The Life of a Teenage Cosplayer

TLOATC - Learning Japanese!

2009-06-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Airship Pirate - Abney Park
Mood: Tiiired. x.o
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Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 70%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 7 DAYS :O

Hokay, so I've decided that since I'm learning Japanese, I should add a little bit at the bottom about what I'm learning, so that you can learn, too. I've just started learning, so I'll just put a list of vocab and basic conjugation rules for now.

In other news, dad's taking us to get the last of our stuff tomorrow (I still need to alter Katie's pants, do her shoes, finish my shoes, and put the fabric/buttons on my pants.
Oh, and paint the headphones, which are not going down without a fight, I think. xD)

Anyhoo, This was just a little update, so here's your japanese lesson, you silly Americans!
__________________________________________
JAPANESENESS:::

Part I: Vocab
NUMBERS:
Ichi - 1
Ni - 2
San - 3
*Yon/Shi - 4
Go - 5
Roku - 6
*Nana/Shichi - 7
Hachi - 8
Ku - 9
Juu - 10
(For numbers 11-19, It's juu+number. So 11 is juuichi, 12 is juuni, ect)
* These numbers have two forms. The second form listed used to be the common one, however, since they were references to death opr something, they changed it. You would only use shi and shichi for months.

MONTHS:
Ichigatsu - January
Nigatsu - February
Sangatsu - March
Shigatsu - April
Gogatsu - May
Rokugatsu - June
Shichigatsu - July
Hachigatsu - August
Kugatsu - September
Juugatsu - October
Juuichigatsu - November
Juunigatsu - December
(Hopefully, you get the pattern here. Number + gatsu = month.)

ORDINAL NUMBERS:
Add -daime for ordinal numbers. Use the ore common form of four and seven for these.
Ichidaime - First
Nidaime - Second
Sandaime - Third
Yondaime - Fourth
ectect. >D

Part II: Grammar
I only know how to use ha (wa) for now, so if I get some of this wrong, don't kill me.
As far as I know, this is the pattern for a simple sentence:
(Subject) wa (Adjective/Noun) desu.
For example:
-Ringo ha midori desu.
--The apple is green.
('Ha' is normally pronounced 'wa')
-Watashi ha neko desu.
--I am a cat.
-Anata ha kowai desu.
--You are scary. o__o
'Ha' points to the subject, and will always go after it. 'Desu' is sort of like is, and will go after what the subject is.
Oftentimes, if it's obvious, japanese people will leave out the subject. For example:
-Dai kirai! (I hate you!)
-... Kowai desu. .3.;; (You're scary. D:)

Part III: Verbs and Conjugation:
Okay. There are three types of verbs, which we will divide into groups to make conjugation easier.
Group one: Verbs that end with ~u
For example:
-hansu - To speak
-kaku - to write
-kiku - to listen
-matsu - to wait
-nomu - to drink
Group two: Verbs that end with ~iru and ~eru
Ex:
-Kiru - To wear
-Miru - To see
-Okiru - To get up
- Oriru - To get off
-Shinjiru - To believe
--
-Akeru - To open
-Ageru - To give
-Neru - To sleep
-Taberu - To eat
Group 3: Irregular verbs
There are only two of these. Kuru (to come) and Suru (to do). However, the verb 'suru' is added on to many nouns. For example:
Benkyosuru: To study
Ryokosuru: To travel
Yushutsusuru: To export
Dansusuru: To dance
Shanpuusuru: To shampoo

Okai~ O-jamashimashita! (I'm going to leave now!)
Memorize these (Remember to keep the verbs in groups!) and next time, I'll teach you the 'alphabet' (Hiragana) and how to conjugate these.

Sayonara!

TLOATC - Part 7.7

2009-05-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Airship Pirate - Abney Park
Mood: Tiiired. x.o
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 70%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 16 DAYS

Only sixteen days now~ And I've almost finished the first shoe, as well~
The other day, I finished Rhyme's shirt, which doesn't look too bad at all, even if I accidently put the paint on backwards. x.x
I also bought the shorts for both of us, and I'm wearing mine right now.
Funny thing about that, though. See, we both bought white shorts at Wal-Mart, but they were different styles. Katie (Rhyme) got L.e.i. shorts, and I just got regular drawstring shorts.
After we picked out shorts, I started thinking about how her pants would be perfect for my cosplay, and vice versa. (Of course, I didn't say anything, because otherwise, she'd complain.)
Anyhoo, we didn't try them on until after we got home. And it turns out that Katie got one size too big, and I got one size too small.
So, we switched pants, and they fit us perfectly.
Funny how things work out like that, in the end.
Anyway, I s'pose you can't tell, but I'm cosplaying right now, and I'm getting on the bus to school in about twenty minutes.
Yes.
I am, in fact, wearing cosplay to school.
It won't count as the debut, of course, since it's not quite finished, but my friends have been curious about my secret projects, as have you, I'm sure.

