rallamajoop: (cosplay)
[personal profile] rallamajoop
Back before Wai-con caught up with us, I was planning on posting a couple of pictures of some of the props and such I'd been making. ObviousIy this wound up as one of thost things didn't find the time for, and just about everyone would have seen these already at the con by now. But if anyone's interested in seeing some of the detail that probably won't come out in con photos or hearing me ramble about how things were made, here they are anyway:

A series which I've fallen madly in love with in the past few months is CLAMP's xxxHolic, which features, amongst other things, an adorable little critter called the kudakitsune, or pipe fox. As a little fun project after I'd gotten my Yuffie costume mostly done, I thought I'd have a go at making one of my own.





He's over a metre long and only a few centimetres wide -as you can probably imagine, turning him inside out after I'd finished sewing him up took quite a while. But the best part of this thing is that, thanks to another length of the same wire we used on the Heartless plushie, he's entirely posable, and can be wrapped around arms and necks and such (which are, of course, the kudakitsune's natural habitat ^_~).



And a couple more close up shots of the head:



Since he didn't really go with my costume he wound up sitting on our table for most of the con, and with all the other clutter I don't think he got noticed much. Still, he seemed to go down well with the few other xxxHolic fans I ran into. I'm thinking of making a few more of him to sell at next years Wai-con since he really wasn't all that much work. We'll see how that goes.


On to more relevant props, here's the giant shuriken I made to go with my Kingdom Hearts II Yuffie costume:



Made out of foam core boards, craft foam and sheet plastic [insert worship of Amethyst Angel's prop making tutorials here]. The paint job to give it the tarnished look was done by my ever talented little sis Lisa, who's put up a tutorial based on it here, if anyone's interested in seeing how she does it. The green materia were salvaged from a Christmas decoration. I had pink ribbons wrapped around the arms on the first day of the con to give it the AC/KHII look, but I took them off for the second day since I was back to the original FFVII Yuffie costume by then.

Since it's mostly hollow this thing's a lot lighter than it probably looks, and balances beautifully - you can twirl it around a finger and it'll spin like a pinwheel. The design for this was basically a scaled down copy of [livejournal.com profile] nekomiao's even more giant Dirge of Cerebrus version. It took a week or two to make (although it must be said, after making the conformer earlier this year, this thing was a pushover. ^^;)





Not a prop, but I was proud of how these turned out, so here are a couple of pictures of the boots from the first day too:



I know knee high boots exist, but I couldn't for the life of me track down a pair - let alone in a colour that would match my shorts - so I wound up modding a pair of ankle-high converse style sneakers to make these. I've never made shoes for cosplay before, so these were very much an experiemental job, and I'm seriously thrilled that they came out so well. The main trick involved a layer of craft foam under the fabric to help make it sit neatly and give them that stiffer look. There was a lot of work in these, but I'd have to say they were worth every minute. ^_^



Up close you can see probably a few flaws, and they needed a little straightening by the time this picture was taken because I'd been wearing them all day, but the only shame about wearing them was that I don't think many people at the con spotted the fact they'd been hand made at all. ^^;

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Date: 2006-12-14 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cigerfei.livejournal.com
i wondered about that pipe fox thing, just didnt get around to asking about it

Date: 2006-12-14 02:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Yeah, since it's not from Final Fantasy it probably wouldn't have been that obvious, my costume would have been a complete red herring ^^;. xxxHolic's not so well known, unfortunately.

Man, don't even talk to me about all the things I didn't get around to doing at that con. ^^;;; Two days just isn't long enough, is it?

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Date: 2006-12-14 02:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ex-seventee.livejournal.com
Your prop-making skills are truly elite (too good to be spelt wrong!)

I wonder... could I possibly commission you to make me a pair of boots like that sometime? :D

Date: 2006-12-14 02:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Probably not, I'm afraid - I had to do so many fittings to get those things to the right shape that I'm not sure it'd be safe to try making them for a pair of feet I don't have constantly available. ^^; I'd be happy to help if you want to have a go at making some for yourself, but given how many cosplay plans I've already made for next year I think I've already hit the point where I should be whacked over the head with a mallet if I take on anything else. (And Waicon wasn't even a week ago yet o_o. *hangs head in shame* )

Date: 2006-12-14 02:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] delgadina.livejournal.com
The kudakitsune is love.

LOVE. ♥_♥

Boots, gorgeous. Shuriken, gorgeous. Awesome job!

