#at first I was sus of the idea of sewing up sleeves but then idea warmed up to me as I drew it more haha-

[intotheelliwoods]

Haha sort of a lead up to this post! And some bonus matching shirts-

[kylos-bens]

Mistakes Like This ↠ Obi-Wan Kenobi (Obi-Wan x Reader)  Chapter 8

Word count: 3.4K

Warnings: none it’s pretty tame this chapter except for one dude acting sus af 💀😭

Tags: @jediknight-22 @wellhellothere1002 @blondekel77​

Yann had called his tailor to visit the suite and as a safety precaution, you double-checked the bags of cloth and sewing materials. It was a brief introduction between you and the tailor who had the same striations on his face as Yann. Ceren was her name and after the introduction, she started complaining about the number of times her bags were checked. All you said was that it was for the ambassador's safety.

You eavesdrop on their conversation as she started laying out the fine material on the sofa in the living room. There was an array of colors but Yann picked the velvety black material. "Find me a material like this for her dress," Yann motioned to Ceren and you stood there wondering when they were going to include you.

"Well you ask her what color she wants," Ceren responds with a hiss. Yann turned to you and he had a smile.

"You can stop guarding me for two seconds and pick out a color you want my dear," he holds out his hand to you. It was an odd tone coming from him and you just went over without reaching out to him. Ceren laid out the different colors of velvet. You run your hands over the material and it was the softest thing you've ever touched. This kind of material was never an option for you and the only times you saw it was when senators would pass you by. Your eyes land on a deep emerald green under a pile of warm orange.

"This one is fine," you said and Ceren picked it out. Yann nods in approval and brings his own choice next to it.

"Ceren, show her the magic you can do," Yann smiled.

"It's talent Yann," she rolled her eyes. Ceren leads you up on a stool and tells you to remove the layers of your robe.

"I wasn't expecting this to happen now," you stood there confused.

"Well, the ball is tonight. I have to get working on this soon," Ceren was annoyed once again and the striations on her face turned blood red. You had no energy to fight with this woman so you just peeled away the layers of your robes till you got to the last layer. Yann was still in the room and he had poured himself some tea. He looked amused and it made you a little uncomfortable.

"Will you be able to make this dress moveable in?" you looked down at Ceren who held up her holopad to measure you.

"Whatever you want," she sighed typing things into the pad and she went over and placed the velvet cloth over your leg.

"I might also need a secure place for this," you held up your lightsaber. Ceren looked at it and nods. She cuts pieces of muslin and started pinning them to your body. There were moments where she poked you but you have a high pain tolerance so you barely flinched. At least she worked fast and a skeleton of a dress was starting to form. Even if it was just the white cloth base that was on your body for now. She looked over at Yann at one point and asked him if the slit to the dress was enough. You mentioned that it was fine the way it was but she ignored you and Yann said a little higher. "I personally think that the slit is too high." You looked over at Yann.

"You said it yourself, General. Movement is key," he looked up from his holopad. "That would definitely give you more time to run after the people out to assassinate me." All you did was look away and roll your eyes. You were starting to dread this man. Ceren was no help at all she just snickered and continued to poke you.

_

You never want to get fitted for a dress ever again because that hour just drained you. A decline to the offer would have been smart and you could let whoever was after Yann just get him. Ceren had a base for the dress but to you, it looked absolutely horrendous. You were sure this woman was out to get you because you had a strong feeling that she had a thing for Yann. In all honesty, you just wanted to get this over with and spend the rest of the evening with Obi-Wan.

Yann was walking down the hall and you were following right behind him. He was talking to someone through his comms and you got distracted for a split second because you thought you saw Obi-Wan. You couldn't wait to see him for the briefing before the ball. It already made you feel miserable that you couldn't see that man. Yann had to sit through a meeting and all you did was stand by the doors. It was mostly about farming and exports. You drowned it out and allowed yourself to think about the evening you had with Obi-Wan. It was selfish but you wanted to spend every night here on Vewiku with Obi-Wan. To be wrapped up in his arms and to feel his lips against your skin or lips, was your main priority.

You blinked and realized what you just said. With a swallow, you stood up straight and looked around the room nervous that they could read what you just thought about. The doors opened and a few guards entered followed by Obi-Wan. You avert your eyes from him but you felt his gaze fall on you. He stood at the other side of the room and you finally look at him. There was a soft look in his eyes and you give him a small smile. He motioned for Yann who was speaking about the recent shipment of medicinal products that he was responsible for. Everyone let him finish and the prime minister finally got up. She was of the same species as Yann but her striations looked more faded because of her old age. "I feel that everyone is in a rush today for the ball," she laughed while brushing a strand of her snow-white hair over a bejeweled ear. "I don't want to hold any of you back because I am sure that preparations will take longer than this meeting." She clasped her hands together. Everyone started saying their see you laters and got up from their chairs.

"Well here is General Kenobi," Yann got up and you moved off to the side when Obi-Wan came over. The guards started spreading out in the room.

"This will be a quick briefing and we can make our change," Obi-Wan says to Yann. He just nods and sits back down. "It was a brilliant idea to have her as your guest. It is safer and we understand that not everyone has seen my Padawan." You squint at Obi-Wan because you haven't heard him call you that. It was just a day ago he mentioned he doesn't see you as a Padwan anymore.

"Yes and I'm sure she would enjoy it," Yann looked over at you so the face you were making had to be changed immediately. "Your first ball right?"

"Yes," you nod.

"Well, we have alerted the other guards for the prime minister and senators in case an emergency happens. There have been no threats detected this evening and we would like it to stay that way," Obi-Wan slipped his hands into the sleeves of his robe. You stare at his shoes and he shifts from one side to the other. "It is a celebration after all."

"It will be my last one for now," Yann nods and he gets up. "I will see you later General." He looked over at you and then at Obi-Wan. "I will keep your little one safe instead." Yann puts his hand on your back. Obi-Wan's jaw twitched and you saw that happen.

"I'll see the both of you later," he nods. You were going to turn away when Obi-Wans stopped you. "One moment Ambassador Yann. I have a few instructions left for her." Yann just nods and moves towards the door and started up a conversation with one of his guards.

"Why'd you let me go to the ball with him?" You whispered.

"Safety precaution," he responds and his eyes trailed down to your lips.

"I don't want this to be a reason for you to start being jealous," you mutter and look around.

"Why would I be jealous?" he tilts his head. "You will end up in my quarters after it all."

"Obi-Wan," you smile and lower your head.

"May the force be with you," he says at a normal volume.

"May the force be with you," you respond and he smiled. You leave the room with Yann and he mentions how your dress is finished. It was in his suite of course. Now that you were "his" for the evening the Jedi title is non-existent and it irked you the way Yann's demeanor changed. The striations on his face were a bright red and as his guards checked his bedroom.

"You seem nervous," Yann moved closer to you.

"It is the first ball I'm going to," you shrugged. You were nervous about that but not as much as he's making you feel right now. "I'm worried about this more than I was for the Jedi Trials." You try to laugh it away and Yann puts his hand to your face.

"You will not be Jedi this evening madame," he whispered. "Just my beautiful guest that's it."

"Ambassador I-," you pull his hand away from your face.

"Please just call me Yann," he moves back just as the guards came back and said it was clear. A droid was inside and he bowed to Yann.

"Sir your suit has arrived," the droid says. Yann waves him to the side as he went into his room. You stand there wondering where you were going. Another droid comes out of another room and it comes over to you.

"Madame your dress is in the room," the droid bows to you. You were surprised to see that you were going to get the same treatment. The droid walks on and you followed. The room was just a spare bedroom and at the corner of the room, you spot your dress. Your eyes were amazed at what you were looking at. Ceren maybe felt bad for you. The emerald green was dark but as soon as the lights started turning on in the room it shown like fine silk. A tulle like material made up parts of the sleeve and it looked like a mist hovering over the entire dress. You went over to touch it and it was just so light and soft. The droid mentioned that there was a bath prepared for you so you quickly undressed and went into the small bathroom. You soaked in the warm water that smelled like the flower you've smelled in the herbal farm you visited today. Green leaves floated on the surface and you fiddled with it while you wait till your skin softened.

Emerging from the bath the droid entered with a towel and you were startled at first. You accept it and wrapped it around you and grabbed another one for your hair. "I must do your hair and makeup madame!" The droid says and you just follow along. In the reflection of the dresser you keep your eye on the dress. It was gorgeous and you couldn't believe you were going to wear it. The droid worked on you and you watched it brush out your hair. Another arm did your makeup. It was the first time seeing it like this. Once again you never had the option of doing this but it definitely boosted your confidence. As the finishing touches to your make up were done you understand now why Obi-Wan has called you beautiful.

"All good?"you asked the droid. It nods and moved over to the dress.

"You must put this on!" It starts to move the dress off the mannequin and you stood still as the droid slides it over your body. It fit like a glove and with a few adjustments of the tulle you turned to look at the mirror. You let out a gasp because you couldn't not recognize the woman in the mirror. 

The droid had let your hair loose from your usual updo and had twisted gold around a few strands of hair. Your eyes were enhanced by the color of the powder over your eyelid. The lashes fluttered every time you blinked at yourself. Your cheeks were tinged with pink and your lips that formed into a surprised O was stained a soft blotted red.

