Edward's Convention Tips: Planning

That time is drawing near.
It's a cosplayers favorite time of year.

The time we hold so dear.
Convention season is here!! 

Haha... I wrote a lil' poem. 

Anyway! I thought I'd make a list of important tips and advice for newbie con goers. (Or it might help veterans, I don't know.) I'm certainly not a veteran, but I do have a few years experience and would like to share what I've learned so far. Now, there are LOTS of lists out there on how to survive a con. This is not going to be a comprehensive list of everything you need. This is just a list of things I've found help me prepare for and survive convention season. Some of these things I've seen on other lists and some things I haven't. 

I was going to do my entire list in one post, but it was starting to get long. So I'm going to split it up into three different posts: Planning, Personal Tips, and Cosplay advice. I'm still deciding if I'll post them over this week or if I'll just continue to post them on Mondays. I guess it will be a surprise!

So I hope you find this list helpful!

Planning

The Right Convention

For people going to their very first convention, I suggest going to a smaller con. 1000-2000 attendees or smaller. I find that these smaller cons are much more personable. My first convention was Anime Oasis. And it was the perfect size for a beginner con goer! It was large enough that it had interesting events and guests. But it wasn't so huge that I was overwhelmed. My husband's first convention was Sakura-con. I regret that decision now.....  It was just way to huge for a first timer. There is SO much to do at those big cons, it's hard to figure out what you should try to see. And there is a lot of waiting in line for events and seeing guest. With smaller cons, this is not such an issue. My favorite part about small cons is the intimacy. It's so much easier to make friends and get to really know people. My Facebook friend list doubled when I went to Anime Oasis, but I only got a few new friends when I went to Sakura-con.

Make a budget

This is important! You can't go to a con if you don't have any money. It's important to plan ahead. You don't want to be a month away from the convention and realize you forgot to save money for food. And if you don't make much money or don't have a job, there are lots of ways to save money! Here is a list of things you need to plan for and how to save money with them.

Badge- Be sure to buy your badge AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! The earlier you buy it, the cheaper they are. At some conventions they sell badges for the next year for a super cheap price. That's the best time to buy them. The WORST time to buy is at the door. They are most expensive and a lot of times you have to wait in line.

Hotel- Hotel rooms can be VERY expensive. And don't forget the hotel tax that they add on. The best way around this is to bunk with several other people to split the cost. I won't condone "room stuffing" (that's cramming as many people in a room as humanly possible, +1), but that is a route some con goers take. Keep in mind, if you get caught, you could get kicked out of the hotel and not be aloud back again!

If you live in or near the town the convention is held in, you might not need a to get a hotel room. You might be able to walk or drive to the convention each day with no problem. But keep in mind, if you are driving each day, you have to account for the gas used to drive back and forth AND you'll most likely have to pay for parking each day. Which can add up quick. I suggest pricing out how much a room will cost when you bunk with other people (don't forget the tax) and comparing it to the amount of money spent on gas and parking. Which ever is cheapest is the option you should choose. I did this recently and discovered it was much cheaper to share a room than it was to drive every day and pay for parking.

Gas/Parking- Whether you're driving across the country or across town, you'll have to plan for gas money. I suggest carpooling when at all possible to save some money. And don't forget parking when you get there. A lot of time you'll have to pay for (as mentioned above). Be sure to check with the hotel or convention center to find out your parking options and how much it will cost per day.

Food- The best way to save money on food is to eat out as little as possible. Of course you might want to go out to eat with friends at least once or twice during the weekend, but don't do it for every meal! You'll spend a fortune. I suggest bringing your own meals to save money. And I don't just mean ramen noodles either. What we did for Sakura-con, and my favorite food for cons, is to buy a small precooked ham (or you could do lunch meat or a rotisserie chicken), some sort of bread or rolls, and your favorite cheese. Then when you are hungry and get back to your room, you just slap together a quick sandwich and you're done! EASY! And much better (and tastier) than eating ramen for every meal all weekend. If you do decide to eat out with your friends, go out for lunch instead of dinner. Dinner menus are always more expensive. I plan about $50 for going out to eat for the entire weekend. Otherwise I eat whatever I've brought with me.

And don't forget snackies! Yogurt, fruit, and pocky are some great choices. I like to have light weight things that I can carry in my con bag (we'll discuss the con bag in a later post) that I can munch on and not have to go all the way back to my room.

