Toph Update

The wig is done!!!!  I finally finished Toph’s wig.  ^_^  After three modifications, I finally decided on making her wig closer to how it would be in reality instead of the ostentatiously large bun in the show.  I chose this because as you know funds are almost nonexistent and I only had a black wig, bobby pins, a hair net, and hairspray at my disposal.  Nevertheless, the wig looks fantastic, especially for my second or third wig styling projects.  ^_^  I ma very pleased with how the wig turned out.  It definitely looks like Toph’s hair in more realistic proportions.  Even the bangs, which have been styled and hair sprayed into place for ease of photography, look fantastic!  I am so incredibly happy with it!  *^_^*  I can’t stop smiling enough. 

Needless to say, I am very excited to debut her again in 12 days.  Yep, 12 days till con.  I don’t have much to fix before she’s ready which is a relief.  I ended up not needing to resize the main red part of her outfit, the jumper/shirt/pants thing, and can wear it as is to the con though I might fix up the front of it a bit so the fabric is tighter and not as bunchy looking if I get the chance.  If not, I can always work on it for next time.  I have to fix her over-the-shoulder-thing which shouldn’t take too long.  I originally made it in a matter of minutes so I have to go back and case the seams so the underside has a nice clean finish.  Other than that there’s not much to do except figure out how to make her misconstrued belt thing which shouldn’t be too hard as it’s pretty much thrown together in the first place. 

I do actually have pictures this time!   I was able to use a camera for a brief period of time to take pictures of my projects thus far.  Expect another post or two or three with pictures.  Photo spam time!  (I have to fix the bangs a bit since they curled a bit since I styled it.)

 

As Con Grows Near

I am slowly realizing that I might just have overbooked myself a little.  Ok, a lot.  Right now I am trying to get three to four cosplays for myself, two to three cosplays for my friend, and one to two cosplays for my other friend and his daughter done for Fandemonium in about 21 days.  Yeah, I overbooked myself just a little. 

Nevertheless, the cosplay progress is coming along ok.  Other than the fact that I lost my sewing machine foot and spent three hours looking for a new one while crying like a baby out of sheer agony and frustration only to find that my back up machine was hidden along with all my other sewing machine feet which took my another hour to find.  All to say I wasted six precious hours looking for sewing machine feet and other miscellaneous cosplay items today.  X_X  I didn’t have a good day. 

My personal cosplay progress is coming along well.  I’ve added to and changed up my cosplay list to include two new cosplays and cut back, somewhat, one the amount of sewing I’ll have to do before con.  At the moment I’m planning to cosplay Toph in her fire nation disguise, my original steampunk mechanic/engineer, Vorfeed from Lost Universe, and Nimiar Argaliar from Crown Duel in an original party/dinner gown based of the few gown descriptions in the book and fabric I could scrounge from my stash.  I might also cosplay Maria Ross, but due to my lack of time and lack of progress on her (she’s only at 35%-40% complete max) I highly bought she will be done in time and will cease to mention her.

I don’t have much to do before I finish Toph.  Earlier in the month I found, much to my dismay, that my Toph cosplay seemed to have shrunk in the hips (either that or I grew) so I have to let out the seams some and possibly add a bit of fabric.  I also have to redo the wig as the previous bun dismantled thanks to my sister and my lovely cats.  How they do love to play with my cosplay stuff.  I still don’t have any foam or money for foam so her bun won’t be as big as it’s supposed to be this year either.  *sigh*  Maybe next year.  Finally, if I so choose, I have to make her crown (which I think I’ll wait to make until after I finalize the bun), her meteorite armband (if I can find the materials in time), and her shoes (which I highly doubt will get made this year).  Oh, I have to remake her waistband thing too since the last one failed and was turned into my sister’s candy bag for last year’s Halloween extravaganza.  I have more to do before she’s finished than I thought. 

Steampunk wise, my cosplay is coming along nicely.  I already have most of the cosplay finished (bodice, waist cincher, skirt, belt #1, and hairpiece, gloves).  Nevertheless, I still have more pieces to finish before the cosplay is considered finished, for the time being.  I still have to make spats for find period shoes, find the materials for and make goggles, find or make a tool belt, find tools to use as props, and add all the finishing decals to everything.  Yeah, I’ve got a lot to do on that one too. 

