Cosplaying Goals for 2015

Hi Gang!
 I am taking a cue from Mia and creating a list of costumes I would like to create this year. I haven't cosplayed for a while, and I am literally itching to get back to it. With all the help I can forsee coming from scoping out  CosplayCents + The Geeky Seamstress archive's I'll be up to snuff to create some awesome stuff, even some of the super complex stuff on my Cosplay Bucket list. Below is the list that I am hoping to actually complete. There's 12 of them, but since it's already the middle of January, I'll have to put some of them on the back burner, or save them for future conventions!!!

- Sailor Uranus: One of my favorite sailor scouts ever! With all the hubub about Sailor Moon Crystal, I thought it would be the perfect time to bring back one of the favorites! Plus, it's a double wammy, I can use Haruka's wig in the King Costume a little further down.

- M: If you aren't aware; Monet St. Croix is a telepathic mutant. One of the few Muslim comic characters. I'm really digging her bodysuit, and the experience I gain from this will help with Lien Neville and Linna Yamazaki costumes later.

- Shermie: a favorite King of Fighters Character, one of the originals. Her Costume, is one of the simpler ones, a blazer, mini skirt and Leotard with a boob window, and then the wig is just a pony tail so easy to style.

- Lien Neville: Another King of Fighter's character, There's just something about a blonde wig, that I am just a huge fan of. She's definitely on the sexier side of my character choices. This should be easy to create her body suit with the experience of M's Costume, and then I just add a zipper. This will definitely be one of my favorite suits when I'm done.

- Hinaka: Also a King of Fighters character, she is perhaps the only one I have never come across in the game before. I chose her, because I like her costume, and it seemed pretty simple to put together. I am just jumping back into the swing of things, so I definitely don't want anything that is extremely scary, or involved.

- Mignon Beart: Have you figured out just how much I like King Of Fighters? It is one of my favorite arcade fighters, I used to tour the tournament circuit when I was younger and going to conventions all the time. Gotta get back into that as well. The costume isn't that difficult just multiple pieces on top of each other, I am looking forward to having a pink wig, pink is one of my favorite colors. She's a very upbeat character.


- "Grunge" Marceline: I have always been a fan of Marceline from Adventure Time. I knew that if I was going to start cosplaying again that Marceline would be one of the first costumes I would finish. This particular costume; Mini dress, Blazer, fishnets and tights, is definitely a great beginner costume.

- "Bunny" Bulma: Dragonball was one of my first animes, Young Bulma being one of my favorite characters. This costume is sexy without being racy. Honestly I am just looking forward to being in a bunny suit at a con and all that male attention. Joking Joking!

- King: King IS my favorite King of Fighters Character. She is always on my 3 piece team, and she is one of my "bucket List" Cosplay characters. A super easy costume, and I can use the same wig as with Haruka's Costume.

- Momoka: The Final King of Fighters Character, I am sure you guys are excited about that. Her costume is so adorable! This will be a super easy costume, and definitely one that I can pull off in the summer, without being too revealing. I also adore her fighting style very similar to Christie's in Tekken.

- Linna Yamazaki: Newbie to the Tokyo Bubblegum Crisis gang, and I am in love with her skinsuit. Maybe if I was a little more experienced I might attempt her outside mecha suit, but that is just way too scary to contemplate at the moment. Plus her hair is so similar to mine, that I can save money by not needing a wig.

- The Rocketeer: I am absolutely in love with the feel of her costume. It's totally 50's super pinup and I will wear whatever comes with garters. They've always been one of my favorite pieces of lingerie. I've already been looking into how I will make the mask, If it becomes too difficult, then I might commission it. Anyone know any awesome mask makers?

Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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A Walk through the roses

Hi Gang!
 Personal style is back on the Menagerie, and I am hoping this time that it will be staying put.  Now, that I have a fancy camera, AND a doting boyfriend, issues of Outfit Photography should be a thing of the past! Once a month, my Mother's side of the family gets together and has breakfast/brunch and everyone comes together and talks about whatever has been missed. Generally, it lasts about two to three hours, and is filled with loud voices and cheerful laughter.
 Since it's a once a month thing, I take it upon myself to actually attempt have a sense of style and get dressed to confirm it. Between going to work, and staying at home with my gaming and my knitting, my everyday wardrobe consists of a tank and sweatpants, but I want to change that this year, so hence, I will be sucking it up and doing more style posts! We went to eat at Japanese Buffet, and it was DELICOUS! One of my favorite dishes is their crab casserole, to die for! It is one of my favorite restaurants in town, and I must admit that I stuffed myself.  I have more outfit details on my chictopia, which I plan on bringing back to life, along with outfit posts on the blog! I wore: Converse in Chocolate. "Knee-High" Socks. White Flowy Top. All Bought at Burlington. The Strapless Dress is From Rue 21.

