2014 Projects - And Other Shiny Things

So, I've given a review of last year - now here's what's on the table for 2014:

• Post-Apoc Halloween Costumes
• Including 3 or 4 props
• RCCC
• Tiki-Kon
• New Halloween House Display
• Orycon 36
• Submitting a story for publication
• Possibly a trip over to the Netherlands (fingers crossed)

I've already got the base of my post-apoc Halloween costume and am working on collecting all the bits I need to pull it together. Igor is starting by pulling together all the bits and pieces so we have things like his mask that needs to be modified and lacrosse padding that we'll use for the base of his armor.

Despite being distracted by playing Arkham Origins (I beat Slade on my second try!), I've managed to start on props. I have one set of rusted bottle caps, but I'm working on making more. A little hammering and a little patience and I'll have all the rusted bottle caps I could ever need!

 

 Hammering metal into shape is also good therapy.

I lucked out and found this great parasol at a second hand store. It was only a couple bucks and has inspired me to make a tattered, weaponized post-apoc parasol weapon!

 Sure it looks all sweet now, but it won't be when I'm done with it.

I also found this great, old distressed bat for a few bucks that I wanted to make into a prop, but Igor pointed out that we probably wouldn't be let into a bar with a real baseball bat with nails sticking out of it. Sadly, he has a point - but it's still an awesome bat so I'll have to find some other use for it, maybe as part of the house decor . . .

Finally, I put the first coat of paint on the Nerf gun and it's well on its way to being the apocalyptic BFG of my dreams. Whoever first thought of spraying a Nerf gun with matte black paint was a genius.

All it needs now is one more coat and some weathering effects.

Things are starting to come together! Now if I can just stay on schedule . . .

Oh, I Forgot You Were Still Here . . .

My poor, little neglected blog! Has it really been so long? Yes, yes it has. Frankly, I blame twitter - and my general disinterest in social media over the last year. But now it's a new year (2014 how the hell did that happen?!) and I want to keep track of all my projects again, so I hope this is going to be more regular (maybe). I also finally have a tumblr and it's called Doom Tiki! It's were I'll be indulging my tiki and all things kitsch obsession. It may also be where I post more regularly :-/

Okay, let's roll out the 2013 Year-in-Review!

In some ways 2013 was the year of the con. I went to three last year and had a blast at each one. First was Emerald City Comic Con up in Seattle, then Rose City Comic Con and finally Orycon again in November - and I dressed up for each one with friends. We were vikings. Awesome, awesome vikings.

This guy made an amazing Ray Stantz

Below is my favorite pic of the whole bunch because this Mandalorian's armor kinda stole my heart (Sorry, Ray).

The hammer I made



Most of my creative efforts last year went into vikings, whether it was mine and Igor's costumes or the troupe set I did with my friends at the annual Haflaween.

Also, 2013 was another successful year for NANOWRIMO! I got back into writing in a major way - so much so that one of my goals this year is to submit a story to publishers by December. I'm writing, editing and reading furiously to try and make this happen. So far I'm on track (I think).

During the summer months we also went to see Trek in the Park: The Trouble with Tribbles and to a Weird Al concert at the zoo. I had a moment when the local garrison participated in the encore song

I performed an Aliens themed set in December for which I made this headdress:

Pics from the performance at Offbeat




 
SUPER fun, but it will probably be the last time I perform for a while. This year I concentrate on getting back into Muay Thai and seriously getting in shape. Plus more cons and the costumes Igor and I have planned for this year are already off to a flying start, but more about that later.

What I did not do last year was play Arkham Origins because I was so busy. Now that I have more free time I finally started the game. I am kicking so much Gotham ass already and will be ready for when Arkham Knight comes out later this year.

I feel like I'm missing a ton (I think Igor and I went on a camping trip at some point during all the summer), but this is already a long post so I'll end it here.

Final thought, look at how awesome these cosplayers are!

Cobra Commander and Cobra PR - if you haven't heard of them check out the Commander's facebook page or the kickstarter mentioned in the video. They are hilarious and talented and if I ever see them at a con I will fangirl the fuck out. Even if I'm dressed like a tough viking.

Halloween is in the Air

And another fine, productive weekend! This time with pictures.

The biggest accomplishment of the weekend was getting the two largest pieces of our Halloween yard display up: the tree and the boarded-up window. While the tree isn't completely done, the hardest parts are up and the rest will be to easy finish.

