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

Hiatus ended. Hopefully!

ME THE LAST MONTH!! ---------> 

Pretty well sums up my general feelings on the last month and a half.  I would love to just sleep for a month or so to make up for lost energies, creativity, etc.  School won't let me, of course!  I started working a show last week, and we're only half way through the run.  Another week, and that vice will be lifted!  But my god.  I really need a break.  This semester is killing me.

Pirate England -- after a myriad of set backs, up until a few weeks ago I wasn't able to make any progress on this costume at all.  I had a pretty bad stomach sickness that knocked me flat in the beginning two weeks of this month, and when well enough had piles of homework awaiting my return.  I basically have the coat in near completion, with the exception of tacking the lining and adding embellishments.  Phew! The hard part is over, at least.

I do apologize Raven, as it's not really like me to be behind with anything.  But you will get this costume soon! I promise! *fumes at self*

In other news, so burnt out in general that Halloween is dead to me this year.  Very hard, and very sad to admit that fact.  I hope next year I will be in better spirits for it.

Sorry for a lack-luster post! Hopefully sometime this week I can get back in the groove and post some costume-related stuff.

Cheers,

-- Ely

Commission Project: Pirate England (Hetalia) -- Update II

Hey all,

So I just wanted to post my fabrics for this commission! I'm very pleased with all that was purchased.  The shirt material is not posted here, but I'll have a completed photo of the finished garment soon.  (I had to adjust a couple of things, so the seams are open again and need re-stitching.)

The photos were taken under natural lighting -- should add that the blue (With a hard to see charcoal Italian/Baroque print!) and red fabrics are a fair more vibrant than pictured.

All in all, the red velveteen is for the body of the jacket, blue damask for lining and flipped out lapels & collar, the golden brocade is for the body of the epaulets, as well as the tassels to it's slight left.  The green vintage lace will likely be used for the hat, but that could change as well.

I adore the cravat brooch that I made for this costume! (That big sparkler in the center!)  I found the parts downtown, and set it myself! It is a large crystal gem that harmonizes the colours of the costume perfectly, shining gold, red, green (Arthur's eyes!) and hints of blue.  It was so perfect, I couldn't pass it up.

Other various findings pictured here:

• Buttons for the coat.
• White lace for trimmings on the poet shirt.
• Handmade gold rolled rose for...I dunno! (I made it 'cause maybe it'll look nice somewhere on the hat? Also those pins will come out once it's stitched together.) 
• Beaded tassel (Was a cool find for .50 cents!)
• Pile of clear crystal buttons.  (I just threw 'em on the pile because they may or may not be used.)
• Braided gold gimp (Far right) for lapel details.
• Satin ribbons (On rolls), and not sure what they will be used for, but had them on hand, so figured they could be useful! (Binding seams?)

Anyways, you get the idea! Everything has been cut for both the jacket and shirt, so we'll see how fast I can get this together.  Kinda apprehensive about the hat at this point.  Don't even want to think about it right now, lol.

Left to build:

1. Restoration-era coat w/large cuffs, collar & lapels
2. Poet shirt w/lace cuffs
3. Pirate Hat w/feathers and lace
4. Gold epaulets w/tassels
5. Lacey cravat

Back to resting up (Not feeling well), and perhaps more sewing.  Cheers!


-- Ely

Commission Project: Pirate England (Hetalia) -- Update I

To all my costume nerdlets,

So I've been super busy with the last half month, since I've been back in classes.  On top of a 40+ hour a week schedule, I'm also working steadily at home on a commission (Hetalia, Pirate England) that I see will take me at least another 100+ into completion.  The latter hasn't been hitch free, since my first trip downtown to find material for the pirate coat was a complete bust.  It was a disappointing trip, but at least now that I have had some time to think on it, I know what to buy.

You have no idea how hard it is to find non-stretch velvet, oi... At least $5.00 a yard isn't terrible?  Sometimes it's much easier to call around and ask.  The fabric district within the garment district of L.A is no joke -- it's huge.  Walking around all day, trying to barter for a better price do not a happy Elysium make.

Well, I found a few places with the right color, and bartering will definitely ensue!  I will settle with $5 a yard, if all else fails.  Still considering what to do with the inner part of the coat for lining, but I see that a dark steely blue, or desaturated royal blue (Whether flat, or patterned) will look brilliant.  I had my eye on some silk dupioni that might be a nice addition.

 

Left to build:

1. Restoration-era coat w/large cuffs, collar & lapels
2. Poet shirt w/lace cuffs
3. Pirate Hat w/feathers and lace
4. Gold epaulets w/tassels
5. Lacey cravat

And yikes, my deadline is somewhere in the first week of October.  I was shooting for Oct 1st, but I might need a few extra days extra.  We shall see!

Right now, I'm in the process of creating a poet shirt with full shapely sleeves, ruffled cuffs (w/ lace) and a matching cravat to top it off.  I already have my eye on a nice cravat brooch, so I hope to throw that into the mix as well.  All of the adornments and ruffly lace are going to make it loads of pretty.  I hope Raven will love it!  I foresee finishing most of that today, so progress pictures will be up. ^o^

I need to tackle that hat soon.  Don't think I will be able to make it huge, since it needs to fit into a box, lol! But I'll definitely be pushing it's limits anyways.  I can't wait to coat it in fancy things.  I've even had my eye on a mini gold unicorn pin for the hat.  (As an inside joke for the character)

Also, had a couple of inquiries on Ace Attorney badges, so I'll be filling those orders into next month.  I'm really happy to share my work with others at an affordable price -- and the compliments on my work mean so much to me.

Cheers for now,

- Ely

Ace Attorney: Badge... 'cause I CAN!

I just took a quick shot of it, since you can't see it very well in any of our photographs from Anime Expo.  I would like to remake it at some point, with some new techniques and ideas. Just a few thoughts on what I'd change~

I would consider creating a perfect stamp for the scale design, for the center.  It looks all right as is, but could be articulated much, much better.  (Thank you to dA'er, and fellow Phoenix Wright cosplayer SuperPeyo for the idea!) I feel that an embossed design created by a stamp would be a little more eye-catching than a etched in one.

Also I would consider casting these in resin.  That way, if I had requests for commissions, I would be able to make perfect replicas over and over with ease.  Not to mention, they'd be near indestructible and would look very professional!

That's all for now!

-- Ely