#creative makeup ideas art inspiration

[heyitsgigisadventures]

Say Goodbye to Melting Makeup: Tips for a Sweat-Proof Look | Makeup Tips

How To Have Your Makeup Look Amazing All Day Every Day | Makeup Tips, Sweat-Proof Makeup   Click here to take a look at The Ultimate Glow Up Guide That Will Completely Change Your Life!   If you struggle with makeup that melts off in the heat, these tips are for you! From using a long-lasting foundation to setting with powder and finishing with a setting spray, this guide will show you how to…

[toyastales]

Are You Tempted By Red Makeup

Red makeup is not for the faint of heart. It is a bold choice, especially,  when worn in such a theatrical way. Now most of us wouldn't wear this as an everyday look unless your an artistic soul. That's why I'm offering some product recommendations if you are interested in trying to recreate the look.

The easy part is that it is just one color you have to use, which is red, so you don't have to worry about clashing colors or anything of that nature. The fun part about this look is the messier the application the better.  It is all about coloring outside of the lines.

https://toyastales.blogspot.com/2024/04/are-you-tempted-by-red-makeup.html

[romantically-yours]

I desire romantically doing makeup with somebody

[stichmoood]

[sweetracha]

First Sleep Over with Stray Kids

Perfect Night: Hyunjin

Sugar Content: Sugary Sweet (Fluff), Sour Sweet (Angst)

Allergy Warning: Hopeless romantic couple, Idea of perfection, Hints to anxiety and feeling trapped

Perfect. This all had to be perfect. You had to be perfect because he was perfect. 

The definition of perfection drilled in your head all day and you just wanted it out. You felt like you were walking on pins and needles making every choice for the night. What to wear? What to bring? Should you wear makeup? Will you be as perfect as he thinks you are?

You met Hyunjin during an art class held at the local library every Saturday. Upon entering the room you smelled the toxic aroma of paint and thinner. Canvases were placed upright in a circle as if to shield what lay within. A small round podium, marble, of course, waited for you among the soon-to-be masterpieces. The blank white surfaces would soon be filled by your city's local creative masterminds. The subject tonight was you. 

Life on your own as a free spirit came at a cost. While you made enough to make ends meet monthly you found yourself sinking into a deeper and deeper hole. No one can work day in and day out without going insane. You needed an outlet, some sort of fun, but that would cost money you didn't have. So were destined for bleak and bland existence until your friend showed you the posting from the local library. “Semi-Nude Female Model Needed for Saturdays Artist Event”. You could never do that, could you? Maybe this is what you needed, to put yourself out there. It's only semi-nude so it isn't like the artists would see the whole thing. Finally, after a silent fight in your mind, you convinced yourself. The only way to grow is to find comfort in the uncomfortable.

After meeting with the kind lady who ran the show, you were whisked away to the changing room. Actually, it was one of the college study rooms with a black bedsheet hung over the window. On the table, in front of you was a white silk wrap and an inspirational photo on how to wear it. The whole setup seemed cheesy but you followed through anyways. Stripping down into your natural body, you carefully wrapped the silk around you. It took a few tries and a few more curse words but finally, you managed to make it look like the picture. It draped over your body like a cascading waterfall. A small part of your chest peaked out to hint at the suggestion but stayed away from being porn-ish. Your silhouette was highlighted by the fabric, a shadowy tease of what's truly underneath. You had to say, it looked perfect.

Once you exited the room you found a chair resting on the podium that wasn't there before. The kind artist from earlier came to you and after close examination of your attire, explained how you were to pose for the night. She made you feel more comfortable by showing you a few options and joking around that they will look prettier when you do them. After one more wavery breath, you took your seat. The wood was warm in comparison to the frozen marble beneath your bare feet. You shivered a bit but that didn't last long. As the first few artists made their way to their stations the heat of nerves filled your body. But once you saw him you began to burn red hot.

He was tall and handsome with long blonde hair, neatly tied back in a ponytail. If you didn't know any better you would have guessed he was royalty. His denim shirt had paint stains from all different types of mediums but yet they looked so precise. The posture he stood with screamed pretentious artist however the soft look on his face as he took in the surrounding seemed down to earth. The artist seemed to have walked out of the painting itself, of course, the best way to describe him would be…perfect.

You weren't sure how you managed to sit like a stone through hours of painting but finally, the last artist had finished. In a way that was almost clique, the ground got up and began to roam the gallery of now-finished pieces. All but one. The gentle one from before walked to you with the grace of a dancer. You were startled when he broke the hours of silence.

“Here let me help you down” He extended his hand towards you. Even his voice and the way he offered a hand seemed regal. You didn’t trust your own so instead you gently placed your hand in his and offered a small nod. As you stood up from the chair you lost your balance and the man was quick to catch you. Your red-blushed face met his own, and a small smile appeared on his face as he held you for a split second longer.

“Hyunjin by the way, my name is Hyunjin”

Everything happened so fast after that. Dinner dates, museum dates, walks in the park, high tea in your fanciest gowns, and more modeling. Any outsider would have looked at the collection of photos of you two and thought you were happily together for years. However, in actuality, it had only been a month. What could you say? When something is this perfect, go for it.

Hyunjin was set to be an esteemed guest at an art gallery a few cities over and there was no one he rather take than you, his muse. That is what he called you ever since that fateful meeting. The only issue was that Hyunjin had to be there bright and early for some events happening around the gallery. Plus ones were encouraged to go. How could you say no when he looked at you with those big perfect eyes? Of course, this resulted in you having to spend the night at his place, which you weren’t opposed to. But seeing someone during the day vs at night can be completely different. What if you failed to be his muse once more? 

The first hour went smoothly as you two shared a nice home-cooked meal. Hyunjin claims he made it all on his own but his friend Minho accidentally left his wallet on the counter. You giggled to yourself and decided to keep your little secret. A bit of sauce did happen to fall on your white top and begin to settle in. Normally this wouldn't have been a big issue but this top was nice, way too nice for a sleepover, but you didn’t want to seem too plain. You excused yourself to the bathroom and tried to not panic as you washed away the little dot of tomato. However when it began to look like a wet t-shirt contest, panic set in. You managed to sneak over to your suitcase and find a change of clothing. When he questioned the new attire you explained you were getting warm. 

The night moved into the art studio where Hyunjin had a surprise. Fairly lights were strung up around the room and dangled from the ceiling. A romantic vinyl spun slowly around the record player. Sage and green tea candles scented the tiny space. In the middle were two white canvases on their easels facing each other. You should be swept off your feet by the pure theatrics of it all but instead, you were mortified. Then he spoke.

“Let's paint each other, my love, and be each other's inspiration” his hand cradled your waist now as he leaned into your ear. “To be each other's muse” 

Your fears came true. It wasn't that you were bad at art, you always enjoyed it since you learned how to hold a pencil. But Hyunjin did it professionally, you were far from that. He would make you look like a goddess while you'd make him a troll. Then you saw the childish look in his eyes, something you had never seen before. He was excited. Had you never seen him genuinely excited before? You shook the thought from your head and took your place at the canvas. 