The dress was so light and airy on you. The velvet material starts off around your neck and down the entire front of your body. Tulle connected your entire sleeve to the dress and at the elbow where the velvet meets the tulle more of the material fans out and acts as almost like wings or a cape over the entire back of the dress. The bell end shape of the sleeve helped conceal a contraption which held your lightsaber against your right arm. It was tight fighting and it hugged your body at the right places. There was a small box slit on the left side of your rib and you wondered if you requested for that. You don't remember exactly. The velvet trails slightly at the back and when you move your leg the slit reveal the entirety of it. If Obi-Wan got to see that you wouldn't mind.

The droid continues to fix the tulle around you and it beeped happily. You also slipped into shoes that had a heel sharp enough to kill someone. You realized it was the same material as Yann's suit he wanted to be made. "Madame are you comfortable?" You nod in the reflection and you smooth out the front of your dress.

"I also have your jewelry," the droid opens the box and it was gold necklace with a giant emerald twinkling back at you. "It's from Ambassador Yann."

"Oh I don't think I need to wear that," you push the box away.

"I insist he wants you to wear it," the droid holds it closer. You sigh and moved pass the droid. The doors to the room opened and the guards outside shifted in the places as you stepped out. The sound of your shoes against the floor made them look at you as you crossed the room towards Yann's.

You walked in and was stunned to see Yann standing by his mirror with no top on. With a quick apology you were walking backward to the door but he looked at you through the reflection. The striations on his face turned hot red. He turned around and picked up his top. It was a black velvet turtleneck. "Kriff, you look gorgeous," his eyes traveled up and down your body.

"I'll just meet you outside," you shivered and was about to press open the door when Yann told you to stop. He pulled on the turtleneck and shrugged on a velvet cape upon his shoulders. A red sash hung across his body and it looked like he was bleeding. It looks like blood splattered over an evening sky.

"Where's your necklace?" he struts towards you and you stand your ground.

"I didn't think that was necessary," you look him in the eyes. He fixed his sash and stares back down at you. The striations on his face were beating red. It matched his heartbeat.

"Tell the guards to prepare. I'm finished," he  licked his lip and then a smirk forms. You turn away from him and you feel his fingers try to catch the tulle that fluttered back as you walked away.

_

Yann had a swagger to his walk now that you were locked arms with him. The guards surrounded the both of you as you walked down the halls to where you would rendezvous with Obi-Wan. You were more excited to see his reaction and to see what he was wearing. Your heart started beating faster than ever when you  saw him standing at the bottom of the staircase. Obi-Wan's back turned to you but his has hands were clasped behind. You saw the way his auburn hair was shiny in the light. "General!" Yann calls for his attention. You weren't ready for him to see you but he sensed you were there so he turned immediately.

The reaction he gave might as well told everyone that there was something going on between the both of you. His eyes were twinkling like sapphire and there was just admiration in them. His mouth slightly agape and you couldn't help but smile.

Obi-Wan moves up the stairs towards you. You had the same reaction to his look. His hair was combed perfectly to the side and his beard trimmed. Obi-Wan donned on what look like an elevated version of Jedi robes. His broad shoulders were accentuated by the shape of the robes. The robes were a pristine white that reached his knees and a black thick belt wrapped around his waist a black cape hung over one shoulder and the same black material was wrapped around his elbows.  He looked so sleek and sharp. His pants were a charcoal color and as he stretched up the stairs you can see the fine details of gold lining the robes. Obi-Wan's boots reached the top where Yann and you were. "Good evening," he bowed and you do the same. You quickly look at him and winks at you. A smile pulls at your lips.

"You clean up well Master Jedi," Yann claps his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"When needed," he chuckled.

"Your little one looks absolutely gorgeous. Isn't she?" Yann whispered and a grin appears on his face. Obi-Wan looked at you and you felt yourself turn into a puddle. He was just so handsome and you wanted to blurt that out.

"Indeed," just like Yann his eyes travel up and down your body but with him you felt warmth and need to be touched by Obi-Wan. His eyes lingered at the skit of your dress. You purposely stuck your leg forward just a little bit so he could see. He averts his gaze. He didn't have to say anything else you already knew what he wanted to say.

"I didn't know you could dress so nicely Obi-Wan," that was all you could muster out and he laughs.

"Well the shuttle is prepared," he motioned for you and Yann to walk on ahead and he follows. You turn your head quickly and you see him loosening the fabric around his neck.

_

The shuttle had to take the group to a different part of the castle. The walk would have taken forever so Obi-Wan wanted to make sure everyone was together and safe. On the ride there the both of them couldn't take their eyes off you. Obi-Wan would obviously look away once and a while because a guard would come up to discuss things with him but Yann enjoyed the watching. He runs his thumb over his lips and whisper quietly to himself. It unsettled you but you say there trying to be oblivious.

Once the shuttle arrived Obi-Wan and the guards stepped outside and Yann follows them. You were the last to leave and Obi-Wan was there waiting for you. He reached up to take your hand and you accept. It sent a buzz throughout your body he helps you down to the marble floors. He squeezed your fingers reassuringly and whispered a quick "You look absolutely stunning darling."The entire outside of the ballroom was made of marble and there was glass roof over the entrance. All the guest were looking at you and Yann pulled you by his side. His hand placed strategically on the cut out by your rib. His hand was warm against your cool skin.

"Stay close to me my dear," Yann whispered to you.

"You know I have to," you respond. Obi-Wan was walking a few feet ahead but you can feel some kind of jealousy bubbling up. He said he wasn't but here he was radiating that towards you.

[stregacorvina]

She-ra!! (part 1)

Good morning! As you may have noticed, I decided to add a new entry on my journal routine: every Tuesday I will show you a single set, not a collection.

And from the title, you can easily tell what is the topic of this new entry, She-ra! This weekend I bing watched the 5# season on Netflix and I was so ispired to do a Bjd version! I will miss this show soooo much now that is gone, I really want more episodes...

I have to say that it has been a very long time since I fell so in love with a tv show, even if I wasn’t a big fan of the 80s version (I have seen it when I was a child but I don’t remember much) I think it is so full of positive messages and representation, we needed a show like this from a long time, especially if we consider it is a show for young people.

I will not write a full review here as there is plenty around the web, but I really suggest you to check out the show!

The animation is just average-good, modern anime get us used to excellent quality levels, but every character is so well characterized (well, the main ones, the background cast are just...background unfortunately) and as I said it is full of positive messages and LGBT representations that are still lacking in most tv shows, most of all the ones for young peoples... in conclusion, it is not the BEST show ever but a very interesting example in the wide world of the tv shows! How I wish a show like this when I was a teenager!

Going back to the costume, I will not spoiler you the new costume of this latest season (even if you probably have seen it in the Netflix thumbnail as I did) and also because I do not like it very much, I decided to make the first one, very different from the 80s one but very fitting for this new teen reboot!

I was already studing this costume when the first season aired because I was thinking of cosplaying She-ra in some conventions (as right now I have almost the same bodytype), I am still thinking about it... never say never...

Let’s start talking about the...

- Materials

I chosed white spandex for the main part of the costume: the top and the shorts, golden spandex for the details (with some foam structure inside to keep the shape) and red cady fabric for the cape - I have already used this fabric for a Thor cape some times ago and even if it is a bit pricey compared to my usual materials but it is really worth the price! It has the perfect flow and the look...speaks for itself! -

For the chest and the tiara’s gems I will use some glass gems I bought from Aliexpress some time ago, painted with different nailpolish; for the shoes, the armbands and the tiara I will use foam and fabrics...I am still thinking about making the sword or not...we’ll see.... 

 - Step 1: patterns

I decided to use the patterns I did for the pajamas set with a few alterations.

For the top I used the t-shirt base without the sleeves (I am still thinking about making a binder - a sport bra to compress the chest, often used for female cosplayers to do male characters - because these dolls have sooo much breast compared to the original character...)

For the shorts I used the pattern for the pajama pants, already altered to make some leggins a while ago (I will show you their set in a few weeks)

When the She-ra set will be done you will find the PDF pattern pieces, including accessories, in my Etsy shop.   Done with the bases, last’s start with the...

- Step 2: shorts

I decided to start from the shorts because I tought they will be the quickest piece, so after cutting the white spandex base I started to handmade sew the golden stripes on the sides...you will see A LOT of handsewing in this project!

Before joining the two parts I decided to give the stripes a good press and I fitted them on my model doll to check the lenghts.

After I decided the hem lenghts I sewn waist and legs with a very tiny zig zag stitch on my machine and i noticed that the spandex elasticity was enough to not use an elastic band on the waist.

(After seeing them with the top on I then decided to shorten them for the second time because I didn’t like the final lenght) With the shorts done, it was time for the...

- Step 3: top 

I made the base in white spandex but before joining the pieces I decided to do the crest on the front. 

As you can see in the pictures, at the beginning I was going for a single piece, a top with a flared bottom, but in the end I decided to redo this part because I didn’t like the “skirt”.

I decided also to add two little darts on the bust because these dolls have really too much breast! As everythig is soo small in this project it was almost all handsewn, so I decided to discard my initial idea to make the crest with foam covered in golden spandex and I went for a golden spandex cut-out, handsewn obviously.

After finishing the crest I decided to wait until the end of the top to add the glass bead because I will probably work with this piece a lot! So i decided to go on with the flared part and to do the final version of it. Firsty of all I cut away the wrong part,

then I redraw it as a half circle “skirt” in three parts, one for the back and two for the front, with the center front slightly shorter than the back. I was thinking about leaving the raw edge but in the end I made a little zig zag stitch just like the shorts.

