New Cosplay – Nimiar Argaliar

Crown Duel has been on of my favorite fantasy novels since I first read it back in 2008.  I love the imagery, characters, story, and world of the book.  It is very well written, easy to read, easy to follow, and overall enjoyable to read for the small amount of time it takes to do so. (It took me about a week or two.)  Ever since I read the book, I’ve had a vivid imagery of the clothing worn by the characters, especially in the second half of the book aka Crown Duel, that I’ve wanted to bring into reality.  Unfortunately, at the time I first read the book my sewing skills were very rough, as were my drawing skills, and I lacked confidence to actually make my ideas reality.  So I put my ideas and Crown Duel back on my dusty bookshelf.  Until now. 

It’s been a dream of mine to make a dress from Crown Duel since 2008.  Finally, I am working toward making that dream a reality by construction a series of outfits based on the main characters of Crown and Court Duel for my 20th birthday in just over 8 months.  It will be an extensive projects as well as party, but I know it will be worth the time, effort, and funds.  It is ultimately my goal to get every attendee at my party to portray a character from the series either from a self made or personally (aka me) made outfit.  I hope and plan to make it an extravagant event like the parties held in the second half of the book. 

As with every goal, the plan must start with a first step.  This goal’s first step is Nee aka Nimiar Argaliar, the character I will be portraying at the party.  I chose Nee over Mel (aka Meliara Astiar) for a number of reasons.  Even though Mel is my favorite heroine (followed closely by Nee, Elenet, and Tamara), I do not resemble Mel in the least bit physically, which is a great draw back for me as I am trying to get each portrayal as close to the individual character as possible.  Mel is short (about 5’2”), scrawny(about a size 2-3/3-4 in today’s sizes), and very petite.  I, on the other, hand though short, am neither scrawny nor very petite.  On the contrary, I’ve been compared to She-Hulk or Zena in a miniaturized form.  In all reality, I am built more like Nee who is short (just taller than Mel), well built (about a 12-14/14-16 in today’s sizes), and very curvy.   It just seemed fitting that I should portray a character I greatly enjoyed and fit physically.  Therefore, I have started off my goal by beginning to create a party dress for Nee based on the very limited in book descriptions and very vivid out of book mental images produced from my reading. 

For this project, I will be pulling design aspects from many different fashion eras (mainly medieval and Elizabethan with some hints from renaissance and regency), as well as my own imagination.  For fabric and colors, I will be using some in-book descriptions as well as intuition to choose colors and textures that would most likely be worn by the characters for a reasonable price.  I will probably have a budget of between four to five hundred dollars to pull the whole thing off.  Costumes.  Food.  Rental/facilities.  Decorations.  Everything.  I don’t have much money to play with nor room for many, if any, mistakes.  Nevertheless, I am very excited to be able to do this project and greatly look forward to it’s completion.  I will be making costumes for at least the main five or six characters with the possibility of a few minor/secondary characters. 

I’ve already started on Nee.  I have all of the fabric gathered, sketches drawn, patterns and minor designs chosen and at least half of the cosplay sewn (both skirts and most of the bodice).  Hopefully, I will have her done in a few days as I greatly wish to debut her at Fandemonium for the costume contest.  I’m really hoping that all the time, effort, and hard work I’ve put into this outfit with be rewarding beyond the feeling of accomplishment I will feel when she’s finally done. 

I will get pictures up when I can and will work toward blogging and updating more regularly.  As always, thank you for reading.  Have a good day and an even better week.  *^_^*

Avatar: The Last Airbender Cosplays

ATLA cosplays are back in session for me. I'm currently fixing my Fire Nation Toph cosplay. I have to remake her belt thing, add a backing to her other-the-shoulder-thing, remaking the wig, and making the crown. I might make shoes too if I have the time. I'm also working on my friend's White Lotus Iroh cosplay for Fandemonium in August. We're both going so it'll be awesome to cosplay Toph and Iroh together since their relationship was so dynamic.
If I have the time and money, I'd like to make Toph's Earth Kingdom/Book 2 outfit for the same con since her EK outfit would go better with Iroh's White Lotus cosplay. Also, I might be helping my other friend make his Aang cosplay for the same con. It's gonna be so awesome! There's even going to be a mid-sized ATLA group there, which is very good for a small con.