It was going better than you thought it would. By no means was your painting one for the art history books but it had a charm to it. Hyunjin on the other hand was not having a good time. He kept cursing under his breath and taking long steps back. Once he noticed you caught on he began saying long phrases in Korean instead. While you didn’t know what he was saying, the tone and infliction were enough to let on to his frustration. At one point he dropped his pallet and threw his hands up in the air as a sign of defeat. You tried to give him a gentle look to ask if he was okay but every time he caught your eye he would look away. Silence hung in the air like a thick smog. Sage and green tea overtook your senses. The fairy lights twinkled at an unnerving rate. Everything seemed far from perfect. 

“Jinnie…Jinnie…hey Jin? HYUNJIN” The boom of your voice made him smear his paintbrush across the canvas harshly. You gulped, worried about what would happen next. Preparing yourself for the yelling that was soon to come you began to step away and close yourself off. Hyunjin was taken aback by it all. He stepped towards you and you stepped away. Did you really think he would hurt you? Hyunjins heart broke as he began to speak.

“Baby…angel…Y/N I’m not mad…I promise. I’m upset with myself for not being able to paint you correctly. I know you! I should be able to capture you but every time I look at it I don’t recognize the person in the picture.”

You began to step towards him now, wanting to wipe the tears from his eyes. He came to you seeking comfort. Right as you were about to embrace, someone stepped on a loose fairy lights cord. In a matter of seconds, it all came crashing down. Hyunjin braced you from the fall and you both smashed into the ground. Canvases and paint pallets landed on top of you while lights tied you two up in a bow. It was silent. And then there was laughter. Actual laughter. It was ugly and loud. Hyunjins whole body shook as he couldn't stop laughing with his whole self. You joined in, snorting a few times which made you both howl. Your faces hurt as you both began to come down from that high. Then, the reality set in that you two had never heard each other laugh like this before.

“I figured it out,” Hyunjin said with an out-of-breath sign. You looked at him puzzled. “The person in the painting didn’t feel like you because it wasn’t you, I don’t know you at all.” You began to sit up quickly, ready to run out the door with a broken heart. He grabbed your wrist and sat up with you. “Y/N, the person I painted wasn’t who I fell for” he got up and grabbed a large frame that was flipped around. “This was” With that he showed you the painting he made on the first night you met. You hadn’t gotten a chance to see it yet. He hadn’t painted you as a poised lady propped up in a chair wrapped in silk. Instead, he opted for the moment where, when you thought no one was looking, you yawned and then giggled a bit. Everything was perfect down to the way you stretched your feet to a point and how your eyes closed tight. It hit you, his muse wasn’t you in an expensive gown on fancy dates. His muse was the real you.

He leaned down in front of you and offered a sweet smile. “How about we start again? Hi my name is Hyunjin” 

[0theghost0]

Update

Hi hi, everyone. I know it's been a long time. I was actually typing up a message to @prince-infidel because of an ask they sent me, but I realized I should probably just make it a post. So I guess this is an update. Okay, short version: The end of 2022 and the entirety of 2023 was horrible for me. A lot happened, and 97% of it was not good. Now to get into a bit more specifics. While all of this crazy stuff was going on, a friend of mine really needed help with their company. They were just going through a ton, and I jumped on to help them while they were trying to figure that stuff out. Turns out that I was a good fit. So I've completely changed careers currently. Also, with all of this crazy shit going on, I stopped drawing entirely. That's a first for me. No matter what was going on, I always had my drawing as an outlet. It was very new for it to be gone. I actually only recently started drawing again, and when I say recently, I mean last week. I haven't even finished anything and my progress comes in very small doses. Baby steps I guess. Now the stuff you're actually probably interested in. Even though I haven't been drawing, I have been making art. - I've been putting crazy amounts of effort into making costumes. It's really fun and I've level grinded a lot with sewing and fabrics. I made an entire Victorian costume on my own. It was cool. - I weirdly started working on dolls? I have no idea why I started doing that. I hate dolls. - I started making weird... sculptures? I don't know how to describe them. It's basically recycling and turning materials into monstrosities for my own entertainment and to scare random people. - And I've delved more into my hobby of SFX makeup.

I have been being creative, it's just a bunch of stuff that no one cares about. It makes me happy and that's all there is to it really. Which brings me to the long version, because I have no idea how to continue this without going into details. I can only assume all of this answers anyone questions who might be curious. Time to get a bit more specific.

I don't know how to start this, so I guess I'll just say that my interests have completely moved. I think everything above should make that clear, but when I'm referring to interests, I mostly mean the things that inspire me. This is actually typical for me. I love fiction and am a fan of many, many things. I get really involved in a fandom for a while, get bored, then move on to one that is piquing my interest more. Eventually I come back and the cycle starts over. I always keep up with all of my interests simultaneously, it's just that one usually dominates the others. The thing is, comic books have completely lost my interest currently.

There's a lot of factors. I'm not going to repeat stuff that you've probably heard a thousand times from other people about the current state of the comic industry, comic writing, the movies, the video games blah blah blah whine whine whine. I think one of the big things though is that this last year has really changed me. I'm just a really different person now. I'm not that happy-go-lucky nerd I was before. I think my major concern is that I honestly think it would be fucked up if I continued to post here.

People started following me here because of my art and my posts. It would be fucked up to switch that around on them and just show back up as this different person with different art, different interests etc. I've thought about making an update on here a bunch of different times, but I never did because of stuff like that. However, in a way, it's been really nice. It's been nice to just do whatever stupid art project comes into my head, and to do it just for the sake of making something. I think dropping drawing all together (not by choice, mind you) turned out to be good for me. I think I got in tune with a creative side of myself that I'd lost a long time ago. It's been pretty neat.

I've thought about just leaving this tumblr to history. I honestly think that I should. It can be a weird time capsule of this specific fandom in this specific time period. I've thought about just making different social media accounts so that people who want to see any of my new, awful creations could if they wanted to. I don't know though. I'm just all up in the air all the time now lol

I get this isn't an "all questions answered" kinda post. Not that most people needed them, but I know that there are people who just liked my art in general and I knew they must be curious. So I hope I at least answered some stuff and gave some clarity.

[genderlessghoul]

Hii! First off, happy holidays!

Your rants about Ghost's costumes are the highlight of my tumblr experince 🙏 do you have any thoughts on the unused seemingly pinhead-inspired outfit for Papa IV? :0

(Additionally any other scrapped outfits you haven't already talked about that I might not know about)

Hiii! Happy holidays to you too!

Thank you so much for the ask, I do have some thoughts on the leather cassock. I tried to find the designer/maker for it but sadly didn't end up finding anything.

I'm honestly not a big fan of it, I find it very lacking compared to Copia's other costumes. The concept is nice but I wish they put more into the execution. The buckles on the straps could've been more ornate or they could've incorporated other fabrics into it to add different textures.