Things to Finish:
NEKU:
-Alter pockets
-Finish shoes
-Paint headphones
-style wig
RHYME:
-Make shorts into overalls
-Finish shoes
-Make hat
-Redo stitching on shirt

TLOATC - Part 7.5

2009-05-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Thunder - Boys Like Girls
Mood: Happy
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 70%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 26 DAYS

I'm making this one seven point five, since I'm just sort of adding on to the last blog.
I did Rhyme's shirt last night (though it still needs the skull thing on the front) and finished Neku's today. I was very pleased with the outcome, though it took a BUNCH of redo-ing and fixing.
ESPECIALLY with the yellow stripes on the side. I accidentaly sewed the front and back closed twice. x.x
But it turned out pretty good!
Also, I almost melted my wig last night, but it should be fine. I've managed to make spikes that'll last, and I only used hairspray, so all I need to do now is make the shoes (which I'll just sew fabric over some old shoes for) and then buy/fix the pants and paint the headphones.

However, for my sister's cosplay, we still need to get the overalls, get the beanie and put the little skull on, paint the black skullthing on her shirt, and make her shoes.

I think we'll get it all done. xD

That's about it, for today, I think.
G'night you guys~

TLOATC - Part Seven

2009-05-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Mirror - Gackt
Mood: Tiired. O
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 65%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 27 DAYS

If you'll notice, I am now 65% done with my Neku cosplay. >D
I have:
-Wig
-Headphones
-Mp3 player
-All the fabric for the shirt

So the only thing I need now is the shorts and shoes, and to sew the shirt.
I also have the same for Katie (my sister's) cosplay, but she needs the hat and the iron-on transfer for the skull on the shirt, too, so her's is prolly at about 45-50%.

Anyhoo, I also need to fix my sewing machine, as it has apparantly died or something, but hopefully, that won't take too long, as we only have 27 days.

Also, I can't seem to find the USB cord for my camera, but I'll get one before/right after the con, so you can see all the pretty pictures.
(If I can get a grouptogether, we'll do a photoshoot, which I'll upload to Cosplay.com, Deviantart, and here, prolly. I'll save two blogs for con pictures and photoshoots, if I can get my camera.)

Oh! I just had an idea!
I'll save the pictures on a little cardthing, and put it on dad's organizer, and upload them like that.
There.
I've just promised con pics. >D

Alright, that's all for now.
I need to find tutorials and fix my machine.

Baibai~

TLOATC - Part Six

2009-05-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Mirror - Gackt
Mood: Tiired. O
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 35%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 40 DAYS

Wow. It's been over a month since my last update. x.x
Sorry guise!

Anyhoo, first off, you'll notice my Complete thingy went up to thirty, and that would be because we got a wig for it.

So now, all that's left is to sew both costumes, paint the headphones, and make the wings~

Also, not much has happened between the last update and this one. The only thing I can honestly say about anything is:
- Kristen is going to be Sasuke
-Courtney's probably coming as Beat
-Aaron's going to be there, as some sort of guitar hero keyblade weilder orsomething. (IDK. He was describing it to me today. Can't wait to see. xDD)

And that's about it. xD

BAIBAI FOR NAO.

And I promise to update faster!

Random List Tyme Naoplox?

2009-04-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Free Me - Cipes and the People
Mood: Eh. >>
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Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 7%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 73 DAYS

Happy Spring Break? (:D
Anyway, easter's coming in a few days, and I've been on Gaia finding easter eggs all day. xDD
So far, I've got 13-16. (IDR)

Again, mom has promised to take us shopping (which, obviously, will never happen. -3-;;) and I've decided to pester her about it until it gets done.

in other news, I've continued watching Naruto Shippuuden.
I'm on episode 92 now, and my sister was laughing at me the entire time.
Apparantly, it's very amusing to watch teenage girls scream at computer screens. Remember when Asuma was fighting Hidan? And he managed to not die the first time Hidan tried to curse him? Yeah. Well, all during that time, I was screaming at the screen, going, "ERASE THE EFFING CURSE SEAL THING, CAUSE OTHERWISE HE'LL CATCH YOU AGAIN."
And he did.
I told him, but he wouldn't listen. :/
that was a big disappointment.

