ailsa_chan

And other cosplay stories.

Aya is on Friday. Before today, I was panicking. I even had a dream about everything going wrong. I had to work yesterday (because I was down to work the Aya weekend and this was the only one I could swap to) and had a to-do list as long as a very long thing. But today, despite having not enought sleep, I feel more confident. Cosplauy rundown and progress pics under the cut.

( Aya in T minus 5... )

I've copied my lj across to Dreamwidth, largely so it's backed up. Ailsa-chan again, if you want to find me. Need to play around with the layout, as I don't like the one I've got be default. I do like the fact it gives me a nice list of tags with usage stats.

Firstly - Steam in a bottle.

Tab has been kind enough to build me a little steam generator for the violin. It's even better than I could have imagined, and the video doesn't do it justice. My camera's not the best for filming, and unfortunately I jumped quite violently when it went off! If you want steam for any costumes, or just for an exciting household decoration, talk to Tab. It's a Good Idea.



Someone at work found this. Just watch and be amazed by the power of Extreme Sheep-Herding. You will not be disappointed.




Longleat was good, if wet. I got to hold a tarantula, finally, and a Royal Python. The tarantula was lighter than I expected, and quite soft. The snakes were adorable, very active and interested in exploring. There are also porcupines, which are much cuter than you'd expect.

Also, we've pretty much gone through most tracks on World Tour, at least in the main game. We've even unlocked Tool ($8000?!!??), though the second track almost killed me. I was in terrible pain from about half way though, something about the strumming pattern just cramped up my arm, but I couldn't stop. You don't stop the rock unless your arm falls off. Oddly enough, the third track was fine.

I've been working my way through GHIII, largely because I wanted to play Knights of Cydonia by Muse. Having found it and played it once, I think I'll stick to just listening to it. There's something particularly horrible about murdering a song you love. Also - guitar battles? What's with that. I'm quite happy to accept that Slash is a better guitarist than me, I really don't need to go though frantic guitar mastibation to prove a point.

Not doing too good at the moment, hence the lack of posting. This weekend I have been playing Guitar Hero (a la XKCD it's the first one), which has cheered me up a bit - probably because I'm not as shit at it as I though I was. We'll probably get a copy of World Tour at some point soon; when we do, would people jam with me?

Anyway, found this and it's all kinds of awesome:

Whoo! They're making a Fairy Tale anime!
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-26/fairy-tail-manga-gets-anime-adaptation-green-lit

Also: Whoo! Blood Bowl!
http://bloodbowl.nexway.com/index2.html?REF=671877&Cur=826

Hijack over...

My cogs arrived! They're adorable. I need to find a container to put them in.

Going to try making another hat today, as my first attempt looks a bit, sucky really. I think I can see what went wrong (it's too big for a start), so I think I can sort it out.

D&D party managed to acquire new horses without too much hassle. (You see, pooling your money and going and buying them works nicely, though doesn't lead to any memorable tales to retell round the camp fire.) Things got a little bit more exciting when Esselt announced he wanted to either keep or sell Amari's horse, but the party talked him down. Esselt is still trying to think of a suitable revenge, but can't come up with anything that won't get him killed. So he's currently wandering around with a little pony that he doesn't quite no what to do with.

Other plans for tonight involve spicy tuna lasagna and Supernatural. Awesome.

Big hugs to everyone out there who is having a hard time for one reason or another. Seems this year isn't being any kinder and it seems to be the same people suffering. I wish I could change it; give some peace to those who need it, and teach those who cruise through life on the backs of others to understand real problems. But I don't know how to do that, so I'll just say I'm here when anyone needs me.

My weekend was spent finished the third Phoenix Wright game, which was awesome, and making Amari's skirt, which is looking pretty good if I say so myself. I might have to take some progress pictures. Unfortunately it's not quite finished, as I went down to the guild hall market to pick up more lace, and they've sold out of the black one. I can have it in white or pink, but not black. Bollox.

