Making time for your hobbies is always super important. Hobbies help us unwind from a long work week, release stress and just get some self satisfaction. Hobbies make us happy!
Right now in this time of self isolation, it's much easier to make time to work on cosplay or other crafts and hobbies since there is so much time spent at home! One major upside to self isolation. When you work full time and don't spend a lot of time at home, it's not as easy. I find the best tricks to making time for my cosplay is scheduling. Set days aside on the calendar so you can really push through some of the bigger aspects of your costume. Or set a few hours aside in a day or a week just so you can get started or make some tweaks. Even when you do have all the time in the world to work on your costumes, it's important to set aside time dedicated to that hobby. That way when things get busy with chores and running errands, or other things "getting in the way", you know you have dedicated, uninterrupted time to work on your cosplay!
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I'm sure we are all feeling unsure about things right now as everyone around the world is either starting their social isolation or is slowly coming out of it. The world is a scary place at the moment as we fight an invisible enemy.
Staying home is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones, and I'm sure if you are like me at first you thought "sweet! I'll be home all the time which means I have time for more crafting and video games and fun stuff!" But now that you're home all the time, inundated with news, missing family and friends, you realize how hard it is to actually motivate yourself to do all those things you enjoy in your spare time. I've personally been struggling a lot over the last week and a bit. I started a new costume, but have no drive to work on it. I have photos that I want to edit for my social media channels and have no drive to do that. It's even been extremely hard to start writing blog posts to put up every week. So how do you move past all this? When you're struggling it's time to find new outlets to help release the stress, be kind to yourself and know that it's ok to have an emotional down day if you need it. It's not ok when you start feeling depressed and spending all your time in bed, and that's exactly what we all need to try and avoid. Right now your mental health and your physical health should be your main focus. Keeping a positive attitude, moving your muscles so that you don't succumb to the stress. If you can, get out for a walk everyday (while practicing social distancing), doesn't need to be a long one, but even 20 minutes a day will keep your heart healthy and your muscles limber. Try doing a 15 minute at home workout, all you need is your own body. Dance, sing, play music, read a book, do some gardening, do yoga, meditate, call your loved ones, face time. Even if you are struggling to do the things you normally love (like working on a new costume), do activities that make you feel good in that moment. It's ok to take breaks from your usual hobbies and try something new! But most important in all of this, is looking after yourself. Be kind to yourself. We will all get through this <3 There are so many cool things you can do with foam, and foam is a great tool to start out with if you are making your first set of armour or prop.
There are lots of different kinds of foam, and each of them is good for specific things. The foams that you will most likely use for your cosplays are craft foam, eva foam and clay foam, sometimes even upholstery foam or insulation foam. We will go over each in a bit more detail! Craft foam is super easy to find in dollar stores, craft stores and department stores. It's usually super affordable and generally comes in one or two thicknesses. This is a great starting place if you haven't worked with foam before. It's cheap, easy to find and easy to work with. It absorbs paint well and works with most glues, but you probably won't want to use heat with craft foam as it will melt pretty easily. Craft foam is also great to use as interfacing under layers of fabric to make something stiffer. EVA foam is a much denser foam and works well with heat. It comes in multiple thicknesses and is very durable. You can find this in most craft stores in the states, but in Canada it is easiest to oder online. EVA foam works really great for armour sets and props because of it's durability and flexibility. You can use a dremel on it to get nice fine details carved in, and hold it all together with contact cement. Clay foam is one of the newer forms of foam on the market. It starts out like a putty that you can mold and form, then after it dries it turns into a dense foam. It's a little similar to Crayola model magic in the way that it air dries and becomes a stiff foam, but Clay foam is more durable, and in my opinion much easier to use. Upholstry foam is great for things like making large shoes or gloves. It's soft and pliable so it's easy to move in and comfortable. It does take a lot of cutting to get the shapes just right, but it is definitely worth the work! Insulation foam is a great tool to use for props since it is super sturdy. I think most prop makers started out with this and have since started moving over to EVA foam since there are more choices in density, but this is definitely a good material to try out! It's affordable and easy to come by at any hardware store. Good luck in your prop and costume making endeavours with foam! Have you ever looked at someone else's work and thought...I will never compare, I'll never get to that level? It can be super defeating.
