Chi Maintenance (Days 250 & 251)

First off, for anyone wondering, I spell Chi with one "I" because that's how it's spelled in the manga, and I've only read the manga, so that's the spelling I'm familiar with.

In any case, however you spell it, I did a little bit of touch-up on Chi. Basically, I made it fit better around my torso because I had problems with it at Fanime and it looked sloppy. Also, I had planned to wear it to the NorCal Summer Picnic.

I changed my mind, though, I will be wearing Pikachu to the NorCal summer picnic instead. So many people are cosplaying Pokemon or Pokemon trainers, and I want in on all the Poke-shenanigans! My boyfriend is going to be Matt from Death Note, instead of the Hideki to my Chi. I feel a little bad switching on him so we're not matching anymore, but there's supposed to be a Misa there, so I'm not really worried about him feeling left out. Plus he loves being Matt, so it's all good. =]

READ MORE - Chi Maintenance (Days 250 & 251)

Fanime Costumes (Days 242-246)

I'm still working on getting photos, so bear with me here. My full review is here, on my convention blog, this is not a full review.

On Day Zero of Fanime (Thursday), I cosplayed my original human-form/gijinka of Pikachu, and my boyfriend wore a fleece Magikarp hat that I made for him a few weeks ago. Pikachu is one of my fly-under-the-radar costumes, as I call them. I wear it when I want to cosplay, but don't want to attract too much attention. I got a great reaction overall, and on girl even said I had the cutest Pikachu outfit she'd ever seen, so I was really flattered. Surprisingly, my boyfriend's hat got more attention than I did. Apparently people still do very much love Magikarp. "Splash Attack!" I do regret wearing heels to stand in line for two hours but, eh, live and learn.

Day One (Friday) I was my original human-form of Amaterasu from Okami. As usual, I was pleasantly surprised with the response to it. I was extremely flattered when the masquerade winners from last Fanime, Chief Pikachu and Charlie the Charmander, geeked out over my costume and asked for pictures and hugs. The response is always big to Amaterasu because it's a really detailed, in-depth, and eye-catching costume, but at Fanime, people actually knew who I was (though I was mistaken for Princess Mononoke again..). My Amaterasu is not officially retired. I may remake parts to make it more accurate (in my opinion) and comfortable, but other than that, I'm done with it, it's too uncomfortable.

On Day Two (Saturday) I was Clyde (the orange ghost from Pacman) and my boyfriend was Pacman. We expected a huge response and lots of love toward these costumes, of course that's not why we did them, but it was a nice perk. However, we didn't expect just how much attention we got. We were stopped literally every ten steps, and every time there were at least three photographers. Good thing we weren't really rushing to go anywhere. People really liked the pants, which was surprising but pleasing, because they were a lot of work.

Day Three (Sunday) I cosplayed Chi and my boyfriend was Hideki (Chobits). I thought that this was going to be another fly-under-the-radar costume, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of attention it attracted.Everyone geeked out over me again, this time because my ears were open with AV cables hanging out. People kept saying that it was a brilliant idea and that they'd never seen it before, but i know I've seen it somewhere before, there's no way I came up with that idea all by myself. I actually want to re-make the ears, but more on that later. We went to the CLAMP gathering, which started late because the Tsubasa gathering ran over. It was alright, though, because I ended up talking to another Chi cosplayer and we got swarmed by photographers, probably because we were the same height and our dresses almost looked opposite, so that was pretty cool. When the gathering finally came around, there were five Chi's, and everyone started calling out for a Hideki. It took a while for it to click in my boyfriend's head, but he finally ran out to the cheers and screams of onlooking fangirls. After that, four of us Chi's had a mini photoshoot with Chronoclix, a relatively new cosplay photography site. I'm very happy to help them get off the ground. I also wore Chi the Fanime's Black & White Ball and even had a picture of me taken there.

Day Four (Monday) was very short, and my "costume" fell apart pretty quickly. I pretty much looked like I had run through the dealer's room and grabbed every super popular stereotypical item I could find, haha. I had a short blue wig, steampunk-ish aviator goggles, cat ears & tail, and fingerless black ruffly gloves. However, instead of seeing it as a super-stereotypical "uncool" thing for me to do, for some reason, I thought (and still think) of it was a satirical portrayal of the general anime fandom. Maybe I' just too full of myself. But it amused me, and I will probably wear it again. Unfortunately, in my rush to get ready, I didn't put my ears on right, and they fell off later, so I took of the tail and ended up looking very wannabe steampunk-ish, which just amused me even more. [Pictured left is me with the wig and gloves, but no goggles or ears.]