Fun money- Of course you'll want to buy cool stuff from the dealers room and artist alley! Be sure to plan for it! If you want to save money here, be sure to ask if they have any deals. Or if you can get a discount if you buy more than one item. More often than not, they will give you a discount. Or if you're good at haggling a lot of time you can get a deal that way too. My strategy (because I'm female and I'm cute) is to look very interested, but somewhat wayward, and a lot of times men will give me discounts. That might be kind of sexist, but hey, that bag wasn't worth $35 anyway. XD

Also, a lot of times, the artist alley has a lot more unique and interesting things than the dealers room. And they are usually cheaper too! So don't brush off the artist alley as a bunch of homemade trinkets. Sometimes there is some cool stuff in there!

I like to plan about $100 for "fun money." That's kind of a lot, but I burn through it really fast! And it never seems like enough. Lol.

 Plan Your Schedule

I like to print out the schedule as soon as it's available and highlight all the events I want to go to. That way I know if things overlap and I can decide which I'd like to see more. It also helps me to see when I have down time so I can plan when I'm going to eat and change cosplays. It's important to remember to make time for eating and sleeping!! It's also important to plan time to visit with your friends! That's kind of the whole point of going to conventions!

Make a List (and check it like 10 times)

I don't know about you, but I'm incredibly forgetful. My first convention, I drove all they to the con (5 hour drive) and realized I forgot my badge. DON'T DO THAT! So now I always make a list of everything I plan to bring to con. That includes: your regular overnight stuff (regular clothes, toothbrush, shampoo, pjs, etc.), important paperwork (your badge or confirmation email, hotel info, ID, credit/debit cards, etc.), whatever memorabilia you'd like to have signed (if applicable), and an itemized list of all the items needed for your cosplays (very important! I have forgotten important items for Sailor Moon before). Lists are your friend! I'd forget my ass if it wasn't attached. Seriously.

So those are my pre-con planning tips! I hope they are helpful and aren't too repetitive of other lists out there. Do you have you're own pre-con planning tips that you haven't seen on other con-survival lists? Please share them in the comments and I'll add them to this list! Leave your name too so I can credit you!

Join me next time for part 2: Personal Tips and Advice!

Love,
Edward

Cosplay Showcase: Jessi as Yuna

So here is Jessi's Cosplay Showcase! If you missed it, I did her interview last week. I'm glad she picked out these cosplays to showcase because she really IS Yuna. She portrays her so well!

Jessi as Yuna

Why did you chose to cosplay as Yuna from X/X-2? And why did you chose her for this showcase?

If I recall correctly, my Yuna phase was from 2009-2011. I still own both costumes and bring them out occasionally. I chose Yuna because it is the costume I've received the most compliments on. I am told I look like her naturally and so fit the costumes in a way few can hope to accomplish. I have also placed a lot of work into my Summoner & Gunner costumes. They continuously have grown better over the years.

What was your construction process like for Yuna?

Yuna was very much a piece-by-piece project. I had to focus primarily on each section of her costume before moving onto the next. This is mostly because of how detailed her outfits tend to be. I had a professional seamstress by the name of Gina help me on several occasions. I also had to pay for top-notch embroidery on the skirt & obi. I am exceedingly proud of my weapons (Nirvana and the bee guns)  - My father and I built them all together. 

The things you love about your Yuna cosplay?

Both costumes are relatively comfortable but still stop people in their tracks. During my career in cosplay, I find that this is rarely the case. Usually I'm uncomfortable if I am 'impressive'. I love the wide range of color involved in her outfits not to mention the fact that I can be friendly & beautiful while in character. I really enjoy being approached by Rikkus. They always hug me! 

The things you hate about it?

The Obi on my summoner costume never really did work out. It looks nice but it flops about a lot. Since I don't know how to make/tie a REAL obi, I had to cheat with wire & velcro. It hurts my back on occasion and isn't the easiest thing to sit in. As for my gunner costume...well...I need to be feeling skinny to be brave enough to wear it. A lot of people take pictures of my butt haha! Not necessarily a bad thing, but. Wow. You want to be feeling confident for an outing like that! 

A general closing statement about your thoughts and feelings for your Yuna cosplay and where one might find more pictures of this and other cosplays you’ve done.

I can honestly say I believe Yuna is my most successful attempt at cosplay. I am blessed to be considered 'the Yuna' in my home state. Maybe one day I'll do her Berserker outfit. Maybe. We'll see ^_^ More images can be found at geekysica.deviantart.com & Cosplaydeviants.com

And in case you weren't paying attention last time.... ^She's cosplay famous. XD

Yay!!! I hope you guys enjoyed this cosplay showcase as much as I did! 

