*A* HACKCOUGHHACK

All of my yes! Doing this! Now!

So I'm SOMEWHAT alive after EXP. I've been ordered by a doctor to not work for three days (today is day three) and sleep. I slept a total of 29 hours yesterday.... yeah.....

I've also finished Tiger & Bunny AND HAVE BEEN REWATCHING IT ;A;

Yes, fangirl detected......

Leave me alone.......

Anyway, my friend Heine who did Wild Tiger and Kotetsu at NYCC/AF a few weeks back has helped me decide in finally doing Karina Lyle and Blue Rose.

Hello "Boob Cosplay #2"! I've also decided to do Rule 63 Kotetsu from the first image with my lovely Jello as Rule 63 Barnaby. She also has decided she wants to attempt Sky High.

Again, all of my yes! I would ship it! <3

Countdown: 22 days til EXP

Damn..... I'M RUNNING BEHIND! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFU-

At least Mafuyu and Harley are complete. I just need to finish:

1. Joker Jacket
2. Viral commission
3. Secret commission
4. Minako accessories (holster, Evoker, headphones, hairclips)

Anyway, nothing too much else to update on. Been working 40 hours each week with only two days off, so I'm getting pretty exhausted. Actually can't wait for EXP to come so I can have fun for a weekend.

EXP Update 9/7/11

I GOT THE APPROVAL FOR THE WEEKEND OFF!! WHOOT!!!! 

I can't tell you how much I squealed once I got into my car after work last night :3

Anyway, for the update:

The wig is currently drying on my tv stand. All that's left for Mafuyu is to make the longer parts of the sleeves and to fix up the shorts. Oh, and buy the purple contacts! ^^

Also to get finished:

Harley Quinn - finish small details on the jacket, fix up the wig, buy the socks

Joker - still need to start on the jacket

Poison Ivy - fix up the wig

Minako - buy a uniform shirt, find/make headphones, mp3 player and Evoker

Minato - buy a uniform shirt and possibly black slacks

Secret commission - finish up the patterning and begin sewing.

I've got just over one month. If I was able to do this for MegaCon, I can do it for EXPcon! Rawr!

Post AFO ♥ Pre EXP

I look so derpy~! 

But I love this shot anyway!

     I had a blast at AFO, even though I was only there for one day (Saturday). Hung out with my good friend (and honorable older asian brother) Joon. He's the one that took all my photos that day and I love them! You can see some of them at his deviantArt (EBI Photography). 

     Now it's getting to the grind for EXPcon, since that is my next and final con of the year. All together I've got to work on:

1. Mafuyu Oribe Season 2
2. Harley Quinn original design by Ary88 on deviantArt (Her dA, check it out!)
3. Joker original design by Ary88
4. Poison Ivy wig original design by Ary88
5. Viral Time-skip commission
6. Ash Ketchum jacket commission
7. Minako school uniform (Persona 3 Portable)

     One month, TIME TO GET INTO GEAR!! Catch you guys later~! ♥

Bruising or Progress

So either I've bruised around my ribcage or I'm actually making progress on my workouts!
The beginning of last week I started dancing more and doing crunches. I've also adding in doing some planks this week and I think I already can feel some changes. Nothing is visible yet, having only been a week, but it feels like things are changing. ^_^

I'm actually off until Sunday night so I've got some free time to actually unpack more and work on some cosplays. I've got quite a few plans for EXPcon now (probably three cosplays now @.@;;;; ) and I'm excited for them all! Expect some ecchi photos from a possible Seikon no Qwaser photoshoot, involving a bed <3

I haven't really gotten dressed for the day so expect a ZR picture later after I get ready for the day!

There's a storm a-blowin'!

Weird/Scary storm is weird/scary! o.O;;

It's kinda raining, but not, outside. Also had a bust or something happen in the street right outside my complex's front gate. There was like six patrol cars, plus officers with vests over their uniforms and masks. o.O;;

Anyway, time for my daily Zettai Ryouiki post!

Please excuse the mess, still trying to get my kitchen organize, and fix my dish washer >.<;;

Also bought a new jacket from work, they had an awesome sale! Buy one at regular price, get three FREE! XD I only spent 18 dollars for something that would have cost me over 60!

No Metrocon??

