2016 Cosplay Review and 2017 Goals

8:52 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

For cosplay, 2016 should have been the year where I made a nice dent into my cosplay wishlist as I had increased free time, but due to personal circumstances, this did not happen. I made a total of three costumes this year: Chloe (Life is Strange), Rise Lara Siberia (Tomb Raider) and Rise Lara Syria (Tomb Raider). My Etsy store had a particularly busy year and a good chunk of my crafting time went into helping other people create thier costumes! Though I wouldn't change a thing, I have enjoyed making these three costumes and getting the most out of my Lost Valley Lara.

So what for 2017? As with all my costumes, I want to get the most out of what I make so both of the Rise costumes will be returning in 2017 as will Chloe. I will make a new bow for Rise and tinker with the rest of the costumes. As for new costumes, I am hoping that 2017 will be the year I finally remake my GLaDOS; I love that costume so much and only wore it once in 2013. In addition I have a full choreography performance planned. I just need to do it! Below are a little collection of characters I am thinking of making for 2017; again I'll probably only make 2 or 3 as I am currently pretty busy between my PhD and Etsy.


Oh and Ellie (The Last of Us 2) ;)


As for cosplays goals/aims in 2017 they are:

• * Tackle more machine sewing projects - I can sew and draft patterns however in 2016 I felt like my poor little machine was barely taken out of it's case! I am also considering a new machine, so if I use my own more this year, I can see if that is a reasonable decision or not! 
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• * Get over my worbla armor fear - In my shed, I currently have half a Thor breastplate that went horribly wrong! I have no plans to resurrect that cosplay, however I would like to use worbla for a costume piece rather than just accessories and weapons which is what I do now. GLaDOS would help with this aim.
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• * Plan ahead more successfully - I am sure this is one for 99 percent of cosplayers. Why we often leave things until the last moment I will never know! So I am hoping to schedule my time more efficiently in 2017 - between cosplay, PhD, Etsy store, blog and general life.
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• * Create a 'cosplay purgatory' - I am terrible for starting a game or watching a film and getting all sorts of ideas of how amazing a costume would be. This is all well and good but in 2017 I am hoping to create a 'cosplay purgatory' that is that I do not buy anything for a costume until at least 6 weeks has passed. I can research and add to lists but I am not allowed to buy anything. In my cosplay supplies I have materials and wigs for Thor, Rey and Female Titan from AoT. I have no plans to cosplay these now, but I got swept away in my own hype. 2017 is where I cut down on this!
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• * Set up more photoshoots - This is the one thing I say every year, I need to stop thinking that I would be a burden to photographers and holding up my friends at conventions and actually get some photos done. I enjoy doing it even if I often am not the most photogenic person in the world! I just like having a record of what I have done. So many of my costumes get made and then hardly see the lens of a camara; Angel of Darkness Lara, Egyptian Assassin and Ellie from The Last of Us to name a few.

So that is it for 2016 and looking forward to the 2017 con season. What are you planning to make in the next year and what are your cosplay goals? Comment below or tweet me @Lady_Scion.

2016, In Memoriam

8:03 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

On a more personal note, 2016 has seen both myself, my friends and my family go through so many challenges including deaths, illness, unwanted house moves, redundancies and debt. Brexit brought about divides, as did the election of Trump. Everything, it seemed, happened at once.

However it is important, when it seems like 2016 has got us all down to pick out the positives and firmly hold on to them. I may have not had a 'job' in the traditional sense this year, but I am a creative person and ended up creating items to sell and took on freelancing roles. I then made it my mission to enjoy this extra time I sometimes had as in the near future, I will more than likely not have it. I aimed to read more of my books that I kept on buying and found that the time sat on trains really ate away at the bookshelf. I also took the massive risk of embarking on a PhD in lieu of of permanent job, and while I have struggled to get back into academic life and considered dropping out just so I can feel like I am getting on with life. I am still there, and hopefully very soon I will feel like I am achieving something, not just hiding away from the real world in my old university. The fact is, I am not really a student anymore, I have teaching duties and I am expected to publish articles before I graduate. There are roles and expectations from the department that I must meet. I was scared by the prospect of three more years, minimum, however I am already halfway through the first. Time, as it is constructed, gets away from us all. It is important that we do the best we can to fill it with what we want and need to do. However time out to reflect, to chill, to do 'nothingness' is also vitally important. The departure of our inspirational people this year should remind us of this. 

