Why You No Post?

"Edward.... What the hell?"

Oh dear, oh dear. Where does one begin? It has been a very long time (4 months... Oh my...).
I can't honestly say I haven't had time or that I've just been crazy busy, because that would be a lie. I certainly have had lots of opportunities to pick up this blog again and get back to talking about cosplay and crafting at any point in the last 4 months. So why haven't I?

Truly, it's because I've been incredibly uninspired by this blog and I haven't been mentally capable of putting in the effort I know is required to make interesting and engaging posts. As I've said in a previous entry, I moved recently and let me tell you.... it's been a lot harder than I thought it would be--emotionally wise. I don't want to bore you with my melancholy, but I have, indeed, been so the last few months. Moving from a rural mountain homestead to the "big" city has been a uneasy transition. I quite liked living in my fairytale land in the woods. So it's been a slow and uncomfortable adjustment.

And of course when one is melancholy, one does not usually partake in hobbies they found enjoyable when they were happy. I've also been very tight financially. On top of that, my husband and I are staying with my parent's in a back room of their house, leaving me not much room to craft things. So I haven't been creating much as of late. Simply, I have had nothing to talk about. Not where crafting is concerned anyway.

But things are slowly getting better. I'm adjusting and figuring out what I'm doing with myself. My husband and I are hopefully moving into our own apartment soon. Things are looking up.

And I've been obsessing over some new hobbies. J-fashion being one of them. Monster High dolls being another. I've been inspired in many things lately, they just haven't been very crafty so far.

So what does this mean for Insane Cosplay? Well, I do really like writing this blog. And others have told me they like reading it and that they like my writing style. So I definitely plan to continue writing on here. But the focus will not be so narrow. I'm going to just take the leap and make this a blog just about me and my hobbies in general. My tendency to hyper focus on one thing and then switch to another thing makes it hard for me to write consistently on one topic.

I will probably have a range of topics: fashion, photography, MH dolls, BJD dolls, cosplay of course, nerdy topics and other crafts I'm doing. It will sort of be a public journal of all my interests and hobbies. And I will be changing the name of this blog to better represent this new range of subjects.

I am somewhat worried that people may not want to read this anymore if its focus is no longer cosplay and crafting. And that will be sad. But I can't write a blog that I'm not passionate about and that feels like work. I want to enjoy writing this blog. I don't want it to be a chore. And maybe I will get a new and varied audience. Who knows. But I hope that people will still like to read it.

So that is it! From here on out this blog will be called "A Girl Named Edward" and will have a varied range of topics, the connecting thing being me.

Thank you all for reading this blog up until now and for your patience. And I sincerely hope you will continue to read it!


As always



~Edward

Lots of lolita things.

Oh hi!So I didn't write a second blog post last week cus I don't have a ton to talk about so I figured I'd save it for today.

So let see, lets see.... What have I been doing?

Well I've been working on a few projects. I'm hosting another Lolita even this fall and it's Halloween/gothic themed. So I'm making an appropriate coord to wear to it. I'm excited because it's going to be a photo shoot in a graveyard! I am hoping like crazy that it snows. That would be so elegant!

Anyway, I've started making a blouse based on this pattern:

New Look 6599

Mine is going to have long poet sleeves (large bell sleeves gathered into a deep cuff). I've changed the pattern so it buttons all the way to the top, like lolita should. It's going to have a collar like C but instead of lace it will have a big ruffle. And it will have the ruffle down the front like D. It's coming along pretty well. The sleeves aren't as large as I'd like them to be but they still look nice. I think it will be very elegant with the high ruffled collar. Very Victorian, which is my favorite fashion era.

Along with my poet blouse I'm working a pin striped vest. 

Doesn't it look so pretty? Yes, well it would if it didn't look like this in the back:

My bane....

Yeah... it's like 2-3in too huge.  Because I'm not a perfect hour glass shape and my top is smaller than my bottom, I have to take in the pattern when I cut it out, which I forgot to do. So it's hugenormous. 

 So now I must rip out all of the beautiful lining and redo half the damn thing so it fits. 
But once it's done it will be lovely. And go quite nice with my ruffly collar and all my frills.

Then I'm going to make an underskirt with a chiffon ruffle to go under my black skirt so it's a little more frilly.

THEN I'm going to make another skirt for no reason in particular other than I have super beautiful fabric to make a skirt with.

Isn't it so pretty? XD

The green with birds and butterflies will be one panel in the front and the wine color will be the rest of it. I think it will be super elegant and very classic lolita.

Let see, what else? Oh I'm going to make some bloomers for my lolita coords with this pattern:

I'm going to make the shorter ones in the bottom right corner. I might actually make them a bit shorter. I also REALLY want to make the nightgown in the pattern because it's so gothic and pretty! I have no reason what so ever to make it.... except to wonder my house at night wearing it being melancholy and melodramatic. 

