I was A.W.O.L for a bit

As they say "things happen" and boy did things happen over these past few weeks in which I have not been posting anything. In short, I'm sorry real life got in the way and rendered me incapable of writing a new blog post. Too many emotions and just not being able to get back into my creative world and I am ashamed to say it but I got lazy. My husband is happy to take the blame as he was the one promoting my laid back, no care in the world attitude instead of helping me get back into the saddle. Anyway I did however vanish into my crafting world a bit and managed to start on making other parts of my husbands Ork cosplay. Also I made a second mask for hubby's best friend as they decided they wanted to go as ork brothers, one as a Flash gitz and the other an Nob.























 Anyway I think I surprised myself at how well the second mask turned out and found myself patting my back when it was all done. Although they are not yet complete most of the work is done and all that is left to do is to paint and seal. Moving on... I soon realised my knack for making version of things I see and decided I would make the Orkie boots to go with the whole ensemble and bare in mind 90% of what you see is made from cardboard, the masks being the 10% done with paper-mache^ and plaster cloth. With my trusty glue gun at my side I sallied forth in my endeavours to make as much mess as possible, including getting burned by hot glue to lovingly make my husband's outfit. Please note that you must be very careful when using a glue gun and keep it far away from children or inquisitive toddlers and their hands as it can get extremely hot.

 This is the basic structure of the boots and I am in the process of strengthening them as well as prepping the details that are to be glued on after final structure is painted and sealed. Then it was off to build the Ork weapon of my other half's choice. The "Snazz Gun" an ork weapon which he wanted life-sized and as accurate as humanly possible, because he is OCD that way and thinks it must be done perfectly. Yes, I know what you are thinking, "make him make it himself!", lol I really don't mind as I enjoy the challenge and crafting is my happy place so it doesn't bother me at all. Suffice to say this gun is huge and still obviously a work in project as like everything else I made so far, it's a basic structure which I have to strengthen and reinforce. Just to show you what picture I'm using to work from as I could not for the life of me find any templates or paper craft to help me make it.

< My inspiration
Step one start somewhere >

Step two starting to look like a gun >




< Step three add more barrels
Step four, a gun needs a magazine>




<                                               >
Step five, more barrels! My hubby proudly showing off how big it is (no pun intended ha ha)


So this is as far as I have gotten before the shop which I buy my glue stick supply from ran out of the ones that fit my glue gun. Currently I have been prepping other things which are a part of the detailing for the gun but am glad I still have plenty of time to fuss over the detail before Rage Expo is on our door step. Oh yes and I have decided to go in cosplay as well this time and as a Sim with a plumbob on my head. Also said plumbob will have working led lights to show my mood and my little boy will have one too but a normal paper craft one as it would be too heavy for him otherwise. But all that in my next post and also hopefully an interview with my awesome friend and fellow cosplay/ crafter Kevin Goble.

Kevin's FB pages : https://www.facebook.com/groups/cosplaycapetown
                               https://www.facebook.com/ArmourCoreCosplay/?fref=ts


My  Youtube videos :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ1JqybAD-I
                                         
                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxsHnUAagsk

Ork Cosplay Creation 2

Ork Cosplay Creation 2

Ork Cosplay Creation 2

A look at what could be for our South African cosplayers

So as everybody knows South Africans don't make a big fuss as other countries do about dressing up for fun. Unfortunately we do not have the support of non cosplayers who would want to go to these events for fun and check out what stalls have available. Yes most of these functions overseas have manga, comic and clothing stalls among a whole range of other things. The only difference is that most of the people there are dressed as their favourite superheroes or anime characters or even game characters.

 

What is so great about any of this you might ask?

Well for starters it gives you the ability to not be you for a day. To take on your hero's persona and have that confidence you have always wanted. You can act as silly as you want and nobody will judge you. You get to meet and make the most awesomest of friends in the world, whether they come from your area or not. Yes there are a lot of gamer's who cosplay as well, and no it is not the devil to dress up and walk around for one day looking like something from a horror movie. Why for the life of me people read these events that way is beyond me. They are fictional characters brought to life by talented artists who have sacrificed their time and money to make their dreams a reality. Children that I have seen at these events love it and their parents let them join in as well!

Is there a proper etiquette when you are among cosplayer's.