As Always, the convo continues on twitter. Do you guys have any family traditions; other than Holidays?


Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel,
~Gabriella!~

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What I've been reading lately...

Hi Gang!

 I finally found the Public Library in my little city. I am still getting used to the new place and my surroundings. I was so surprised by how large it was, especially since it was just a branch. It has three stories! I wasn't able to get a full and complete look at the entire library, but I was able to check out their graphic novel area. Yes, area not section. They had an entire room filled with floor to ceiling bookshelves filled to the brim with comic books, graphic novels and copious copious amounts of manga. A huge window that took up half a wall, letting in an amazing natural light by which to read all the amazingness! It was AWESOME! If there was more parking, I could definitely see myself being there more often. 

 I wished I had actually planned to go to the library, instead of passing it by accidentally, I would have brought a basket, or a bag. I would have been able to bring more books home. Unfortunately, eleven was all I could carry back to the car safely. So I picked up Bunny Drop 1-7, which is a manga about an illegitimate daughter of a grandfather, whose children and grandchildren are all adults, and when the grandfather passes away, and the daughter Rin doesn't have a caretaker. Unfortunately, the family is a total pack of bums, and don't want to take her in, so basically her Nephew, adopts her, and it follows their misadventures.

 I have finished My friend Dahmer, which was creepy, and sad. I am all about studying and learning about serial killers, but his childhood, was so dreadful, I almost..Almost felt sorry for him. I wasn't a big fan of the art, but it was clean enough for me to be able to finish and understand the story. I wanted to read You have killed me, but someone decided that they liked the art so much, that they removed some of the pages, making it impossible to read, which annoys me, because I really liked the art, it was one of the reasons why I picked it up in the first place. 

 I also picked up The Complete Maus, because I had heard really amazing things about it! I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but I have a feeling I am really going to enjoy it. I was also able to pick up the first graphic novel of Gail Simone's Batgirl. Issues 1-6 Which is great, because I only have one through 3, so it will be easy for me to catch up from here. 

  

Until Next Time,

~Gabriella!~

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Comics Roundup #4: Gotham Academy and More!

Hi Gang!
 First Comic post of the new year! At the beginning of December, I picked up some much needed comics but because ya know, Life, I just now got around to writing about them. I picked up Gotham Academy #1-3, Capture Creatures #1, She-Hulk #1-8 and Secret Six #1. I was so disappointed with Secret Six, I didn't even bother to write about it. I picked it up, because Simone has my allegiance but the art is catastrophically terrible. I really hope the art gets better, otherwise, I'll have to drop it from my pull pile.

Capture Creatures by Gibson & Dreistadt is first up. I was drawn to it by the cover art. I have always been a huge fan of cute art. The inside art is so clean, and the characters have some ethnicity to them. Always a big plus for me. I actually just realized that my Huge Marvel Poster, doesn't have a single person of color in the front the first one I found was like three rows back. If I didn't find them I would have gotten rid of the poster. I'm composing a letter about How angry I am that Storm is literally in the back of the poster but that is a post for another time. This comic is funny, the art is adorable and I am super excited about what they have in store for the future. I am a huge Pokemon fan, and I honestly didn't see a lot of similarities, despite what the Internet may be saying.

Gotham Academy By Cloonan, Fletcher, Kerschl, Geyser, and McCaig. I have read 1-3. I was drawn to it by the art and the many times it appeared on  Betty Felon, if you don't know who she is, educate yourself. I did enjoy the diversity that DC showed. I had to close it and open again, just to make sure it was DC! I also liked the story, but I haven't quite pieced together the importance of Cobblepot yet, I hope they aren't adding it just because it is in the Gotham Television show. it would be the easiest way to piss me off.

She-Hulk by Soule, Pulido, and Vicente. I have only read issue one. As a comic fan, I have heard about She Hulk, but I didn't know anything about her except that she was a lawyer. My interest was piqued when that awful Screen Writer described her as a green Porn Star, So I went to my local shop, and picked up issues 1-8, Unfortunately, by the time I got to Shulkie, I had a headache the size of Texas, after reading comics all day and had to put her to the side. I have certain art styles that I am drawn too and even though my father isn't a fan of her 60's feel I am. I can't wait to delve into her story, I have a feeling that she is going to be a new favorite.

Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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Handheld Mistress #28: Ps3 Catchup

Hi Gang!
 Here I am again, I'm finally getting used to a consistent schedule, I sure did miss it! Speaking of missing things, this post is all about the missed Playstation Three games of 2014, I'm blogging on exactly 3 hours of sleep, so let just jump right in!

- Uncharted 2 Among Thieves: I picked this up because of my sister. She has this one and three, and she thoroughly enjoyed them and I am all for a adventure puzzle game, that is literally the definition of up my alley! I started it and continued to play until I hit a tough spot, I didn't get very far, I think maybe a half hour of game play, but that was also when I had to share the television and the playstation with Alex's Father, now that it is all mine. I plan on making good on my new year gaming resolution.

- Fairytale Fights: I am in love with this game! It was super cheap when I found it, but if I had known about it when it first came out I would have definitely paid full price. Not only is the art super deformed and cute, but it has the gore factor of Splatterhouse. You literally get to skate around in your enemy's blood, what is not to like?

- L.A. Noire: Is actually a game that I've had since I first bought my Ps3, but never got around to playing it, a friend starting playing it at my house and I lost interest, since the friend is gone now, I will probably starting this one soon as well.

- Deus Ex Human Revolution: I know nothing about this game except that when it first came out it was very popular. I remember a lot of online chatter and Chubisaur raving about it on her tumblr, but that was a few years ago, almost 4 now!!! I am always up for something new, and I am excited to sink my teeth into something completely new.

- Borderlands: Everyone , everywhere on the internet was talking about this game. I even came across an ad for it in a dentists office! After hearing so many good things I decided to purchase it because I wanted to try something different, I started playing it and ran out of ammo, and the camera angles gave me such a headache that I never touched it again, but I'm sure I'll be picking it up again soon, since I've gotten used to Bioshock 2.

- Assassin's Creed: Another really old, popular game that I finally decided to give a chance. I was actually really intrigued with it's game play, but I haven't really gotten the chance (I.e. Been lazy) to delve deeper, but with a couple of off days coming up, I will be attempting it soon.


Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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Series #7: Arrow Seasons 1+2 (Spoilers!)

 Hi Gang!
  It seems like Netflix and I have become the best of friends over the last couple of weeks. I have finished/caught up on quite a few shows, but this post I am going to be focusing on Arrow. It was a little slow moving at first but after episode 6 it really picked up. As usual, keep in mind that these are my own opinions and spoilers!

- I cannot express just how much I LOVE FELICITY!!! Felicity Smoak has to be one of my favorite characters in quite some time. She's smart, She's witty, and She's adorably awkward. She knows her way around a computer and she is relateable. Especially, when she unloads her worrie
s about not having a place on the team anymore because Sara is back and just generally kicking ass and taking names, it showed viewers that she was vulnerable and it was okay for us to be vulnerable right along with her. I HATE how Oliver used her in the end. Just another reason to add to the next blurb.

- I hate how Oliver Queen treats the women in the show. Even as a child, I was never a fan of Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen's Playboy persona. This show honestly hasn't changed my mind. Through one season, he broke the hearts of at least five women. He treats them like trash. They are there to be used and then tossed away when they do something he doesn't like or when he is done with them. That is one of the reasons Black Canary was one of my favorite heroine's because they work well together, you can tell that there are genuine feelings there, and she is constantly putting him in his place.

- I hate how badly they fucked up the origin of my FAVORITE D.C. HEROINE. As above, Black Canary, Dinah Laurel Lance is my favorite heroine. It irks me that the sister gets to be canary, and not the girl deserving of it. It irks me, that we don't really get any specific Black Canary/Green Arrow Villians, it just feels like they are grabbing all of Batmans' Bad guys because they are better known.


- How could have Blood honestly believed Slade would keep his end of the bargain? When Slade literally just started kidnapping people to use for his serum, how could Blood trust him to keep his end, that "no one" would be hurt and that once the damage was done, he would be able to save the city, and becoming the loving Mayor that everyone would run too? How stupid and gullible do you have to be jeez? I mean he is missing an EYEBALL, obviously he isn't that great a guy.