Hmmm... do I have any other exciting sewing things going on? I'm not starting any new cosplays yet. Well... except Pooh Bear. I was asked to join a Winnie the Pooh gijinka group, which I'm excited for! I'm really hoping I'll be able to attend the next con and get my cosplay together for it, because I've been wanting to cosplay as Pooh for a while! In our group we have a Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit and Piglet! So I really want to be able to participate. If I can't there is always Fandem next year.

And that's it I think! I'll try to be more exciting next week. I'm thinking of trying a new series of posts for this blog. So we'll see how that goes!

Until next time!

~Edward

I.... don't even know.

So... yeah...... uuuuummm....



Heh. Yeah. I have nothing prepared. And on top of that I've posted late. Oh, dear. But I was traveling to go out of town yesterday, so that's a legitimate excuse. And as far as being totally unprepared: Well there was the EQ camping trip and this weekend I'm hosting a Lolita Teddy Bear Picnic. So I've been completing my Lolita dress in time for that. I've also been working on a commission and I did work on actual cosplay. Though it's an OC cosplay. I guess I could show you all that.

So I mentioned in this post that I have been working on an original LARP character. I'm not sure what's going on with the LARP, but damn it, I'm making this OC whether it happens or not. Cus I really quite like it. My character's name is Peacebow. She's a wood elf and... well I'm not sure what else. It would be cool if she was an archer..... but I'm not an archer. So if the LARP does happen, she'll probably be some kind of mage or something. If not she'll be an archer. We'll see. I had her back story figured out.. and then realized that it wouldn't work. Also it was your classic "tragic" backstory. Which is meh. I think she might just be a regular ol' elf that came from a well adjusted home and wanted to seek adventure. Haha. Why not? I'm also figuring out her personality. I think she'll be no nonsense type... though that might be difficult for me, because I quite like nonsense.



Anyway, it's not done. It needs fur trim and I'm deciding if I'm going to put "stitching" along the seems. I dunno yet. I think it would probably look cool. I don't know what I'm doing for pants yet. I think they'll be capri type. And for shoes I'm thinking some tall leather boots that are kept on with leather ties. And for hair..... Well, I tried out a hair style.... It was very fluffy.... AND MY HUSBAND LAUGHED AT ME! He said it looked dumb.








Needless to say I was disappointed. I am not wearing a wig with this. And my hair is in a very non-elfy type of do, so I have no idea what to do with it. *sigh* All the elf hair references I find are all long hair with braids and shit. Elves can have short hair! They live in the woods! Long hair would get a bunch of sticks and leaves stuck in it! Totally impractical. Just like those long flowy gowns. You can't hunt in a full skirt!





*ahem* Ok. Anyways. Yes. So that's my OC. I think she'll be cool and fun to wear. I'll keep you all informed of how she progresses.

In other news-- TEDDY BEAR PICNIC!! I'm excited! I'll post all about it next week with pics and stuff. I KNOW Lolita is NOT cosplay and is a serious (if frilly) fashion. But it is present at conventions so I think it has a place here on my blog. And anyway, it's my blog. And I wanna talk about frillies.

Well there ya go. That post wasn't too bad for pulling it completely out of my ass. It was full of much emotion if nothing else.



One side note.... I'm thinking of starting another blog (they are like potato chips...). I don't know if you all would want to read it, but I'm thinking it would be about Disney movies. I'd watch them in chronological order and give my opinions on them. (If you are my friend on Facebook you'll know I've already been doing this for a while, but I don't mind doing it again. Yes. I love Disney that much.) I'm no expert on movies or anything. But I do fucking love Disney movies. And I love talking about them. A whole lot. But I find I have few people to talk about them with. (Surprisingly my husband isn't so into it.) So why not share my thoughts and opinions with the whole internet!? Nothing could go wrong.


Anyway, I'm thinking about that. I'm also thinking doing yet ANOTHER blog more about my personal thoughts on social things. That one would be quite opinionated. We'll see if that happens. So yeah, let me know if any of you guys would want to read a blog about Disney stuff. You can comment here or on my Facebook page.

Ok. I'm done talking now. I hope you were entertained. And for next week-- FRILLIES!

<3 Edward

Update: Last Minute Con Prep or GAAAAAHHH!!!!

I know, I know... It's Tuesday.... I didn't post yesterday.... But I do have a good reason! I was driving home from going to an awesome production of 'Beauty and the Beast" in Boise. See. It's a good reason!

Before I start, I must tell you that something terrible has happened! The site I've been using for all my adorable onion head emoticons is not working for soem reason! I can't express myself properly without them!! I feel so.... blank... *sigh* But I must carry on! For the sake of the blog... I will try to emote through words, though I feel words can't properly express the cuteness I want to convey.... *again sigh*

Anywho! Today is a general update sort of day. I haven't done one in a while. Which is good. I don't want this whole blog to be all about me.

I'm frantically trying to get everything done before Anime Oasis. *glances at calendar* OH MY LUNA, ONLY 23 DAYS!!! Gah!

I got an unexpected commission last month that kind of threw a wrench in my very tight schedule. But, it will all work out. And I'll have lots of money to blow on nerd paraphernalia now! Hooray! The commission wasn't cosplay related, but I'll share it with you anyway!

