Cospalyer Interview: Tanglwyst de Holloway

This week is Cosplayer Interview time with my friend Tanglwyst! Many of you guys may know her from the convention scene. She does lots of panels on costuming and she runs the cosplay repair shop at the local cons. Her work is exquisite! She is most known for her beautiful period pieces that she's done for herself and many other convention goers. I hope you all enjoy her cosplayer interview!

Your name or Cosplay Name:

Tanglwyst de Holloway

Age: 47

How long have you been cosplaying?:

Tough question. I believe since 1988, when I joined the SCA. Though not the most common image “Cosplay” brings to mind, I did dress up and the most skilled costumers do try to exactly reproduce clothes from drawings in various formats. However, unlike anime, extant or historical garments do exist from as far back as 20K years.

What was your first cosplay?

My first Cosplay, as most of your readers would recognize it, was the Baroness from C.O.B.R.A. I made it in 2012.

My first costume from historical evidence was a particolor cotehardie from the Lutrell Psalter, circa 1320. (http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/luttrell/luttrell_broadband.htm)

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

I make my own clothes but for the Baroness, I have never worked in the PVC material. I looked it up and discovered it to be very persnickety. So, I bought a PVC body suit and fitted it. The cost was $25 for the body suit so I felt like I could afford to screw it up.

Why do you cosplay?:

I love taking something from a concept to real garment that can be thrown in the washer after a long trip.

What is you favorite part about cosplay?:

The creation of something from 2D to 3D. Having a concept become a living garment designed to enhance the very best of the wearer is GREAT!

What is your least favorite part?:

Armscyes, that part where the sleeve attaches to the rest of the torso. I try to make sure that has appropriate range of movement but I frequently end up with something a little less than what I would prefer.

Who is your favorite character to cosplay?:

It’s hard to pinpoint. I’m more genre oriented. I like the innovation of Steampunk because you don’t have the pigeonhole of reproduction constraints. I don’t have to EXACTLY recreate something because Steampunk has a fantasy element that is inherently undefined.

Photo by Andrea Frederick Photography

What is your favorite cosplay to wear?:

Hmm… Probably the black Hungarian pirate stuff.

Photo by Red Zone Fandom

What is your least favorite cosplay to wear?:

Probably the Baroness, and I love that piece. It’s easy to wear and comfortable. The only problem with it is you can’t hide heavy thighs in that thing!

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

My armor from my SCA days. It had to handle a blow from rattan at 25 MPH and still be something I could run in across a broken field in the desert.

What was the least complicated?

A purple and white off-the-shoulder cotehardie with silver maple leaves cascading down the front. I loved that thing. Cotehardies are fantastic because they are simple, elegant and look pretty on nearly everyone.

What group cosplays have you been a part of?:

Steampunk, GI Joe, endless period pieces.

What group cosplays would like to be part of?:

Star Wars!

Female Han Solo

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

Mara Jade Skywalker, from Star Wars. Something from Grimm. Something from Once Upon A Time.

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

Oh, hmm… I really haven’t done crossplays. I DO make a lot of men’s clothes though.

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

I’ve been asked to do Jessica Rabbit and I’ve done it before when I didn’t have a bust size to this extreme. Now, physics makes it nearly impossible. Yes, I’m built more like her now, but the Logistics of the costume? Maybe as a swimsuit because either water or space is the closest thing to weightlessness I can do.

Photo by Red Zone Fandom

What is your dream cosplay?:

I want to make a peacock coat. I’m going to do the couching of the entire thing so the feathers are done in multiple colors of craft cord, with the sleeves being the wings and the bodice part being pinfeathers.

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

Sesshomaru from Inuyasha. I have seen him done a lot, nearly every time by a woman. I’m not pretty enough to be a boy in anime.

In your opinion, what makes a great cosplay?

Wearability. If it can’t be worn all day with no problem, then you need to re-work it.

At which conventions are we likely to see you?

Any of the Boise conventions and this March, I’m in Denver and Wisconsin. My spring schedule will be online at www.fjpublishing.com.

Any advice to other cosplayers?

