Return to cosplay

     This past weekend, my gentleman and I went to a comic con in CT. It was the first time in my life that a male was not only willing, but actually suggested we cosplay together, so I jumped on it despite having schoolwork and other hobbies to deal with. I like to think I've calmed down since I was last cosplaying (mostly for the ren faire, but I have made steampunk stuff as well), so instead of jumping right into things with the final material, I took a couple other steps in between. This decision was also based on the fact that I didn't have an actual pattern for any of the pieces I was making, and the fabric stores near me are rather limited in their selection of useful, hardwearing fabrics.

Tunic/ Obi

Step 1: Mockup
     Using sheets from the thrift store ($1.50 for a king size sheet instead of $1/yd even for cheap fabric at the store), I made a mockup of the tunic, using a kimono-style cosplay pattern. It seemed to go pretty well, so I jumped the gun and made it out of the final fabric, only to discover that the stiffer fabric didn't hang well unless it was rather revealing in the front, and the collar sat almost at the shoulders, making it very difficult to wear a robe over it.

yay tunic!








         boo, wide collar






Step 2: Mockup round two and modifications
     Switching to a generic jedi tunic pattern, I made the mockup, then changed the side seams to be a bit more fitted and made the sleeves wider (this sounds so easy - there were several trials of this). I made a mockup of the obi/ waist band from that pattern as well, to make sure the final would sit properly and modestly, then transferred the pattern and my modifications to the final fabric.

No bucket list?

     Got word this week that the parkour gym in Baltimore is closing. While I am rather saddened by this, I'm choosing to focus on the fact that I got to study parkour for a year and a half, and that there are opportunities to continue doing so, if I choose to take them up. Having decided on that point of view, however, I started thinking about all the things I've gotten to do in life. You frequently hear about bucket lists - things that people want to see and do before they die - and google is full of "best ideas to add to  your bucket list" pages. I get stuck, though, on the concept of having a list of things you want to do - or think you want to do - or think you should want to do - just lying around waiting for you to pay attention to it.

     I don't have a bucket list (surprise, considering the title of this post). Don't get me wrong, there are probably things I want to do before I die, but instead of making a list based on things I want now, which, let's face it, is apt to change as life progresses, I prefer to live life in such a way that when opportunity or interest hits me, I can go and do it. My father has a story he's fond of telling about a person who would"someday" go on that bucket list trip to Europe. Things kept never being quite right, and they died having never gone on a simple trip. Don't wait for "someday," he says, make it happen.