#post con report

[geekcalligraphy]

Ariela's Post-Dublin 2019 Report: Mixed to Positive — Geek Calligraphy

Ariela is home from WorldCon and recovered enough to bring you her post-con report. Terri is still on holiday, hers will come next week.

[Image is of the best novel nominees on an excellent panel that Ariela got to attend and Terri didn’t]

[spaceturtlestudios]

Post Gen Con Report!

So now that I've had a day to relax and catch up on my sleep, I can talk about Gen Con.

Honestly, this was probably the best Gen Con I've had in the four years I've been part of the Art Show. There were a ton of people (apparently over 56,000, according to the official report) and sales were great. Most of my newest designs-- Autumn Chill, Knowledge is Power, and Lunch Break (aka 'Wizard Cat')-- did very well, and I was worried at times that I was going to sell out of them. In the end I only sold out of one print (Kitsune Kasa) and that one was entirely my fault. I somehow overlooked that one on my inventory lists and forgot to restock it before the convention.

There were a few minor other mishaps, like running out of backing boards/bags on Friday night and having to make an emergency trip to the art store to restock, but overall it was a great year. I even managed to get a decent amount of sleep each night, so though I was tired by Sunday, it wasn't the outright exhaustion I've had in past years. I talked to a lot of cool people and made some great contacts for future work, too.

Because things were so busy, I did not get away from the table much, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. Still, I was able to grab a few nice souvenirs this year. I purchased some delicious fantasy-themed teas from Dryad Teas, a CD of music from Water Street Bridge (who were our booth neighbors this year) and got a new board game: In the City (Origins), plus a set of shiny promo cards to go with it.

I was also able to get away long enough to get a brief look at the new game that Greater Than Games (the guys behind Sentinels of the Multiverse) is developing. It looked really interesting. Sadly I was unable to watch the entire game, but I very much look forward to playing that when it is released.

I am also excited to announce that I will be attending two more conventions this year-- Awesome Con, Oct 3-5, and EmCon, Nov. 1st. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do Awesome Con this year, but I am hearing more and more good things about it, and it looks like they are going to have some really cool celebrity guests (including Wash, Kaylee and Badger from Firefly), and I'm excited to attend and try it out.

More news as I have it.

[petitekunoichi]

Currently at the airport in Dallas still. Gotta say. I hate their "computers" LOL. Keyboard and mouse suuuuucks. Full report tomorrow  probably.

[syppah]

The shop is open now! It's looking a little empty because I had to take down all the items I had listed as ready to ship, but I'll get some of those back up after I edit them to be made to order instead.  Warning though, I may have to take down some of the more time consuming items temporarily so that I can get a chance to catch up on things. If you're looking to get a big or giant plushie, grab it soon! I'm only going to take a few orders for plushies that size right now. But no worries if you're after a baby plushie, I'll keep those available no matter what! I know a lot of people were sad that I sold out of baby plushies at Naka-Kon, so here are the links to the "choose your own" baby plushie listings: -Baby Octopus -Baby Narwhal -Baby Cuttlefish -Baby Squid

Also check out the Rainbow Shop Section if you're interested in one of my "rainbow striped" plushies. :] Thanks for looking! Time for me to go catch up on orders and start preparing for the next con!! Wish me luck :D

Syppah's Cute Creations

[firewolf826]

AUSA 2013 Con Report~

Finally getting around to posting from con report from AUSA last month. Again, I am like a month late. (This is a trend of mine) Also, I wrote more than expected (also a trend of mine). But, here ya go, if you care to read (and/or skim)!

Thursday

Thursday evening I headed down to DC with Gryfeathr and Baronvonblitz! They picked me up, we stopped at Wawa, then made our way to the con. Just kind of bummed around that night.

