Japan Festival of Houston

So yesterday Croweh and I went down to Herman Park for Japan Festival. It's was a lot of fun, and I got to buy stuff and attempt to make new friends.
Here's what I wore:

I decided to wear decora, because all of my cosplays were either to unreasonable for this kind of weather, broken or not made yet. I pretty happy with how my outfit came out though, all of my previous attempt at decora have looked like crap.

Anyways, so after driving in goodness knows how much traffic we finally parked and made our way down to the festival. It was kinda awkward at first because it seemed like we were the only one's dress up, but after a few minutes we got comfortable. I bought a cell phone charm in a failed attempt to compete with Bells. We saw the girl who was our neighbor in the Artist Alley at Anime Matsuri. Then we finally found Bells and walked around shopped with her for a while, she pressured me into a getting a parasol, which I've been wanting for a while, but had been more or less indecisive on. We did more shopping and Croweh  and I broke down and made Bells call a friend of ours from Matsuri cause we're socially awkward and she has better composure than us. So we met up with him so I could give him a hug and Bells dispersed from our group. So Croweh and I attempted to stalk another group of cosplayers so we could feel like we were part of a social group. Then we lost them and then found them and then we watched the cosplay contest which kinda bothered us cause we knew for a fact that not everyone in there made their cosplays...
Anyways, after that we left, it was a lot of fun despite ridiculously hot, sunny, windy weather. Plus the fact that I got a nice sunburn across my face.

 

Stuff I bought:

 

Favourite cosplays of the day:

     I wanted them to win. ^

Lots on the Plate Next

  I was thinking about it and realized how much I have to do next. Goodness. I have plans for at least two conventions this summer, and at least three cosplays to make/ put together.

Cons that I hope to go to:
A-Kon - This might be the only chance I get to go, so if I get permission to go, I'm going. If I don't, I'm hoping to go to the alternative.
Delta H Con - The alternative. It's small and the passes and Artist tables are inexpensive, but I'll be able to go to it in the future more than I will A-Kon, which is why I had to make the choice.
San Japan - I better fricken go. This convention is like prom for me, and you know how much normal girls have at prom. Plus Airship Isabella AND We *Heart* Cardgames is going. Incentive!

Cosplays in need of being worked on:

Ryoko Subaru from Martian Successor Nadesico

   Is it sad that I'm mostly excited to be her because she has green hair making her be the first unnatural hair coloured character I'll ever be? Besides the fact of how much I relate to her and love her character. For most of the series she's really strong and, well, kinda mean, but then there are parts in the series where she's kind of unsure about herself. Mainly referencing to the talent show episode where she gets the feeling of utter uselessness, something I definitely often relate to.
My to-do's on this one are:

• Finish cutting and dyeing the wig
• Buy black fabric
• Get some craft foam for shoes and shoulder pads

Taiwan from Axis Powers Hetalia

  I'm sure if you've followed me on Youtube or DeviantART prior to this you'll have known that I was going to be Greece. Well I switched. The reason being that we actually got a new member of our cosplay family who made a way better Greece than I did, and I felt the need to switch. After thinking long and hard, I decided that I really wanted ridiculous pink sleeves and after looking up a bit on Taiwan, I figured that I really liked her. Plus this means that I can still be paired with Japan, because I'm cool like that, and I love Japan (hence the picture).
To-do's:

• Buy all fabric
• Make flower hair pieces
• Find some cheap flats

 First Mate Navigator Meriel Starseer

I'm sure some are like, "Wait-what?" Meriel is my steampunk character, and proud navigator of the All-Aborg Crew. Happily serving under Captain Bells, former daughter of an upper class elf family flies through the skies in denial of her prior life.
Lots to do on this girl:

• Make Goggles
• Aquire or make jewelry
• finish fixing vest
• Aquire or make shirt and trousers
• Aquire weapons
• Aquire telescope (not picture)
• Aquire and make all other accessories

Mystery Final Fantasy Cosplay

I'm still keeping this girl under wraps for now, when San Japan draws closer, I'll release her information.   But i can say that I'm excited about both the construction of and being her. She's been one of my favourite characters since before I even played the game, so that's saying something I think.
To do: Practically everything

• Style wig
• Buy/order fabrics
• Make weapon and accessories
• Find shoes to use as a base for the shoes

That's pretty much the left and right of my summer plans, I hope to get a job in there somewhere.Thankfully the hardest thing is gonna be my Final Fantasy girl, lots of hand stitching and making sure things look good. I'm hoping to enter the cosplay contest at San Japan with that one. Also if I have time this summer, I really want to make myself an "Elven Princess" dress. If I can't I'll survive, but I've been wanting one for ages. Anyways, enough rambling!

