Commission Project: Pirate England (Hetalia) -- Update IV, Poet Shirt

'Allo thar!

I have just finished up the poet shirt! Woohoo!  This is a larger part of the Pirate England cosplay commission I was charged with creating, and I am happy to announce that I have been able to cross off everything from that list -- but the jacket.  Mostly, that part  has been sewn or is in separate pieces that just need to be attached.  (Collars, cuffs, lapels, etc)  It certainly won't be long until this Hetalia pirate costume is sitting at 100%, and ready to be shipped!

The body of the shirt is crafted from a beautiful mid-weight linen, which was then perm-dyed to a light ecru colour.  The lace around the cuffs and cravat were custom stained using a highly concentrated earl grey and sea salt bath, which I then heat set with an iron.  I enlarged the sleeve pattern for more fullness, and modified the collar to a ruffled stand to exemplify it's stateliness.  ^.~

The cravat is fully removable, (Has a mock collar with hidden snaps) so that the shirt can be worn without it as well.  Not pictured is the slit at the front of the poet shirt, which has brass grommets and lacing!  It is a rather nice detail, even though hidden from view.  I created the brooch for this costume using a large crystal gem, a vintage holder, a flat brooch back, and antique brass chains.  Overall super pleased with the jewelry and glad it did what I wanted it to.  xD;

The poet shirt sits at about 28" inches from shoulder to hem, so it can either be worn un-tucked, belted and bloused out, or tucked in and bloused comfortably.  I didn't want to alter the length too much, but since my client is shorter than I, I took care not make it too long it either. xD;

I hope you like the progress! Fancy Pirate England shirt is definitely fancy.  I am so pleased with how this garment came out and I am excited to see it all together.  Now onto the jacket! Huuuuuuuuu~ <3

Left to do:

1. Restoration-era coat w/large cuffs, collar & lapels (All are ready to be assembled!)
2. Poet shirt w/lace cuffs
3. Pirate Hat w/feathers, ruffled ribbon & trims
   
4. Gold epaulets w/tassels
5. Lacey cravat

Cheers for now, and happy costuming!

-- Elysium

Commission Project: Pirate England (Hetalia) -- Update III, Pirate Hat

Hello everyone,

I've been hard at work here.  The last few days, I have been custom drafting a bicorn style hat for the Pirate England/UK commission.  Behold, the fancy hat!  Finally, I am finished, or at least I believe to be.  I have a pile of flat-backed pearl trim I was considering using around the gold gimp trims, but I'm really not sure it's needed.  (I will consult my client if she wants more trim, perhaps. xD)  The feathers did exactly what I wanted them to (I used an ostrich feather boa in cream), and the gold trims & ruffles are just enough without it being too much.  This hat is HUGE though.  This was custom built to be worn either with the notch to the front, or tipped to the side.  I built the inner crown to 24" -- so that it's large enough to accommodate a wig comfortably.

I am really pleased with the result, and the hat itself will look stunning once accompanied by the entire costume.  I had bought large coloured ostrich feathers (In pictures, sitting in Godot's huge mug) to be placed in the hat brim... but it looks a little ridiculous when I put 'em in.  Maybe I'll play around with them a little more and see what I think.  Perhaps it's just a length issue, and the way I'm angling them into the brim?

The hat foundation is a buckram inner with millinery wire support, and felted for stability.  I used cotton poplin suiting for the black fashion outer, and a nice sateen for the inner crown lining!  The trims I used are satin cord braid, hand made satin ribbon ruffling, and a gold toned french gimp.  I am working on adding a small ribbon rose to the outer crown as a detail, too.  (Pictures below!)  There is a gorgeous desaturated green vintage lace trim on the outer part of the hat crown, but you can only really see it from the side. (Totally didn't take pictures of it, but oh well~)

Hope you like it! (...that means you, Raven!) 