    Yup, no Metrocon for me sadly. I'm actually off work all three days (I don't work until 7 pm Sunday night). However, since it's over a two hour drive for me and I don't feel like spending the money, I'll be skipping out on it again this year. So, I'm sorry to any of my cosplay friends that wanted to see me this weekend! ^^;; Hopefully we'll get to hang out at EXPcon in October! <3
    I have been able to work on a little bit of sewing for my Harley Quinn cosplay for EXPcon this week with all the craziness at work. Here's a little sneak peek at it!

I had to go run out to the store because I ran out of black thread ^^;;

    I've also been trying my best to keep up my goal of wearing Zettai Ryouiki every day that I can (minus full work days). Here's two photos I have been able to document doing ^^

This was the original hoodie for my Harley Quinn ^^ I was showing my Joker what I was thinking of doing for the skirt/leggings/boots, however I've changed it up since I took this photo and will be buying red and black striped thigh highs and possibly knee high boots <3

I was invited to go hang out with a friend down at that the bookstore down the road for a while ^^

Anyway, time for me to get back to some sewing! I'll talk to you guys later! Love ya! <3

June 2011 Month Goal: Zettai Ryouiki Everyday

     So, since my friend was mentioning to me that June 1st was going to be his day to start getting back into his old workout routine, I figured I would make a goal for myself for the full month. My goal is to wear some form of Zettai Ryouiki every day if I can. Now some of you may not know what Zettai Ryouiki is. If you look it up in Google, you'll see a lot of upskirt shots of anime girls. It isn't that, the upskirt shots I mean. Zettai Ryouiki, or "Absolute Territory", is the region of skin that is exposed between the bottom of a skirt and the top hem of socks. Now depending on the height of the stockings, you have certain "grades", the lowest being F and the highest being A. There is a Grade S but to achieve that, you must have either be wearing twin tails or have a tsundere personality, or both! For more info on it, you can browse their Facebook page on the topic: Zettai Ryouiki.
     Now, for my entry June 1st, I'll be posting up one of my favortie photos of me sporting ZR. ^_^ I hope everyone enjoys it!

     I was going for a Makoto fan-girl look by wearing my Makoto ears for this ^////^ Anyway, I'll actually be posting later today my second entry for today, June 2nd, before I leave for work.

Until then, love you guys! <3

Current Projects & Future Plans

     Isn't this just adorable?! <3 I love me some Kirin armor and definitely loving me some Baby Kutku! ^///^

     So how has everyone been? I haven't updated in a bit, since I've been moving like I mentioned in a previous entry on here. Well, I'm done with the actual "moving" part. Now just comes the long process of unpacking and finding out how much crap I actually do have. ^^;; I already donated four bags of clothes that I don't wear anymore to the Goodwill and I still have a lot to fill a dresser and half of the closet with some still left over. I'm such a hoarder of free clothes! ^^;;

I've been itching to do something costume related for a whole month now since I didn't really want to touch my sewing machine during packing in fear of damaging items or losing items also. Luckily I've got about 3-4 commissions lined up with a few people and I've very excited to begin working on them! I've also got my cosplays for EXPcon that I will probably start working on, even though that convention isn't until October. Sadly I'll be dropping Seikon no Qwaser due to low funds. However, in its place is actually something I have the materials for.
     This photo right here is what I'll be wearing to EXPcon along with Caitlin from Pokemon Black/White. I'll actually have my friend Jason be this version of Joker along with me, since he's one of the people that got me into loving Harley Quinn so freakin' much! ^///^

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I'll keep you updated on what's happening on the home front, costume-wise! Until next time, love ya guys! <3

We're best friends!

Let's do some shoppin'! <3

So I got the photos the same day we shot with Raye Quinn Photography and I absolutely LOVE them!! You can check out the full set here or on her Cos Lifestyle online magazine!!

Life is steadily moving, been hitting a few ditches here and there but I guess I'm able to climb out of them, just having a harder time with each other being deeper and deeper. I'm putting in more applications and sending out my resume to more places this week to maybe look for a closer job that pays equal or more than where I'm at now. Also looking into more modeling positions, both for costuming and just in general. Think I can do it, guys? <3

I've also got the big move happening in 15 days! So excited and nervous at once! Hopefully work gives me at least one day off during the three days we're moving... So much left to do, so much left to get rid of beforehand! 

