Quick note

I have started on Hawkeye a bit.  Her wig arrived yesterday (pictures available here) and I just got an email saying her earrings were about to ship out.  I ordered the latex earlier in the week and it should be here late this week or early next.  ^_^  It makes me happy when a costume starts to take shape, especially one that I've wanted to make for sometime.  I want to commission her arrows this week but I may have to wait till next, we're having a shopping day at work (no tax and 30% off) so I'm going to stock up on some summer stuff.  Hopefully I can find a swimsuit that I can use for Ivy... not that I really need much of a top, a bottom is more important.  I was just going to tape the top on... I may use strings we'll see.  Either way I need it before the local con.  Not that their is that much fabric to cover in ivy... hell I probably have enough left over from the last Ivy I made.  I will need shoes though... >.< always something. 
I do have another costume to note, we're doing a special photoshoot at D*C, a pin-up version of our favorite hero's and heroines.  I asked who they would like me to be (because I doubed anyone but Avengers fans would know Hawkeye) and after a bit of a debate they decided they would like me to be *drumroll* Lois Lane.  Yea I know kinda odd right?  I don't look anything like her really, or I don't think so.  But the wig I used for Spectre will get to be re-used again.  I have a red robe type thingie I'm wearing and blue undies and blue shoes.  And I'm going to ninja one of the guys (or girls) superman capes.  Alright I know most of you are sitting there confused asking yourself, 'Doesn't she hate Superman?' No I don't hate Superman.  I'm just not that big of a fan.  The reason I kinda liked the idea was because it was something that Lois wouldn't do.  I mean would serious Lois Lane pose for a pin up?  Hell no.  ^_^ Yea, kinda out of character for me but I think it will be fun.  And I think I'm going to swap into Ivy for a bit, we'll have two Ivy's but that could be a really fun shoot and a really neat set of pictures.

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KawaKon Review (Sunday)

Alright, sorry about the delay in posting, guild weekend and all, I may have been at a computer but I was otherwise occupied, I'll get to my weekend later, first I'm going to finish the KawaKon reviews. And I am going to make a separate post about the masquerade, I'm currently working on it, so I haven't forgotten.