I experienced this for the first time after the craftsmanship contest at Fan Expo Vancouver this year. I don't even know where it really stemmed from, but it just snuck in there and now I'm really trying to figure out where to go with my cosplay. After seeing so many talented cosplayers, and also seeing someone walk around the convention grounds in the cosplay I would like to make for next year, I have been feeling this overwhelming insecure feeling. Like my costume will never measure up or be good enough. It's lead me to think should I really take that particular costume on? Should I be planning costumes that will lead me into the next 5 years? Should I think about taking a long term break? How have you dealt with feelings of insecurity? 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! Life gets out of hand sometimes. Everyday we fill every moment with work, chores, social activities, hobbies and we don't leave much time for ourselves. But what does it really mean to take time for yourself? Aren't doing your hobbies, or watching tv, or spending time with friends and family taking down time?
Taking time for yourself means relaxing, listening to your body, and taking time to do nothing. Put the phone down, stop the movies and video games, put your book down, plant yourself in a comfy seat and just enjoy the fresh air, appreciate the silence. Give your body time to reset itself. Look after yourself physically. Make time to get out and exercise, even it's for 10 minutes a day. It doesn't need to be anything vigorous, even just a nice walk outside. It gives you a chance to clear your head, breathe fresh air, get your blood flowing and reset your body. This is also the best way to get all those positive chemicals moving in your brain! Next time you go out for a walk, observe how much better you feel after doing it. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Without a strong, healthy, balanced mind it is really hard to complete even the simplest of tasks. Be mindful of your surroundings and your actions. Observe the world around you. Take time for yourself to stretch, do some yoga. Meditate. All of these things will give your mind a chance to reset. Breathing exercises can be your best friend when you are stressed and overwhelmed. Be aware of what stresses you out and what your symptoms are. Stress affects everyone differently but is equally as dangerous to each of us. Take time to step away from the stressors. Put your phone away, turn off the TV, take some deep breaths, go for a walk and give yourself time to heal. How does cosplay affect my health? While cosplay is a hobby and can feel relaxing to sit down and work on that costume, it can also be extremely stressful trying to get something done on a deadline, or to a certain degree of perfection. The more intricate, the more complicated it is the more work there is to be done which can feel like a vicious never ending circle. And the closer you get to that convention you want to wear your costume to, the more you feel the pressure to be getting things completed. You may also have too many costumes planned. This can be just as stressful as trying to get one costume done on a deadline. You're not sure what you want to start, what you need to pick up. It can just be a bit too overwhelming. Don't ever let your projects get in the way of your own well being. No costume or convention is ever worth you stressing out over and causing your self mental or physical distress. It's important to be in a positive headspace when working on things, to get you excited about your costume, to feel good about what you are doing and why you are doing it. If you find that life is taking you in a negative direction, it's ok to put things away for a while and take a break. Re-group, find yourself again. There is only ever one you, and you deserve the best. I recently watched a special on Entertainment Tonight Canada talking about Cosplay and how a lot of cosplays you see online and in person are super sexy, showing lots of skin, or barely wearing anything. I thought this would be a good topic to cover.
It's true that the images you see of sexy cosplays get a lot of likes on instagram, facebook, twitter etc. but does that mean that it's the only way to get noticed in the cosplay community? Absolutely not. There are lots of well known cosplayers that cover up. You can get likes and followers for having good craftsmanship too. It's all about how you market yourself and who your target audience is, but that's a whole other discussion. Since there are other ways of getting seen in the cosplay community rather than being sexy, does that mean you should avoid doing a sexy cosplay? Again, nope. This is all up to you and what you are comfortable with. Some people find that doing a sexy cosplay makes them feel good, empowered. Cosplay is about the fandom, what you enjoy and what you want to express to the community. With doing sexy cosplay comes a lot of new territory as well, not all of that is positive or welcomed. You need to understand that people will make comments about your outfit, your body, comments like "that's not a cosplay", and you have to be comfortable dealing with that. For myself personally, I have never done a sexy cosplay, and most likely won't. It's not that I don't want to, but it's not something I am super comfortable with. I prefer to choose costumes that will challenge my crafting skills and impress people with how much detail and work is put into the costume. Now, some cosplayers also take their sexy costumes to a whole other level by doing boudoir shoots, or swim suit renditions of characters. You can see some of these posted to social media, and some cosplayers will also make stuff like this exclusive content for their Patreon tiers. This is definitely not necessary in order to gain followers, it's a choice that specific cosplayer's have made that is right for them. The long and short of it is, Sexy cosplay is an option, it's not necessary to be seen in the community or for popularity. It's all about doing what is right for you. This is definitely a tough topic, and one I struggle with just as many of you do.