And then, for ending with the white spandex, I made a tiny hight neck collar, mostly handmade as well. I was thinking about the usual stripe of velchro fastener in the back but I noticed that a small slit on the back was enough to fit the doll’s head, so I didn’t add it but only a small snap button on the neck (most of the back will be hidden with the cape anyway...)

To finish the top I started to make the epaulettes, with 2 mm foam as a base. I drafted the basic shape in paper pattern, then I made it two times in foam and then on a double layer of golden spandex.

I sewn the little gap with tiny handmade stiches and the I attached them on the sleeve cap with some others handsewn stitches.

This is the (almost) finished top! Isn’t it lovely? My fangirl soul is so eager to finish this costume!

This is a little preview with the flared part attached...I’m alredy in love!!

- Step 4: cape and belt

Before starting with the accessories, that I will probabily show you in Part 2, I made the cape and the belt to finish the base of the costume.

For the cape I made an half-circle to add more volume at the hem and I also made the top wider than the shoulders so I can gather it a bit more.

(BONUS PIC - Salem wants to try the cape on)

I really love the look of it! I put the cape aside for now because I still need white thread on my machine so I will hem it later on...

For the belt I decided to sewn it onto the top instead of doing another single piece (also to hid the waist seam because I didn’t like that much)

I made a mock up with white spandex to check the lenght and the V depth, then I use this mock up as the pattern for the final one on golden spandex.

And this is the finishe top! I really like it and I cant’ wait to finish this project! As finishing touches I still need to add the glass bead on the crest and the snap button on the neck.

See you on Thursday as usual for the second part of this loooong entry where I will show you the accessories and the final look.

See ya!

Chiara (StregaCorvina)

Bentornati! Ho deciso di inserire una piccola “deviazione” alla pubblicazione del giovedi: il martedi sarà dedicato ad un set singolo, non una collezione!

E come potete immaginare dal titolo, questo primo martedi è dedicato a She-ra! Quest weekend ho divorato la 5° Stagione appena uscita su Netflix e mi sento decisamente orfana percio ho deciso di realizzare anche la sua versione BJD.

Devo dire che il reboot Netflix di She-ra è una delle serie che mi ha “preso” di più negli ultimi anni, era da tanto che non mi appassionavo così tanto ad una serie, sebbene non fossi una grande fan dell’opera originale (che ho visto da piccola e non mi ricordo quasi per niente...) Secondo me è una serie piena di messaggi e rappresentazioni positive, c’era davvero bisogno di un cartone simile, soprattutto se consideriamo che si tratta di un prodotto indirizzato ad un pubblico giovane.

Non starò qui a fare la recensione dello show visto che in giro se ne trovano tantissime, ma vi invito caldamente a guardarla se non lo avete ancora fatto! Le animazioni non sono eccelse ma sono belle, gli anime più moderni ci hanno ormai abituato ad un livello qualitativo davvero alto, ma i personaggi sono caratterizzati benissimo (per lo meno i principali, diciamo che i secondari sono davvero...sullo sfondo e basta) e come dicevo la serie è piena di messaggi positivi e rappresentazioni LGBT che sono ancora un po troppo trascurate dagli show per ragazzi...insomma, non sarà il capolavoro del secolo ma una piacevole novità nel panorama cosi vasto delle serie televisive! Avrei tanto voluto crescere con una serie cosi vent’anni fa...ma mi rendo conto che ai tempi una serie così per ragazzi era impensabile! 

Parlando di She-ra, per non spoilerare troppo il nuovo costume che indossa nel corso di questa serie e che non mi piace particolarmente, (ma se avete visto la copertina su Netflix ve lo sarete spoilerato comunque come è successo a me) ho deciso di riprodurre quello della prima trasformazione, che si discosta parecchio da quello originale degli anni 80 ma che calza a pennello per il mood più teen di questo reboot!

Avevo già puntato questo costume quando uscì per la prima volta su Netflix perche avendo un fisico abbastanza simile ad Adora, avevo in mente di farne il cosplay in qualche prossima fiera....progetto che non ho ancora abbandonato del tutto chissà... perciò partiamo con la scelta dei materiali.

- Materiali

Ho deciso di utilizzare lycra bianca per le parti principali del completo, la casacca e i pantaloncini, lycra oro per tutti i dettagli (irrigidita da una base di foam qua e la in base alla funzione) e cady rosso per il mantello - avevo già usato questo cady di medio peso per il mantello di Thor in un precedente cosplay e anche se è leggermente più caro del tipo di materiale che sono abituata ad utilizzare ne vale decisamente la pena! Cade benissimo e l’aspetto...si commenta da solo -

Per il petto e il diadema userò degli ovali di vetro colorati con smalto per unghie per lasciare intatta la trasparenza, mentre scarpe, bracciali e diadema avranno un’anima in foam e il resto in tessuto... sono ancora in dubbio se fare la spada o meno, vedremo un pò in futuro...

 - Step 1: patterns

Avevo in gran parte le basi gia pronte da quando ho fatto i pigiamini, perciò per la casacca sono andata abbastanza tranquilla con la base della tshirt (sto ancora valutando se fare una sorta di binder - per chi non lo sapesse è una sorta di reggiseno sportivo che comprime abbastanza il seno, usato parecchio dalle cosplayer per avere un aspetto più “maschile” - per nascondere un pò il seno delle bambole e restare più in linea con la fisionomia del personaggio)

Per gli shorts invece ho utilizzato il cartamodello dei pantaloni del pigiama che avevo precedentemente modificato per fare un paio di leggins super aderenti (che vi farò vedere prima o poi)

Quando il set sarà finito troverete il cartamodello in PDF nel mio shop su Etsy completo di accessori.   Le basi ci sono, perciò iniziamo subito con...

- Step 2: shorts

Ho deciso di iniziare dai pantaloncini perchè mi sembravano la parte più rapida del costume, perciò dopo aver tagliato la base in lycra bianca ho iniziato ad applicare - rigorosamente a mano per mantenere l’elasticità - la striscia dorata sui lati.

Prima di unire le due parti ho dato una bella stirata alle strisce e ho fatto una prova sulla bambola che stavo usando come modella per vedere la giusta lunghezza.

Soddifatta degli orli ho cucito gambe e vita con uno zig zag stretto e alla fine ho deciso che l’elasticità della lycra era sufficente perciò non ho inserito nessun elastico in più.

(Una volta finita anche la casacca ho deciso di accorciare ancora un po i pantaloni perchè mi sembravano troppo lunghi). E con i pantaloni finiti era il momento di passare alla...

- Step 3: casacca

Ho realizzato la base in lycra bianca e prima di unirlo al dietro ho iniziato subito sul davanti la decorazione in lycra oro.

Come potete vedere nelle immagini, inizialmente avevo pensato di fare una casacca svasata sotto, in un pezzo unico, invece poi sono tornata su questa decisione perchè non mi piaceva la parte della “gonna”. 

Ho anche aggiunto delle piccolissime pences nel giromanica perchè queste bambole sono troppo prosperose per non averle! Viste le dimensioni ridotte dello stemma sul petto alla fine ho deciso di scartare la mia idea iniziale di farlo in foam e ho semplicemente fatto un’applicazione di lycra cucita poi a mano con micro punti nascosti.

Una volta cucito tutto il contorno dello stemma ho deciso di aspettare la fine della base per incollare la pietra al centro visto che avrei dovuto manipolarla ancora tanto, perciò sono passata oltre e come vi accennavo all’inizio, ho deciso di cambiare la parte bassa della casacca perchè non mi piaceva più e l’ho tagliata via.

Per fare la parte svasata ho tagliato una “gonna” a mezza ruota divisa in tre parti con cuciture sui fianchi, leggermente più corta sul centro davanti. Avevo pensato di lasciare l’orlo a taglio vivo ma poi ho deciso di fare un piccolo orlino a zig zag come per l’orlo dei pantaloni.

Infine per terminare le parti in lycra bianca ho fatto un mini collo alto, anche questo cucito prevalentemente a mano visto le dimensioni ridotte.

Avevo deciso di chiudere il retro con una striscia di velcro ma considerando la presenza del mantello ho deciso di fare solo un’apertura fino alle scapole e chiudere poi il collo con un automatico.

Per concludere la base del costume ho iniziato le spalline, dopo aver fatto una prova con un pezzo di carta per decidere la grandezza definitiva ho realizzato una mezzaluna in foam (bhe, due) e l’ho riportata su un doppio strato di lycra oro.

Ho chiuso poi la parte lasciata aperta con dei piccolissimi punti a mano e le ho attaccate al giromanica, sempre a mano, con dei punti nascosti.

Ed ecco la casacca quasi pronta pronta! Non è un amore? Il mio animo da fangirl è super entusiasta di fare questo costume!

Per concludere la casacca ho attaccato la parte della “gonna” ed ecco una preview...gia la adoro!!

- Step 4: mantello e cintura

Prima di passare agli accessori, che visto la lunghezza di questo post verranno presentati in una Parte 2, mi sono occupata della cintura e del mantello, per concludere la base del costume.

Per il mantello ho deciso di realizzare una mezzaruota per averlo bello ampio e fluente, leggermente più ampio della larghezza spalle in modo da drappeggiare un pò la parte alta.