So we got up a little later then we should have Sunday, but we were scheduled for a photo shoot at 10 which meant we had to get our shit together and get checked out and get into costume. I know checkout was 12 but we figured we could get it all done so we could just leave when we got bored... or more likely when the calling for IHOP got to strong. (I will try to remember the whole IHOP obsession later in the post.) We failed at getting checked out but we figured the person we were supposed to meet would understand if the photo shoot ran long cause they would need to checkout too, and if so inclined then we could resume after we were all done with that. So I think it was about 10:20 when we got to the lobby. Now mind you none of my costumes had I gotten the chance to wear, so I may have tried on pieces but I'd never seen it all together until I got it on. And let me tell you, their is a draft in Seras's skirt. Yes, you read that right. V's skirt wasn't that bad. I think I'm going to tweak it a bit before OMGCon, I need to work on the collar of the shirt anyway.
But we got down to where we were supposed to meet and couldn't find who we were looking for, we figured since we were late that we missed them and they were in the dealer's room or a panel or someplace. Well we, or well I, had plans to glomp Alucard all the while screaming "MASTER!!" .... only to find no Alucard. We were supposed to have an Integra too. Only we couldn't find them. I pouted awhile. I found out when I got in that night... or well Monday morning that some things had come up and kept them from meeting us. She was at least nice enough to pm me about it, but I was still kinda sad, we're going to try to do a shoot later, but I don't know when Pip and I will have time off again where we can do something like that.
But not finding Alucard we wondered around the con some, he bought a knife and had the Hellsing crest engraved on it. It doesn't look bad, I think in pictures it will be really neat, up close its not bad, and considering the girl free handed it its nice. I think I'm going to contact her about engraving a couple of Hawkeye's arrows. Just for pictures. I think a shot of me going to shoot, and having the camera focused on the arrow then seeing "Hawkeye" or something written on the arrow would be cool. I'm afraid it may effect its flight though, I may buy one extra for it or something. Leave it blunted so I can use it for photos. Unno, we'll see. Cliff maybe able to do it for me so I won't have to send it to her. But we bought some other stuff, I'll post pics on flickr once I get all of them edited. (I'm though Kusanagi and about a 1/4 of Seras atm, just got V's from Pip this weekend.) He got a pic of Optimus Prime, it looks really neat, and its the original art, not from the movie. Then from the same vendor we got some badges, two Repo! ones and one of someone in a Gir hoodie holding Gir. It's cute, we're going to take it to InvaderCon next year. I love my Repo! one, shows Graverobber holding the Zydrate gun and across the top it says Zydrate and next to him near the bottom is says "Comes in a littel glass vial". And its good artwork on all of them. And since we bought Sunday we got a deal on it. ^_^ We thought about getting some tee's, if we hadn't been starving then I would have gotten a pic in my Seras costume with the "Team Alucard" shirt.. I may see if I can find it online, it could make for a fun prop in a photo shoot. But other then that it was a rather slow day there, at least to me. I know Pip and I were two of the oldest there, but we were some of the only people in costume, and awake and not zombiefied and we got maybe 3 or 4 hours of sleep.
We got our shit together and checked out. I think it took like 4 or 5 trips to get it all out, it took us less to get it in, strange. Anyway once we got the car repacked we did a quick photo shoot in the parking garage, we stopped when I started shivering, it was cold and misty, and although the overcast worked great for Seras, I can't tolerate the cold that long, especially in such a short skirt. We did get a couple of neat candid photos, I ran back in after we were done with pictures to get my jeans on, so think Seras's top with jeans, came off really neat.
After that we headed to IHOP, only to be thwarted by the lack of parking. I swear that was the most jacked up IHOP I've ever seen. People were parking illegally to get into it. So we said fuck that, and found another one on the gps and went there. Now I got some funny looks going in because Pip took off his jacket and was just in his green shirt and khaki's. But I refused to take off my wig because I knew my hair was a mess because it wasn't 100% dry when I pulled it up in the wig cap. Being a blonde was kinda fun. And the waitress complimented my eyes (the orange contacts). And side note here, I used fixodent to hold my fangs in. And OMG I wish I would have done that years ago. They were so sturdy and held so well. I wasn't slurring in my speech because I was afraid I was going to loose my fangs or anything. It was definitely worth the 3+ minutes it took to set. I think I'm going to get some sort of paint or something for them before OMGCon though, they were to yellow to match my teeth. In pictures they look fine but if you were next to me they weren't so believable.
I don't know what time we got back to town that night, I know I wasn't crawling into bed till after 1 that morning. And I'm still not unpacked. All in all it was a fun weekend. The quality of costumes didn't seem to be on par with what was there last year. And the crowd was younger, or maybe I'm just getting older and pickier. Don't get me wrong their was some nice stuff there, but nothing sent me, none of my fav characters or anything. So if you're looking at my flickr and don't notice a lot of pictures of other characters, we weren't that egotistical we just didn't see a lot that wow'ed us. A lot of VK people and I'm sure those costumes are a pain to make, but you see one and you've seen them all. I think that's part of the reason I pick unusual characters, is just to be the only one. That said I don't know if we will be returning next year. We may check out animestl, or maybe or Memphis con. Depends. We didn't care for the venue and none of the panels really interested us, and since their was a very limited area to do pictures we had a lot of down time where we were just like umm.... what do we do now?
Ok I said I would explain the IHOP thing. You see we *gasp* live in a town with no IHOP. Now to most of you that doesn't seem like a big thing. But you try it, just a Denny's and a Huddle House. I'm sorry but I have never been desperate enough to go to Denny's and I have been to Huddle House once, they weren't bad, but they don't compare. So when I found that their was an IHOP less then 1/2 a mile from the hotel you better damn well believe that we were going. Of course we only went once and we never made it to Bellachino's but oh well, that's for another trip.

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KawaKon Review (Saturday)

