August Ramblings~

Hello everyone!

Since July, I've been quite busy.  I picked up a part-time job, (To help curb my living expenses) and as soon my portfolio is ready I will be seeking out full-time, field-related work.  I am set on applying to various costume houses in the area, in the hopes they will pick me up for an entry-level position. Aside from the part-time work, I've just been taking it easy, trying to gather my bearings and be prepared to take my career into my own hands.  My amazing husband helped create a very simple online portfolio site for me, which is great since I would have no freaking clue how to do it myself!

As for job searching -- I'm not as scared about it as I thought I'd be.  Thankfully I'm in a stable enough financial situation where I'm not in some huge rush to get a job right away, or settle for something not to my liking.  Some final things I have left to do are write my resume, bio, and prepare some business cards.

In other (nerdy) news, I have new costumes already picked out for this 2012/2013!  After my personal success with Shanoa (I will have to go back and post the final tid-bits and construction notes on it), I've decided to run with Castlevania again -- but this time, from one of my all-time favourites from the series, if not one of my favourite games period.  Castlevania, Symphony of the Night!

Maria Renard -- SOTN

Back in 2004, I bought 70% of the materials I needed for Maria Renard.  I must have lost interest or felt intimidated by the costume.  Recently, I pulled all of the material out (Kept hanging on to it!) and needless to say, she's being put together right now! I have already completed her sash, as well as her 18th century shoes.  (Found a great pair on eBay, and paid only $15 for 'em!)  The shoes came out quite beautifully -- and I finally overcame my fears of covering shoes in fabric.  (I'm going to put together a tutorial of sorts for those who might want to try it.)  In my opinion, it looks much nicer than just painting shoes, plus, you don't have to worry about cracking or creasing paint, varnishing, etc.  I took some slight creative liberty with them, and added some extra trims.

Alucard -- SOTN

I am super fan-girling too, because my husband has agreed to be Alucard.  This means I can finally take on its construction (Always been a dream of mine) knowing that I can actually handle the difficulties it might cause me.  Honestly though, it won't be too difficult, but I really want to take my time with it and make it stunning.  For now though, I'll finish off Maria, and once it is completed, I will start on Alucard.

I know that two costumes doesn't seem like 'big plans' for the remainder of this year, but considering that I will likely be juggling a full-time job and my hobby, it'll be enough! Don't want to get too ahead of myself here.

Love and happy cosplaying,

♥ Ely

Graduation, AX 2012 & Shanoa Tassets (W.I.P)

SCHOOL IS OUT!  I have a grad dinner tomorrow, receive my certificate, and that's it. Still waiting to hear about possible plans for higher education, but until then, I'm just going to relax and lay out like a blob like I deserve.  Kinda happy and sad that my time @ the LACC Theatre Academy has come to a close.  Couldn't last forever though.  I'll have a better idea of what to do by the first week of July, but it'll either be more school, or going to work.

With 27 days or so until AX 2012, and just under 3 weeks until my best friend comes from B.C to visit... I am so beyond excited! It's been about a year since I've seen her, and it's honestly been the only thing I've really been looking forward to since the beginning of my school year.  L.A. is a huge place, and what we didn't do/see last time, we'll surely try to squeeze in.  It'll be nice to kick back and enjoy our time together!  I just hope the weather won't turn unbearably hot while she's here, but if all else fails, we'll run the A/C and eat popsicles in front of it. xD;

I'm around 60% with my Shanoa cosplay, with the major parts just being the dress left to sew, and drafting my greaves and cuisses. (The upper leg armor)  The hip armor (Stylized tassets) is complete and are awaiting to be put together and riveted to the breastplate.  I've got a few things coming in the mail before I can proceed with the rivets, though.  I ended up ordering a PVC display mannequin (30") leg to do my lower greaves, because I don't like the idea of free-forming Wonderflex to my leg (Over a boot).  It felt like the right thing to do, to get two perfectly identical greaves.  :3 Also for $20, it's not a big deal and I'm sure I'll get plenty of use out of it.