(BONUS PIC - Salem che decide che vuole provare il mantello)

Direi che come ampiezza ci siamo! Per il momento visto che mi serve ancora il filo bianco sulla macchina da cucire mettiamolo da parte, lo finirò più tardi.

Per la cintura invece ho scartato l’idea di fare un pezzo separato visto che il costume aveva già tanti pezzi e ho deciso di cucirla sulla casacca per nascondere la cucitura sotto la vita.

Ho fatto prima una prova con un pezzo di lycra bianca per decidere l’altezza e la profondità della V, poi l’ho usata come base per quella vera e propria realizzata con due strati di lycra oro.

Ed ecco la casacca finita! Mi piace sempre di più e non vedo l’ora di finirla!! Come ultimo tocco devo aggiungere solo la gemma al centro dello stemma e l’automatico dietro per chiudere il collo.

Visto che questo post sta diventando lunghissimo vi farò vedere gli accessori e il final look nel prossimo post, che verrà pubblicato normalmente di giovedi.

A presto!

Chiara (StregaCorvina)

[soultek]

It Won’t Always Be Like This - Kenneth Hayes x Reader (The Outsider)

Love It Gone / The Arraignment

Author’s Note: It took me way too long to figure out the lyrics for this one. Hence the long time coming B U T we got there in the end. He’s still my baby and still my favourite and I honestly need to rewatch this show (or... skip to all my favourite moments at least) In conclusion: I need to write this relationship more, they make me happy! Disclaimer: The Outsider & associates show/book characters not mine / lyrics not mine / My screen cap!

Premise: Terry Maitland is innocent, Kenneth Hayes now knows this for certain. That means he has some apologizing to do... You know everyone will get through this somehow, and you’ll be there for him every step of the way...

Words: 1865

Warnings: not-so-subtle sexual connotations / swearing

____ Wish I could've told myself back then It won't always be like this It won't always be like this I know nothing lasts forever But sometimes I still forget It won't always be like this Didn't have a clue who I was, Who I could trust, and who were my real friends I had big wings but didn't have a sky Just a front-row view of everybody flying high Waiting for my time, wish I could've told myself back then No, the heart won't ache forever No matter how hard it gets It won't always be like this, no Looking at you looking back at me All I wanna do is make another memory And love you like it's the end I wish love would last forever So I could live it all again It won't always be like this

---

When Hayes told you he wanted to apologise directly to Glory Maitland, you thought that was a good idea. He’d had a pretty bad time of it since the Arraignment, which was to be expected considering all that had happened since. And now Glory was suing him. But you’d supported him through it all, because you needed to. And because he needed you too. He’d heard of a few cases very similar to the Peterson murder, and every time he did Hayes would come home and talk until he was literally too exhausted to do so any more. Once he’d received the phone call from Yune Sablo – as nearly everyone else involved in the case went off to Tennessee to sew it all up; you had half a mind to march up to Ralph Anderson about this but hadn’t yet made good on your promise to do so – that seemed to clear Terry, and put someone else in the frame, Hayes had needed to go to the Maitland’s house even more. You stood in the doorway as he called her to arrange stopping around. Glad at least that she’d agreed to such a meeting – when he’d been on the other side of this whole case. You knew that Glory would ask him a lot of hard questions, would likely tear him apart and make him feel incredibly guilty. And she had every right to do so. But Hayes was your partner, and you were still protective over him. You couldn’t be present for the conversation; however, you’d be there for him the minute he walked out of her front door. As you would be when he walked out of court – or however they decided to settle, and whenever he needed you at any other point on this journey. And maybe he wouldn’t run again, maybe this was it now. You needed to enjoy his remaining time being a District Attorney. But one thing was for sure, you would move forward together. You would face the future together, hand in hand. As you had everything else. ** This morning he asked you to drive him over, which made you fold your arms and raise an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with your car?” “Yours is neutral.” You turned around from the kitchen counter you were pouring cereal at, to the island where he was standing reading the paper “Neutral? Because it’s another County’s marked car?” “Sometime like that…” You scoffed; “If you think it will help.” “I kinda do. And I think I might need you.” “Do you think I’ll get you back in one piece?!” “Who knows? That’s why I need ya!” You smirked gently, “Is this to help her out? Would you like me to put you in handcuffs? You know – to really sell it?” Hayes glanced over his shoulder at you, unable to pretend that he didn’t know why you’d ask such a thing; “I think you do that a little too much already.” You pushed your tongue against the inside of your cheek whilst you smirked, “Well then you know how to act.” “Will you stop-! This is unhelpful.” “You’re the one that wants to go for a ride in my county car…” You winked, “If you get out alive I might let you take a ride somewhere else.” He turned back to the paper clearly flustered – “Look! Will you just drive-!” You giggled to yourself, watching him – but he didn’t turn back; “Babe. Of course I will!” then taking your bowl and walking passed him you couldn’t resist the smirk as you looked back; “Would you like me to turn on the flashing lights too?” Red crossed his face as he looked up; “Y/N! No!!” ***

The drive was silent if only because he was contemplating. You didn’t know exactly why Hayes would feel the need to run the conversation through his head – he stood in the court room making speeches off the cuff all day, and was an extremely quick thinker, but you supposed for him this was different. This wasn’t a cross-examination of a witness, or a cutting sarcastic remark. This was the widow of a man Hayes had been certain was guilty; only for it to turn out he was not. And it wasn’t just any apology, Terry Maitland had died.

You took one hand off the wheel and laced your fingers with his – making him turn back to you. “I’m sure you’ve thought this through already, but remember she’s suing the office and you, babe…” “I know…” He breathed out, “It’s a shame, because there’s so much more I’d like to say, but due to that I just can’t.” “That’s why you’re thinking it over so hard.” He squeezed your hand; “Would you believe I haven’t been so nervous since the first time I stood up in court alone? Not even facing down one of my death row boys… or getting married.” “Well just make sure it doesn’t end up like your marriage, huh?” “I dunno…” He mumbled, leaning his head against the window, “I mean I guess we’re still friends.” “Babe, you don’t need to be nervous. You got this – I don’t expect her to make it easy on you… But she better not hurt you or I’ll throw hands-!” Then he laughed, turning back; “Oh, she better not hurt me? You wanna see the bruises I regularly get on my wrists-!?” “Oh,” You turned to him, voice mocking; “Poor baby – acting like he doesn’t ask for it.” Then you raised an eyebrow, “We could always stop?” Though he had a point, Hayes bruised like a peach sometimes and you had to be very careful that the marks wouldn’t show past the sleeve of his shirts. You noticed that suggestion made him go silent again, and he returned to staring at the scenery; “I’m just glad you’re here…”

When you pulled up at the Maitland’s house you turned back to him; “If anything happens, just scream – I got handcuffs and my badge.” “Ralph Anderson is gonna love that paperwork.” You scoffed; “Ralph Anderson can mind his own damn business-!” then folded your arms; “And like he wouldn’t do the same for Jeannie.” Hayes at least agreed with you there, opening the car door and stepping out; “Okay, I’ll be a minute.” “If you’re there any longer than you have to be I’m barging in-!” “You don’t need to-” “Equally if I hear anything from her I’m not opposed to leading you out in handcuffs-!” “Stop!” Still, at least he laughed; “Do you want to come with me?” “Do you need me? I mean honey, I think you need to do this alone, right?” You frowned, still sure it was better to stay out of it, even if for legal reasons. “No, you’re right – I think I’ll be fine.” You nodded, “I’ll be right outside. Good luck.” He leant across to kiss your cheek but you turned at the last second and caught his lips; “…And be a good boy.” “I will.” Hayes’ voice was gentle as he straightened and closed the door. You watched him for a moment with a small smile on your face as he fixed his tie, and his hair, and brushed his suit smooth before crossing the road and taking the steps up to her house.

 ***

 For a little while you sat to check work messages and listened to music with the windows rolled down. It has been a pretty hot spring into summer, that much was for sure, but after a while you decided to stretch your legs a little and stand outside the car in the fresh air. It also meant you could sun yourself; and there was a nice breeze to accompany it.

You knew this was probably awkward for him – heck he’d prepared about as hard for this as he ever did for cases. But you hoped it would be amicable, no matter how strange for both of them it was – he probably deserved shouting and screaming and being cussed out, but still – Hayes was just doing his job, and you hoped Glory might forgive him for that. He would exonerate Terry at his next conference, and then his innocence would be fact, his name cleared. You knew that things would never go back to normal after that, but you hoped they’d be better. It wouldn’t always be as bad as things looked right now...

The front door opened, placing you on alert again, and your head raised. They nodded to each other, but no words were spoken as he stepped out and she closed the door. At least Hayes looked intact. You smiled, uncrossing your legs and straightening up – he didn’t have so far to walk back to you but with the burning questions you had every step was agony.