RANDOM LIST TYME.

Pickles
Eggs
Eleven
OVER 9000
Again
I hate onions.
Especially red ones.
they're kinda spicy.
YOU'RE THE ONE.
WHO
IS
THE
monkey. c:
c: is a funny face.
Back on them old days.
Oh, you silly kids
and your facials
and your nintendos
and your sega
and your wal-mart gift cards
and your innuendos
and your gay sex
and your blogs
and your LOLZ
and your rhymes
and your mad skills
and your mario kart wii
and your wii in general
and your ability to make the word 'fart' funny somehow
haha
see?
I can do it to.
YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG
hey.
hey, you.
YOU JUST LOST THE GAME.

...
http://smouch.net/lol/
'Nuff said. XDD

BAIGUISE.

TLOATC - -Still Moar- Organization

2009-03-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

Listening To: The WORLD - Nightmare
Mood: Content
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 7%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 86 DAYS
Well, I haven't gotten anything done, save for opening up an art store on Gaia online (See below) and getting my first order. I've got a band practice tomorrow afternoon, and MPAs next Tuesday, plus I found out today that a friend of mine just so happens to be going to MetroCon, and so, if I meet him there, there will be videos and pictures, as well as some pictures of the cosplay group I'm slowly constructing.
Maybe I could convince him to go as Reaper!Beat. (Ahahaha. Riiight.)
In other knews, I've got a date with a friend and the mall Saturday, and hopefully a friend's birthday party on Sunday, so I won't be able to get fabric then either, unless her mother feels like making a quick stop a Joanne's. (Oh, I need fabric.)
In other other knews, I might try out for the cosplay contest at MetroCon, as well. The idea is to design a cosplay for an anime/videogame character, but with a steampunk twist. you come up with the design, and gather your team. Then, you submit the design it MetroCon, and they decide whether or not you go through. If you do, you have nineteen hours (Nine on Friday and Ten on Saturday) to make the cosplay on the spot with your team. The onlookers are allowed to ask questions and such, so it seems a little difficult. x.x
I don't even have a team yet. (Maybe I could get that friend to model a Victorian dress xD)
Also, I've finally figured out how to get mods installed for the Sims 2, so I'll be on there as well, and I'm going on a diet/exercise regimen for the Neku cosplay~
Wish me luck~ x.x

TLOATC - Organization

2009-03-19T02:41:00.000-07:00

Listening To: Poisoning Pidgeons in the Park - Tom Lehrer
Mood: Starving x.x
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 7%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 92 DAYS

Well, seeing as I'm probably not going to get anywhere on anything real fast, I've decided to start organizing my room so I can actually work on things in it. Right now, I've got a bunch of stuff just laying around, with a handmade dressform hanging out in a corner somewhere, and a couple fistfuls of cloth stuffed away in a drawer somewhere. xDD

Hopefully, I'll get the room cleaned, fix all my posters, and then find a place for my stuff - preferably a convinient one. x3

I'll start cleaning this afternoon (Hopefully) and maybe be done by this weekend, so I'll have a place to put the new fabric if mom, by SOME unknown miracle, decides to actually take me somewhere. xD

I'll post pictures of the new area later. (I promise!)

... Jeez, I'm going into sewing withdrawl. x.x

TLOATC - Part Five

2009-03-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Listening To: So Far Down - Three Doors Down
Mood: Content
___________________________________________
Cosplay: Reaper!Neku - The World Ends With You
Complete: 7%
___________________________________________
METROCON IN: 95 Days

Right. First update: I added a MetroCon counter. I officially have nintey-five days until the first day of MetroCon, so that means nintey-five days to finish two cosplays, practice for Whose Line Is It Anime, and get the money to buy stuffs.

Cosplays: The only thing I have for either of the cosplays (Reaper! Neku and Reaper!Rhyme) is a half-promise that dad might let me paint his headphones purple. (YES.) I need to go to JoAnne's. BAD.

