DIY Success and A New Video

In my last post, I whined about not having made any progress with my DIY goals (or any of my summer goals), but I managed to finish two pairs of shorts in one night, and make a youtube video.

 I finished the studded shorts and corset shorts. I inserted both decorations by hand and ended up really hurting both of them in the process. The first pair of shorts have 97 studs total and the corset shorts have 18 grommets on each side. I made a little tutorial type video for the grommet shorts and intended to upload it last Saturday, but with every thing I plan on--it didn't work out. This week I plan to tackle the skeleton shorts, the bat wing crop top, and pixie skirt/shirt.

 

Failed Projects

Earlier in the summer, I made a post about intended DIY projects that I planned to do. Lack of motivation and materials prevented me from making much progress.

I did attempt two, a pixie tank top made from an old skirt and a pixie skirt made from an old pair of pants. Both have failed so far. The tip of the skirt just won't hang right and the skirt-turned-shirt is a huge mess at the moment. It's all very discouraging. Tomorrow I'm going to unstitch the skirt-turned-shirt completely and see what I can salvage. If I can't, then I have the underskirt to work with at least. If that all turns out right, I think it will give me motivations to finish the other current failure.

I have some materials on the way to work on other projects and I'm hoping these turn out better.

As for my other goals, I've made quite a bit of headway into removing clutter and junk from my room, extended my wardrobe a bit, almost finished a cosplay, but haven't managed to lose weight.

Here's to hoping for better results next week!

Levy McGarden Cosplay Update

I've finally got the full outfit together for Levy McGarden. All I'm missing is the wig, which should be arriving soon.This cosplay was pretty cheap and easy to make. The whole outfit cost no more than $20 to make, and that's because I used lots of thrifted items.

The dress itself was a lucky thrift store find. It had a similar shape to the dress Levy wears, but the color was a more vibrant orange. That wasn't a big deal for me and I prefer the color on her, so I got it. I unstitched the straps and stretchy back part. This ended up making the dress really big, so I just added some new white colored straps with no zipper or stretchy part. It goes over my head fairly easy, still.

The bow was difficult. I originally wanted to make it detachable, because I liked the look of the dress without it, but that didn't work out at all. I mad a super simple bow by scrunching a rectangle and sewing it and the wrapping two strips of fabric around it and sewing those down. I then hand sewed the bow to the dress (there was NO getting that much fabric through my machine).

The sleeves were easy to make. I measured the length of my arms and sketched out a flare shape on the fabric. I cut it all on the fold so I only had to sew one seam on each and sew the raw edges at the bottom. The white tops of the sleeves were made from strips of an old t-shirt and elastic. I couldn't sew the t-shirt material by itself on my sewing machine, so I used stitch witch. I then pinned the new straps to the tops of the sleeves and sewed them.

The headband was a challenge. Making the plain yellow fabric strip was easy enough, but adding the black lines and flowers was irritating. When I made the first black lines, the fabric pen made black ink seep throughout the fabric making smudgy lines. I re-did it with an ink pen and it worked. Cutting out foam is hard, so my first flowers weren't very pretty. It's too short to tie around my head and have the pieces hanging down, so I just pin it to my hair to create that look.

The shoes were an easy find. I see strappy red sandals ALL the time in thrift stores. Mine only cost $1.

I'll be ordering my wig soon, and I will be uploading a video/blog post about that as well.

Updates/Progress

So I haven't really done much that's worth posting about. As a result, I've slacked off on my youtube and blog. I started making a video last week about making DIY corset shorts, only to realize I didn't have grommets, but button snaps. -__- To be fair it was my own fault for not reading the order description properly.

I have, however, made a ton of progress on my Levy McGarden cosplay. I'm putting together a video of the progress and will hopefully have it up soon. I currently lack the wig and shoes. I'm possibly also missing contacts--I don't know if my circle lenses have expired yet.
 Below are some progress photos. Once the video is up, I'll make a separate post with more details about the whole process.

