ConTemporal 2012

Convention: ConTemporal
Date:  June 22-24
Location: Chapel Hill, NC

ConTemporal is a first year Steampunk convention held in Chapel Hill! I was so excited for this convention! I love Victorian and Steampunk fiction, clothing, movies, and so on. I was so excited to be asked to come as a costume guest for this convention. I had some wonderful panels:
Friday:
7pm- Doctor Who
8pm- Prop Building
Saturday:
4pm- Cosplay Modeling
7pm- Costume Contest
Sunday:
12pm- Theatrical Makeup

So lots of really fun panels that I got to sit in on!

The convention itself was wonderfully run and  had a great turn out for a first year con! I am so happy it did well since I am really excited to go next year!

So my convention round up!

Thursday: I arrived at the convention hotel (after a short detour since my GPS took me past the hotel, lol) Arrived and met up with some of the lovely ladies I was rooming with! Allegra, Morgan and myself all got ready for the guest dinner and then headed that way. We sat at the table with two gentlemen. One named Ruben, who draws a pretty cool looking comic, and a volunteer named Wookee.  The food was yummy, and the company was awesome! Very fun guest dinner. :)

Friday: Got up and got ready to go and see the sites of the convention.  The hotel was nicely laid out.  They had four or so panel rooms, dealers room, and gaming room. There was an artist alley in the walking area of the hotel and a small concert area where some of the visiting musicians played.  Walked around and checked everything out! Oogled over some of the stuff in the dealers room, even spotted a steampunk short story anthology I did not have... Around 5 I went back and got ready for my panels. For the Doctor Who panel it was Jen. and myself then Zachary Moderated.  It went really well, we talked about Victorian and Steampunk in Doctor Who. The next panel I had was Prop building.  I was on it with Chris, and a husband and wife (whom sadly I cannot remember their names) I was the moderator for this panel. We talked about a lot of different things from customizing nerf guns, to adding lights to props!  Once all of that was over I went and watched the Kilt blowing, then the men's best legs contest!

Saturday: The room was up to watch the Legend of Korra season finale! after that we all started to get ready for panels and other events (like me wanting to get Cherie Priest to sign one of my Steampunk anthologies).  I got my book signed! Got some photos with the awesome Fang Fox! then got ready for the modeling panel with Allegra!  We had a really fun panel, brought up people to pose as they would if they were modeling and just shared stories! The it was onto the costume contest! There were around twenty entries, and all were awesome! It was really hard to pick the winners for the contest, so many amazing entries and talent at the con! After the contest went back and took off the boots I had worn for the last two days, chilled out, went to Illogicon's brownie party.  Headed back to the room and ate some pizza, then put on Allegra's gold chainmail bikini and went back out to some of the room parties. Then headed to bed, because I was pretty exhausted!

Sunday:
Got up and all packed up then headed to my panel on Theatrical makeup! Had a great time with Jen and Kim on this panel, we talked about different types of body paints, prosthetics and lots of other awesome stuff! After the panel I went and got that one Steampunk Anthology I did not own (yes I have one weakness, books....) and then chilled out, said my goodbyes and headed home.

Overall one super AMAZING convention! I had a blast, Thank you ConTemporal for having me out as a costume guest! I had a great time and I am so excited to see what you guys do for nest year!!

Anime Mid-Atlanic 2012

Convention: Anime Mid-Atlantic
Date: June 15th-17th
Location: Chesapeake, Va

I love AMA! It has always been one of my favorite conventions to go too! I used to arrange music to play on the Oboe for the Cosplay Contest for many years.  Now I judge the Hall Costume Contest! Which is always a blast seeing all the amazing costume that are entered!

Friday I helped with the long drive to Chesapeake.  Arrived in the early afternoon and got checked into the hotel.  Then got into my Coffee lolita and went to judge the HCC!  After the HCC I went and hung out at the photo booth for a bit to see Shannon! and then headed out for food! Got to go to Joe's Crab Shack! which is always incredibly yummy (and messy!). Also stopped and got some tea, because sadly I forgot my tea.

