Daphne Blake, ready to solve mysteries!

Every year the Australian Costume Guild holds a Cosplay Ball in Adelaide, and this year I attended with a friend for the first time. It was kind of strange, in a way. We didn't know anyone else but we basically just wanted to dress up and see everyone else's costumes (which were all amazing). I wanted to do something a bit more 'fancy' than my other costumes but I ran out of time to do so, and went as Daphne Blake from the Scooby-Doo! franchise, instead.

It was a lot of fun dressing up as Daphne. I didn't take many photos as I just don't seem to know how to pose anymore (or take good photos, to be honest), but I got decent enough shots to show off the costume. The shoes were originally gold and I painted them and added the 'bows' (they're cardboard) as I knew it would be too hard to find purple shoes in the amount of time I had, let alone purple shoes in the right style. They turned out really well. I took Fred along as my date, and even made a mini costume for one of my Blythes (seen below).

Hope you enjoy the pictures and, once again, apologies for blogging so sporadically, lately. (Or, well, the past year or so).

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Cosplay

Well, Oz Comic Con is over again for another year. My first costume for the two day event was Squirrel Girl, from the new series The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. I was going to wait until November (Supanova), because I made the decision to cosplay her fairly close to Oz Comic Con, but I just really wanted to do this costume, now. So, I did! I'm super happy with how it turned out, despite all of the stress and anxiety it caused along the way. I highly recommend the comic, as well - it's great for adults and kids, which is always nice. It's just a lot of fun.

If you want to see more photos or how I put it together, you can check out this post I made on tumblr. And apologies for not having many photos in this post! I wasn't in the best mood when taking these, so only got a couple I could use.

Hot patootie, bless my soul!

When Eddie said he didn't like his teddy, you knew he was a no-good kid!

On Friday the 13th (the February one) the Capri Theatre held a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They hold these quite often, but this one was extra special as Nell Campbell (aka Columbia) was a guest! I pretty much squealed when I found out and found a friend to go along with me. Of course, I had to do a costume for the event and it didn't take long for me to pick one because I knew it had to be Eddie! He was Columbia's beau, after all. But I put my own spin on the costume because I knew screen accurate would do my head in. (Anal Retentive Rocky Horror is a great source for screen accurate, though).

I referenced Eddie's saxophone playing with my earring (only just visible), and his greaser hair with my high pony and front roll. I opted for a see-through t-shirt with a leopard print bra underneath (finishing off the leopard theme in the lapels and fish-nets) and changed the green glitter writing to pink. I just used regular glitter paint (not fabric) and regular acrylic to paint on the back of the jacket. It's kind of decimated now, unfortunately, but it lasted the night, which is all that matters. I forgot to take full length photos with the scar on (I have a selfie below), which is annoying!

But I am SO happy with this costume. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is my all-time favourite movie and being able to pay homage to it while meeting basically one of my childhood idols was amazing. (Just as amazing as that time I met Patricia Quinn). Plus singing along, yelling out lines, dodging rice, toast and wayward loo rolls, and seeing everyone else's costumes was so much fun. 

Flames - flames on the side of my face

On the Sunday of Supanova, I finally crossed off a costume that's been on my list for quite a few years: Mrs White from one of my all-time favourite movies, Clue. I'm really happy with how it turned out, except for the wig I bought. I'd probably get a slightly better one if I wear it again. Two people recognised who I was, before I got changed (strapless bras are so dang uncomfortable!), so I considered that a win.

The skirt and belt are just made from black satin and the top and arm warmers are made from the fabric of a top I found at Savers. When studying the film, I realised Mrs White's top & arm warmers were made from a fabric with metallic thread or something sparkly in it, and I thought I wouldn't find anything similar...then I found the perfect fabric in an old top! Hurrah! I think Mrs White's is actually a velvet or heavier fabric but mine was close enough. I couldn't find a three strand pearl necklace so just used a long singled strand wrapped around; the bracelet was one I had already.

As with my other costumes, I've included screencaps for those who've not seen the film (which I think is a lot more people than I'd realised, ha.)

I'm a Lumberjane and I'm OK.

For the Saturday of Supanova I went as Rosie from the comic series Lumberjanes. It's one of my favourite series, right now as it combines a lot of things that I love: girls being awesome friends, pop culture references, mythology, forest-y aesthetics and a bunch of other cool stuff. I thought Rosie would be a fairly easy costume to put together and, aside from colour matching difficulties, it was.