Well, I guess I'll leave you guys here for now, until next time! Love ya! <3

Photoshoot with Raye Quinn Photography

About two weeks ago I got to do an impromptu photoshoot with Raye Quinn photography with only a few hours notice on both sides. ^_^;; I had a lot of fun shooting with her and just getting to know her in person. Here are a few shots from the shoot I got to do with her that day!

Check out her Facebook page for more of her shoots! http://www.facebook.com/RayeQuinnPhotography

Now tomorrow I get to work with this lovely lady again PLUS with my coworker, the beautiful BrokenNeedles who if you may remember was the Noel in my Blazblue group ^_^ Can't wait to show you guys what we end up doing tomorrow! <3 

Until next time~! <3 <3 <3

Seikon no Qwaser II & Cosplay BBQ

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!!!!

I'm a happy girl right about now!

     So the new season for Seikon no Qwaser has begun and you have no know how much I love this series! Yes it is QUITE perverted, but honestly, I don't care. I've actually cosplayed both Mafuyu Oribe (burgundy hair in front) and Ekaterina "Katja" Kurae (blonde lolita on the bottom left). With this new season, Sasha is actually a girl in it and now, adding that to my cosplay list to do within the next year, along with both Mafuyu and Katja's new designs. ^//////^

     Next topic: the Cosplay BBQ 2 at Blue Jacket Park in Orlando. I got to go last year but I didn't get to participate in getting food and photos (didn't have the spare 17 dollars for it). However, this year, since it starts at 9 am and goes all day and I'm working 4:30 to close, basically the money I make that day will go to paying for the 20 dollars this year. I'm very excited to work with the photographers there, since I haven't personally worked with them before, only got to meet them in person in and out of con settings. Now I'm debating between bringing either Mafuyu or Katja from season 1 of Seikon no Qwaser. I haven't gotten to do a photoshoot with either of them and it's upsetting. Now do I want to wear all white/purple or all black, during late April/early May in Central Florida or do I not just give a damn and wear Katja and be all "Queen"-like ^^ I guess I'll find out later, especially since I have to redo Katja's headpiece since I borrowed a friend's lolita headdress for when I wore Katja to AFO. Time to make a trip down to JoAnn's and use my 25% off discount today ^^

See you later, nee~? ^^

Triple digits

     I finally broke 100 visitors! ^///^ I'm sorry but that does make me happy inside!

     Anyway, as some of you may or may not have known, I've entered Otaku House's Cosplay Idol Contest. If you would like to vote and/or help me compete, here is their page first that you must like:
http://www.facebook.com/otakuhouse
Then my photo where you hit Like to vote on it:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150169869572137&set=a.10150169857682137.306358.151208427136&type=1
To anyone that votes for me, thank you so much!!

     Anyway, back to what's been happening. I'm still working on that Hungary cosplay like I mentioned in my last post. However, I've started another small one that I've had planned since 2007. It's actually been a dream cosplay of mine since I first saw it. It's actually ANOTHER fanart but this time of Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist. She's actually portrayed as part of the MiniSkirt Army ^////^ I hope I can do this cosplay well for you guys! Anyway, just a short update to keep you guys in the loop! Until next time, see ya! <3

Temptation sucks

Let's snipe some bitches, eh??

     So I didn't want to start sewing again until after I moved on May 25th because I didn't want to accidentally get something damaged or lost in the move. However, temptation is such a vile bitch and I found a project I started over the summer but never finished and decided to finish it. It's actually based on this fanart from Axis Powers Hetalia. Yes.... that show... I particularly don't like the show so much or pretty much a lot of the characters. HOWEVER! I love Hungary, she's adorable and when I saw this version of her I decided I would do this instead of her regular cutesy version. It shows that even this loving character can pull off being a badass with a Dragunov and an AK ^^ Once I finish the costume I'll post an update of it before I do a photoshoot for it.
     Next topic, back to Megacon? Yes, Megacon was about two weeks ago and I've already gotten a lot of pictures back from the Blazblue gathering. However, I was watching on two videos to pop up. The first was taken by Ejen, the creator and photographer of Cosplay in America. I've wanted to meet this man for quite a while and just being able to have a conversation with this man was a highlight to this con. Hopefully we'll be able to meet up at other conventions and maybe hang out ^^ Here is his video of Megacon, check out his channel sometime!

http://www.youtube.com/user/cosplayinamerica

He is such a sneaky guy, trying to steal my tail!