- What ever happened to Slade's Son Joe? So even with all of the flashbacks to the Island, we never learned what happened to Slade. We don't know how he got off the island, and we don't know if he ever visited his family when he did get off the island, what happened to his son? Is he still alive? Is he dead? Did Slade become so jaded, that once he was free he didn't even bother to go see his family?

- Who Saw Sara's Sexuality as Bi coming? Being a woman who is bi herself, I am all for it being splashed across the television screen. If people don't like it they can sit and spin honestly, but I definitely didn't see her betrothed being Ra's Al Ghul's Daughter. Honestly, I expected her to be like Ra's concubine or something, but I am very glad that decided to take it in a different direction. I am a little miffed that she went back to them, even after she had been freed.

- Super confused about who to ship for Barry. Felicity or Iris? I have the biggest Crush on Barry. He is so freaking ADORABLE! With Felicity, it is easy, their chemistry and banter comes smoothly, but Iris is of Color (Slightly biased No apologies) and they have known each other for ever and his feeling have been around forever, so I can't help but cheer for the underdog. Grr, decisions, decisions.

- Moira's Death... WHY?? All of those people that know Oliver's secret Identity. Everyone being on his side, and team and squad, and yet NO one was there when he needed them the most! I think it was selfish for no one to come to his, thea's and Moira's aid. It also pisses me off to no end, that Thea lost her mother, and her brother just decided to up and leave her, when she needed him the most! Why wouldn't you have attended her funeral? I don't care how much she lied, you at LEAST owed her that.

- Thea going with Merlyn. Both Oliver AND Roy had the opportunity to be honest with Thea, and then she would have been in the know and on their side. I mean, there were probably 4 people in the whole cast that didn't know Ollie was the Arrow, and yet by selfishly keeping their secret, they pushed Thea right into the arms of someone who definitely doesn't want the best for her. Anything that happens to Thea in Season 3, I am THOROUGHLY blaming it on the two of them.

See ya'll Soon.
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel,
~Gabriella!~

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Handheld Mistress #27: DS Game Catchup

Hi Gang!
  What better way to start the year then to clean up to do lists of the year before? I'm not sure what happened but toward the end of the year, I stopped posting about video games. Now just because I wasn't writing about them, didn't mean I'd stopped playing them, or even buying them (even though my wallet was begging me too.) So this post is going to highlight all the games that were purchased in my absence and a little about why I bought them.

- Epic Mickey Power of Illusion: I actually waited a very long time to buy this game. It was winking at me every time I went into that Gamestop, and I definitely wanted to get it, but it had already been out for almost a year, and the price was still crazy high! I finally gave in and picked it up when Alex and I went to go get his system and his new games. I was never a really big mickey fan, out of all the disney characters, but they did such a bang up job with Kingdom Hearts I was hoping it was going to be along the same lines. I think I've gotten 5 minutes of game play in, it definitely fell to the wayside, when I bought Professor Layton V.S. Phoenix Wright. 

- Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy: This was the last game I needed, and now I have the Entire Layton Collection. I was very excited about this being added to my gaming collection, and incredibly moved, because it was Alex's Anniversary gift for our one year. Professor Layton is incredibly important to me. One of my favorite games of all time. He reminds me of my father, who is also on my tops list, and the Professor is my only tattoo.  Since it is the last in the series, I didn't want to play it until I got there, I am still in the midst of playing Diabolical Box, it is the only game still in shrink wrap. 

- Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance: When I was younger I was a huge disney fan. Now I'm older and I have been awakened to just how racist, anti-feminist and sexist the company is, but at the time Kingdom Hearts had come out, it hadn't been revealed to me yet. I was in love with everything about it; the music, the character design, my favorite disney characters, but not the game play. It took me forever to get used to it, especially with the camera angles. It was my first game with a moveable camera. 

- Persona Q: I was attracted by the art, and I had heard lots of great things, from my otaku friends and the internet, and I thought I would give it a try, the fact that it came with tarot cards was great too. The art is so beautiful, and the dialogue makes me laugh so I'm glad I decided to buy it.

- Pokemon Omega Ruby: I actually got it for Christmas, and got the Sapphire for Alex. It actually was going to be one of the Pokemon games that I wanted to skip, but the advances to the game mechanics and small changes to the story, honestly made me very glad I got it. It is also the only game I have been able to connect to the internet, and I am looking forward to kicking international ass. Where else can I find a Poochyena with ice fang? Her name is Chowpan. (See what I did there?)

