A Slacker is Me

I can't believe I haven't posted since April. O_O Sorry!

I have a few posts in the works, mostly for my 'Judge's Table' series, however they're all photo heavy and I have yet to take the appropriate pictures.

Next weekend is ConCarolinas. This will be my last year as the Contest Organizer. It's time to give up the contest to someone who can better tailor it to the CC crowd. My strength is in the basics, and CC is quickly becoming specialized. I'm seeing more and more Steampunk, which isn't something I'm into. Therefore I feel like I'm cheating the contestants since I don't understand their process. I know I sound a little weird with that, but it's true. Find me in person and I can explain better but I can't seem to get my thoughts about it in writing. Steampunk is great, but I find it hard to judge because it crosses so many of the classical rules I can't wrap my brain around it. So much is re-purposed and it's hard to spot purchases vs. home made.

Anyway...since this is my last year at the table I want to go out with a bang (assuming my a/c will work long enough for me to get anything done). I have 3.5 costumes planned.

Telma - Seriously I started her in 09 and I have yet to finish her for whatever reason. I think it's because I hate painting fabric. >_<
Closet Gotham City Imposter - It ended up way more custom that I planned. Way WAY more custom.
revamped Klingon - New shirt, remixed skirt, new arm bands
Hostess - She's my .5 since the dress was purchased. I am making a new apron though.

Will I see any of you lovelies there? I'll be hitting up Klingon Karaoke. Come watch me embarrass myself!!

Costuming and the busted ego

If you follow me on Livejournal then please ignore this post. It's part rehash, part 'ah ha!'.

Believe it or not I have low self-esteem when it comes to my body image. Yes yes, I know you've heard this from everyone. What's interesting though is that I only have this problem when I'm in costume. Otherwise I'm fairly confident. I suppose it's because I HATE they way I look in pictures, and you kinda get your picture taken a lot when wearing something unusual. I never feel like I can pull off a good looking piece because I wear a size 28. No bueno.

I'm already taking steps to fix this, both physically and mentally. In the mean time, since repairs can take forever, I've decided to live it up with my Big Beautiful Body and make some fattie costumes. Please note: I use the term fattie as such: take an insult, claim it, OWN IT!

Costume #1 - For my shape as I am now.

Ms. Endive from Chowder

And no, I don't think I look this bad...all the time...just after waking up Sunday morning after a hard con. Although I do the 'I hate you look' really well! ;) This is a fairly simple costume, aside from the nose and the apparent lack of RMG makeup in burnt orange (yay prosthetics). Even better is that when I lose weight I can make a fat suit from my old clothes, thus making this a rewearable costume. 

Costume #2 - Down a fair bit

Tracy's roach dress from Hairspray

For some reason there's only two pictures of this dress on the web. Weird! Anyway, here she is in all of her revenge-getting glory. This was suggested my by good friend Wendy and the more I look at it the more I love it! 

Costume #3 - The final Fattie 

Clara from The Guild

Big Boobs, wands, and I look pretty damn good in blue. This is pretty much my goal weight costume (est 14/16). 

I welcome thoughts and suggestions!

Nashicon 2012

First, I'm using blogger's new settings/views so if this is a little off I apologize.

Nashicon was a blast! Once again Lauren and the gang put on a great con!

Several big things happened for Nashi this year. First was the move off of USC's campus and into a convention center. We had to share the space with two other events, however we still had more than enough wiggle room (most of the time). Second was the addition of Voice Actors to the guest list. I didn't get to meet them aside from a quick room change (autographs to costume contest), but they both seemed really nice and laid back. Spike was joking around with the contest entries and they ate it up! Third was a full a most noticeable attendance rise. According to the powers above, they hit around 1300. Score!

I think my most successful panel was Sailor Moon Eternal. My judging and wigs panels were sparsely attended, but I think (or at least I hope) it was because most people were still in registration at that point. I think it's time to retire them from Nashi since I think they're too specialize for the crowd. I'll think on it later when my brain comes back into focus.

Overall I had bunches of fun with my hotel roomies and all my friends. I can't wait for next year! Woo!!

x-posted to LJ

Cross Stitching Fun!

Feast your eyes on a newly-completed piece!

This is a pattern I bought from PixyStitches on etsy, and I'm very happy with it.

I did this for two lovely friends. There's a progress shot a few posts ago. I just wish I had a better finished picture of it. :(

Progress shot GO!


Any guesses as to what or who this could be? :D
I also bought this pattern on etsy, but I won't say who till it's done.

2012 Convention List

I realized after making this list that I will essentially have a convention a month from June till October...yes I count my cousin's wedding as a con. If I have to travel, wear makeup and put on a dress then it's a con. Shame there's only one panel. XD

Nashicon - March 31st and April 1st - Columbia, SC
ConCarolinas - June 1st-3rd - Charlotte, NC
ConTemporal (new!) - June 21st-24th - Chapel Hill, NC
Roundcon - August 3rd-5th - Columbia, SC
Dragoncon - August 30th - September 3rd - Atlanta, GA
Anime Weekend Atlanta - September 28th-30th - Atlanta, GA
My cousin Jeffery's Wedding - somewhere in NJ

Let me know if you're hitting any of these. ^_^

Ichibancon 2012

I'm a pretty orc!

I won't bore you with details. It was fun for the most part, however there were two cons for every pro this time around.

Pro:
+ Saw many of my friends, and made new ones easily
+ Got to preform La Soldier with Cookie (although I'm sure it didn't look good since it was spur of the moment)
+ Busted out my improve skills in the same panel by butchering 'My Only Love'
+ Had a front row seat at the Cosplay Contest while only having to wait in line for 30 minutes
+ Was the guinea pig for a special effects makeup panel

Cons:
- The hotel room was HORRID. 'Newly Renovated' wasn't a lie. There was still paint drying. However if I was in a new room then I'm the queen of England. Bad set-up, no cold water, the hardest beds known to man, and the worst bathroom configuration I've seen.
- The hotel itself was close to dangerous. All of the elevators were poorly maintained. Loud squeaking and poor timing affected every one. There was one who's doors would open nearly a foot before the elevator reached the floor. O_o
- The con space was AWFUL. Either freezing cold or burning hot. Very little sound dampening between rooms (The Sailormoon panel was flooded with yelling from the VicMig panel next door). Also the ballrooms were on the same light panels so if they lowered their lights, ours would dim.
- Not enough variety in programming. It seemed like every other panel was about Vic. The few unique panels I went to were fantastic (Bento 101, Special Effects Makeup, 20 Years of Sailor Moon), but that was only 3 over four days. Ichi needs to go back to 3 days and retool their panels. Another year of this and they'll lose attendees.
- I woke up with a very bad headache on Saturday. I got through most of the day, but after the contest I made the mistake of hitting the hotel bar with friends. I barely got through my drink when it kicked into migraine territory. By 11:30pm I was in my room and in extreme pain. Thankfully Owen and my roomies were very understanding. I told you that to tell you this. According to several people, those who had booked rooms on the higher floors (I was on 7) experienced a variety of problems. Headaches, dizziness, vertigo, and more. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was having issues.

While these problems won't stop me from going to Ichi again, I will think twice about staying at The Blake. I also think that without some massive revamping Ichi won't become the con they clearly want to be.

Now is the time for CUPCAKES

About twice a year I make cupcakes for my co-workers. This time around I changed my buttercream recipe and so far everyone seems to like them. In fact...

When I left the cupcakes alone for 5 minutes to get a camera someone snitched a few. I take it as a compliment. :)

I'll bake a little bit more for the weekend, but I'm pretty much done. I like being festive but it's a lot of work for someone as lazy as I am.