Lazy Daze & Clockwork Ball

Over the weekend, I went to one thing after another, so here's what's up:

Lazy Daze in Cary:
So Lazy Daze is a giganto craft fair here in downtown Cary and it's always super-packed with tons of awesome stuff. Here's a few pictures from Saturday when I was there:

Possums! Why do I love Possums so much?


Wrap Skirts - I totally want to make some wrap skirts now!

Next up - The Clockwork Ball:
Steampunk costumes! Hooray! I don't know why, but I have this self-imposed "No Repeat Outfits" rule about the Clockwork Ball, which means that I'm actually having to come up with interesting outfits now, instead of JUST having a color and black black black (which is my default outfit style.)

Chris Florio was there and took some amazing photos - here's the one of me:


I know, you can't see the color
But you can see the colors of my outfit here:

I didn't wear those socks, obviously, but I think they kind of look cute with the outfit too

When I wasn't out doing stuff, I stayed in and relaxed a lot because I thought it would be nice to have a calm weekend before Thursday, when I leave early in the morning for Dragon*Con! Woo!

I have so many outfits/costumes lined up for Dragon*Con, I have no idea if I'll be able to pack/wear them all! We'll just have to see!

Etsy Shop Update: Steampunk & Squiddishness

Nikola Tesla, The Forgotten Wizard (drawing reproduction, framed)

Last week and this week I've been refilling my etsy shop with a variety pack of new steampunk stuff. One of my favorites is this Nikola Tesla drawing done on a vintage page of "Excelsior!"


Temporal Limbo Ring

Of course, there's more watch rings, and some stationery, because why wouldn't there be? I'm working on two really cool steampunk necklaces that I will hopefully finish up in the next week, and be able to show you.



Squiddish Pouches: Swimming En Masse

The other new items I've made are these squiddish pouches! I had initially done the design for making these out of duct tape, but my duct tape skills are sorely lacking. Fortunately, my felt skills are vast and mighty!

Sometimes, your designs just work out better in a different medium.
Anyway, you can check out all the new stuff at futuregirl.etsy.com!

Wonderland Week: Finished Steampunk Alice Outfit!

Steampunk Alice Costume by moi

Shew, holy crap. I finally finished everything I was going to finish for my Steampunk Alice costume. I made the skirt, the apron, the bow on the apron, and the buttons on the socks (you can see those further down).

Sock Detail!

This is a weird angle, but you can see the spade buttons I made using shrinky dinks (yes! Shrinky Dinks!). Also, it includes the skirt and apron I made, so despite it's strangeness, it's a pretty useful picture.


Bow Detail
The bow was pretty easy, even though I've never made a bow before - mostly I just held it in the correct shape and sewed it together. Then I sewed on the gear, and added an eyelet to thread the concho through. Then I glued a pinback to the back so I can attach it to the apron, or elsewhere, if I want!


Other accoutrement detail

I made some spade tiles out of Scrabble tiles (did I mention I have a whole mini-drawer full of Scrabble tiles? Well, I do). Also, I had this bottle with the label from the Mad Hatter Tea Party at Camelot Treasures forever ago. I think everything turned out pretty well, and I guess I should make proper detail pictures of just the skirt and just the apron, but right now I'm a bit pictured out. I'll eventually add more to my flickr stream, so watch there!


The Ground is Lava

The Wonderland party itself was super-fun! There was a scavenger hunt at the beginning that split us into teams and required us to take themed pictures. I was on Team Spades (of course!) My favorite picture is featured to the left, of Team Diamond and their "The Ground is Lava" picture. For more pictures of the party and the scavenger hunt click here!


Also, technically, we're at the beginning of Cupcake Week! Go Cupcake Week!

Wonderland Week: Skirt Done!

Hooray! Skirt Finished!
The skirt is done! Of course, the apron is still in pieces, and the accessories are in the "if I have enough time" category now. But! The skirt! It's done!

I've learned that when you're working with patterned material, especially stripes, you have to be super detail-oriented when you're cutting out the pieces and sewing them together. And by that, I mean that I wasn't, so the lines don't necessarily match up all over the skirt (oops).

The other thing I learned was how to put in a zipper using this tutorial! This is the best zipper tutorial I've found, so thanks to Kim for putting it on the internet. I did use the glue stick, but I skipped some of the other steps and just pinned instead. The zipper looks really great, if I do say so myself.

I did attempt my first "freehand buttonhole" sewing using the sewing machine, which is a bit messy.

I'll get Will to take nice pretty pictures of the skirt soon, I just wanted to have something to show. Now back to the studio to put together an apron! And maybe an armband and ribbon and headdress. Heck, if I had another week, I'd finish my parasol.

Skirt: Finished!

Finished Steampunk Lolita Skirt!

Just so you know, I finished the skirt! Just in time for the steampunk Clockwork Ball last night -if you want to see more pictures from the Clockwork Ball, just check out my photostream by clicking on the picture. I think I did the whole thing in about 24 hours, which bodes well, since this is just a prototype.

So, ya know, Woo! And stuff.