- Etrian Odyssey IV Legends of The Titan: I bought this game purely for the art on the cover. It has not been opened or played. It is super pretty on my shelf and I have this horrible habit with knitting books as well, but I do plan on playing this game in the near future. Hopefully, the gameplay will keep equal pace with how beautiful the art is. 

- Blazblue Continuum Shift II: I was a huge fan of the Console versions, and when I saw I could have it on the road, I just had to get it! I was super creeped out though, because I bought a pre-owned copy and it had my gaming info in it, but I had never played it before. I honestly haven't played it again since, but that will probably change once the heeby-jeebies go away. 

- Professor Layton V.S. Phoenix Wright: I am in love with this game. It is the only game I have ever Pre-ordered. I love both characters and to get them in a crossover of this magnitude makes me very happy! I am about half-way through the game, I don't know if when I started playing I had been taken over by Brianiac but the puzzle seemed very easy to me. I haven't played since, because I realized that I was still just beginning Diabolical Box, and figured I shouldn't have skipped around. More than likely, I will be starting this game up again pretty soon. 

This week will be game related, just to get my game blogging chops back. Check back next time for the PS3 game Catchup. As always, you can get more of me at Twitter and Instagram, links are in my side bar. 

Til Next Time,

~Gabriella!~

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New Year New Knits!

 In my sophomore year of College, my friend Claire taught me how to knit. For the next couple of months I tried again and again to get the grasp of it and then I did. At the time, knitting was just too hard for me. Crocheting was just way easier for me at the time. A couple days ago, I read the complete backlog of Izznit's blog and was so super crazy inspired! I can't believe that it is 2015! I am so excited about all the possibilities the new year presents! This post is a wishlist of sorts for me, I want to step up my knitting game, Usually any projects that I'm working on are accessories; hats, cowls, bags and the like. By upping my game, I am thinking about doing more challenging garments. Tunics, skirts and sweaters. Learning how to read patterns, and to start designing my own patterns.
  I'm really looking forward to using the brand new yarns I got for Christmas, here are a few of the next patterns, Ideas I have in mind.

- Midriff Sweater: Originally, I saw one on one of the singers of After School ( Which is a korean Pop group) I've been batting the idea back and forth in my mind, and I know it is definitely one of the first projects on my list.

- A Cardigan with front buttons: The whole point of jumping to bigger more advanced pieces, is so I can learn something new. I am hoping to learn a new technique with every project, AND fill my closet with pieces that I made myself! I'm hoping for something close to Andi's A-Z Retro cardigan. I definitely want it to have pockets. It drives me crazy when pullovers and sweaters don't have pockets.

- A Pullover : Something similar to A bird of passage. I think it would be ok if this particular design doesn't have pockets, but I am very excited to try something new.

- A flowey tunic: I found a few patterns translated from Japanese online, Their patterns are so PRETTY, I'm hoping that with some serious hard work, my handmade pieces will turn out that way too

 Thanks to The knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe, I have this blossoming feeling that a finished handmade garment isn't too far off in the future for me. I can't wait to start churning out projects and showing you guys that all my hard work has paid off!

 Until Next Time!
~Gabriella!~

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Sew Nerdy: Fabric Haul

 Hi Gang!
  Now that I have finally got my tables, set up, this feature can finally get started! What better time then to learn how to sew in the new year?! I stopped by Jo-Ann Fabrics the other day because Alex wanted to pick up some colorful yarn for the rug he's making. (You read that right, he's making a rug.) I was teaching him about different yarn weights and such so his project wouldn't look so wonky, when I realized that they had a few bolts of fabric on sale. 30% 50% and the like, and I kinda went crazy.
 They had like four women cutting fabric and there was still enough of a line, that I had to pull a ticket number and wait with the rest of the peanut gallery. When it was finally my time, I sauntered up there with all of my bolts of fabric and pretty much got 3 and 1/2 yards of everything, there were a few that didn't cut it, and I just took the rest of the bolt. I also picked up a sewing book, called the Essential Sewing Reference Guide. I'm hoping, it will help me not pull my hair out when I'm trying to sew later.
 I literally found the cutest fabrics in there, Alex had to pull me away before I spent my entire check, but now they're here, my machine's are here and I have a good sized working table, I can't wait to get started. I think my first project will be a pinafore skirt with suspenders. I do adore Pinafore skirts so. I was so glad I got all kinds of sewing essentials for Christmas in my stocking. Thread, replacement needles, three pairs of scissors, elastic, bias tape, and a zipper! I think I'm pretty set to go.

Until Next Time!
~Gabriella!~

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