It's not quite complete, I still need to add the sleeves and zipper. But I should be finished with it tomorrow.

I have one more commission to do before I can work on my own things. Thankfully it's a super easy one and should only take a day or two. Then I need to finish redoing Sailor Moon. I'm getting close to done on it. The leotard is done, except for adding snaps. I just need to finish making the white waist band and the new collar. Then I have to hand sew a bazillion snaps onto all the pieces. Woo! That should be so much fun. *weeps* And I'm going to order some new boots. Hopefully they will be here in time for me to modify them before AO.

This is what creativity looks like.

Then after that I'm going to make as many lolita items as possible until AO gets here. They are having a lolita flee market thing and I wanted to put some items in there. Hopefully I'll get some done in time.
>.< Apparently I'm the only one who is going to have stuff in the flee market so far, so if you'd like to put items in there, I suggest you contact the AO staff!

As for my future cosplays, they've kind of come to a halt. My husband switched jobs and this new job isn't a 'paycheck every two weeks' type. So we are trying to be careful with the monies. Which means no new cosplays for a while. :( It's a very sad thing indeed, but it's not as if I'll have no projects. I still have lots of material to make lolita dress and other clothing. One project that I think I'll do is an every day/beach wear outfit for Usagi. Here is the pattern and material:

I bought the pattern because I thought it was cute, and then realized... it's incredibly 90's. Which is perfect for Usagi. Haha. This is some material my mom gave me and I think it will be perfect. I'll just wander around the con with sunglasses, flip flops, and a beach ball. It will be awesome. And so comfy!

Also, I'd like to say that my mom is super awesome. This weekend she also gave me a bunch of vintage sewing machine attachments!! And oh man, once I figure them out, I'm going to use the heck out of them!!!!

From left to right: A bias tape foot, an invisible zipper foot, 3 sizes of rolled hem feet, and a ruffle foot.

I've played with them a little bit, and I can tell it will take a little practice to get used to them. But once I get them figured out, it will be awesome!!


Also, I wanted to ask you all some opinions about my blog. 3 things are on my mind.

1. I noticed that I have an average viewing of about 30 people. (And thank you so, so much for reading my little blog!) But I seem to have no subscriptions. And I wondered why that is? Is it that you don't usually subscribe to blogs, or that you don't know how, or that you just aren't that interested? Honest responses would be appreciated in the comments!

2. You may have noticed that all of my cosplayer interviews have been females. This isn't on purpose! It just so happens that the majority of my cosplay friends are girls! So if you have a male cosplayer you think should be in the spotlight, please link me to them in the comments or on my facebook page. I do know a handful of male cosplayers that I plan to interview eventually, but not very many. And if you want to suggest a female cosplayer, that is ok too! I'm going to run out of friends to interview sooner or later and need to have more people on my list! For now I'd like to mostly focus on cosplayers in the Northwest part of the US (Idaho, Washington, Oregon, etc.)

3. What do you guys think so far? Several people have told me they really like my blog, and I'm so glad! But I just wanted some general opinions and thoughts. What are you favorite posts? What are your least favorite? What new kinds of posts would you suggest? Things like that. So let me know in the comments or on my facebook page!

Ok! I think that's all the exciting news I have to share. I'm not sure what I'm posting next week. Maybe a tutorial or another interview. I'm not sure yet. It will just have to be a surprise!!

Much loves,

Edward.

Update: Birthday extravaganza!

So last weekend was my birthday and I had a two parties! I had to have two because I have too many friends to fit into one house. Haha.

Anyway, my first party was a tea party with my family/friends. It was actually a double party for me and one of my sister in laws, since her birthday is the day before mine. I brought lots of different teas and everyone brought yummy snacks! It was a ton of fun! We played music and sang and laughed. It was a good party! Thank you Evie for letting me have my party at your house!!

Our lovely table full of goodies! The triple chocolate brownies were my favorite! ^_^

My aunt-in-law gave me all these Hello Kitty presents! I wuv them!

My friend wanted to do an outfit swap! So I'm wearing her outfit and she's wearing mine! Haha!
Photo by Morgan Wells

Party number 2 was for all my cosplay friends and it was fairy tale themed! (Classic fairy tales, not the anime). We all dressed up as fairy tale themed things! I was the Fairy Princess (of course ). We played games and had cheese cake! It was tons of fun! And my guests must have had fun, because I was the last to leave at 11:30pm! Thanks Jen for letting me have my party at your house!!

My fairy princess costume.

All of my lovely guests!

My fairy court!

My kick ass octopus pizza! But it has 14 tentacles. Heh. It's nearly twice as awesome. XD

Birthday cheese cake.

I dunno... but it's awesome.
Fairy Tale Party photos by Daniel Ludwig

So that's my exciting news! I had a great time hanging out with everyone. Thanks all for coming to my parties!

Cosplay wise, as you can see, I made my fairy costume! This week I'm going to finish a commission and then start work on all the things I need to get done before Anime Oasis. I'll be very busy!

I think next week I'm going to do another cosplay showcase! But we shall see. See you then!


Edward