Saturday got up early and judged the HCC in Tohru Hinda (Fruits Basket).  Finished judging, then checked out the dealers room, and oogled at the purple Alpaca dolls (which I could not buy this time :(  ).  Then chilled out for a bit, changed into USO and headed to the Cosplay Contest! Watched a lot of awesome skits! handed out awards! then went to dinner! Came back got into my music lolita skirt and went and saw Salia perform in concert! Love watching Salia in concert! She did a bunch of her new songs, as well as the Cutey Honey theme and the Gao Rangers Ending song! <3  If you get the chance to see Salia at a convention I would definitely go!

Sunday got all packed up, hung out with friends, and then made the drive back (which was even longer than before because of traffic)  Stopped at noodles on the way home and had some incredibly yummy Pad Thai for dinner!! <3

AMA was fun as always, I have so many wonderful friends that go, and I am so happy I get to judge at such a fun con! Can't wait until next year!!

ConCarolinas 2012

Convention: ConCarolinas (http://www.concarolinas.org/)
Date: June 1-4
Location: Charlotte, NC

ConCarolinas is a great sci-fi/fantasy convention. I have been going since 2005 (however I used to only go on Saturdays) and have loved every year I have gone! This year I was a panelist and did a lot of fun panels.

Friday: Got to the con and chilled out. I had a panel on begging sewing, which was fun, always cool to talk to people about sewing, or how to get started when you have no idea where to start. Since that was my only panel for Friday I then got some yummy Mexican food and hung out for the rest of the night. Sadly I got my times wrong and missed the G.H.O.S.T. screening (which I am in as well as helped with makeup and wardrobe on). 

Saturday: Lots of panels for me on Saturday, we had the Gallifrey Pirate Radio Panel, Doctor Who Season in Review, Game of Thrones, Steampunk Fashion show and the costume contest which I was judging. Didnt get to do too much other than panels on Saturday.  I had a few films play during the film fest (The Gnome Before Christmas, Foodie) but I missed them due to panels. However both films that screened got awards in the film fest!!! Gnome got best kills! (so happy on it winning another award! the first being at the Killride Film Fest in Myrtle Beach). Foodie also got Best Short film (Woooot film I did lots of crazy makeup on!!). After the costume contest I went and sat in on the Porkchop II screening for the first half of the film, then went to find fooooood!

Sunday: Checked out of the hotel.  Had three films play during the film fest (Mr. Bubbles, Splintered, and Chain of Custody), and am acting round table panel.  After the panel we left and got some food before driving home.

Over all the convention was a lot of fun! I got to see friends I had not seen in months! I got to chill out and talk nerdy things on panels!  Can't wait until next year!!!

Fun photo my friend Michael took!

Porkchop II DVD Cover!!

So the date and DVD cover have been released for the US release of Porkchops or as it is being called Porlchop II!! The DVD will be released through Alternative Cinema on Sept 25, 2012. If the release is like Porkchop I then it will be available at F.Y.E. (as well as Target.com, Walmart.com, Barnes N Noble.com and so one)

I am super excited for it being released so soon! and if you cannot wait until Sept. to see it on DVD, the film will be screaning at Fright Night Film Fest in Louisville KY (www.frightnightfilmfest.com) June29-July1st. (where you can also see a few of my other films like Mr. Bubbles, Scarecrow at Midnight and Foodie!)

Animazement 2012

Convention: Aimazement (animazement.org)
Date: May 25-27
Location: Raleigh, NC

Animazement is always a fun convention to go too. This year, for the second year, I judged the cosplay contest. I have always loved competing at Animazement, and did so for many years, so it is neat to be on the other side judging all the amazing costumes, the amount of creativity that people come with just amazes me!

I had not had that much time to sew because of graduating from grad school earlier in May, so I put together a lolita dress and brought some older costumes and outfits (Cooking Mama, USO Girl, and a Steampunk outfit). I also made some cute hair bows to match my dress, sadly one of them fell out of my bad while I was unloading the car and disappeared!