I like the execution of the embroidery but I find the design choice kind of odd? Like fitting only half the grucifix does work with the line of the garment but it doesn't make sense to me. I do appreciate the bright blue lining peaking out that's reminiscent of his papa robe.

Now if we wanna keep talking about some unused designs, here's a few for Terzo, made by Michel Berandi.

I love that we can see how the costume evolved from those sletches all the way to the version we know and I also love to see the first ideas for his makeup. Also you cannot convince me Terzo wouldn't have slayed a long flowy coat like that.

Due to the nature of Ghost as a band, we rarely see progress pictures and unused concepts. I think that's a real shame. I would LOVE to see more concept art for Ghost. Show me the first designs for the ghoul uniforms, show me the creative process of choosing the right fabrics, the right motifs, the right colours. I wanna se EVERYTHING.

[eeblouissant]

goth (vampire ?!) Dorothy thoughts

She’s tradgoth all the way, in music and fashion. Although her makeup is toned down just a bit because I don’t believe she would be a huge fan of large graphic eyeliner & all that (it also just wouldn’t suit her facial features, she goes for more of a sharp but softened “corpse-esque” vibe. Her cheekbones kind of make the look, + highlighting already dark under eyes. Also her eye shape, oh boy she has such a perfect face for this style it’s actually insane. HER BROWS !!! & natural resting face, the shape of her lips, I could go on. This silly au was mostly inspired by her canon fashion, before I realized how she’d actually eat up an alternative style in like every single way possible. Bea Arthur truly had it all, she might have been the most beautiful woman on the planet)

I’m projecting just a tad here, but music-wise I think she would LOVE Bauhaus, voodoo church & type o negative. Specifically: the passion of lovers / brand new death, lullaby curses, live with the dead / Christian woman, I don’t wanna be me, love you to death, anesthesia, black no. 1. I’d need to dive back into my playlists but goth rock is definitely her fav (that stereotypical “goth sound”, Bauhaus, is her favourite. She’s like as tradgoth as you can get. Early 80s goth vampire zombie just the absolute blueprint)

now reactions … I was thinking about how she’d even get into the style in the first place, and I think it came about after settling down so young and never really having a moment to be her own person outside of school and then -> Stanley (& more importantly motherhood, also time & era). She’d discover alternative style & different subcultures through students and become secretly interested in the music (and perhaps a little envious of their self expression, where when she was their age Lots was going on), and then eventually the fashion, but her fashion wouldn’t really change much since she kind of already has an early 80s goth silhouette. “Goth” is also mainly music and less about the fashion but I digress. I think she’d find feelings & maybe some “angst” she never would have otherwise had an outlet for through the music & culture.

Roses reaction was my personal favourite to think about because I just KNOW she’d be immediately interested in the *style* (maybe less the music, I think she could also enjoy a version of that stereotypical goth sound that’s a little softer, & also the dancing I think she’d really love that bit actually) but for the most part she enjoys telling people that she’s living with a vampire, for funsies. (A lovely mutual, you know who you are, brought up the idea of a pastel goth inspired rose & it hasn’t left my brain since. I’ve gotta draw it, you are SO right)

Blanche would also *maybe* be interested in a more glamorous version of the makeup & hair, definitely the art as well, but the music is not for her. She’s interested with a more materialistic point of view, but I think Dorothy getting into something alternative & bringing that kind of a vibe into their house would spark ideas for Blanche creatively, & she’d really be able to appreciate the style & expression from an artistic stance! She understands self & artistic expression in a way much different from the others. Initially she’d poke a little fun, when she finds Dorothy listening to music her students (& the few she regularly complains about at that) would listen to for the first time, but she genuinely thinks the style really compliments Dorothy’s features & can never bring herself to actually insult it.

Sophia has also taken to referring to Dorothy as “the vampire”, with Rose. She once asked why she chose to hold off on the teenage angst phase until she was in her late 50s, and Dorothy said she should have seen it coming after 38 years & the turn her fashion had already taken in that time. Dorothy blames it on Stanley to try and make any sense to her mother & Sophia understands after that. Stan never hears the end of “making my daughter angsty”, and what an experience it is to walk down the street with her. It’s one thing to have your teenage daughter go through a phase, but this is something else entirely. Stanley definitely got an earful. (Stan is slightly afraid of Dorothy now, he almost questions if she was serious when she told Sophia it was his fault. Dorothy is ready to tell him yes for her own personal gain)

[saph-y]

What inspired you to do the wonderful nomads story and what helped shaped the setting and ideas around it and the characters?

Oh yeah a NOMADS RELATED QUESTION ! *vibrating* (sorry. I'm sure a lot of you know what it is to talk about personnal projects xD)

I think first I'll never repeat enough that this universe isn't mine but @selkys'. She came up with the post-apo setting and the vast majority of its concepts and characters, I merely poke around it. ...Ok, I do it a LOT. But still.

But the core ideas have been around for way longer than my involvement in it ! Long story short, I started when Selkys invited some of her friends (same french team who was very into swtor ocs a few years ago, I'm sure most of you are here from this time period !) to roleplay in this universe, where she had previously done tabletop and written rp, as well as planned a novel in it. That is how I created Siv.

(For fun : here's an art comparison I made on patreon a while back !)

Several campaigns with several players started and eventually died out - life reasons, mainly... But around the time of the second french lockdown (I think ?) Selkys proposed me to pick up our story again, and both of us got reaaaally involved and naturally started to expand with more characters, more plots, more concepts ! It became less of a rp with a game master and a player, but more of a big ass four hands novel and worldbuilding... if that makes sense ?

It's been our main creative sandbox for a while now, where we just throw whatever we feel like, and I know we're both so happy with being able to have this collab going on♥ I doubt Selkys will read that because she's no longer on tumblr but I'm so so lucky and grateful for it 🥺

...And now I realize this wasn't exactly the question xD What shapes the setting or characters these days is generally just our fancy and what fits right in the story, I couldn't be more specific unless given a specific character or element to talk about !

But for a few examples for fun ?

- moving the action to a desert region was definitely influenced by Dune. We did wanted to go there because it was already in the worldbuilding and we had plot ideas for it, but seeing the recent film (the first one) was definitely a "hell yeah lets do desert survival !" moment xD

(we're not subtle about it, or anything, because we just do that for fun) - Jasper exists because one day I showed and old art from my skyrim dragonborn to Selkys and she found him pretty so we transposed him in Nomades (yep. Jasper was my Skyrim dovahkin xD even tho he had another name/not quite the same look ofcouse.) He's a mix of a nordic, HZD Aloy, Prince of Persia and a shit ton of other things...

(this is his design sheet ! The black makeup is totally stolen from Skyrim - and classic viking representation of course. The bow is Aloy's. His core story "banned for exploring secrets of the past" is too !) - Siv was inspired by ...nothing in particular, I just wanted a character that "didn't fit" in her hometown so that she could leave it. - Archibald gained the longest legs in the world, his flirty side and much of his looks when Selkys got into Lupin the Third.

[mischiefandmedicine]

Very Full - Chapter 16: The Night We Met

Summary: Melara returns home and reflects on her life.

