Now selling: Usagi Tsukino's engagement ring!

Edit 4/31/13:  I am holding a giveaway for one here until April 14th, 2013.

Edit 4/8/12:  The updated version of it can be found here.

I've been working on replicating the engagement ring that Usagi Tsukino (from Sailor Moon) wears in season 5 of the anime and last arc of the manga "Sailor Moon Sailor Stars."  I've created two so far and hope to make more in the future.  Here's a compiled picture:

The ring is made out of clear cubic zirconia, simulated pink moonstone, and silver colored brass.  If you're interested in buying, check out the listing in my Etsy shop!  Much cheaper than those listed on eBay!

Reference image: 

Kingdom Hearts Namine sandals

Sometime last month I've created another pair of Naminé sandals.  They're perfect for a Namine cosplay or a Kingdom Hearts fan!  They are hand painted with swarovski crystal topped iridescent stars.  I put a lot of care into these shoes and hope they'll make someone happy! :)

They fit a women's US size 9.  If you are interested in buying these, check out my Etsy listing.

Dream Angels Rinoa duster review

Back sometime in 2008, I paid the website Dream Angels to make a customized Rinoa Heartilly duster and sleeve set for me.  Usually, I make my own stuff but finding the right rib knit fabric for Rinoa usually proves nothing short of impossible (unless you get lucky).  The other option is to hand knit it, but I didn't know how to.  I've heard nothing but good things about their Rinoa dusters so I decided to take the plunge and buy one.  Everything went great at first, I paid for everything, gave my measurements, and received my item within 2-3 weeks.  It looked beautiful, but I noticed right off the bat that it was not properly hemmed nor was it overlocked.  If someone is paying you $130 for a costume, you better hem it properly!  Of course, I contacted them and guess what?  She never returned my emails!  I've sent her several and never received a single reply.  I gave up, decided to make the best of it and try wearing it.

I wore this duster for a grand total of two times: once for a mini photoshoot and another for one day at a convention.  It was starting to look kinda dirty so I decided to hand wash it.  Oh my gods, was that ever a mistake.  In fact, just buying it was a mistake.  After just one gentle hand wash (with my very own two hands), the raw edges started to look like this:

Would you sell a costume this shitty to someone for $130!?  I hand washed it once in cool water and gentle detergent and this is how bad it looked afterwards.  Not only did it fray like no tomorrow, but it shrunk up quite a noticeable amount!!  I'm 5'10 and it shrunk up so much that it was small enough to fit someone that's 5'2!  I didn't even put this thing in the drier, either--I lay it flat to air dry.  In fact, while I was washing it, the water turned blue and there were tiny pieces of fabric all over my sink.

Then to start with, the sleeves were always too damn small.  I need them to be at least 11in. and you can clearly see from this picture that they are 8in. long.  It looked really stupid on me.

Because the duster had shrunk up so much that it was unwearable (unless I wanted to look really stupid), I ended up selling it off for less than half of what I paid for it due to the quality.  If someone is paying you a lot of money to make something, you had better know what the hell you're doing and if you don't, don't accept commissions!!  I can't believe that this company has such glowing reviews and feedback when their product is less than stellar.  You do not make and sell a custom-made item to someone with very visible raw edges, hems that are not properly hemmed, and most importantly, you don't sell something where you didn't pre-treat the fabric!

I cannot stress the importance of pre-treating your fabrics to eliminate any possible shrinkage or you'll end up with a garment that won't survive the wash.

My whole experience with Dream Angels has been an unpleasant one and I do not recommend commissioning them or Sakura Wigs.  I've had an experience with Heki-chan or whatever her name is around the same time I ordered my duster from Dream Angels.

Sheryl Nome earring (upgrade)

Several months ago I've updated my Sheryl earrings but never posted a photo of them.  I'm pretty satisfied with them right now but I want to find a more accurately shaped crystal for the fold quartz, a better crystal for the sapphire, and make the earring a post.  I've made two of these since I do variations of Sheryl that require both earrings and they dress up a casual or fancy outfit quite nicely.  I'll post some better shots of it at another date.

