Busy not-work [Manarelle]

[Manarelle]

Goals:

• Working out: keep it up.
• Languages: keep them up. 
• Learning: keep this low-key, read 3 books.
• Cosplay:
  • Finish scalemail for Valkyrie (cosplay sketch)
  • Make vest for Taboo - the base part, at least 
  • Sort out the gentleman's lighting harness for Backlash's whips

 

Extras:

• Hygge: so far the weather has been decent, but that could turn at any moment. Keep seeking out hygge and use the lamp to combat SAD.
• Day's end outlook: keep working to change from "there isn't enough time" to "I accomplished what I could today, and am grateful."

 

Sticking with the KISS idea for this challenge: maintain exercise and language habits, and keep working on hygge and my daily outlook. I'm keeping the learning hobby low-key for this challenge, because I really want to ramp up the cosplay goals. Why? Keeping the answer simple, too: work will be going through a lot of changes this year, possibly a re-org, and possibly the opportunity to move. I don't want to just sit around and wait to see what happens, but I don't want to be caught mid-major project either, if we're given the opportunity to move. So for now, I'm roughly planning to have Taboo and Backlash ready for a May convention, and Valkyrie for the October one, but finished ahead of time. We are also getting married in May, but that's a super-low-key affair, so it doesn't affect this challenge. 

 

As of this morning, the Valkyrie vest is 90% done. I'm waiting on side stays to arrive this weekend, then I'll add grommets and sew the bottom hem closed. The next step is sizing up the scalemail and figuring out how to attach it so I can still fit the vest over my head. What I have so far is roughly 8"x8" and took 7 hours to make, so that'll be a long process. 

 

[Love_Of_Snuggles]

2 hours ago, Manarelle said:

We are also getting married in May

 

Congrats! I hope it's a wonderful event, even if it's low key

 

Can't wait to see your finished scale mail, maybe it's time for me to stretch a bit with my crafting...

[WhiteGhost]

Here and excited to see how the cosplay stuff turns out

[KB Girl]

Following! 

[Akura]

On 1/1/2020 at 5:55 PM, Manarelle said:

Learning: keep this low-key, read 3 books.

 

3 books in one month is low-key...?! 👀 I'm happy if I manage to finish one book... 😅

[Manarelle]

1 hour ago, Akura said:

3 books in one month is low-key...?! 👀 I'm happy if I manage to finish one book... 😅

 

I apparently read very quickly. When I'm  the gentleman and I are reading the same page, I can read it, get bored, read it again, and still wait a bit before he finishes. Also, the "learning" hobby has typically been online classes in the past, so I view books as less demanding. 

 

The side stays came in last night, and I was able to sew the channels for them before I had to workout. I also marked out the placement for the grommets, but ran out of time before I could add them. I should be able to get those done and the bottom hemmed to finish that up this weekend. Finished off the second bag of scales, and moved the sewing dummy upstairs to have close at hand while sizing and building out the scalemail.

 

 

 

Not sure the timeframe on that, though, because the gentleman informed me he needs to send the Backlash knife off to the leatherworker this coming week to build a scabbard. The weather isn't conducive to painting, so I'll have to put all the pieces together unfinished and then paint it when it gets back. Not super ideal, but c'est la vie. Still, making progress!

[raptron]

Sooo excited about this scale mail. 

[Defining]

1 hour ago, Manarelle said:

I apparently read very quickly. When I'm  the gentleman and I are reading the same page, I can read it, get bored, read it again, and still wait a bit before he finishes. Also, the "learning" hobby has typically been online classes in the past, so I view books as less demanding. 

*cough shameless promo for reading challenge cough*

 

How do you decide on budgets for cosplay? Seems like it could get out of hand soooo quickly if we're not careful...

[Manarelle]

59 minutes ago, Defining said:

*cough shameless promo for reading challenge cough*

 

How do you decide on budgets for cosplay? Seems like it could get out of hand soooo quickly if we're not careful...

 

Ooh hey, didn't know about that, thank you. Don't know that I have a list, per se, just things I run across and sound interesting.

 

Erm... right... budgets... 

 

 

Ah... I don't really "plan" a budget for a costume. I tend to be frugal and minimalist anyway, so each piece sort of starts with "can I make this out of what I have?" If the answer is no, I poke around for a while seeing what the options are and balancing cost vs time. For example, Mjolnir for Thor was $7 worth of yoga blocks, a $3 piece of pvc pipe, and about $15 worth of leather strips because other handle wrapping material looked not good at all. The total cost for Thor was maybe $250, spread out over a year or so? And I still have a lot of the materials that I can use for future projects.

 

Someone long ago told me that it's best not to track costs on things you're passionate about - if you really want to do it, cost won't stop you (though being frugal is still wise). Since I try to start (and finish) well ahead of deadlines, I can space out "big" purchases or wait for sales if I really have to; for example, I know I'll need new shoes/ boots for Valkyrie, but I can probably reuse them for Taboo, so I'll see how prices are come spring when those typically go on sale. That said, I'm sort of living in denial about how much money (and time) it'll take to make wings. Shhhh. That'll come later. 

 

On the other hand, my gentleman makes about half again what I do and doesn't think he's crafty. He's already spent a couple hundred on Backlash for items I can't do (a custom mask to work with his glasses, custom leatherworking, custom metalworking, etc), and I know he dropped at least $600 on stuff for a Chriton cosplay from Farscape before. So it's really a matter of personal choice and what you're willing to spend in time vs money. Lots of blathering, hope that sort of answered your question? 

[Anim07734]

4 hours ago, Defining said:

How do you decide on budgets for cosplay? Seems like it could get out of hand soooo quickly if we're not careful...

 

3 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Someone long ago told me that it's best not to track costs on things you're passionate about - if you really want to do it, cost won't stop you (though being frugal is still wise).

 

Exactly this.  Cosplay is no more (or less) expensive than any other hobby.  Compared to some hobbies, like rebuilding a car or home remodeling, it's downright affordable.  It's all about finding what you enjoy doing and working it into your budget.

[Elennare]

*waves*

[Defining]

5 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Ah... I don't really "plan" a budget for a costume. I tend to be frugal and minimalist anyway, so each piece sort of starts with "can I make this out of what I have?" If the answer is no, I poke around for a while seeing what the options are and balancing cost vs time.

 

1 hour ago, Anim07734 said:

Exactly this.  Cosplay is no more (or less) expensive than any other hobby.  Compared to some hobbies, like rebuilding a car or home remodeling, it's downright affordable.  It's all about finding what you enjoy doing and working it into your budget.

 

Awesome. I was mostly just curious, because I can definitely see being able to reuse pieces/materials for different set-ups. Also, I added up what I've spent on video/photography equipment in the last decade, and was sad for myself at how high it ended up being (I mean, it's less than $600/year, but still...). And the idea of adding another hobby has got me gun-shy; but also the 'maker' part of cosplay really appeals, so I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to throw myself down the deep end of another 'expensive' pastime.  

[Manarelle]

2 hours ago, Elennare said:

*waves*

 

❤️ *waves back*

 

1 hour ago, Defining said:

And the idea of adding another hobby has got me gun-shy; but also the 'maker' part of cosplay really appeals, so I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to throw myself down the deep end of another 'expensive' pastime.  

 

I would definitely recommend starting out with an "easy" costume - something that only takes one (or two) skills/ supply chains for. My first "cosplay" was a Jedi outfit that only required sewing. When that one went well, I branched out to thermoplastics and leatherworking for Thor, now adding scalemail  (and wings) for Valkyrie. Start simple, see if it's something that speaks to you before investing too much in it. 

[Defining]

14 hours ago, Manarelle said:

I would definitely recommend starting out with an "easy" costume - something that only takes one (or two) skills/ supply chains for. My first "cosplay" was a Jedi outfit that only required sewing. When that one went well, I branched out to thermoplastics and leatherworking for Thor, now adding scalemail  (and wings) for Valkyrie. Start simple, see if it's something that speaks to you before investing too much in it. 

I'm mostly intrigued by leather work & thermoplastics, more so than sewing projects. Sewing always seems so intimidating! Plus I can practice by making jewelry n stuff.

[Anim07734]

16 hours ago, Defining said:

And the idea of adding another hobby has got me gun-shy; but also the 'maker' part of cosplay really appeals, so I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to throw myself down the deep end of another 'expensive' pastime.  

 

14 hours ago, Manarelle said:

I would definitely recommend starting out with an "easy" costume - something that only takes one (or two) skills/ supply chains for. My first "cosplay" was a Jedi outfit that only required sewing. When that one went well, I branched out to thermoplastics and leatherworking for Thor, now adding scalemail  (and wings) for Valkyrie. Start simple, see if it's something that speaks to you before investing too much in it. 

 

My first cosplay was ~$50 in paint, glue, and tape as I scavenged cardboard from the dorm recycling for a year.  Whatever skills you already have can be used to make a great costume, if you give yourself enough time.  Then you expand from there as you gain confidence.

[Manarelle]

1 hour ago, Defining said:

I'm mostly intrigued by leather work & thermoplastics, more so than sewing projects. Sewing always seems so intimidating! Plus I can practice by making jewelry n stuff.

 

Definitely fair. I started sewing decades ago, so it's nbd for me now. Seconding @Anim07734 - work with what you have. If you're interested in thermoplastics, grab a sheet of worbla and give it a try. 

[Manarelle]

Vest finished:

 

 

Scalemail progress, debating on how to fit it and if the top center sag looks dumb:

 

 

Backlash knife progress (sanded paint drips, attached handle). Discovered my almost-empty bottle of contact cement had dried, so need to pick up another tomorrow so I can attach the blade and the handle spikes, then it'll be ready to be sent out. I'll paint it when it returns:

 

 

Was planning on keeping on working on the scalemail, but I had to glue the spring on one set of pliers back into place, and I've spent over 8 hours crafting today, among other household chores. I think tonight will be relax time. The gentleman is out dj'ing, so the house is quiet and peaceful and I can do whatever the heck I darn well please (probably reading). 

[WhiteGhost]

All of those are looking great.  I am especially impressed with the scalemail, but that backlash knife is looking very wicked  

[Anim07734]

Those look incredible.  Personally, I think the neck on the scalemail looks like a natural sag.  Maybe see how it feels when you move in it, but chafing would be my only concern.

[Manarelle]

On 1/5/2020 at 1:38 AM, Anim07734 said:

Those look incredible.  Personally, I think the neck on the scalemail looks like a natural sag.  Maybe see how it feels when you move in it, but chafing would be my only concern.

 

Thanks. I'm putting it aside to work on Taboo, but I might say eff it and make the scalemail an entire crop top. It's a bit awkward because i want to see how the vest, scale shirt, pauldrons, and wings all fit together, but I can't do that without, you know, making them.... so I suspect there will be v1s and v2s of everything but the feathery bits on the wings. Yeeeeeey. 

[Red1263]

*poke poke* Hello!

 

Thanks for checking up on me.

[WhiteGhost]

16 hours ago, Manarelle said:

 

Thanks. I'm putting it aside to work on Taboo, but I might say eff it and make the scalemail an entire crop top. It's a bit awkward because i want to see how the vest, scale shirt, pauldrons, and wings all fit together, but I can't do that without, you know, making them.... so I suspect there will be v1s and v2s of everything but the feathery bits on the wings. Yeeeeeey. 

Wow, that sounds like soooooooo much work. 

[Manarelle]

8 hours ago, Red1263 said:

*poke poke* Hello!

 

Thanks for checking up on me.

 

Anytime.  We all need occasional prodding to get motivated. 

 

1 hour ago, WhiteGhost said:

Wow, that sounds like soooooooo much work. 

 

Yup, it is. But it's so worth it when you put it all on and look badass. And even more so when the first person runs up to you excitedly and asks for a picture.  Thor was around 200 hours, I expect Taboo to be significantly less, and Valkyrie to be significantly more, with the wings. 

 

Got the mockup for the Taboo vest done last night, looks good, no tweaking required (I cheated and just modded the Valkyrie vest pattern, so it was already mostly fitted). Woke up this morning to a dead car battery, though, so looks like 2020 is gonna continue the roller coaster theme. Thankfully the gentleman has a work vehicle, so I can use his personal vehicle, but still not something I wanted to deal with. 

[Manarelle]

Not quite finished yet, but the vest for Taboo is coming along well. Just need to find a 20" metal zipper to put in the front and decide if I want a flap to cover it or let it be visible. 

 

 

 

Otherwise, pretty boring week. Just plugging along.

[Anim07734]

You could also pick a purple or "invisible" purple zipper to mostly hide it without the work of making a flap.  Depends on the look you want.