So I got out of my slump by focre -- I realized it will be December soon and May even sooner.

I ordered my tights today and have been browsing for contacts -- I have to wait until I get paid next to make an appointment.

The jewelry is finished, and so is the Rue wig. The Mint wig is going to need much more work, unfortunately, and I have to get started on the top and skirt of her costume. I got the boot's bases painted and one of the new rings primed. (The spray paint chipped off the other ones.)

As far as my other projects go I am BEHIND. I need to get my little tuckus into gear! MAY IS SO CLOSE IT IS MAKING ME SWEAT.

My backpack is finished. (pics to come soon). On my third attempt I managed to find a way to make the backpack not only look presentable but aged and worn, and it's sturdy, too. I hot glued the entire darn thing together (The second attempt busted the tension on my sewing machine and it has yet to be fixed) and then added a suede leather trim around the entire thing. I have a brass grommet and brass rings holding the whole thing together, as well as a brass clasp.

I decided that since all of the findings and such on my backpack are brass that I should find a way to integrate it into the costume. And I figured, for a princess she has such bare hands.


That's right people. I'M A JEWELRY DESIGNER NOW.

I got all of my materials from FusionBeads.com, where all US customers get free shipping (and it only took like 6 days from my order date to get to my house -- 4 for the shipment process) and cheap prices. The materials I am using for charms and chain and wire is all brass, and the beads in different colors, sizes, and styles, but all in the shapes of leaves. I also have some purple glass beads and plan on getting some pearls, maybe.

The ring is the only thing that is completed so far, and it leaves a green ring around my finger when I wear it thanks to the nickel-free brass it's made of. I know how to fix that, but it's just ... doing it.



I'm also making a bracelet for my friend (c.com user GreatestGospel) for her refurbished Aeris costume. I got to work on it but hit a snag and need more materials. Siiiigh.

1. Thread does not take to dye well.
2. You cannot sand a hula hoop and expect it to not look like crap. The end.



Long story short: I need to sew the edges of the leotard and make a new ring, since one of them turned out badly and the thread on the leotard didn't dye dark brown and instead remained tan. FML.

I found some much nicer Vinyl to make my bag out of. It's not polyback, as I had a hard time with the polybacking on the first go-around, and am actually re-doing the entire backpack because of it. I found the said vinyl at Hancock for 3 dollars a yard, and it is really pretty. It costs just as much as my first try did, and I'm getting more fabric. Also, Cryo got himself some nice vinyl to make Rue's shoulderstraps out of, and I wanted nice stuff, too. The claps, however, are STAYING because I love them.

I also finished the leotard, for the most part. The strings need to be trimmed and the product needs to be dyed, but it's nothing that will take too much time.

I ended up ignoring the pattern, which wanted me to put a zipper on the back near the base of the neck. As I suck hard at applying zippers, I decided to ditch the idea. In fact, I TRIED to put it on, but it came out crooked, so I didn't want to leave more holes in the fabric by trying a skillion times to get it right. Instead, I put some heavy duty snaps in the seam of the crotch where the front and back come together. It doesn't look the prettiest, but sometimes one needs to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality, and this is the choice I made. A have to take a pee sometime, without taking off my entire costume to do so.

There are pictures of the nearly-finished product in the gallery.

COST FOR COSTUME, BY CATEGORY

CLOTHES:
Fabric:
- Shirt / Skirt: 6.99
- Undergarment: 8.00
- White fabric for detail: 6.99
Patterns:
- Shirt: 2.99
- Undergarment: 7.50
Detail:
- Bias Tape: 8.85

ACCESSORIES:
Wig: FREE!

HARDWARE:
Thread: 9.17
Beads: 1.05
Closure for backpack: 8.31
Brown dye: 1.60
Hoops and paint to make her rings: 25.60

TOTAL: 87.05