Keep in mind that you need to live in this outfit for at least 16-24 hours in a row. If you can’t eat, drink, move, sit and use the bathroom, this is a failed Cosplay. Plan ahead for that sort of thing. Most Cosplay can be broken into enough pieces subtly to enable you to do that without wrecking the Cosplay.

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

I write books and help others get their books published. That pretty much eats up all my time when I’m not at a con.

Favorite anime/tv shows?:

Inuyasha, Bleach, CSI:Anywhere, Criminal Minds, Scrubs, Anything by Joss Whedon.

Favorite movie?:

Jaws. The Alien franchise.

Favorite books/manga?:

The King’s Blades novels by Dave Duncan, the Harry Dresden novels by Jim Butcher, Harry Potter, and, of course, Jaws.

Favorite video games?:

The Baldur’s Gate franchise.

Aaand we have to end with a silly one. I'm sad I missed whatever was going on here.
Photo by Andrea Frederick Photography

Favorite color?: 

Purple!

Favorite food?:

Pumpkin sausage soup with mushrooms.

Favorite desert?:

Cake. We even have a special day for cake.

Favorite curse word?

Gorram

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

http://www.facebook.com/tanglwyst

http://www.fjpublishing.com/our-staff/authors/tonya-adolfson/

http://www.tangledwebsonline.com/

http://animecons.com/guests/bio.shtml/3742/Tonya_Adolfson

She's so awesome! I have so much respect for her skill and experience. I hope one day I can be as talented as her. She is one of my cosplay role models! And I'd also like to point out that she's been costuming for as long as I've been alive. That's awesome. I want to grow up to be Tangle!

So next week will be her cosplay showcase! Be sure to come back and check it out!

Love,
Edward

Edward's Convention Tips: Cosplay Advice

Finally, the end of my 3 part series on convention preparedness! My cold is nearly gone and I'm ready to write this! This one is all about cosplay!

Cosplay Advice

Saving Money

I make all of my cosplays, which can get pretty damn expensive pretty quick. So I've figured out some ways to save my pennies whenever possible!

Coupons!!: I don't coupon clip with ANYTHING else, but I do for Joann fabrics! I have signed up for both their e-mail and regular mail coupons. If you have a smart phone, you can download their app and get even more! Also, if you have a friend who doesn't sew, you can have them sign up for coupons and have them send them to you (if your friend doesn't mind, that is) I get coupons from my mom and from a friend. So needless to say, I have LOTS of coupons all the time. I have saved A LOT of money with coupons. Probably hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Also, be wary of Joann's "sales." I dislike when they have things on sale sometimes, because usually they only take of 30% off or less. And if it's on sale, you can't use your coupon (Most coupons are 40% off). Same goes for "red tag" fabric. So don't buy sale items unless they are 40% off or more. Otherwise use your coupon.

Also, important note: You may think that the material is going to be what gets you, but really it's all the notions! With anything you make you'll need thread, fasteners (buttons or zippers), you might need ribbons or trim. And all that adds up really fast. Buttons are very pricey and thread is about $3 a spool. If you're cosplay has multiple colors (which many of them do), you'll need thread for each color. 4 colors, and you've spent $12 just on thread!! So be sure to save those notion coupons too!

With all my coupons, I can usually get away with spending less the $30 on a complete cosplay.

Modify: I have not done this, but I know lots of people who buy clothes from thrift stores and modify them! I think that's a great way to save money! Also, when you go to thrift stores, check out their sheets, curtains, and fabrics section. You might find some material that would work great for your purposes!

Walmart: Some Walmarts have a fabric section, and those ones always have $1 a yard fabric. That's about as cheap as you are going to find fabric! I got all of my Sailor Moon fabric for $1 a yard. So if your Walmart has a fabric section, lucky you! They moved our Walmart and didn't put a fabric section in the new one! 

Wear the cosplay before the con

Just wear it around the house. And I mean THE WHOLE COSPLAY. Get a feel for what it's going to be like at the con. It's best to figure out your problem areas before you're actually at the con and then realize, "Oh crap, I didn't put a snap crotch in this Sailor Moon leotard and now I'll have to get completely naked to pee..." () So do yourself a favor and wear your cosplay around for a day.

