sibyllineSeamstress

I won’t acknowledge that outside of tumblr, asexual people are widely accepted in the lgbt+ community (x)

and that asexual people are still oppressed and discriminated against, as documented by both personal accounts of discrimination faced DIRECTLY because of acephobia (x) (x) (x) (x) and acephobia documented in scientific studies (x) (x) (x) (x)

also I’m not going to acknowledge that asexuality is listed as a mental illness in the DSM (Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder) (x)

bonus conversion therapy stories (x) (x) (x) (x) (x)

I would rather believe that straight people are OK with some people experiencing sexuality differently than them and fully accept these people as exactly the same as them and give them the full benefits and privilege of inclusion and support–because straight people are historically so good and understanding like that–than accept any of the above that shows the revolutionary concept that the only people straight people accept as straight are ……… OTHER STRAIGHT PEOPLE (x) (x) (x)

that have the exact same experiences as them!!! cis men and cis women who feel romantic and sexual attraction exclusively to cis women and cis men, respectively, AND NOTHING ELSE, it’s almost like this is the founding principle of heteronormativity (x) (x) (x)

and that assuming if someone isn’t “gay enough” for my standards that automatically makes them straight because straight is the good wholesome default (x) and I like the way my rhetoric directly echoes biphobia (x) (x) (x) / panphobia (x) (x) (x) / transphobia (x) (x) (x) (x)

This is not news, but it is an important read, especially for people who were previously unaware of the trend of neo-Nazis stealing pagan symbols for their own.

If you are an anti-racist, anti-fascist pagan, keep doing what you are doing, you are keeping the fight alive

If you are an anti-racist, anti-fascist person who is not a pagan, help us spread the word of this, stand in solidarity with us as we kick the fascists out of our communities

If you are a fascist pagan, fuck off, this faith is a peaceful one

No platforms for fascists.

This is what I call a canary bill. If it passes both the legislative and judicial branches of the government, it serves as a hallmark on how far gone we are. If it passes the state and is deemed constitutional by the Supreme Court, then we have passed a point from which we cannot return.

THIS is what you’re defending: 

-What’s wrong, buddy? Not having fun anymore?

Here are some pics from a Springtime meetup I went to with some good friends! My hair is currently in crochet braids, so I had a hard time trying to figure out what to do with it. In the end I pinned it up in several different spots and was happy with the way it turned out~

For those who have braided hair and struggle with trying to figure out how to wear it with cosplay or lolita, just spend some time in the mirror and look at photos for inspiration. Also do some improvising. You’ll have lots of fun with it!

My coworkers complain that our Muslim students get to leave class to pray Salat at noon. Like, we have maybe one Muslim student every two or three years - thus far, all extraordinarily respectful and lovely kids! - and they slip quietly out of class to pray.

My coworkers find all this infuriating. “Imagine,” they cry, “If a Christian kid asked to do that.”

I calmly explain, every single time, that a Christian kid would never HAVE to do that, because every single Christian holy day is a day off school. Good Friday. Easter Sunday. Christmas day. Our entire country interrupts its financial and educational systems - schedules its WEEKS - around the Christian prayer customs and seasons.

The great season of spending is now upon us, and if you’re lucky, you know a cosplayer who needs something cool under the tree. But what do these rare and capricious creatures actually want?

“Easy!” You say, throwing your head back with self-assured laughter ala Gilderoy Lockhart. “Cosplayers like Joann’s gift cards!”

I will not contest this, as it would be patently untrue, but if I sat down and thought about it, the last several costumes I’ve made came from Joann’s in very small percentages…

• Undyne: Skirt fabric, paint, interfacing

• Momohime: Paint and some interfacing???

• Linkle: Linen, symphony broadcloth for lining (so full of regret),  interfacing

What all that adds up to is that I’m basically buying more and more of my very specific supplies from online retailers with better selections. That being said, us cosplayers tend to be very, very selective about the specific components of our costumes, so even if, for example, you know I’m doing Fight Club Mako for Sakura Con, I’ve probably already decided exactly what I want to use for lining, how I’m going to redrill the holes for my geta, and that I’m going to have to make my props out of paper clay, since a real pair of pliers will ruin the drape of my coat. So unless you’re willing to take the surprise out of your gift and work directly with the lucky recipient of your love, don’t buy stuff for specific costumes; you’re only obligating them to use it when it might not have been the best way to go about it.