Thanks for stopping by and reading you guys!

Much love,

Sana-san

Anime Matsuri

I know how extremely late this is, and I'm  not even gonna do a thorough report. I'm so sorry! >_<

Okay, well summary time!

Friday:
Soul Eater Day! I was with Mizu and Mellow as Liz and Kid respectively, Aza as Marie, Bells as Blair, and Croweh as Tsubaki. To start the day off, the hotel decides to sound off an alarm, which my friend put up a video of here. My apologies if the video is on private. Anyways, we woke up, and went down to set the table up. After that we did a good amount of dilly dallying. Around noon, I signed me, Liz and Kid up for the Cosplay Hall, which we didn't win, but I saw the winners around, and they were awesome. At 1:00 we went to the lobby for a photoshoot with AngelWing, who was really awesome, especially since she put up with our derpyness. After the shoot, I waited at the table for Liz and Kid to get out of the dating game so we could go get judged for the hall. After that we went to Twinzik's panel which was awesome and then I went upstairs to change into Toph. I hung around the table for the rest of the day after that and we cleaned up at 11:00 to go back to the room.

Saturday:

Thinking about this day makes me think about how at a convention is the only place where Shigure and Kagura would be helping Romano fix his hair in an elevator. Oh, I love cons. Anyways, Fruits Basket day! Let's see, we got myself as Kagura, Bells as Shigure, Croweh as Hanajima, Kitty as Tohru, Mellow as Kyo and Mizu as Ayame. We hung around the table while waiting for the roomies in the other to wake up then Croweh and I went to the Ask a Nation panel for fives minutes to see our Romano friend, had a couples lols and then left. We meandered about until we got everyone together to get a shoot. And then three of us went upstairs to change and I changed into Toph again. Waited in line for the cosplay contest, I was able to successfully get lots of people to stand closer the wall using my very loud friend. The contest was awesome and the winners of best in show were breath taking. Derped around until closing time for the table. Got ready for the formal much earlier than we needed to. The formal was the BEST PART OF THE WEEKEND! I don't even-

Sunday:

Probably the saddest day just cause we had to leave, and it was all over and stuff.  We did Camp Nobody at first, but of course I changed into far more uncomfortable shoes. Can't say much, last minute sales and we left. Sadness and such

I'd give Anime Matsuri 2011 an 8 out of 10. Everything was pretty well organized, but hotel was plain awful, not gonna do a lot of whining though cause I already got it out of my system. It was fun thanks to my friends mostly. 

I can't wait until the next con I go to though cause I realized how much more I love conventions than "real life".

Love,

Sana-san

So much to do, so very very little time...

       One week until Matsuri you guys! I've never been so stressed and and excited all at once before. I'm still not done with Patty, I'm totally lost on the hat. I think if I could find a hat for a base, I could build off of it, but making it from scratch is not working, and suggestions would help.

       Aside from that, I've been working on the Artist Alley stuff. I'll be selling some Lolita-esque accessories as well as prints, character pins, and other cute stuff. So if you're going come by our table, as I'll be sharing it with some other amazing artists and we could all use the support.

Mini Rant Time

       Also, I have some tips for those new to the convention scene, really it's something that should be common sense, but I guess there are some people in this world that are really that inconsiderate and stupid. My group and I recently ran into a giant load of drama cause by someone who decided to pull out at the last minute. Wait...what? Seriously? You're going to pull out at the last minute because you "can't" or "don't want to" pay for your part? Even after the rest of us have been working extremely hard to both be able to pay and be able to go? AND you're going to feed us some bull excuses as to why you can't go?

Uh, I don't think so.