Friday

Friday morning I woke up and got into Eren, then headed to the Artist Alley and helped Dem-Hips and Soltian set up their table. Then a bit of wandering the AA and stuff, and around 3 or so I changed in Levi (and also changed hotel rooms to join Dem-Hips, Jimbly and co). I wanted to split my AoT time pretty evenly between Eren and Levi, and it's super easy to do, hahah. Some more wandering in the tiny Dealer's Room, etc until Sorairo-days arrived with her coworker Vinh. Sorairo-days changed in Eren so we could be AoT butts together. She took some pics of me, when eventually JanieKat joined us. Then some hanging around outside in the grass with the four of us plus Fairyring, Blanko, and Sasha-Dee. In the evening, some of us went and got some noodles (pan-fried, for me) at the Noodle House.

 Me, sorairo-days, fairyring, and janiekat hanging out in the lobby (I'm sorry I look angry, just being in character... ilu guys).

Then back at the con, we hang around in the lobby for a good bit -- fun shenanigans. By around 10, the local folk head out. After everyone left, I was headed back to the hotel room, and happened to run into Barnabunbun and (Bunbunbarnaby). We sort of met earlier, friends of friends kind of thing -- and they very kindly invited me to go with them to the Host Club. I'm really glad I went because I had a lot of fun with them there! It was late and only Friday night, so things were kind of slow (not busy), I guess, because we had a few of the hosts come by at once and hang out with us. They were all super nice, but the wait staff was horrible and we didn't get waited on for like 45 mins. We started playing Uno, which I love, and eventually our desserts came (creme brulee, yum!), but unfortunately everything got cut short because they were closing (it was midnight). We didn't get to finish our game, and had to scarf down our food, which was a bummer. But still, very worth it! After that, back at the hotel room, shower and sleep, the usual.

As a random side story, after the Host Club we stopped at the nearby bathrooms. I was sitting in the powder area of the lady's room, waiting, still in Levi at the time -- the door was propped open and it was a direct line of sight from where I was sitting out to the hallway. Anyway, a guy walked by, and as he did I kind of heard a "wait, is that a guy in there" and he doubled back and poked his head in and left. Internally, I was dying of laughter. What makes the story better is that the next day, Saturday morning, we were outside as the maids and hosts were gathering for a photoshoot, and I passed the guy who apparently was the one who saw me in the bathroom (he was a host). He recognized me because I was wearing the same costume, and we had a good laugh about it, hahah. (A+ me for sort of looking like a dude from a far)

 More obligatory selfies with sorairo-days~ My favorite~

Saturday

Saturday morning I got in Levi to have a formal shoot with Sorairo-days. (I saw an Erwin the distance, I really wanted a pic with him, cries) We wandered around taking photos outside. After we were done with my shoot, Sorairo-days let me take some photos of her in her sailor!Nagisa, which I was very thankful for because I need practice. Then some hanging around outside with Sorairo-days, Vinh, Fairyring, Blanko and some others, after which I reverse-changed into Eren this time. Wandered around and ran into Sorairo-days again while she was in between shoots, which was sweeeet because we passed an awesome Titan!Eren that I just had to have a picture with. Soon it was time for my shoot with JanieKat. Again, shooting outside, we wandered all around the con center, and also found a really nice cement wall (which I proceeded to climb) as a backdrop. I was mad/upset because I lost my "basement key" prop I wanted to take photos with right before the shoot. I was inexpensive and not-totally-accurate so ultimately not a big deal, but still I'm sad I didn't get any pics with it. But otherwise, the shoot was great -- and there was some fake blood involved, hahah.

Me and Titan!Eren are gonna go kill all the Titans!!!

After my shoot with JanieKat, I met up with Gryfeathr and the crew. (I know I'm missing "ran into KnightArcana and Vantasticmess a few times" in here some where!) Eventually I tagged along with Gryfeathr and Jimbly on their One Piece shoot with Barnabunbun, again taking pictures for practice. As a side note, during the weekend I discovered the purpose for the AoT stupid butt skirt things.... to protect your white pants from grass stains!! (I'm only half joking here) Later I did some hanging out in the lobby with JanieKat, ShinigamiClover, "Pezzidge (who I hadn't seen in over a year!), and others as they passed in and out. Then Bunbunbarnaby, Barnabunbun and I (as Eren, Mikasa, and Armin) did a quick but nice shoot with Gryfeathr. It was nighttime, so we worked with what we could in the crowded hotel, but I think it worked! We also found the little version of us (and momma too) which was rather fun.