READ MORE - Fanime Costumes (Days 242-246)

Day 241

(It's technically Day 342 today, but I'm not blogging about Fanime until it's over.)

So "today" my boyfriend bought his Hideki shirt at the thrift store, and it's actually pleated! It's not pleated all the way down, but it goes to about the belt line, so it's all good! ^_^

Packing starts today!

READ MORE - Day 241

I'm... Finished? (Day's 239 & 240)

WAT? For the most part, I'm DONE with everything I need to have done for Fanime. I'm in shock. I thought I'd be working until the last minute. Tomorrow, my boyfriend needs to buy a white dress shirt for Hideki, which I may or may not add pleats to the front of, and that's it! Yes, I never really "finished" my raver outfit, but then again, I stopped caring.

So, yes, the Hideki jacket is finished, and I am so ridiculously proud of it. I look at it now and it's hard for me to imagine that it was once just a pile of fabric. Yup, I made the entire thing by myself. Well. I didn't make the fabric. But the rest of it!

I re-made one of my Chi ears that didn't fit right, and bought an epic push-up bra for Chi. Don't get me wrong, I love my girls, but Chi is like a G-cup (I kid you not) so they needed a little boost. When Victoria's Secret says they'll add two cup sizes, they mean it. I may or may not add black ribbon to the leggings for my Chi, we'll see how much time I have tomorrow and if I feel like working on things.

I also bought an awesome pair of knee-high socks for my raver outfit, just because I could. My raver outfit is black, white, and hot pink. Tomorrow, I'll probably start packing a little and doing last-minute costume touch-ups if I think I need them, like brushing my Amaterasu o.o

I've been working on compiling a personal Fanime schedule for me and my boyfriend as well of all of the events we'd like to go to. The Black & White Ball dance lessons are what's taking up the most time, unfortunately. I didn't want to go to any of them on Friday, since I'll be Amaterasu and have my mask, but I guess I can just take it off while in the lessons. The feet too, I'm sure.

After Fanime, I may or may not take a costuming break. I have two outfits I'd like to make over the summer for Yaoi-Con (young Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma), but I don't know when I'll start those. Yes, I'm going as a girl to Yaoi-Con. I HAVE OFFICIALLY GIVEN UP CROSSPLAY. Even all of my old crossplays are retired. I'd rather gender-bend, I just can't bind anymore.

In any case, back to planning out Fanime~!

READ MORE - I'm... Finished? (Day's 239 & 240)

Hideki + Chi (Day 238)

So on a whim, I re-made my Chi ears, and I may have to remake one of my remakes, haha. They're open now, with wires coming out. I guess I just wanted to do something a little different, and they're so much easier to hear out of! Plus, for some reason, I think they look cuter.

Also, finished sewing the lining into the sleeves of my boyfriend's Hideki jacket. Next, I have to do the collar, but I need more fabric for that, so the plan is to go get it tomorrow. I also made a bowtie! Yay! I'm so proud of it. I based it off of a bowtie I bough a couple of years ago, but other than that, I had no idea what I was doing. My mom thinks it's insane that I can look at something and figure out how it's sewn, usually without taking it apart. It's a gift, I suppose. Making the bowtie still took around five fricken' hours! Would have been a lot faster if I had known what I was doing more and didn't mess up big time twice. First I cut things too thin and didn't realize it until after I had sewn them, then I sewed something together backwards >_<

But I am extremely proud of my little bowtie.. That doesn't fit me.. Because it's for my boyfriend. T_T If he dumps me, I'm gonna cut him with sewing utensils. Or something. Not really. But I'd fantasize about it xD

ANYWAY, happy thoughts~! Fanime is sooo cloose! Four days away! Even though I'm only going Thursday to pick up my badge and hopefully a finalized schedule of events. Then Friday I'm going for the Dealer's Room (assuming it'll open Friday, since it closes on Saturday afternoon), but then I'm leaving, and Saturday and Sunday I'm staying overnight. But since I'm leaving for home Thursday and Friday, I'll actually have parts of those days to work on last-minute cosplay things =] So I have more time than some people.

READ MORE - Hideki + Chi (Day 238)

"It's more than sexy, it's Cosplay_Rose!" (Day 236)

The title ^ was the subject of a message I got on Cosplay.com today, haha. Some random guy from Germany hitting on me o.o But it was flattering at least.

So, all I did today was begin sewing the lining into my boyfriend's Hideki jacket. I did it wrong though, so I had to take part of it out T_T Then I had a convention planning meeting and had to leave.

And now I'm off to work on my paper! Due tomorrow! Aaaaahhh!

