Pocketful of Lazies...or was it Dasies?

I'm amazed that I'm still in one piece after enduring a pocketful of lazies a handful of challenging tasks the past few months. Working and preparing for HobbyCon isn't something I should recommend to anyone. Unless if you're not a procrastinator like myself, then you have nothing to worry about.

HobbyCon 2010 Official Poster

My preparations weren't at all that difficult, I just had to be extremely resourceful and crafty (fairy dust would be real handy at this point). The longest I've worked on had to be my brother's Miroku staff and the Tetsaiga. These two were definitely giving me a hard time. The staff actually completed months ago but then my hamster decided it was food and chewed on it. I was horrified partly because I worked long and hard on making it the first out of the many props I had to get done, and also because I was worried that that little rodent would get sick from eating craft foam and paint. Anyhow, I forgave Rose (my hamster) since I realized I'm also to blame (sort of) for placing it next to Rose's cage. Then again, the remake looks far better than version one, so I guess I have Rose to thank that for. (I'll post a picture of it soon.)

The Tetsaiga is by far the largest prop I've ever attempted (and I plan to keep it at that). That baby is approximately 4 feet in length (I haven't figured out the weight yet because I'm not quite done with it). I built the sword based on a tutorial on Cosplay.com but since most of the materials weren't available where I'm from, I got crafty. I made the Tetsaiga blade out of polystyrene board, Jonni's ultimate paper mache clay and Putty Filla (sort of like joint compound). I've just completed sanding and smoothing the whole thing today so tomorrow I can start applying the base coat before painting it. (I'll post a picture once I'm done.)

While I'm on a roll, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank a few people who were involved while I was working on Tetsaiga.

To my BF:
Thank you for supplying the materials I was lacking to complete my projects, big and small; for being there through it all, although sometimes it seemed like you were ditching me when I needed you most, but I know it was your way to let me cool off and think matters through. I have been temperamental and said things that would have hurt you but you're always so patient and kind and that's one of the many traits I admire about you.

To my BFFs:
Thank you guys for all your brotherly/sisterly support, for your valuable ideas, wonderful advices and for being alongside all my struggles. You have all been a blessing to me. I wouldn't trade any of you for anything else.

To the two biggest hypocrites:
Both of you have the worst personalities possible and it's difficult to regard either of you as faithful friends. But thanks to you, I know I want to be a better person. As Alfred Sheinwold once quoted, "Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself."

To the Prop Master:
I'm truly grateful for your offer to make me a new sword but I'm not one to depend on others - unless when I'm desperate enough (pun intended). You're a really awesome and kind person and somewhat straightforward. I'm blessed to be your acquaintance.

Happy thoughts anyone? (I've no idea why I've just said that.)

So to conclude today's tale, I'll leave you with a preview of something else I've been working on for this year's cosplay.

Till the next time, have a happy ever after from me.

T-shirt Recon: Basic Tank Top

Ever since I fixed my prehistoric sewing machine, I literally felt hooked to sewing. I have made bags, dresses and costumes, and reconstructed a completely new wardrobe. My personal and ultimate favourite is turning old pieces into new tops.

Before I had my machine fixed, I had, like, heaps of super sized shirts, a treasure cove worth discovering. Unaware of what I could do with them then, I gave the lot to my dad and brother. Well, that was a thousand light years ago. Now, I am cherishing every piece of super sized shirts that I own (not forgetting those given by my aunt of course).

I have been reconstructing many shirts recently that a friend of mine asked how I made them. So, this post is dedicated to the lovely Ms. Maya the Bee. Hope you’ll enjoy this project as much as I have.

Step 1:
Get a piece of shirt that you have not worn in a long time. Alternatively, perhaps that new piece of clothing, sitting at the same spot in your wardrobe ever since you got it - that you do not like wearing because of the style.

Step 2:
Turn it inside out like this. Now, wasn’t that easy?

Step 3:
Fold it in half like this. Before continuing to Step 4, make sure you have aligned the edges and smoothen out the creases. This is to ensure that it wouldn’t turn out funny once you cut it. You have been warned.