Made out of sterling silver, cubic zirconia, and swarovski crystals.

About "casa" satin

I'm surprised I'm even writing an entry with how depressed I am about my dog being lost.

Casa satin is this really nice, heavy, dull sheen satin that is perfect for special occasion dresses and princess gowns.  Casa satin is really just the Joann's term for their line of "house" fabrics (such as casa satin, casa chiffon, casa crepe, casa organza, and casa lining).  A suitable replacement for it if you're searching elsewhere (like the New York garment district, the Los Angeles fashion district, or some other store) would be bridal satin.  The term bridal satin can be used for just about any kind of heavy satin with a dull sheen.

There are people who say you should never make a cosplay out of satin, but they are typically ignorant of the different kinds of satin out there and are only familiar with the cheap shiny costume satin.  Costume satin is a lot thinner and shinier, which damages quite easily and is prone to getting runs.  Bridal satin is thicker and less shiny which is less prone to damage.  Both fabrics still fray like no tomorrow when unfinished, but there's always pinking shears, frayblock, and sergers (the recommended method) to combat fraying.  It's also recommended to use a lightweight needles and increase your sewing machine's tension when sewing satin to avoid puckering.

If you're making something like a Disney Princess gown (Cinderella, Aurora, Tiana, Belle, Snow White, Ariel, parts of Rapunzel's skirt) bridal satins are the perfect fabric for this.  I cannot stress this enough but please do not use cheap costume poly satin!  It cheapens the appearance of the gown and gives it a super costume-y look.  With bridal satin, it gives it a more realistic "princessy" look.  If you have a Joanns in your area, you can use casa satin from their special occasion fabric line.  The stuff is kinda pricey at $7.99/yard, but when you sign up to receive their 40% off coupons it becomes more affordable and even better when they send their 50% off ones.

Long story short, casa satin is more or less bridal satin but with a different name.

Yuletide season is coming!

The winter holidays are quickly approaching now that Thanksgiving (if you're an American) is out of the way so that means winter craft projects.  Hopefully, I'll have some new things to post here including some barrettes I've been working on.  I may have progress of a new cosplay posted here sometime this or next month.  It'll be my first time making gloves and using pleather for something other than a trim.  Pleather gloves... this will be interesting...

Hoisery

This site is more than likely already well known by the cosplay community, but check out Sock Dreams!  If you're looking for stockings and garterbelts for your cosplays, its a great site to go to and best of all, free shipping within the USA!  I love their exclusive thigh high stockings, especially their Extraordinary Striped Thigh Highs!  The material they're made of is a soft and beautiful woven cotton and are great for the winter because they're so thick!  No need to worry about runs since they aren't nylons!  I usually have a problem finding a pair of stockings that reach up high enough on my thighs (I'm 5'10), but these fit perfectly.  I was so happy to receive these for my birthday.  I received them in blue and natural which reminds me a lot of Stocking's angel outfit from Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt.

I also received a pair of gauntlets in light pink.  They're pretty, but they're quite itchy and scratchy, not made out of a nice lace.  I wish they were softer, but they'll have to make due.

As a taller girl, I think it's best I mention that there is one brand they carry that isn't really "leggy friendly."  Leg Avenue is quite infamous for their wonky sizing and their stockings are no exception.  I received a pair of black and white vertical stripe stockings as another gift a month ago, but they were so short on me that they hardly reached above my knees.  They don't really have much stretch to them either.  They would work perfectly for the Magnet version of Luka Megurine the Vocaloid mascot and Yui Hirasawa's "Don't Say Lazy!" outfit.  Another pair I received from Leg Avenue was also quite short on me which were a pair of fishnets with pink lace and black corset lacings.  They have quite a bit of stretch to them, but it's best not to pull them up too high if you're going to be wearing heels.

But yeah... if you have long legs, it's probably best to stay away from Leg Avenue.  Go with the Sock Dreams brand if you're tall like me and/or have wide thighs.