Otakon came and went fairly quickly! We departed bright and early on Thusday morning and arrived in Baltimore around 5PM. We waited for our roomies to show up, and once they did, we all checked into our room at the Hilton and unloaded our stuff. The rest of the evening was used to scout the convention center and its neighboring food locations. We crashed around midnight that night.
For Friday, I wore 2 new Klan outfits! Luckily, Al (EBK) got some photos (which you can see by clicking the banner below), so I was able to change out fairly early. Leo even got a few of the first outfit I wore, and I'm anxiously awaiting them! :) Friday night we ate at Jimmy John's with a handful of friends.
Saturday was Ariel day~ I'm happy I got a chance to break her in, as there are a handful of things I would like to fix before D*C. I also accidentally got paint from Steven's Mass Effect helmet on my corset, so I'll need to clean that up. Al got a few of Ariel and Leo got 1 or 2. I'll wait until those are put online before I update the costume on ACP, though. We retired to the room/hanging with friends early Saturday though. Ended up eating at the Cheesecake Factory and treated Jo and Steve to dinner! :) It was his birthday, after all! Speaking of...
Mine was the 16th! I completely forgot to post about it! So Steven and I got to celebrate around the same time! I'm now 21 and he's 23! :D
Sunday was spent packing up and waiting in the lobby for our friends to come get us and help us load up. I also spent some more time hanging with Jo~ :D So that was my Otakon experience.
Overall, I rate it a 9 out of 10, only because of personal reasons. Hopefully the convention will be much more exciting next year!
now for some updates~
I hope I get a chance to wear either of these again, especially the waitress variant! Sadly, my Dragon*Con and Anime Weekend Atlanta schedules are full, so I doubt I'll get a chance to wear them... However, I have a lot of new and exciting things planned! I also have been really into Luka & Gumi's "Happy Sythsizer". It's the first time I've actually wanted to learn the dance to something! Maybe I will. Hmmm. Hahaha.
Otakon came and went fairly quickly! We departed bright and early on Thusday morning and arrived in Baltimore around 5PM. We waited for our roomies to show up, and once they did, we all checked into our room at the Hilton and unloaded our stuff. The rest of the evening was used to scout the convention center and its neighboring food locations. We crashed around midnight that night.
For Friday, I wore 2 new Klan outfits! Luckily, Al (EBK) got some photos (which you can see by clicking the banner below), so I was able to change out fairly early. Leo even got a few of the first outfit I wore, and I'm anxiously awaiting them! :) Friday night we ate at Jimmy John's with a handful of friends.
Saturday was Ariel day~ I'm happy I got a chance to break her in, as there are a handful of things I would like to fix before D*C. I also accidentally got paint from Steven's Mass Effect helmet on my corset, so I'll need to clean that up. Al got a few of Ariel and Leo got 1 or 2. I'll wait until those are put online before I update the costume on ACP, though. We retired to the room/hanging with friends early Saturday though. Ended up eating at the Cheesecake Factory and treated Jo and Steve to dinner! :) It was his birthday, after all! Speaking of...
Mine was the 16th! I completely forgot to post about it! So Steven and I got to celebrate around the same time! I'm now 21 and he's 23! :D
Sunday was spent packing up and waiting in the lobby for our friends to come get us and help us load up. I also spent some more time hanging with Jo~ :D So that was my Otakon experience.
Overall, I rate it a 9 out of 10, only because of personal reasons. Hopefully the convention will be much more exciting next year!
now for some updates~
I hope I get a chance to wear either of these again, especially the waitress variant! Sadly, my Dragon*Con and Anime Weekend Atlanta schedules are full, so I doubt I'll get a chance to wear them... However, I have a lot of new and exciting things planned! I also have been really into Luka & Gumi's "Happy Sythsizer". It's the first time I've actually wanted to learn the dance to something! Maybe I will. Hmmm. Hahaha.
a little background...
I grew up in the coastal town of Charleston, South Carolina, where I was raised by my two loving parents. I have been attending cons since I was 16, and have been cosplaying for that
long as well. It all started with purchasing my first two costumes on eBay, and I never dreamed I would one day be sewing my own. But here I am, cosplaying with people
I admire and even becoming very close friends with them! I enjoy how much cosplay has helped me to meet some of my closest friends! I hope to continue cosplaying until I'm ready to settle down and lay it to rest (but that's a loooong, long time from now!)