 left: We find our younger selves wandering through the hallway. A photo was a must! right: teenaged Eren and Mikasa happily reunite with their deceased momma *cries*

After the shoot, my friends were super mad at me when I told them I basically didn't eat all day, and they literally picked me full off the ground by my arms and legs in an attempt to force me to eat, so... we went back to the Host Club. This time I got some actual food (gyoza) and we chatted with the one or two hosts that stopped by our table. After the Host Club, I headed back to the hotel room to change into Nezumi to do a short "bedroom shoot" with Dem-Hips as Shion (Gryfeathr as photographer). This was rather embarrassing for me because I don't typically do stuff like this, but No. 6 is just so homo, it can't be helped. (I only watched the series shortly before the con, and screamed "it's so homo!" the whole time). Soo, yeah. Some light shounen-ai pics. *blushes to hell* But there was delicious cherry cake involved, so can't complain. By then, we were all drained, so bedtime it was...!

Sunday

Sunday morning I got into Nezumi again, meanwhile packing all my crap. Met up with Gryfeathr to put my stuff in her car, then met back up with Dem-Hips so we could wander around in No. 6 together! We met some cool people in the lobby! Then it was time for Gryfeathr's "Orientalist to Weeaboo" panel. The panel was rather full, and despite technical difficulties, Gryfeathr presented the subject really well! There were some really great feedback/discussion from the audience, and I was super proud of her! After the panel, Dem-Hips and I helped Soltian pack away her AA table. Dem-Hips, Lauren, Xan and I decide to go to this Vietnamese restaurant that was recommended to us. I love pho like it's nobody's business, but walking all the way up past the zoo in the sunny heat in a leather motorcycle jacket and a big scarf was torture (all in all, it was worth it, haha). After eating, we headed back to the con where we did a quick outdoor No. 6 shoot with Gryfeathr before having to head out. After saying goodbye to everyone who was left, Gryfeathr, Baronvonblitz, Bubunbarnaby and I headed out on the drive back to PA. Good ole' car chat times -- beats riding a bus alone, any day! I was the first stop along the way, so they dropped me off at my house. It was sad saying bye to everyone! (As usual~)

 Con snapshot of me and dem-hips in No. 6!

Some others I was glad to at least run into, but unfortunately didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with!: mostflogged, SewThoughtful, ButtPilgrim, and jeanralphio. This was my first time at AUSA, and I had a really really great time! I like how small it was -- not toooo small, but small enough that there's not huge crowds and you can run into people you know like every five minutes. I made a lot of new, wonderful friends that I really enjoy, so I'm super glad!! It's a nice, chill, "friends" con, just as people had described it to me. I am definitely planning to go again next year! Photos were gently taken from friends and via la interneta. thank you~

[firewolf826]

Reporting back from AUSA, and just wanted to say I had an amazing time! I met lots of new friends and got to hang with some of my favorite people! It was seriously a good time <3

I'll start reblogging some stuff from the con tomorrow, but for now it's quickly approaching bedtime and I'm pretty exhausted....!

Thanks to everyone who made it a wonderful weekend! :D

[firewolf826]

AnimeNext 2013 Con Report

Here, finally is my AnimeNext con report. I tried keeping it as brief as possible while still touching on everything, so if you can tolerate my choppy, present-tense writing, here ya go.

FRIDAY

Friday morning, I get dressed in my Dipper costume and head out around 10AM, driving in incessant heavy rain. Around noon I acquire a bluucircles from the nearby train station, and then head to the con area! We check into the hotel and meet KisaSteph/sewthoughtful at our hotel room. As the others are getting into costume, we just are chatting. There's not much to rush for because the horrible weather outside. Our last roomie, JanieKat, joins us and changes into Wendy to match me (and later, bluucircles) in our Gravity Falls. JanieKat and I head out to the con center and wander around the AA for a bit. A lot of people seem to like our costumes! We then head over to the DoubleTree and end up running into some people we know, including ShinigamiClover. We just hang out in the lobby because there's not much to do and it's pouring outside.