     The next thing that made this con amazing was actually meeting AcksonL from Youtube. You won't believe how excited and ecstatic I was to hear that he was going to Megacon and making a Cosplay for a Cause video to help donation to the Red Cross for Japan. While filming with him we got to chat with him about a lot of stuff, mostly him asking if it was always this hot in Florida around this time and him asking us if we were okay in the heat ^^ which surprised him when we said it didn't affect us, we're used to it being Floridans! Anyway, here is his video that he created for this cause, where he raised $207 and then where he himself donated another $207 to get a grand total of $414!

http://www.youtube.com/user/acksonl

There are some awesome cosplays in this video, including quite a few people I know:

Blazblue group:

Ragna the Bloodedge: Oni (my boyfriend <3)

Carl Clover: Mikachu

Jin Kisaragai: Twiggy (my "loving" older brother)

Nu-13 - RexiiRen

Hazama: TheLastOtaku

Alfred F. Jones/America - EyeofGod

Zone 00 girls - EvaNoJutsu and Fredchan

Minas girls - Yulie and Otakitty

Mana - Ohmteppong

And with that I bid my farewell for today! See you next time guys! <3

Cruise

     86 days from today, on June 26th, I'll be leaving from Port Canaveral and going on my second cruise. My last cruise was when I was 14 years old and it was during the summer between my freshmen and sophomore years of high school. It was fun and exciting to see St. Thomas, St. Maarten/Martin and the Princess Cays. This time we'll be going the opposite direction and hitting up Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman and then Cozumel before heading back home. It'll be exciting seeing new places this time around and it'll also be a little up-lifting since I won't be the dorky girl with braces and big glasses. Plus I'll have the love of my life with me this time. 

     Now before we actually head out for this adventure, I do have a goal in mind that I really would love to achieve. Even though I was 14 years old, back then I weighed about 120 pounds. Though it's been 7 years, I haven't grown in height since I was 13 but I now weigh between 135-140. I know that's not bad and some people would tell me to stop complaining, that I look fine. I don't want to lose weight so much as I want to tone up my body. I know it'll be hard to even achieve 120 again because of the weight of the muscles I've acquired over the years from marching band and working retail. So, my goal that I must reach in 86 days is to have toned my body as much as possible to where I'll be confident to wear a bikini while on the cruise and possible do a photoshoot. Think I can do it, guys? ^^

Brazbrue?!

     I still can't believe I pulled this cosplay off! This one is now my skimpiest cosplay; the previous one being my bunnysuit Anya Alstreim.
     So as some of you know, I attended Megacon 2011 this past weekend and jeez, what a weekend! I'm still so mentally tired from this con, I don't think I've ever had this feeling after a con. Usually I'm sick with some kind of sinus infection but surprisingly this year, nothing! I didn't even get my regular stomach pains and I actually ate A LOT!
    Though I had fun, I realized this weekend that doing detailed costumes for cons isn't very fun for me anymore. So, from that thought, I'll be saving detailed costumes for cons that I am entering the costume contests in and for photoshoots through the year. I will, however, be wearing more simple costumes at cons and possibly playing "photographer" once I get my camera. I've been looking at the Nikon D3100 for my first SLR camera, I just need to save some money for it. I also still need to learn a lot about photography before I can really take some detailed shots. I also plan to set up some photoshoots with photographers around Florida and doing some non-cosplay modeling. I've already done a photoshoot with Kendra Paige with my friend and coworker, Christina. That shoot was fun to do and hopefully I'll be able to upload some shots up here soon so you all can see.
     Anyway, I'll leave you guys with this little update and hopefully I'll be able to update a lot sooner for you guys! See ya later!!

First post!

Welcome to my first blog! I'm quite excited to begin this actually. I was actually asked by a friend named Pierre to start a blog about my progress for Megacon and about what I'm learning along the way prop-wise.