Body image and liking yourself can be hard enough as it is, but now that you need to fit into a costume? Well that can be even harder. Characters are drawn skinny, and beautiful and have perfect little figures, or rippling muscles, a voluptuous rump and chest, that perfect 6-pack. Video games and anime and comics are fitting stereotypes, and making the characters the ideal image of what a human body COULD potentially look like or even breaking the rules of anatomy, which makes it hard for the normal average person to live up to. You're thinking I don't look like that...so I can't be that character. WRONG! Just because a character is designed a certain way, doesn't mean that you can't portray your own version of that. I have seen some of the most incredible costumes on all sorts of figures, and just because a person doesn't have the same physique as the character they are portraying doesn't make them less recognizable, or make me less excited to see them. In fact, I get more excited seeing that someone put in the effort to put themselves out there, making this incredible tribute to their favourite characters. I won't deny that when I know I need to prep for a con, I change up my food and start adding more exercise into my daily routine. I'm not saying I go to the gym, because I definitely don't do that...I like being a little lazy, but I will add minimum 10 minutes of vigorous exercise into my day. Something to get my heart rate up and get my metabolism boosted. But this is my routine and what makes me feel good. Just because it’s right for me, doesn’t mean that it will be right for anyone else. I'm doing what makes me feel good about myself and my costumes and it’s important that you do what makes you feel good too! All cosplayers want to show their love to their favourite series and characters, and all of us, I mean ALL, want to see our hard work and craftsmanship shown off and appreciated. There will always be haters and people who want to make rude comments, but it’s important to not let them get to you, don’t show them that they can get a reaction out of you. Words may hurt, but is a stranger’s comment really worth you feeling down about yourself or all that hard work and effort you have put into your outfit? No. A lot of the time you will find these people making comments are just jealous that they aren’t as awesome as you, or that they are completely ignorant of what cosplay is and just don’t understand. Bullies feel the need to bully to make themselves feel stronger, but that doesn’t mean you need to let them. It doesn't matter if you are tall, short, large, small, different ethnicities, it matters that YOU are comfortable in your costume, as your character and that you are proud of yourself!! Go forth and conquer! I thought it best to share this post with you since Fan Expo Vancouver is right around the corner. This has always been an issue in the cosplay community, and there is more and more awareness being brought to it each and every year. As the title says: COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT So what does that mean? It means, just because someone is scantily clad dressed as their favourite character, or wearing sexy clothes doesn't give other people permission or the right to go and oogle them, harass them, touch, contact or haggle them in any way. They are showing their respect to a character they admire, and are dressing up in a style that is comfortable to them, but it doesn't mean it is an open invitation to other people to be rude or inappropriate towards them in anyway. It means, If someone is dressed up in a costume that may not look as polished or finessed as someone else's that you can go harass them, or bully them It means, If someone is dressed up in ANY form of costume, YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION! Permission for photos, permission to touch their costume, permission to stop them and have a conversation. Cosplayers don't bite, we want to have our hard work admired, we want to share the excitement of fandom with you, we don't want to have people harassing us and following us around and being inappropriate. So please remember, when you are headed to the Con this weekend, or any other Con, Please be respectful of Cosplayer's. They are fan's too, and are there to enjoy the con. If you are a Cosplayer, go with a buddy or a Cosplay tender, someone who is willing to be a buffer for you and help you out. Original art by Amy Reeder. Photo from cosplayisnotconsent.org
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