READ MORE - "It's more than sexy, it's Cosplay_Rose!" (Day 236)

More Jacket Work (Day 235)

I almost finished my boyfriend's Hideki jacket today. All I have left to do is finish the sleeves, sew in the lining (which is already all in one piece), and make the black collar piece. I'm actually quite excited =]

Tomorrow, I have to write my paper for my class xP THEN I will buy fabric and make a hat for a friend who I promised I'd have it for by Fanime. THEN I will finish the jacket! *fiery eyes of determination*

READ MORE - More Jacket Work (Day 235)

Hideki Jacket (Day 234)

So I cut out, Fray-Checked, sewed on, and outlined the kanji for the back of my boyfriend's Hideki jacket. It took about two hours to complete it all, possibly more. It's supposed so say "Club Pleasure" but honestly, I'm not sure. I couldn't find any images in the manga, so I took that kanji from the back of a professionally-made jacket I found online. I opted against using the kanji from the anime because in the anime, it's supposed to say "My Pleasure" and I prefer "Club Pleasure." I'm weird like that. Tomorrow I really have to start work on my paper for my Improv class, and then I'd like to finish the jacket =]

READ MORE - Hideki Jacket (Day 234)

Day 232

I really would like to start coming up with actual titles for my posts again. I'm getting bored of these numbers.

Anyway, I have yet to work on things! I would have, but I had to go to my boyfriend's house to register for next term's classes (as my home internet is not secure), and I stayed there for dinner and general hanging out.

But since my boyfriend has to do major studying for the next couple of days, I can do some major cosplaying for the next couple of days! Hurrah! Although I really should write that paper for class.

I'll be putting on a performance with my class (Theater Improv) this Sunday, and I'm both excited and nervous about it. I just really, really hope that I don't get stuck with a bad partner for any of the games. I'm not horrible at improv, but I'm not the greatest either, and I know a few people that if I had to perform with them, I'd fail. I hate having to carry the whole performance on my back, especially when I have to set up the jokes and the person I'm working with doesn't pick up on them... Ugh. Rambling. ANYWAY!

Plan for tomorrow! Work on my paper. Paint more of the Pac-Man pants. Complete outside of Hideki jacket. At least start lining of Hideki jacket. Good thing I can work on the jacket while the pants are drying, or this would all take up a ridiculous amount of time...

(And for anyone who cares about my sickness mentioned in yesterday's post, it's much better already thanks to a home remedy, but the first in-office doctor's appointments that I could make aren't until June, so I have a phone appointment for Wednesday =])

READ MORE - Day 232

Super-Con? (Day 230)

Today was very upsetting. First, we left maybe a half hour late, then we got lost on the way to San Jose. Getting lost was totally my fault, though, I read the directions wrong. North =/= South. Nope. It doesn't.

We made it though, only to find that it was empty! Completely closed, lights out, deserted. No signs except for tons of "no entry" signs on all the doors. I wrote a strongly-worded angry letter to Super-Con just before writing this. I felt like a bitch for doing it, but I'm still really upset that I didn't get to go because their site had the wrong days on it.

There was some good that came out of today, though, and it was a pure stroke of unbelievable luck. On the way out of the parking garage, we ran into some guys doing some sort of photoshoot. Being dressed as Pac-Man and Clyde, we were asked to join for a few shots, and I got the photographers card. =D He has some very interesting photographs, and I can't wait to see the ones he took of us. Check him out on flickr.

So instead of going to Super-Con *tear*, my boyfriend and I went glow-in-the-dark miniature golfing =D I've never been, so that was really cool. I got a hold-in-one on the last hole! Well, it took two, but the first time, it rolled back to exactly where I hit it from, so we just didn't count it. ANYWAY! That has nothing to do with anything.

I'm planning on working on cosplay tomorrow, finishing Hideki's jacket, but I'm a little concerned. First off, in the manga, the place where Hideki works is called "Club Pleasure" but in the anime, it's "My Pleasure." Also, when I looked online for the kanji for the back of the jacket, the store-bought costumes had one type of kanji, and the pictures from the anime have something different! Oh noes! And I don't trust Google translator... I may look through my mangas to see if I can find anything, because I'd trust that more than anything.

READ MORE - Super-Con? (Day 230)

Day 229

I deposited a bunch of money into my checking account, so I now have enough for Fanime! My boyfriend hasn't paid me his half either yet, so I'll have more than enough ^-^

Shot another video for Kin-Yoobi's Anime Feud today, it's not up yet though. Also measured my boyfriend's arm so that I can make the sleeves of his Hideki jacket. I'll get to that Sunday perhaps.