Long Awaited Update

I apologize for the lack of updates.  I’m not dead, rather I’ve been extremely busy for the past month and nearly a half.  I’ll catch up as best as possible on what has happened in my absence. 

School is over, finally.  The last few weeks of school was hell.  I ended up having to drop a class due to the immense mental and emotional overload.  I am definitely taking the next semester or two off from school.  I need to focus more on getting a job and apartment at the moment. 

In better news, I was able to go to Anime Oasis in May.  It turned out to be a ton of fun, and I was able to meet new and old friends like.  None of my costumes were done on time unfortunately.  I was able to cosplay, just not the original line up.  Thursday the convention started and even though I arrived really late I was able to cosplay a casual version of Luka with my new, gorgeous wig.  Friday I ended up partially finishing and wearing Latias.  She was only about 45%-50% complete, but a few people recognized her which makes me happy.  I also cosplayed a formal version of Luka for a formal ball, which was very enjoyable.  Saturday was the most fun of the four days.  One of my cosplaying friends(Stephanie) let me borrow her Relm Arrownry cosplay for the day as she cosplayed Terra, both from Final Fantasy 6.  It was a total blast to cosplay Relm.  I definitely must add her to my cosplay list.  Sunday was a very rushed day as the hotel wanted the room cleared by 1pm and I slept in until noon.  I ended up cosplaying Latias again since I was not able to cosplay her much on Friday because I was working on her.  Overall, the con was a great success.  I was able to participate in some of the events, meet a lot of new people, make a few new friends, get a few things from the artist alley and vendor’s hall (plushy Azusa from K-On! *squee*), and have a good time.  I definitely plan to return next year and possibly enter the cosplay contest.  Next year though I will have the cosplays completed before the con.  I would like to be able to sleep instead of sew.  Another cosplay lesson learned.  That and Mountain Dew is a cosplayers best friend.  It’s better than coffee!

In cosplay news, I’ve started planning for my next con, Fandemonium in August.  I’m hoping to debut two to three new cosplays there as well as revamp my Toph cosplay.  I’m also planning three groups for the convention as well as helping a few of my friends with their cosplays and staffing for the con.  I will be epically busy for the next month.  It’s only 42 days (one month and one week) until the con!  So far the cosplay lineup is Toph’s Fire Nation and hopefully Earth Kingdom outfits from Avatar: The Last Airbender, my original steampunk character, and Akari’s Summer Uniform from ARIA.  I will be very happy to complete Toph’s Fire Nation outfit for the con.  So far I just have the wig and waist thing/belt thing left to finish.  I might back her over-the-shoulder-thing too.  Oh, I have to make the crown too.  I keep forgetting that one.  As for the steampunk, I’ve been dying to make my steampunk character for over a year so I’m really excited to almost have her done.  I’ll talk more about her in another post.  Akari is nearly complete too, and I’ll have an ARIA this time!  Sooo excited!  I’m really looking forward to this con, in case you couldn’t tell. 

I really don’t have much else to catch up on.  To recap, school was hell.  I need a job and apartment.  The con was a total blast, and I was able to debut four new cosplays.  I’m really busy working on cosplays and other con prep for the next month and a week or more.  Yep, nothing else really to say except thank you so much for reading and taking your time to visit my blog.  It means so very much to me.  If you like my post(s) let me know.  If not that’s ok, just don’t post it here.  If you like the blog please follow it (right side there’s a follow button, please click it).  Thank you again for reading.  Have a great day and a wonderful week.  ^_^  Signing off.

Pokemon Gijinka

I’m jumping on the band wagon with the new pokemon gijinka craze.  Pokemon was one of my favorite shows as a young child.  Even though it is not nearly as special as Digimon is, I love a few of the pokemon enough to turn them into gijinkas to cosplay. The main aspect I like about gijinkas is that they’re each open to complete interpretation.  I can design a gijinka cosplay how ever I want and no one can say I didn’t do it right or wasn’t accurate enough because it was based of my own design that I personally own.  It silences naysayers and elitists arguments rather quickly and easily. 