I'm not really expecting anyone to read this blogpost, it is a change from the usual and something that I normally keep to my private journals. I just felt, for 2016, it needed to be typed out to try and absorb and reflect on it all. Because constructed or not, it has been one hell of a year for almost us all, and I hope that 2017 is a better one.

Have a wonderful New Year.

Rise of The Tomb Raider PS4 Photo Gallery

10:12 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Challenges to come (ignore the skip! I was too excited to share this out!)

The First Codex

Ready for the Hunt

Shadows of the Past

Unexpected Finds

Embers

Steadiness

Ascent

Trepidation

For the Hunted

Atlas

Paying Respect

Power of the Atlas

Precipice

Continue Surviving

After all

Judgement

Leading Light

Gamer Gift Guide 2016

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Croft's Qualopec Expeditions Hoodie (£30)

Don't worry if Tomb Raider isn't your kind of thing, GamerPrint has lots of unique designs from games that you don't often see designs for and for those that you do, they are not your usual! For the 20th anniversary of Tomb Raider, you cannot go wrong with this hoodie, bonus point, it isn't black! Buy now from GamerPrint.

Pokémon Eevee Beanie Hat (£13.99)

Journey Scarf (£40.00)

Any fan of Journey would adore this scarf, perfect for winter and is subtle but fans will instantly recognise it. Buy from InsertCoin.

Tomb Raider Christmas Gift Guide 2016

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Do you have a raider in your life and you just don't know what to get them? Well why not try a few of these suggestions...

Tomb Raider Archives Vol. 1 (£33.50)
Revisit the older Lara adventures with the reissue of the Top Cow comics. Unlike the compendium, the stories are in full colour and volume one, in my opinion, holds the best stories and most beautiful art work ever seen in a Tomb Raider comic. Buy from Amazon.

Arrow Bookends (£8.30)
 There are many different varieties of arrow bookends, however these are among the cheapest and they have a blood drip, which is an instant win in my book (pun not intentional, honest! I just love blood sfx makeup!). So with all those Tomb Raider books out this year, a book end like this is a must! Buy from Amazon.

G Adventure Gift Certificates (Various)
Treat your favourite raider to the ultimate gift, a little bit of extra money towards the adventure of their dreams in 2017. Load whatever you want to gift on the card, which can either be emailed or provided as a physical card to wrap up. Before you know it they will be in Ankor Wat or heading up the Amazon, hopefully with you in tow! Buy from G Adventures.

Tomb Raider Medallion of Light Disc (£12.99)
Cast in resin, this replica from the movie is a great affordable unique gift for either cosplayers or just to display. Buy from MovieProps2000 on Etsy.

Lara Croft Suncatcher (£30)
Handcrafted from 23 pieces of coloured glass, individually cut and shaped, wrapped in copper foil and soldered together. Would also look beautiful as a Christmas tree decoration. Buy from ScottsStainedGlass on Etsy.

Egyptian Fig Noctua Candle (£12.50)
How cute is this little guy? Not only do you get a beautifully smelling Egyptian Fig candle, but you also get the container which looks like the Owl of Athena which can be used with other small candles. Made from 100% GM free pure soy wax and burns for 35 hours. Buy from Trouva.

Lara and Rex T Shirt (£15)
 In all its polygon glory, this will sure bring a smile to anyone who played the original Tomb Raider! Buy from Red Bubble.

Hopefully these few suggestions will help in your Christmas raiding! All which can be done from the comfort of your sofa. Don't forget to follow #TRAdvent for lots of festive Tomb Raider fun on my Twitter from 1st December. 

Lara Croft and the Blade of Gwynnever Review

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

(Source: HardcoreGamers)

(This review contains no obvious spoilers and the book was bought by myself) 


I’ll admit, I did not have high expectations for this novel after the previous effort from Dan Abbot and Nik Vinent, Tomb Raider: Ten Thousand Immortals, was reduced into a Wikipedia, arse nugget, ten thousand train rides and terrible tipping non-adventure. I had more fun tweeting the atrocities in the book which you can find here. I suggest you read that rather than the few hours it will take for the book.