By evening, bluucircles joins us in Mabel, and soon after we run into Vintage-Aerith nearly as soon as she arrived. (We also run into a fabulous Gruncle Stan, below.)

Gruncle Stan is not too happy that we're slacking off from work!

The four of us gather with Skwinky and ButtPilgrim/Kholdshift and have dinner at the hotel pub. It was a pretty hilarious night. Everyone ordered chicken tenders except for me. It was pretty funny, and we had several special guest appearances who were very entertaining. After dinner we go back to the hotel and wind down talking before going to bed. This day kinda sucked on the premise that it rain literally the entire time.

SATURDAY

Saturday morning we get up; there's general hotel musings, which included bagel-eating. We all get into costume-- I was wearing human Jack Frost this day. I go to con with JanieKat and bum around her photoshoots for a bit. Climb a tree. Upon hearing Kiyasea had arrived and was at our hotel room, we head back there, running into Blanko, Sasha-Dee and Arcdragon224 on the way. Meet Kiyasea and some of her friends there, and eventually we wind up at the DT lobby eating delicious Japanese treats. Thank you Cassi, I love onigiri and inari ;~~;

I tag along with Mostflogged and Kiyasea as they shoot with ThisCoolIRL, and somehow more of us gather (Blanko, Sasha-Dee, and ArcDragon). Later bluucircles comes in her Jojo costume. I do a quick shoot with bluucircles and then Kiyasea as I begin to test the waters of cosplay photography. While bluucircles heads off for a shoot, Kiyasea takes some photos of me, and then we go some wandering around, running into peeps, etc.

A photo I took of Kiyasea's lovely Michiru cosplay!

Eventually it's about time to start gathering for bluucircles's birthday dinner at Ruby Tuesday. We head back to the hotel room, change into different outfits (I change into Mashiro from Bakuman because it's an easy costume). Then we all head over to the restaurant. There was a lot of us, so we had to split into two tables. It was a good time eating and chatting with everyone. When it was time to sing "happy birthday", it seemed like the entire restaurant was singing-- there were friends eating at other booths around us who joined in!

As some of our party head out, the rest of us join at one of the table and chat about anime for a while. Good times. After dinner we head back to the hotel and see off Yan, who had come down just for the dinner. Bluucircles and I then head back to the con for a bit, where we hang around with Mostflogged, Ju$tin, TATTO, KisaSteph, and some others. Eventually we return to hotel room, and by then it's about time for bed.

with bluucircles, KitsuneDolly, and KisaCosplay. I don't know why my immediate reaction when taking photos is rawr-face. Also, deja-vu.

SUNDAY

On Sunday morning, we get up, finish packing up, and get into costume. bluucircles and I were wearing our Digimon soccer uniforms. We had been planning these costumes for a few years, so it was great to finally do them. We head to the con center to meet up with Skwinky for our shoot. We went to a field off to the side and ran around like idiots and just had a very good time shooting.

Me, Skwinky, and bluucircles!

After the shoot, it was about time for the Pokemon vs. Digimon soccer game, an annual tradition at AnimeNext that I took part in last year too. I played in the first and last quarters. Although others had to leave earlier, I stayed and played til the end. We ended up tying in the last few minutes of the game 3-3, which was a shocker to me because I thought we were gonna lose again! So, kudos to the Digimon team for catching up from behind.

After the game I was pretty tired and headed to the hotel to change and then drove home. By the time I got home I was exhausted and hungry, and ate two bagels then promptly collapsed.

Photos courtesy of friends and the interwebs.

[firewolf826]

Long Overdue Katsucon 2013 Report

So here is my long overdue Katsucon 2013 report. Sorry, life just got in the way and my mind has been in about fifty different directions. This may be the longest it's taken to write a report, gomen. It'll probably be kind of brief. Well, briefer than if I had done it sooner and actually remembered more of what happened.