During my years so far as a cosplayer, I have won several awards for my craftsmanship and helped other friends win skit competitions. I occasionally sew for friends
should I desire to (if they lack time to finish something) and every so often make props for them. I really enjoy cosplaying with my friends and will do many things to ensure it happens! :)
other facts: ✩ Major: English ✩ Current position: Student & Seamstress ✩ Likes (<3): Music, drawing, swimming, conventions, sewing (occasionally), the outdoors, the beach, and visiting family. ✩ Dislikes: Art theft, bad attitudes, immaturity, impatience, and drama. ✩ Favorite series: How to Train Your Dragon (books & movie), Madoka Magica, Hatsu Inu, the Tinklebell series, Sailor Moon, Toradora, K-ON!, Wedding Peach, Macross F, Fairly Oddparents, & Powerpuff Girls
fanlistings//hatelistings.
costumes
❤ in progress ❤
❤ 2013 ❤
❤ 2012 ❤
❤ 2011 ❤
❤ 2010 ❤
❤ 2009 ❤
❤ 2006-2008 ❤
conventions
2013
Momocon(March 8-10) - Atlanta, GA SeishunCon(June 28-30) - Atlanta, GA
Dragon*Con(August 30-September 2) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 27-29) - Atlanta, GA
2012
Katsucon(February 17-19) - National Harbor, MD Momocon(March 16-18) - Atlanta, GA MTAC(April 6-8) - Nashville, TN Dragon*Con(August 31-September 3) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 28-30) - Atlanta, GA
Momocon(March 20-21) - Atlanta, GA SeishunCon(June 25-27) - Atlanta, GA Metrocon(July 23-25) - Tampa, FL **Won Yume Cup Regionals for Taokaka (Duo)** Dragon*Con(September 3-6) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 17-19) - Atlanta, GA **Won Best in show for Finn Fish (Group)**New York Comic Con/Anime Festival(October 8-10) - New York, NY **Guests for Yume Cup Finals**
2009
Momocon(March 14-15) - Atlanta, GA MTAC(April 3-5) - Nashville, TN Metrocon(June 19-21) - Tampa, FL **Won Best Group for Klan Klan (Duo)** Dragon*Con(September 4-7) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 18-20) - Atlanta, GA
2008
Momocon(March 15-16) - Atlanta, GA Nashicon(April 4-6) - Columbia, SC Metrocon(July 18-20) - Tampa, FL Dragon*Con(August 29-September 1) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 19-21) - Atlanta, GA
2007
Momocon(March 17-18) - Atlanta, GA Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 21-23) - Atlanta, GA
2006
Anime Weekend Atlanta(September 22-24) - Atlanta, GA
media
Panels/responsibilities
» Cosplay Track Director for SeishunCon (June 2011)
» Cosplay 101 at Anime South (December 2009)
» Charming Fairy Maid Cafe at Anime South (December 2009)
awards
» Best in Show at the Cosplay (Skit) Competition (assisted) for Final Fantasy 6 at Metrocon (June 2011)
» Best in Show for Finn Fish (Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne group) at Anime Weekend Atlanta (September 2010)
» Yume Cup Regional Qualifier for Taokaka (Blazblue duo) at Metrocon (July 2010)
» Best Group for Klan Klan (Macross Frontier duo) at Metrocon (June 2009)
This is where I will put any videos of me in costume, usually just award ceremonies or skit competitions.
On second video, start at 7:50. We are announced and come on stage at that point! :)
Start first video at 1:00. We have a brief appearance in our sukumizus!
link in.
link out.
catherine
catherine
reference images
why?
My friends Kavin & Cristine had taken a serious interest in this game and eventually came to me and asked if I would cosplay it with them.
I thought it over, and after figuring out how little I would have to spend on making the costume (due to already having materials for the wig, having the shoes, and knowing a friend who would lend me a corset), I decided to do it.
It's a good costume to wear for drinking/partying at Dragon*Con, so I ended up committing, and I'm glad I did, as I had an amazing time with those in my group, who are featured in the photos below (Minus the Vincent, who we met right before our shoot)!
construction notes
The dress is made from Casa Satin with white lacey trim. The choker is also made from the same materials. Basic red casa ribbon was used for the bow (which is very much inaccurate). The corset was borrowed~
wig styling notes
I started with a wig I had laying around from a few years back (a Melissa from New Look in 24) and two ponytail clips (medium length, also from New Look in 24).
I harvested the wefts from one of the clips (since I wasn't planning on using one anymore) and layed them on a flat surface. Once I felt they were nice a straight, I attacked them with Got2B freezing spray and Got2B hair glue. I coated them several times and made sure they were as straight as could be.
Once they were dry, I cut them into several sections - the appropriate width I felt the curls should be.
I made a wire frame, exactly like the curls, with a circular base that could be sewn into the wig. I started hot gluing the wefts to the frame, starting at the base, and continuing to the point. I glued wefts onto both sides in order to hide the wire - pretty much sandwiching it.
Once the hot glue was dry, I assaulted the curls with freezing spray again. Once THAT was dry, I trimmed the tip of each curl, as well as any stray hairs that were floating on the side. Those strayed didn't worry me since once they spray was dry, it wouldn't cause more hairs to fray. Once they were perfectly clean, I sewed each curl base to the wig.
costume photos
photos by ljinto
erza scarlet
fairy tail
reference images
why?
When Megan asked me to do this, of course I was intimidated. I had to try a lot of new techniques and was a little scared things wouldn't turn out like I wanted. However, things went surprisingly well and I am very satisfied with this costume! The only complaint I have is lacking a hoop skirt. I ran out of time to make a custom one, so hopefully I'll have time to make one for the next time I wear this.