Only when he’d closed their front gate did Kenneth Hayes breathe a deep sigh of relief, his eyes raised and when they met yours, he really did smile. “How’d it go?” Your voice was soft as he crossed the road, he moved in close, hands to your arms “…About as good as it could have…” “So you said it, all of it?” “Everything I can legally. When the lawsuit is over… I’ll be able to say what I really want…” His voice broke a little and Hayes rubbed his eyes with a sniff. Your brows knitted as your head tipped – had he cried? You supposed this was emotional for everyone, so it didn’t really surprise you. You reached up and cupped his face – bringing him back to you “And I know you will.” You nodded encouragingly, “It’s almost over, babe, and I’m proud of you for doing this. You didn’t have to.” Faint blush crossed his cheeks at the word proud, yet he smiled thankfully – “It was the right thing to do.” “It was.” You agreed, moving your fingers to lace with his, “Now, Mr. District Attorney, may I give you a police escort home?” He laughed, as more single tears escaped and he had to wipe them away again – “I’d kinda like to take my escort for lunch, I mean I didn’t really eat, considering-” He nodded back to the house “Lunch out?” You smiled gently, “Okay, I accept your lunch date proposal, however,” You tsked him “You should know better than to tell me you didn’t eat, darling, that won’t get you anything you want.” You leant up to brush your lips to his, “Even though, I mean it – I’m extremely proud of you…” He pulled away to thank you again, but you couldn’t resist pulling him to you by his tie to kiss him harder, forcing Hayes to steady himself against the car. You released him as if nothing had happened, and walked around to the driver’s side, leaving him to shake his head and slide in. “One thing…” You chuckled, as you belted in and started the engine – looking back to the house once more with a smile – it was nearly over… You’d probably end up giving Glory a big hug afterwards – it wasn’t something you’d been able to do yet, and it felt very odd. “Go on?” “You only assume I don’t want whatever you’re gonna do about the fact that I didn’t eat this morning.” His look was meaningful and you couldn’t help but smirk. “Careful, babe,” You patted your hip, pulling the patrol car away from the curb, “I’ve still got handcuffs.”

---

Thank you for reading about the DA Bae! 😊🙏

[onegirlatelier]

Scandinavian Spring, November 2018

I set my eyes on Laine issue #5 when I was visiting a yarn store in Copenhagen last summer, and this cardigan was so beautiful I knew I would make it someday. I was (and still am) always drawn to complex things, and whilst this piece wasn’t difficult, it certainly looked polished and delicate.

(The model’s smile and her pretty lace shirt might have helped, too—I should’ve known better, but who could resist?)

I had never knitted a garment with set-in sleeves before, and the design of this cardigan was sophisticated enough to present an exciting challenge as I learnt about how a knitted garment was supposed to fit on my body.

I have heard about the simplicity of Nordic knitting patterns on podcasts, and this certainly seemed to be reflected by the pattern instruction for this cardigan. At first I was confused by directions that told me to cast on or cast off, but not in which method. I knew enough to know that there were different methods, but not nearly enough to know which one was suitable, let alone which one I preferred. I am not complaining though—it was a research process as well as a joy to knit up this garment, which is exactly what I love both in work and in my hobbies.

The main pattern is lovely yet surprisingly simple. I could almost hear my maths teacher call it an elegant solution, and I fully agree. The cooperation of wool, alpaca, and mohair makes it light and fluffy like candy floss. A cardigan for a special occasion, certainly.

Pattern

Scandinavian Spring by Sus Gepard. A very relaxing pattern once I figured out the technical details concerning the edges. I spent about a month in late autumn last year knitting it. Every day I would do my BMAT practice questions in the afternoon, and then work on this cardigan for about two hours in the evening, before moving on to more science-related reading.

Yarn

Edge: Isager Alpaca 2 Eco #E0. 11g/55m.

Mohair lace: Rowan Kidsilk #634 Cream. 74g/618m.

Background colour: Isager Alpaca 2 #Sky. 60g/300m. This colour is so beautiful. It is a greyish purple, with red, blue, and yellow fibres. It has such depth that I feel I didn’t do it justice by placing it at the background.

The measurements include the amount of yarn used for a small piece of swatch.

The remaining yarns are weighed when I finished the cardigan last year. However, recently I cut off four pattern repeats of each sleeve respectively to shorten the sleeves (see modification), so the actual meterage of the mohair yarn and the background yarn should be a little bit less.

(Sky: see all those pretty colours?)

Modification

My gauge was different than what the pattern asked for stitch-wise. I got 24sts per 9cm, which was 1cm shorter than the standard. I casted on four more sts for the back and two more sts for each front piece. Row-wise I was fine.

I used 2.75mm and 3.5mm needles as suggested. The newly knitted cuffs were done with a 2.50mm needle, but 2.75mm should also be fine. I did have to knit very loosely, especially with the larger needle, to get close to the gauge. I used a 3.75mm needle for the purl row between ribbing and main body just so the edge wouldn’t curl up.

I knitted the body pieces flat, and sleeves in magic loop. In hindsight, I could’ve knitted the bodice in one piece up until the armseye, and worked separately from there.

Cast on and cast off: Italian 1*1 rib cast on and 1*1 rib cast off. Some instructions for Italian 1*1 rib cast off says to leave a tail that’s three times the length of the finished border. I think two and a half is sufficient.

For the bottom edge of the cardigan, since 1*1 rib cast on requires two additional stabilising rows, I used the second stabilising row as the first rib pattern row in the pattern. Then after this I worked 5 more so that the last row of ribbing would be worked on the right side.

When the pattern stated ‘every X row’, I interpreted it to be the last row of every group of X rows. It seem to be the right guess.

When casting off for armseye: I did it on the 1st row (RS) of the 14th pattern repeat. Cast off for shoulder from 5th row (RS) of the 25th pattern repeat. I knitted 26 pattern repeats in total for each piece.

When decreasing for neckline in the front, I began at 7th row of 15th repeat, and dec at every 3rd and 7th rows, 23 decs in total.

The pattern instructed to dec for armseye at the very start and end of the row. However, it was sometimes aesthetically pleasing to dec 1 st before the last stitch. I adjusted between ssk and k2tog for both start and end of row decs. In general, I decided which technique to use as I went, to make it more invisible in the weave pattern yet easy to pick up or sew.

I used bias cast off for the shoulder seams to be smoother. There are many tutorials online so you can easily find one if you search ‘bias bind off’ or ‘bias cast off’. I also learned to cast off at the end of a row by making a loop with the yarn and carrying the loop at the back of stitches. I used a combination of these two techniques.

For the back piece, I forgot that the stitch count included one knit stitch at every start and end of row, making it difficult to pick up stitches. It turned out alright, though.

Sleeve length adjustment: I think the sleeves are designed to be long, which certainly looks great, but not too practical. They add extra weight and pull the armseye seam down too. So several months after finishing the cardigan, I decided to cut off four pattern repeats on each sleeve. I counted four pattern repeats from the cuff, and used a needle to pick up the stitches on the 7th row of the 4th repeat as this row was clearer. After counting and making sure that I picked up the right number of stitches, I cut off the cuff from about the 3rd or 4th row of the 4th repeat. The texture of mohair and alpaca meant that the fabric wouldn’t unravel easily, but by leaving one or two extra rows it basically wouldn’t matter even if it were to unravel at some point. After this, I knitted one round and did seven rows in 1*1 rib before casting off.

 Finished Measurements

I didn’t measure accurately, so there are approximations.

Bust circumference (there is no bust or waist shaping): a bit more than 80cm

Body length: about 50cm, possibly shorter

Sleeve length doesn’t matter—I improvise every time anyway.

Wear & Tear

I have no idea since it has never been worn outside. It is very delicate, and not very practical against the wind judging considering the extremely loose gauge, so I suspect it is not meant to be worn like an everyday cardigan anyway. I’m looking forward to wearing it, even though I am really worried about cleaning it. (Which is okay, I am used to worrying about cleaning after a few years in couture sewing.)

 Further Considerations

The cut-off parts of the cuffs are not unraveling any time soon, and frogging mohair is a real pain, so I think I will incorporate them into a part of wrist warmers.

If I were to make it again, I would use the X size and do adjustments accordingly. I would make the bodice at least 5cm (so two to three pattern repeats) longer.

I would pick a background yarn that either is a solid colour or comes with strong colour contrast. Most of the background yarn is hidden behind mohair fibres, so it’s difficult to see any nuance.

[real-life-pine-tree]

Leo Will Never Know: Star Students (2/?)

In an alternate timeline, Yugi indirectly prevented the events of Arc-V from ever happening. But how could this small change have an impact on a few selected people? A spin-off of the Arc-V Aftermath series. Based on the hilarious comic by @justanotherotakuandartist​. Co-written with @violetganache42​.

A few days later, Michael and Ray went to a domed building to take their entrance exams and passed with flying colors. Upon heading to Duel Academy and Chancellor Sheppard introducing himself to the students, they learned what ranking they were based on the colors of their uniforms. Ray and Michael both got Obelisk Blue, much to her disappointment because now she has to wear a uniform that reminds her of Kaiba. They headed towards their dorms when they learned there are two dorms: one for boys and one for girls.

In the girls' dorm, as soon as Ray arrived in her room, she took off her uniform. It was a blue jacket that looked too much like one of the jackets Kaiba usually wears. She knew it was mandatory to wear it, but why would she wear something that reminds her of the one person who ruined her life?

She then had an idea on how she can still wear her uniform without having it to remind her of him. She searched all over her room for some bleach, scissors, and a sewing kit. Several minutes later, she discovered that the girls' dorm building had a laundromat, which was perfect for her to bleach her trench coat. She placed it in the washing machine and poured the chemical in to white it out and then in the dryer to clean it.

A couple hours later, she took it to a tailor room she stumbled upon earlier to readjust it to an appropriate length; while growing up on the streets, she learned how to sew so that she can make clothes for herself and Leo, so her skills will definitely come in handy. Using a nearby mannequin for reference, she placed the white jacket on it and measured where she believed it should stop, having settled on around the waist. She took a marker and lightly made a mark on the jacket as reference on where to cut; after removing it from the mannequin, she used a pair of scissors to cut the flared ends off.