Step 4:
Get your favourite piece of tank top, fold it in half and align the folded edge with your shirt. You may pin down the tank top onto your shirt before you begin with the cutting process. You don’t need to turn your tank top inside out by the way.

Step 5:
Get a pair of scissors. No, not the one you use to cut papers.

Step 6:
Now we shall snip away! Well, for beginners, I recommend cutting about 1 inch away from the edges of your tank top for seam allowance. This is so you will have more room for mistakes. Once you get used to t-shirt recon, you can minimize your seam allowance to 1/2 inch or 3/8 inch (I used 3/8 inch for my part). Oh and if your shirt is non-stretchable I would recommend a wider seam allowance (no less than 1 inch) so you would not have a problem fitting into your new top.

Step 7:
If you’ve manage to cut the seam allowance without accidentally cutting your tank top, I congratulate you for a job well done. However, if you have snipped out a chunk of the tank top, stop everything and never attempt this again!

Just pulling your leg there but seriously, you should be very careful with scissors. They have minds of their own.

I know that cutting through thick layers of fabric could be tiring. So now, take a short break to flex your fingers before you continue with the armhole. It’s really all up to you whether you’d want to cut the armhole exactly the same as your tank top or to have a different design.

I made mine a little wider.

I made the shoulder about 2 inches wide.

Step 8:
You’re almost complete. Now off to sewing the sides! If you want your result to be neat, you should really pin down the edges so that the fabric wouldn’t move about while you sew.

Since I made 3/8 inch seam allowance, I’m also sewing about 3/8 inch from the edge, like so. Most sewing machines have 1 inch measurement just by the needle hole like mine does. I tried taking a picture but it came out blurry because my phone camera doesn’t do close ups.

But if you’re new to t-shirt recon and you’ve made a 1 inch seam allowance, I suggest you sew about 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch from the edges and try it on to see if it fits you comfortably.

Step 9:
If your machine has those 20 over fancy stitch styles, I recommend using the zigzag stitches to reinforce the seam at about 1/8 inch away from the first stitching. But if your machine is ancient like mine, sew a size 15 stitch at about the same distance, between your first stitch and the edges (refer to picture). This reinforcement is necessary to avoid popped seams and fraying of edges.

When you’re done, you can cut away those fabric leftovers leaving about 1/4 inch fabric.

Step 10:
You could sew the sides of the armholes by folding 3/8 inch inwards and sew about 1/8 inch away from the edges. However, if you prefer cargo style, you could skip the armhole. It would fray a little but that makes it look cool.

This whole process took me about 30 minutes because I wanted to make the armholes look neater than my previous recon. But if you leave the armholes as it is, the process only takes about 15 minutes’ tops.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the showing off admiring of your new top!

Next project on my list – jeans recon!

Until the next time, have a happy ever after from me.

New Love

It's official! I've landed on a massive heap of abundant loving - digital scrap-booking! The amount of creativity it has to offer screams "indescribable"! Think of the million inspirations one could create with so many dazzling embellishments, elegant paper designs and detailed elements.

It actually feels like running off to Neverland when I first discovered that such a thing existed. Back then, it used to be actual scraps which amply defines someone's trash is another person's treasure. It's a shame that most digital scraps cost money specifically during this global recession. We might as well just revert back to collecting trash and transform it into something beautiful but that could take a while.

There are some creators who are offering digital scraps online as freebies and I'm ever so grateful to them for their generosity. It's because of them who make poverty stricken people like me very happy. Anyhow, I'm not going to write down a piteous list of digital scrap-booking freebie sites. Go ahead and Google it by typing "digital+scrapbook+freebies" and watch as it magically list the sites for you.

As I said in my previous post I was actively sewing bags and a dress during the months of my long blog absence. Well, after a grueling episode of photo-shopping photo-impacting, I present some of my remarkable or not so remarkable projects.

The first prototype bag I made from the Buttercup Bag series

A bag I made for my good friend Maya

From the Margaret Bag series

This was a gift for my sister

My second try at Buttercup Bag

For the dress, I transformed this...

Into this!