So it was safe to say I approached the latest Tomb Raider novel, Lara Croft and the Blade of Gwynnever, with pretty low expectations. However there were times when I quite enjoyed it and the book was certainly better than Ten Thousand Immortals. Based on the spinoff ‘Lara Croft’ franchise that includes ‘Guardian of Light’ and ‘Temple of Osiris’, Blade of Gwynnerver is more your classic Tomb Raider story than the main franchise. This came through with the characterisation for Lara; this Lara was sassy, swore a little and highlighted the morality of what she was doing as an ‘archeologist’. To be honest, I hadn’t realised how much I missed this classic side of Lara and I particularly enjoyed the quips during fight scenes and the dynamic between Lara and Carter. A fellow archeologist who we were introduced to in ‘Temple of Osiris’. It did rely, at times, that the reader was aware of previous games and what happened in them which is a great little touch for fans, however could alienate potential readers who just want an action/adventure story without a previous backstory.

The book certainly had the feel of the two early noughties movies, which I personally didn’t mind as I enjoyed Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Lara, however if you were wishing for a true retro classic Lara, you may be disappointed. Yet that side certainly came through, in particular the way in which locations circled traditional Tomb Raider stomping grounds such as London, Egypt and Turkey. The story was deeply rooted into archaeology, more than I initially expected. I just wished more of that came out. However what bits there were added a fantastic level of depth to make the novel seem grounded compared to the more arcade and fantasy style of the Lara Croft franchise.

Blade of Gwynnever unfortunately had a similar problem to Ten Thousand Immortals, in that at times the authors sounded like they copy and pasted Wikipedia into their narrative to help describe a situation, item or phenomenon. Often these were not necessary and distracted away from the world creation of the novel. For example, at the start of the novel, there are two whole pages dedicated to the description of Boris Bikes and political unrest in London. Both of which did not add much to the story in the long term and simply acted as distracting factual fluff. Sometimes it became apparent that the authors did not fully understand the character of Lara Croft and the wider world of Tomb Raider, the narrative became confusing as they tried to grasp bits of the story together to create a coherent timeline. I have a feeling that the story has been heavily edited with new sections added in or removed as towards the end the structure is not as solid or entertaining as the start or middle.

A huge positive, despite the problems mentioned above, is that the authors appear freer in Blade of Gwynnever compared to Ten Thousand Immortals. The latter felt constricted with the need to fit into ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ and the book suffered because of this constriction on the character of Lara Croft and the need for her to finish in a certain location with the Trinity organisation set up. In Blade of Gwynnever the prose flows a lot better and we get to know this version of Lara in a greater depth from situations that seem viable for her. My personal favourites were the social sections where we see Lara mingling in scenes across the world with a gun strapped to her thigh under a dress. These were captured beautifully with the quick witted and sarcastic comments from Lara that acted as real throwbacks to both the movies and Core games.

Overall, it is a much better novel than Ten Thousand Immortals and the comic series Frozen Omen, a comic arc set in the same world as Blade of Gwynnever. However I doubt it having much appeal beyond that of the Tomb Raider fanbase. I’d say read it if you think it sounds interesting to you and you feel like you need a little dose of classic Lara, however keep in mind that there is much better fan fiction out there. It might be wise spending your time finding those rather than reading this book.

Lara Croft and the Blade of Gwynnever is available to buy and download now from:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Wordery

Cosplay Sensei - Megan Louise Cosplay

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Photographer: Steam Kittens

How did you start cosplaying and how many costumes have you created to date?
I started cosplaying a year after I went to my first conversation, I think it was 2013 when I started. It was just a last minute idea I had the night before the convention because I remembered thinking how cool it was, and I never looked back. So far I have made a total of about 20 different cosplay, plus 2-3 that I'm starting to work on now. Not a lot but I like to re-wear them as much as I can. I don't see the point in spending x amount of time and money in making a cosplay to only wear it once. 

What is the one tool you can’t live without while creating costumes and favourite material to work with?
The one tool I can't live without is Google! For me, Google is my best friend when it comes to making cosplays because anything I don't know or I'm not sure of, I can google it. It's definitely been a life saver.
I don't really have a favourite material, I'm fine working with anything. Oh except for non stretch fabric, I swear that was created by some kind of devil! 

As a fan of both wrestling and cosplay/conventions, how do you think the two industries could work together to bring new and/or exciting content for fans?
The ring attire of both the male and female wrestlers are always an exciting thing for me to see when I watch. I can get so inspired by looking at the outfits that the seamstresses make. I'll be sitting there watching and someone will come out to wrestle I'll see their gear I get so excited and I just have to replicate it. 

Sometimes though sadly, the gear can be at bit of a miss cosplay wise, which is a shame especially if I really want to cosplay as that wrestler. Like there's one of the female superstar who I love and who I've been dying to cosplay as, but I'm just not a fan of her ring gear, which is a shame.

How would you describe the cosplay scene in Australia? 
The cosplay scene in Australia is absolutely amazing! Although I haven't been to any con in Australia other than the ones in South Australia (Adelaide, where I live) Adelaide has so many talented cosplayers here. I really love seeing and meeting people at cons and either seeing their cosplays for the first time or seeing how much they've improved. We have such a wonderful community, and I'm so glad I can be a part of it. 

Photographer: I Got Superpowers

Where is your cosplay work station?
I work basically anywhere in my house and my family just has to put up with it! Most of the time, I'm in my kitchen/dining room if I'm hot gluing things. I will hand sew or cut things in my lounge room and watch tv. When I'm using my seeing machine I'm in my bedroom. And for any big painting or for anything that can't be done indoors I will be either outside or in the garage. 

What was the motivation behind setting up your YouTube channel? 
I set up my YouTube channel as away to let out some more creativity. I was originally just going to show my cosplays on there, but I ending up doing a makeup tutorial for my Nikki Bella Cosplay and it got a fair bit of attention with over 26,000 views. A lot of people liked that I was doing makeup of the girls in the WWE, so I kept doing it. While still showing off my cosplays and doing makeup tutorials or the characters. 

And which is your favourite make up look you have done for the channel?
Oh god, my favourite? Hmmm, I love my Nikki Bella makeup, as I mentioned before that's the one that really "started" my YouTube in the sense that after that became so popular and people wanted more, I started doing it more regularly. My Paige makeup videos. She one of my favourite WWE wrestlers and I've done quite a few different videos on her, which are some of my most popular videos. But if I absolutely had to pick a favourite it would be my Suicide squad Harley Quinn makeup. I did that makeup (and made the cosplay) when there was only a handful of horrible quality leaked photos out and I was quite proud with how accurate it worked out. 

Photographer: I Got Superpowers

Any secret tips for other cosplayers?
Not really a "secret" tip, but my biggest tip would be; Don't be afraid to do things differently. Just because someone has done something one way, doesn't mean you have too. There's no right or wrong way to cosplay. I've had to paint shoes to get them the right colour, use knitting needles for hat pins in my mad hatter hat. Hot glue isn't just for gluing things, you can make things out of it!! Don't be afraid to try out new ways and techniques. Oh and also if you're wearing fake lashes BRING LASH GLUE TO THE CON WITH YOU! I can't begin to tell you all the times I've forgotten it. 

Who is your cosplay sensei?
Yaya Han is at the very top of that list, I mean look at her! She not only absolutely amazing at sewing and crafting but also business wise, with her cosplay patterns and fabrics! She amazing! Also someone who is very close to me, one of my best friends, Justine (jusz cosplay) she's, I think, has basically been there from the beginning. She was a local cosplayer that I found on Facebook and through her I realised how cool this whole thing is, I even told her that I stalked her Facebook when I first started cosplaying the first time I met her. And now we are besties. She's seen and had to put up with a lot of cosplay related tears and I love her for it.

Links:

Facebook

Twitter 

Instagram

YouTube

Blog

Professional Cosplay

1:10 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Kamui Cosplay (Photographer Darshelle Stevens)

If you follow a few UK cosplayers, you have probably seen the term 'professional cosplayer' being thrown around; I'm not going to stir the drama pot, feel free to Google if you want to know more! What I want to talk about is common ideologies about what constitutes as a professional cosplayer and why people may take offense to it.

Controversially, a lot of a cosplayers worth comes with what can be placed with metrics - facebook followers, retweets, YouTube watch time engagement and more. Understandably, one of the main reasons a company may hire you or ask you come along to an event is because they want their event to be shared to the widest, most relevant audience. Many cosplayers are highly engaged with social media; it is an easy, and often cheap, method of PR and marketing to get cosplayers involved in events. At the end of the day however, cosplay will still be a predominately hobbyist activity and that is not a bad thing. The words 'amateur' and 'hobbyist' have become sadly tarnished in the current climate where being a professional in everything that we do is the aim for many. I am not just talking about cosplay here - photography, animation, baking, selling on eBay. Many are using tried and tested management techniques to sell ourselves and our products. Rightly so, we are proud of ourselves and what we do, with the old adage that if we can do something well, don't do it for free - the title of 'Professional Cosplayer' is being thrown around more than a pokèball!

So is there such a thing as a 'Professional Cosplayer'? Speaking purely for myself, I certainly believe so. I roll my eyes when I see people criticise YouTubers and Twitch streamers, telling them to get a 'real job'. Gloating that when the content creator bubble bursts, they will be sorry. Yet that could happen with any job, anyone can be made redundant at anytime and for any reason. I like to compare the content creator sector with that of the film industry when it was in its infancy. For those actors, actresses, lighting riggers and producers - they were brand new roles in the job market. However they were getting paid and more importantly, they were living their lives from the profits of working those roles. It is a similar tale for cosplay, if you are able to create a sustained living simply through making costumes, attending conventions, related events and publications then, in my eyes at least, you could say you were 'professional'. As a population, often we are scared of something new and different when older systems - mortgages, bringing up a family, nutrition etc are reliant on them. 


Few can ever make a sustainable living through making costumes alone - yet what cosplay offers are opportunities to make a little extra money as a side project. A practice that dates back far into history, with mainly women, using what skills they had to bump up the family savings. We can have stores on Etsy and Storenvy that help to pay for new equipment or run YouTube channels that show tutorials and vlogs. The heart of these need to be for the love of the hobby, they often don't pay much, can take a chunk of your time and may feel like a second job. Cosplay can also offer up opportunities to work with influential companies - as an example, due to my Lara costumes, I was part of the Square Enix PR launch for 'Lara Croft GO' in London. While I needed to act professional, I am nowhere near what could be considered a 'professional cosplayer' even though I earn money through selling cosplay items on Etsy.

There is nothing wrong with taking a professional approach to what you do or pushing yourself, and it may help further down the line - but remember why you started to cosplay in the first place. If you want to aim to be a professional, think about what you would like to do once you have that notoriety rather than to be famous for famous sake. For Yaya Han it is her fabric lines and patterns, Kamui has her book publications, Leon Chiro has worked it to increase his traditional modelling portfolio and Bill Doran has worked the other way - taking his prop building business into the world of cosplay. At the end of the day however if you are enjoying what you are doing and being polite, honest and kind while doing it, that is all that matters.

So what do you think about 'professional cosplayers'? Comment below or tweet me @Lady_Scion and remember to take pride and enjoy your hobby whatever that may be.

Could This be the Meaning Behind Lara Croft’s Necklace?

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 14 Comments

When looking at the initial design image for the reboot Lara Croft, one thing in particular stood out. That was her beautiful jade pendant; the size and placement of it suggesting that the piece of jewellery could be significant to the story. In-game, the size had been decreased, but the vivid green stood out from the blood, mud and neutral tones that was the colour palette for Lara.

While I was playing Tomb Raider 2013, I fully expected that the swirly pendant would be some kind of key or talisman. Imagine my surprise when the end credits rolled and the necklace played no significant part whatsoever. I then thought that it would be important in ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’, and came up with the theory that because Lara interrupted Himiko’s ritual at the end of Tomb Raider, part of Himiko became trapped in the pendant. A theory that I have built into my fan fiction Tomb Raider 2013 continuation story because I believed in it so much. ‘Rise’ came around, and alas, as far as I know (as I am waiting for the PS4 version of the game) the pendant is simply just character design again.

laracroftcosplay.com

But what could it mean? During the construction of my cosplay I looked for something of a similar design in jade or faux jade glass that I could buy or take inspiration from. The actual design of Lara’s necklace, a small animal or spirit encased in a leafy style swirl, was nowhere to be found. Or at least, that specific design was absent. What I did find were pounamu necklaces, in particular, the Koru design from New Zealand.

earthboundkiwi.com

Known as the God Stone by the Maori population, pounamu has the reputation of holding spiritual powers to protect, evoke strength and prosperity, protect the owner, show love and kinship, and to depict growth and harmony. Something Lara would be very thankful to have during her time on Yamatai. It has been suggested that pounamus’ create strong connections with ancestors and the corresponding natural world - this theory is what lead me to believe that the necklace seen throughout the game will become significant during this reboot timeline.