The blue trimmings weren't affected by the beach, but it still help made the trench coat stand out, so she trimmed them off the now-detached ends. She aligned them on her work-in-progress jacket, and with careful and precise dedication, sewed them in place.

After spending so many hours working, Ray finally finished with her modified uniform, consisting of the white sleeveless jacket with blue trimmings, a blue miniskirt, and blue boots. As she spent her first year at Duel Academy, all the female Obelisk Blue students couldn't help but admire what she was wearing.

"Nice uniform," an Obelisk Blue student named Alexis Rhodes said. "Did you make that?"

"I sure did," Ray happily answered. "I couldn't stand wearing a typical uniform, so I had to make some adjustments."

"You have to show me what you did," Alexis happily said. "It looks more fashionable than these old jackets."

Later that day, Ray showed Alexis how she made her custom uniform, who was given permission to use the latter's trench coat as an example. She gave her the full tutorial, from bleaching it to cutting the ends off at the waist area to sewing the trimmings back on the newly-changed jacket. Several more hours later, Cyber Angel/Girl user was astonished with the results, commenting on how it made her appear more feminine.

"Not bad," Alexis commented, checking out her reflection in a mirror. "This uniform is more fitting."

"Thanks," Ray said. "I had to learn how to sew clothing, so I know how to modify outfits."

"Well it does look amazing," Alexis said. "Is it alright if I tell some of my friends about this?"

"Sure," Ray answered.

That same night, Alexis informed her friends, Jasmine Makurada and Mindy Hamaguchi, about the modified uniform she was shown how to make. Pretty soon, after learning how to do it themselves, it became a widespread trend among the female students all over the school. Even the faculty and the non-Obelisk Blue students spotted and took note on the different jackets that have quickly become popular.

"Wow Ray," Michael said during lunch. "A lot of students really like your modified uniform style."

"Thanks," Ray said. "Although I didn't think it would become a trend. I originally didn't want to wear something that reminds me of Kaiba."

"Well you better get used to the trend," Michael said. "I heard there's a Slifer Red junior student who wants to wear that kind of uniform for his senior year."

Ray wasn't expecting a Slifer Red student to get inspired to wear a similar outfit to the ones going around campus. She asked what his name was and Michael said it was Chumley Huffington. It should be simple enough; since the non-Obelisk Blue jackets weren't as long as the old trench coats, all she's got to do is bleach it, with the trimmings still remaining red.

"I'm surprised the other students are interested in my custom uniforms," Ray remarked.

"It's not just the students," Michael clarified. "Nurse Fontaine likes the style too. You might have started this because of your past with KaibaCorp, but I think you unintentionally changed the uniform policy of this school."

The onion-haired teen was right. Due to the skyrocketing popularity of Ray's custom uniforms, Chancellor Sheppard made the official decision to have them implemented as part of the school's dress code; the students were also given the liberty to wear variations of their attires. Aside from this surprise, her and Michael's first year at Duel Academy went well.

Their second year had another group of students joining the current ones; they included Slifer Red students Jaden Yuki and Syrus Truesdale, Ra Yellow mathematician Bastion Misawa, and Obelisk Blue "elite Duelist" Chazz Princeton, who was initially selfish and egotistical. So far, not a lot happened to them, other than seeing the new students going on misadventures including the risk of expulsion, the Abandoned Dorm, Jaden and Syrus' tag team duel against the Paradox Brothers, an escaped dueling test monkey, the summoned spirit of Jinzo, a duel against Harrington Rosewood (captain of Duel Academy's tennis team) for Alexis' affection, a duel giant, a Tarzan-esque student named Damon, a copycat duelist who stole Yugi's deck and mimicked his mannerisms (much to Michael's embarrassment), a love-struck Zane Truesdale fan switching her feelings towards Jaden, and the school duel against North Academy. The second half, however, affected them more because a threat was looming over Duel Academy: the Shadow Riders.

During this fiasco, Ray had come across Chazz during a chance encounter near the lake. Needless to say, the former Obelisk student was surprised.

"You're Ray Akaba!" Chazz exclaimed.

"Yeah," Ray said, puzzled by his behavior. "Can I help you?"

"You're that girl who changed the uniform policy!" Chazz said. "Please use your special sewing skills on my uniform!"

Ray was rather embarrassed about being praised like that. Her simple decision to alter her jacket to not remind her of Kaiba has made her become a legend among the students for over a year. She took a look at Chazz's uniform, which wasn't school-related, but was allowed to wear it as long as he followed the rules. In fact, nonuniforms have also been made as an exception during the uniform policy change. His grayish-purple shirt, dark blue jeans, and brown shoes were fine, but his dark gray trench coat was tattered at the ends. Was that why he needed his help?

"I'll see what I can do," Ray said.

"Thank you, Ms. Akaba!" Chazz said as he took off his trench coat and gave it to Ray.

Because of her legacy, Ray was given her own sewing kit as a thank you gift for creating an extraordinary change. As she was about to fix up the tattered ends, she noticed there were a few rips on the sleeves. Where did Chazz get this coat in the first place? Was it part of the clothes he got during his stay at North Academy? Regardless, she knew he was going to love the results once she's finished.

Meanwhile, Michael strolled by the Slifer Red dorm as part of his personal tour of what the other dorms are like. He was still having a hard time accepting that this was where some of the students were staying for the next few years…although it does have a neat view of the ocean. As he gazed upon the dorm's structure, a familiar voice called from the balcony. He eyes shifted in the direction of where it was coming from, leading him to notice it belonged to Jaden. How did he not notice the Elemental HERO user until just now?

"Whoa, is that a dragon?!" Jaden had called out.

Michael glanced over at his Odd-Eyes Dragon card; since it was the only dragon he has, it obviously was what Jaden was referring to. The Obelisk Blue teen still had his tendency to leave Odd-Eyes out of his deck and bring his friend along with him all the time.

However, Michael quickly realized there was no way for Jaden to see that card all the way on the ground. "How did you...?"

"I can see him standing next to you," Jaden explained, walking over to the onion-haired teen. "And from the looks of it, he seems pretty protective."

Michael asked himself how it was possible for Jaden to see Odd-Eyes. Can he also communicate with Duel Monster Spirits too?

"You can actually see Duel Monster Spirits?" Michael asked.

"Sure can," Jaden cheerfully answered. "Sure is fun to see them."

"I can't actually see them," Michael admitted. "I can only hear Odd-Eyes speak to me through his card."

"There's a difference?" Jaden asked.

"There is," Michael answered.

"Then maybe we should hang out some time after this whole Shadow Riders thing is taken care of so you can tell me more about this dragon of yours," Jaden suggested, putting his arm across Michael's shoulders. "Whaddya say?" He winked with a huge grin on his face.

Was this Jaden's way of flirting? Sure looks like it and it made Michael surprised yet a bit uncomfortable. It was obvious he had feelings for Ray, making him straight, but what about Jaden? Was he homosexual or bisexual with a male preference? Then again, it would be nice to befriend someone from outside of the Obelisk Blue dorms; hopefully, Jaden will understand that he already has a crush on his childhood friend.

"Sure," Michael said. "I can tell you all about my experiences with Odd-Eyes."

"Sounds pretty sweet to me," Jaden said. "Maybe you can also tell me where you got those cool green highlights."

Back at the female Obelisk Blue dorm, Ray finished sewing up the last rip on the left sleeve, completely fixing Chazz's trench coat. Her kit had similar colors, but they were in different shades; while teaching herself how to sew during the past decade, she also developed an extremely keen eye that can tell which hue matches the piece of clothing. Luckily, the tailor room had some fabric in the exact colors she needed. Despite the mini search she went on, she made the entire jacket look brand new again.

At that moment, Ray had a sudden idea. What if she could start a mini-business during the remainder of her school years? There were probably other students who need to repair their uniforms. Maybe she could help out with that. She made a post-it note reminding herself to return Chazz's trench coat and set up flyers promoting free uniform repairs first thing tomorrow morning.

There was a knock on the door, leading Ray to inform the person that it's unlocked. That person she spoke to turned out to be Michael. Needless to say, what he said was rather unexpected as soon as he entered the room.

"I love you, Ray Akaba!" the onion-haired teen declared.

A light tint of pink quickly formed on Ray's cheeks as she stood frozen in place. The pen she used to write the reminder slipped out of her hand and fell on the floor just as she was about to put it away when she heard those five words.

"Michael?" Ray asked. "Why did you- MMPH!"

Her question was cut off with a kiss from Michael, but it was more of a running kiss. He had dashed towards her to connect his lips with hers, only for them to fall down to the floor in the process. Fortunately, their kiss wasn't broken and she eventually gave in before they engaged in a loving make-out session. Ray's right hand landed on the back of Michael's head as she entangled her fingers through his silver strands whereas her left arm wrapped itself on his back, using her left hand to lightly grip onto his shoulder and embracing him.

Some time later, the two had to part for air, but their arms were still wrapped around each other. "What's...going on?" Ray asked, having a hard time speaking due to Michael giving small kisses on her neck. Her grip on his hair tightened as he did so.

"Turns out that Jaden kid is attracted to guys," Michael explained between kisses. "It made me realize you're the only person I love."

Ray was flummoxed by what Michael said, and those pecks on her neck made it difficult to understand what he means. She soon deduced that he ultimately admitted his sexual preference to Jaden when they met. Simultaneously, she also began to see how cute her childhood friend really is.