Suddenly Skirting

Skirt Pieces: Pinned & Laid Out

I've been tossing around the idea of making a skirt for the Clockwork Ball this Friday (tonight) night. Initially, I wanted to make something long and drapey. Then I sudden decided yesterday I should veer far far away from my original plan and make a lolita skirt.

This is the first skirt I've ever sewn from scratch, but I'm not just making it up as I go (though I'm doing that a little) - I'm basing it partially on this awesome victorian skirt tutorial and a skirt I have from In the Starlight. The rule is I'm only using materials I have on hand (including a black zipper that I'd ripped out of a skirt I was getting rid of). So far, it's coming out ok, though I had to rip out the zipper once, and it still looks funky the way I have it.

For reference, the decorative fabric is leftover from a table runner project, and the red is ... I don't know, maybe leftovers from Will's Zukko costume?

If you want more images, click on the one above - I'll update as it progresses. Right now, I'm sewing the panels together in a RACE AGAINST TIME! (I have a backup outfit planned, just in case.)

Etsy Store Update: Neckwear!

Keyhole Choker, modeled by the ever lovely Alison.
For those of you who are desperate to draw more attention to your neck (head root, brain stalk... whatever you want to call it) I've been making the bejesus out of some neckwear. I'm updating my etsy shop** today with the results!

This week it's primarily steampunk jewelry, necklaces and chokers (which could also work for goth or Victorian outfits). I'm working on some more jabots because HAHAH JABOTS! I love them! I love making them, and seeing people wear them.

In the following weeks, I'm going to be working on some cute lolita style stuff, all cupcakes and hearts (after all this black and metal, I like to switch it up).


** And just in case you don't know, here's a link to my shop: Futuregirl.etsy.com. **

Steampunk Valentine's Day Card

Free to print - Steampunk Valentine Design

I like to design a few Valentines each year, and I really wanted to do a good steampunk one this year - if you click on the image it will take you to a link to download a high-resolution version (if you want).

Batwings and Dolls

Bookmark Design for Wunderkind Etsy shop (1 of 2)

I've been doing a lot of random work lately. This freelance job dropped in my lap, and I loved their work so much I couldn't pass it up.

Also, I've been working on finishing up any and all unfinished "gift" art that I'm supposed to do, so I can stop feeling guilty about it. I'm almost done, thank goodness.

Of course, costume-related, there's been a few outings. Check at the bottom for a pic from the latest Clockwork Ball (featuring some kid's costume Dark Knight wings I've customized).

It made me feel slightly better about missing the crazy costume-fest that is/was Comic Con. Oh well. Supposedly, I'll be there next year.

There, now you're all updated!

Clockwork Ball outfit with Batwings

Complete non-sequitir:
I really like the way Paul Simon uses the word "pocket" in his lyrics.
"He was a poor boy, empty as a pocket with nothing to lose"
"A pocketful of mumbles, such are promises"

All because I woke up with "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" stuck in my head

Costumed Sketch Night: Steampunk Theme

Our model, Nick, checks his pocketwatch

Last night was another pretty awesome Costumed Sketch Night. Due to my busy/crazy/sick/gone April, it was a little less promoted than usual, and also we only had one model.

Despite all that, everything came out really well, so hooray! I didn't get to do as many sketches as I usually do, because I opted to help model in the last long poses (it's easier to have poses when you have interaction, I think).


re-enacts Dinosaur Comic's panel four - T-rex Retaliation!

The theme was Steampunk, so there was a lot of props, Victoriana, goggles, and, umm, a T-rex puppet... Because it's easier when the models interact with stuff!

Perhaps I just like making the models interact with puppets, since it's happened at the last two Costume Sketch Nights (though technically, Alison and Annie insisted upon the puppets, so maybe it's just their continued influence).


There were a lot of awesome drawings that came out of it, which you can check out at the Costumed Sketch Night group pool (there's more than just mine now!)

Next Costumed Sketch Night is Fairy themed,
May 28, 7 - 9 pm

What-The-Hell Con Redux

Man, What the Hell? Con was really fun this year (again). I have 8 million pictures, so I'll just post a few of my favorites:

Steampunk JLA - The Guild of Justice-Minded Citizenry
L - R: Zatanna (Annie), Supergirl (Michelle), Flash (Nick), Nightwing (Mike), PowerGirl (Alison), Superman (Jared, Sandman (Matt), Batgirl (umm, me), and Green Arrow (Jason)

One of my favorite things about WthCon is that it's so laid back I have plenty of time for my favorite con activity - hanging out with my friends. Maybe dressed in costumes. I would almost always recommend costumes/cosplaying as a group though, there's much more of an impact (and you can't feel silly is EVERYONE is doing it, right?).






Draco & Harry in the Geek Auction

The con was really fun, but is showing some growing pains in scheduling and capacity handling. The geek auction had so many participants that it lasted three hours. Adding an auctioneer speeded things along, but unfortunately took out the best part - the crowd/geek interaction.

Nick and Will didn't get to finish their entire schtick, and I feel sorry for the girls in the audience for that, more than any of the other auction difficulties.


As always, representing our webcomic Willrad in the Artist's Alley was hilarious for me and Will, as we are self-entertaining (see also, moustache pictures). The con treats artists like they are made of gold, something that warms us all deep down into the cockles of our little hearts.