The closest design to Lara’s is the Koru, a spiral. In Maori art, because of its fluid shape took from unfurling fern leaves, it is commonly used as a symbol of creation. Suggesting the ideology of perpetual movement, while the inner coil suggests a return to the point of origin. A metaphor for life both changing and staying the same; perfectly describing the way in which the franchise was rebooted.

The Koru can also represent new life. Taking the baby frond, it slowly unfurls as it grows before opening to a brand new leaf as the old one dies. Again, perfectly fitting for the reboot story line as Lara is thrown into her new life and grows into being a tomb raider (rather than just a very unlucky archaeologist!) as the games are released.

shopenzed.com

So it certainly seems that the necklace wasn’t just drawn to look nice; it has real world symbolism with a host of hidden meanings relating to Lara’s life and the adventures she takes. I’m still confident that the necklace will become something else, if not, you can tweet at me in a few years time!

What thoughts do you have about Lara’s necklace? Comment below or tweet me!

Blog update - Where have I been?

11:47 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

Sorry for a being a little quiet the past few weeks with virtually no blog posts. As a quick life update, not going into too much detail, but it involves family members in hospital, aiding a house move, a crazy amount of orders from my Etsy store and the embracing the biggest risk of my life giving up a full time, permanent job to undertake a PhD. Let me tell you, they were a horrible few weeks making my decision. On top of this, I'm still pushing myself to finish my Syria Rise cosplay for MCM Manchester next week! I have sore thumbs and hot glue burns galore!

So again, please accept my apologies, I'll be back very soon and got lots of articles jotted down that should take us well into the new year :) First one when I get back will be a Tomb Raider article so keep an eye out for that!

Helen

57 Shades of Pokémon GO

11:08 pm HelenLJohnson 0 Comments

1. 1.  Pokémon GO is here!!!
2. 2. Oh wait…I’m in the UK…
3. 3. And, I’m not getting the APK, I’ll wait…
4. 4. *cries*
5. 5. The song ‘Pikachu’s Goodbye’ plays in the background.
6. 6. IT’S HERE!
7. 7. THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD DREAM!
8. 8. Puts on some shorts, I like them because they are comfy.
9. 9. *Wiggles*
10. 10. Turns hat backwards.
11. 11. Sets out to the theme tune.
12. 12. I’m going to be the very best like no-one ever was.
13. 13. DUM,DUM, DUM, DUM!
14. 14. The fact that I am running away from Charmander breaks my heart.
15. 15. I’ll always choose you in the Game Boy games little guy.
16. 16. Where is this Pikachu?
17. 17. Kotaku lied to me didn’t they?
18. 18. Continues to walk, contemplates getting an iced latte from Costa.
19. 19. IT’S A PIKACHU!!
20. 20. GET IN MY BALL!
21. 21. Runs across road.
22. 22. YEEESSSS!
23. 23. …. Now what?
24. 24. Why does this game not tell me what to do?
25. 25. I’m pressing menu screens, they don’t tell me much.
26. 26. Right I am at a Pokéstop.
27. 27. …Is something supposed to happen?
28. 28. I see picture and a creepy amount of detail about the location.
29. 29. Le spins.
30. 30. Ohhh…
31. 31. Carrying on.
32. 32. I see no Pokémon.
33. 33. *Buzzzz*
34. 34. Tweet?…Oh…it’s a Ratatta!
35. 35. Move to side Joey, this Ratatta is going to be in top percentage.
36. 36. And there is nothing you can do to stop it.
37. 37. 5 hours later…
38. 38. 29 Pidgeys, 20 Ratattas, 8 Zubats and 1 token Eevee found in the crisp aisle of Tesco later.
39. 39. Crawls into bed, realise that you needed to put an egg into an incubator to hatch.
40. 40. *cries*
41. 41. Wake up, back to training.
42. 42. Check local gyms, realise that you are nowhere near the level to challenge.
43. 43. Thinks a career as a Pokémon breeder might be more suitable.
44. 44. Climbs into a bush for a Pidgeotto.
45. 45. On way back, find a ten year old on a bike has just took over the gym.
46. 46. *cries*
47. 47. Give everyone knowing looks who are wandering aimlessly around town.
48. 48. *Walks into wall*
49. 49. Hope that no-one has seen…
50. 50. That bloody ten year old gym leader saw and is laughing.
51. 51. I’m so going to take over your gym, just you wait.
52. 52. You won’t be laughing when my top percentage Ratatta comes to woop yo ass.
53. 53. Or my Flareon, IF I CAN EVER FIND ANOTHER EEVEE TO GET CANDY.
54. 54. Ends up getting lost.
55. 55. Battery is dead.
56. 56. I have no food or water.
57. 57. This is the best thing ever.