"Well you do have cute hair and nice eyes," Ray admitted, ruffling the onion-shaped locks.

"So does that mean...?" Michael asked.

"I guess we're officially boyfriend and girlfriend," Ray admitted. "But..."

"I told you, we have nothing to worry about," Michael repeated. "Leo will never know."

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.39 /   Suzie Ungerleider (Oh Susanna) with Mark Watkins. 

MW: Suzie, why record and perform as Oh Susanna?

SU: When I started performing about 20 years ago, I was very shy about it. I felt like the name Oh Susanna could be like a costume I could dress in to become my musical alter-ego. If I were Oh Susanna, I could walk onstage, I belonged there. But just as Suzie Ungerleider, I felt awkward and shy and wrongfully placed. The musical part of myself was hidden for a very long time, it seemed like a separate identity that I only knew, so I decided to name it and bring it out into the world. I think it also gave clues as to how the music would sound: it would sound old, American, acoustic, and have a female voice.

MW: Thoughts on the traditional American standard, “Oh Susanna”, written by Stephen Foster? How about James Taylor's cover version?

SU: Stephen Foster's “Oh Susanna” is a song I learned as a kid and is still used in many toys that you can buy your kids. It is from the black minstrel tradition, where a white person would don a stereotyped idea of a black persona, and sing from that point of view. “Oh Susanna” is a song written in what Stephen Foster thought of as a “Black voice”. But, of course, there are all kinds of layers of misconception and stereotype contained in that song. When you are a kid you don’t realize this. It just seems like a nonsense song talking about “sun so hot, I froze to death” and other impossibilities. It is also a song of longing and reuniting of loved ones. So it is a powerful artifact which reveals the conflicts and complexities of identity, loathing and envy in the context of the history of American nation which was founded on racism and oppression. It is a very emotional song if interpreted that way.

Believe it or not, Mark, I am totally unfamiliar with James Taylor’s version. He was not someone I really listened to other than the big hits.

MW: Is there a thread that neatly sews together your output, from your first, Oh Susanna, e.p (1997), to your most recent, Name-dropper album (2014)?

SU: I think one of the main themes of my work is humans struggling with hard choices, and the search for redemption, or liberation. I studied a lot of classical literature and mythology way back when, and so the journey into the underworld as a means of gaining wisdom and eventual liberation and self-actualization is one I am quite obsessed with. I used that story to look at my own life because I have often felt trapped by my own fears and character traits. However, after going through cancer and really getting close to death, I think I am now looking less at such gloom. I saw the thing I feared and I realized I don’t need to write about it so much anymore. So, my latest record which is about to be released in Europe in the spring. A Girl in Teen City is a memoir of my teenaged years in 1980s Vancouver. It is a coming of age story.

MW: Share your personal memories of ‘The Scrappy Bitch Tour’?

SU: ‘The Scrappy Bitch Tour’ was a tour I co-created with my dear friends Veda Hille and Kinnie Starr. The first one was in 1997. It all came about because someone told us they heard a rumour we were going on tour together. So we decided, why not? Let’s make the rumour come true. Veda named the tour. I was asking her on the phone what should we call it and she said glibly, “Should we call it ‘The Scrappy Bitch Tour’, or something?” So the naming of the tour took about one minute. It was kind of a funny cheeky response to Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Lilith Fair’ imagery which was all Venus on the halfshell. Lilith was actually a terrifying creature from Hebrew mythology, a pre-Eve character who did not behave and so God started over and created Eve to replace her as the first woman.

I remember much of what it was like to be three strong willed, creative and bossy people on the road together. It was pretty much my first real tour and Veda was really the veteran. We all loved each other but had to deal with our competitive and envious side as well. The audience was usually all revved up and female and it was a really exciting time. It is funny I still have people who came to the tour telling me they were thinking, “I don’t like country music” and then seeing me and totally changing their minds. Not that I am country music but they thought I would be.

MW: What's it like working with Luke Doucet? Justin Rutledge? Jim Bryson?

SU: Mark - I have long, long friendships with these three talented songwriters. And I really like that. I like having history with people.

Luke Doucet and I started playing together in around 1998 when his band Veal and I went on tour together. They backed me up and they played their own set too. I was very green and so it was extremely exciting to have such a cool band to work with. After that, Luke became my guitar player on several albums and their subsequent tours. Luke is a brilliant and flashy guitar player so working with him was always so so musically exciting. He knows the guitar so well that he can improvise incredible melodies over and over again. It is really remarkable. I have him to thank for having me fall in love with loud, loud lead guitar while I am on stage. I love telling guitarists I work with to turn their amplifiers up. The cool thing is that I have also seen Luke evolve over the years with his own music and with his guitar playing. I think that Melissa McCLelland is an incredibly talented writer and singer and just a lovely person so he really is lucky to be able to work and have a life with her. He has really found his place with her and their duo Whitehorse.

Justin Rutledge is one of the most poetic writers in the Canadian music scene. He is also an incredibly caring human being. He has been my protector and confident on many occasion. I love singing with him. He is gentle and strong at the same time.

Jim Bryson is one of my dearest and best friends. We met on tour in around 2001 and we just clicked. We joke that we almost were boyfriend and girlfriend but fate intervened, we married other people, and so now we are brother and sister. He makes me laugh and pull my hair out just like a brother would. I feel incredibly lucky to have found a co-conspirator in Jim. He is a “heart on his sleeve” kind of person and that works for me. He loves to hold court and be silly but then he also has some darkness which suits me fine. I love his aesthetic…he is more modern and contemporary than I am so we complement each other. We just made our second record together called A Girl in Teen City. He produced it but I also have him to thank for telling me to write about my punk rock youth. The record sounds incredible thanks to his production, mixing, and also my friends who played on it.

MW: My favourite cut off the Oh Susanna album (2003) is “Little White Lies”. Give me the story behind the song?

SU: That song came out of me lying in a hotel in Cleveland by myself. I had done a lonely gig where no one came and then I called my pal Fred Eaglesmith for some comfort and camaraderie. Fred was saying how I was unique in this world because most girls my age were planning their weddings and here I was, a lonely troubadour on the road. The other inspiration to that song was that I met many a male musician who just couldn’t be faithful and so that became the character in the song. But at the same time I am talking about the loneliness that I felt by traveling alone on the road.

MW: My favourite cut off the Name-dropper album is 1955. Tell me about that song...

SU: Jay Harris, a dear friend, is a kick ass songwriter out of Kingston, Ontario in Canada. He doesn’t tour or play live much but he has two really incredible albums and has written countless songs. He gave that song to me to record on Name-dropper but he also has a version out there too. At first I loved it because I thought it referenced the 1950s, an era I was enamoured of since childhood. On closer listen you realize that it is the ages of the two protagonists in the song: 19 and 55. The old doll and her young guy. This makes the song even more delicious.

MW: How’s it all going with Kickstarter?

SU: Yes, I just ran a Kickstarter campaign for my new upcoming album which is called A Girl in Teen City - which features songs about my years as a teenager in 1980s Vancouver. I met my goal which is a relief because I am not sure how I would have paid for the album. It is exhilarating and exhausting running a Kickstarter, and I felt like a used car salesman, but I also believe in the project and that it is something I needed to make for my own personal expression, but also as a love letter to that city and the people I grew up with.

MW: Do you think "Americana" is now more (or entirely) absorbed into the music mainstream, or is the genre still distinctive and different enough?

SU: I really don't pay attention to the mainstream so I can't really comment on this. But I do know that the definition of “Americana” shifts depending upon where you live. In Europe, I am “Americana” but in the United States I am singer-songwriter.

I don’t like the idea of writing to get on the radio but I know that people do write this way. For example, CBC used to be more open in its format but now they seem to want to play a certain kind of song. So I see friends creating songs to fit that format. If the song feels authentic then it is ok but it sucks when you can feel the intention of sales behind a song.

MW: Let’s delve into some of your current music favourites by others...

SU: Abigail Lapell is a young singer-songwriter in Canada who has a pure voice and beautiful songs. I love her new record that just came out. I have been listening to her CD in the car.

Andy Shauf’s albums are in heavy rotation in our house. We bought the albums on itunes and play them from our phones.

I have been listening to Gregory Alan Isakov as well – I bought his The Weatherman album on itunes and I usually listen on my phone while riding the subway.

MW: Do you use Kindle? Current reading matter?

SU: I don't have a Kindle and I mostly read on paper. I have tried reading on my phone which I like because I can make the print bigger (I am at that age).

I am reading a book my mother gave me called Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis. She gave it to me because I recently got a dog and I spend a lot of time in the park, walking in the woods. The novel is partially set in the park that I walk in. The premise is Apollo and Hermes, whilst in a bar in Toronto, debate what would happen if dogs were as intelligent as humans…would they be as miserable as we are? So, Apollo grants human intelligence to a group of fifteen dogs and the novel tells what happens as a consequence.

MW: Have you embraced Hygge? If so, in what ways have you incorporated this cosy lifestyle into Toronto living?

SU: I had to look up what Hygge means to answer this but yes I do have a cozy house. Warm lighting, fireplace, blankets. I vow to light more candles this year.

MW: What are the best things about Toronto, Suzie?