That's two guest cosplayers down! Woo! Hopefully I will have another for you all next month!


Loves,

Edward

Cosplayer interview: Jessi

I'm so excited to finally be sharing this cosplayer interview with you!! It's of my good friend Jessi! I met her at my very first Anime Oasis and I was so flattered because she wanted to do a little mini photo shoot of my Sailor Moon cosplay! AT MY FIRST CON! I couldn't believe it! And then I found out what an amazing cosplayer she is and was even more flattered!
Because...  you see.... Jessi is totally cosplay famous!!!

Ok, maybe she's not world wide famous, but certainly famous in the Northwest! She's such an amazing cosplayer! And I'm glad I'm doing her and Jen back to back because they are different types of cosplayers. Jen is the "I make everything myself, if at all possible" type. And Jessi is a "I make what I can and commission what I can't" type. And this just shows that no matter how you get there, you can still be an amazing cosplayer and you don't have to be skilled in every type of craft to be so.

So anyway, now that I've totally gushed about how awesome Jessi is, on with the show!

P.S. I'm also excited, because I got to pick out the photos for this one!!

Cosplayer Jessi

Your name or Cosplay Name: (both or either or is fine)

My real  name is Jessi, but my cosplay name? I've had several. My local friends all call me 'Jay', but I'm probably best known as J-Sica due to CosplayDeviants. Lately many new friends have chosen to call me 'Sica'. Any and all are just fine by me.

Age:

...25. Soon to be 26! How embarrassing....

(Psshht, whatever.)

Yuna
Final Fantasy

How long have you been cosplaying?

Honestly? I've always loved costumes. It's common for toddlers to live in their princess outfits, but I never grew out of that phase. My favorite activity as a kid was to put on a leotard and pin a scarf to the back. I would roar around the house pretending to be various beasts. I also used to jump on the trampoline with a towel and claim I was a bat. *Eh hem* In short, costumes have ALWAYS been a huge part of who I am.

What was your first cosplay?

I guess my first 'official' cosplay was at age 10. I wanted desperately to be LINK from Legend of Zelda. It was hand sewn and admittedly, not very good at all. I plan to revisit that cosplay in the future. Slowly, but surely I've been collecting stuff for a new Link outfit.

Do you make your cosplays, buy them pre-made online, or have them commissioned? 

I've done all of the above! I have ordered pre-made costumes from the Internet before, but I always find myself disappointed with the quality and fit. Usually, I need to do a great deal of altering to perfect what I've already paid a lot of money for. I don't recommend online cosplay shops. Hiring a local seamstress always provides me with the best results. I can sew, but my skills are mediocre at best and I am such a perfectionist that after finishing a costume myself, I usually refuse to wear it in public due to crooked seams. (Even if others cant see them, I know they are there and it drives me insane!) A lot of people look down on cosplayers that buy or commission their outfits. I think that is a really unreasonable prejudice. It's unreasonable to assume every person has sewing talent and unfair to judge someone's love for a character based on their artistic ability. I wish all cosplayers could simply love and appreciate each other for sharing the same goals.

(So true!)

Why do you cosplay?

Hm, that's a difficult question. I tend to cosplay characters I really, really love - characters that I idolize. More often then not, Im attracted to them. Since they don't really exist and I can just go groping cosplay look-a-likes, the closest I can get to my favorite characters is to BE them. My friends have a running joke about my Final Fantasy VIII costume: "Jessi cosplays Squall because that's the only way she'll ever get into his pants."

Mutio
Blue Submarine #6

What is you favorite part about cosplay?

I love when I show up to an event and there are other cosplayers from my game/anime. It's really fun to socialize with them as if I were the character I'm dressed as. Often times I get a really warm welcome. I've had entire groups shout out the name of my character or chase me down just to include me in their gathering.

What is your least favorite part?

Judgement. A lot of people are overly critical of cosplayers. Somewhere along the lines Cosplay was labeled a super-model-exclusive hobby. People who are not flawless with an expertly-made costume, are frequently criticized now. That's really not fair. I believe if you truly love something, you should be able to show that love without having to worry about how pretty you look while doing it.

Who is your favorite character to cosplay? 

I have yet to find my favorite character to cosplay.

What is your favorite cosplay to wear?

My Asuka plugsuit. It is my most expensive costume to date. Cost me about $1000. Maybe more. It's a real crowd pleaser. I love the costume's bright colors and the armor is gorgeous! Wearing it gives me a sense of pride and power that my other outfits can't provide.

Asuka Plugsuit
Neon Genesis Evangelion

What is your least favorite cosplay to wear?

My Asuka Plugsuit. It's very difficult to get into. Plus, the under suit is so tight that the seams have a tendency to rip - just from being worn! Whenever I walk around in it, I suffer from paranoia. Am I too fat to wear something so tight? Do people notice my busted seams? Am I unintentionally going to HULK out of the costume when I reach for something? Is my armor getting nicked?!

What was the most complicated cosplay you’ve worked on?

The most complicated thing I've commissioned was my plugsuit, but the most complex thing Ive worked on personally is my Summoner Yuna costume. There is a lot of detail involved and I'm still perfecting it today. Gunner Yuna is similar in a lot of regards. Both my Yuna guns and Nirvana staff were made by my father and I. Our efforts involved a lot paint and screws.

What was the least complicated?

Hm, I have had several simple costumes; however, it seems like each one has posed it's own challenge. Even the costume I purchase always require alterations. I do a lot of perfecting after they arrive.

What group cosplays have you been a part of?

Y.R.P from Final Fantasy X-2 (As Yuna)
The cast from Final Fantasy IX (As Garnet)

Garnet
Final Fantasy

What group cosplays would like to be part of?

Oh, God. Vendetta Cosplay! They are an amazing Swedish group that specialized in Cosplay Music Videos. They've been a great inspiration to me. I also have a huge crush on their member Cim. Whenever she comes on the screen I'm all starry-eyed. Ha,ha. I think they've done a lot for Hetalia and hope to see many new videos from them in years to come. I also admired a local group called XDCosplayDX. Unfortunately, they broke up in 2012. I would have liked to join, but I was always too shy to ask. For a while I was part of my own group called 'Triple J Cosplay'. We did several preformances together, but like all good things, our time together came to an end. Glad I could make some good memories before it happened.

Who are some characters you plan to cosplay in the future?

My costumery is actually on hiatus at the moment. I have promised myself to have all of my current costumes photographed professionally before I start on others. My ultimate goal is one costume a year. This will give me the time and dedication I need to pull together some truly amazing outfits. I've even considered selling all of my costumes after documenting them properly.

What crossplay characters have you done or would like to do?

Thus far I've crossplayed Taki Reizen from Maiden Rose and Squall Leonhart from Final Fantasy VIII. Crossplay is extremly difficult for me. It's a new type of costuming that I have little experience with. I never feel that I get my makeup quite right - I never look masculine enough. But, damnit! I will persevere! Recently I caught the Hetalia Bug. I'd really like to crossplay Revolutionary War Britain.

Great Britian
Hetalia

Who is a character people say you should cosplay, but you aren’t sure about?

I receive cosplay requests all the time. Problem is, I'm not up on any new anime or games. Everything I love is from the 1980's - 1990's, but most requests are from newer anime. I don't like to cosplay characters I am unfamiliar with because I can't be 'in character' and I feel like a phony. My friend KittyStar put me in a Kitana outfit so we could shoot a Mortal Kombat set together. I'm more of a Street Fighter fan myself, so I didn't know much about Kitana. I also didn't have the bust or body to represent her properly. I never believe people when they say I did her justice.

What is your dream cosplay?

This is a difficult question. My dream cosplay changes frequently because it's really dependent on what I've become most recently obsessed with. I'm pretty good at achieving my dream cosplays when they hit too. I suppose the one I've always wanted to do is adult Princess Zelda from Ocarina of Time. I've been hesitant to begin her costume because I really hate making armor. I also think it would turn into a really expensive project because I would be such a perfectionist about the details. I'd probably add some of my own to make her old-school dress more extravagant.

What is a cosplay you would love to do, but don’t feel you could pull off?

Guts from Berserk. Because of my curves and feminine face, I'm very limited as to what crossplay I can pull off. Guts is a man's man! I'm simply not tall, toned or macho enough. Guess I'll have to settle for being his faggy-friend Griffith if I ever want to attempt a Berserk crossplay. 

In your opinion, what makes a great cosplay?

Devotion. You can tell the difference between a really devoted cosplayer and someone who wasn't entirely committed to their character. Even inexperienced, first time cosplayers are capable of impressing the crowd if they put enough effort into their outfit. Hard work is obvious. 

At which conventions are we likely to see you?