My not-so-appealing first hand at Digital Scrapbook 

A collaboration of greens

And lo! My green dress and bag

Well, that's about all the time I have showing off blogging for today. Have a happy ever after from me!

June's Closure

Yowza!

I've been absent for a long while, haven't I? I blame that either on my busy schedule or on an acute dosage of laziness. The second excuse sounds pathetically embarrassing. So, I think I'll stick on to the white lie excuse - busy schedule. Then again, there is that occupational responsibility to consider. I wonder where I've misplaced it.

Without dawdling furthermore, I'll move on to my newsflash:-

1) I quit my previous employment sometime this year. (I can't, however, be any more specific as to when that happened as I seem to have tripped upon a heap of amnesia dust lying around. If I ever find that certain fairy responsible for causing that catastrophe, I'd be sure to give him or her a piece of my mind.)

 Uh-huh, yeah, I thought so.

2) I acquired a new career straight after my resignation. I can't formulate the words to express how terrified I was of the change at first bearing in mind that I was leaving an environment that I've grown accustomed to, but it was indeed a breath of fresh air.

3) I've shed a few more pounds and gained the curves I've always dreamed of having. When I muse over my teenage years of acne-prone facial, overly tanned skin and every bit on the heavy side, it's hard to imagine I would ever come to this.

4) I've made some lovely friends who are every bit as eccentric and air-headed and cosplay-fanatic as me. Of course, I still keep my childhood friends close in mind even though we rarely speak to each other anymore.

5) I've made plans to join the local cosplay event again this December.

 HobbyCon '09

6) I feel quite satisfied with the prototype bag I made and plan to make many more as gifts.

 More pictures soon.

7) I've made a full dress out of the left over fabric from my last year's Tinker Bell costume and I decided that I love sewing dresses. (I'll post pictures later.)

8) I've successfully transformed two old and unused t-shirts into a halter top and an edgy tank top and I plan to reconstruct all of my old shirts the same way. This is somewhat my newest obsession. (I'll post pictures later.)

9) I've read A Kiss In Time, Beastly, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, Can You Keep A Secret, Fallen, Forever Princess, The Lovely Bones and The Time Traveler's Wife all with an accumulated average time of 12 hours a book. I know what you must think of me; it's nerdy enough to read all those in 4 months, it's just pathetic to keep track of my reading progress like I'm in some kind of read-a-thon.

10) I had a root canal. The evil dentists forced it on me! Well, not exactly. It's either that or loose my stunning smile. Yeah, ouch! Needless to say, the procedure came with a hefty price tag that burned a hole in my pocket.

A glimpse.

 

Well, I've pretty much described my recent endeavor in intricate little details. Now, I would really like to write book reviews on all those books I've read. Nerdy little pixie yet again folks! Do bear with me.

It's time for me to retire to bed. Have a happy ever after from me!

A Great Loss

I am unsure of how to depict the storm of emotions I have felt come January. All I could feel is the empty dark hole and its bitter taste of loneliness. It seems as though change is constant on my part as losing another dear friend marks its history in my time line. How I wish to flee; run as far as I could before the depression I have avoided for so long would come creeping back towards me like a fly attracted to the unattended cup of sugar.

If there was a ship that would take me to Neverland, I would board it this instant because with all this sadness, I doubt I could manage to fly away from here. I have coped with my grief with a lot of fake smiles till I myself was almost sure that they were genuine enough. It was the only way to alleviate the wretched pain of dejection.

The unspoken rage and fumed faces of those people around me still lingers every time I closed my eyes. Sleeping became unbearable. The sarcastic criticism from someone as close as your own relative would root in your ear and ring at every second interval like an acidic alarm clock as had mine. The sharp stares of your uncle, contradictory to his smiles and loving efforts in making your mad cousin smile back at him would eventually scorch through your skin as if his gazes were made of volcanic inferno just as what I have felt.

The more I pondered these isolation, the more I feel engulfed by depression and the only way I could release myself off this misery is by freeing my mind to a world of fantasy.

By doing so, I read and completed "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold in less than 24 hours and it had helped to ease my pain a little..

I wish to be Susie Salmon with her very own heaven..

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold