elysium

(Saeko on the left, Rei on the right.  Boobs, guns and zombies?  Definitely a win/win combination for viewers!)

Spice and Wolf?

I've been tossing around the idea of making Horo & Kraft Lawrence costumes.  Maybe? Perhaps? I'm not sure, but the idea is very appealing.  Though, I am not sure if I like her dress outfit, or the purple tunic one?  What do you think is more recognizable as Horo?

I'd totally go all out and wear red contacts for this one.

Artwork by the amazing Koume Keito.  These are the book-covers to the graphic novels of "Spice and Wolf".

 

  

-- Elysium

The post-costume sadness.

When I was a young girl, I remember the times where I'd be watching my favourite cartoon program, and half-way through it I'd look at the clock all forlorn, "Mom... mom, it's almost over..."  Mom would proceed to roll her eyes, "You're only half-way through.  Just enjoy the last of it."

Flash forward and apply this to my life today.  This somewhat melancholy outlook has lost it's grasp on many aspects of my life now, (Can thank my husband for this!) but, when it comes down to my craft I still feel a little bit grey when I finish up a project.  Admittedly, it is hard to wear a costume once (And I'm sure I'll wear some again) after you've put in countless hours crafting it.  But really, to follow my mom's advice, I do truly enjoy what I do, every moment of it.  So I need to learn how to keep myself motivated and happy.

You might be thinking, "So you busted your butt for 30-40 hours.  Aren't you glad to be done with it, and move onto the next?"

Yes, of course I am happy to move on!  Even the costumes I threw together for AX were a source of stress at a couple moments, so I was really happy to be finished with 'em.  At least I know that if I attend another convention, I'll have something to pull from already.

Anyhow, I suppose I'm finally hitting that wall where I know it's already time to start planning something new.  Of course, financial constraints are the largest set-back for starting anything, so until I can afford to devote some money I will be in the research/planning phase.

-- Elysium

Anime Expo 2011 --

It's been a long, long time since I've attended an anime convention.  In fact, the last one must have been back in 2003 or 2004.  (This would be back when I was dating my now husband!) So wow, it's been a long time.  Sure, I have attended Comic Con a few times more recently, but not for the same reasons.  For AX we attended Friday, Saturday, and a little tiny bit on Sunday.  Overall, we actually had a lot of fun.  Strange to actually admit that, as we're definitely not as tangled in Japanese sub-culture as we used to be.  Granted, we still indulge whenever we can just because we're nerdy like that, yo.

At any rate, the Los Angeles Convention Center that houses Anime Expo is huge!  We traipsed around for hours and hours, and still didn't manage to see the whole thing!  Upon pulling up to the convention parking area we observed an astonishing amount of people dressed in costumes as well.  Cosplay at this convention must have been at least 50-60% of the attendees, really.  My inner-costuming-nerd-heart must have skipped dozens of beats throughout the weekend.  The range of skill in the costumes were all over the place, some were decent, others were finished strangely -- but others, my goodness.  It's hard to think that these people are not professional!  Some of the costumes must have taken months to put together -- and you could really tell how proud they were of their work.

It should be mentioned that the age range that attended this convention were from very young to over 60.

Of course, we busted out some "cosplay" of our own for one day, just to see how many people would:

a) Recognize the characters.
b) Take pictures?
c) Freak out and yell "Objection!" at us!

So we donned Gyakuten Saiban costumes (Or Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney) for Saturday.  Myself as the busty defense attorney Mia Fey, and my husband as the enigmatic coffee-addicted prosecutor Godot.  Here are some of the better shots we had taken.

(I may do a construction notes of sorts for both costumes, just to take it to another level of nerd!)

To answer the above a, b & c -- YES.  Ton's of pictures were taken, lots of "OBJECTION!" had, and for the most part, people knew who we were.  Though, Godot was mistaken as "Anime Cyclops" a few odd times, much to our amusement.

Overall, we didn't do a whole lot during the actual convention -- we mostly just walked around, took pictures of other cosplayers, bought nerd stuff (Yay for Katamari Damacy and Apeture Science t-shirts, hentai books and art prints!) and talked to random people.  If we decide to go next year, we'll prepare to do a bit better in terms of actually going to panels if we're interested in the subject matter.  It would have been nice to attend a concert as well (Both the Hatsune Miku concert and Kalafina were sold out) or actually come with enough $$ to pick up more merchandise.  I regret not checking out the massive Copic booths and picking up a couple of new markers, though.

Though, the highlight of Anime Expo for myself was easily meeting Peter S. Beagle.  (For those who are unfamiliar with him, he's the author of, "The Last Unicorn")  My wonderful husband bought me the hard-backed graphic novel, and I had it signed by Peter!  It was wonderful to meet the creator of such a beloved story.  I was ecstatic to chat with him and convey how important his works were in the shaping of my early childhood.  It completely satisfied my inner child.

I hope to make it to AX 2012 next year -- new costumes in tow, and commission business cards in hand!

-- Elysium

A new chapter beings.

Hiya, Elysium here!

So I started this blog in hopes to keep better track of my costuming.  It's been very hard for me to commit to building a website, (Never enough time) and while media sites such as Deviant Art are so convenient, I decided I'd rather have a small space just for my own ramblings and uploads in the meantime.  Eventually I will obtain a website for myself, but not until I can build a stronger body of work.

Ideally, this blog will illustrate my progress with costuming projects, as well as finished products and sketches.  From time to time though, I may nerd up on other subjects however.

Check back for updates!

Muah,

-- Elysium Sans