Steampunk Doncaster

Coming back from the Steampunk Doncaster event with less money and more precious goodies and with  enough business cards to rival the Yellow Pages, I can honestly say it was a good day. Some of the things they had for sale were far too nice to leave behind, and for some of them we didn't.

Only a few business cards.

Before I get onto that though, I would like to say everyone who went dressed Steampunk looked amazing, there were some fantastic outfits and wonderful contraptions they were wearing which really inspired my partner. I'm still trying to work out what he wants to wear when we go to the London MCM n October but I'm getting there. When I finally start gettign bits together for his I will post up some WIP pictures.

Anyways, back to Doncaster, there was a good selection of things to buy. There was a stall that sold bird head and rabbit feet that me and my sister tried to avoid except my other half wanted to look and touch everything and thought it was really good.

One of my favourite stalls was Skewwers Steampunk. They sold a lot of jewellery and hair accessories that me and my sister couldn't decide what we wanted to get. We must have walked past the stall 3 times before we took the plung and made our minds up. I bought a hair clip for me and a compass keyring as a present for my partner. 

We also went to a stall where they sold wooden cogs and kits so you could build your own airships and things. We also went past this stall several times before deciding what we were going to buy. We bought some wooden hair clips, my sister got 2 and a bag of little wooden keys and I bought 3 hair clips.

And finally, from my first trip into the show, I bought some wrist warmers, or whatever you may want to call them. Again, me and my sister bought similar things and took just as long to pick out which colour and lace combination we liked. I may be modifying these slightly by putting a loop of elastic around the point to loop over my middle finger as they are a little loose, having skinny wrists isn't usually a good thing. 

After we left, and a trip around town, I came back to the event with my mum as she wanted to take a look around but was working. She came out with a key brooch with wings and a mini propeller. I also came out with something else, a necklace shaped like a heart from SteamRetro. 

Apart from that, it was 2 cups of coffee I had as well. It was a good event all in all and I would definately go again next time, I'll have to keep checking in advance to make sure I can get the time off but I will also be on the websites of all those business cards I picked up seeing what other goodies I can find.

Things are about to get picture heavy, apologies if things are a little out of focus, I was trying to take photos without the flash on, enjoy!

Steampunk Doncaster

I can't believe what I just found! I was looking through a list of UK Steampunk events on Facebook and all I came accross one in Doncaster. I couldn't believe it and evern better it's on the next weekend I am going up to visit!

It's like I'm destined to go so I am not going to miss the opportuity, and while I'm at it I'll see if I can drag my sister and mum along with me. The event takes place on Friday 15th June and Saturday 16th June. It's at the Deaf School, opposite the Racecourse, and it is free entry. There will be a 2 day trade fair being held here and there is also free parking. This is the part I look forward to the most, see what bits and pieces I can weigh my pockets down with before I go home =)

The Mansion House will also be open from 11am to 3pm to allow visitors to look around and have photos taken, take the opportunity for a photoshoot, you may never get the chance to have this kind of backdrop again.

Then, in he evening of both days, from 8:30pm, Cask Corner will be hosting your entertainment with the BB BlackDog Steampunk Band on the Friday and then their own Music Variety Show on te Saturday where you get to vote for who you think is the best. I wont be attending this due to family commitments but I do look forward to spending the day looking through beautiful Steampunk items and outfits. It sound like a fanastic day out and all on my (mum's) doorstep. It's very last minute to try and come up with something Steampunk to wear so I'll just be going as me.

Hope to see you there!

The Yorkshire Cosplay Con

For all those who find it hard to travel or are just need something to feed their Expo addiction, there is something that may be able to help. The Yorkshire Cosplay Con! Years ago, Tokyopop hosted events at Waterstones book shops around the UK and there used to be one in Doncaster but since they closed there aren't anymore events.

In comes The Yorkshire Cosplay Con. This is based in Doncaster and hosted by Kitty Furniss. She put this event together because, to be fair, there is nothing going on in Doncaster or the surrounding area to do to do with cosplay or anime. I've found that since I moved down south there doesn't seem to be many cosplayers or events in the area but Doncaster is swarming with them, all you have to do is look around the bus station and you can see the potential cosplayers a mile off. Luckily for them the Yorkshire Cosplay Con is close by, only a bus ride away from the bus station and train station. The event was created in February 2010 and has come a long way since managing to procure many sponsors.

The last event September 2011

It takes place at The Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre but it is ticket only so you will need to get in there fast to make sure you get a place.

I did attend the first event as this took place a few years ago before I moved but since then I have not been able to attend and unfortunately I can't attend the next one, the 5th.What I can tell you was that the first one was a lot of fun, there were singing contests, dancing contests, cosplay contests, art contests and even an origami contest, which I did win with my international peace crane and mini international peace crane. I won a certificate and some back issues of Neo magazine if I remember rightly. There was also some stalls to purchase from as well. 

It's a fun day out and well worth a look into, I know tickets are limited but it's always good to know for future events and to support independent events such as these so more can come in the future! The next event takes place on the 17th of August but pre-bought tickets only.

London MCM Early Entry Ticket Sales

I'm amazed that the London May MCM has only just finished and yet they have just started selling tickets for the October London MCM. I can't wait for the next one so I may be buying my tickes as soon as possible, at least I've got 5 months to get something sorted for my cosplay outfit, I'll give you an update when I decided who will we be going as and one of these days I will finish one of these costumes! Damn me and my lack of sewing machine!