Everything was found either new or at op-shops, except for the axe which my sister carved for me and I painted. (Rosie is often making axes or seen with an axe so I thought it was a neat adition). I stuck some paper behind the lenses of some costume glasses I had for pictures but used my regular glasses while walking around the con. The tattoos were drawn by me and printed out onto temporary tattoo paper.

As my hair has to abide by the laws of physics I did my best at approximating Rosie's hair - I used a rat to roll up the front & the back was just in a bun.

At the bottom is a photo of my friend in the Lumberjane scout uniform - only a small number of people got the costumes but one happened to be the creator of Teen Dog (another awesome comic) who knows the creators of Lumberjanes. He was really impressed so that made our day.

I am not a number, I am a free man!

It's Supanova time this weekend which means costumes! Hurrah! I got a bit over eager and ended up with three. I was going to go to the opening night to get my wristband but ended up deciding not to. This left me with an extra costume. Sure, I could have worn it to another con but I was excited so I put it on and had an impromptu mini 'photoshoot' with mum. Consider it a teaser for the weekend ahead.

The costume in question is a lady version of Number Six from the '60s TV show The Prisoner (some screencaps below show the original costume as worn by Patrick McGoohan). It's a very simple but recognisable (if you've seen the show) costume, which is always nice.

Now, the blazer worn in the show is, according to those who know better than I, dark brown, but onscreen it looks very much black. (I did have a link that showed the original blazer looking brown but I can't find it now - update: found it!). Black blazers are easier to find so I went with black. I was going to wear slacks but felt uncomfortable so I made a skirt out of some fabric I already had. Everything else was found at op-shops (except the number badge, which I just printed out). All up the costume only cost me $11.30! (Which I know thanks to the awesome Cosplanner app).

For hair and makeup I just went with a vaguely 60s feel. It all came together quite nicely. And I now have an easy costume I can take with me, if I ever go to another interstate con. One day, I'd like to do some more photos inspired by the show.

Be seeing you!

Leave us alone! (Being a Midwich Cuckoo)

Sadly, this Halloween I've nowhere to go wear I can get all dressed up! But, as I'd already planned a costume, hoping against hope I'd have a party to go to, I decided to just put it on and take some photos. I haven't done that in forever!

I'd just recently watched the original The Village of the Damned and realised the children make for a very easy costume (could also be from the remake, as the children are similarly dressed). The only thing I bought was the wig (which is too short - I had another coming but it didn't make it in time). It's a simple but effective costume. I'm super happy with how it came together, especially in the top photo. Hopefully next Halloween I'll have a party (or somewhere I can wear a costume) to attend.

Costumes of Halloween Past

As it's coming up to the most wonderful time of year - Halloween - I thought I'd take a little look at some of my costumes from years past. There aren't many as I just haven't done a whole lot of Halloween costumes, but I thought it would be fun, anyway.

Last year I was Abaddon from Supernatural. I won't be wearing this again (for numerous reasons, including it's not screen accurate and I can't handle it) but I'm still happy with how it turned out (mostly - ha). And I think I did fairly well with the hair considering how frustrated I was with it along the way.

In 2012 I made a pumpkin inspired get-up for a swing dancing event.

I guess I didn't do anything in 2011 but in 2010 I made a half-hearted, last minute attempt at being a stereotypical Beatnik.

And 2009 was still my best, I think - The Black Dahlia aka Elizabeth Short. I'm still so proud of this costume, put together from op-shop finds and my first attempt at 'effects' make up. 

You can see more of my costumes on this Pinterest Board.

You're standing on my neck

On the second day of Oz Comic Con my true love sent to me...wait, sorry, wrong time of year. As I was saying, my second costume for Oz Comic Con was Daria, the much beloved sarcastic cartoon teen of my generation. And my friend, Kate, who was the Bat-Ma'am to my Robin, dressed up as Jane with me.

My costume (and Kate's) was mostly put together from pieces found at op-shops and the like. The only effort I really had to put in, was to alter the jacket. It was taken in, the sleeves taken up and a new collar attached to look more like Daria's jacket.

Someone asked Kate how she got her hair so perfect and her reply was 'this is just how my hair always is'. Ha.

La la la la la...

As you can see, I'm not used to wearing glasses in photos and so there is a lot of reflection in the lenses. Oops.

The best part was, my friend and I spent most of the day sitting around making snarky comments and we weren't even trying to be in character. Are we really just Daria and Jane? We do love pizza and being sarcastic.