...And Sewing Is Half the Battle! is happy to present a variety of panels on cosplay and other fan-oriented topics, at conventions or anywhere we're wanted. We offer the popular No Budget, No Skills, No Problem! series of costuming panels. Look for us at a geeky gathering near you!
Here are some of our favorites.No Budget, No Skills, No Problem! Beginning Cosplay
Yeah, yeah, we knew them too -- those fabulous cosplayers who casually mention how their mothers and grandmothers taught them to sew, embroider, knit, crochet, quilt, etc. at the tender age of four. And you're standing in line next to them, casting envious looks, and you're hoping nobody asks you yet again what your costume is.
You want a better costume, and you don't want to buy a sewing machine for it -- this is how you get it. This panel covers found object costuming -- it's not just junk you throw together! -- and simple cosplay projects, as well as the art of character selection and making what's in your closet look newly fabulous.
No Budget, No Skills, No Problem! Intermediate & Competitive Cosplay
Ready for more costuming? Ready to make yourself into something that can't exist in nature? Adapt a 2-D drawing into 3-D reality. Some of the most fun in fantasy costuming is making something that was never meant to exist into something real. And then, show it off!
We'll talk about overcoming the improbable physics of fantasy or manga illustration, the unreal physiques of anime and game design, and how to fool the eye so we don't have to diet or undergo alteration for our costuming fun. Watch a tall woman in her 30s transform into a short 15-year-old male character, without surgery! See an ordinary human suddenly attain the unrealistic proportions of a stylized manga character -- live and before your eyes!
We'll focus on how details make an average costume into an eye-catching one. Don't be just another hallway elf -- be the one everyone remembers.
And would you like to compete? Here are some tips on presenting your costume in the best light for judging.
No Budget, No Skills, No Problem! Wigs for Costuming
The best wigs look like real hair -- even if they're impossibly colored or improbably spikey. But it can be hard to find the perfect wig for your fantasy costume, or to replicate that style which has never existed in real life.
That wig is too long, the wrong style, not curly enough, or the wrong color? Need to make that cheap nasty wig look better and last longer? We can help. Also, how to make good props on the cheap, and how to make better props for a bit of investment.
No Budget, No Skills, No Problem! Props for Costuming
Nothing defines a character like a signature weapon or a unique piece of jewelry. Imagine Sephiroth without his katana, Zoe Alleyne Washburne without guns, Gimli without an axe. But props can often be more difficult to find or create than the fabric clothing of costumes.
Don't let your amazing costume be brought down by a aluminum-foil-over-cardboard sword, when for just a few bucks you can make something that completes your look! There are many options out there. We'll talk about how to make good props on the cheap, and how to make better props for a bit of investment.
Topics include non-toxic methods of creating fantasy body armor and hall-safe swords as well as creating props to abide by convention rules.
The Essential Japanese History & Folklore for Anime
What's the difference between a mononoke and a tengu? Whose side were the Shinsengumi on, anyway? What makes an omnyouji different from a priest? Where and when were the shinigami first mentioned? Get a deeper level of enjoyment when you understand the cultural references spread throughout your favorite anime.
Gankutsuou & The Count of Monte Cristo
Gankutsuou is a Western story adopted for Eastern storytelling. Laura, Alena and Mark lead discussion of the original novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père and several other film and television adaptations in comparison to the groundbreaking new anime series.
This visual panel includes video clips from anime and film, including rare footage, as well as photographs, quotations, etc.
Name That Seiyuu!
You think you know your voice actors? Come join us for a “Name That Seiyuu” contest and discussion of our favorite voice actors from the Second Wave and on. We'll talk about classic and current seiyuu, musicians and stage actors turned seiyuu, and the amazing versatility of some of the best. Hone your ears and win prizes!
Contest rounds include Male and Female Seiyuu, Trivia and Versatility, Signature Syllables, and our favorite, Screaming Seiyuu.