Vorfeed, on the other, hand is almost done.  I have the dress, cape, wig, one glove, and the jewels with feathered accents done (though I might touch up the jewels a bit).  What’s left is I have to finish the boots and add a few finishing touches to the second glove.  ^_^  Yay!  She should be done for sure!

Finally, my Nimiar cosplay is proving to be more difficult than I expected.  The under skirt and over skirt are done except for the waistband hooks and eyes, but other than that the rest of the outfit is not near finished.  The corset is taking longer than I expected as I decided to make it reversible and have biased taped edges which I have to hand sew shut due to the reversal effect.  I had to redo it twice as the first time I forgot about the reversible design and the second time I had to tailor it since the pattern was too large.  Nevertheless, it is turning out beautifully and better than anticipated.  I only wish it didn’t take so long to sew.  But, it will be worth it in the end.  The only other part of the outfit I have to make are the bodice/under dress and detachable over sleeves.  According to my design, the over sleeves are going to be sheer and have a beaded, lattice type design on the top of the sleeve nearest the bodice and a beaded design on the two ribbon accents on the cuff and lower bicep.  Finally, I plan to make a headdress type piece out of the skirt fabric to accent the dress.  From what I imagine in my head, it will be gorgeous.  I’m planning to enter this one in the cosplay contest so all my effort and time has been poured into it.  I really hope I can get it done in time. 

As for my friend’s cosplays, I have a lot to do.  As part of our Avatar: The Last Airbender group this year, one of my friends (Theo) is going to be Iroh in his White Lotus outfit and the other (James) is going to be Aang in his Sozen’s Comet outfit while his daughter (Alyssa) plans to be Momo.  They both are going to look amazing.  I’m going to be doing all the sewing and, possibly, wig styling for my first friend’s Iroh cosplay which so far hasn’t been started much less touched.  My other friend is scrounging for as much of the cosplay as he can find so I’ll probably end up sewing half or less of his if all goes well.  I have no idea about what or if I’ll be helping with his daughter’s Momo cosplay (which will be awesome if/when it happens). 

I am also organizing a steampunk group which I know for sure that my first two friends will be joining.  I’ll be helping Theo put his outfit together which shouldn’t be to hard as steampunk is a rather easy dress type to cosplay and put together.  James already has his cosplay done (which looks amazing) and I don’t know if his daughter will be joining or not.  If she does, I will happily help her put something together. 

I might make Theo another cosplay, but I sincerely doubt it for this con since I’m already short for time and scrambling to get the afore mentioned cosplays done (or at least, which I dearly hope does not end up happening, con worthy).  Hopefully, this time I will have my cosplays done at least a day before the con since I also have staff responsibilities to tend to in the midst of this mixed up sewing mess and have school to prepare for, a job and apartment to find, and my last 4-H year to finish.  Yeah, I know for sure that I over booked myself.  Hello sleeplessness.  You tend to be my ever beckoning friend. 

As always, thank you for reading.  ^_^  Have a wonderful day and an even better week.  Ciao!

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.

Updated Cosplay List for 2011

I've been working on my cosplay list for next year.  So far I'm most likely going to one or two cons.  I'm hoping to go to more, but I'll see what God has in store for me.  I'm hoping to make at least five new cosplays.  Vorfeed from Lost Universe is at the top of my list followed by Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender.  I want to make both Toph's Earth Nation outfit that she wears in season two and her nobility dress from when Aang and the others first meet her.  I'm also hoping to make Sailor Saturn's sailor scout outfit, though I'll modify the length to make it a bit longer.  I'm not entirely sure what the fifth outfit will end up being, but I know that Sophia Forrester from Last Exile is defiantly on the list. 

My list changes constantly, so I don't entirely know what I'll end up making and what I won't.  I know for sure that I'll be finishing Toph's Fire Nation disguise and since I have most of the materials make at least one of her other outfits.  I already ordered my wig for Vorfeed, so I'll definitely get her done soon, either this year or next.  Also, I found a lot of pieces to my Saturn cosplay, so it's second on the list.  Either way, I'll get the cosplays done, even if it takes me a year.  I cannot wait for Christmas break and Christmas.  I'll have a whole month to sew my heart out and make my cosplays.  Plus Christmas means Christmas money which means I'll finally be able to get more supplies for my cosplay.  It also means I'll be working my butt off trying to catch up on lapsed 4-H projects.  Ah, the joys of cosplaying with a busy schedule.  @_@

New Load of Potential Cosplays

As the school year starts and the con year comes to a close, I’m trying to figure out potential cosplays for the last con of the season, for me, in November and the cons for next season.  So far, three cosplays survived con season one, though some need adjustment. 