So how do you surprise your cosplayer with something they need and want? One of my favorite cosplayers, @mangosirene did a great set of videos with ideas for both stocking stuffers, and readily available, easy to find gifts, both full of really thoughtful ideas. You can check them out here:

• Stocking Stuffers for Cosplayers

• Last-Minute Gifts for Cosplayers

I also pinged some other cosplayers I follow, asking for suggestions on something Affordable, a Stocking Stuffer item, and a Big Ticket item. @necroticnymph said, “So something affordable but awesome would be a Crop-a-dile, for punching grommets and eyelets (I love mine),” suggesting a dressform or a dremmel as an “I really love you” item, and  also recommended fabric scissors, bobbins, pins, fabric chalk, and tape measures for stocking stuffers. Additionally, she also had a great idea to (if you’re close to the cosplayer, and have access to their gallery), have a book of their prints made. My buddy, @plaguemd had tons of widely available (and cheap!), but necessary commodities: x-acto blades, and other cutting implements, storage containers, and foam. Lots of foam. Think: Upholstery foam, but also craft foam (in all its myriad thicknesses [6mm is a godsend]), EVA foam, expanding foam, etc. Also resin supplies, clay working tools, paint, primer, sealant, etc.

The Dremmel came up again as a super nice list recommendation, as well as an electric carving knife, which has +3 effectiveness against foam-type monsters.

He also echoes my sentiment about costume-specific purchases: “Basically I wouldn’t want people to gift me costume-specific materials without working with me. Like if you were to be like ‘Hey, this is an iou good for a wig of your choice,’ that’d be rad but, ‘Here I bought you this wig,’ not so much.“

I asked @cowbuttcrunchies, and they said you really can’t go wrong with a Joann gift card as a stocking stuffer, and it’s so true. We WILL use them. Also, clear rulers (because being able to see the fabric underneath the guide is so, so important) and fabric tube turners. For real, because doing it with a chopstick is an exercise in self loathing. For a good affordable option for under-the-tree gifting, they recommend the Simflex Expanding Guide for simple, even placement of pleats, grommets, snaps, hooks and eyes, buttons and button holes, or whatever. Big ticket suggestions are Worbla (not just for armour!) and a good pair of Gingher dressmaker’s shears. These are the textilist’s best friend. I’ve had mine for nearly twenty years, and if you take good care of them, they can be your forever scissors.

My daiji na aniki over at @kitsuninjitsu recommends rotary cutters and mats, as well as a variety of hobby knives. EVA and craft foam make an appearance in his list of picks, too, along with BARGE CEMENT (aka the greatest adhesive for foam ever~). And if you’re really wanting to leave the choice up to your giftee, there are lots of other places us cosplayers shop! He pitched gift cards from Harbor Freight, Home Depot/Lowe’s, Michael’s, and I’ll just throw in there Fabric.com, since that’s where I’ve been getting 70% of my cosplay fabrics lately~

So that’s it. Tons of great ideas here in every realm of money. Here, though, I’ll add my own personal ideas:

Cosplay contact cards, love Ken’s idea of IOU’s, like, “Good for all notions for your next project,” or, “Circle lenses of your choice,” or “I’ll buy thread for all your costumes next year,” etc. I received my serger as a gift, and it’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever gotten, so there’s that. Also! Airbrushes and compressors for those to whom money is no object. Of course, also pins, all-temp glue sticks, DUCT TAPE, sand paper in all the grits (If you really wanna go the extra mile, make them some sanding sticks, and package them with replacement strips and spray adhesive!) a really nice iron, if your giftee doesn’t have one (and on that note, one of these, because sometimes you don’t see the crap on your iron until it’s on your fabric. Forever.).

As a final suggestion, I could recommend putting together a con survival kit in a cute tote, including a travel sewing kit, a mini glue gun/glue sticks, duct tape, fashion tape, Airborne, a cool water bottle, an external cellphone battery, some granola bars, a small bottle of tylenol/ibuprofen, and maybe a Starbucks gift card.

tldr; here’s the master list in approximate tiered order

Stocking Stuffers (Under $10ish): Universal sewing machine needles, all temp glue sticks/e6000/3M Super 77/adhesives, bobbins, thread, storage containers (bonus points for including cute labels!), craft blades, fabric scissors, tape measures/yard sticks (I would also add clear plastic and metal rulers), tailor’s chalk/fabric marking pens, pins/pin cushions, storage containers, fashion tape, mod podge, craft foam/expanding foam, duct tape, sand paper, polymer clay/paper clay/wood clay, and crafting tools (especially this bead former, zomg), craft paint, clear seals, wood putty, Plastidip, protective ironing scorch cloth thing, makeup brushes, paint brushes, Got2B Glued spiking gel, interfacing (multiple weights in black and white), Heat'n Bond, needle nose pliers, masking tape, (For armor-smiths:!) pop riveter/Chicago screws, nylon belting, bias tape makers, ergonomic seam rippers, Wonder Clips

I actually like you (Under $50ish): EVA foam/Upholstery foam, cosplay contact cards, self-healing cutting mats, Barge cement, heavy duty snap tool, propane torch, glue pot, diamond file blade sharpener, Amazing Mold Putty, flat-iron for wig styling, resin kits/pigments, electric carving knife, stock pot for dying fabric, electric drill/screwdriver, heat gun, wood burning tool