Super-Con tomorrow~! <3 I didn't know if I was going for sure until like yesterday. But I am! 50% off for wearing a costume! I'll be going as Clyde with my boyfriend as Pac-Man, even if his pants aren't 100% finished >_>

READ MORE - Day 229

Hideki Jacket (Day 228 pt. 2)

My boyfriend bought all of the fabric for his Hideki jacket today, and I sewed most of it together. right now, it looks like a bright yellow, vest, haha. I'm waiting until he can come over again to do the sleeves so that I can make sure they're the right length. The kanji on the back is a pain in the arse though.

Also, I found out that when you Google search "chobits hideki jacket" and go to images, on the second and third pages are images that link to this blog, haha. It's also on the first page of a regular search.

READ MORE - Hideki Jacket (Day 228 pt. 2)

Day 226, 227, and 228

I'm probably going to post twice today, once for yesterday and the day before and half of today, and one for the rest of today, depending on how it plays out.

I did nothing yesterday, of course. Or the day before. Bleh. But today, I've already painted a little on my boyfriend's Pac-Man pants, and cut out mini ghosties for our Pinky's shirt.

We lost a member of our group yesterday, he has some pretty serious family things going on and will be leaving on the day we were supposed to cosplay together. Of course I'm upset, but I also just want everything to be alright for my friend, and I understand him leaving. In any case, it took a load off of my shoulders, now with only two weeks left to complete two costumes instead of three. And since our skit was rejected anyway, I'm not so dead-set on having a complete group. Also, now I don't have to worry so much about group members possibly not getting along and/or awkwardness at the con. I'm still anticipating one other member dropping out, if not two, which would leave just me and my boyfriend. But the two of us haven't cosplayed alone together at a big con on a major day in about two years, so I wouldn't mind that so much either.

I think we're financially set for Fanime at least, and that puts my mind at ease a lot too. I'd like to go deposit the rest of the money into my checking account so we'll be really ready. Also, the plan for today includes buying fabric for my boyfriend's Hideki (Chobits) jacket and sewing that. I'd love to just get that done and out of the way. Honestly, I think he'd be fine without it, but he really wants to have it. I think it goes back to when we cosplayed Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang together at Fanime 08, my boyfriend didn't have the jacket, and we heard people calling him "a random soldier." I didn't think it bothered my boyfriend, but it must have to some degree, because getting this Hideki jacket seems so important.

READ MORE - Day 226, 227, and 228

Late Night Ahead (Day Eighty-One)

Time to stay up late putting the final touches on my final project for Costume Construction I. Hopefully it doesn't take too long. Just have to label stuff and shorten things. I'm freaking out about presenting tomorrow because it has to be six minutes, and I've only presented for about that long once. And that was a long project.

I had a stroke of dumb last night. First off, I hate Hideki's ugly yellow work jacket. It's.. It's.. Ugly =[ So, I thought "Hey! Why not use is school uniform instead!" Then I searched and searched, and watched about an hour of English-dubber Chobits, which was not fun, only to realize that Hideki does not have a school uniform. LAME!

READ MORE - Late Night Ahead (Day Eighty-One)

Back to Chi Again (Day Seventy-Four)

For the record, I'm not making the dress pictured here, it's just the closest one I could find to what mine looks like now.

Ah, Chi's dress is almost finished! It is definitely the frilliest, girliest thing I own. And I love it to pieces. Is it sad that it's probably the prettiest piece of clothing I own? I was shocked when I put it on after working on it today. I didn't expect it to turn out so gorgeous. It's definitely worthy of Fanime's Black & White Ball now, which was about eighty-five percent of the reason I wanted to spiff it up. All that's left is finishing a few loose ends. Like lace ends that need to be stuck together or covered with ribbon. They just don't look finished otherwise.

I'm thinking of adding some gold onto it too. Just a couple little gold ribbons or something, but it really depends on what color my Hideki's jacket is going to end up. I mean, I know it's supposed to be yellow / gold, but until we actually buy the fabric or jacket, I can't match a proper ribbon color to it.

In other, slightly related news, stuffing a bra is fun xD And surprisingly effective if done right. Even though I'm not flat, I feel like I make a flat Chi (I mean, come on, she's like an E or something). I can stuff so that I actually have cleavage showing and it doesn't look misshapen. =D Proud of my self for no real reason.

Tomorrow I want to finish off the parts of the dress that I can, then work on Ammy some more, since Chi will be in a wearable state and I will be wearing Ammy three weeks after Chi's dress.

READ MORE - Back to Chi Again (Day Seventy-Four)