October 25, 2010

Quitters never win, Winners never Quit, But Cosplayers can take a Sign.

So I was working on a costume (I know, big surprise, no?), and after a few key events, it finally came to me that I just needed to stop working on my current project at hand. I really wanted to have it done for Youmacon, but looking at what I have to do, and what's gone wrong, I came to the conclusion that this was a sign from the cosplay gods telling me, this will NOT be done now.

  • Had a commission this month (which turned out awesome)
  • Ended up making a costume for work (which also turned out awesome)
  • Was involved in a birthday party one weekend
  • Was at a convention meeting one weekend
  • Spent another Saturday out in GR (which was lots of fun)
  • Vinyl wouldn't go through my machine - needed to get a new sewing foot
  • Pleating/Pintucking takes a lot more time than previously thought
  • Making a cattail took a lot more time/engineering than previously thought.
  • The lightbulb got broken in the machine that works well (the bulb popped out, but the metal part remained)
  • The so so machine has no light, and since it's the only one left to use, I don't feel safe putting large projects through it
  • it's 3 days, and I still have to do the jacket (full of pleating)


So as you can see, a lot of things started going wrong. Now I have about half of the costume done, which is GREAT, but the other half is giving me problems since I want to make it RIGHT, not just make it. I don't want to rush it and make it look like total crap.

So why did I tell this long tale of woe?  Because it's smart to realize when to toss in the towel and realize you will need to wait to finish a costume.

BAH. Onto making my table products. 

On the bright side, I'll get to play Rockband 3 tomorrow.


October 19, 2010

Commission Delivered!

I traveled up to the Grand Rapids area this past weekend to go deliver a commission. It was a tad haphazard, but the garment has been properly delivered and tried on! It takes a little finagling, but she could fit into it, and it looked quite lovely.  I'll catch up with her later to make sure it still fits, and if anything needs to be altered later. I really do love the piece.

However, I have no pictures of it. Why? Cause I'm brilliant and left my camera at her place. WHOOPS. She's gonna bring it with her to the con which is thankfully in a couple of weeks.

SPEAKING of conventions - Youmacon's coming up, and as I wait to see if I'm working on a last minute commish, I'm hoping to finish a new costume for myself.

I'm trying to find a camera to borrow temporarily through the making of it - I've got some interesting problems to tackle with it.

Anybody else going to Youmacon in Detroit MI? I'll be the in Alley! Come say hi!

October 12, 2010

I laugh in the face of danger! Ha ha!

I realized the other day why I've always made a terrible blogger. I never think what I have to say is actually worthwhile reading. I can't sit around and go "Oh I had cereal for breakfast, and it was my favorite, but it got too soggy cause I left the milk in it too long, but I ate it anyway. Blegh."  Maybe that's why I don't really like/spend time on Facebook either... Hmm.

ANYWAY.

I fear no fabric any longer. Well, most fabric I don't fear. Sheers....we won't start on that just yet.

So I was working on a commission, where I needed to make legging/sock things that are like tall spats. I wanted to make them stretchy in case they didn't fit exactly - and they're FAR more comfortable to walk in anyway.


This means I had to make them out of a stretch knit. Then I realized there was a gold edging around where the heel was. And the only gold edging I had was this lovely satin I had used for a matching cravat. I then did the impossible:

I made a "bias tape" of the satin, and sewed it on a rounded edge on STRETCH KNIT, and it looked fabulous.

That's right. Stretch knit AND satin!

It was a small victory for me. Especially after working on another project that made me want to toss my sewing machine out the window, and light the project on fire.

October 4, 2010

Welcome to Crash Bang Laboratory

Yes, yes. I know the first thing you're probably thinking is OMG WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO.

Frankly, I wanted to try my hand at some blogging. I do a LOT of cosplay work, and I'm really bad about timely updates of webpages *coughscrashbangcoughs*.

I also realized I have a LOT to say when it comes to cosplay, costuming, crafting, and the general convention life. So I kind of wanted to chronicle it here.

Check back here for more updates. If I'm good I'll update at least once a week!

~Karmada