Ohayocon 2011

I went per usual to Ohayocon this year but unlike the norm I only went for at tops an hour and a half opposed to my usual all day Saturday festivities.  I just had other more adult things to do this year like my Letterpress party with my Bridesmaids.

Typically I love Ohayocon for all it's badness. Kids doing Cosplay and not showering for days, watching nerdy reunions and people geek out in game rooms, people randomly napping in all nooks and crannies of the convention center and meeting rooms at the Hyatt, and lastly the Vendors.  I really love the vendors.  It's like all the spledidness from the internets of Manga/Anime Geekdom convulge into one place locally for me.  Sure there are bigger and better Cons but this one is practically in my backyard and for what I want to do mostly free.

The people watching is the best.  Just a bunch of awkward people usually who feel a little outcast for being otaku's and then happily being surrounded by virtually themselves in all different ages and sizes and costumes.  My favorite is when someone trips with their sword on the stairs into other people ( I know I'm kinda mean).

I watch Anime and read Manga myself but I'm not totally otaku about it.  Sure I've done a little cosplay but nothing that drastic.  I have done NaNa Osaki a couple times and then Dr. Girlfriend from Venture Brothers on Adult Swim.   This year I said if I was going to go I would dress up as Paprika since she's pretty simple and low-key.  This year was no time and since I wasn't going on a major day I just went scoping it all out with my camera.

Enjoy the madness Below!

This was Actually a pretty keen Leather Armor piece that they were selling at the LARP looking booth

This Booth is a pretty regular spot, making polar fleece animal hats

My Plushie HEAVEN!

This was the first year I saw H.Naoto that I can remember here.  Very cute Goth/Punk/Lolita boutique but it's not like I wear any of that anymore.  The Visual Kei boys were KYOOOT to look at though!  I guess the guy in my photo is a little bit famous with Sixh.IBI.  With a little bit of research I found out that he is a designer for the brand. Which I wish I knew beforehand so I totally could of talked a little shop with him instead of just flirting with another Visual Kei boy at the booth (Don't tell my fiancee ( Oh crap he reads this sometimes)).  Perhaps next year I will get decked out in some of my MOOL from Korea and my Vivienne Westwood.

She was my Absolute Favorite Cosplay I saw on Sunday.  She looked good, the costume was good, right body type and special place in my heart because I do Dr. Girlfriend for Cosplay also.

And leaving the Con is always an interesting sight in itself.

Finally my Spoils from the short time in the dealers room but at this point in my life there isn't all that much stuff that I need or want from Anime or Manga.  I got  a Zero Plushie from Nightmare before Christmas and an H.naoto Hangry keychain.

I love the dsetail on this keycahin how even on the back they didn't skimp on it.  It is my new favorite accessory right now.   

Perhaps next year you will be enchanted or curious to come out with me and check out Ohayocon! At the very least it makes for some fun free people watching!

The process of Nana Part 1

So as a lot of people already know I am a little obsessed with the Manga called NaNa.  I am even re-creating one of her outfits for Ohayocon.    This is the post showing my progress on the project.

It is unfortunately somewhat knocking off a Vivienne Westwood design which does irk me a little.  I hate to me imitating anyone but in my defense this is considered a costume.  I didn't go balls to the walls and get red wool coating like I could have and I picked a herringbone patterned black wool for the heart.

Fabrics were bought Locally at "Sew to Speak"

Black wool Herringbone, Red Velveteen, and This polyester white, yellow and grey tartan tafetta.

Next was the Draping and patterning followed by Cutting

For this I did a short cropped jacket with a flounce attached, it has two hidden pockets with flaps, rounded almost shawl like collar with the heart closure and one-piece long sleeves.  Also it has same fabric facing to attach the china silk lining to the interior.  I use a combination of Multiple Weights, "Mark-b-gone" markers and Clover quilter's chalk when laying out my patterns.  Another funny thing that I do is that I make my patterns with NO seam allowance.  I add the seam Allowance when I am tracing the patterns onto the fabric.  This gives me leeway for grading or resolving problems I might have forgotten earlier or just spotted.  Usually I can catch everything when I do the first muslin mockup but we all make mistakes, especially when you are sick and it is freezing cold in the basement where your studio happens to be.

Currently I am still sewing the pieces together.  I of course serged all the main body edges and I will only serge some of the lining because I don't want to bulk it up.  I also avoided serging the upper collar to keep it from bulking up as well.  Alright that is all for now, back to sewing and starting the skirt.  Keep tuned for Part 2

Rocking the Horse

I hate when Christmas lists escape me.   All the things I want I forget to put down in time.  Such as Rocking Horse Shoes.  In particular these Vivienne Westwood's.  I just saw them again on Style Bubble and coveted them instantly all over again.

Although I know most would say I am too old to think and dress like a Gothic Lolita deep down in my heart I still want to do it.  I like to use Ohayocon as my excuse to play dress up. Though I doubt I will have a full Lolita outfit I will still most likely portray my current Favorite Anime Character Nana Osaki from the NaNa manga.

I did find some decent imitation Vivienne Westwood Rocking horse Shoes on Ebay which I think I might Purchase this year for Ohayocon in January.

I'll make a larger blog about my love for Gothic Lolita Another day.  I still have TONS of things to do before Christmas and errands to run!