Dallas ComicCon 2015

So I finally got a video up with all of my con stuff, but I didn't get to vlog about it like I wanted to. It just turned out all messy and awful, so the video contains only pictures.

My aunt and uncle took me for the Saturday events and we left for Texas at 4:30 a.m. I got into cosplay in the car (makeup and all) and we rolled in at around 10 a.m. I didn't get to make it to any of the panels, but I did do some shopping and met and took pictures so many amazing cosplayers. I didn't get nearly enough pictures- there were so many amazing people and I couldn't track everyone down.

I was debuting my very first cosplay at my very first con, so I was a little nervous. However, as soon as I was through the door I was getting asked for photos of my cosplay. It was really amazing and flattering.

All the pictures I took of/with people with my camera are on the video, but I haven't managed to track down all the pictures taken of me by others. I didn't manage to take pictures of everyone I saw, and I tried with my aunt to find this one cosplayer (who we nicknamed Elusive Kiss Guy). He was dressed as Paul Stanley with silver platform boots and everything!

As far as shopping goes, I was very proud of myself for not blowing all the money I had. (You do NOT need an $80 Totoro plush Sydney). I did get two t-shirts from a booth called TeeTurtle. One has a mix between Spirited Away and Attack on Titan and another is a mix between Game of Thrones and Pokemon. I got another regular Inuyasha shirt, a little plush Totoro with a clip and zipper pocket, several buttons, a Daenerys dragon egg charm, a cupcake necklace, and a kitty ears headband.

Jack Frost Transformation + All About This Cosplay

                        
* I've put all my cosplay photos within the video, so I wouldn't have to spam it all in this post. If you would like to see them just skip towards the end.*

I fully intended to finish this cosplay in January. Then school, lethargy, and general lack of motivation prevented me from finishing it. I also intended to have three more cosplays finished by this time, but now what I lack is materials.

Anyway, this was supposed to be a simple starter cosplay. For the most part it was. The hardest part was the staff and the pants, mostly because they each took a lot of brainstorming and re-dos to get them done just right. I'm really happy with how this cosplay turned out, especially considering it was my very first one. I would say it cost me around $60 total, because of re-dos and such. The pants, hoodie, and ribbon are from wal-mart. I used Tulip brand fabric paint for the pants and hoodie and the staff was found in the woods and is held together with some bolts, nuts, and washers from the hardware store.

The Wig
I got this wig off of ebay for like $20. It came unstyled and plain and I ended up ruining a pair of shears and using a lot of gel to style the damn thing. But it turned out pretty damn good considering it was a cheap little wig. I have to do some adjusting on the sides to hide my real hair better.

The Hoodie
This wasn't even the original hoodie that I bought. I had gotten a dark navy blue one, but I realized (after I began painting it) that it was much too dark to be a Jack hoodie. I think I used about two tubes of fabric paint on this hoodie. I sketched out the design first with a white charcoal pencil and then painted it on.

The Pants
These pants were awful to work with. I bought a dark brown pair of jeggings from Wal-Mart and tried to make them lighter/rough up the texture of them with white fabric paint. It worked at first, because I watered it down, but then I got the bright idea to just paint it straight white and then remove a little bit of it with rubbing alcohol. Three tubes of fabric paint were wasted on these pants and almost a whole bottle of alcohol remover. I finally got tired of it and just went over it all with two tubes of a lighter brown fabric paint. I then sewed on some pieces of a light brown ribbon to the bottom. I also roughly cut off the bottoms of the pants.

The Staff
I originally bought three large dowel rods to make this staff, but then my uncle found me a staff in the woods that had a natural crook, so I used it instead. He cut it into pieces and drilled holes into it for me and I painted it. It's definitely not an exact replica, but it still went great with the outfit. Helping me with my staff is what inspired him to take me to my very first con (upcoming post/video about that!). He and my aunt took me and I am so very thankful that they did. After we got back to the hotel from the con, Rise of the Guardians was actually playing on T.V. and he decided that we should definitely improve on the staff and make a more accurate crook shape.

