2025: actually not too bad

2025 sure was a year that happened. I didn't get all the costumes done that I had planned (at what point do I start copying and pasting those sentiments from year-to-year?) and there was a very frustrating textile failure driving a lot of that. That having been said, I still ended up at more conventions than I had expected, and actively cosplaying more than expected!

​Here's the new stuff that I came up with this year:

Izutsumi from Delicious In Dungeon was supposed to be my first build of the year, but I ran into problem after problem trying to get the right combination of texture and colour that I want for the fabric. When AN rolled around and I sill only had the ears and tail done I decided to roll with that in my bathhouse uniform (considering that's what I was going to be wearing for my masquerade greenroom shift anyways). It was cute, but I hope that I can get the costume actually finished for next year.
Next is Helly R from Severance, which I put together as a closet cosplay after watching the show with my mother this spring. 
Witchy-Sailor Venus ended up being my only "build" cosplay for the year (everything sewn by me). I wore the first (incomplete) version to YetiCon where we had a group of SIXTEEN cosplayers all in witchified versions of Sailor Moon characters, and finished all the missing pieces in time for Pretty Heroes
I've got a photo there of Kim Pine from Scott Pilgrim - on one hand, it's not a new costume, but on the other it kinda is because I had to replace everything since I first put the cosplay together. Sadly this is the only photo I got of the costume (worn to the Fan Expo weekend Cypertronic Spree show).
Finally, we're wrapping up with Dr Ellie Satler from Jurassic Park, from Halloween. We were supposed to have a big 6-person group, but of course Clay and I were the only ones to follow-through LOL.

Only because it's tradition, let's compare to my plans from January...

Every year I find myself with less and less time for cosplay, so this isn't really that surprising. I'm kind of impressed that I got 1.5 costumes (plus three closet cosplays) done in a year when I also took my first overseas trip, ran 5 races, kept up with my dance and aerial silks classes, D&D, played more video games than I have in a long time, and read more books than I have in a long time. Not to mention things going relatively well at work!

As for the cons/cosplay stuff I mentioned before? This year I managed to hit up Con-G Geeks at Home (when I won Best Master Workmanship), Sarnia Pop Culture Show, Anime North, YetiCon, Pretty Heroes, Fan Expo Canada, Oxford Renaissance Festival, and Toronto Game Expo (fall edition). All that and I arranged the first (of many) local cosplay social meet-up, and a handful of Halloween events.

Overall I did a lot less crafting than anticipated, but a lot more of everything else, so I think I just need to re-frame my expectations for next year. Again. LOL