Lack of updates

Hey guys, sorry for the severe lack of updates.  My health hasn't been so great... it's pretty bad.  I'll get back to working on things and updating more when things (hopefully) get under control.

Deluxe Sheryl Nome earring soon to be released!

劇場版マクロスＦ　シェリル・ノームコレクション　シルバーイヤリング台座付き(片耳）

In celebration of the new Macross Frontier movie (as well as the end of the franchise), a deluxe version of Sheryl Nome's famous earring will go up for sale sometime in April (I think).  Unlike the previous versions, this earring is not costume quality, but fine jewelry.  It's made out sterling silver, pink sapphire, blue sapphire, and green cubic zirconia.  It also comes with the brass stand for display purposes (Alto held the earring on this same stand in Itsuwari Utahime).  It is available for pre-order for $173.40 over at Bandai's website.

However, you will need a shopping service in order to buy it.  Price does not include shipping from Japan.

I'd buy it, but the $173.40 is for one earring.  I don't know about you guys, but I like wearing two earrings on my ears.  If they were selling the earrings as a pair, then I'd consider it.

Working on a wig for a client

I do wig commissions whether they're for daily use or cosplay purposes.  Lately I've been working on a Bakura wig (from Yu-Gi-Oh!) for a client.  It's not the easiest wig in the world (I've spent about three hours working on the bangs alone), but I hope to have it completed by next week, so I'll be finished with it two months early.  It's just... those baaaannnngggsss... when I'm done with it, it'll probably be a hybrid of it looking realistic and a small hint of the anime style.  I'm trying to make it look as realistic as possible, though.

I haven't hair sprayed anything into place yet since I'm still trying to figure out these bloody bangs!!

More work on the bangs tomorrow!  They're a pain to shape!

Falling a little behind D:

Sorry I haven't been updating as much as I usually do.  I've been trying to figure out how to do something and being the perfectionist I am, it'll take a while for me to complete it.  Hopefully, I'll have more updates next week. Really need to get that small jewelry tutorial up...

Kinda OT, but it's kind of cosplay related so there!

So the second Macross Frontier movie came out in Japan yesterday along with some movie exclusive merchandise being sold in theaters.  Normally I don't care too much for anime memorabilia since I'm more of a gamer, but the Sheryl Nome earring cellphone charm is something I'm dying to have.  If only I can buy it directly through the internet!

シェリルのイヤリングをモチーフにしたストラップ。

(from the Japanese description on the website)

It looks almost exactly like the Sheryl Nome earrings I've made for myself, but man... I want it!  Sure, I could probably make my own charm, but... I made my earrings out of sterling silver, amethyst, and Swarovski crystals and that's not something I'd like to make a cellphone charm out of due to that being expensive.  The charm is around $11 USD, which is pretty affordable in my book.  I wish I had a friend in Japan that could sell me one since shipping would be so much cheaper that way and I wouldn't need a shopping service.

シェリル、ランカをモチーフにしたミニノート2冊セット。

(from the Japanese description on the website)

Not entirely sure what this is, but from my guess it's a small notebook of sorts.  Either way, I still want Sheryl's!  It's so cute... and pink!

シェリルのマークがバッグチャームに！

白うさぎをイメージしたリアルファーとフォールドクォーツをイメージしたアクリルストーン付。

(from the Japanese description on the website)

A cute purse charm based off of Sheryl Nome which includes her symbol, purple gem from her earring, and a white ball of fluff representing her white bunny form.  This is so friggin' cute and I want it.  I really wish I could just buy these right now as there's so many cute promotional items out from the movie!

I am both happy about this new movie, but also really sad because this is the end of Macross Frontier. :(  No more new Sheryl Nome albums, outfits, or anything! DX  Although I've read spoilers on how the movie ends, I still want to see it with my own eyes even if it does take a whole 'nother year for it to come out on bluray disc. ._.

Serenity progress 4

I've been meaning to write a blog on cheap ways to make jewelry, but I'll get around to that either later today or tomorrow once I've fixed a pair of my mother's earrings.

It may not look like much (unless you click for the full view), but I've added a ton of cream colored pearl cabochons to the edges of the circles.  It's totally optional, but I want my dress to look more realistic than "cartoony" as some may prefer.  ...Still waiting on that package to arrive with my lace.  If that package is lost, I'm seriously going to cry, man.

Serenity progress 3

This thing took a lot longer than I would have liked... I remember working on it from when the sun was up to when the sky was pitch black.  So I think I've spent almost five hours doing the gold beading and adding the first white strip?  The white strips are white textured rope braid and my sewing machine hated sewing through it.  Ugh.  There's still two more strips I have to add, but I'm not doing that until my lace eventually comes in, which'll hopefully arrive within the next few weeks.

I've made a mistake when sewing the strip on and because of that, I hate this bodice so much.  Guergh... nothing I can do about that now, sadly...

Not even done and this thing is already heavy as heck because of the white rings and glass beads.  When this part is finished, it's going to be even heavier so I may end up having to install some clear bra straps if it doesn't stay up due to the added weight.  It stays up just fine right now, but... not so sure about later.  I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to pack this thing in my luggage when it's time to go to AM2 Con and Anime Expo this summer.  The fabric for the skirt is also quite heavy since there's going to be 12 yards of fabric going into that monster... GRAAAAHHH!!!