Anyway, I figured the first post I would make as a "get to know me" kind of post. So here it goes:

I'm a cosplayer located in northern Orlando, Florida but I've practically lived all around the state except for Northern and South East Florida. I'm actually from Michigan but I've been living and growing up in Florida since I was almost five years old (I did all my schooling in Florida).
     I've been doing this hobby since 2006 when I was a junior in high school. However, I've known about cosplay since 2002 when I was just starting eighth grade and beginning to know what anime was (thank you Adult Swim and Inuyasha!). I never got to start making costumes until I was in high school because my parents had the usual reaction that most parents start out with; "what is cos.....play? why are you making yourself into a cartoon character? blah blah blah"..
     Yeah, I went through that... however, my parents saw that I loved making costumes very deeply when I was working and then proceeded to help me; my mother bought me my first sewing machine as a late 16th birthday present off of a friend (sadly it broke the first time I used it, resulting in quite some tears...). My mother then proceeded to surprise me within that month with a brand new basic machine. You can say that my eyes lit up like a little kid's on Christmas morning!
     And that is where everything spiraled to where I am now. Now, even though I have been cosplaying for five years, I have yet to go to my first out of state convention. Hopefully within this year or next I'll be able to make that goal come true, either with Anime Weekend Atlanta, Dragon*Con or another bigger one like Katsucon or Otakon.
     Now you're probably thinking as of what conventions I have been to these last five years. Well, let me see if I can remember them all. My first one was in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and was Houkocon 2006. From there you have Janicon 2007, Megacon 2008, Metrocon 2008, Megacon 2009, Anime Festival Orlando (AFO) 2009, Orlando Anime Day #2 (2010), Megacon 2010, AFO 2010, and EXPcon 2010. As you have probably noticed most of the conventions I attend are around Orlando. I tend to go to conventions nearby because I haven't been able to save up for ones that are further away (that and work likes to throw hissy fits when I ask for more than a day or two off...).
     Now out of those ten conventions, I tend to have a new cosplay for every day, sometimes two. I even make cosplays for others; I've started taking commissions within the last year as a way to get my name out there as a costume designer. Most of my clients are close friends but because of them wearing the cosplays they have been telling others who made their cosplay and where to find me online. To be honest I'm quite a shy person so when someone is showcasing my work I tend to be very modest. (Still not fully used to getting complimented by people I don't know).
     Probably at this point, you are wondering (or not), who I have cosplayed. For those wondering, here's the list of the ones for myself and then the ones I've made for others:
1. Kairi - Kingdom Hearts 2
2. Ashley Graham - Resident Evil 4
3. Winry Rockbell Travel outfit - Fullmetal Alchemist
4. Winry Rockbell Mechanic - Fullmetal Alchemist
5. Mikuru Asahina uniform - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
6. Simca - Air Gear
7. Aryll Pink skull dress - The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
8. Rinoa Heartilly Blue duster - Final Fantasy VIII
9. Rinoa Heartilly dress - Final Fantasy VIII
10. Kyonko - The Genderbender of Haruhiko Suzumiya
11. Ty Lee - Avatar: the Last Airbender
12. Medusa Gorgon - Soul Eater
13. Yuki Nagato punk loli - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
14. Chibi Medusa Gorgon - Soul Eater
15. Bunny Anya Alstreim - Code Geass
16. Sakura Kaede - Kampfer
17. Winry Rockbell Travel redone - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
18. Ekaterina "Katja" Kurae - Seikon no Qwaser
19. Mafuyu Oribe - Seikon no Qwaser
20. Saya Takagi - Highschool of the Dead
21. Makoto Nanaya - Blazblue: Continuum Shift

Commissions:
1. Moogle - Final Fantasy
2. General Marian Cross - D.GrayMan
3. Firelord Ozai - Avatar: the Last Airbender
4. Toph Bei Fong (overshirt) - Avatar: the Last Airbender
5. Dr. Franken Stein - Soul Eater
6. Ling Yao - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
7. Brendan - Pokemon Emerald
8. C.C. - Code Geass
9. Aleksander "Sasha" Nikolaevich Hel - Seikon no Qwaser
10. Elizabeth "Lizzy" - Seikon no Qwaser
11. Bridget - Guilty Gear
12. Ragna the Bloodedge - Blazblue: Calamity Trigger
13. Jin Kisaragi - Blazblue: Calamity Trigger
14. Hazama - Blazblue: Continuum Shift
15. Carl Clover - Blazblue: Calamity Trigger (assisting Mikachu in assembling it)
16. Litchi Faye Ling - Blazblue: Calamity Trigger (assisting ExileFayt in assembling it)

Wow... I never really sat down and had to really think on who I've made for myself and others, though it was fun remembering all the times in cosplay. Anyway, this post is getting to a tl;dr length, so I'll end it here. Hope you guys enjoyed my first blog post and I hope to have some of you continue visiting and reading as to what is going on. Thank you again! See ya!