True Form Midna Complete - and a dance!

I finally did it!   I made my True Form Midna costume, and I think it turned out great!
We didn't go anywhere for a photo shoot.  It was super hot that day, the costume is NOT heat friendly, and the fact that I was 9 weeks preggo didn't help much.  Yes... my belly is showing.  I worked like crazy the beginning of the year and actually got a flat tummy (I've not had that in years).  I was so proud!  But we got pregnant, so no more flat tummy for at least another year or two, lol.  That's ok though.  We had fun with it when dressed as Mario and Peach on the Sunday.

This costume took so many hours to make.  I spent about 30-40 hours on the cape alone (25 or more just putting the ribbon on the back... yes, that is ribbon cut, placed, and glued.  Paint just doesn't happen as evenly as ribbon does).  The zentai suit took forever as the paint did not want to work properly for me.  I finally 'finished' but am still unhappy with the 'splotchy' job of the paint (many people have assured me it looks so smooth, but it's not good enough for me, lol).  The blue is glow in the dark puff paint.  The headpiece is made from wood, clay, and wire.  And some chain.  I love how it turned out!  It is my favorite of the whole outfit!  The wig I'd do differently.  I bought a really cheap one from Party Stuff, and won't do that again.  It was not easy to work with.  It turned out alright, but next time I'll order a higher quality wig.  I got the contacts from honeycolor.  They were great!  I wore them longer than the perscribed 8 hours, and my eyes were fine.  I used Ben Nye clown white makeup and it was so much easier to apply than the diaper rash cream I used on my trial run 2 months earlier.  SO. MUCH. EASIER. 

In all, I'm happy with this costume!  I probably won't be wearing it again for a long time, but I'm still impressed with it.  I even entered the costume contest at AiKon and did a belly dance!  You can see it here.  I'm very proud of it, and I've never done a solo performance before... and this was in front of 700 people (and you could see them all!  I was so terrified, I almost backed out last minute).  It's a zills routing (finger cymbals) and yes, I am using the cymbals, and you can hear them (suprisingly) in the video!

Here are some pics of the costume, taken by Droo of Droo Photography.

Zelda Cosplay

I recentlly finished my Zelda costume! I'm so proud! I tried to be as detailed as possible, and I think for my first actual cosply, it turned out awesome! (I don't count Peach, because I actually started hers after Zelda's, and it didn't take any detail at all... not really). I finally bought the ears... I didn't want to spend the $21 for the ears and the spirit gum... I thought it was pricey. In all, including the ears (which will be used for other cosplays) I spent about $40. Yup! I'm so proud!

My husband took these photos. I love how they turned out. I thought this location reminded me of the Temple of Time in Ocarina of Time. I know, I'm dressed as Twilight Princess Zelda, but OoT is still my favorite Zelda game. I even made some cute charms and modified a purse for carrying around. I'll have to post pics of that some other time.

Enjoy my fave 10 photos from our shoot!

(Now to get started on Midna... my zentai suit arrived and I tried it on... perfect fit (except a little baggy by the wrists, but that won't take much to modify). I'm so excited!)

I added a 'glow' effect to this one. I love how 'twilight' it looks!

I have so many costumes I'd like to do. Ruto, Midna (both forms), a proper princess Peach, Sheik, Malon, Marin, Saria, Din, Nayru, Farore... I could go on...

Wishin to do some Cosplay

So, lately I've been in the mood to make some costumes.  I think getting a bunch of fun sewing done the last few years has helped... and the fact that i can zip up my zelda dress again after so long  (yup... lost some weight... good for me!).  So... I need to modify my zelda costume a bit.  It was never finished, and now I think I may try to finish it proper.  I also really want to do Midna.  I love her true form, and I also thought that would make a good belly dance type costume.  And Nabooru.  I would love to make a belly dance routine to the Gerudo music as well... one of my fave songs in OoT.  Yeah... although I think I should finish the costumes I already started, first.  I did make my gypsy costume for my belly dance recital... should do the egyptian one soon.  I've just been borrowing for now.

What sorts of costumes would you like to see?

Bits of Randomness

A little while back, I completed GBA's Golden Sun game.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and want to get the next one, Lost Age.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to get a hold of it.  I bought this one used from a friend, and I don't remember seeing the second installment anywhere.  I suppose I'll have to browse EB Games and things... maybe even garage sales... to see if someone has one somewhere.  The story feels a little... cut off... right now.

About a month ago, I also completed Epic Mickey for the Wii.  Awesome game!  I highly recommend it, especially for those of us who remember watching some of the older Mickey Mouse cartoons (my dad had a bunch of black and white goodies we enjoyed watching).  The game play, while a bit difficult to get the hang of at first, is actually quite good.  I was confused in the beginning of the game and couldn't quite see some of the stuff I was supposed to be doing (probably partially due to screen settings), and so I missed quite a few things I couldn't go back to and redo... so I may end up replaying this game.  One problem, although a small one, was the camera.  It felt a bit... wonky... at times.  It wasn't bad, though, the worst was when fighting large numbers of splatters, but I have quick fingers too, so adjusting the camera while running around and fighting isn't too much of a stretch for me.  Ah... brings me back to the first 3D games I played... N64, perhaps we need to get re-acquainted.  Anyway, this game's a good one, ok... Epic!  I highly recommend it!

Latest game we got was the Super Mario All Stars.  Talk about FUN!  I haven't played these classics in ages (although I do have SM3 on the Wii).  Only thing I don't really care for... the music and graphics changed.  I know this is the same as the one from the SNES... but I never played the SNES, and I miss the music from the old NES versions.  It's not bad, really... the only thing that I find actually annoying is the mini fortress music in the SM3 game.  The others are fine.  But these games are great!  My daughter keeps asking for us to play.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much time lately.  Lots of stuff going on.  So, my husband plays.  I don't think I've ever heard the 'death' sounds and game over music as often as I have in the last few weeks (haha... sorry hun, but you should be able to get past world 1 someday).  My daughter doesn't mind, though.   "Uh oh... Mario fall down..." or "Oh no!  Mario owiee".  Very cute.  Needless to say, it's painful to watch, so I'm usually in the other room doing computer work or cleaning the kitchen or something like that.  Always needs doing anyway.  :)

Oh, and I have to ask... does anybody else have a Nintendo Club account?  I have some coins expiring in June, and I don't know what to get.  It's a toss up between the black note bag (with the Mario star on it) or the other tote bag plus the blooper fan.  Or maybe the Mario fan.  Sigh.  I need to decide soon.  Don't want all those coins to go to waste!  Any suggestions?

Hope you've all been having a great start to your spring!  Happy gaming!

Mario Party

This year I decided to have my birthday early, and had a Mario themed party... it was nothing big (just a couple of couples came over).  We played Mario Kart for the Wii and had a blast...

No party is complete without food.  This was no exception.  And of course, it needed to follow the theme.

Below, 'pipe' pigs in blankets.

And 'star' biscuits.

Yoshi eggs in a carrot and celery nest (made spinach dip for those).

And here's the cake... made it to look like the mushrooms in the game.  It tasted good too!  :)

The whole 'spread'.

 And for fun, I took a pic as Princess Toadstool holding the cake.  No, I didn't dress up for the party... I didn't feel like it that day... but I decided to have a little fun with my costume later (half of the mushroom's head is gone, haha).  And playing with the pic is always fun, too.

Happy 25th anniversary Mario!  You've given us many fun times (and I look forward to many more). 

Bring on the games!