Affiliates, Conventions, and Other Things

I'm officially an affiliate for Pinky Paradise. My link is https://www.pinkyparadise.com/?Click=146727 Or you can just click on the banner I've put up.

I also received my very first Sugarpill order, so expect lots of new makeup posts and some tutorials.
I have one inspired by Gajeel Redfox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVG_HQqyTuA. I made that about a year ago and recently thought up a companion piece for Levy. Also tossing around a Lucy-inspired design.

I'll be at FanExpo in Dallas this weekend. It's my first con and I'll be debuting my first cosplay. I'll film as much as I can and upload a vlog after the weekend is out.

Pretty soon I'll also be opening up commissions for drawings. I'm going to be working out prices and all that junk this weekend and uploading some work on DeviantArt.

Just a quick post to warn what's coming ahead!

DIY Plans

In my last post I mentioned needing to make a list of all my DIY projects I planned to do. Well, I'm doing it. I'm too sick to actually do anything so I'm going to be slightly productive by planning to be productive. This list will stick to clothing items and I'll make one dedicated to accessories later.

Project #1: Skeleton shorts

Super hipster and pastel goth. Super cute. Mine will be a bit longer and and waist will be shorter. I have the shorts, I just need some more white fabric paint.

Project #2: Corset Shorts

Again, I have the shorts for these, I just need grommets and the tools necessary to put the grommets in (I found a cheap set on ebay). After I finish these I'll probably do the same to a pair of jeans.

Project #3: Studded Shorts

Studs come fairly cheap on ebay, so this pair shouldn't be that hard to make. I just need another pair of plain black shorts to decorate.



Project #4: Watermelon Shorts

I originally planned to do this last summer, but never got around to getting the dye. I have the shorts, I just need some fabric dye and a fabric pen. Watermelon is my favorite food, so when I saw these I flipped and had to have them. Totally NOT considering making the matching sneakers and buying a matching tank top. Totally...

Project #5: Pixie skirt

Sorry the image is so small. I found this on etsy, but I have a spare pare of scrub pants that I can turn into this for absolutely nothing. This one will be easy, but still a bit of a challenge considering I'm turning pants into an asymmetrical skirt.

Project #6: Dip-dyed dress

Another etsy find, but unavailable. I found a thrift store dress in the exact shape, but I need at least two more in that shape. I want to do this dip dye (minus the leopard), and black and blue dip dye, and a plain black dye (unless I find the shape in black by itself).

Project #7 Pixie dress

Yet another etsy find that I figured I could make for next to nothing with materials I already had. It looks like a gypsy skirt and I see those all the time in thrift stores. I could just hack one up and use some of the ribbon and trim I've collected over the years.

Project #8: Bat Wing Crop Top

Another from etsy. I see big t-shirts all the time for cheap at thrift stores, so I plan to snag one and re-shape it into this.

Project #9: The Patch Vest

I have several vest themes in mind, so I have no idea which one I'll start with. I have a plain vest in my closet, I just need to collect/make patches and buttons. I get inspired by The Gothic Alice's vests all the time and have ideas for a Munsters theme, Tim Burton, and Studio Ghibli.

That's all I have planned for now in terms of clothing. I feel like I could do at least two of these a week, as long as I get the materials.

Summer Projects

Yesterday I officially graduated high school. My original plan for summer was to finish up a large portion of cosmetology school before switching to part-time while I attended a regular college. Apparently doing that isn't allowed, unless I pay for cosmetology all on my own. Unfortunately I don't have $8,000 available, so my summer's been completely freed up. It's the perfect time to tackle some projects, since my original plan for being productive was smashed. By dreamsmashers. Why can't you let me be an overachiever, financial aid?