Word Count: 3,244 words.

Chapter Warnings: Angst, sadness, talk of pain.

Soundtrack Link

This Chapter's Music Inspiration:

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Very Full MASTERLIST

Previous Chapter

A/N: Reminder that I do not own the rights to the lyrics. Yes, I connect the story a lot to songs. I enjoy the idea of a life soundtrack.

Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist!

In the shadowed corners of the Avengers compound, amidst the hum of ceaseless vigilance, there lingered a softer, more human melody. It was in these hallowed halls that Saoirse, young and wide-eyed, watched her Melara grapple with an existence that was at once both radiant and ravaging. Even at her tender age, Saoirse sensed the undercurrent of sorrow that threaded through her mother’s days, a silent partner to the chronic pain that never quite receded into the background. And her argument with Loki only seemed to make matters worse.

Melara, whose spirit was as vibrant as the music she conjured from the depths of her being, carried her affliction with a grace that belied the tears Saoirse often caught glistening in her eyes. The pain, a cruel tax levied upon her mother’s every breath, seemed to fuel a creative fire that blazed through the notes and lyrics of her songs. To the world, Melara’s music had soared, a phoenix rising with wings unfurled from the ashes of her suffering, gaining adoration and acclaim as it climbed the charts.

Yet, for Saoirse, the music was a double-edged sword. It was the lullaby that had rocked her to sleep, the anthem of her childhood. But it was also the siren song that heralded the slow unraveling of her mother. Melara’s melodies were spun from the threads of her agony, and they shimmered with a beauty that was heartrending. The more Melara’s fame grew, the more her songs resonated with souls across the globe, the heavier the toll it seemed to take on her.

Saoirse, though only seven, bore the heavy mantle of the silent observer from the comfort of their space within the compound. She had neither the words nor the means to articulate the helplessness that gnawed at her small heart. She could only watch, her violet eyes a mirror to the torment and triumph that warred within her mother.

The days melded one into the other, each marked by Melara’s fierce determination to rise to the demands of her flourishing career despite her condition. Her mother would smile, would perform, would shine under the spotlight – only to return to their quarters with a pallor that makeup no longer concealed and a weariness that sleep could not cure. Saoirse would listen to the soft sobs that escaped from behind the bathroom door, the sound muffled by the rush of water and the walls that stood between them. Occasionally, Saoirse could swear she even heard her father’s name escape from her mother’s lips in her sleep, a fever dream she had every night, no matter how good the day.

Saoirse understood, in her own way, that her mother was fighting a battle that went beyond the physical. Melara was striving to leave a legacy, to carve out a piece of eternity through her art, perhaps to defy the impermanence that her illness whispered of in the dark hours.

Yet, for all her mother’s strength, there was an ever-present shadow that lurked behind the smiles and the curtain calls – a specter that grew bolder with each passing day. It was a shadow that Saoirse, young as she was, recognized as the harbinger of loss. Try as she might, Saoirse’s magic was not strong enough to summon her own father to rescue her mother from the torment.

The compound, with its heroes and its healers, became the stage upon which Melara’s dual life played out. And in the midst of it all was Clint, the quiet sentinel who watched over both mother and daughter. His presence was a constant, a reminder of the life that continued beyond the confines of fame and pain.

In those days, the compound was more than a refuge; it was a witness to the cost of greatness to the price of a mother’s love, and to the silent understanding of a child who saw too much too soon. It was a place where Saoirse learned the language of unshed tears and unspoken fears, where she came to understand the resonance of her mother’s music, and where she first glimpsed the inexorable approach of an ending that seemed written in the stars.

In the wake of her tempestuous farewell to Loki, Melara found herself adrift in the quiet aftermath, her emotions as raw as an open wound. The Avengers compound, once a bastion of strength and solace, now echoed with the hollow remnants of her shattered connection. It was there, following a shared song with Clint, whose empathetic ear and gentle strumming offered a semblance of peace amidst the silent chorus of her own heartbreak.

But the respite was fleeting. The next day, the call to return home to Wisconsin, to the roots and the reality of her life before the grandeur of stages and the acclaim of crowds, loomed over her. It was a homecoming tinged with disquiet, a journey back to the origins of her dreams, now colored by the fatigue that clung to her like a shadow. She would return to the place where she met Loki, the place where Saoirse was born, and above all, the place where she had fallen in love with the disjointed family that they had created.

The flight back to Wisconsin, though, was a quiet affair, Melara’s gaze often drifting to the clouds beyond the window of their private jet, lost in the thoughts she could not voice. Saoirse, ever perceptive, nestled close to her mother, sensing the unease that vibrated through her. With a tenderness that reversed their roles, Melara soothed her daughter, her gentle caresses and whispered assurances painting a veneer of normalcy over the canvas of her anxiety as Saoirse laid her head in Melara’s lap.

Evelyn, the matriarch whose wisdom and love had shaped Melara into the force of nature she was, awaited them at the airport. Her keen eyes, missed nothing, noting the telltale signs of her daughter’s weariness. With Saoirse in tow, she offered a warm embrace, her words for her granddaughter laced with a knowing that spoke volumes.

“She looks tired, doesn’t she?” Evelyn whispered to Saoirse, careful to keep her observations from reaching Melara’s ears. It was a dance they had perfected over time, a way to acknowledge the struggle without adding to its weight.

Saoirse, nestled against her grandmother, merely nodded looking up at her, her young heart aching with the understanding that her mother’s vibrancy was dimming, the flame that had once burned so brightly now flickering uncertainly.

The return to Wisconsin was bittersweet. Melara’s smile, as she breathed in the familiar air, was genuine, but it was a joy tempered by the knowledge of what – and who – she had left behind. In her mother’s house, surrounded by the artifacts of her past, including the one picture anyone had of her with Loki and Saoirse, Melara seemed to walk the line between gratitude for her roots and the restlessness of a soul that had tasted the stars.

As night fell, Melara tucked Saoirse into bed, her voice soft and soothing as she sang Saoirse’s Asgardian lullaby for what seemed like the millionth time. It remained a part of their bedtime routine as a mother’s promise to her child that, no matter the storms that raged, her love would remain an unshakable fortress.

Evelyn watched from the doorway, her heart heavy with the silent knowledge that her daughter was battling more than just the exhaustion of travel and the demands of fame. There was a deeper weariness in Melara’s eyes, one that spoke of battles fought in the depths of her soul, of love lost and the relentless march of time.

As Melara kissed Saoirse goodnight, her touch lingered, a silent prayer that the dawn would bring renewed strength and clarity. And in the quiet of the house, as the echoes of Melara’s lullaby faded into the night, the three generations of strong women found solace in the shared sanctuary of family, a bond that time, distance, and even the gods themselves could not sever.

Melara and Evelyn retreated from the sanctity of Saoirse’s room, heading for the living room that was steeped in the soft glow of evening. They settled into the well-worn couch, an island in the midst of family photos and mementos of a life rich with memories. Evelyn’s gaze, filled with the weight of unspoken concern, found her daughter’s weary face.

