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Griffin part 2.

Working on foaming the head now. I haven’t glued anything in place yet, just pinned since I’m working on proportions. It still looks off from the front. I don’t know any particular technique so I’m fleshing it out with strips. I’ll move on to gluing the current pieces on and filling in any gaps, then carving it to shape and adding definition to the features. Also need to reposition the ears.

The beak will be something harder than foam. Worbla maybe? And I really want it to open/close if I can do so.

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Saphire pt. 1?

I’ve been playing with the idea of making a griffin mask, similar to the method of making a fursuit. (I might even make this a full suit in the future if possible) The character I have in mind is a sort of blue griffin mage named Saphire (or unless I think of a better name). I’m using a gyrfalcon as a reference for the bird aspects of it.

So far I’ve cut a mouth hole in a balaclava and hemmed it, then added elastic to help it fit better. That was pretty irritating to sew, at least for my fingers. Ended up basting it on the head form and then going back and stitching it fully after removing it.

I’ve got some upholstery foam and an electric knife so now it’s time to make the base part.

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I’ve been interested in this deer print fabric for months and finally decided to get it and do something with it. So...bodice! I’m planning on making it alongside a white shirt with big puffy sleeves.

It’s a lot of pieces and a little tedious, with much stitching, pressing, pinning, etc. I just hope the fitting is right...

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Trying to get a head start on who to cosplay for cons next year. I want to start well in advance so I have plenty of time. For sure I really want to do Maria (Bloodborne) and Amalthea (The Last Unicorn), probably Oscar (The Rose of Versailles) too. I should try to keep it short for now instead of biting more than I can chew. Griffith will probably be a hard maybe since well, all that armor.

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Day 2 of Alamo City Comic Con. Lady Death from The Sandman comics. Body paint and makeup are a little patchy since it’s my first time really doing that sort of stuff (those eyebrows, eek). I really need to practice makeup more... I also had the hooked umbrella, not pictured in this silly selfie.

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Cosplay for Friday at Alamo City Comic Con. I went as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, though many people just assumed I was a generic Ravenclaw student. Oh well. I consider my outfits this weekend closet cosplays since I mostly made the accessories, everything else I had on hand.

ACCC was alright for my first year. I mostly hung out around the artist/vendor hall and it was pretty huge. Spent more money than I probably should have.

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I’ve been feeling a bit more stressed this semester at school so it took awhile to get any progress in ceramics. I kept starting things, scrapping them, repeat. But I started working on this deer/raven demon called Arkones and now I think I’m getting back into it. Inspired by mounted hunting trophies and medieval coats of arms type things.

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A bit late, but here’s some pics of my Howl cosplay from San Japan. It was my first cosplay and I feel like I look a bit silly. (oops, that visible wig cap in several of the pics). Still happy to finish something and the coat is better than I thought it would be despite the wrinkles. Favorite part is Calcifer, I love him and his photobombing expression.

Middle two pics are courtesy of Wolf’s Ink Photography. Bottom picture is when I found a Howl/Sophie couple. They were really nice and their cosplay’s were great. Overall, San Japan was good for my first time back in years.

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WIP of a horse plush I’ve been working on lately. I’m liking the head so far, body needs some work still. (Also from some angles I think it looks a bit too much like a llama...) Next is to figure out the legs. Hopefully I can make it jointed at the neck and legs so that it can be posed a little.

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Started work a little while ago on the ‘viking’ outfit. Top sketch is a little doofy, and the final design will probably be pretty different in the end. I’m thinking of starting with a peasant/commoner outfit and later on maybe expand it to also be an upper class merchant or even a viking warrior with armor. But I’ve got to start simple you know?

I’m drafting the tunic pattern myself, using online patterns and pictures for reference. It’s mostly straight lines and geometric shapes anyway. I mostly sew plushies so I’m trying to remember all the steps to clothing-making, pressing seams, finishing hems, etc.

Fourth picture is the first muslin test piece. (I know, I know. My room is a veritable mess) Most of the measurements are close, need to make it longer though. Also I realized I have no idea how to do a keyhole neckline so I’ll work on that. I’m thinking of making the final tunic of green or blue linen with trim on the hems and maybe some embroidery if I have the patience.

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I’ve just about decided the characters I want to cosplay for upcoming cons. They’ll be my first ones so I know I shouldn’t be too ambitious, but I’m prepared to put in the effort.

For San Japan I’m planning on crossplaying Howl from Howl’s moving castle (+Calcifer too). I’ll probably do a variation like the above, with his starting outfit but with black hair. If I finish early and have time I might try another casual cosplay for another day of the con.

For the local comic-con in my city I really want to be Brienne. (one of my fave characters from the show btw) The armor might give me issues and I’m kind of short.... But it will be a nice challenge.

Lastly, I’m also thinking about creating an outfit for the ren faire season or in the off chance I get myself into larping. I’m kind of a viking nerd so I’d love to be one, so it’ll be an ongoing project as well.

Just got to get working and not be lazy :P

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A bit about me

Hey there. I’m Kristen, but you can also call me Lea.

I’m an aspiring artist with my main mediums being drawing, ceramics/sculpting, and sewing plushies. I’d love to branch out into costuming and cosplay sometime too. I’ve always loved creating new things and putting my ideas onto paper or into real life. I’ll post my stuff, plus WIPS and other people’s stuff that I like.

I’m also a nerd for anything fantasy or mythology oriented, especially Norse and medieval stuff. I like watching television shows, playing video games, and reading comics, graphic novels, and manga. Sometime I’d like to try getting into tabletop games or even larp-type activities. Books are also a great love of mine, and I create stories and characters of my own on occasion.

Some other stuff about me include trying to get through depression/dysthymia I’ve had for quite awhile, I consider myself an egalitarian, I like folk metal, and am an INTJ (for those into MBTI stuff).

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Some WIPs of a Sleipnir sculpture I’ve been working on

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"Black Sheep"

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"Le Chevalier des chats". Or Louie for short.

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Updates (?)

Hey guys (aka probably nobody). I’ll hopefully be more active on here in the coming months. Aside from changing how my tumblr looks here’s a few examples of stuff I’ll be trying to do:

-Posting some art in general(i.e. sketches, digital art, plushies, misc. crafts, etc.)

-I’m taking ceramics again at college and I’m really enjoying it, so I may post some WIPs and finished projects when I can.

-I’m planning to start up an etsy shop sometime this spring(plushies and crafts mostly) so I might post previews and stuff.

-Aaaand some miscellaneous photos and things I’m interested in as well.