My new dress! So comfy! (Thanks SoulFire Studios for the photos!)

I got to room with the wonderful Chiara Scuro, who I also rocked some steampunk outfits with on Saturday night (Thanks FoxFang for the photos!)

As for the actual convention, Animazemnt always has a lot going on from a cool little artist alley, to a sweet dealers room, to concerts (which sadly I missed and as many of you know I love a good J-Pop concert), to panels and of course the Masquarade!

The dealers room was nice, lots of fun stuff! (I walked away with some cute Tasty Peach Studio's jewelry, a panda necklace shaped like a candy corn and a super cute pink Alpaca plushy!).  Because of judging I did not get to attend many panels, but all the ones my friends went too, and ran all seemed to go great and have a wonderful turnout. I was also incredibly impressed with one of the contest entrants who came to the feedback panel on Sunday, she showed up with her boyfriend in costume and a pad and pencil and asked us (the judges) how she could improve some areas of the costume, and took notes on what we said so she could improve, it was very refreshing to see someone take constructive criticism and use it to their advantage to learn, instead of getting mad about it.

Over all Animazement is always one of my favorite anime cons to go to because of all the wonderful people and wonderfully run convention. I have been going for many many years and I hope to continue to go!

One of my favorite photos taken by Quadrain! He always takes some of the best pics of my outfits and costumes!

Holy Cow! I am in the Washington Post!!!

So while at Mysticon 2012 back in February an interviewer from the Washington Post took some photos of my USO Girl costume, and the issue came out!! Here is a scan of the article with the photo of my USO (and The Chainmail Chick as well!). It is really cool to have been featured in this article!

RavenCon 2012

Convention: RavenCon
Date: April 13th-15th
Location: Richmond, Va.

This was my first Ravencon. I had known about the con for years, and being from Charlottesville you figured I would have made the trip to the convention at some point. But last year I was filming on Plan 9 during Ravencon and other years it ended up being the same weekend as the DC Cherry Blossom Festival. So I made the trek there this year! However I had been to this hotel! AMA was held here back in the day!

Friday: Made the trip to Richmond.  Checked into the hotel and then headed out for food and Toys R Us, where I found some super cute Kuromi socks on sale!  Then headed back to the hotel and looked around. Saw Kara and a few other people I knew! Went to opening ceremonies and saw Carla's awesome cake she made for the con! Checked out some panels went to some room parties and then headed to bed (since I always get tired after being in a car for a few hours). I did not really get into any costumes on Friday, mostly was me just being lazy walking around in a Doctor Who shirt.

Saturday:
Got up and breakfast at the hotel.  Got signed up for the costume contest. Chilled out with some of the awesome people from Mysticon for a bit, walked around and checked out the dealers room (bought a cute pair of brown and green chainmail earrings) Went to the Doctor Who panel since we were filming it for GPR. Then got into costume for the contest.  I wore my Clockwork Android costume for the contest.  I am SOOOOOOOOO happy they hotel was very well air conditioned. I really dislike the mask at this point after wearing it for so long at Dragoncon and busting a blood vessel in my eye. It is fine for limited wear, but a few hours noooooooo. I had a kid look at me in fear then attempt to pull the mask off my face (old enough to know not to grab and pull at someone, so that was a but annoying) So I did my walk on and off the stage, was a creepy robot, and got BEST IN SHOW! woot! Made my weekend! Was very excited and honored to get best in show! After the contest got out of costume and had dinner with Kara and Rob, then went back to the hotel, hung out at CapClaves party for a bit with Kara, watch some of the Bella Morte concert, and then headed to bed.

Sunday:
Got all packed up, walked around the con center and dealers room (got a cute purple and black chainmail bracelet). Went to the Doctor Who Vs. the Xenomorphs panel, got pulled up on stage to be a panelist for it, So we filmed a GPR episode of it with Billy, Myself and Davey on the panel.  After that said goodbyes and headed home.  Long and fun weekend!

and sadly the only photo I have of the weekend is me in my Doctor The Who shirt. No costume stuff this time :(