More Beading and Progress

Over the past month, I’ve been beading like crazy in preparation for Sakura Con.  The obi for Amano Yuna is over half way complete though I haven’t started on the skirt or bow beading.  Hopefully, I can finish the obi and bow in time, but the skirt beading may have to debut at a later con.  I am very happy with how much I’ve accomplished over the past month and a half with Yuna’s beading and can’t wait to finish it.  I never thought I would enjoy beading so much nor did I expect my patience to last quite this long.  The life skills cosplay can teach you and help improve are great.  I have a picture of my progress to share as well. 

 Beading Over Halfway Complete

Fortunately, Yuna has not been the only project I’ve worked on in the past month.  I started work on Child Rydia earlier this month and have accomplished a fair amount of progress.  The leotard is all but finished.  I have to fix a seam and finish the legs as well as finish the beading.  Unfortunately, I found out that my machine hates sewing knit fabric so sewing the leotard has been quite the experience.  Thankfully, the rest of the outfit has been quite simple and less of a hassle.  The cape and tie are finished, the skirt is over halfway done, and the shoes are started.  I have a few more things I want to make (hair ornament, bracelets, and other accessories) and details to add before she’s done, but Child Rydia is coming along quite well.  I have a few pictures to share for Child Rydia as well. 

Cape and Tie Complete

I haven’t made much progress beyond the above sewing wise due to a few unfortunate happenings in my life recently.  Nevertheless, I have been gathering fabric and materials for my other Sakura Con cosplays and working on a few smaller knitting projects.  I have a good majority of the materials gathered for Dragon Kid, Amano Child Rydia, Amano Yuna, Chie, Akari, and Amano Tellah.  I getting pretty excited to work on these projects since despite the occasional headache they are going to be fun.

Amano Yuna Version 2 – Beading 2

Woot!  More Amano Yuna beading progress!  I'm about a fifth of the way done if not a bit more.  It's been about a week and a half since I started and if I keep this pace the obi band will be done in time for Sakura Con.  I really hope I get the bow beaded too, especially with the rest of the projects I'm planning. 

(I apologize for the crappy picture.  The camera hates most indoor lighting.  If it gets warm enough, I'll take a few pictures in the sun once I get a bit more done.)

Pouting Time

Grrrr!  I’m a little, ok more than a little, miffed right now.  It’s my third try to get Yuna’s skirt how I want it.  (Luckily, I haven’t cut the fabric just yet since I have one chance to perfectly make it.)  I’ve tried a circle skirt, but I don’t have enough fabric.  I’ve tried a 10 gored skirt, but I don’t have enough paper for the pattern.  I’ve tried a pleated skirt, but I’m not sure it’s going to lay like I want.  Ho-hum, maybe I must make a pleated skirt since it’s the only skirt that theoretically would turn out well with out more fabric or paper.  I hate sewing sometimes.  >_<  It’s so fun and rewarding yet so annoying at the same times.  >_<  I’m going to pout in a corner for a bit. 

Finally, A Progress Update

An hour of sketching the other day finalized my design for Amano Aerith.  I loosely based my design off these two images. 

I am really happy with the way my design turned out and can’t wait to start working on it.  Pink, white, red, and possibly gold are the color scheme.  The design is very pretty and elegant almost like something  princess would wear.  I think I have most of the fabric for it in my fabric bin, but I will wait till tomorrow to dig it out since I have other projects I need to finish first. 
Speaking of which, the beading for my Amano Yuna obi belt is going really well.  I found that beading four to five seed beads at a time produces a nice result and doesn’t take as long as the painstaking process of beading each individual bead.  I cannot wait to see the finished result.  I took a quick picture of my progress.  I am so happy with how it looks. 

Influx of Amano Based Cosplays

The Amano bug has caught me again.  I currently have at least three, possibly four or five, Amano cosplays either planned or in progress.  I'll be redoing my Amano Yuna to look more like these artwork pieces.

 I’m using a darker color scheme for her, mostly blues and blacks and silvers, to play off her name meaning moon.  In addition, I’m using a flowy design to match the above artwork and logo for Final Fantasy X, and I’ll be incorporating numerous hibiscus motifs in the design as well.  I might post a picture of the design later.  I'm really excited to start working on her.  So far I have most of the beads as well as the shirt and materials for the skirt and trims.  I'm so excited!!!

Another Amano cosplay I have in the works is Young Rydia.  I'm really excited to cosplay the little summoner from Final Fantasy 4 as she is a longtime favorite of mine.  I’m using a number of references for her design (see below) as I have yet to draw a final design of my own.  I feel like I’m a kid in a candy store who is constantly pulling wants of the selves to add to the looming pile of candy within the cart when it comes to this cosplay.  I just can’t decide on a final design because I keep adding to the concept in my head.  If I finalize a design, I’ll post it along with my Yuna design (and subsequent amano based designs) if I get the nerve to post my designs online.  Until then here are the references I’m using. 

 
Back to cosplay…I’m using a variety of fun colors intermixed with earthier tones to add a youthful yet refined feel to her design while keeping with the overall feel that she is from a place called Mist.  The colors range from deep purple to bright pink to subtle orange and gold with a wide range of intermixed greens.  I have most of the fabrics and beads in possession with the wig on the way.  The only major pieces of the cosplay I’m yet missing are the shoes.  I have yet to find a pair that fit my ideal concept and may resort to making the desired pair if one is not found. 

Third on my rather quickly increasing list is Serah Farron from Final Fantasy XIII.  She is my favorite character from FF XIII and one of my favorite FF characters.  I’m doing an Amano version of her because I love the piece Amano did of Snow and her watching the fireworks. 

I don’t have a sketch of my design for her yet, but I know the color scheme.  I often have colors worked out before designs.  I’m using a slightly different palette from her original design, pinks and blues and whites, maybe a red, instead of whites and pinks and reds and blacks.  The design on the other hand is going to be quite different while recognizable.  I’ll post more on her as the costume progresses. 

The final two cosplays on my current Amano list are Porom from Final Fantasy IV and possibly Aerith from Final Fantasy VII.  I love Porom’s design and want to play off her amano artwork while possibly incorporating her sprite design.  I have yet to design most of this cosplay.  Aerith, on the other hand, is a longtime favorite of mine.  I have wanted to cosplay since I started cosplaying (there’s even a post or two on her in the back files of this blog), but I have never completely decided on a version of her I want to do.  Since she is a very popular character to cosplay, I want my rendition of her to stand out from the others that litter cosplay sites everywhere.  Not that it’s a bad thing, she is an awesome character, it’s just hard to stand out among so large a crowd.  Hence, why I’ve been leaning more toward an Amano version.  She is another cosplay I have yet to design or even really think about doing so, but when and if I do I shall post more. 

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

Amano Yuna Update

My Amano Yuna is nearly done.  I got to wear it to my first con the beginning of this month.  It was so much fun.  People asked for my picture and I entered it in the masquerade.  I got in the top ten!!!  I was really surprised considering it was my first cosplay and I left out some of the detailing since it was an Amano version.  I can't wait to finish it.  I have to finish, and slightly, redo the hibiscus and tassels.  I want to add more beading to the sleeve ties and incorporate more details into the obi.  I didn't have any major problems with the obi bows.  Because of the way I made them, I didn't have to worry about crushing them and they stayed up well.  I am very pleased with how this cosplay is turning out.  I will continue to work on it until either I find another cosplay to devote much attention to or I feel satisfied with the cosplay. 

 

Here are the reference pictures I’m using.