Cosplay Sensei - Ruby Hearts

12:00 pm HelenLJohnson 1 Comments

Photographer: Ken Koh

 Cosplay Sensei is back again and this time we are with Ruby, a cosplayer from Singapore. So from waterproof eyeliner to representing Crystal Dynamics as an official Lara, grab a drink and enjoy what Ruby has to say about cosplay.
What is the cosplay scene like in Singapore?
Cosplay has been gaining increased popularity and mainstream acceptance in Singapore in recent years. We have various cosplay-friendly events throughout the year, on average once a month. The small size of our country means that travelling to events is relatively easy and accessible even for younger cosplayers. Everyone tends to turn up at the same events and would have at least a mutual friend or two. The overall vibe is friendly, as long as you are respectful to others. Cosplay from both eastern and western titles is popular.
 
A nice plus is that there are many local cosplay photographers who are happy to collaborate for photoshoots. The proximity makes it even easier to arrange photoshoots on short notice. One of the biggest downsides is that Singapore has humid weather and it often rains. On convention days, imagine a hall packed full of cosplayers either trying to escape the heat or protecting their precious costumes from the rain.

How did you start cosplaying and how many costumes have you created to date?
I always found cosplay interesting but was afraid to start. This changed after attending a convention in 2010. They had a panel about cosplay and brought in guest cosplayers. I also chatted with some local cosplayers at the event. I decided to just take the plunge and debut my first cosplay in early 2012 with a few friends.

To date, I have cosplayed 31 different characters or their variants. However, not all costumes were made by me. Some were commissioned or bought second-hand. Only about half of those costumes were created by me.

What is the one tool you can’t live without while creating costumes?
My sewing machine! I can’t do anything fancy with it but it has saved me hours of time simply by sewing straight lines.

Favourite material to work with and why? 
Cloth. It’s one of the more forgiving materials for inaccurate measurements. If you have excess, you can just trim it. If you are short, you can sew on another piece. If you want to start over, just snip the stitches and measure a new piece. You can afford to experiment at a relatively low material cost.

Photographer: Ken Koh

What are your top tips to keeping your make up on in Singaporean heat/humidity?
Personally, I swear by waterproof eyeliner. Makeup setting spray also helps. Where possible, my friends and I put on our makeup and costumes only at the convention or photoshoot location to prevent perspiring (and face-melting) along the way. We have the kind of weather where you can be perspiring just 5 minutes after stepping out of the shower! Portable battery-operated fans are also a great option to keep your face cool.

What was it like being one of the official Lara cosplayers for ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’? 
It was a huge honour to represent one of the most iconic women in gaming! The opportunity came unexpectedly and I accepted immediately when approached. The launch event was short but very exciting. It was awesome to be a part of making the experience more enjoyable for the fans. It’s something I won’t forget for a long time to come. This was a defining moment for me and fired up my determination. I’m definitely planning more cosplays of Lara! And I hope to keep on improving.

Where is your cosplay work station?
I use the dining table (especially for sewing) and living room floor for props. I head outdoors for spray painting.
 
Where do you see cosplay heading in the future? 
Cosplay is becoming more accessible and widely accepted. I think we will see more products and services specifically aimed at crafters and cosplayers, such as cheaper 3D printers, easier access to materials from all over the world, more how-to workshops, and the rise of cosplay one-stop shops or portals. Cosplayers will also find easier means to outsource their skills and talents.

Photographer: Clement Tung

Any secret tips for other cosplayers? 
Satin or shiny cloth can be an alternative to leather. I have used black double satin for an entire dress that required a leather look, and shiny blue cloth to make Lightning’s gloves. Satin is also lighter, more breathable, and has a larger variety of colours.

Who is your cosplay sensei?
I feel that there is always something we can learn from anyone we meet! One person at the top of my list would be A.K. Wirru. He regularly shares tutorials and tips on his page and is happy to discuss with followers that require clarification on his methods. His transforming Pokémon costumes are particularly creative and inspiring!

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