Though, I'm really happy I got to do a dream costume group with Megan. She adores Fairy Tail and I had so much fun doing this with her! <3
construction notes
● Corset: I decided to make an under-bust corset since I felt it would work with the design easily. I did a two-part pattern. The gold in front is a crepe-back satin from JoAnn. The white sides are white casa with black satin-stitched details. There are 12 steel bones (1/4" from Delicious LLC.) throughout the corset (though I would use more for next time) and it's lined in a cheetah print cotton I had laying around. I used tiny bias tape around the edges in order to finish the garment but also make it hard to see. There are 16 eyelets in the back and I went ahead and bought some corset lacing from Delicious LLC to use.
● Undershirt: I used a simple white cotton knit to make this. Instead of going for the hard armor look, I went with a more stylized approach. I made a basic tube shirt and gathered about 6" of the bust. I made bias tape out of the same knit to enclose the top of the shirt as well.
● Petal Skirts: There are two petal skirts that make up the whole skirt. The white one underneath consists of 4 petals, severely interfaced, all "lined", and stitched together, which close via snap in the back. I decided to give it a little extra flare by adding some beaded details on the corner of each petal too.
The red skirt consists of 4 petals as well. Each has their own appliqued design and is top stitched (I didn't like how the satin stitching looked) with hand-made gold bias tape. Both the designs and the bias tape were made from the same gold crepe satin I used on the corset. The red petals are all stitched together and close via snap as well.
● Armor & Jewelry: Almost all of the armor is made with sintra and heat-formed. I used craft foam for details on specific pieced, and some pieces are solely craft foam. Is made of sintra, the piece has been beveled to give it a smooth edge.
● Gauntlets: Made with sintra and pink insulation foam. I carved the insulation foam to the dome shape and glued it to the sitra pieces once they were heat formed. Once adhered, I filled the gaps with spackle and sanded smooth one it dried. I then primed them and painted them gold, adding white foam details and rhinestones to give them a little flare.
● Choker: It's just gold crepe with interfacing. I cut the wing shape out of foam, coated it in polyurethane, then painted it, adding the line details afterward. The gem is from JoAnn in their jewelry section. It has a light blue flower inside, and I felt using that would be better than a plain light blue gem.
● Arm bands: Made solely out of craft foam. The raised details are also craft foam. I added rhinestones to these as well for a little flare, though some areas are canon to the design!
● Chest piece: Sintra with black line details for the wings. It attaches to the shirt & corset with hook & eyes.
● Belt: Made with pieces of styrene painted gold (4) and white(1) with foam detail pieces. The belt attaches with velcro in the back. The wings are also made of foam and attach to the belt.
● Boots: Used the same gold crepe satin from the other pieces. It has an outer layer, a duck cloth center for stabilizing, and lining in that cheetah print cotton. The white details are bias tape. They're attached to the base shoes with hot glue.
wig styling notes
I wanted the perfect wig and color, so when it came to reliability, I went with Arda since I had purchased one before (Melody)and their wigs are gorgeous.
I originally ordered a Le Tigre Long in maroon, but they were out of stock and wouldn't be restocked until mid-October, so I had to settle for another style. They recommended their Claudia, which is curly, but that I could straighten it. I wasn't sure of how long it would be once straightened, but I decided to give it a chance.
It arrived really quick and I proceeded to straighten it. I had left my awesome straightener in Maryland (from Otakon) so I had to use a different method. I decided to use an iron with a damp cloth underneath, and it worked WONDERS. It started out looking like this. Here's an in-progress shot of it straightened, and here it is finished with bangs cut in.
Overall, despite having to exert more effort, I still am happy I went with Arda. Their wigs are amazing and I am SUPER happy with the color. It's exactly what I was looking for and I'm pretty sure I'll be going with them for all future wig purchases.
costume photos
photos by nicolai andrews
photos by ljinto
photos by lionel lum
melody
josie & the pussycats
reference images
why?
My friends Kavin & Cristine had taken a serious interest in this game and eventually came to me and asked if I would cosplay it with them.
I thought it over, and after figuring out how little I would have to spend on making the costume (due to already having materials for the wig, having the shoes, and knowing a friend who would lend me a corset), I decided to do it.
It's a good costume to wear for drinking/partying at Dragon*Con, so I ended up committing, and I'm glad I did, as I had an amazing time with those in my group, who are featured in the photos below (Minus the Vincent, who we met right before our shoot)!
construction notes
The print is a 2-way stretch spandex from a local fabric store in Atlanta! Blikku picked up enough for the 3 of us and we got together one weekend to make these costumes! :) The bodysuit is composed of said spandex plus white spandex. The ears are from Yaya, and covered with the spandex and leftover short fur from Yashuntafun's Felicia costume. The tail is stuffed with polyfil and has a wire base that attaches to the main bodysuit. Shoes are random curved-toe bases I found at Goodwill that I covered in both spandex with black lines painted on! My drumsticks are simply rock band ones, haha.
♡ Name: Samantha