Still much to do, but I have loads of time being out of school for the summer~

I have a few progress pictures and pre-drafts of my hip armor, but it doesn't all make sense until you see the final product.  I used the same method as the breast plate by using Wonderflex as an inner support, felted both sides, and covered the outer with matching brown leather.  The dotted line on the pattern is for the shorter sections of the armor.  I didn't want to cut 6 full patterns, as the upper two are overlapped and only the bottom is full-sized.  It sits nicer on my thighs this way too, with less bulk.

The rolled sheet metal was used to give me a nice curve to the armor pieces.  It's funny what you can do with stuff you have lying about your house!  Since these pictures, I have them covered in leather and ready to attach.  I will update that in a day or two once I receive the supplies I need.

Update: I'm adding a couple of the 'mostly finished' tassets! (At bottom) They came out pretty great -- all I have to do is fasten them together, and create the strap to connect to the breastplate. Woo!

Shanoa To-Do:   

1.  Draft lower greaves, and cuisses -- attach with brass split-pins. (0%)
2. Attach hip armor (stylized tassets) to finished breastplate. (95%)
3.  Draft, sew dress together & lining -- add controlled fray to bottom hem. (60%)
4. Gloves -- add feathers (Detachable) and elastic cross-gartering. (95%)
5. Collar -- baste pinned areas & attach hook and eyes. (100%)
6. Make below knee to upper thigh brown legging w/zippers. (100%)
7. Shape & texturize 40" black wig. (0%)

That's all for now, lovelies! Hope all in anticipation of the convention season are making good progress on costumes as well.  Keep it up. :3 Cheers!

♥ Ely

School Crunch -- back in a couple of weeks!

School, whyyyy?!  SO MUCH TO DO! ;A;

I'm in the final 2 weeks before graduating as Costume Design major.  I haven't been able to accomplish much outside of school work in the month of May (Meaning nothing personal), and that realization is a little disenchanting, but nonetheless unavoidable.  I was sick for a good week and a half (Thanks a lot, stomach flu!) as well, so I feel like May has been a bad month so far.  Honestly, until May 29th or so I'll be furiously putting together final projects, papers, presentations, etc.  It's a bit of a pain, but no big deal -- and like I have a choice in the matter!  Just seems like a huge deal, since the student-body atmosphere is very dark and moody -- and it makes me grumpy to hear so many students complaining!  Plus, my anxiety tends to over-blow any small thing into a seemingly larger, more complicated situation.  D: I need to learn to control my stress, and save it for when more appropriate circumstances arise!

Ah well... at least I AM GRADUATING! On to the next big adventure, starting this summer!  I'm at a cross-roads however, to continue my education, or to seek out work for a while, and pay down my loans?  I'll have to decide come June.  I have money saved up for a good while, so I am not stressed about that at all.  Just unsure what my next step will be.

I have made some progress on my Shanoa hip armor (The pieces that hang from either side of the breastplate) and formed them over a curved surface -- the same one we used for Godot's mask.  Now they're just sitting there in a pile, staring at me.  I should be able to work a bit on that this weekend, as they're ready for felting and their leather covers.  (I have some progress pictures)  It's an easier application than the breastplate, so it shouldn't take me more than a couple of hours.  Wonderflex is truly a magical product!

My collar is mostly complete as well (I just have to do a bunch of handwork to finish it), as are my gloves.  I ended up having to order larger black coque (Rooster) feathers for the gloves, and a different elastic for the cross-gartering, but no qualms here!  Gloves and collar need only an hour of work each, tops.  They should look pretty awesome once finished! I'll take pictures of them once they are.

Alas, haven't had time to draft the proper halter pattern for the dress base -- the skirt portion is cut, so I really need to buckle down and finish the top.  I ended up purchasing china silk linings in two different orange variants, a burnt pumpkin and a copper.  Seems like the copper will work out better!

Probably going to have to take a small trip out to Santa Monica between now and June, too. I need to buy a leg.  A... plastic display leg! xD I need something rigid and stable for forming the bottom greaves of Shanoa's armor!  A bit of a pain to drop $20 on one display leg, but who knows... I may need it again later?  Or I could just turn it into a lamp?  Hahaha.  The world of costuming is so weird sometimes.

Hope everyone is doing well!  I hope to get back on track with my crafting asap, and finally get some tutorials up too.

Cheers!

♥ Ely