Is that a Dalek dress?

Why yes, yes it is. Color me impressed. So impressed, in fact, that I’ll admit that Daleks kind of turned me off of Dr. Who at first. In fact, I first met them during a sewing project.

I was working on something challenging and the show was playing in the background.  My sewing project hit a frustrating snag and all I  heard in the background was that horrible >>EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE<< and I.just. got. stressed. out.

The way my story ended was with a poorly hemmed pair of fuzzy pig print pajama pants and a moratorium on Dr. Who in my house (or at least in my presence). I do not have the skill and tenacity of somevelvetmorning, who produced with sewing poetry (also known as sewitry).

She shares the step-by-step instructions with us to attempt to replicate her awesomeness.:

Cosplay Pics from Naka-kon 2012

My husband and daughter recently returned from their annual sojourn to a local anime convention, so I thought it might be nice to introduce you to it as well. Dubbed Naka-kon, this convention is held annually in Overland Park, Kansas, to “celebrate Japanese animation and the influence anime has in the Midwest and around the globe by educating people from all walks of life in many diverse facets of popular and traditional Japanese culture.”

No matter whether promoting Japanese anime, video games, or the otaku lifestyle in general, these Kon-goers love to cosplay! The following are but a few examples that my husband took over the weekend.

Montage of photos from NakaKon 2012

I spy cosplayers as No Face from Spirited Away (or what I call “that freaky ghosty thing”), Mojo JoJo from Powerpuff Girls, a Stormtrooper, Mario & Princess Peach, and GLaDOS from Portal, but I don’t recognize the others. Do you?

GLaDOS cosplay

I mentioned in a recent post that my daughter is very in to Gir these days. She’s also very in to the video game PortalPortal 2 to be specific. If she sees any expanse of flat white wall, she remarks, “that would be a good place for a portal.” Very observant and strategic, my last-born.

So again, in honor of her, I bring you another Halloween costume idea. Via GeeksAreSexy.net, here’s an interesting manga/anime-esque interpretation of GLaDOS.

Portal GLaDOS cosplay

Per Wikipedia, GLaDOS is “short for Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, a fictional artificially intelligent computer system in Valve Software’s Half-Life video game series and the main antagonist in the video games Portal and Portal 2...She is responsible for testing and maintenance in Aperture Science research facility in both video games.” Some call her “a narcissist, passive-aggressive, sinister, and witty. She has been considered one of the greatest video game characters ever created, particularly from 2000 to 2009.” “A number of websites and magazines listed her as one of the greatest video game villains including IGN, which ranked her the all-time greatest.”

Here’s what GLaDOS really looks like in the game, as well as a shot of the voice actress Ellen McLain. (via ThePlayVault.com).

Portal GLaDOS and voice actress Ellen McLain

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Reader Submission: Vocaloid Magnet Cosplay

I’m going to admit right now that I’m not cool enough to be aware of Vocaloid, and if you are similarly clueless I suggest you go educate yourself.

Sherry from miccostumes.com upcycled an old wedding dress to make a Vocaloid Magnet costume.

If you’re sat there behind your computer monitor going “OMG Squueeeeee =^.^= <3 <3 <3 Vocaloid!!!! <3” then you’re in luck, as Sherry has shared a how-to here.

Chicago Comic Con 2011 – DIY edition

As you may have read in my previous post, I recently attended the Wizard World Comic Con in Chicago.  While many in attendance were in full-scale cosplay mode (costume-play), some stood out to me because of the craftyDIY nature of their projects.

I loved this crocheted ode to Dr. Who‘s Tardis. My model very sportingly gave me two views.

And with another homage to the good doctor – a walking Tardis! I’m not sure how much of the con this young lady got to see, as she was stopped frequently for photo opps!

Chicago Comic Con 2011 Dr Who Tardis costume

This Scott Pilgrim-inspired couple didn’t seem to think their costume very photo-worthy, but I thought they were great. I loved their little labels on their shirts and the giant mallet. Made me want to watch the movie again. It also reminded me of this fantastic embroidery project, posted on GeekCrafts earlier this year. (And I have seen a girl with hair like that – that’s mine pretty much every morning when I wake up! Except the purple part…)

Chicago Comic Con 2011 Scott Pilgrim cosplay

I had to marvel at this repurposed use of a set of Star Wars sheets, used to create a smart suit for the Mayor of Star Wars Town.

Chicago Comic Con 2011 Mayor of Star Wars Town Chicago Comic Con 2011 - Mayor of Star Wars Town

Unfortunately I didn’t notice many crafty things for sale at booths, but then, I was cruising through the aisles at warp speed. I was able to nab a few pictures.

Chicago Comic Con 2011 superhero fleece hats Chicago Comic Con 2011 crochet Cthulu Chicago Comic Con 2011 video game legos Chicago-Comic-Con-2011 Dr Who Dalek

Links of Interest:

 

Chicago Comic Con 2011 – Review (with cosplay!)

For their birthdays, many women might ask for a day at the spa, or a shopping spree, or at least a fancy dinner. While I can have my girly-girl moments, I really wanted some time when I could bond with my family, and make some lasting memories, before my first-born heads off to college next fall. So I asked for what any good mother to a family of geeks would ask for – a trip to Comic Con.

Wizard World Comic Con - Chicago

Last weekend we took a road trip to Wizard World’s Comic Con in Chicago, held at Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, home primarily to all things comic book, but also sci-fi, fantasy, and generally geeky in nature.  The Con was a very decent size, and took us about 5 hours to get through. We could have spent longer, but that was all our trip itinerary would allow.

The view from the entrance was quite impressive and a little overwhelming.

Chicago Comic Con 2011 entrance

We decided to just go through each of the aisles, making note of interesting things, before attacking with our wallets.  And always considering our GeekCrafts readers, I put everyone on photo duty for all the interesting cosplay (costume-play) adventures. You’re welcome.

My husband has over 100 pics posted in a Google Album, but here is a sampling to whet your appetite [after the jump]. Continue reading Chicago Comic Con 2011 – Review (with cosplay!)