The dates are Friday 25th October to Sunday 27th October. If you want to take a look and buy tickets, here's the link

Blog on!

And so onto the MCM

Well, unfortionately I didn't get the costumes sorted in time. More preparation and better time management are needed, that and a sewing machine but that's why I'm a novice at the end of the day.

Now before I get onto the event, I will say I have only ever been to 2 expos before than they were both in Birmingham. The event was what I thought to be packed but a great atmosphere all in all. That and it is my partner's first ever expo and I think the London one was not to disappoint.

We got to the Excel about 11:30ish and couldn't believe the site of all the cosplayers. I mean, with the Birmingham MCM I start seeing cosplayers when we are in Birmingham New Street but for London, we saw our first cosplayers in Peterborough which proves the size of the event.

My partner had never really seen cosplayers to be fair and he couldn't believe the amount of different costumes to the detail and effort that some people have but into them. 

Well, this really started something in him. When I was trying to do our costumes he wasn't so bothered. At the end of the day he's reeling off a list of people he would like to dress as and there aren't enough events in the year to cover it. He's thinking Fable 3 - King, Fable 3 - Reaver, hen he thought Steampunk as he saw some people dressed Steampunk and thought it looked amazing (and so did I!) and then he went on to Raven from Metal Gear Solid, Wolverine but the topless version, he saw a poster advertising the next film, and the list went on. So I've told him to write them all down and we will pick them out a hat, easiest way to make a decision in my house.

As for the crowded Birmingham MCM? Well not so crowded any more, I was pushed this way and that trying to get around the stalls and lost my partner twice which wasn't good to say he'd left his phone as home. The great thing was that the room was more than twice the size of the Birmingham one and had a lot more stalls to go through. I seemed to be attracted to anything and everything Steampunk related, it was on my mind. I love how they dress and how they have made some things that are meant to be modern look so... well not.

I mean, who ever thought Darth Vader would go for the Steampunk look. The best part of this I think is not only taking a classic that everyone knows and creating it in a different style but it's the fact that it is so well done, I think this looks amazing and the detail they put in deserves top marks especially with the gas mask idea.

Here's a couple other steam punk finds;

HMS Victorian Enterprise

Even though I don't drink tea I have to say this is a pretty awesome teapot. And see that shoulder, that's Robert Rankin's shoulder! I didn't take a photo of him but I did buy one of his books, 'The Mechanical Messiah and other Marvels of the Modern Age'.

And he signed it for me;

He has such a cool way of writing and after reading the first 3 chapters I love the way he writes, it's so random! 

The only other thing I bought was a pocket watch which I think is gorgeous! It's a wind up one but I love that I can see all the mechanics of it working. There was this one and 2 other to choose from but one had a white face and black hands and the other black face and silver hands which I felt looked too modern for my liking for this style of watch.

And to finish my little Steampunk saga I seemed to have had, some Steampunks =)

And to finish, enjoy some of the photos I took of some of the amazing cosplayers we had!

SSSSNNNNAAAAKKKEEE!!

My partner and Jack Sparrow

Me and Sonic

Photo bombed by Thor

The R2D2 was drivable, it was awesome!

Hope to see you in October! =)

Update

Justt a quick Silk Spectre and The Comedian cosplay. 

4 evenings left until the London MCM for me and well lets say I am not prepare. I need to make the purple collar and boot covers plus the mask for my partners costume then I need to finish the dress for mine as well as the waist belt and add ribbon to the bracelet and neck piece. 

After that all I need to do it cut the bangs on the wig a bit more and buy some fish net stockings and I'm all ready.

Lots of stuff to do, 4 evenings, luckily Friday is a... well Friday and I can stay up later, may jus fall asleep on the train on the way.

A last minute change of plan

I'm afraid I am not going to the MCM anymore as Meryl. Not because I don't want to, but because I can't get them ready in time. I desided that rather than wasting less than 3 weeks on trying to put together a costume that wont be up to scratch but instead I have changed now.

Me and my partner will be going to the MCM as The Comedian and Silk Spectre. It's a las minute change that I have most that I need for Silk Spectre anyways but the Comedian wont be too hard to put together.

I've already got a white boiler suit and yellow dye in the post, this is my way of avoiding buying a high vis boilr suit by mistake. I'm going to buy some purple pleather to make the neck piece, gloves, diamonds down front and, because the only decent price purple boots I can find are wellies and my partner wont wear them, I'm going to try and make some boot covers he can wear over his trainers. If this doesn't work, he's wearing wellies! I can't see what the problem would be if I have to walk around in those boots!

For Silk Spectre, I already have most of the things I need. I need to style the wig which is not the easiest for my first wig to style. Yes I have worn wigs before but no I haven't syled one. Eek!

I've got some sheer yellow fabric I'm going to make the dress with so I am going to make it into 3, 2 front pieces and the skirt. I'm going to make it 2 layers as it's very sheer and I don't want to walk around flashing off more than I need to. I've got the corset, the fishnet stockings, the glove and the boots, I just need to make the suspenders and buy some short black short, I am to walking around in my undies all day, I know she does but I'm afraid I not. After that, just need to make the waist 'belt' and the neck choker for the dress to attach to. Will I pull it off? only one way to find out.