“Love, you’re pushing yourself too hard,” Evelyn began, the words wrapped in the warmth of maternal care, yet firm with the insistence of one who knows the toll of overextension. “As a widow who raised two kids by herself, I can tell when someone is overdoing it. Why not stay here for a while after the concert? The compound isn’t going anywhere.”

Melara’s laugh was a shadow of its usual mirth, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a cushion. The layers of makeup did little to mask the tell-tale signs of fatigue that her mother’s keen eyes so easily discerned. “Mom, I’m fine,” she lied, a practiced smile dancing on her lips. But Evelyn was not to be dissuaded.

 “I can see it, Melara. The way you move, the hollowness in your eyes. Something’s not right, and I think you know it too,” Evelyn pressed, her voice a tender yet unyielding force. “Do those fancy Avengers doctors even know what they’re doing?”

The dam within Melara cracked, her defenses waning in the face of her mother’s astute observation. She could not fight with her mother. “I’ve been feeling drained, mom. The pain is never-ending now and even sleep has become a stranger to me,” she confessed, the veneer of strength crumbling.

Evelyn reached out, her hand enveloping Melara’s. “Singing shouldn’t be a crutch, love. It’s your gift, but it should not be done at the expense of your health.”

Melara’s eyes, so often a wellspring of determination, now glistened with the sheen of vulnerability. “It’s the only thing besides Saoirse that’s keeping me going. If not for the music, I’d have nothing to counter this…this endless ache.”

They sat in silence, the generational divide bridged by a shared understanding of suffering and the solace found in art. Evelyn, her heart heavy with a mother’s love, sought the words that might anchor her daughter to the shores of rest and recovery.

“Think of it this way: you need to be with family. We can take care of you too, Melara. Let Saoirse spend time with her cousins, let her feel the roots that ground us all. The world can wait, but this,” Evelyn gestured to the walls that contained the essence of their family, “this is where you can heal.”

The conviction in her mother’s voice was the balm Melara hadn’t known she needed. It was a permission of sorts, an affirmation that stepping back from the limelight was not a retreat but a necessary respite. After moments that stretched like lifelines, Melara nodded, acquiescing to the wisdom her mother offered.

 “Alright, Mom. We’ll stay a while,” she agreed, her voice a murmur that carried the weight of her world.

Evelyn pulled her into an embrace, one that spoke of homecoming and the quiet strength that the bonds of family provided. Melara allowed herself to be held, to be comforted in the arms that had always been her sanctuary.

As the night deepened around them, the two women remained in the living room, their conversation a delicate dance of hope and healing. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Melara allowed herself to imagine a life not dictated by the demands of burgeoning powers, but by the simple rhythms of home.

With the stillness of Evelyn’s Wisconsin home, under the watchful gaze of family history, Melara and Evelyn forged a new understanding, an agreement that anchored Melara to the present, to the promise of days filled with familial love and the gentle respite of her mother’s house. It was a promise of tomorrow, a vow to face the uncertainties not alone, but with the strength of generations that flowed through their veins.

After much talking, the comforting words and the warmth of the embrace from her mother, Melara excused herself under the pretext of needing fresh air, but the truth was, she sought solitude with the night. The porch, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, became her refuge, the guitar her only companion as she settled into the wicker chair that had known many such nights.

Her fingers strayed over the strings, a familiar song bubbling to the surface, one that spoke of love, loss, and the bitter sweetness in between – a song that Loki had once said captured the essence of the stars. As she began to play, the melody filled the silent expanse around her, the notes a poignant echo of the life she had built and the love that still lingered in the recesses of her heart.

I am not the only traveler, Who has not repaid his debt. I’ve been searching for a trail to follow again, Take me back to the night we met. And then I can tell myself, What the hell am I supposed to do? And then I can tell myself, Not to ride along with you. I had all and then most of you, Some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met. Haunted by the ghost of you, Oh, take me back to the night we met. When the night was full of terrors, And your eyes were filled with tears. When you had not touched me yet, Oh, take me back to the night we met. I had all and then most of you, Some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met. Haunted by the ghost of you, Oh, take me back to the night we met. But as the song progressed to the last notes, thinking of Loki and their epic story, a sudden sharp twang cut through the melody. Melara paused, looking down in the dim light to see a string snapped, its frayed end the result of the tension that had built unnoticed. A wry teary smile touched her lips – the guitar had its limits, it seemed. Her fingers brushed against the broken string, and she flinched; the metal was unexpectedly hot to the touch, as though her own inner turmoil had transferred to the instrument.

The broken string, the heat from her touch – they were more than just physical occurrences. They were metaphors for her life, for the path she had walked upon, where the fire within her threatened to consume not just her own peace but also the things, and the people she cherished. She was losing control.

A wave of emotions crashed over her, the memories of Loki’s face against the backdrop of stars upon his throne, the sound of his voice, their last conversation – it all rushed back with a vengeance. The song she played, once a calm to her soul, now felt like a dirge for something she feared was slipping away. The heat from her fingers, a cruel reminder of her condition, and the fire that burned within her – sometimes a beacon, sometimes an uncontrollable inferno.

With a sigh, she set the guitar aside, the silence more fitting company to her thoughts. She wrapped her arms around herself, the night air cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth that still radiated from her fingertips. In the quiet of the night, with the broken guitar string a tangible representation of her fractured reality, Melara looked up at the sky, allowing herself to grieve – for what was and what could no longer be.

In the stillness of the night in her hometown, on the porch of the house where she had grown up, Melara made a silent vow. A vow to fight, to hold on, not just for Saoirse or for the music that defined her, but for herself. Because even with a broken string, the song was not over; the melody remained, waiting to be reborn from the ashes of the moment.

As she rose to return inside, the porch seemed to hold her for a moment longer, the night whispering its own silent song of resilience. Tomorrow, she would face her mother, her daughter, and the world. But tonight, she faced herself, her own heart, and the haunting melody of a love that refused to be quelled by distance, duty, or the ravages of time.

***

Loki, his features softened by the cosmic dimness that surrounded them, turned towards Saoirse, a question in his eyes, mirroring the brightness of the stars above. “Why,” he began, his voice carrying the stories he wished to tell of Melara, “did you find yourself drawn to the shadows, listening in on your mother’s solitary moments?”

Saoirse, reflecting the resilience she had inherited, met his gaze with an unflinching honesty. “The shadows were where the unspoken truths lay hidden,” she replied, her voice steady. “In the light, Mom was invincible, the star that outshone the darkness. But in the shadows, she was human, vulnerable. I needed to understand her, all of her, not just the brilliant façade she showed the world.”

Loki considered her words, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. “And what did you find in those shadows, daughter?” he asked, the title ‘daughter’ hanging between them like a bridge over the vast chasm of time they had lost.

“I found strength, even in her tears,” Saoirse said. “I found that the same fire that burned in her music burned in her spirit – it hurt her, but it also made her Melara Grace Brandt…my mother. I eavesdropped not to uncover secrets, but to know her heart. To hear the lullabies of her soul that weren’t captured in her songs.”