Whose Line: Has anyone ever seen Whose Line is it Anyway? Yes, yes. The one with Colin and Ryan hitting his head on glass.Yeahp. They have an anime version of thatat MetroCon, and I'll -hopefully- be signing up for it this year. xD I'll have to practice, of coursee.

Money: Yeah. I'm getting a job at Publix because they'll hire fourteen-year-olds. xDD

Thaaat's it, I guess. I'm hanging out with a friend this weekend, and I'll get some random pics if I can. :3

TLOATC - Part Four

2009-03-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I finished the game. c:
And I got into D.Gray-Man. (Which is basically a clone of Full Metal Alchemist, only with a funny eye.)

"My resolution is to get healthier, while still destroying myself with alcohol and drugs."

Why did I write that, you ask?
Because I am talking to my good friend Sofia, currently on the telephone, and she told me to write it.
that's right.
Peer pressure.

Anyhoo, another very important thing that I want you complete strangers to know about is the fact that I am getting very close to being halfway through with Naruto: The Broken Bond.
Yes.
I don't remember what exactly I'm doing, but it's something important, I assure you.

Yes.
That is all.

TLOATC - Part 3 (Neku's story Update)

2009-02-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Listening To: So Far Down - Three Doors Down
Mood: Content
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Cosplay: Neku (Reaper Ver.) - The World Ends With You
Complete: 7%

I know I promised you guys a picture... blog... thing next, but when I tried to take pictures, my cat darted through and knocked down my lamp, shattering glass everywhere. So I spent the rest of the night cleaning up. Plus, I've been working on vlogs on youtube (Which aren't posted up yet, b'cause dad doesn't like the idea of me being a rich and famous Youtube partner) so I spent the rest of the night doing that.
But I promise. As soon as this video finishes being imported to my Vlog folder and I edit it, I'll post something camera-related.
It really is a nice camera. :3

And some updates on the Neku story. 'Member when I said prissy-boy Joshua kills him? Turns out he doesn't, it's actually the Game Master that does. Yeah.
Sorry 'bout that. :/
So, now that I've finished Joshua's story, I'm working with Beat - Yes. A third game. -_-
And everyone in the game who wears the red pins become these zombie things with red eyes who spout some funky religious crap- it's actually kind of creepy, considering I was in a dark room at 12:30 at night watching people with red eyes attack me. :/

Anyhoo, I hope you also noticed that I actually got something done on my Neku cosplay. Dad got these wireless headphones that just happen to be perfect for my Neku cosplay, and he said he might let me paint them purple and attach wings to them for my reaper version ( Of course, I'll be able to take them off for regular Neku. But it would be funny to see dad walk around with little black wings coming off his big-boy headphones. xD )

Well, this was a very long-winded blog. x3 But at least I actually posted something cosplay-related, ne?

TLOATC - Part Two (Marked spoilers for TWEWY)

2009-02-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Listening To: Thriller - Fall Out Boy

Mood: Tired, Eh.

_________________________________________________

Cosplay: Neku (Reaper Ver.) - The World Ends With You

Complete: 0%

Well, as you've noticed, I've changed the cosplay I'm working on.

Even though I haven't even started Chopin yet. I've decided he's a little to advanced for my first cosplay made from scratch.

Uhm, happy Valentine's Day, youguise~! We ate a bunch of chocolate and candy yesterday, so I hid under a table on a sugar high.

In L cosplay.

My neck hurts. xD

I don't have a lover/boyfriend/husband/generic spouse to share today with, but I've got my eye on two people, and I'll be hanging out with one of them today. (Hopefully, if dad get's home on time. .3.) I wonder what's gonna happen...?

OHAY. I got my camera, so next I'll be posting a picture blog about what I'm working with. You get to see my sewing machine~ <33

(SPOILERS)
Anyhoo, I s'pose you'll want a bit of Background info on my new cosplay, yes? Well, his name's Neku from the NDS game, The World Ends With You. (Commonly referred to as TWEWY)
Basically, he and this girl, Shiki, are entered into 'The Reapers' Game' and the only way to get out of it is to play for all seven days. They have an entry fee, which is the thing they care about most. The Reapers took Neku's memories as his entry fee, and Shiki's was her looks. In the Reapers' Game, she looks like her friend, Ari, who she admires greatly. When Neku and Shiki finally beat the game ( Seriously. Took me like a month. -_-; ) it turns out only one person can come back to life (Because apparantly you have to die for you to be entered in the Game), and Neku (Who, at this point, has turned from an Anti-social Sasuke twin, to one of Shiki's best friends) tells Shiki to go ahead, that he'll replay the game.
But then they take Shiki as his entry fee, and he gets all his memories back, except for the one of him dying. He can't remember that part. The reapers don't know why.
So now, he's working wiht this kid, Joshua, and it turns out that he's the one who killed Neku. =O
So, yeah.