Date: 2006-12-14 10:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Definitely love. I was so happy I got him to turn out so cute. ^_^

All this cosplay stuff is addictive - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. ^^;

Date: 2006-12-14 03:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rubyd.livejournal.com
O-Oh my god. D: I love the Pipe Fox. T_T What kind of wire did you put in it?

Date: 2006-12-14 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
He's adorable, isn't he? ^_^ The wire we use is about half a centimetre thick but malleable enough that you can bend it however you like with your hands. There seem to be a few kinds like it out there, but it's tricky to track down. The first lot we got hold of just turned up the the garage (no-one was sure where from), the second lot came from a craft shop which hadn't restocked it since. Now we're getting it form a stall down at the markets that sells bonsai supplies. Go fig. It's a shame it's not easier to get hold of, it's incredibly useful stuff.

Date: 2006-12-14 03:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yuzora.livejournal.com
Wow. You did such a wonderful job at making the pipe fox!

How did you make the head? The body is easy to figure out but the head has me stumped. Is it all one piece or was the head attached to the body after being finished?

Date: 2006-12-14 11:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
The head's a separate piece which was joined on after the rest was finished. There's actually a number of joins in it, fortunately the fur covers most of them up.

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Date: 2006-12-14 03:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rusalkaz.livejournal.com
OMG... Mugetsu-chan!!!! So cute and manga-like! XDD Please tell us the details of how you made it *puppy eyes*

Date: 2006-12-14 11:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
I was hoping to make another couple of these if I can get some more material, so maybe I'll take some photos and put together a tutorial. It definitely sounds like there's enough interest to make it worthwhile. ^^;

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Date: 2006-12-14 03:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lionheartlily.livejournal.com
Kathy!!! =x It's Lee here. I knew I recognised that kudakitsune from the holic comm XD;;; *adds ya* Tis a small world =P

Date: 2006-12-14 11:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Pst - it's Cathy with a 'C'. But yes - small world indeed. (or at least a small fandom) ^_^

Date: 2006-12-14 03:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] k-chan009.livejournal.com
Apart from everything being amazing - I AM VERY IMPRESSED BY THE SHOES!!! How you got them to blend so well..i really want to see them up close! XD

Date: 2006-12-14 11:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
I'm still amazed they came out so well, given my complete lack of previous shoe-making experience. If you can make it over here for Saturday, remind me to show them to you then.

Date: 2006-12-14 04:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ysabet.livejournal.com
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! ...okay, am calming down now. I am a dreadful, dreadful XXXHolic addict, and that's one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time. NICE! NICE NICE NICE!!! And dammit, I can think of three or four people I'd love to buy one for (besides myself) if I could. Excellent work! And on the other stuff too.

Hmmm... maybe I should switch to decaf? **bounces off**

Date: 2006-12-15 12:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
^^; I don't think I'll be able to sell these (beyond maybe one or two at a local con) without getting swamped with more orders than I can deal with. I could probably put up a tutorial though, if you'd like to have a go at making one for yourself - it's really not that hard.

And waste all that yay? Never! XD

Date: 2006-12-14 04:58 pm (UTC)
ext_387179: A sea turtle swimming (Tanpopo / squeee)
From: [identity profile] rainmage.livejournal.com
!

So cute! ♥ Best custom-made plushie ever!

Date: 2006-12-14 05:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sexyloserd.livejournal.com
Eeeep! The pipe fox is beyond adorable. You should post a tutorial or sell them online as well.

Date: 2006-12-15 12:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
I don't know whether I'll ever get around to selling any online, but I think a tutorial would be entirely doable. It really wasn't too hard to make, so I'm sure there'd be plenty of other people who'd make good use out of it.

Date: 2006-12-14 06:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] su-chan.livejournal.com
your Mugetsu plushie is adorable!!!!

Date: 2006-12-14 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kryptyd.livejournal.com
OMG!!!! Your pipe fox is soooooo cute! Good work!

Date: 2006-12-14 06:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] engelen.livejournal.com
oh my god

I'd totally buy a Kudakitsune

oh god
it's so damn cute *rolls around*

and also, I bow to your mad sewing skills, seriously

Date: 2006-12-15 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
He really came out beautifully, didn't he? ^_^

Really, the only tricky part of making the pipe fox was figuring out how to make and stuff a metre+ worth of the thing - no mad sewing skills required there. (the boots on the other hand - they took some seroius doing o_o;;)

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Date: 2006-12-14 07:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tati81.livejournal.com
WOW it's wonderful!!! hontou kawaii!