Project #1: Physical Fitness
I've struggled for years to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but nothing has ever stuck with me. So, this summer I'm going to take up doing three 30 day challenges every month (even though not each month is 30 days shh). I'll do one for arms, legs, and core. I'll also being walking about two miles each day and cutting out all junk food beginning June 1st and severely cutting down on how much meat and milk I take in. I'm not going vegan or vegetarian, just trying to maintain a healthier diet.
Goals: Lose 20 pounds, be able to jog two miles, and successfully maintain new diet.

Project #2: Cleaning Out My Room
I'll be moving out of the house and into a little college dorm room. Some furniture is provided so the big thing is getting rid of the furniture that's unnecessary. The next big thing is de-cluttering my life. And selling off most of my clutter to fund the next few projects. So I'll be listing tons of items on various resell platforms and hopefully getting it all shipped out before I move out.
Goals: Have all unnecessary furniture out by June 30th, have all unnecessary clothes and knickknacks out by July 31st.

Project #3: DIY
I have tons of DIY projects that I've never gotten around to. I have supplies that needs to be used up and several of the projects will supplement my summer wardrobe. I have a list of projects in my head that I need to put on paper and perhaps list here too.
Goals: Complete at least 3 projects a week

Project #4: Cosplay
This goes with the DIY projects really, but I feel like I should separate them. I have three, easy, summer-friendly cosplays planned that I could probably get done easily along with the DIY projects. I've wanted to cosplay for years and have finally almost finished my first one- I don't want to stop there.
Goals: Complete three cosplays before the end of summer.

Project #5: Collections
Part of cleaning out my stuff equals replacing it with new stuff. My wardrobe is really meh, due to me floundering between different styles throughout high school (and never quite understanding that liking parts of another style doesn't mean you have to leave the goth scene to adopt them). DIY and the selling off of old clothes will help implement this newer wardrobe and I hope to up my makeup collection-- now that I've discovered there's much more to makeup than eyeshadow and Wal-Mart brands.
Goals: Have actual outfits not bits and pieces that don't work together

Project #6: Creative Pursuits
In mid-high school I pretty much stopped drawing once I realized I couldn't really make a career out of it. Now my skills have completely gone down the drain. I not only want to gain back my drawing skills, but improve them while exploring other mediums as well. I also want to start putting more content on my Youtube channel and on this blog.
Goals: Post on Youtube/blog once a week, complete at least one drawing per week.

That's the main bit I'll be working on. Other goals include finally getting my driving permit, visiting friends and relatives, and bring myself to a more positive mental state.

Batty Bows

Last Halloween I spotted some bat-print fabric at Hobby Lobby. It had a blue background and I immediately pounced on it, since gothy and Halloween items that have blue worked into them seem to be rare. I bought a yard of it intending to make some hair accessories with it and so far I have a head band and now a bow.

It's a bit rough, but this is the first time I've done something like this. It turned out fairly alright. While I was making this bow I decided to use some of the leftover black fabric I had lying around from another project. I've seen bat wing bows around and found a tutorial for them using vinyl. I figured I could make one easily by just cutting out the pattern, sewing the seams, and then flipping it inside out. Boy was I wrong. It did not keep the bat wing shape at all and ended up looking like a deformed triangle. I re-cut it from smaller fabric and sewed it again. I flipped it back and was able to poke the little "points" into place. Then, I sewed over those again on the outside to try and define the shape a bit more. It worked a little.

Let's Give This A Spin

I decided to start up a blog while trying to re-animate my youtube channel at the same time. Not really sure what I expect to come from this. Perhaps some new friends and a place to post my ramblings and picture spam?

I'm terrible at introductions/bios, but I'll do my best. My name is Sydney and I enjoy makeup, sewing, cosplaying, and drawing. I love the goth subculture and plan to post some thoughts about that aspect of my life on here. I went through a period of being afraid of ovens and I would genuinely enjoy sleeping in a coffin (small cozy spaces are the best)!