Almost there.... (Posted 3rd April 2012)

With only a week or so until Kitacon, I find myself in a bit of a rush as usual with my cosplays. However I have only painting left to do for Terra!

Just today i have completed the boots, I've not got for the 'exact'boot design, just something similar due to the style of boots I used. Anyways the boots involved lots of shoe dying, both spray dye and by brush. Then I cut the cuff and added matching red fabric to cover the non-leather part that was hidden under the cuff (wish i hadn't cut the cuffs really haha)with gold ribbon for imitation lace effect.
The gloves are also complete, now with flowers painted at the tops, they just need a little fix with the iron. The cape is almost complete too, I have been painting flowers on the bottom but not sure how many, so i might add more.

I've also been painting more flowers....onto my tights...painting of all these flowers has seemed never ending lol

Fingers crossed i complete the costume within the week ^__^

Curls, lots of Curls! (Posted 1st March 2012)

One word.....Wig! Basically I've spent the last few weeks researching and practising how to tie up my wig into a decent ponytail, and i have come to the conclusion that its still no easier no matter how many times i do it (I've done the same thing for Judith and for Jupiter too) I eventually just threw it back and have settled on a messy look, but thankfully Terra's hair has a bit of a wild look so i recon it'll work fine. I had to add a few extra wefts, that i created from the clip in ponytail i was originally going to use, so i spend a few days sewing wefts here and there too, trying not to restrict the stretch of the wig too much.
My next issue was curling the wig, I defeinately wanted to emphasise Terra's curly locks as I have curls of my own (this is one for the curly girls) Her hair is particularly curly in some of the amano drawings so i thought it would suit the design well.
I tried various different methods of curling and none of them gave me lasting results, until i decided to risk using s styling tong and.....voila! the curls are bouncier than i could've hoped for! All thanks to a cheap (£3.79) styling tong my problem is solved.
Lastly I have added extra wefts to the ponytail (but i failed to photograph that) and have been spraying lots of hairspray at the front bangs to give them more shape and hopefully keep the crazy curls out of my eyes!

I've yet to try the wig on properly with all the new curls in place but i shall do a makeup test soon and give it a whirl then.

Fabric Painting Forever...or so it seems! (Posted 26th February 2012)

Yes I am still making progress on Terra, Very slowly but something nonetheless. As I've said before money is causing me an issue so its taking me some time to get all the materials together. I've made work on her Earrings, though they may just be the prototype for the real things.
Also just thought i'd post a picture of one of her scarfs, I have been painting the black stripes on by hand, day by day and i've finally used up all of the black fabric paint i had left, so now i need more to finish it haha
I will get paid next week so hopefullt i can purchase the final few pieces of fabric i need and can really get in gear to finish this for Kitacon!

Fabric hassle! (Posted 11th January 2012)

Right well, this entry is more of a rant than anything! I've had a day struggling over the dress, all because of my own idiocy (I stupidly didn't cut the pattern pieces out on the direction of the stretch of the fabric >_<)
I finally have it pinned together, but i've now noticed that the fabric is a little bit transparent which will be a pain when i wear it..but nevermind. Stretchy fabric is one of my enemies and yet i insisted on using it so the dress would match the gloves lol
I also had a change of heart for the cape fabrics, and after a lovely shopping trip in London I found some gorgeously light fabrics that are also two-toned. I've decided not to go for the gradient dye look and seems like i'm going for darker tones than i orginally planned.....but i like it ^_^

Wig finally arrived and I've been working on curlying the fringe, next will be the horrible task of styling it so it looks like it in a ponytail >_<

I'm moaning so much and yet I'm really excitied about this project hahaha

Starting small.... (Posted 5th December 2011)

I haven't had a lot of time on my hands lately but have managed to make a start even if its just with small pieces of this costume. I have had a slight obsession with bows lately so it hasn't taken me long to get a hair bow made up with a scrap of lilac fabric i had, to add some sparkle I've trimmed the ends with some lilac beading fringing and will be investing or making a brooch to sit in the center.

I originally bought the lilac fringing for my cape, which i think it will make a pretty touch to it when its complete, I've currently just pinned it to the hemmed fabric (seen under the photos tab), I need to attempt dip dying the cape fabric first though which i have yet to brave doing.

I have been trying to save the pennies where possible with this costume as I can see it could easily get out of hand so I've decided to recycle my pale blonde clip in ponytail that i used for Rikku. This means i've settled on blonde for Terra's hair colour as i couldn't find a decent wig in an appropriate green and style. Of course although recycling a ponytail is cost free, i've given myself extra work in styling it. Terra's has lovely curly/wavy locks so i've been trying out different methods of curling the synthetic fibres. I think the best method for myself is simply using straighteners (at their lowest setting) on small bunches of fibres, and then quickly rolling them in foam curlers. I leave the curlers in for at least a few hours to to be sure, and i seem to achieve a nice subtle curl as a result.

::Foraging for materials:: (Posted 23rd November 2011)

I've been really keen to start this cosplay as soon as possible, but with low funds its not easy to get going. However I decided to go for a rummage in my fabric basket and low and behold, I found two pieces of fabric that are ideal for Terra. A little scrap of lilac fabric for her hair bow, and a long floaty number for her cape! The cape fabric is just what i had in mind, its quite transparent, so it'll give a magical look to the costume. I'm going to attempt some gradient dying to get the gorgeous 'watercolour' effect of the amano drawings too, which will be a first for me.
My next issue has been struggling to find any boots that resembled the pointed toe, cuff and lace up combination of Terra's but i knew i had a pair of lovely pointy leather boots hiding in my cupboard. After some thought, i've decided to make some boot covers for these boots to save money, and another positive is that they will match the dress fabric ^_^
Finally I purchased some fabric flowers off ebay to see what they were like, and I'm thinking with an added splash of colour to them they'll make an interesting alternative to painting on the floral design on Terra's dress.

I'm soo pleased that i can actually make a start on this costume despite my money problems. Cosplay will always win! haha