Which leads me to my next point...

Get your cosplay done early!

For exactly the reason I stated above and because it's really stressful trying to get a cosplay done at the last minute. I know lots of people who work on their costumes in their hotel room, only hours before a big photo shoot. I can't do that. Besides, I want to spend my time enjoying the con, not sitting in my hotel room frantically sewing. And know your limits. Don't agree to make 8 costumes in a month. Unless you know for absolutely sure you'll get them all done, with time to spare, don't do it! So you can't join this group this time around. Oh well! There will always be another con where you can! It's just cosplay. It's for fun. Don't stress over it.

I've also known some people who were like "Oh I don't think I'll go to the con AT ALL, because my cosplay isn't finished!" What? Who cares! There are LOTS of people who go to cons who never cosplay! Conventions do not equal cosplay. You can have lots of fun in plain clothes at conventions. And no one expects anyone to cosplay. It's just a fun alternative.

Don't wear the same cosplay all weekend

It gets stinky. You may think "Oh, I showered and put on deodorant." But your cosplay is still collecting all your sweat and stinky-ness. After 3 days it can be a little ripe. If nothing else, buy some Fabreeze or something, and spray that baby down each night! Also, many cosplays aren't exactly comfy to wear. I know after wearing my Sailor Moon boots for 3 days in a row my feet are very angry with me. So I try to switch around my cosplay so my body doesn't hate me afterwards.

Travel tips

Get one of these suitcases:

This is the best suitcase ever!! A friend of mine used to be in the corporate world and had to travel with suits all the time. But she doesn't do that anymore, so she gave me this suitcase, because she knows I cosplay and thought it would be helpful. WHICH IT IS! As you can see, the main section is perfect for suits, or in our case cosplays. The top has hanger clips and it has straps to hold everything in place. It has tons of pockets for accessories, regular clothes, and toiletries. It zips closed to keep everything safe and it folds in half with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. I only need to bring this one suitcase when I travel for cons now!

So try to find one of these! You may be able to find one at a thrift store or something. Or your parents might have one. I know my parents have this exact same suitcase. Try not to buy one new, because luggage is usually really expensive.

Wigs: First of all, when you get your wig, DO NOT throw away the hair net or the bag it comes in!! You need to save that for storing them and for traveling with them. There are two ways I travel with my wigs: In the bag they came in or on a wig head.

I use the first method for wigs that don't have any heavy styling. The first wig shown is my Aurora/Briar Rose wig. It just has lots of curls, which aren't affected by being flattened. I first put the wig in the hair net, and then gently fold it in half and place it in the bag. It's important to put it in the hair net first! Otherwise it will become all tangled up into a big mess. This is a nice method because you can just stick it in one of the pockets of your fancy suit case.

OH GOD! I've suffocated and decapitated Sailor Moon!

The second method I use for heavily styled wigs. As you can see, Sailor Moon is the one on the head in this photo. I place the wig on the head and pin it in place with wig pins or with long sewing pins. Then I put a hair net on top of the odango and her bangs and another to collect her pig tails (as delicately as possible). Then I put a plastic bag around the pig tails and another on top of the whole mess. I've found that this is the best way to keep it from becoming a big knotted mess when I travel. I recommend this method for complicated wigs that must be in a particular shape. I usually put all my heads in a cardboard box (hahahahaha), then that way they aren't knocking around in the back seat of the car.

Wig heads are easy to find. You can get them at thrift stores or at beauty supply shops like Sally's for pretty inexpensive. My mother in law used to style wigs, so she had a billion wig heads just laying around her place, so lucky me!

Whatever you do, DO NOT just throw (or even gently place) the wig in a plastic bag and then put it in the car. You will weep bitter tears of regret when you open that bag at the hotel.


Take good care of your wigs! They aren't the cheapest thing and you want them to last as long as possible!


Well that's all I can think of for cosplay tips! I hope that you found these tips helpful! Do you have any tips or advice you'd like to share? Put them in the comments!

Next week I'll be doing a cosplayer interview! I hope you all will enjoy it!

