New Project: Puella Magi Madoka Magica

So I'm going to try updating this more regularly again as I start my newest project! My next big costume is for debut Kumoricon/Akicon 2011, and I'll be doing Kaname Madoka in her mahou shoujo form with her rose bow.



I have currently purchased
the wig (arda wig's Chibi in rose pink 50$ shipped)
the petticoat (I may have to alter shorter) ($20 on Amazon)
materials for the rose (Ugh, you don't even want to know how much that crap cost me.)

I'll be doing a post on how I made the rose when it's done, but it'll be a seeecret until then! ^ - ^~ Either to be the first one to do it, or because it totally won't work. Time will tell!

Figma pics have finally come out, so I have better reference pics to work from.






Trouble areas from other interpretations of the costume seem to be:
1) makes you look chunkier (placement of the yellow in front? length of bodice before skirt? petticoat riding up?)
2) petals on skirt don't lie flat (I think these need to be gathered at the waist. I have a plan for that.)
3) gradiation on the petals from white to pink (I think hand-dying is the only solution here, and I don't have experience with it. Not sure if the kind of fabric I want is dye-friendly.)
4) Getting hair-bows to sit straight (I'll probably not make them bows, honestly--just bow-looking objects)
5) the slight-scruffy hairstyle (yeah...we'll see how I do with that.)
6) lace on the socks (I've got a stitch for that, and nice enough legs to not be worried the knee-high ness will make my legs look chunky.


personal worries:
SHOES-- you know what they call red patent round-toed shoes in size 10?
Clown shoes. No lie. Some interpretation will need to be done. ~_~;;;

More updates and pictures as I get further along! Also, next post will be called Body Shots, because I'm intending to take staight up pics of me out of cosplay so I can look at my own proportions for figuring out Madoka's costume parts.

Links: The Gathering

Here is a moderately organized collection of every link I've used or thought looked helpful in all my years of cosplay. This will be updated as new sites are found, and please email me if you discover a dead or broken link!

Links: The Gathering

General Resource Sites:
http://cosplay.com/
http://www.acparadise.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/


Make-up:
For Beginners:(application for beginners) http://www.helium.com/items/934182-basic-make-up-tips-for-beginners
(Clinique--skin-friendly, reasonable prices) http://www.clinique.com/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1
has tips & trends pages/videos

BRANDS WE LIKE: Clinique(allergy/sensitive skin friendly), Loreal(Because you're on a budget!)

Crossplay Make-Up:(Female-to-male make-up tutorial) http://www.girlsentertainmentnetwork.com/how-to-gender-bend-for-cosplay-crossplay-makeup-tutorial/

Advanced Mak-up:(Intense, for(done on) Asian skin tones/features) http://the-sushi-monster.deviantart.com/art/Cosplay-Makeup-Tutorial-Part-I-180970967

Body Paint:

BRANDS WE LIKE: Ben Nye



Wigs:
Buying/Selling:(new)http://shop.cosplay.com/wigs/cosplay-com.html
(new, some Japanese reading required) http://cyperous.com/english/
(new, some used available) http://www.amphigory.com/
(new) http://stores.ebay.com/COSPLAY-WIG
(used) http://www.cosplay.com/marketplace/showcat.php/cat/1
(used, some new) http://community.livejournal.com/cosplay
(new, US based) http://arda-wigs.com/
(new, US based) http://thefivewits.net/

BRANDS WE LIKE: Arda Wigs (US based, big hair caps), Cyperous ($$$! But gorgeous.)


Wig Caps:http://myworld.ebay.com/darcinut/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

BRANDS WE LIKE: More type than brand, we like net wig caps better than the nylon kind because they stretch more and you can bobby pin anything you like!


Styling Tutorials:(cutting bangs) http://www.tristencitrine.com/tutorials/wigbangs.html
(styling with scissors, natural cutting techniques) http://behindinfinity.deviantart.com/art/Wig-Styling-with-Ishida-Uryuu-70861455
(odango) http://charmedseed.livejournal.com/10260.html
(spikes) http://gambit13.deviantart.com/art/Cloud-Wig-Tutorial-80842355
(softer spikes) http://cattypatra.deviantart.com/art/Wig-Spiking-Tutorial-143983384
(Straigtening w/ Hot Water) http://www.katiebair.com/wigtutorial_straightening.html
(Making Wefts) http://www.katiebair.com/wigtutorial_makingwefts.html

Cleaning & Care:http://www.epiccosplay.com/wig-care-and-styling-information.html
http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=9559


Costume Resources:
Used/New Costume Buying:(used) http://www.cosplay.com/marketplace/showcat.php/cat/14
(used) http://community.livejournal.com/cosplay

Retail & Resale:(resale)
Goodwill
Salvation Army
St. Vincent de Paul
(cheap)
Ross
Marshalls
American Apparel

