Feeling stressed out!

This will probably be the most personal post I will ever write, but hey!

I was talking to a co-worker today. He was telling me about how he didn't do well on his MCAT for the second time.  He told me that he was giving up on medical school and settling for something else. He was really bummed about it because he can't afford to keep trying due to having a family to support even though he wanted to.  I felt really bad for him since I knew how long and hard he had been working to get into medical school. Unfortunately sometimes things just don't work out the way you planned.

What happened to him resonated with me because it was exactly what was happening to me.  I try to push it away and tell myself that I'm still young.  I still have plenty of time to figure out my life.  I need to focus on being a kid.  After we talked for a while I realized that I've been avoiding reality.  I have a bachelor's degree and I'm not doing anything related to my studies, and I am working a job that doesn't even recognize the fact that I have a college degree.  I'm not a teenager anymore. I need to focus on my future, but it scares me.  I've taken my PCAT twice just like my co-worker, and I did not do that well both times. What can I do now? For what reason did I go through 4 years of college?  What am I going to do for the rest of my life? This? Running around to conventions and playing dress up? I love it, but this isn't a career. I haven't really applied myself because I'm afraid of failing. I don't know what I'm doing with my life, and I don't think it's O.K. anymore. I feel like I'm running out of time and I'm disappointing my family.

So now I'm making costumes for Phoenix Comicon, and I'm so stressed.  I offered to make a costume for one of my co-workers and I still have my costumes to work on.  The convention is 2 weeks away and I'm no where near done with anything. I put myself through unnecessary stress over menial things. Phoenix Comicon is one of the last things I should be stressed about right now, but I don't know what to do.  My life has no direction and I feel like I don't have time to sort it out.  *sigh*

Back to the Grind

The Dog Wedding

SO, I recently had the opportunity to be an extra in an independent film called The Dog Wedding. It's a romantic comedy about two people trying to breed their dogs, but in the process fall in love.  The extras in the movie were all cosplayers, although I'm not sure how we fit into the concept at all...) and our role was to look like we were having a blast at cosplay party/gathering in a Japanese restaurant.  My friend Amie Lynn was contacted by the casting directer and she invited me, along with 39 of her other friends, to be a part of it.  I'm super glad we did it because it was so much fun! I got to meet so many new people and to get paid in the process is a bonus, haha! Hopefully I make it into the final cut somewhere in the film! YEAH fun times being social...hahah.  Sorry for the bad cellphone quality pictures! My galaxy s3 doesn't take nice photos.

 This was my last minute/night before costume. I just made a hi/lo ruffle skirt and a cropped dove tailed tuxedo jacket (which you can't see in any of my pictures...)

Amie Lynn (isn't she gorgeous?!)

Dawn, myself, and Amie Lynn 

quick post!

I've seen cosplayers get offended at comments such as "did you buy your costume?" or "where did you get (insert item here)?"  The cosplayer then goes off on a rant about how they slave away at their costumes,  and pour their blood, sweat, and tears into their props trying to prove that they constructed their outfit.

WHY are cosplayers getting offended? I would much rather get a question like "did you buy your costume?" than one where someone says "oh, looks like you made that." There is a certain level of quality that is expected and associated with items that are purchased. When something looks "bought" generally that implies that it looks too good to have been made by you. Yes, it does seem like they are questioning your authenticity,  but in reality they are just in disbelief that you could make something so great! I think it's a wonderful compliment! That being said, here's some pictures of Le Croissant du Ange (Margaret Moonlight's scythe weapons) from No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle.  The handles and blades are detachable for easy transportation.  These weapons (made by me) are entirely constructed out of bass wood, and painted with Krylon spray paint.

Just another update

OK! It has been such a long time since my last post in March 2011! So much has happened in that couple of years that I can't even think of where to begin!  I finally graduated ASU with my BS in Biochemistry (which is useless if you're wondering), and now I'm just working! Adult life is not as glamorous as I had imagined.  However, I have been fortunate enough to have a small amount of free time to work on a few costumes.  Between college and 2 full time jobs, I had forgotten how therapeutic sewing/cosplay can be for me.  Now that I only have 1 full time job, and FINALLY weekends off, I have been catching up on my long forgotten love.  I have so many new costumes and projects started/planned and I can't wait to share them! Here's a couple pictures of my Margaret Moonlight, from the game No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle, costume that I debuted at Devastation 2011.  More new stuff to come!

"Do you know this song?"

"How tragic, then let me teach you"

Photos by the talented Gillian Tomimbang

NO MORE WAITRESSING!

YAY! I got this in the mail a few days ago, and I am SO excited to find a new job!  I've been waitressing at a sushi restaurant for almost 2 years now, and I finally stopped being lazy and took this darn exam!  YAY!

I also bought 2 pairs of Geo lenses in violet and gray.  I gave the gray pair away and tried on the violet ones, but the color doesn't show up well at all!  I really wanted to test out colored contacts to see of they were worth getting for a few of my costumes I plan on making in the future, but I guess not.  Maybe I have to try different brands?  Anyways, these are kind of fun since they make my eyes bigger, but not worth the trouble to put on!

Mono print series

This is the first project in my intro to print making class.  The assignment was to create a series of 5 prints that depict the artist.  On critique day my teacher told us to create an additional 6th print (What is this some reality T.V. show?!?!).  My theme was about my love for the idea of freedom that pirates have, and how the adventures and the memories are the most valuable.  The gold and loot come and go, but the adventures stay with the pirates till death, which are the real treasures.  I believe that that is the ideal that I work for, not necessarily in the same context, but it's my experiences in life that I value most.

#1   "In my head"

#2   "Falling out"

#3   "Land ho!"

#4    "New paths appear"

#5   "Adventures"

#6   "Out again!"

This series wasn't very successful, but I think it came out decent for my very first printing experience!  I think the most successful  prints are my first 3 and my 6th print.  Anyways, hopefully my next set of prints come out better! Collagraph is up next!

It's Been SO LONG!

WOW! My last post was in December!  Well there are a couple reason why I haven't had any time to post!  School has been pretty hectic this semester, and it has been consuming a lot of my time.  Metals is probably my favorite class, and hopefully I'll have some pictures of what we've made so far up soon!  Print making has to be my most time consuming.... it's terrible how much time is required! 

POKEMON BLACK AND WHITE came out on the 6th of this month, so OF COURSE I had to get it! I ended up getting both since I couldn't decide which I wanted; there are so many major differences, to me atleast, between the games! I ended up playing white first because I want the un-evolved rare pokemon more than anything else!  (This game has once again consumed my soul... and sleep..)

OH! Here's something I found at Lee Lee market!  It was so funny I had to get it! I call it the "come hither monkey biscuit box."  LONG TITLE!

I'll get some pictures of my works from my metals and print making class up soon!  Look forward to it please!