Love,
Edward

A Case of the Sniffles

I'm terribly sorry, everyone. I'm sick this week and just don't feel up to writing out a regular blog post. You may not know this, but it takes me 3+ hours to write one post. I just don't have the energy today.

This cold couldn't have come at a worse time. I need to get two costumes done before March. One is a commission that is debuting at Sakura-con. The other is my fairy costume for my fairy tale birthday party, happening on the 2nd. The commission is easy and is only a partial costume. My fairy costume is a bit more involved, though. I have to make the entire thing, plus wings and a staff (I'm the fairy princess, after all, I have to have a royal scepter!)

I have all my materials and I just need to make it. So instead spending all my energy and time on writing a long post, I'm going to spend it working on my costumes.

In other news, I have been working on my Sailor Moon cosplay. I've nearly completed the revamped leotard and the new skirt. I'm really liking how it's turning out! It looks much more accurate than my original version. And it's going to be completely modular, so I can do her other forms and other guardians if I want and not have to make a bunch of different leotards.

Notice pile of scrap fabric on the left. That's how a seamstress cleans her room; you just push it all off to the side so you have enough room to lay out your fabric. XD

It's not as bunchy under the bust when it's actually on me. The problem with mannequins is that they don't squish like real bodies. But anyway, I am really happy how it's turning out and I can't wait to re-debut it at Anime Oasis.

That's about it. Now, I think I'll drink some tea and read the last omnibus of CardCaptor Sakura while I take a bath, before I begin work on my fairy costume.



Love,
Edward

Edward's Convention Tips: Good Advice

This is part 2 of my 3 part series about convention preparedness and general advice! Check out part 1, tips on how to plan before the con, here.

As I said in part one, this is not a "comprehensive, everything you need to know, do and prepare for at conventions" type of post. There are lots of lists like that already out there on the wonderful world wide web if you do a google search. This is just some advice and things I've found help me a lot. Some of these tips are on other lists and some of them aren't.

So please enjoy part 2!

Some Good Advice 

The Con Bag

I always, always take my "Con Bag" with me to conventions. It's just a messenger bag that I carry around with me while I'm at the convention. It's super handy for carrying snacks and most importantly, all the little do-dads I buy from Artist Ally (AA) and the Dealers Room (DR). It's also good for holding any paper work you might collect (business cars, schedules, etc.) and for holding my money pouch and cell phone. I also usually carry a manga around with me for those moments when I find I haven't much to do.

My "con bag." I bought it at my first convention. I like it because it says "Pika Pi" on it. XD

I like having a con bag because I can buy things or have things on me, without having to go back to my room all the time. And a most of the time I don't get a hotel room when I go to the local conventions, so it saves me going all the way out to my car to store/grab things. It's very handy! It can sometimes be a pain. Like, when I'm wearing Sailor Moon (with her long pig tails) and someone asks for a picture, I have to take the bag off. And then as soon as I get the bag back on again, someone asks for another picture. But that is the way of conventions when you cosplay, I suppose.

Overall, the pros out weigh the cons by far, and it's really a nice thing to have.


I also have a "con pouch." It's a little coin pouch I use to put all my important things in, like my credit/debit cards, ID and monies. It's handy too. Because, if you don't know, in real life I use a retro metal lunch box as my purse, and a metal bandaid box as my wallet. Which are both pretty impractical to carry around a convention all the time. The bag and pouch seem to work best for me.

Emergency Bag

This bag contains anything that one might need if you had a cosplay malfunction. Sewing needle and thread (preferably the colors of the cosplay you're wearing), hot glue gun with glue sticks, super glue, safety pins, extra buttons or beads (if applicable), a comb for your wig, hair spray, bobby pins, etc. etc. There are lots of things you might need in this bag, depending on your cosplay. There are almost always "cosplay repair" rooms at the convention, but they might not have that one thing you need. So it's good to be prepared. I use a big makeup travel bag to hold all these things, along with my makeup.

Going with friends

Whether or not you want to go with friends is really up to you. But I have some suggestions either way. 