Nevertheless, I’m planning to make a Latias gijinka for the next con in May.  I’m planning to use a mid-thigh length red and white dress for the base of the cosplay.  I’ll be adding the red triangles she has on her front and back as an appliqué to the dress and appliqué her blue chest triangle on top of the red.  I’m also making a helmet with wings and a triangle design.  I’ll paint her red facial/head triangle to the helmet and leave the wings white.  I’ll use red wedges for the shoes, and if I have time I’ll make detachable wing sleeves as an added design bonus.  Since I’m short on funds, I’ll be making this cosplay out of cotton based scraps and an old bed sheet in had set aside.   

I am very excited to make and cosplay Latias as she’s been one of my favorite pokemon since grade school.  I love her simple design and special abilities.  I also love the dragon type pokemon.  She’s everything I like about pokemon in one character.  I should also include a picture of her so here it is!  Note: this the pokemon not my gijinka interpretation.

Thank you so much for reading.  Have a good day and an even better week.  ^_^

Psyched

I am so totally psyched!  I went to a cosplay workshop/hang out time today and met the lady who made an awesome set of Fullmetal Alchemist State Military uniforms that looked wonderful at last year’s August con.  It was so cool!  We talked a bit and swapped info.  I told here how cool I thought her costumes were and that I was planning to make a Maria Ross cosplay, but was having a really hard time with the jacket.  Guess what?!  She said she’d help me with the jacket!!!  Woot!  Now I can finally figure out how to make it and hopefully have the entire cosplay done for the May con this year.  I am very, very happy and excited.  I’m gonna go sew the rest of the cosplay now.

New Addition to the Cosplay Family

I’m having another change of plans.  My Kotomi cosplay fell through since I couldn’t get the wig or make the dress due to shortage of funds.  I still want to cosplay her, but I can’t at the moment so I’m replacing her with Luka from Vocaloid.  Luka is one of my favorite vocaloids because I love her voice and graceful style.  I also think her pink hair is adorable. 

I’m planning to do a Just Be Friends version with a curly wig. 

I found a long curly pink wig that I can afford and should arrive before the con.  I already have a white dress and black boots that I could use.  I have to add a lining or two to the dress, but otherwise it’s done.  I’m going for the version she wears in the balloon scene so I don’t have to get or make a wreath.  I’m hoping that one of my friends can come so he can cosplay Luka’s Ex since he looks a lot like him, but I don’t know if my friend can come or not yet.  If not that’s fine, but I really hope he can. 

I also want to wear a silver/gray and black formal to the high society formal the con is hosting.  As far as I can tell the dress would look great with the wig which would be perfect for the formal since it’s curly.  I might style it a bit, but I don’t really know yet.  I’ll know better if I’ll actually be cosplaying Luka for the formal once I get the wig.  I got the dress from a prom dress swap.  It’s really beautiful, and I like it a lot.  I have a couple pairs of black heels that I could wear with it since high heels are required for the event. 

There’s going to a good sized Vocaloid group at the con.  So far it looks like there will be a Len, Miku, Mikou, and maybe a few others.  I can’t remember the exact list unfortunately, but it’s a descent group for a small con.  I’m looking forward to meeting some if not all of the group.  Maybe there will even be a photoshoot which would be lots of fun. 

I’m both excited and nervous about cosplaying Luka.  I’m excited because I like the character for the most part, but I’m nervous since Luka is the sexy type and I am not.  Nevertheless, I like her Just Be Friends version which is sweet, simple, and not over sexualized like some of her other designs. I like the character, but I don’t like all her variations. 

Dresses I’m planning to use: Top and middle, Just Be Friends version dress and boots; bottom, formal version.  The formal has a very beautiful silver to grey gradient, but unfortunately the lighting washes it out in the picture.

The Fan has Arrived

I got my fan today.  It looks so cool!  I’m very happy with it and can’t wait to transform it into Temari’s weapon.  It’s about 3 feet high and really wide.  I’m about 5’3”-5’4” and when open the fan spans from the floor to the mid to top of my head when I hold it sideways.  I love the design on it and almost wish I wasn’t using it as a prop since it’s so pretty. 