Loki’s expression softened, the mask of the god slipping to reveal the father beneath. “You carry her fire,” he observed, the pride evident in his tone. “And her heart. You are as much a part of her story as she is of yours.”

Saoirse nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the bond they shared through Melara. “Her music was her legacy, but her struggles, her quiet moments, they were her gifts to me. They taught me that even stars feel the cold of space, that even the brightest light can falter. I needed to see her humanity to accept my own.”

The god of mischief, known for his silver tongue and grand tales, found himself at a loss for words, once again, at the hands of his beloved daughter. In his daughter’s revelations, he saw the reflection of Melara’s essence, the very things that had drawn him to her in the cosmic dance of their lives.

 “Then you have seen what many fail to see in a lifetime,” Loki finally said, his voice carrying a reverence that was rare and true. “You have witnessed the entirety of a person, the light, and the shadows, and loved them all the same. I hope that someday you will see the same in me.”

Saoirse, with the wisdom of one who has been beyond the veil of illusion, simply nodded. They sat together, father and daughter, united in their understanding of the woman who had changed their worlds forever. In the silence, filled with the music of the cosmos, they found solidarity, a moment of peace in the tumultuous narrative of their lives. For they both knew what came next.

---

Taglist: @mischief2sarawr

[heyitsgigisadventures]

DIY Blushing Oil - Makeup For Summer | DIY Makeup, Summer Makeup

DIY Blushing Oil – Makeup For Summer | DIY Makeup, Summer Makeup Want a Natural Glow this Spring and Summer? Make Your Own DIY Blushing Oil!   Do you want to literally glow up overnight using the Light Feminine method? Click here!       Hey, pretty people!       The weather has already started warming up quite a good amount where I live, and I am already starting to shed my full-face of makeup…

[pastel-charm-14]

* ˚ ✦ aesthetic youtube channels to check out ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-

annie long: annie's channel features vlogs, fashion hauls, and lifestyle content with a soft and dreamy aesthetic. her bubbly personality and pastel-themed videos have gained her a dedicated following in the soft girl community.

olivia rouyre: olivia's channel offers a mix of lifestyle, fashion, and beauty content, often featuring soft and romantic aesthetics. her videos range from outfit ideas to makeup tutorials, all with a charming and whimsical vibe.

lavendaire: aileen xu's channel, lavendaire, focuses on personal growth, mindfulness, and self-care. while not exclusively a soft girl channel, her calming and introspective content resonates well with the soft aesthetic.

catcreature: annabelle, known as catcreature on youtube, shares vlogs, art, and lifestyle content with a soft and pastel aesthetic. her videos often feature cozy aesthetics, creative projects, and a touch of whimsy.

sammiespeaks: sammie's channel offers a variety of lifestyle content, including fashion, beauty, and vlogs. her soft and feminine style is evident in her videos, which often feature pastel colors and dreamy visuals.

aspyn ovard: aspyn's channel features lifestyle vlogs, travel diaries, and beauty content with a soft and airy aesthetic. her warm and inviting personality shines through in her videos, making them both relatable and inspiring.

sydney serena: sydney's channel includes fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content with a soft and girly vibe. her bubbly personality and positive energy make her videos fun to watch, while her fashion hauls and diys offer plenty of inspiration for soft girl aesthetics.

siena mirabella: siena's channel features fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content with a soft and feminine vibe. her videos often showcase her love for pastel colors, cozy aesthetics, and positive energy.

[softxsuki]

hello! happy valentine's day! if it's okay, could i please ask for a letter from mitsuya takashi, from tokyo revengers?

𑣲reader’s gender: neutral.

𑣲pet name: my muse.

𑣲relationship status: crush confessing to reader.

𑣲letter's tone: love confession, adoration.

𑣲genre: fluff, friends to lovers, unintentional confession.

𑣲location: mitsuya wrote the letter just to put his feelings into words and didn't plan to actually give it to the reader, but his little sisters took the matter into their own hands and made sure the reader read it.

𑣲about me: i'm 18; i want to be a confectioner; i have a pet chinchila; i'm lazy, kind, observant, sharp, impatient, introverted, honest, bold, quiet, easily distracted and creative; my hobbies are: singing, stargazing, shopping, baking, cooking, reading and fighting. curiosities: i have a big family (that i love); i'm terrible at most sports and i strongly dislike competitions; my best subjects are art and languages and worst are math and physics; i have no social skills but i still manage it well; i'm into fashion and design; i don't have any social media other than tumblr; i never use makeup, do my hair or my nails because i don't know how to do it.

𑣲details: his sisters and the reader are close as well; the reader writes a letter to mitsuya, confessing their feelings and has it delivered to him by his sisters.

take care and thank you in advance!!

Mitsuya’s Confession Letter To His Friend

Valentine’s Day Letter Event Pt.2 (CLOSED)

Pairing: Mitsuya x Gn!Reader

Warnings: none

Genre: Fluff, Friends to lovers

Post-Type: Letter

Word Count: 970

Summary: In which Mitsuya’s little sisters bring you a letter he wrote for you, but wasn’t meant to actually be given to you lol

[A/N: Hi hun, thanks for participating in my event! I decided to just include Mitsuya’s letter to you since I don’t know what you would personally want to say to Mitsuya yourself in a letter and this event is just letters from your favs to you guys. I hope that okay! Hopefully you enjoy! Happy Valentine’s Day!]

“Y/N Y/N Y/N!” The shrill squeals of Mitsuya’s little sisters greet you as you arrive at his place.

Mitsuya had greeted you quickly at the door with a hug, leaving for an urgent gang meeting. He had called you over to watch over his sisters so he didn't have to leave them home alone since his mother was at work and you of course agreed.

“Hi girls!” you pick them up in a hug, your heart melting at their cuteness.

Mana and Luna exchange a knowing look between each other. Little did you know they had been doing a little scheming behind the scenes. They knew their brother was hopelessly in love with you, it was obvious even for them as children, they had no idea why you didn’t see it either. As official Y/N supporters, they needed to make sure you became their in-law so they kept an eye on Mitsuya. Trying to get any tiny piece of evidence to expose his feelings for you since he didn’t want to burden you with his feelings himself.

And last night, they were successful as they read through a letter their brother had written to you, knowing full well he’d never actually give it to you. They took it and hid it for this very moment.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” They say in unison, handing you a letter.

“For me?” You ask, surprised.

“Mhm, It’s from Mitsuya,” they giggle again and run off, leaving you to read in peace.

The mention of his name makes you catch your breath. You could hardly compose yourself outside when he greeted you. You were practically shaking with nerves as he pulled you into a hug.

