There has been so much work going on with this costume. So many things turning out great, so many things going on wrong. This has honestly been the most difficult costume I have made myself, and the most difficult experience of making a costume. Once she is complete, I will post the whole story in my "Characters" section so you can read all about the trials and tribulations!
At this point, we are just finishing up the jacket! This week I'll be adding some snaps to hold the cape and pauldron in place, as well as painting and finishing up the shoulder guard. Once all this is finished, we are switching over to a quick project: Jacob Frye! I'm going to be making Jacob's vest, cummerbund and tie for my Husband to wear at Fan Expo! Stay tuned for some pictures of Jacob!
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Bullying is never something to take lightly, and it is important to recognize it when you see it.
Bullying happens everywhere and at every age, the cosplay community is no exception to this. While I may not have personally been a victim of bullying, I have witnessed it many times and even tried to stop it, so I feel it's important to share. People normally depict bullying as something that happens to younger kids, being picked on at the playground, being chosen last for dodgeball, being shoved into lockers. But these are not always the things you need to look for. Sometimes it's the way someone is being spoken to, it could be more manipulative than outright bullying. It's the way people act around each other, putting on a face to seem like they are your friend and are trust worthy, when really...they are using you. I've heard of cosplayer's being picked on because their costume wasn't good enough, or because they are a cosplayer. People get bullied for their size and how they look as the character they chose. They are either too big to be that character or too skinny, or too white or too this or too that. If you've been a victim of bullying or know someone who has, please seek help, speak up, help those around you who are facing the same things. As a disclaimer: Being in good physical shape is NOT mandatory for cosplay, and it is subject to your own personal health and decisions on whether this is right for you.
If I have a specific cosplay that I want to wear which might be tighter or more revealing that my other costumes, it motivates me to work out more, change what I eat so I can trim down to look and feel my best in that costume. Now to be clear, just because I start exercising for a costume, doesn't mean I don't do this regularly already. I make it a habit to eat well and I aim to exercise at least 3 times a week. If I have a costume to fit into, I just push it a little bit more! Here is what my regular schedule will look like when I'm prepping myself! I get up around 6am, and at 6:30 I'll do half an hour of exercise. I will rotate between going for a jog, or doing some floor exercises and weights. But I also make sure I have a little bit of cardio to keep my heart rate up. I will do this every 2 days. I do all of this in my own home, I don't have a gym membership, and I don't plan on getting one any time soon. For food, I will make myself a protein rich breakfast such as eggs with some ham or turkey bacon, and a side of fresh fruit or cucumber or tomato. I pack a lunch which usually consists of some protein like chicken, plus some veggies and a healthy carb like Quinoa or brown rice, and I pack healthy snacks for through the day such as fresh fruit, organic peanut butter and brown rice cakes, or yogurt. Dinner is tricky in our house hold as we are always home late, so It's usually something that can be cooked quick or we bake some chicken breasts ahead of time and steam up some veggies and rice. I try my best to do clean eating most of the time, and then treat myself to some frozen banana ice cream or dark chocolate. But of course, I also really like food, and I am a complete sucker for a good pizza, or ramen etc. So I like to treat myself to eating out once in a while. The main goal is to eat 80% healthy and 20% whatever I like. But I'm also human, and I completely fall out of this pattern at times, and yes I find it hard to jump back in it. But knowing that I have a costume to fit in, and a deadline coming up gives me some good motivation to start up again. Another thing I have found that has really helped my motivation is my Fitbit! My husband and I got Fitbits for Christmas and I just love seeing how many steps I can put in during the day. I also enjoy that it reminds me to get up from my desk every hour and put in some steps. It keeps me on track and motivated to keep going! Even when I don't have a costume to wear or a convention to go to I try really hard to keep this lifestyle up, mostly for the fact that it makes me feel good about myself! It's important to look after yourself and it's always healthy to motivate yourself for something important to you, but make sure and find the best way to do this for you! Everyone is unique and has different needs. Not everyone is able to get up early to exercise, sometimes people don't even have time to exercise at all through the day, but try to take a walk at lunch or take the stairs rather than the elevator once in a while. Good luck! Hoping to make some pretty awesome costumes over the next year, but first thing is first: finish Evie Frye and then take a break. There have been so many hiccups trying to get Evie Frye done for multiple "due dates" now, that it's definitely time to wrap it up and take a mental break from costumes for a bit. Once that's over the first costume up will be Princess Zelda from Breath of the Wild 2, designed by the talented Hannah Alexander. When I saw the art nouveau drawing she had done I was absolutely hooked. I knew I had to do this regal version of a short haired Zelda. So I have already bought all of my fabric, and now I am slowly picking up the notions to go along with it. This one will be a bit challenging for me as I have to dye the fabric myself, but I'm glad I have a good teacher for this one! Next will be my original character and group cosplay of Winter. My friend and I have designed the different seasons and have been recruiting others to complete the set. The challenge with this one will be the sequins that I will be sewing on in specific designs, but it's going to be lots of fun! Finally I plan to create Lilith from Diablo 4. Lilith may or may not become a 2021 project, but we will see. On top of all this, I also plan to squeeze in a halloween costume that I've always wanted to make. Over the past few years I have felt a little lost at halloween because I don't have a costume! I know this sounds silly coming from a cosplayer, because well...I have lots of costumes! BUT I haven't had a costume specifically for Halloween in a few years, and it's starting to bum me out. So I have one planned, but it's going to stay a secret for a while :) I wish all of you the best of luck and a very creative start to the new year! |
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