It seems that I am not soo lucky this year.
At Paris Manga I was on a waiting list for the cosplay competition and here it is the same!
I even send everything more than 3 weeks in advance!

But honestly it has a good side: now I can even relax/enjoy the convention more because I will have more time.
I will be able to see all their performances!
Which would be good because I believe that I will be asked to take some photos.

Aside from that I’m really looking forward to it.
I never went to Germany for cosplay before (I mean a REAL convention)!
There will be Kyudo, DCM and plenty more that I never seen/did before.

Hopefully I will have the chance to meet new people there.
I should be great to talk with a German cosplayer! ^_^

* Seong Mina – Soul Calibur IV cosplay page has been added
* 2 new icons are added to the Finished list
* Planned and Wishlist pages are updated

* added some new photos from Atmikes and Aztek-TV (Francis)
* added the Kawaii Attitude photos and section

all can be found in the photoshoot section

Updated the following cosplay pages:

* Lara (added photos)
* Elizabeth (added photos)
* Kanaria (added photos)

I woke up around 9 A.M. to finish some minor parts on my cosplay. Eventually when that was finished, we went to BIFFF. I was happy to see a lot of people back (my friends and cosplayers!) and yet I did not have soo much time to talk decently with everyone. Anyway, I saw some cool acts, very nice cosplays! Our cosplay levels increased again! I did not want to be the jury, it must have been hard to choose this time! Eventually I won the “special BIFFF” prize. *shy*

Pro
- free entrance
- nice ambiance! ^_^
- saw cool things and nice acts: Mc Donalds act, Lineage II of dino, Sakura, …
- our cosplay level increased definitely (act and costume) -> jeuj for all of us!)
- separate changing rooms with food and drinks
- weather was quite good so we were able to take some shots outside
- karaoke possibility

Con
- still a small dealer room
- the location of the podium was worse, people almost could not get through the crowd
- the participants experienced a delay of 30min
- again did not have enough time to talk decently with everyone
- the missed Soul Eater group, I loved to see their performance!

Comments on my cosplay:

I need to change my butterflies in my hair.
I lost some pearls due to the deadline (I did not double check everything again)
Eye contacts can be a mess, the new ones I bought I could not endure and I only had 1 left of my previous pair. *snif*
My fog was not much due to the fact that we got the ice on Friday and BIFFF was on Sunday. Also we could not find warm water.
But But: I finally done one of my dreamcosplays: Yuuko!

Yes, more conventions!!
Somehow I realized that next month is going to be very busy and most of all full of new things and fun!

This Sunday: Japanimation day (end of this month for me)
Next month:

– Animansion (2 days) -> registered for the cosplay competition
- Hanami (2 days) -> registered for the cosplay competition
- Epitanime (2 days) -> registered for 2 cosplay competitions – received confirmation

We’re trying to plan a photoshoot in the week the 16th.

Atmikes asked me a while ago if I still had my Elizabeth dress and if I was interested in doing a Castle photoshoot.
Of course I said “yes” and that was the result of nice, new photos.
These photos as well as the Kawaii Attitude will be added later on in my Photoshoot section.

The castle at Inglemunster was unique.
Inside there was a fire a while ago and everything was impacted.
We assumed that it was more Baroc style and so on but somehow the fire marks gave these photos something extra.

My make up was totally not Elizabeth related. I guess I have to file these photos under “one day cosplay” or something as I tried to represent a Victorian woman of that age.

I tried to make some freaky, serious, allure, sexy poses.
Hopefully some came out nicely because I am still waiting for the CD rom.

But most of all we had a blast! (That’s the most important thing, no?)

Some people are saying that they want to have WCS in our little country.
Honestly, I have my doubts. :-s
Why? Let me sum them up:

Pro:
- the cosplay level will increase, which can be a good or a bad thing (I see this on positive side)
- our little country will finally be known next to the other countries: we are showing what we have to offer
- a dream trip for the winners: going (free!) to Japan!
- cosplay will become more popular thanks to this => more conventions, more cosplayers

Con:
- people will be jealous if it is someone who often wins. It is already like this, but it will be more then because more things are at stake. Therefore keep in mind that there will be back-stabbing!
- the friendly atmosphere will be disappear : cosplayers will be competitive and stressy. You must ask the question if you really want this. It is possible that you will make many enemies!
- there will be more rumors and cosplay drama because of WCS
- not everyone is already above 18, so you will have to refuse these cosplayers…

Also the WCS always has to be presented in duo’s.
Some will like that, some not.

As you can clearly see that I have good reasons. So what do you think?

A short overview of how it was:

Pro:
- low entrance (4 euro)
- received a little flower of a nice little girl
- people loved my outfit! I’m soo pleased because it is still my own personal creation!
- easy to find (location) and free (+ good) parking spaces
- friendly people. I talked with Germans, Frenchies, …
- saw some friends back (Kate and Alex, you were great!)
- the children’s masquerade!
- I could wear my frost fairy again, it has been a while
- the separation of the board games and the seller’s place
- board games and expositions
- inside (so if we had bad weather, it would not have an influence)

Con:
- you could see projections and concerts but you had to pay extra
- the concerts were quite late… (1h drive for me therefore I did not go)
- not so many impressive costumes, maybe because I only went on Sunday?
- the website (Dutch part) was inconsistent! No program (hours + dates could be found, and the masquerade information was incorrect with the French one) I had to go to the French part to find it!
- some expensive sellers
- had to pay for the toilet
- not so many variety in the food (we eventually went to a brasserie next to the cinema because the queue was so long)

I do prefer Castlefest because there is more to do and bigger (volume) but overall I was pleased.

I am not able to go to Japan Expo and Clamp is coming!!!
Once I heard the news I was soo sad because I love the Clamp series very much.

Japan Expo is even going to organize a cosplay Clamp competition.
So I was more sad. :’(

Anyway, I wish all the participants and the visitors good luck and a great time.
*^_^* Hoping they realise how lucky they are…

The steps of a present

You search for an ideal present,
Then you try to wrap it perfectly,
You put much effort and love in it,
Afterwards it will be given to that person,
And in the meantime it is your secret.

Actually Cosplay is more or less the same:

You search for the ideal materials, fabrics, …
Then you try to make it perfectly,
You put much effort and love in it,
Afterwards it will be shown to your friends and crowd
And in the meantime it is your secret.

And then some people wonder why I keep my cosplays as a secret
(for every con)? Because I like the whole process of it (it is soo much fun) and
the impact will be even greater when it is a naisho.