Online Resources:sock linkshttp://www.sockdreams.com/_pages/index.php
http://www.joyofsocks.com/

shoes:makemechic.com
zappos.com
amazon.com
shoefly.com
ebay

shapewear:spanx.com
ebay

Spikes & leather
http://myworld.ebay.com/spikesandleather

Gloves
(white) http://myworld.ebay.com/thedaycasa/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

Ears:http://yayahan.bigcartel.com/

Feathers:www.rainbowfeatherco.com

Beads/Jewels:http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/
www.firemountaingems.com
www.plasticbeadswholesale.com
(Some on Etsy & Ebay too)

Corsets:www.farthingalesla.com
www.corsetmaking.com

Retail Fabric Sources:
Fabric Stores in King County:
Fabric stores (Seattle/Bellevue area):
JoAnns (various)
Pacific Fabric (various)
Hancock Fabrics (various)
Seattle Fabrics (Seattle)
Stitches (Seattle)
Emerald City Fabrics (Issaquah)
Fabrics for Less (Renton)

BRANDS WE LIKE:: JoAnns is cheap & everywhere, Pacific Fabrics has more interesting variety--also, each Pacific Fabric specializes in certain areas so check their website to see if one's better for your needs. Fabrics for Less has cheap per yard and specializes in saris for lots of bright chiffons and trims and such.

Online Fabric stores:http://www.hancockfabrics.com/
http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp
http://www.denverfabrics.com/
http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/
http://www.fabric.com/

Online Craft Stores:
Michaels.com
JoAnn.com*
http://www.bestfromjapan.com/index.cfm (this is where I got my Sukerukun air-drying transparent clay from. They sell several varieties of Japanese resin clay & lots of beads. Best pricing I found, but int'l shipping takes a while! Be aware!)

*if you're having trouble finding craft supplies at JoAnns, try Michaels. Many things (like paper clay) are only at Michael's.

Hardware Stores:Home Depot
Lowe's
McLendon's
Ace Hardware

If you can find it at a hardware store, it's probably cheaper and the glue is definitely better. Their customers want results, not pretty--you can benefit from this.

Plastics/Plexiglass/Etc:
www.tapplastics.com

Wonderflex:
www.cosplaysupplies.com
www.dazian.com

Electronics:Radio Shack
Fry's
EL-stuff- Amazon.com
www.coolight.com
www.lighttape.com
....think about flashlights, and how they may fit into your life.


TUTORIALS!!!!Sewing:
Pattern Tutorials:sewing & costuming, LOTS of info & some tutorials: http://www.costumes.org/advice/1pages/howtopat.htm
http://taeliac.deviantart.com/art/Tutorial-Circle-Skirts-90497598
http://sarcasm-hime.net/bootcovers-tutorial.html
http://firelilycosplay.deviantart.com/art/No-Stretch-Boot-Cover-Tutorial-161626176




Prosthetics & Shapewear:

Horns:

Wounds:
http://sporkbotic.deviantart.com/art/Wound-Tutorial-101897561

Lady/Man bits:

Props:General Resources & Tutorials:
How to Glue Anything to Anything: http://www.thistothat.com/
AWESOME tutorials for Armor/Jewels/Wings/Etc: http://cosplayconstruction.wordpress.com/tutorial-list/
working with craft foam: http://windofthestars.com/cosplays/craftfoam.html
pros & cons of craft foam: http://www.fullmetalsam.com/general-craft-foam-tutorial/

Sculpting & Casting: (jewelry, emblems, sigils)
http://amethyst-angel.com/castingguide.html

Jewels:Polyester resin: http://www.whatishcc.com/tutorials/polyesterresin.php

Other jewel options include:
model magic (and paint)
sculpey
xmas ornaments
plastic toys/candy containers
button covers

tips:
nail polish or enamel paints can give good glossy shine, but can have paintbrush marks if you're not careful.


Armor:(foam+heat gun) http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/costumes/helmsdeep.html
(vinyl over craft foam) http://gaogaygar.fc2web.com/EnglishMake01.htm
(foam & fiberglass--ADVANCED) http://www.thetworivers.com/avatrix/sword/sword.htm
(general armor-making tips) http://www.squidoo.com/costumearmor

Wings:(feathers, big) http://etaru.deviantart.com/art/Cosplay-wing-tutorial-56518340
(feathers, small & fluffy) http://www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/wings/wings.html
(fairy wings, pantyhose+wire) http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=60297.0
(fairy wings, cellophane) http://j9crafts.livejournal.com/16998.html
(wing harness) http://www.whatishcc.com/tutorials/wingharness.php

Swords:

tips: the substructure of the sword is hella important. Get that right before you do anything else.

Guns:

tips: Can be sculpted from styrofoam or built up from wood.

Staffs & Wands:

tips: subsctructure is again super important, as is knowing if your staff is going to be top-heavy, and how you need to move it. (Will it need to fit in a car, suitcase, etc.)