Not because you see half dressed women and men means you have the right to do what you want. As and introduction to a person who inspired some of my love for cosplay, I give you D-Piddy and friends in his Youtube video: Cosplay does not equal consent Feat: Deadpool and Bob   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxHDjpj_ZD0

D-Piddy goes to every convention of cosplay you ever dreamed of going to overseas. He has his own youtube channel which I urge future cosplayers or veteran cosplayers to join immediately. Cosplaying is supposed to be fun and to experience it through his videos makes you feel like you are there. Although there is a point where you get sort of jealous that we do not host these events here. What makes cosplaying most awesome is building or making your own outfit and the blood, sweat and tears that go with it to achieve the end product. I know it all too well as you go through different stages agonising that your outfit will not turn out right. Well it won't be perfect but it will be done by you. You will be the one walking around (or in my case my husband lol) in the outfit you made and the beauty of it people won't judge. Yes there will be a lot of advice given but do not take offence to others trying to give you their tricks of the trade. Believe me you will not get your outfit perfect come your first convention. There will be many alterations and changes after every one you attend to perfect your outfit. You will develop a network of friends who know where to find materials and services at better prices or at least have the knowledge to pass on to future friends.

This is why I want to build up this blog as a place where cosplayers can unite and learn from each other. I may not be a professional at blogging or cosplaying but maybe something I do will help someone else who is struggling on their project. It's all about willingness to share thoughts or advice and being open to it. Let's build a friendship circle dedicated to helping one another.

Besides cosplaying what else happens at these conventions?

Lots and lots of photograph's, selfies and fun! With the growing amount of youtubers these days there will be someone at these events with a camera to take videos of everything. I'm hoping in the near future that South Africans can eventually start some sort of cosplay convention with panels and serious cosplay competitions with proper stages at least and also maybe get in some youtuber panels and gaming stalls as well as merchandise stalls and overseas sponsors and investors. If ever our country wanted to up their game in tourism this would definitely help as thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, attend these events and are willing to even fly around the world to go to them. Also cosplaying is not only for adults! Children can join in on the fun and not just for Halloween. Let them go with as a mini version of you or even another character involved with your characters theme.

 Here are some more links to more awesome D-Piddy videos to get you creative juices flowing. Remember no matter the project, believe you can do it, as you will see these fellow cosplayers can and so can you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O9tDB8TTTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP0zRvy6gBw

Big shoutout to D-Piddy and friends for allowing me to use the links to his youtube channel!

My big step back into a world of creating and crafting...

Never, and I mean never, have I ever thought I would be back to creating since my fashion design days. Yes, I studied fashion design and adored designing and making outfits and basking in the cheers of a crowd when your design goes down a runway. Although technically it wasn't my choice to do as a career (at that point my ideals had changed) as I had my heart completely set on becoming a graphic designer, my father however, had a mindset that a fashion designer is what I will be. Please forgive my mini vent and ramblings on about way back when and what could have been, I do not regret the choice made for me. I have learned many lessons that I will and have helped me throughout my life. I can draw ( not pro standards but pretty good), I can make patterns, sew and alter clothes and I am great with my hands. No, not what you are thinking, dirty mind!

I have not being doing cosplay for very long in fact it has only been a few months. Why start a blog you ask? I thought it would be enlightening to grow with my followers and even share crafting tips and tricks as there are many people who love cosplay out there but find it hard to create on their own. We need to be able to help each other whether it be hardcore cosplayers or mom's creating costumes for their little ones. Now forgive me as being new to blogging I'm basically winging it. I know I still have much to learn and hope you all will be supportive in helping this blog become a great way to express our inner artists. Yes making cosplay is an art no matter what anyone says.

Ok with that said let me give you a glimpse of a project I am working on.

This is the beginning of a Warhammer 40K Ork mask. I Have downloaded a programme called Pepakura : http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/

This helped me download and print papercraft images. I then found a lifesize (was a bit bigger than lifesize as this can fit on my husbands head) human skull. I then put it together and reshaped and cut away until I got my Ork face shape.  After that I made the nose and using old toilet rolls proceeded to create brow arches and lips and made face creases with rubber sealing strips.

When I was done with all the fiddly bits and happy at the shape I had created I then used paper- mache^ to cover the mask and harden the modifications I had made.  Was really fun making a mess and being a big kid again tee hee. Only buzzkill was having to clean it up afterwards but I was happy with the results so far so I left it in the sun to dry for the day. Bare in mind I had to do a few fittings when it was dry to reshape the inside to be more comfortable when on my husbands head and to make sure he can look around without a problem.

With fittings and reshaping done I decided to give the WAARRGH Bringer a coat of white craft paint which made it easier for me to see where I needed to alter and reshape on the outside. I did reshape the mouth and also made the brow much bigger as well as give him a bit more gum for the teeth/tusks I would be adding later.    As you can see, in the last two pictures, I made the first set of teeth also out of paper then if you see in the picture of my lovely model (husband) I did alter them but have not permanently set the teeth. I still need to use plaster cloth on both the mask and teeth to make it more durable. once set I can then sand them smooth and ad details like scars etc by carving into the plaster. There shall be future blogs showing everything I am doing and have been doing to help you with your cosplay so keep an eye on this blog or my Youtube channel!                          

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndT2M2HBZyw