Fais de beaux rêves.

High heels make us feel sexy, cute, confident, you name it.  They are a staple in almost every woman’s wardrobe and especially in a cosplay closet.  But what damage are we really doing to our bodies? I’m in my mid 30′s and no longer can wear heels.  For YEARS I wore them every day and they were my favorite pair of shoes.  I wore them so much that the glue actually melted out of the heel itself!  I loved them.  They made me feel awesome and they were the most comfortable pair of shoes I owned!  But I didn’t realize the damage they were doing.  After a long day at work I would come home and my arch would be a little sore.  Maybe one of my calf muscles was achy or cramping overnight.  Sometimes it was my knee that seemed to burn for no reason.  Those little warning signs were just the beginning. 

Before I began teaching dance I started studying “dancer’s” anatomy.  This was also when I realized the true horror of heels.  Not only can they cause a long list of problems for our feet but also the knees, calves, thighs and lower back.  When wearing heels we’re basically staying in “releve” the entire time.  In other words we’re putting the majority of our weight on our toes and the ball of the foot.  This causes our entire posture to shift, more weight is on the lower back and our hips have to tilt to adjust.  This all puts more work on the thighs to keep our balance and by doing so causes the calf muscle to contract and shorten.  Dancers want long, lean muscles hence why wearing heels was frowned upon by my ballet instructor.  But wearing heels every day for years can cause even further damage than just shortened muscles.  The cushion in our own heel wears down as we age but at a faster rate when wearing improper shoes (heels, flip-flops, flats that are too yielding).  This begins to cause foot pain and aching, tired feet.  When our feet hurt we again adjust our entire posture, putting more strain on our knees and shins.  This can cause knee pain and shin splints over time.  The Achilles tendon also suffers from high heels.  Due to the contracting calf muscle, the Achilles tendon will begin to stiffen and harden over time.  This opens the door to injury of the tendon from tearing to tendonitis/inflammation.  Lastly our little piggies may endure ingrown nails, callouses and bunions.

Recently finished a couple of new commissions, both from Dragon Ball Super: Goku Black and Zamasu!  

Finished up and mailed off the Idolm@ster cosplay commissions (Hibiki & Miki).  Here is the final result which I’m really pleased with.  Everything handmade including “stars”.  I will be sharing a breakdown on these costumes via my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/purrsnickitty

Just a sneak peek at my progress on these Idolm@ster cosplays for Hibiki and Miki.  You can see more on my FB: https://facebook.com/purrsnickittycosplay 

I have completed my 100th cosplay costume.  This was another One Piece commission, Donquixote Doflamingo!

Hi everyone!  It’s been a while since I’ve written a Cosplay 101 post but here I am with the latest tip from me to you. :) 

Lately I’ve developed a bit of a pet peeve (or more accurately an irk) for something I’m noticing more often: Mirror Imaging.  What do I mean by “mirror imaging”?  When you look in the mirror you are seeing a mirror image of yourself, everything appears reversed.  For example: Writing on your shirt will be backwards in the mirror, a pin you are wearing over your heart appears on the right side of your reflection’s chest, etc.  When creating a costume many people mirror their characters instead of putting themselves in that characters’ shoes, sort of speak.  Let’s say you’re creating Elsa’s (from Disney’s Frozen) skirt.  The slit is on the right side of the skirt but many times people mirror the character and thus it winds up on the left side. As a dance instructor I would often mirror what I wanted my students to do when facing them.  This insured that they were using the side of the body that I wanted.  If I wanted them to use their right arm, I would use my left when facing them so they could mirror my movements.  To achieve a mirror image you are reversing everything. That’s not what you want when creating costumes based on accuracy.  You have to flip everything when looking at a still image.  If that slit is on the left in the photo that means it will be on the right when worn by you.  I hope this makes sense and will help you with your accuracy in the future!

Just a few of the commissions I made this year.  Still a couple more to go before the end of 2016.  I am currently booked up for commissions for 2017 but I have a waiting list.  If you would like to be added please contact me!

One of the most common questions I receive concerning commissions pertains to body measurements.  “How do you I take my measurements?”, “What measurements do you need?”, “Should I take measurements against bare skin or over clothing?”.  This post will hopefully answer your questions and help you with measuring yourself for future projects. <3

First off, bare skin or over clothing?  It’s best to take your measurements while wearing the undergarments you plan to use under your costume.  For example, if you plan to use a corset it’s HIGHLY advisable to take measurements over the corset.  If you don’t your costume will likely have an ill fit and not follow the curves of your body the way you desire.  Same goes for bras, binders, etc.  So, always ALWAYS take this into account. Now, how to take your own measurements: 

1. Use a SOFT measuring tape!  NOT the kind you use to measure your windows, furniture, etc.  If you don’t have one, you can use string.  Mark the string as you take each measurement and compare it to a ruler or other measuring tape devices.  * Soft measuring tapes can be found in most big box retailers and even dollar stores. :) 2. DON’T PULL THE TAPE TIGHT!  Allow the tape to lay flat against the skin and hold it firmly but not tight.  If the tape is pressing into your skin, give it more slack. 3. Depending on the measurements required, you may need a second pair of hands.  If you have trouble measuring inseam, arm length, etc. then ask a friend or family member to help you.  Remember: the more accurate your measurements, the better the fit.

4. Here is a chart to help you identify the basic measurements (courtesy of fashionsizzle.com):

My Cowslip Mew gijinka and the Cowslip Pichu gijinka I commissioned. :)

Here is some progress from my Mew by Cowslip cosplay!  It’s been a challenge but I’ve learned so many new techniques from this project. <3  Even though I’ve been sewing since the 90′s, every costume is a learning experience. 

You can tell a lot about someone by the music they listen to. Hit shuffle on your music player and write down the first 10 songs. Then pass this onto 10 people.

1. "This is Halloween" - Marilyn Manson

2. "Bulgarian Chicks" - Balkan Beat Box

3. "Intro" - The XX

4. "Death on the Snowfield - OC Remix" - Final Fantasy 6

5. "After Dark" - Asian Kung-Fu Generation

6. "One Day" - Matisyahu

7. "Wishbone" - Beats Antique & R/D feat. SWAN

8. "Gabriel" - Lamb

9. "Glory Box" - Portishead

10. "Third World Lover" - Kid Koala

This will blow your mind! Do you know how to use a seam ripper properly? 95% of people don't!