You open the letter, beginning to read hesitantly;

To My Muse,

I don’t think you even realize that you are my muse. You inspire me to do so much, or maybe it’s the feelings that burn up within me whenever I think about you. Not to mention how intense those feelings grow when I see you face to face. I can’t take it anymore…

Y/N, I love you. I’ve loved you for sometime now and tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I need to just get these words out of my heart since I can’t say them to you–it’s too risky. I can’t lose you, not now, not ever. So here it goes;

I love how well you get along with Mana and Luna, they really love you as well. I love how kind you are to everyone you meet; you can be quiet at times, but even that is beautiful. They way you observe everyone silently, as if you’re trying to unwrap the secrets of their life without ever even speaking to them. You’re amazing, you know?

Your creativity surprises my own. I love that we have something in common when it comes to fashion design, but even if you weren’t interested in it, I think I’d find myself wanting to love something you love doing just so we have that similarity. I love you so much it’s driving me almost insane. You have no idea how badly I wish I could hold you in my arms tomorrow, kiss you, and just have you be mine.

If we were a couple tomorrow, I’d definitely plan a romantic date for us. Maybe a picnic at a park where we’d stay until the sun sets, staying even after that to watch the stars sparkle above us…If only.

As long as you’re happy, that’s fine with me, even if it means not having me in your life romantically. I’ll always be here for you.

Longing for you always,

Takashi Mitsuya.xx

“Sorry, I forgot something!” Mitsuya rushes back in, almost knocking you over as he bursts through the door suddenly.

Your mouth was hung open, your heart about to pop out of your chest from reading his words for you, but also from his sudden appearance.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, worry etched on his features.

“You idiot! Why didn’t you want me to see this?” You blurt out, holding the letter out to him.

His face instantly pales, “Where did you get that from?”

“You sisters gave it to me…”

He sighs, knowing how mischievous his sisters could be.

“I’m sorry Y/N, I-”

“I love you too,” you stop him from apologizing, feeling like you were gonna pass out from the sudden surge of bravery you got.

“I- What? Really?”

You nod as he stares at you in shock, but then a smile breaks through.

“Guess I was worried for nothing then,” he laughs, meeting your eyes.

“I guess so…” you were feeling a little awkward now. You weren’t used to being so bold, especially not with your friend who you just found out likes you back.

“Look, I really need to go. I’m already late and Mikey is going to kill me if I’m any later. But hey, we’ll finish talking about this when I get back, okay? Wait up for me,” he hurriedly says, looking at the time on his watch.

“Okay,” you were still in shock, not knowing what to do with your heart.

He smiles and turns to leave, but hesitates and turns around again, “I love you, I’ll see you later.”

Boom heart attack. How dare he smile at you like that and look at you with those warm eyes. How dare he love you back. Why were you suddenly so lucky?

You just gulp and nod your head, not trusting your voice at that moment.

And then he was gone. The sound of his bike fading off in the distance from him rushing away.

You were nervous to talk to him when he returned, but at the same time you couldn’t wait. This was just the beginning of your story together.

REGULAR REQUESTS ARE OPEN :D

EVENT REQUESTS ARE CLOSED

Posted: 2/14/2023

[kyraespiritu]

What is Fashion? Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. In its everyday use, the term implies a look defined by the fashion industry as that which is trending. Why is Fashion important? 1. Fashion plays a pivotal role in shaping and expressing individual and communal identities. It allows us to showcase our personalities, beliefs, and values, providing a canvas for self-discovery and confidence. Through clothing choices and style preferences, we communicate who we are and how we want to be perceived by the world. Fashion empowers us to embrace our uniqueness and stand out, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance in a diverse society. 2.Fashion serves as a powerful mirror reflecting the values, traditions, and history of various cultures. It embodies the essence of a community’s heritage and social norms, creating a tapestry of diversity and inclusivity. By embracing and celebrating cultural fashion, we promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, fostering a global sense of unity and respect for one another’s unique backgrounds. Through this shared language of style, we bridge the gaps between societies and honor the beauty of human heritage. 3.Fashion empowers us with authentic and comfortable self-expression, enhancing confidence and self-esteem. The right clothing choices positively impact how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us, fostering a positive self-image and inner strength. Embracing our unique style radiates authenticity, resulting in a greater sense of self-worth. 4.Fashion serves as a catalyst for innovation, inspiring creativity across diverse industries. Designers and enthusiasts constantly push boundaries, experimenting with fabrics, styles, and concepts. This creative spirit transcends the fashion realm, influencing advancements in technology, art, and architecture. Fashion trends and ideas spark fresh perspectives and cross-disciplinary collaborations, propelling society forward with inventive solutions.

[cosplayinamerica]

Writer : Amy Densham

Whether your kids live in rural Iowa or downtown NYC. If they have cosplaying parents or only they just learned about Halloween. Astrid and Leah bring that excited, welcoming, Con energy to their student’s computer screens all over the world.

The platform is Outschool. It’s been around since 2015 and started as a go-to for homeschoolers. During the  COVID-19 pandemic, Outschool grew beyond homeschooling. It became a place for learning and socializing whether you homeschool or not. Now serving over 1 million learners in 195 countries, Outschool has thousands of classes for ages 3 - 18. Learn about dinosaurs from a paleontologist. C# coding from a game developer. Or cosplay from an expert seamstress and a professional actress.

Astrid Turner, bubbly and all smiles, remembers standing in line at a Con: “The cosplay community is one of the most supportive and wonderful communities out there. When I cosplay, it’s not attention on me. It’s attention for something we share. We already know we like the same things. The craftsmanship, the idea that you’re there together, dressed up, having an experience together.”

Astrid teaches Cosplay Costume Design and Creation Workshops and anything else costume-related (just send her a request). She can pleat a skirt, put a bodice in, and bring kids out of their shells with ease. Part of her class includes real-world skills like comparison shopping; if you’re asking mom to buy it, you need to have a plan.

What does Astrid hope her students walk away with from taking her class ? Ask about her experience teaching online classese.

With a classroom maximum of 5, Astrid gives personalized attention to all of her students. Some enroll with a  clear costume vision. Others just love Anime. Either way, Astrid helps them follow their own creativity and make it a reality.

Do they need a sketch? No problem. Does the fabric need to be washable? She knows just the thing. And costumes are just the beginning. Her eyes light up when she talks about intuitive, introverted students growing and connecting as the weeks go by. Someone who barely spoke in their first class is now the first one to share their progress and welcome a new student. They find their people and their voice.

Leah Johnson, artful and confident, talks about her experience at Cons: “It feels like everyone is a family. They want to welcome you in. It’s an excitement of sharing. Always. Of what they’ve made, what they’ve done, other cons that they’ve gone to, and people they’ve met. Everyone there wants to inspire each other.”

Leah teaches Special FX, Halloween, and Cosplay Makeup or one-on-one classes by request. Some of her students want to become professional makeup artists. Some want to scare their grandmas with fake wounds. In both situations, Leah is raring to go! And so is her washable Mehron Practice Makeup Head - currently sporting terrifying clown makeup from her last class.