I attend ANIME EXPO annually. I think I've been to it at least 7 times now and I don't plan to stop visiting anytime soon. I also show up at most of my local conventions. Banzai & Anime Salt Lake are sure ways to encounter a Jess-sighting.

Fuu
Samurai Champloo

Any advice to other cosplayers?

A good wig is crucial. Color, quality, cut. Your hairdo can really make or break your outfit. Regardless of the character's appearance, I never would recommend going with a 'neon' color of any kind. I'd also recommend having a professional hair stylist cut it if you can find one that is willing to help you. Take good care of your wig. It's nice to bring a 'brushing buddy' along with you to comb out the tangles as they occur. Especially if your wig is really long.

Makeup IS important. I hate makeup. I fought wearing it for a long, long time, but the truth of the matter is: It makes a difference. I've learned all I know from youtube videos. I'm still learning, in fact! Applying makeup is definitely an art, but if you put some time into developing this skill, you'll be happy with the results.

If you're working with a simple character design, accuracy is a must. If a cosplay is extremely detailed, little errors and inaccuracies will actually be less noticble then if an outfit is very basic. Take L from Death note for example. His costume is simply a white shirt and jeans, but his jeans have no holes in them and his shirt has long sleeves. His hair is very specific and his eyes are dark. Apply some makeup and wear black contact lenses. Do the hair correctly...all his attention to a simple-characters detail will guarantee you're the best L ever.

Lastly, and this is the most important piece of advice, people...don't take cosplay too seriously. It's become an obsession for me and I can honestly say that it becomes less fun when you become overly involved. A good costume is awesome - it's a source of pride! But 100 good costumes...well, that's just exhausting. Don't loose track of Cosplay's real purpose: TO HAVE FUN! Don't worry what others think of you, don't strive to be better then others. Cosplay because you truely love the character you're dressed as.

What are some other hobbies you have, other than cosplaying?

I draw quite a bit. I won the artshow at Banzai in 2010 and was really flattered that my works were all sold during the convention. I really enjoy spending time with my mom and traveling is definitely high on my priority list. Fitness, I guess, could be considered one of my hobbies, though it's more of an unhealthy obsession than a recreational focus. Lastly, I enjoy philosophy. I spend a lot of time just thinking about what it means to be human, who I am and how I interact with the world around me.

Vampirella

Favorite anime/tv shows?

3. Whatever anime I happen to be watching currently

2. World War 2 Documentaries

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion 

Favorite movie?

Horror! The entire genre! ALL OF THEM. I devour scary movies one right after another - like candy!

Favorite books/manga?

3. Hellsing

2. Maiden Rose
1. Berserk

Favorite video games?

Final Fantasy VIII & Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. These games will always hold a very special place in my heart. When I play them, I am overcome with nostalgia from my youth. I also love Chrono Cross, Kingdom Hearts & Final Fantasy VII.

Favorite color?

That's a hard question! I love a huge variety of colors, but I guess if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Green. I've kept coming back to that once since I was a little girl.

Favorite food?

My favorite food changes from month to month. I go through phases. Right now, it's the chicken salad from Cafe Rio. Their vinaigrette is amazing! I also really dig the blue cheese and walnut salad from Mimi's Cafe. Oh! My! GOD!  

Favorite desert?

Icecream! Icecream of all kinds! If I've had a particularly stressful day, I like to stop by Arctic Circle and get a Rasberry Cheesecake shake. Its my absolute favorite.

Favorite curse word?

'Well- Fuck.' Said very factually. I basically bark it like I'm saying the word 'No.'

The shock value is fantastic since I'm a very tiny girl with a soft voice.

 

What are some websites where we can see more of you?

See more of me? Or see MORE of me? Hahaha!
www.cosplaydeviants.com

http://geekysica.deviantart.com/

Like I said: Cosplay famous!

Isn't she awesome!? And cute as a button! I just love her so! *virtually hugs Jessi*

So be sure to come back next week to see her Cosplay Showcase!


Loves,
Edward

Cosplay Showcase: Edward Insane as Alice

Sorry about the delayed post. It snowed a whole bunch in my neck of the woods and it messed up my internet. It's been flaking in and out. But it seems to be working finally!


So I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to blog about this week. I didn't really want to do an update post, since I've done two in a row already. Besides, I don't have any different or exciting news.


But I've decided I want to do a cosplay showcase on my 'Alice in Wonderland' costume.