So far my idea is to cover the fan with white fabric, I would glue the fabric to the painting, then add the purple moons via purple fabric and Heat ‘N Bond.  I don’t know how well it would work, but it sure beats trying to paint over the elaborate design on the fan.  My only concern is whether or not I’ll be able to close the fan with the added fabric.  I would use a white broadcloth type fabric and layer it at least twice to cover the design, hopefully completely.  here would end up being around three additional layers of fabric, including the three moons, if I used the fabric method. 

I really don’t want to paint the fan, and I don’t have the money to spend on paint right now.  So far it looks like my best bet will be to use fabric.  I have a bit of extra white fabric laying around and I might have some purple.  If not it shouldn’t be too hard to find and I should be able to afford it.  I still have over a month until the con, so I’ll think about my options more and talk to a few prop makers as well.  I’m hoping to get the fan done as soon as possible so I can get a preliminary shoot before the con, but I might have to go without the fan which is ok for a preliminary shoot. 

Cosplay Plans for the First Con of 2011

My first con for 2011 is coming up in May so I'm making cosplays for it of  course.  It'll be my first con attending as an attendee, and I'm really excited!  It's a four day con so I'm hoping to debut a new cosplay each day.  So far I've got four cosplays picked out with a fifth as a backup. 

For day one, I want to go as Temari from Naruto Shippuden.  I really like her black kimono and from what I've seen of her character, she's pretty awesome.  I'm going to watch more of Shippuden to get a better idea of her character, but she's the first Naruto character I've wanted to cosplay besides Sakura.  I'm buying this cosplay since I found a really good deal from another cosplayer and it would be more cost efficient to buy it.  I'll post pictures when I get the costume hopefully within the next two weeks.  I'm going to make her wig and shoes myself, but I don't quite know what I'll do for her fan.  I'll figure it out as time goes on.  I’m stoked and nervous about this cosplay all at the same time.  It’ll be my first time cosplaying a popular character from a new anime. 

I also want to cosplay Anna from Final Fantasy 4: The After Years on day one because there is going to be a Final Fantasy photo shoot that day.  Her outfit consists of an ankle-length dress with a blue sash, waist-length orange hair, and an orange barrette.  I can probably buy the dress and either find or make the sash.  The barrette shouldn’t be too hard to find either.  As for the hair, I should be able to use my own since it’s a similarish color now that I dyed it. 

For day two, I want to go as Kotomi from Clannad.  I'm planning on wearing a white sun dress, since she wears a white sun dress in one of the episodes and I don't have much money to spare.  I’m going to look around at second hand and thrift stores for this cosplay.  If it doesn’t work then I’ll try for another one of her casual outfits.  I’ll be styling her wig too which I am excited for too.  I can’t wait to try out my ideas for how to make her hairstyle work while staying as true to the anime as possible. 

Day three will be Akari from ARIA the Animation.  I absolutely love her summer uniform and can't wait to wear it.  So far the costume is 2/3 done.  I just have to make the fuku, shoes, glove, and hat.  I'm ordering a new prestyled wig cause I'm new to wig styling and it’s more cost efficient if I do.  I don’t have a lot to say about this cosplay because I’ve been talking about it a lot in my other posts.

Day four I’ll be one of two potential cosplays, either Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist or Sheeta from Castle in the Sky.  I say one of two because I don’t know if I’ll have the Maria cosplay done in time.  I also thought of having Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya as a back up but that will depend on finances.  I found one that I can buy for a good price, but I don’t know if I’ll have enough money or not yet.  I’ll also have to buy a wig for it now that I’ve dyed my hair.  I don’t think Haruhi will end up being an option.    

 

Three potential cosplays, Sheeta and long haired Haruhi.