Date: 2006-12-14 07:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adventures.livejournal.com
ahhhh Pipe fox is so cute~! ♥

Date: 2006-12-14 08:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlemelgirl.livejournal.com
Your pipe fox is so perfect! I love it!<3

Would you possibly be interested in making another one if I paid you? xD

Date: 2006-12-15 12:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
I was thinking of making a few more to sell locally, but I think if I started taking international orders I'd get swamped with more requests than I could manage. ^^; Still, I've been having a lot of requests to do a tutorial on making one - would that do?

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Date: 2006-12-14 08:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sozuki17.livejournal.com
I want the kudakitsune....so badly. O____O

If you ever decide to make more/sell, let me know! I'd like to be one of the many people that would love to buy one from ya. ^___~

How long, about, did it take to make?

Date: 2006-12-15 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
No promises about selling them, but if I manage to get a tutorial up, maybe you could make your own/find someone to make one for you?

It took about an evening to make the main body, and about another evening to finish off stuffing it and such. Most of that time was spent figuring out how to make it work though, so I could probably do it a lot faster a second time around. It really was just a quick little easy project after some of the bigger ones I've been working on lately.

Date: 2006-12-14 09:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laifan.livejournal.com
OOOOOHHH! I want a Kuda kitsune plushie for Christmas now! But they're not on sale T_T You're really skilled. I took a look at your Heartless plushie which is also great. Sigh I wish I was skilled enough to make my own fan plushies. Boohoo! Now I'm depressed...

Date: 2006-12-15 01:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
It's criminal that they don't sell something like this commercially, isn't it? I mean, what xxxHolic fan wouldn't want their own pipe fox? =D Seriously though - very little skill required in making this thing. I had to get a little creative to get the stuffing in and hide some seams, but otherwise it's basically just a case of sewing in one long line, not that hard at all. ^_^

Date: 2006-12-14 09:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lovelydawn.livejournal.com
omg... the pipe fox is so adorable <33 xD i want one! LOL. and great job w/ the sneaker-boots. they're beautiful~ =DD

Date: 2006-12-14 10:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] watanukisuki.livejournal.com
Oh the pipe fox is adorable!! XD

Date: 2006-12-15 12:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nativegirl.livejournal.com
SO. CUTE. Wonderful job!
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Date: 2006-12-15 01:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
As I said in the main post, the shoes were based off a pair of converse style sneakers which I bought. I just cut off the parts with the holes for the laces, glued the new fabric on around the base and stiched on a craft foam layer to stiffen the top section. Most of the work was actually in getting the fabric part to the right shape - getting those white seams neat was trickier than you'd think.

Date: 2006-12-15 01:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tyra-amria.livejournal.com
Wai-con? *thinks* Isn't that... *checks userinfo* It IS! =D Aussie!

Anyway, here from the xxx_holic com; re-Kudakitsune. Adding to the pile of 'heee, so awesome's. And the wire's a brilliant idea! I shall get some, I think... <--bought all the other materials to make one about 6 months ago, but still hasn't done it. *headdesk* If nothing else, you're an inspiration? =D
Would comment on the Yuffie cosplay, too, but I've still not got my hands on FFVII, so~ ^^;;

Date: 2006-12-15 01:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Aussie indeed! A rare species on the web, but we're out there. =D

That wire really makes all the difference to projects like this - having this thing posable makes it so much more fun to play with. ^_^ Good luck on finding the wire though, it was tricky to track down. We bought some from a Spotlight a while back, but they haven't restocked any since. The last lot I bought I found being sold as bonsai wire at a stall down at the markets. It's amazing where you wind up going for cosplay supplies sometimes.

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Date: 2006-12-15 01:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hungry-worm.livejournal.com
Wow, the props turned out really well. I simply adore that pipefox, because it looks perfect. I bet it'd sell easily, but I hear you think about putting up a tutorial? If I had enough time I'd try to make one anyway, after seeing how good in can turn out I feel motivated. XD I would imagine the wire's material would be the most important thing next to the quality of the fur; if it's something that breaks after being bet only a couple of times, it'd be a shame for the amount of work that went into the making.

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Date: 2006-12-15 02:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rallamajoop.livejournal.com
Yep, looks like I'm definitely going to have to do a tutorial, this thing's been getting a great response. ^_^ We've never had any trouble with the wire breaking, but then, the stuff we've been using is fantastic - flexible as anything and also very strong. Finding it's the only hard bit, but it's such wonderfully useful stuff it's a crying shame every craft shop doesn't had a stock of it.

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