November 21, 2014

Chibi Bubble Ninja's Sewing Cafe- Yami Marik (cape & cuffs)

Here is another project that was just completed and delivered: Yami Marik! This was originally slated to be done for Anime Expo in July- but to to client request was put on hold till just recently. 
Here are some character reference photos:
 Here is the completed neck bands- these where made with a golden stretch pleather material that closes in the back with a velcro closure. 


 Here are the completed arm bands of the same materials. 


 Lastly here are the completed arm bands - also with a velcro closure. 


 The cape was made with a strapping to keep the cape from falling back and choking you. Since the cape is worn thrown over the shoulders. 


Here is the chain detail. This is actually left over chain from a previous project that I did for the same client. The base chain attachment is made of worbla- shaped and painted to match. 

The cape was made not to open like a traditional cape but slips over the head. I also added a cowl neck in the top to create the volume needed for this character.

 This is just a photo to see the cape lenght. 
As with most projects once this one was finished I wanted to keep it and run around like a wizard! Alas it has gone to its new home where I hope its new wearer enjoys it! 

I have also become aware I really need to get some mannequins to display my work on ^.^


Chibi Bubble Ninja's Sewing Cafe- Soul Caliber Tira


So here is my latest project - Soul Caliber Tira. This was a great project. I had seen some cosplays done with this and I really wanted to step it up and make the best one that I have not seen yet.
Here are some original character photos:



This is the shield piece that connects to the back of the collar. It was cut and molded with worbla. All the details where made by cutting out each raised piece from craft foam and sandwiching it between the worbla. I then heated the worbla and embossed around the design resulting in what you see in this photo.


Collar from the front- after shaping. 

Collar from the side after shaping- here you can see the color from the craft foam underneath better.



The same process was repeated for the hair pieces. These are shaped and ready for base painting. 



This is the drawn out design for the sleeve patterns (can be seen in the second character reference photo). I took some liberties with the design as it is hard to really make out the entire detail based on character photos. I think however I get the main details and stayed true to the "feel" of the character design. These where later transferred to a card stock to be cut out as a stencil. 

Here is the back shield piece completed with paint. It was painted over all a brown and then hand painted all the gold detailing.

The same goes for the hair bands.


Also for the collar: top- side view, bottom: front view. 

All the painted pieces together. You can also see the clasps on the collar. There are two clasps at the back of the collar and two at the back base to attach the back shield piece. (Photos below of them together).

My camera really did not like photographing the red fabric. Here is the top of the sleeve and the top front of the outfit. The fabric is a velvet. The stripes and the design in the sleeve where all hand burnt into the fabric with a soldering iron. The edges of all the velvet was also sealed with the iron to avoid fraying.

Here is the bottom of the sleeve. Same burning to create this detail.

This is a photo of the completed painted feathers and the original white feathers for comparison. I just lightly brushed the feathers with an acrylic paint. 

Here are the photos of the feathers completely painted- also the feather boa in the background.
 

Here is a photo of the completed back shield with feathers attached.

Here is a photo of the completed collar with feathers attached. I later pressed the collar so that the feathers where not so ridged in holding the collar upwards. 

Here is a back view of the shield attached to the back of the collar. 

Here is a front view of the attachment. Felt was glued over the backing of the back shield piece to avoid scraping. with the quills of the feathers. The same for the collar.


Here are the shorts/booty shorts. There is a strip of clear elastic to hold the front together. As you can see in the character reference there is a "dip" to the front part of the shorts.

The back has a zipper. 

Completed shorts- these were made out of a wonderful stretch pleather. The only think I did not like about the material is it is sticky. So everything that was sewn had to be surrounded with tissue paper. So it looked like Christmas morning for awhile. 

Here is a back view of the semi completed outfit. One issue to deal with was how she was going to get in and out of this outfit. To solve the issue the belt in the back was functional and the "lacing" on the top back is attached to a strip of velcro. So instead of having to do up all the lacing it is just a quick velcro and you are done! 

Here is the front view. The is semi done like the back. The feathers on the bottom are the attachments for the legs. Not sure how well the camera displayed it but the striping goes throughout the entire outfit except the sleeves. 

Here is a photo of the completed outfit from the back. The feather are attached at the legs base now :) 

Here is a detailed photo of the back "lacing". 

Here is a detailed photo of the leg base.

Here is a photo of the completed outfit from the front. The entire outfit is one piece. So it is all attached making it easier to wear and put on. 

Here is the front ring and button detail. I was actually really lucky with these rings. I got the last 4 from the store before they where discontinued. Beautiful solid metal rings. I also got a great discount since they wanted to sell the last of them ;)

Here is some of the side ring and sleeve detail.


Lastly here is the front under bodice piece. It covers one side of the chest just as it does with the character.

Over all this was a great project to work on. It was a lot of fun to have to mix up so many different techniques to get the end result.  I thought the end result looked great and the client was extremely happy.

October 17, 2014

Make your Own Collidal Silver

I have been meaning to make this FOREVER! I was sure that this was something that was too hard to make- or something that I needed a fancy maker for- but it is not so! 
If you are wondering of the health benefits of colloidal silver just do a google search. You can also check out this blog (link)
This is the blog where I learned how to make my own generator and take my health into my own hands. 
Some things that I have used colloidal silver for are skin issues (like cuts, rashes ext), Sinus infection, colds/sore throat, Major when he has been ill. But seriously there are so many uses for this great thing!
There is also a government study found a released that it seems to protect against a certain deadly virus currently killing thousands in Africa. 
This is something that I have added to my daily routine. 
Overall this set up cost me about $30. That is the silver strips, the alligator clips, the recycled apple juice gallon glass and a gallon of distilled water.


Here is the battery set up I used- this is all outlined in the above blog for making your own colloidal silver.

These are some of the old amber glass bottles I had from colloidal silver that I had ordered. The largest jar cost me about $50!
Here are the Silver strips I used. It is very important to get pure silver! Please use the above link on how to make your own to research the best places to get pure silver.
This was my first batch/pickling batch. You want to make your first batch with a few dissolved grains of salt and run for a longer period of time to get a "strong batch". This will work as a primer for all your other batches. You maybe able to see the silver generating in the soft milky "smoke" coming off the left silver strip.
 Here is a video where you can see some of the silver generating.


Here is the first batch or pickling batch. The final reading came out to 165 PPM after running for about 45 minutes. Now I had added a little more salt then needed. I USE THIS ONLY AS A PRIMER FOR MY BATCHES AFTER!

Here is the second batch. You can get this PPM/Hanna Meter here. As you can see the distilled water stars out at 0 PPM.

I let this batch run for about 45 minutes after adding a tsp of the primer batch and ended up with 7 PPM. This is the minimum that I like to have for my batches. Although usually anywhere between 7-15 is going to be great. 

Since making my first "primer batch" and making the other batch pictured I have made another batch this week. Something I would also like to try is setting up the electricity with plug in set up. With the batteries you usually want a tester to make sure you are not working with dead batteries :) 

If you are interested please go to the above blogs for making your own or ask me and I will help you the best that I can!
To your health!