As I said I’m really excited for this con.  I’m going there to have a great time and meet lots of new people.  There are a whole bunch of things I’d like to do at the con,  like group photo shoots, a formal dinner/ball, and the cosplay contest/masquerade.  I want to enter my Akari cosplay in the cosplay contest/masquerade.  I’m a little nervous about doing so, but I’ll just do my best.  I might make a few group/photo shoot cosplays as well.  I still have a lot to do to prepare for this con especially if my friend(s) want to cosplay with me, but if that happens it’s for a different post.  Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you again soon.  ^_^ 

To the glory of God the father and Jesus his son.

Signing off, Narnian

Updated Cosplay List – March 2011

As I’ve said before and we all know, I change my cosplay list nigh constantly depending on finances and circumstances.  This year is the year of the cosplay for me.  I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and or gathered before I go off to college fulltime next fall (fall 2012).  I’m using the time I have left to make sure that I’ll have backup cosplays to fall on so I won’t have to worry about it as much next year.  I’m also just trying to enjoy life before I have to completely become an adult.  The transition from child/teen to adult is a new, difficult, scary, and challenging one, but it is worth every moment as well.  I can’t wait to be fully on my own and self supporting. 

Back on topic, I’m trying to get as many cosplays done and/or planned this year as possible.  I still have another school year to make and/or gather cosplays, but I’m trying to get as much done this year as possible, especially since I’m planning to go to two new cons this year.  I’m so excited!  I’ve gotten most of my cosplays figured out so far, but I’ve added a few new ones to my list as well.  I might buy some of the new cosplays to save on cost, time, and other expenses, but overall I’d like to make as many as possible.  Just because I bought the cosplay doesn’t mean I won’t wear it with pride or be less of a cosplayer, it just means that I’ll have more time and funds to channel at the cosplays that I really want to work on and enter into contests.  I won’t enter a bought cosplay unless it’s for a skit because that wouldn’t be far to the other contestants or to myself.  I’d be cheating, and I wouldn’t feel right about it. 

To recap, my cosplay list for this year so far is:

Akari Mizunashi from ARIA the Animation (Summer Uniform)

Vorfeed from Lost Universe

Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist (State Military Uniform)

Sophia Forrester from Last Exile (Silvana Uniform)

Sango from Inuyasha (Slayer Uniform)

Meliara from Court Duel (Original Design Purple Gown)

I was thinking of changing Meliara to Nee, another character from Court Duel by Sherwood Smith, but I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll actually do that yet.  As you can see, I’m making a lot of uniforms this year.  I guess this is kinda the year of the uniform as well as the year of the cosplay.  It’s the year of the cosplay uniform! 

Here are a few recap pictures for my present cosplay list.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Akari, Vorfeed, Maria, Sophia, Sango, sorry no picture of Meliara.]

 

I’ve added to the original list quite a bit since January, but I won’t include all the additions since I don’t know how many will actually happen, but then I don’t even fully know that for the original list either.  Anyway, I’ll include the additions that I actually have or can easily get the materials for first.  The lower on the list the cosplay is the less likely it will happen.  As such, here’s the new list. 

Temari from Naruto Shippuden (Time Skip Kimono)

Rapunzel from Tangeled (ending spoiler -_^)

Yui, Megumi, and or Mio from K-On!! (School Uniform – Both winter and summer versions)

Susan from Prince Caspian (Red Battle Dress with Corset and Chain Mail)

Aerith from Final Fantasy Advent Children

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Earth Kingdom Outfit)

Nausicca from Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind (Ending Outfit)

Nagisa, Kotomi, and or Tomoyo from Clannad (School Uniform – Summer and/or winter)

Euphemia and/or Shirley from Code Geass (No Specific Version Yet)

Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (School Uniform with long hair)

There were a few more I wanted to add, but I moved them to next year’s list.  So far, I almost have the Temari cosplay.  I’m going to buy it from another cosplayer.  I want to make the Rapunzel cosplay for my birthday in 10 days.  I’ve picked out most of the fabric, but I still have to get it and the money to buy it.  The K-On!! cosplays are still on the back burner though I might have the jacket fabric already.  The Susan Cosplay is part of 4-H and will be finished this year.  Aerith is a maybe for later this year once my hair grows out longer, although I could use hair extensions.  Toph is on the back burner as well.  I want to finish her Fire Nation outfit before I start on her Earth Nation outfit.  Nausicca might be another 4-H project.  Clannad is a maybe.  Code Geass is just an idea I’ve been toying with for a while.  I love both the characters so cosplays are inevitable I just can’t decide on a specific version to cosplay for either characters.  Haruhi is also a maybe and, if done, will mostly serve as a last resort/back up cosplay for if everything falls through.  I found a good deal on premade Haruhi cosplay and I’ve been told that I look like her so that’s why I’m thinking about the cosplay. 