Igor pretty much made the entire window dressing himself. He's definitely the top of my list for people I want on my team come the apocalypse. As you can see he's very handy with a drill.

I think it took less than an hour for him to get it all together and for us to put it up.

While he was doing that I took the drapes I'd cut up the night before

(so therapeutic) and tea stained them. I used earl grey and it made the house smell amazing.



Then we put up the boards and (after staining the drapes again with old coffee grounds, since the earl grey didn't make them quite dark enough) I hung the drapes up to dry.


The tree turned out amazing. We used chicken wire as the frame and then just stretched a curtain over that. I actually sewed the curtain onto the wire and then Igor painted the face. All I had to say to Igor was, 'Do you think you can paint it with an evil tree face?' and he knew exactly what I meant. Seriously, top of the list.

All boarded up and ready for the zombie gnome plague.



The tree still needs some branches and leaves added, but we got about 80% of the work done.

Sunday I worked more on the gnomes and various forest creatures.

My mini zombie factory.

I arranged some brambles to make a secure little gnome patch and placed the first two zombie gnomes.


The idea is that the dolls will be kinda hidden until nighttime when we turn on led lights that will show them off in an appropriately creepy way.

These two are my favorite

The white, bleeding eyes were Igor's idea.

And that's it for now! Time to sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's seasonal movie: The Monster Squad.


After that I think I'll move onto something a little more sophisticated

First Day of Fall Tomorrow!!!

Well, it should be, but it hasn't felt like fall yet this week. This week the temperature's been in the 80s with nothing but sun sun sun. Ah, but last week, last week was gorgeous with rain and clouds and a little nip in the air. Sigh, and yet *this* week Summer is trying to rear it's ugly, sweaty head again. Give up Summer, tomorrow it's the 23rd and officially Fall! Laugh your last, hot fetid breath if you can - soon all will be as Autumn wills it!!!

Yeah, I'm done with summer.

As I wait for my favorite season to truly begin I've been working on Halloween plans. Not only getting costumes together, but working on pieces for the house. Igor and I have decided to go all out on the house this year and keep our costumes simple (i.e. no face makeup).

Way back on the 3rd I had a Birthday Zombie Making BBQ. Friends and family came over to eat grilled things and make zombies out of discarded children's toys.



Some were gorier than others

(that's a twig though the squirrel's nose)

Some were more disturbing


But all the zombies were kid tested and mother approved.


There was also a good deal of eating and drinking and sitting around

(And Igor wore my favorite t-shirt of his, the red Christopher Walken 'I got a fever' shirt. More Cowbell!)

Speaking of Igor, last week he finished the clay sculpting for my squirrel mask and I molded the mouth.



Then I put on the first layer of newspaper, covering it with a shiny layer of Elmer's glue to keep it all together.



Here are what my fingers looked like when I was done

I was very proud of them.

I'm following this guy's methods since he's not only a talented mask maker, but specifically a talented squirrel mask maker: Branden Byers.

Holy moly, I'm downright giddy it's so close to October!!! I'm already watching old horror movies and listening to my favorite seasonal music - well, I do those things year round, but it just feels more special this time of year.

This week's featured movie: Curse of The Crimson Altar (or The Crimson Cult according to Netflix). Staring Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, and Boris Karloff it's a cheezy little romp though the pastoral, witch filled, English countryside.

And it has some awesome costumes in just the first few moments of the film.

Already? Really?

The last couple days I've felt a little wistful for Fall. For those who worship the sunnier seasons, this probably sounds crazy. Maybe it's all the costuming I've been doing the last few weeks, maybe it's because I've been doing some Halloween 2011 planning and purchasing . . but I kinda wish it was the beginning of Autumn instead of Spring. I know, I know, winter's just ended and here I want crisp winds and decaying leaves already. I'm sure I'll change my mind on the first truly glorious day we have, but for now I'll dream of Fall.

Speaking of which, Halloween costume stuff!

This mask will become part of Igor's evil gnome face once it's painted up right.


This is the fur I just purchased to make my take and ears

It's almost mangy enough, maybe if I rub it around in the dirt a bit . . .

Bra



Skirt




Belt





Headdress




Underneath I wore these nice subtlety sparkly pants and the vest I wore is currently undergoing modifications for another costume. Speaking of which, I have to finish the next dance costume by May 5th because I perform again on the 6th! Woohoo? What happened to my promise to myself to not perform again until August? Oh well.