Noel Kreiss: Bag, Sheath, Armor

Since Darth Vader aka Desucon is coming up REAL SOON,  I'm working hard to finish all the things for Noel Kreiss. I can't believe I said yes to make this cosplay, so many things and details, haha.

Also doing my best to take progress pictures while doing all of that.
So here we go, in not particular order, Because it doesn't really matter.

I've finished the arm 'armor' thing, it actually didn't take too long to make, or maybe it did, I was entertained by True Blood and my girl that kept undressing and redressing.

*Remeber, all pictures have bigger versions, To inclickety and beyond!

It's held on by two broad elastic bands, covered with pleather, for comfort.

I also finished his fannypack,... and now that I think about it, I actually haven't /note to self: remember the beads.
Anyway, since I'm using this as an actual bag, it's firmly secured, and the innards have an extra pocket for easy access or whatever.

The belt(lower) and belt strap(upper) is almost finished. I had to redesign the pattern on the strap, after a closer look at the actualy design, so it was a little improvised, but I still kinda like how it turned out.

The 'silver charms' are made with a base of foam and then covered with paperclay. I'm still not used to working with clay, since I'm so impatient.

Finished the sheath for his 'extra' dagger, the color scheme is a little free styled, but I'm still pretty satisfied.
It was only yesterday, when I had to start working on the handle of the dagger, that I noticed there was text on it, so  I swung the marker.

I wanted an easier way to make the blue part of the collar, instead of embroidering, so I got some dark velour and sewed it on, also a little extra picture of the shoulder strap, that I still haven't finished.

I've also been helping my guy Hayes with his Maqui cosplay, and he's going to look pretty amazing if I don't say so myself (Do notice: I have NOT touched the cosplay at all, it's all his work and my guidance)
As stupid as I am I used oil-based paint on the bolster of the dagger, so it's taking forever to dry.

Noel Kreiss: Making sandals out of booties.

*All pictures have bigger versions for your enjoyment

This weekend, my bff came over, for a weekend of cosplay prepping, since I'm helping him with his first cosplay, I feel so honored to be able to help others with their cosplay.
Friday we made his patterns, and Saturday we drove out to get the fabric, and I myself got things for Noel /some pretty amazing fabric! we got our stuff ready and then we started working.

Since I wanted a break from embroidering, I decided I wanted to start on Noel's shoes, since I really like making shoes and boots, maybe because it's both crafting and sewing.
The base is an old pair of booties I've had lying around, and figured they'd be good. I know his design is flats, but with all the girls in my group wearings heels, I couldn't handle being the male AND the shorty.
I added a foam tip, to make the shoe a little wider and half-an-inch longer, comparing with my flat boots.

Then onwards to the covers, I've decided using two types of pleather, a very textured and another with a sleek look. Kaito's shoes only had two places with stitches, but since Final Fantasy's designs are so detailed, I figured I should get as close to the original as creatively possible.

God were we messy or what? ANYWAY before cutting into the original fabric for the leg-covers, I made a rough copy, wanted to see if my idea for the design would actually work. With a little touch-ups it did.

I left the the bottom free, to fit properly around my foot and the base.

And this is the result of an evenings work. All I need is to put in laces and the last piece around the ankle
I'm very satisfied with these, they've already turned out way better than I imagined /eventhough it looks like I have clowns feet on the second picture, wth? and they're really comfortable to wear and easy to walk in.
Hayes complimented me a lot on them, making me feel so humbled, I'm just happy I could actually make something this good.

Today, Sunday, I started stitching again, starting on another new color, it's moving forward! Oh yeah~
And Hayes got to finish his T-shirt for Maqui, his first, and damn, it's really well made, and I'm so proud!

SDotP: Customizing a wig and torso armor

Thursday the wigs finally arrived, and of course.. the wig-craze that I am, I had to start styling it up as fast as possible.

The blue wig I had gotten, is long by itself, but not long enough to have the ponytail that Kaito has as the demon, alas; sewing on extensions.
The wig itself is heat resistant, and the extensions I got wasn't, so I was very lucky that the color matched up as well as it did. I got myself five single-strands of clip-on extensions, removed the clip and have sown them on were I thought would look the best in layering.
Since I'll removed them again at some point, I used black thread, so it'd be easier to spot.

