Archive Post - First Plushies

2007 was my first year in a real college setting, away from home. I went a little...insane. So I don't have a lot of cosplays to show for that year, but I did start making plushies for the first time.

A note before we begin! With the exception of Gluttony, I made every single plush here using this pattern by the awesome BabyLondonStar. The skins were all fleece, the hair was all felt (Izumi's was yarn), and the clothing was anything I could get my hands on at the time. I made all of these plushies (yes, all 11) in the span of about a month. I'm still not entirely sure how. I blame the insanity.

He turned out better than my Envy costume did *sob*

Archive Post - 2006 was not my year

So after that first year of cosplay, I could only get better, right?

Oh no. I had incredible beginner's luck with those first two costumes, as you'll see. My second year was, well...

 There are so many things wrong with this picture. I don't even know where to begin. The terrible wig. The dress that doesn't even fit me. The boot covers. So many details just plain wrong or missing. What was I doing in 2006? Oh, right.

 If I remember correctly, right before Animazement 06 I started reading Fullmetal Alchemist, which of course took away from my time to work on Lillymon above. I then decided at last minute to make this costume, which took me a whole twenty minutes or so of sewing...but it took me days to find all of the materials to make it, further taking away from time to work on other costumes. Ugh.

 I later remade both costumes:

Now this is more like it. Correct details, form-fitting costume...

Better wig, better material choice, and hoo boy was I in great shape when I wore this costume the second time. 

So if nothing else, I definitely learned from my mistakes in 2006.

Archive Post - Humble Beginnings

Oh, 2005. That seems like so long ago now. I've definitely learned a lot about sewing and cosplay and everything since then. Here's a look at my first two cosplays ever:

  What can I say about this one? I still have the wig and the dress to this day, and I even into 2012 this is my default "I don't have anything else to wear to this convention" costume. Since the picture was taken I've restyled the wig at least five times, lost a substantial amount of weight, gotten correct shoes, and learned how to properly apply makeup.

Well, here's a look at the only surviving picture of my very first cosplay, all the way back from Animazement 2005, my first attempt at Twilight Suzuka from Outlaw Star. Oh, did I have a lot to learn back then. Like not to use shiny satin, for example. But, I've now made that kimono three times and worn the costume countless numbers of times. And...I still haven't gotten the hair perfect yet. xD  

In contrast to that, I wore both costumes to conventions in 2011. How do they look now that I've got a few years of experience under my belt? (Or...would it be 'under my obi' since...ah, nevermind):

 

I'd call that a success. :D

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello, I'm Artikgato, and this is my crafting blog. My goal is to post at least one new handmade thing on this blog per week during 2012, in the hopes that weekly deadlines will motivate me to stay off of tumblr and get actual work done. xD I'll mostly be posting plushies (stuffed animals) that I make, but you can expect to see some costumes and other things pop up from time to time. I may even post some tutorials/how-tos! I'm very easily distracted by new projects and techniques, and oh look, a kitty!