For some unfortunate news, I have decided to remake the poet shirt.  I just didn't like the fabric, so I ran out and bought a much more suitable linen.  I think it'll be a bit more authentic this way, and if permanently tea stained ever so slightly, it'll look even better.  It shouldn't take more than a few hours to redo.  In the 6th picture, there is a pile of blue stuff.  These are a collar, and two cuffs.  I stood one up, just so you can get an idea of what it looks like.  These will be basted along the bottom of the sleeves.  Fancy schmancy. ;D

The coat itself for now is a huge secret.  At least until I finish hand-stitching all of the trims to the lapels.  It's a big job, but super close to being finished with that tedious part. :3

For now, I'm going to finish up the epaulets, and work on that fancy cravat!  Cheers, lovlies.

-- Ely  

Left to do!

1. Restoration-era coat w/large cuffs, collar & lapels (All are ready to be assembled!)
2. Poet shirt w/lace cuffs (Recutting from new linen material, and tea staining it)
3. Pirate Hat w/feathers, ruffled ribbon & trims (May or may not still add flat-back pearl trim!)
   
4. Gold epaulets w/tassels
5. Lacey cravat

Blog gets a slight make-over!

Hi everyone!

I touched up my blog a bit here, so that it's more accessible, easier to read, etc.  Added a few custom graphics, and backgrounds as well.  I finally figured out how to add tabs with separate pages too!  So I'll have some of my work up there (Photographs/sketches) for general viewing once I get around to it. (Likely soon)  :3

Hope you like it!  Now back to working on this hat commission! (Pirate UK ^o~)


-- Ely

OH HAI WIG.

 

Perfect looking Shanoa wig, but not in stock? Thankfully I was able to get in touch with the nice peeps at cosplaywigsusa.com, and apparently they're about to receive a shipment.

I was originally looking to buy from Epic Cosplay Wigs (www.epiccosplay.com) but I think I'll give these guys a shot first.  I don't know why, but the quality of the wig looks very, very nice.  I've heard that Epic Cosplay Wigs are pretty unrivaled with thickness... so I'm still unsure on which to purchase.  I suppose a well shot picture is what is swaying my decision.  Both are US based, so either way there will not be a tremendously long wait to get 'em in the mail.

Hopefully it'll be something I can pick up and give a try!  Quality looks beautiful.  Since there are not many reviews for this USA based wig seller online, I will likely do a review on the product. ^o^

I realize that the wig length is a bit shorter than the art/in game representation of Shanoa... but I think that's pretty minor.  In my experience with longer wigs, after a bit of wear, they start to get super tangled.  Now there is a 50" available from Epic Cosplay, as well as a 60".  The hassle or worry that they will tangle throughout the day is enough of a preemptive concern that I won't bother buying them. xD;

                        

Cosplay Wigs Usa to the left, Epic Cosplay Wig to the right.

I can't decide! #___#

-- Ely

Neglecting this blog, for serious.

Hey everyone!

I'm bacccck.  Well, at least until life starts getting busy again!  Been enjoying my last month of school break, but a few things have gone amiss here and there.  Someone cracked/phished my email back a month ago, and I lost a lot of important contacts/emails in my folders.  Unfortunately, some of those just happened to be commission inquiries.  So for any of you that have asked me about something, and received no response, it's because I no longer have your email.  I'm thinking about opening a new email/password via gmail, just to clear it up and keep any work/cosplay stuff separate from my personal email.  Again, really sorry to anyone who I had been in touch with previously, and all of a sudden I just dropped off the map. :/

For now, let's just use: BeataBissettTyski@gmail.com

Otherwise, life is going well.  Been trying really hard to finish up this pirate costume for my best friend.  I realize I may have gone overboard on the detailing work, but it'll still look amazing.

Plotting away my Shanoa cosplay silently, still.  Haven't gotten past the initial planning stage, as I've been short on time since last semester.  I really hope this semester can be more lax, and that I'll have more time to assemble my portfolio, a proper website, and build some more costumes.

Gotta make it happen!

Peace, everyone. :3

-- Ely