If you are an introvert, you should probably consider going with friends. Introverts tend not to randomly go up to strangers and make new friends, so you could be bored or lonely if you go by yourself. For me, I'm an extrovert, so going with friends is not such a big deal, because I ALWAYS make friends at the convention. Going with friends is, of course, more fun! Because I have people I know I can be silly with.

If you decide to go with friends, make sure you go with people who are into this stuff. I've gone to cons where the person I was with was not nearly as interested and entertained as I was, and I was constantly finding myself worrying about them and if they were having fun. Completely forget to pay attention if I was having fun or not. And really, you can't have much fun if you're worried or focused on someone else. So keep that in mind if you decide to bring someone with you.

Also, if the someone you are bringing is only going to be there for a day, or a few hours, make sure they have their own transportation! It's not as fun if you have a time limit and have to take them back home. I've missed out on a few things I wanted to see, because the person I was with had to be home by a certain time. 

But the beauty of conventions, is that most everyone is happy and friendly! It's so easy to make new friends if you just talk to people. If you're like me, making friends will be no problem. But if you are very shy or an introvert, you might consider going with some other nerds.

Take Care of Yourself  

I think every "What to do at Conventions" list or blog says this, but it is VERY important, EAT AND SLEEP! There is no way you will have as much fun if you are hungry and tired the whole time.

I mean eat more then just ramen and pocky the whole weekend. Eat REAL food. I listed some suggestions in the Planning portion of this trilogy that are quick and easy, but also filling and better for you. I'm not saying ramen is absolutely forbidden (I like ramen too), but don't eat it for every meal. It's not good for you.

And don't just take a 2 hour power nap and call it good! Get a good night rest! I know that if you're over 18, you'll most like go to the late night events. (I always stay up late and sing karaoke until my voice gives out XD). But most of the events at cons don't start until 10am or so, so you have plenty of time to sleep in. Also, you might find yourself with an hour or 2 where there are no panels or events you want to go to; go take a nap! 

So don't forget about the basics.

What to Do During Down Time 

Sometimes you'll find yourself between events or panels and you've already checked out the AA and DR a dozen times, and wonder what to do with yourself. Here are some suggestions.

Eat: Have dinner or a snack, or go out to lunch with friends.

Check out the Anime Room: All conventions have a room where they play different anime all day and night. So if you're bored, go check it out.

Brush your wig or change your cosplay: It's important that if you have a wig that is shoulder length or longer, that you brush it through out the con, otherwise, by the end of the weekend, it will be a terrifying mess and it can ultimately ruin your wig. So during your down time, run a comb through your wig to catch any tangles before they get really bad. Also, if you have more than one cosplay, now is the perfect time to change.

Take a nap: After a late night of singing karaoke, it might be good if you take a nap if you find you have enough time between events.

Check out the arcade or table top gaming room: There is always an arcade or gaming room at conventions where you can spend some time.

Read a book or manga: I always bring a manga that I'm currently reading with me to the cons so I have something to read during down time.

Do a cosplay check: Every once in a while, when I'm not doing anything else, I like to pop into the bathroom and make sure my cosplay is still looking fabulous. I make sure my wig isn't falling off, that my accessories are in place, make sure my makeup isn't smudged etc. You want to be looking your best for random photos!

Go visiting: I have lots of friends qho have tables or booths in the AA and DR, so when I'm not doing anything else, I like to go around and visit with people.

Be Considerate of Your Fellow Nerds

Shower. Please. This is mentioned on every con list I've ever seen, but that's because it's IMPORTANT! There is nothing more unpleasant than walking around, having fun, and suddenly smelling someone's three day old con funk. So please, for the love of your fellow nerds, shower. EVERY DAY! And put on deodorant. And change your cosplay. If you only have one cosplay, give it a sprits with some deodorizer. These all sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised how disgusting humans can be. So please, think of the noses of your friends and loved ones, and please take a shower.

Here is a wonderfully hilarious (and kind of old) video of Foamy the Squirrel on this subject. It talks about more than just showering, but he illustrates it well. 

I think that's all the general adivce I can think of. If you have an other advice for con goers, please post it in the comments and I'll be sure to add it to my list!

Come back next week for part 3: Cosplay Advice!


Loves,
Edward