If you read all that, you win the internet. =D
Aaannnddddd...... that's it.
I'll post with pics next. :3

TLOAC - Part One

2009-01-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

Listening To: Leave Out All The Rest - Linkin Park
Mood: Apathetic :/
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Cosplay: Frederic Chopin - Eternal Sonata
Complete: 0%

Well, a lot has happened since I talked to you guys last. It got warm, then it got cold again, mom's -hopefully- taking me places today, I'm thinking about summer programs for the Duke TiP program, and my dog had puppies. :3

First off, there are several places mom said she'd take me today. Sears, Goodwill, Joanne's (I was sick last week) and some other place. :/ (IDFR) That, however, doesn't necesarily mean she's actually going to take me, though. (Jeezuz, I can't wait to get my liscence.)

Second, I'm thinking about summer programs. See, I took the SAT last year (Yes, in seventh grade. x3 Oh, and for anyone who cares, I got a 510 in math, and a 590 in reading.) Anyhoo, I got this packet thing a few months back, and I hadn't really looked at it, but, now that I have, I've decided I really want to go. There are a bunch of campuses, and eighth graders are allowed at any of them. I'm thinking about going to the Eastern Duke campus in NC and taking Game Theory for both courses, but that would interfere with my cosplay time. :/ Eh, I'll figure it out.

Finally! My dog had puppies. She had them two days ago, but we didn't know till yesterday. When we found them (under the house XD) two were dead, three were alive, and they were all boys. But I woke up this morning, and one of them was dead, and one was dying (Of cold. In Florida.) So, I buried one, and stuck the other under the mom to warm her up, and now the dying one is almost better, and the other one with no health condition (Except fleas, maybe) is crying orsmething. :3
That's really it, for now.
... What? Dija think I was only gonna write about cosplay? Pfft.

TLOAC -- Terms You Should Know

2009-01-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

Listening To - La Vie Boheme - RENT Cast
Mood: Tired
_________________________________________________
Cosplay: Frederic Francois Chopin
Complete: 0%

So, as promised, here are some terms you should know so you don't kill Wikipedia trying to understand me ( Skip if you're an otaku/weeaboo. xDD; ) :

Anime- Basically, it's japanese animation (E.G. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach)

Con- A Con is what I'll generally refer an Anime Convention to. (E.G. I went to that con last weekend)

Cosplay- Dressing up as one's favorite character from an anime or manga. We have whole conventions of people like this. (Yes. Exactly like that Star Wars Con.)

Manga- A japanese comic book, traditionally read from right to left. Most cosplayers generally have at least half a bookshelf full, but I only have eight. xDD; They are about the size of a regular novel, but I can read them in about an hour and a half.

MetroCon- The Con that I'll be talking about most in this blog. It takes place at the Tampa Convention Center every year in June or July.

Otaku- Basically, a nerd obsessed with anime/manga/cosplaying/japan in general. ( E.G. Me. c: )

Skit- Another thing I'll be talking about quite a bit. You probably already know what a skit is, but these are usually based on an anime/manga of some kind, and usually acted out by cosplayers at Masqurades.

That's all for now~
I'll update on my new project tomorrow.
Bedtme!

TLOATC -- Intro

2009-01-24T18:46:00.001-08:00

Listening To: Kryptonite - Three Doors Down
Mood: Eh. I've been better.
__________________________________________________________
Cosplay: Frederic Francois Chopin
Complete: 0% (Planning Stage)

Hi~
The name's Karyn, but you can call me Apple-chan, or Klondike_Ninja. Whichever you prefer.
I'm fourteen and in eighth grade, and my favorite things to do are cosplay (obviously), play video games, draw, and write. I'm kinda quiet, except for when I'm with my friends.

Anyhoo, I've decided to start a blog because I want to share my experiences with others ( In other words, I'm bored and have nothing better to do. xD; )

I don't have a camera yet, so photoshoots and pics will be put on hold for a while. When i do get one, I'll let you guys know. c:

I think, next time, I'll talk about terms you should know so I don't confuse you. :D