Day 5 - Galadriel White Gown From The Hobbit

Lady Galadriel, The Hobbit

Modeled by Maggie and Livia, made by Sarah, photographed by Casa Bay

Trivia:

I made this costume around 2014 using the Simplicity pattern. I don't know what my intent for it was, except that it appealed to me. As such, I never ended up wearing it to any events, and it languished in the closet for the past few years. The only use it saw was for a Hobbit contest video, and I think my younger sister wore it to Desolation of Smaug at our local McMenamins. I guess I never really saw myself as a Galadriel-esque figure, so I didn't think to complete the costume ensemble for her.

The main dress is in polyester shantung from Joann's, and the sleeves were cut from curtains I found at Goodwill. The brooch was my grandmother's (I inherited a generous amount of them). 

Regarding the photoshoot, I feel we kinda... rushed this one. The location would've been nicer in better weather, but it was freezing cold, drizzly, and windy (we were on a cliff overlooking a wide point of the Rogue River where the bridge crosses over). Also, we didn't have a proper wig or accessories to go with it, so Livy doesn't really look like Galadriel. Still, I'm happy this long-neglected gown got to see a bit of action. :)

February 2018 update: added some photos by Casa Bay that better showcase this gown; the model is Maggie Hartley, an accomplished ballerina and family friend. 

Day 4 - Daenerys' Wedding Gown

After a bit of a lapse in posting for our costume challenge, we're back on track. (We went on an adventure, which is as good an excuse as any, as far as I'm concerned.) It was a good thing for this blog, though, since during the excursion we were able to do a number of costume shoots in some beautiful and diverse locations in the southwestern portion of Oregon.

The first shoot we did was Daenerys' wedding gown, which we were able to capture in the snow and the sand (fitting, really). Our first photo session for the Mother of Dragons was in the forest below Crater Lake, while the second was in the sand dunes near North Bend.

Daenerys' Wedding Gown  
Modeled by Livia, made and photographed by Sarah

Trivia: 
I made this gown for Halloween three or four years ago, knowing very little about Daenerys and almost nothing about Game of Thrones. I just thought it looked cool.

The dress is hand-dyed silk, and made using a Simplicity pattern. It took me about an evening and a half to finish. I originally wore it with a custom-made Smaug "shoulder dragon."

As I recall, I spent most of the Halloween party reciting cheesy lines I'd probably seen in a trailer ("Fire cannot kill a dragon....") and trying to keep the dress from slipping down. I had a horrible wig that wasn't at all correct, and probably ended up looking more like Cersei than Daenerys. *shame* I have since mended my ways, though. I've now successfully completed all 6 seasons of GoT.

Day 3 - Blue Winter Cloak

Day 3 of the costume showcase challenge!

This is a more recent one, and not technically a full costume. Still, it's pretty, and for a costume piece that only required an evening and a bit to make in full, I'm pretty pleased with it.

Blue Winter Cloak
As ever, modeled by the lovely Livia and photographed by this silly dwarf

Trivia:

Cloak in blue polar fleece
Hood lined in long pile faux fur
The "squashed" semicircle pattern was drafted freehand, and results in a gradual, waterfall-style drape.

Backstory: 

Basically, I had the stuff sitting around and decided to make a cloak. The fleece was originally bought on impulse, and was intended to be a blanket (probably). When I went to New Zealand, my ambitious blanket plans were scrapped, and I put the fleece into storage - only to be taken out upon my return. As such, this cloak was relatively recent (within the last month), but I don't really have plans to post my outfits chronologically.

Day 2 - Lady Loki

As promised, here's day 2 of our costume-a-day showcasing challenge.

Lady Loki
Modeled by Livia, photographed by Sarah

Trivia
I made this dress and bustier for the premiere of Thor: The Dark World, and only wore it once. I was really happy with how it turned out, but I just didn't relate to Loki's character enough to cosplay him/her more than the once.
The dress is in green taffeta, and the bustier in faux leather overlaid with (recycled) real leather and gold studs. The effect is quite striking, and reminiscent of the character's look from the film.