SU: There is incredible food here. Music, Film, Theatre, Art and Dance are all incredibly strong here. Also debate and discussion - political and philosophical – happen here. There is an abundance here that is overwhelming. Never enough time to take in everything. NOW magazine is where I look to find out what is happening in the city.

https://nowtoronto.com/

MW: What's your schedule for 2017, and where can we find out more?

SU: I am releasing A Girl in Teen City in Europe in late March, Mark. I will be touring The Netherlands and the UK in April.  Some of the UK shows are with Hannah Saunders and Ben Savage (with whom I did an artist retreat where we learned each other’s songs and sing together.  It is pretty special and there are some videos on the internet of us singing together all around one microphone.   We played at Kathleen Edwards cafe which was really special, Jim came up and made a guest appearance. We played in Toronto at an excellent and intimate venue called Burdock.  At another show in Picton, Ontario, Justin Rutledge made a guest appearance as well).   

https://youtu.be/rJcO6rDyY-Y

https://youtu.be/pvFf57pRehw

https://youtu.be/81-oOvEgFK4

Then releasing the album in North America. www.ohsusanna.com is where you can join the mailing list to find out what is happening with me. I am also on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as OhSusannaMusic.

© Mark Watkins / January 2017

[stregacorvina]

New cosplay! Hyperdimension Neptunia

Bentornati! (Scroll down for english as usual) Oggi inizierò a farvi vedere un altro cosplay su cui ho lavorato tempo fa (purtroppo sono moooooolto indietro con i post e i cosplay che vi sto facendo vedere ultimamente risalgono tutti a marzo/aprile)

Questa è la nuova commissione da realizzare: Neptunia Purple Heart dal videogioco Hyperdimension Neptunia.

Trovo che questo personaggio abbia un

design

meraviglioso!

Mi piace tantissimo la combinazione di colori e i dettagli del body e dell’intero personaggio mi è stato chiesto di realizzare solo quello, armi e accessori sarebbero stati realizzati dalla ragazza.

- Step 1: Studio del modello

Ho studiato diverse immagini del personaggio e mi sono basata come al solito anche su cosplay già realizzati per avere un’idea dei materiali impiegati, per questioni di budget alla fine abbiamo deciso di realizzare la base del body in lycra nera e in mesh elasticizzata lilla mentre tutti i dettagi sarebbero stati fatti con nastro di raso applicati a mano per mantenere la tensione da indossato.

Devo dire che mi sarebbe anche piaciuto realizzare questo modello in ecopelle stretch oppure in vinile con le decorazioni a led (anche se sarei diventata matta a capire come fare i circuiti ahahah) come hanno fatto alcuni cosplayers, chissà...magari capiterà di farlo di nuovo

Dopo aver analizzato i vari componenti del body e deciso quali parti realizzare in lycra e quali in mesh (con un piccolo schema) sono passata a realizzre il cartamodello sulle misure della cliente, con una vestibilità negativa in questo caso visto che si trattava di un body molto elasticizzato.

Sono partita prima di tutto dalla manica perchè mi interessava capire bene come realizzre la parte sotto l’ascella e le proporzioni fra parte nera e parte lilla. 

Poi visto il particolare disegno del body questa volta non ho realizzato il cartamodello su carta ma direttamente sulla

- Step 2: Tela di prova

Ho realizzato il davanti e il dietro del body sulla tela di prova (un cotone veramente molto morbido e leggero che uso sempre quando per motivi di simmetria o di forme preferisco disegnare il modello direttmente sul manichino)

Dopo aver chiuso i fianchi (non del tutto perche la tela non è stretch come la lycra e non si chiudeva a misura) ho iniziato a disegnare le decorazioni del body basandomi sulle immagini del personaggio, cercando di rispettare forme e proporzioni.

Devo dire che la parte del disegno a mano libera mi piace sempre molto, anche se sono una persona estremamente precisa e schematica, ogni tanto è bello lasciarsi andare ahaha.

Dopo aver deciso che i disegni mi piacevano e le linee erano tutte nel punto giusto per far si che fosse perfettamente simmetrico ho considerato solo un lato del modello per riportarlo con la carta copiativa per tessuti dall’altro lato.

- Step 3: Taglio

Nel prossimo passaggio entrano in gioco le stoffe! Per prima cosa la lycra, da cui ho tagliato la base del body, il colletto, le maniche e le decorazioni....

...poi il tulle elasticizzato da cui ho ricavato la parte sotto della manica e il palmo del guanto

Ed ecco tutti i pezzi di Neptunia!

Ora è il momento di passare alla prossima fase...

- Step 4: Assemblaggio

Per prima cosa ho deciso di partire dalla manica perchè aveva meno pezzi e perchè volevo finire la parte sotto l ‘ascella direttamente sul body. Ho iniziato dai guanti, sovrapponendo il palmo lilla alla parte nera attaccata alla manica. Questo tipo di guanto mi ha dato l’idea per sviluppare la soluzione che ho usato poi in tutte le mie maniche-guanto: lasciare il polso aperto in modo da riuscire a liberare agilmente la mano (per usare il telefono, per prendere cose...)

Poi ho attaccato il tulle lilla al davanti della manica per chiuderla.

Successivametne invece ho iniziato a riportare i segni fatti sulla tela di prova sul body in lycra usando la carta copiativa per tessuti (la usavo soprattutto per i ricami ma da quando ho iniziato ad usarla anche per gli abiti non riesco più a farne a meno! è favolosa e si toglie molto facilmente, ve la consiglio davvero! )

Una volta riportati tutti i segni ho deciso di fare gli intagli sul davanti e sul dietro, per farli rifiniti correttamente ho deciso di creare un secondo body in lycra (tagliato all’altezza del seno) per rifinire i tagli.

Dopo averlo tagliato e risvoltato ho impunturato tutto il contorno con un filo lilla e ho ottenuto la forma a X sulla schiena

Ho eseguito lo stesso procedimento sul davanti per l’apertura sulla scollatura e poi mi sono dedicata a quella sulla pancia, che invece di essere vuota aveva un inserto in tulle. Per prima cosa ho tagliato a 1 cm di distanza dal segno tutto il contorno dell’intaglio e ho fissato il tulle all’interno in modo che restasse ben teso

Poi ho fissato il bordo esterno con degli spilli prima di impunturarlo con il filo lilla.

E anche gli intagli sul davanti erano fatti! (devo decidermi prima o poi a togliere lo stepper dallo sfondo -_-)

Nel prossimo post andremo avanti con l’assemblaggio della base del body! A presto!

Chiara (StregaCorvina)

Welcame back! Today I’ll show you a new cosplay made a loooooong time ago (I have to confess that I’m very late with blog updates and all the cosplays I’m showing you these days were made on march/april!)

This is my new commission: Neptunia Purple Heart from Hyperdimension Neptunia videogame.

I’m really in love with the design of this character!

I really like the color combination and all the details on the bodysuit and overall the character, I was asked to make only the bodysuit as the accessories and the weapons were made by the client.

- Step 1: Studying the character

I reserched a lot on character references and as usual I looked up to cosplayers who made this character to see what fabrics they used; me and the client ageed on using black lycra and lilac elastic mesh while all the details will be made with satin ribbons, all hand-sewn to mantain the stretch.

I hoped to realize this character again using elastic leather or vinyl and maybe to try led decorations (even if I neved used that) maybe next time...

After sketching all the details I made a little scheme to divide lycra and mesh and I started made the pattern according to the client’s measures, this time with a negative ease because the bodycuit was stretch. 

I started with the sleeves as I was trying to understand how to make the armpit part and the right proportion between black and lilac fabrics.

Then I decided to not make the pattern on paper but directly on the 

- Step 2: Mock up

I realized the front and the back on a light withe cotton that I always use when I need to draw directly on the dressform.

After closing the sides (not till the end because the mock up was not as stretch as the lycra) I started to draw the lines and the details from the images, trying to mantein the proportions and the shapes.

I have to say that even if I’m usually a very strict and schematic person, drawing free hand is alvays very fun and relaxing ahaha

After finishing all the details I decided to use only one side on the front and the back and to copy with the copy-paper the other side.

- Step 3: Cutting

In this step here we are...the fabrics! First of all the black lycra, that I used for the bodysuit, the collar, slevees and decorations, the the Elastic mesh used for the under arm part and the palm.

Now everything is ready for...

- Step 4: Assembling

I started from the sleeve because it has fewer pieces and because the udner-arm part needed to be finished directly on the bodyce. First of all I closed the palms of the gloves, black lycra and lilac mesh. This kind of gloves give me the idea that I use now for every time I have to make a sleeve-glove part: leaving the wrist open in order to leave the hand out easily (for the cellphone, to grab things...)

Then I attached the lilac tulle on the upper part of the sleeve to sclose it.

I copyed all the details from the mock up to the lycra using the copy-paper (for fabrics only!) I use this paper for embroudery most of all, but I started using it also for clothing and now I can’t live without! I strongly recomend that!

After drawing all the signs I started to cut the opening in the back making a second bodysuit to finish the edges nicely. I cut the hole and turn inside-out the fabrics and fixed all the edges with a lilac thread, and the X on the back was done! 

I did the same thing on the front for the opening on the chest and then for the one on the belly. This one was not empty but inside there is a tulle layer so first of all I cut all along the borders 1 cm and then I fixed the tulle inside to cover the hole; after fixing all the edges with pins, I sew with a lilac thred

And the front openings are made (I really have to mode the stepper from my pictures)

See you for the next post with the making of Neptunia!

Chiara (StregaCorvina)