Every class is unique. Some learners pop in with full, top-of-the-line makeup kits and some join with leftovers from the makeup wearer in their house. Part of the fun for Leah and her students is figuring out how to create looks with what you’ve got. It’s a great life lesson too. Sometimes you’ll need a specific product but sometimes you just need to be resourceful. Leah playfully refers to it as preparing for the zombie apocalypse when you won’t have all the tools. Her personality beams through the screen as she uses her makeup head to show makeup techniques, up close, and with student-requested variations. For Leah, the online part wasn’t her favorite. There’s an unquantifiable distance when you’re interacting online. You aren’t in the same space. It’s not the same as in person. But she makes that work too. And it’s a small inconvenience compared to the big benefit: bringing creative, accepting spaces to students wherever they are in the world.

Every class is unique. Some learners pop in with full, top-of-the-line makeup kits and some join with leftovers from the makeup wearer in their house. Part of the fun for Leah and her students is figuring out how to create looks with what you’ve got. It’s a great life lesson too. Sometimes you’ll need a specific product but sometimes you just need to be resourceful. Leah playfully refers to it as preparing for the zombie apocalypse when you won’t have all the tools. Her personality beams through the screen as she uses her makeup head to show makeup techniques, up close, and with student-requested variations. For Leah, the online part wasn’t her favorite. There’s an unquantifiable distance when you’re interacting online. You aren’t in the same space. It’s not the same as in person. But she makes that work too. And it’s a small inconvenience compared to the big benefit: bringing creative, accepting spaces to students wherever they are in the world.

HOW IT STARTED

Astrid and Leah both grew up loving costumes but they didn’t find out about cosplay until much later. In each of their separate hometowns, they were that kid in full costume at the grocery store. Or decked out like crazy on Halloween. Sound familiar?

Astrid remembers her first Ren Faire: “My first costume was a disaster but I was so proud of it! Ever since then, I knew I wanted to make costumes.” Growing up in a rural area outside LA, she always wanted to go to the San Diego Comic-Con but she didn’t have anyone to go with and didn’t want to go by herself. None of her friends were cosplayers - a term she didn’t even know existed.

She taught herself to sew, learning by creating more and more complex projects. Elaborate Elizabethan gowns with striking details for the next faire.

As she grew older, Atrid took a detour, exploring other career paths but she came back to sewing when her kids were small. Making clothes and costumes for them brought back that magic. And the internet showed her there was a whole community out there. No longer the only cosplayer in town, she dove in head first.

Now Astrid and her 3 kids (ages 13, 10, and 7) attend Cons every chance they get. In full costume, of course. She enters competitions in the handmade category and, though she’s modest, has taken home more than one win. In middle school, Astrid was big into theatre, Shakespeare, and creating Renaissance costumes.

An actor, director, voiceover artist, and singer, Leah cosplays characters from Arwen to Cruella De Vil to Mary Poppins. She teaches makeup and cosplay on Outschool but does both professionally for film, theatre, and events. To name a few, she designed costumes for the TV show Kookville and a stage production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She even did makeup and created costumes for the movie Demon Squad, which you can find in Season 13 of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. She believes that cosplay isn’t just about expressing yourself, it’s about developing yourself and creating a full aesthetic. Beyond that, she wants her students to know, they can make a career out of their creative passions. And she’ll help them do it.

Leah talks about her first Ren Faire experience: “It felt awesome because I was trying to be intentional about creating a costume for me. Not for a play. Not for someone else based on their vision. It was my vision. It was what I wanted to do.”

You feel different in your cosplay. The persona, the confidence. It can be hard to describe but Astrid and Leah teach toward that feeling in every class.

Specializing in Elizabethan and Italian Renaissance costumes, Astrid also cosplays Collei from Gensin Impact and loves growing her skills in the anime genre. She even runs a social club on Outschool where Genshin fans can hang out virtually and game together.

Astrid beams: “A lot of kids and adults choose a character and they try to match that persona. It’s a little bit of safety. I’ve had people scream ‘OH MY GOD ITS COLLEI’ and run over to me. Under normal circumstances that wouldn’t happen. But at Cons, it’s so exciting. It’s amazing to connect with other people through that persona.”

*** Leah, with her cosplay weapon collection behind her: “You feel more confident in your character’s costume. It’s a projection of your best self. A lot of work, your imagination, and your brain is now projected on the outside. People can see that part of you that they can’t see in any other situation.”

Leading by example, Leah shows her students that they can make their creative passions into careers. She beams when she talks about a student getting confident enough to make an Actor Instagram account. Or doing professional-level wedding makeup for their entire family.

Teaching online from Arkansas since 2018, Astrid volunteered for the first-ever Outschool Cosplay Convention in 2021. Now called GameCon, the 2-day event featured presentations at different times of day for different timezones. Sessions about costume design, makeup, theatre performance, and more. And, most exciting of all, the costume showcase. Every kid got a chance in the spotlight to show off their creations. Astrid, laughs now: “I burst into tears when I logged off. It was such a rush of emotions. I found my people! I wish I had this when I was a kid.”

***

[artsartblog]

Last post of art for now ^w^

This is a redesign I made recently of my RC9GN oc Clarissa Knowles. I decided to give her a more goth look than she had before since I felt like she really wasn't hitting the gothic mark I was going for. Her clothes do have a hint of purple in them because I chose colors that were more on the purple side to pay homage to her original design. I even gave her makeup this time since I really wanted to before, but never did. I pretty much kept everything but her outfit the same with the addition of makeup and accessories.

This is actually my most recent piece (literally finished it yesterday/at 12am this morning), which is of the Secret Trio. I added my ocs for the different fandoms (Clarissa, Beth and Kamala) because I wanted to kinda show the friendship dynamics between my ocs and the protagonists. I will say Kamala is going under a redesign because I forgot what her og design was so this is now her current design. She is monkey demon that is inspired by the Monkey King (like she herself is a fan of the Monkey King and has kinda based her personality around the idea of being a mischievous monkey that does whatever the fuck she wants, despite being a teenager). Kamala is usually using magic to hide her true form to be able to exist in society, but at home or when she really just doesn't feel like using magic she will be in her monkey form (which isn't much different from her disguised form). Also the reason why Randy is in the ninja suit is to show off that Clarissa knows he is the ninja and helps out with the stanked monsters (mostly by keeping others safe with her own magical powers).

Lastly, we have Yumichika Norisu (who is named after and based on one of my favorite characters from Bleach). Yumi is an oc I made to be related to another RC9GN oc, named Sayuki, who acts as the surrogate love child of Sayuki and Gorou (basically @quirinah oc version of one of the norisu nine that has become one of my favorites because Q just makes the best characters I swear). Sayuki's cousin ends up taking on the Norisu name because of how much the Norisu Nine for their village and because only one of the nine survived (basically trying to keep the norisu family alive without actually being apart of the og family). Yumi actually doesn't feel he deserves his last name because he was raised learning about the true history of the Ninja and the Norisu Nine. He's still a wip oc since I'm still figuring him out, but basically he's the love child of Sayuki and Gorou (who I assume never have the chance to actually start their own family considering how things go for the Norisu Nine and the ages Q came up for the nine).

So yeah. Feel free to send in any asks for any of my ocs. Likes are nice, but reblogs are more appreciated. As always have good day and stay creative!