A Costume a Day... Keeps Winter Doldrums at Bay! Day 1 - Green Elven Mage

I'm not sure that's how the rhyme's supposed to go, but I digress.

Livia (my partner in crime) and I had a brilliant idea. So brilliant, in fact, I'm surprised I didn't think of it sooner. 

We're going to drag some of my old costumes out of the deep, dark past and give them a chance in the spotlight. This means they'll be showcased with proper camerawork, staging, makeup, accessories, etc., and posted on this blog, with a brief bit of trivia. We plan to do one a day (maybe skip a day or two if something comes up), a challenge that's sure to be a fun diversion from our boring retail lives. 

Most of these costumes were created a decade or more ago, so they're certainly not up to the standards I adhere to these days. But it's enjoyable to reflect on how far I've come, and since I never used to photograph my costumes ("back in the day"), I think it's about time. 

Without further ado, I'd like to kick us off with:

The Green Elven Mage 

Beautifully modeled by Livia, and photographed by yours truly

Trivia: 

Made roughly 2005, with assistance from Jamie Roberts (for the coat) 

The coat was intended for a high school film project, to be worn by Turin's mother (from The Children of Hurin); I portrayed the above-mentioned character, though the film never saw the light of day

The ensemble came together due to complementary color tones, and was re-dubbed "The Green Elven Mage"

Not Really Dead

Hello again, you gorgeous blog. It's been a while.

Updates:

-I now live in New Zealand. Guess it was bound to happen eventually.

-I'm attending a drama school, studying costuming. Also not surprising. Two of my instructors collaborated on Tauriel and Legolas' costumes in the actual films. I feel incredibly lucky to be learning from them.

Current projects:

-Revamping traveling!Kíli and Tauriel

-Surprise Hobbit-related cosplay for DragonCon 2016

-Thranduil and his queen

-Frodo and Sam

So, I've been really, really busy. Incredibly busy, actually. Thankfully, much of that busy-ness has been about costuming, so I have few regrets there. Anyway, talking about how busy I've been is getting boring, and besides, I know you're here for the pictures.

Latest cosplay shoot: Kíli and Tauriel, post-Battle of the Five Armies. In this version, Thorin and Fíli were killed, and Kíli survived to become the new King Under the Mountain. Terrifying thought.

Setting: Mount Taranaki, New Plymouth, NZ

As for some general updates on my personal costuming... I've remade Kíli's iconic blue tunic. It's in hand dyed silk noil (raw silk), and I literally used every scrap of useable fabric I had in the process, down to piecing together tiny scraps for the ties and piping. Remind me never to just assume I have enough fabric. *sigh*

Secondly, I have my version of Frodo's FotR cloak (the one he has before Galadriel gives the Fellowship cloaks in Lothlórien). It's in an upholstery velvet; never mind it's not the right stuff. I thought it was a good color, and the texture is nice. I view my Frodo cosplay as a quick, fun, approximation of the character. 

Hopefully, there will be updates soon from the Armageddon Expo here in Wellington. I'd say "stay tuned," but then... you might be waiting awhile. Because I tend to get busy and fail at being a regular blogger. Shame on me.

Long-Expected Update

Wow, it's certainly been a while. I will say (and this excuse sounds rather familiar) that it's somewhat understandable, my neglecting of this blog, as I have a tendency to give preferential treatment to my Facebook cosplaying page. Anyway, all excuses aside, here are some updates. 

Cosplays in progress:

Fem!Loki - nearing completion

Needs wig and golden chest piece/necklace thingy

Jack Sparrow - underway

Coat finished

Vest - all fabrics and buttons purchased

Shirt - fabric purchased, pieces cut out and serged

Accessories and makeup purchased

(Bad picture; will take better pictures soon!)

Thranduil - preparations made

Fabric (silver brocade, sparkle mesh), piping material acquired 

Wig purchased, makeup practiced 

Crown materials acquired

Rather hasty makeup test

Tauriel-inspired Ensemble - underway

Green linen dress finished

Leather bodice finished

Bracers, daggers in progress

Secondary Tauriel Dress in Olive Green Taffeta - Underway 

Will need sleeves installed, and is meant to be paired with an under bust bodice