 

The wig, inside out on a Styrofoam head, so it's easier to work with.

Today, I helped my lovely cosplay partner, with her torso armor.
Since she wanted something body tight, that would fit properly, we had to make it directly on her body, and so we wrapped her like a turkey (her words), and got cooking /see what I did there? 8D
We only added one layer of paper-maché, since it'll also be covered with chicken wire, and other very fun stuff, so it'll be sturdy for the stage.

As I've already said on this dA Journal, I've started scripting a few CMV's, and right now I'm working on a major one, with Ao No Exorcist, I've written down a few scenes that'd I'd like to use, but that it thus far, needs more time.

Frickin' artistic picture, because you're not allowed to know what'll happen 8D

SDotP: Drafting Armor

*scarlet demon of the pavement

I've been working a little on how I want to put together the armor for Kaito.
I want it so I can bend my body and limbs, without any problem or discomfort, so it will be a very demanding project, once I get into the MAKING of it, but as the title says..
I've made some small 3D drafts of what I've imagined it to be, so far.

This first picture is the body armor, yes. It's very simple, but it is only paper, so no greater details.
I might add some more ribcage armor, but it really depends on what I'm going to work with in the end.
The long choppy piece, will also be armor, which will follow my spine, as if the armor actually is a piece of me.

This is the 'prototype' of the armor rings, which I'll make 10 of total, all to fit each individual finger.
Since it's paper, I couldn't bend out the shape as it's supposed to go, but I've gotten a feeling of how I need to put it together and what size it'll be in the end.

Roxas is finished.

I finished Roxas the day before we had to leave for Desu, nice.

I tried a lot of new things with this costume, and I've also learned a lot.
Even with the flaws of it, I like the cosplay a lot, and I can't wait to have some pictures taken.

It was also the first time for me, to actually build shoes, which was... entertaining XD
Pretty easy, since Roxas have some mighty big shoes, so no minor detail.
I used fun foam to build the outer skeleton, and also some wire to hold it in shape, and then papermaché to make it sturdy.
Covered it with hard pleather and added details (which was actually the hardest)

I don't really have a lot of progress pictures from making the costume it self, so you'll have to settle.
The tank top, came out a little too long, so my anatomy looks a little weird, but oh well.
The pleather I worked with for the jacket and pants covers, were amazing, and so easy sew in. The red I used for the collar, WAS NOT!!
I did a lot of ragequitting on the jacket, but still managed to finish it XD

I got a lot of attention for the costume, which surprised me, because I figured that the Kingdom Hearts hype had ridden itself out, but I guess not. The wig got slightly damaged during transport, especially the flat side, and I didn't really get to remake it at the hotel, because I got busy with other stuff, but a lot of people still called it the best they've seen ever, omigosh the flatter <3

All in all, it was a really fun costume to wear, because of the attention, and the way I had to carry myself in it, because of the giant shoes (serious leg pains by the end of the day!!)

If I had to change something, I think I would tug in the leg-covers a little and make the inner collar stand up like it's supposed to.

Confined and Beautiful

I ordered a binder like... a week ago, and it came in monday, hooo yeah~
So much more comfortable than anything I've ever done to hold in the small amount of boobage that I got.




Dude! FedEx, see that's class! It came in about 24 hours after I pressed "Confirm payment", w00t!


All three manshirts, Zuum's, Hayes' and Mine. very nice.


Oh yes. Man shirt.


So right now I'm testing it out, I must say... I think I need to shrink it down a little, Toned man boobs, I don't appreciate it much, when I cosplay small boys.



Also, Kiba came by... the day before yesterday, so we could start on details for our Servant of Evil.
This time... We called out roses, since we're gonna try and win a craft-price, we're going to make as much as we can ourselves.



Working haard

I must say... IT TAKES FOREVER! Took me like 4 hours to ALMOST finish mine x__x;; but I got the technique down now >D



How you like that gorgeous?