       I'm not going into deep details, but this basically just happened. It ruined my entire day and made all of us have to run around frantically to try to find a replacement. I've terminated my "friendship" with this person because I don't like dealing with liars, incase anyone was wondering.
Basically my tip is, if you've commited to something like this, and it involves other peoples money, don't even dare backing out ONE WEEK BEFORE the event. I mean seriously wtf? 
Like I said, that should be common sense, but I guess not. O_o

Rant end

      On the more positive side, we found a replacement, thanks to my awesome family. My sister now gets to come with us, which makes me a happy person. I know we're gonna have a great time because I'll be around people who are my real friends, and who I am able to have a great time around. I'll sell stuff in the Artist Alley for the first time, get a my first photo shoot with a legit photographer, and maybe even enter my first contest. My ninth convention, Anime Matsuri 2011, here I come!!!

Love,         

 Sana-san  

"Lolita" Tea Party

Quotes around Lolita because only one of us actually wore real Lolita attire.

Anyways, today I held my birthday party with the theme of Lolita/steampunk/cosplay Tea Party. We all had lots of fun and sweets(too many actually xd). We had it at a park, which ended up not being the BEST idea because it was very windy with lots of overcast, but thankfully it didn't rain al lot, only drizzled. My lovely sister drove me and one of my friends to the park, and I want thank for that as well as putting up with all of my bitching! I love you Tania! I felt really bad cause I ended up forgetting a lot of stuff at home, including cutlery and a picnic blanket. I also felt really bad because my two of my friends also got very lost, because the park I held it at is very hidden.

Once we all got there we decided to move from a picnic table to inside the pavillion so our food wouldn't get ruined by drizzle and things flying through the air. The park was pretty crowded as we weren't the only ones celebrating something, but it was all good. No real weird stares or anything.

After eating the main stuff we got to the cake, the picture above. I decorated myself the night before. Needless to say I'm very proud of how it cmae out, and it was very yummy. And then we did a couple presents, Kitty got me a very piratey bow, and Mizu drew me a really cute picture of Pluto from Black Butler and she also got me the first volume of Maid-sama which made me VERY happy. ^-^

After cake and presents we went and took pictures. Here are some.

All of us

 Me

 Mizu

Bells

Misa-Misa

We had bounds of fun.

Til next time!

Love,

Sana-san

No Real Progress Here

I've been spending alot of time crafting and working on stuff for Anime Matsuri, as well as school and all that stuff. Only one month left, and I must say I am PUMPED! I'm supertastic excited although I've yet to get the wig for Patty, who I need to work on one of these day, otherwise though I'm excited. Also, I feel the need to mention that I have a blog that I made a long time ago that is more based around crafts and crafting and such. Here' a link to it.
And here are some pictures:

Soul Eater

Project: Soul Eater Group Stuff
Music: Alphabeat and Vocaloids
Time: Around 2hrs, maybe less

Death the Kid's Tie

Materials:
White Felt
Black felt
White thread
Stuffing
Hot glue
pin backing

Decided to take up the he duty of poorly making Mellow's tie-skull-thing for Kid.
I made it out of felt, as I had alot lying aorund. I made the pattern myself, which turned out to not help very much cause it turned out looking nothing like the pattern whatsoever. I cut two pieces of white felt out in the shape of the pattern and hand sewed them all the way around, leaving a space at the top of course. I turned it in side out, which was harder than it needed to be. Before stuffing it, I sewed a coup for lines to be able to separate  the "teeth" of the skull so that it would look better when stuffed.
Then stuffing, I ended up stuffing the "teeth" with pipe cleaner because it was too difficult to get normal stuffing in there.  once I was done-ish, I began to sew up the the space at the top, stuffing more as I went along.  When I was finally done with all of that I had to make the eyes/nose. I tried REALLY REALLY hard to make sure that it was as  symetric as possible. Whether I failed or not in the end is up to Mellow. I hot glued the "face" on as well as the pin backing which, of course, went on the back.
It didn't turn out very good....like whatsoever. And if Mellow doesn't like it I entirely understand.

Buuuuuuuut I also made her rings that turned out amazingly.

Patty's Top

I decided to make Patty's top out of a T-shirt instead of a sweater. For two very good reasons, 1.) Sweater material is extremely annoying to work with. 2.) I don't have any money or time.
First, I ripped the seems on both arms.  I put the shirt on and pinned the arms so that I knew where to hem them, this is also when I drew the line to know where to cut the shirt off. Afterwards, I cut the shirt, and hemmed the bottom with enough room to put the elastic through later. Made the turtle neck type collar out of the fabric from the bottom.

And that's basically it.