Alright warning you now, this is going to be a beast of a post, I may split it into two.  Most of the conventions stuff happened this day, so here goes.
We had planned on getting up at a decent time and running to IHOP for breakfast, that didn't happen.  I'm not quite sure what time we rolled out of bed, noon-ish?  Something like that.  Part of it was due to going to bed at 3 am, part of it (for me) was just lack of sleep for so many days in a row.  And I know Pip worked Thursday night and slept on the way up to the con, then was a trooper during the con.  I kinda feel bad about it. 
But costume wise this this was Kusanagi's day.  And I hadn't even got to try her top on, so I was somewhat worried about it.  Especially when my mother (the seamstress, the lady who taught me how to sew, the one who tells me how to fix whatever I'm having trouble with) told me it wasn't going to meet in the back in certain places.  I was worried but I had to seam it together anyway.  Now see why I was concerned?  Especially when I had spent how much on the wig, hunting for sunglasses, etc.  Now remember all those things I told you about my mother?  Throw them out the window.  Because when I slid that half corset thing over my head guess what I found?  It was way to loose.  After finding this out (and the fact that I didn't like the look of the seam anyway) I decided I was going to have to remake it anyway for OMGCon to do the 1st GIG outfit so I told Pip to just grab the fabric glue and fold it over in the back and pull it tight.  Even doing that I had to spirit gum it to part of my chest to keep it from feeling like it was just going to drop off me.  >.<  Thankfully we had no wardrobe malfunctions.  I think I'm going to remake the top out of spandex this time, I have leftover from V and that way it will just stretch and hug me tight. 
Now here's where the disappointment begins.  Their was supposed to be a cosplay.com meet up.  I told them on the boards (since I was going to be the one spearheading it) just to look for the girl in the purple wig and to meet in the lobby near the piano.  A very obvious place but out of the flow of traffic.  I noticed that when we got our badges that I didn't see a list of photo shoots, but I figured that they were there and I didn't see them as their was a table behind the registration desk with various paperwork on it.  If people showed up, they never said anything to me.  Maybe I should have made a sign.  It irked me, especially when a couple people were all omg yes I'll be there but maybe I'm expecting to much.  We hung around there for a bit and as we had gotten up late and were without IHOP we voted to go eat the the hotel restaurant. 
Now ate there the night before.  Just grabbed some appetizers since we were really just thirsty and the service had been great.  This time it sucked.  We were seated and waited, well when Pip finally got up to find the manager it had been over 10 min.  I timed it.  I was rather proud of him, he's known for his... how do I put this eloquently?  Well he can have one hell of a foul mouth or he can be scathing without having any need for colorful language.  So when he got up, I kinda swallowed hard and prepped for the worst.  All he did was find the manager and ask if the table had a server, cause we'd been sitting for close to 15 minutes and no one had even come to take our drink order.  After that we had multiple server come by and ask if we needed anything.  And subsequently when we went there later for dessert we had no problem with the service.  And when I say we were there fifteen minutes I'm not exaggerating.  People had come in after us, and had not only gotten their drinks but their FOOD as well. 
After we got done with lunch it was time for the Osuwa Taiko performance.  We missed the opening but I really, really, enjoyed it.  Which made me forget about the bad service and the lack of people showing up, which in retrospective I think was due no flyer or anything promoting it.  And before you tell me shame on not making one, I was told that all posts in a forum dating a time and place would be printed and handed out when people registered.  Maybe I'm pushing the blame off on someone else.  It still bothers me.  Alright back to the performance.  As most of you probably don't know I played percussion for 5 years.  I didn't get to do as much with the drums the last few years as I would have liked as out of the eight in the band only two of us could read notes.  I was thrown on bells 90% of the time and the timpani the rest.  So this was really a treat to me.  And a lot of the performers were female, which was even more cool because in school I was the only girl.  (Told you I've always been one of the boys!)  After that we drug out my weaponry (since the hotel staff had asked that no weapons be on display in the lobby, which caused me to wonder how the hell I was supposed to get around cause that's the central area but I digress) and did a Kusanagi photo shoot.  I don't remember if the masquerade came next or if this was when we went for dessert.  Either way the Masquerade was the next thing of importance that happened.
And I think I will leave the Masquerade for its own post.  I have a lot to say on the topic, both good and bad.  And know I'll get sidetracked.  I will say I walked out at halftime and didn't go back.  I think we did more pictures somewhere in here (I have two different sets on the memory card at least) and the next thing was the Rave.
This, of course, required its own costume, so I had to change.  I can't wait to post pictures of my makeup for that costume.  My eyeshadow was really neat.  And I was mistaken for someone from the anime Spirit Wolf.  I haven't seen it, I'll probably google it later just so I can see what someone thought I was.  The DJ's were good, and they did some neat remixes.  The Mario theme they did was really cool though I bet less then 20 people in the room remembered the original game.  And speaking of the room let me tell you another gripe of mine, and this was partially why we left about 3/4 of the way though it.  It was HOT.  Now mind you I'm cold natured.  I survived an entire costume made of PVC for eight hours.  I know when a dance floor is to hot.  You know people are going to be in there, cramped, crowded, and bouncing around why wouldn't you kick the a/c on?  It was noticeable when you started down the steps, and bad when you hit the room.  Of course rumor has it that it was closed down early.  Since I wasn't there I can't attest for that, I just saw something on the forum's today about it.
But after that little adventure we headed to bed, knowing full well with the time change and the 10am photo shoot that we were going to have to be up at the crack of dawn to get up, dressed, eat, and get checked out.

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KawaKon Review (Friday)

Ok a quick impression of the weekend overall before I get going. It was... well I'm torn on how to describe it. I both enjoyed it and was rather discouraged by it. I enjoyed the time with Pip, the time away from the house, and the chance to wear some of the costumes that I've worked so long and hard on. But I didn't see the same quality of costumes I saw in previous years, and in all honesty I was bored. Yes I know I had a laundry list of things I wanted to do when I was there, but things came up and they didn't happen or we poked our heads into the panel room and went 'no way we're going in there!' But as unbiased as I can I'll walk you though my three days at the con. I started writing this as one post for all three days but after getting about half way though Friday, I thought it would be easier to read if I separated them out. And one other note, I will be doing a mass of different blog entires in the upcoming days, I could throw them all into one entry but they are separate rants or separate ideas and each deserves its own post. As for pictures, those will be forthcoming. I haven't started editing yet and the pictures we took on day one are on a different memory card which is still in Pip's care. Ok that said, here goes.

Pip arrived at my place probably about 9:30 Friday morning, I had to finish getting packed and gathering up the quick fix sewing kit just in case. I think we arrived in StL about noon, one pm somewhere in that range. We met a friend at one of the malls up there, walked around (I got more at Lush ^_^), ate, caught up. It was nice to see him again, I didn't even recognize him, he's letting his hair grow out some. I was still expecting the 'Tal shave my head' guy. (Don't ask, he was drunk, it was hilarious, yes I did it and yes his wife was pissed.) So we got to the hotel probably close to 4, checked in and it took us probably two or three trips to get all of our stuff in. Funny thing was we didn't really over pack we used most everything we took. I had one duffel that had five wig heads in it. Another that had all of Kusanagi and Seras's weaponry. A backpack that held all of the convention info, random stuff that I take (tide to-go pens, ibuprofen, etc) and a pair of shoes. I had a rolling bag that had my clothes and makeup in it, then my costumes were on hangers. Sounds like a lot, I think I'm going to either invest in a larger rolling bag or something. I mean that means its heavier but less trips... Ok I'm off topic.
He was going to wear Tuxedo Mask Friday night but even with me working on it all day the day before it wasn't quite 100% and he opted to let me finish it rather then put hasty seams in it and he wore Pip. So after a couple tweaks to the Codename Sailor V's costume we headed out to get badges. Last year when I went I remember the lines being a bit confusing as to where the line started and people just hanging out were. We didn't have as much problem this year, but it took awhile to get our badges even though we were pre-redged because the volunteer conveniently was taking care of the people who were buying them on the spot rather then turning around and seeing us. And I'm sorry I have no mercy for that, their were two of them back there, one could work one side of the counter and the other could do the other side. And if their was no one in the pre-redged line then she could help out on the other side. Maybe I've worked retail for to long, but you take care of the people who have paid you before you take care of the people who haven't. But it didn't seem to faze Pip so maybe I was just slightly anxious to get out and see what was going on, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize someone is standing under the pre-reg banner and to get their name and grab a badge for them. Especially when they are pre-printed and labeled you just have to check a name off and grab them out of a box. Ok I'll quit ranting and move on.
Pip and I went to KawaKon a few years ago but that was at a different venue, and although I went last year I was hoping things would have been laid out differently. I was disappointed. I hated having to walk through the lobby to get anywhere. I can only blame KawaKon for picking that venue, it was the designer for the place that deserves my wrath. I understand that they probably didn't design it with a full blown convention in mind, just for meetings and such and the layout for something like that, works. But the hallway to the dealers room was again horribly congested. Someone in the KawaKon staff should have been sent out on routine patrols to tell people to QUIT SITTING in the halls there. You had to wait for the line of people leaving the dealers/artists room before you could go in. Not only that they had overflow tables set up in the atrium so people were stopping there, so it was constant people dodging. It was a pet peeve of mine last year and was this year as well. I've been to other cons, with the same size dealers rooms and more people yet we didn't have that problem. The convention staff didn't let people loiter in high traffic areas. >.< And I know they were in limited space but it seemed like if they had picked a larger venue then they could have had more artist and more dealers because personally I don't usually give a rip about the guests and when their isn't a panel I want to go to then where do I go? I'm not trying to bash here, and maybe I just have different priorities then the other con goers. But cons generally mean two things to me. Dealers and Pictures. I want to look and see if their is anything I didn't know I had managed to live without, and I want a lot of interesting places for pictures. I'll get to the pictures rant at another time.
So we meandered around, unfortunately the dealers room closed a 6 (another boo) so until the VK Ball we were a bit lost as to what to do. Of course I was in my Codename Sailor V and spend a lot of time flashing her 'peace' pose. And we did some pictures in that time. I know I had said I was going to make a special dress for V for the formal, but I just ran out of time. Hopefully I can get it done for pictures at some point. I had to touch up my makeup so while we were in the room he got the idea of doing a 'formal' Pip. So Pip's khaki pants, boots, holsters... with a tuxedo shirt. Strangly, it worked. I'm trying to figure out how to get pictures of it... Anyway we arrived a bit late (15 or so) to the VK Ball and missed them entering *sob* But I did manage to get Pip to dance with me some, and a pro photographer pulled me aside for a few pictures, which made me really happy. Kinda made all that work worth it ya know? I'm not trying to say I don't like Pip's pictures, I like having a photographer I know and can work with in multiple settings that I am comfortable with coming up and fixing my hair or telling me how to adjust my pose, just that a pro wanted it .... I think that is one of the first times a pro has asked me for a picture. I was told that at my request they were going to play a tango for us, so I dunno if we missed it or didn't stay late enough. But my feet were beginning to hurt and knowing I was going to be in heels the next two days we decided to duck out. And I'm not so sure it wasn't a combination of the shoes and the lack of sleep. For about a week now I've only gotten about 4 hours a night beause I'm working on something. that and I had a bottle of wine in the room as a thank you from Pip for all the time I've put into his costumes.
All in all it was a fun day. Since everything was new to us we had fun, and not to many complaints. I overlooked the lack of good costuming (save the VK people which were everywhere) just because a lot more people tend to show up on Saturday then Friday.

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Update!

The con is less then a week away, I need to attach V's cuffs, and give the masks a coat of poly.  Kusanagi needs to have her zipper put in.  Seras needs buttons and some tweaking to her collar plus a hem, and Tuxedo Mask needs a jacket vest and cape.  Yes I'm stressing.  However I'm not going to think about it for a few minutes. 
I know I have posted saying we are going to Dragon Con but I thought I would update you on what costumes I will be taking.  Obviously Hawkeye will be going, but I have one new one and one update.  The update is Ivy.  I have a couple figures of her in a bikini rather then the leotard type thing, and I've really wanted to do the bikini version.  I think I'm going to take both versions though.  One night the group I'm with is doing a villain get together, but it has to be from the comics no movie or cartoon editions.  So no bikini Ivy for that.  But for a Superman/Batman type photo shoot I'm going to wear it.  ^_^
The big one I have to announce is Nahrees of th Inhumans.  Now I didn't know who she was, I simply asked if anyone needed someone for a group and after a few minutes of deliberation they all said I would make a good Nahrees.  Best thing about her costume is that I'll be able to wear the same wig I'm wearing for Hawkeye. 
Lets see, currently I have a commission I need to get started on next week, plus Hawkeye to get going on once this con is over.  Her debut is a local con so if its not 100% I won't be to upset, I mean I will be but I'm more concerned with her for DragonCon.  I think I've already said I'm going as Revy for OMGCon, Pip is going as Chang/Rock.  Speaking of Pip I dunno what he's wearing to DragonCon.  He wants a Shadow costume and I know someone in my group was talking about brining a Margo if he decided to.  And wow I'm totally scatter brained.  -_-" I have 3 things to organize at KawaKon, costumes to do and the brakes on my Jeep just went to shit.  Yea I'm swamped. 
Hopefully the Jeep won't be to expensive to fix.  I was wanting to use my tax return for a netbook, and since the government saw fit to take $400 more then they did last year I'm not exactly hurting for money, but the little amount I had saved up for KawaKon looks like I will have to use for something else.  And of course if one thing goes wrong with the vehicle 5 more things will.  >.< I don't make enough to pay for all this shit!!!  Ok rant over.  If I quit sleeping and keep breathing I may make it though.  Cross your fingers. 
I probably won't have the time to update till after the con, I'm at work and posting atm.  If all goes will I will have the chance to update my flickr during the con but we have a pretty set schedule so no promises.  Otherwise next week I should have a ton of pictures. 
We do have another guild weekend planned for the weekend after KawaKon.  I'm working a local home and garden show though, I will probably pop in for the evening though.  I'm sure we'll have more pictures from that.  Busy, busy, busy!

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