Finally, a question about hats! I've decided to go with a tri-corn, which I will make out of the same velvet as the frock coat. It's not the stuff I picked up in london, it's a stretchy velour and about as stiff as a very unstiff thing. What do I need to back it with, to make it rigid enough to make the hat, but still flexible that I can bend the brim in place? I'm guessing interfacing alone isn't going to be enough.

When reading about the MP expenses, that they sound like a bunch of roleplayers who have been caught twinking? Twinking, for those on my friend's list who are not roleplayers (there might be some) is doing something in the letter of the rules, but not necessarily the spirit of the rules that gives you a major advantage above other charecters your level (usually in battle). See, for example, the spiked chain, whoes twinkiness when combined with the right feats is demonstrated in Order of the Stick:
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0216.html

There tend to be two sorts of twink: some are absolutely unashamed about it. Others will tend to act outraged that you'd suggest such a thing and refute the accusation with such lines as:
"I'm not a twink, because if I was I would have made myself even harder!"
"I'm not a twink, because everyone else is doing it!"
"I'm not a twink, because it's in the rules!"

Sound familiar to anyone else?

Also in the news:
This made me laugh - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/29/graun_neals_yard_storm/
The Guardian hosts a question and answer forum for Neal's Yard Remedies, which is quickly jumped on by a group of psuedosciece haters and some very tough questions left, like "How do you validate the medical efficacy of your 'remedies'?" and "Influenza Ainsworth Homoeopathic Remedy - Your website sells this product. What evidence do you have that this product is of any benefit whatsoever? Did you know people die of flu?" Neal's Yard ended up not answering any questions.

So very tired, but it was actually a very good weekend. There was still lots of work, lots of stress and I couldn't stand by Sunday evening, but it was rewarding work and there was plenty of fun involved too. Be warned, rambly post is rambly. Coherent thought patterns have not emerged yet.

( Thursday/Friday )

( Saturday )


( Sunday )

Memories of the weekend include

- Discussing the Chin of Italy
- Doing a double-take as someone with impressive facial hair comes up behind me, only to realise it's Annette.
- Theiving Darrin's chips
- Trying to get into Excel on Sunday and being told "You're not our cosplay staff." (They were quickly corrected)
- Discovering Minxie has the best chest for hugging
- James demonstrating to Jake that being tall is no excuse for not being able to dance.
- Timber's impression of a dying moth in the masquerade queue
- Tab's incressingly paniced face as various members of the group kept disappearing
- Being thanked by a Lulu cosplayer because she really enjoyed the masquerade.

I'm sure there was more, but I'm still really sleepy. I need to buy milk, tidy up the cosplay room, and sew things to other things. I wonder what I'll do first!

Nice lot of social events have just about got me over post holiday downer. Thursday was pre-birthday celebrations with Alex and Marcus, while Friday was actual celebrations with more people that there was room for in the Wetherspoons. (Not helped by the fact that all three big booths were being occupied by couples. Wankers.) Still, we got one in the end and just about managed to sqeeze round - Marcus has too many friends! Saturday was an evening of watching Soul Eater with Wessex. I'd spent the afternoon doing Amy's wig, so by the time people came round I was pretty high on the fumes.

Amy is largely ready to do. I have to buy and attach the roses to the wig, and make the chocker, plus sort out suitable holdups. I think I'll leave the boots until Aya, not because I don't have time, but because wearing anything but the most comfy shoes will kill me. The wig isn't purfect, but it't not bad, considering I've never really attempted anything like that before. The spirals sit a bit closer to the head than they should but I couldn't see how to make them stay in shape otherwise, not without making complex structures and I didn't really have time to get into that. I was lucky enough to find Tresemme hairspray on offer in town, so I shouldn't run out for a while.

Good luck to all those finishing exams, doing coursework or desperately sewing. I'll hopefully catch many of you at expo. The docklands is out, so I imagine we won't be far from the expo center all weekend.