Here are some pictures of the newest additions.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Temari, Rapunzel (her hair would be different), Yui, Megumi, Mio, Susan, Aerith, Toph, Nausicca, Nagisa, Kotomi, Tomoyo, Euphemia, Shirley, Haruhi (yes, I’d do the funky hairstyles per day too).]

    

 

I still have a few cosplays that I need to finish.  They are as follows:

Yuna from Final Fantasy 10 (Amano Artwork Interpretation)

Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender (Fire Nation Disguise)

Sheeta from Castle in the Sky (Pirate Uniform)

Susan from Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Narnian Trailer Dress)

My Yuna cosplay still needs to be finished.  It’s been over two years, and it’s still not done!  Luckily I don’t have a lot left to do.  I have to finish the hibiscus and ties, remake the skirt (I want it to be fuller), add the ties to the sleeves, make a staff, and that’s about it.  I also have to find or make her earrings too.  Toph just needs a bit of work.  I have to remake the belt thing, line the over-the-shoulder thing and add the back button, fix the bracers, restyle the wig, and make the crown.  I might make her shoes too, but I’m not sure yet.  Sheeta’s wig still isn’t done cause I haven’t gotten around to styling the bangs.  I also have to make her headband and hair ties, and fix the belt as well as find a pair of brown flats.  Susan is the almost done.  I just have to hem the dress and remake the collar.  I might embroider the collar too if I get the time/chance. 

I have pictures for the yet-to-be-finished cosplays as well.  They are as follows.  The pictures follow the order laid out in the list from left to right.  [Yuna, Toph, Sheeta, Susan.]

That pretty much concludes all I was going to say.  I might add a few more cosplays or change out some of the possible cosplays as the year goes through, but I want to save some cosplays for next year even though I’d like to have ten new cosplays this year so I can wear a new cosplay each day of the cons I plan to go to.  I also have a tradition of making a new costume for my birthday, and I might make something for any fun events I go to.  I’m trying to keep the list reasonable while thinking ahead, especially as I plan to go to new cons.  After all, it is my goal to go to one new con each year until I run out of cons or get too old which I don’t think will happen for quite a while. 

As always thank you for reading.  The page views and comments mean a lot to me.  ^_^  I hope to talk to you soon! 

To the eternal glory of God.

~Narnian

Whom to Cosplay

The vexing question of whom to cosplay ever looms in the cosplayer’s mind, of which I am no exception.  The more I cosplay the more difficult I find it to choose whom to cosplay.  My most recent dilemma is between two of my favorite characters.  I adore both equally and am having a very hard time deciding which one to cosplay first.  It is inevitable that I will cosplay both. 

I am forced to choose between Raven and Sango for my fourth cosplay goal for 2011.  Raven is from Teen Titans the animated series while Sango is from Inuyasha.  I must either choose Raven in her white outfit from episode 52 or Sango in her Demon Slayer outfit.  To make it worse, I like both of the outfits as well.  Though Sango is winning a bit more, I am in a quandary. 

To help with my dilemma, I have created a poll.  It is on the right hand side of my blog under my profile and will be in effect for a month (until February 11th).  You, as the reader, can vote on which option you would prefer.  Now like any good cosplayer facing the huge decision of whom to cosplay would, I have included pictures of both characters at the bottom of this post. 

Raven

Sango

Cosplay Goals for 2011

Every year I set goals for myself and my hobbies.  Cosplaying is no exception.  A day ago I realized that I forgot to outline all of my cosplay goals in my previous post “A New Year, 2011”.  So I’m going to go over the goals I mentioned in the previous post and add the rest of the ones I forgot.  Mind you, these are not New Year’s Resolutions, these are just goals that I hope to accomplish for cosplaying this year. 

First on my list of goals is to make at least three new acquaintances this year.  This can be at cons, the fabric store, or on my way to a photo shoot.  Either way I want to meet more cosplayers and costuming enthusiasts.

My second goal is a singular goal with multiple sub goals that correlate to whom I will cosplay this year.  Granted some of my cosplays will not fit into one of the sub goals, but the goal of this goal is to make new cosplays, learn new skills, and have fun doing so. That said, here’s the next goal, its sub groups, and possible cosplays that correlate to each.

Second on my list of goals is to make at least four to five new cosplays.  Notice I said at least.  Knowing my love for sewing I will probably exceed this goal by the year’s end.  To make this goal easier to attain I made sub goals for each cosplay.  These sub goals will make it easier to choose cosplays as well as help me learn new sewing and cosplaying skills. 

My first sub goal is to make a cosplay that utilizes at least four intermediate to advanced sewing techniques.  I chose this goal because I want to learn more about said sewing techniques.  I want to get better at sewing since it is the basis of most, if not all, cosplaying.  I already have my cosplay chosen for this sub goal and have gathered most of the needed materials.  It is Maria Ross from Fullmetal Alchemist. 

 

My second sub goal is to make a cosplay based on a literary character.  I chose this goal because it is an adequate challenge.  I don’t know for sure who I’m going to cosplay, but right now I’m planning on Countess Meliara Astiar from Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith.  It’s one of my favorite books and Mel is one of my favorite characters.  Since there is no artwork in the book, I’ll have to design an outfit for her if I choose to cosplay her.  I only have tentative plans on this goal, there are no pictures to share at the moment.

Third, my sub goal is to make a cosplay that incorporates some kind of armor.  In addition there have to be two types of armor used.  I made this goal more complicated because I want to try my hand at the new armor techniques I’m learning.  I’m anxious to see how I’d do at making foam armor though I haven’t got the second type of armor making process worked out yet.  I’ll decide the second method to use after I choose the cosplay to base it off of. 

Fourth on my list is to make a cosplay using fabric with a moderate to high spandex content.  This is were Sango and Raven come in.  I have to decide between the two for whom is going with this goal.  Though now that I think about it, I could just use Sango for goal three and Raven for goal four.  That’s perfect! 

So for goal three I’m going to make Sango from Inuyasha in her Demon Slayer outfit.  I’ll use the foam armor for the body armor and shin guards and a different type of armor for the shoulder, elbow, and possibly knee guards. 

 

I might even make her kimono if I have the time and money. 

For sub goal four, I’ll make Raven from Teen Titans Animated.

Now that sub goal three and four are taken care of, I’ll continue.  

Sub goal five is to make a cosplay with a newly learned skill that does not apply to the rest of the sub goals.  I chose this goal because I wanted to use one of my new sewing skills I’m learning, machine appliqué.  For this sub goal, I chose to make Akari Mizunashi from Aria the Animation.  I’m working on her currently. 

My last sub goal is to make a cosplay from a modified or self-drafted pattern.  Knowing how to draft patterns is a very helpful skill to learn since most cosplays don’t have prescribed ready-made patterns.  Right now I know how to modify pre-made patterns.  For this project I chose to make Sophia Forrester’s Vice Captain Uniform from Last Exile. 

 Depending on how long I have till cons and fair, I might use Vorfeed from Lost Universe for this project.  I’m already working on Vorfeed, and most of what I’ve made is from a modified pattern.  It will be a while till I am able to make fully original pieces without the aid of an outside pattern source.

Now that my second goal with all its sub goals are fully explained, I’ll move on to my last goal.

 

Third on my list of goals is to attend at least one new con.  It is an ongoing goal that will continue till I either I stop going to cons or run out of new cons to attend, which ever comes first.  Either way, I am excited to see what cons I’m able to attend this year.  There are three local cons that I know about so I’ll stick to the local cons this year.  It should be really fun.  I can’t wait to debut my new list of cosplays too! 

Thank you so much for reading this humungous post.