My Toph cosplay need to have the belt redone and the over-the-shoulder-thing added to.  Other than that it’s good.  I still need to make the rest of the hibiscus and add more detail to the obi and maybe skirt for my Amano Yuna.  As for Sheeta, I still have to make the headband and hair ties as well as style the wig for the final time. 

As for new cosplays… I’m planning on making Sophia’s Uniform for the con in November.  I will also be wearing my Sheeta again because a) I love it and b) I don’t have time to make a third cosplay.  I will most likely be wearing my Sophia for two days straight unless I decide to wear my Toph or Yuna, though the latter is highly unlikely. 

So far I have a small list of cosplays I’d like to make for the next con year.  I say like to cause I don’t how many I’ll actually get to make because of constrained time and my almost extreme attention to detail.  I need to calm down on the detail obsession a bit. 

Anyway, I’d like to make Toph’s Earth Nation outfit

  

as well as her nobility dress.

 

I’m also hoping to make Kagamine Rin’s Synchronicity dress.  It’s so pretty.  I love how full the skirt is.  I was considering making this cosplay for the upcoming con in November but I don’t think I’ll have the time or funds.

  

The third cosplay is an easy possibly closet cosplay, Mimi in the epilogue from Digimon season 2.  Her dress is so cute!  I love how it’s country with a city flair.

 

Fourth on my list is Trance Gemini from Andromeda.  She’s the purple girl.  I want to make her purple leotard from season 1.  Sadly, I don’t have any pictures yet, but I hope to find some soon.  When I do I’ll post them. 

Finally, my last project is Vorfeed from Lost Universe.  Just to clarify Vorfeed is not Canal and Canal is not Vorfeed.  Vorfeed is the ships original AI that Alicia used.  I really like Vorfeed’s outfit only it’ll need some modification before I’ll wear it.  The neckline is waaaaay to low and needs to be brought up.  Also there is a huge side slit that won’t exist when I’m done. 

  

The first picture is from the manga though I’m using the one on the right, from the anime, as my reference.  The skirt will be more like the one on the left, except without the lace, for my version though the rest of the outfit, except for the neckline will be like the image on the right.  I’ve been working on putting this cosplay together the most and have already located a potential wig as well as the dress and cape fabric and the ribbon.  I have no idea whatsoever as to how I’m going to make either the jewels or the poofy feathery-fur that hangs from her cape and shoulders. 

This is my list for now.  It is subject to change or addition.  I’m trying to keep this list manageable while having enough cosplays to last for the next con year.  If all goes well, I might even go to four cons next year.  But who knows what’s really going to happen.  I’m just trying to keep the list manageable while having a nice variety of challenging cosplays. 

Toph Progress Report 1

Finally I got all the fabric and materials for Toph’s Fire Nation disguise.  Well, all the materials except for the wig.  Darn thing needs to get here sooner. 

So far I have yet to start working on the project.  I’ve decided to use cotton fabric for the outfit as cotton hangs better and is easier to wear in the heat of summer.  Also it’s something that I think goes in accordance with the series. 

As for the pattern, I’ve decided to use pattern number M6083.  View A-C are so perfect for Toph’s costume.  I am using a modified version of view B.  It fit’s best.  I only have to shorten the leg length and maybe take in some of the ease.  Other than that it’s perfect!

I decided how I’m going to style the wig.  I found a video on Youtube that details how to make a nearly perfect Toph hairstyle out of one wig.  So instead of the usual two, I only bought one black wig.  With it I’m going to create a modified version of this hairstyle. 

Toph Wig Idea

I just have to flatten the back a bit and I’m done.

Other than that there’s not much else to say.  I’m super excited to start this project.  I can’t wait to get it finished.  Then I can wear it to the convention and other such events.