I'm feeling very "into" 'Alice in Wonderland' lately. It's one of my favorite things ever. I love the book and the Disney movie. (I haven't seen a live action movie version that I like yet, but if you'd like to recommend one, I'd love to hear it in the comments.) I love anything Wonderland themed. I identify with Alice a lot, especially lately. The feeling of wanting to go to my own world, where things are however I imagine them to be, is very relevant to me at the moment. I also love the books because they are just how my dreams are. Things that are so strange and constantly changing, but the characters within the story don't even notice. There is a kind of logic to it, all be it mad logic. Babies changing into pigs, crazy/scary characters, and talking animals; Those are all the types of things in my dreams. Always flowing and changing, and stories morphing into other stories. It's the only thing I've found that accurately represents the dream world for me. And maybe that's why a lot of people don't like it? Perhaps it's too accurate. Or perhaps their dreams aren't like that. I dunno.

So, anyway, I'm in a very "Alicey" mood. Haha.

I'm cute. XD
Photo by James Wells

Another reason I wanted to do a showcase on my Alice cosplay, is because I just adore these photos. I simply love the dreamy quality of them. It feels like I'm in wonderland! My brother in law James Wells did them for me. The shoot was really fun! We went to a local park and wondered around some rose beds. (Which I was surprised there were still roses on them, since we did the shoot in October!) We were kind of flying by the seat of our pants, not knowing if the lighting was going to work and thinking up poses on the spot. It had actually been raining all weekend, but the sun came out just in time for our perfect lighting! I had a great time and will cherish those memories! I would love to do more Alice photos soon; but this time, an indoor shoot with tea cups and cards and stuff. This first shoot I wasn't totally prepared. But next time, I'll be ready!

Zzzzzz.
Photo by James Wells

I actually made this cosplay years ago, for a Halloween party. My husband was dressed as the Mad Hatter (I made his costume too, but I won't share it with you all, because I'm embarrassed.) It was one of my first dresses. Needless to say, it's a little sloppy. Lots of things about this dress bother me. But it was one of my very first attempts, and one of my first times using a pattern, so I shouldn't be too hard on myself.

Gee, I wonder what's down here?
Photo by James Wells

I based my design more off of the book and it's slightly more of a "how I imagine her" design. The original John Tenniel drawings show her in several different ways, so I kind of picked and chose the things I liked. Haha. In some of the illustrations it shows her having no collar and striped socks. So that's what I went with. I had to adjust the sleeves from the pattern because they were way to long and not cute enough for my purposes. My wig for this cosplay is quit long, but I didn't want to cut it as I use the same wig for my Aurora/Briar Rose cosplay.

Curiouser and curiouser.
Photo by James Wells

My version is not accurate to the Disney version of Alice and I have thought about changing it to more accurately portray her. All I'd need is some white tights, bloomers, a collar, and a shorter wig. Which is all fine with me, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. So for now, this is a "mostly based on the book but with my own interpretation" version. lol. Either way I really like it and it's really fun to wear.

Did that flower just fucking talk to me??
Photo by James Wells

My favorite thing about this cosplay is that it's SO comfy. I can hang out in it all day. And I have. Sometimes I just put it on at home when want to look pretty. Lol. (My husband can testify to this.) My other favorite thing is just that it's Alice! I love her so much and really identify with her in a lot of ways. It's so fun to be her, and I can't wait to wear this cosplay to conventions.

I'll teach you to call me a weed, ya bastard!
Photo by James Wells

My least favorite thing about this cosplay is the construction. I know I was just a beginner when I made it, but it still really irritates me. I did go through and fix some of it. I redid the bottom hem (It was ugly ) and took out some of the basting stitches around the waist, that I forgot to take out when I made it. The zipper is...... well, apart from taking it out and completely redoing it, there is really no hope. Thankfully my long wig covers it. (Zippers and I are still working on our relationship in general.) The sleeves still need a bit of work. I took apart parts of the apron and redid them. I'm thinking I might redo the shoulder bits again, and make them rufflier. Pretty much, it's just going to be lots of fiddly work until I get this cosplay how I want it.

My favorite.
Photo by James Wells

All in all, I really love this cosplay. It's probably my second favorite one to wear (after Sailor Moon of course). Even though it still needs a little work, it's fun to wear and I just love 'Alice in Wonderland' like crazy.

And I can't end a cosplay showcase without a derp picture. XD My face is awesome in this.
Photo by the Mad Hatter James Wells

I hope you all enjoyed this edition of Cosplay Showcase. I'm still coordinating with my next guest cosplayer for the next interview and showcase. So hopefully I'll have that all worked out by next week and will post them. ^_^



Love,
Edward