Thursday

Around 10 or so I left for the train to catch the MegaBus in the city. By 3PM I was in DC, and met up with bluucircles, and we taxied our way to the Gaylord (wow, our taxi driver couldn't drive, it was slightly terrifying). After ironing costumes and taking it easy for a few hours, we got our badges then headed out for dinner. Bluucircles was gracious enough to reserve us all a table at the Thai place (it was busy Valentine's Day after all), where Bluucircles, Kiyasea/FelicisRook, Blanko, SewThoughful, Armen and I shared a lovely dinner together! Back at the hotel we met our roomies for the weekend (soltian and joannaestep), who were totally wonderful people! Even though we went into the weekend not know them, they were the best kind of roomies one could ask for! Before going to bed, we watched some Mysteries at the Museum, which was really intriguing.

Friday

Friday morning I donned Noatak, which was quite simply-- a pain in the ass. I need to get better at putting on/securing lace-front wigs, but the fact that the wig has a high ponytail does not help. The rest of the costume is quite comfortable. I headed out to shoot with sorairo-days, who is the best Avatard I know. Afterwards, I hung out with her, hibrrry, electric-waffle, ninjadude73, potterstardust, and Janiekat for part of the afternoon. We went to Nando's Chicken for lunch. Soon after heading back to the con I was "fuck this shit" and went to change out of Noatak (the wig was seriously falling off at that point). I changed into normal Jack Frost, and brought some of the cookies I baked with me to hand out. I baked about 100 cookies to give to people who could "see me" (re: interact with me) throughout the weekend when I was Jack!

Me and one of the several dozen cookies I made to hand out at the con!

I can't really remember what happened next (good thing I took notes at the con, pfft). Oh, okay, Bluucircles and I went to the Dealer's Room, where she proceeded to buy everything ever (it was pretty hilarious). I picked up a small Ivan Karelin figurine :) Then Bluucircles went off to have a shoot with Blanko, meanwhile I ran into ninjadude and them. Eventually we all somehow united, at which I introduced Bluucircles to the Sorairo-days-tachi and then everyone was BFFs. We even went and bonded over Godiva milkshakes, and everything was beautiful.

Bluucircles, Kiyasea and I stopped at Freshii for some food before heading back to the Gaylord. Did I mention it was COLD AND WINDY. It was kind of funny because people were blaming me (as Jack) about the cold. Back at the room we ate and had generally good derpy times as one would expect from quality friends.

Saturday

Saturday morning I got into Colonial Jack, and practically as soon as I got into the con area, a staff member runs past me, telling me to put on shoes. Ummm. No one said a thing to me the day before when I was barefoot. About a half hour later I was going up the escalators, and the same guy staff guy ran pass me (running, AGAIN) saying "You really need to put on shoes", with ANOTHER staff member running up behind him telling me the same thing. I was basically like "Okay, I'll get some" each time. Later I was talking to staciastarburst in her Jack costume and she said the hotel staff was fine with the barefoot thing. UGH. I will say the fourth time someone reprimanded me was hilarious though, because all I heard was someone behind me going, "Mr Frost, Mr. Frost!" Then I realized it was a staff guy, but still I was dead that he addressed me like that. Anyway, I didn't wear shoes all day except sometimes when outside. DEAL WITH IT. It was rather fun being barefoot, actually. You wouldn't realize it with shoes on, but it's an interesting sensation noticing the temperature of the floor changing, and the texture, etc. Basically I'm a big dork and like walking around barefoot.

Ahem, moving on. Ran into Vintage-Aerith and Kiyasea wearing Phoenix Wright in the lobby -- followed by Sorairo-days-tachi in their steampunk!Adventure Time costumes. Fabulous people, they all are! At the Gazebo, we somehow started an impromptu Rise of the Guardians shoot since there were several of us gathered there! (Saw banair as North, a pleasant surprise!) I then commenced my usual wandering around, were I ran into Sasha-Dee, Remy, Kiyasea, and then Thornprick. Then, I headed outside for a shoot with JanieKat, who was gracious enough to grab some shots of me!

I was giving out cookies all day, but the best were the few times I interacted with kids. This one time, I was just sitting on a bench when this little girl came up to me, mumbled something, and then sat next to me. She was asking for my picture and her brother and sister came and sat next to me too. Their mom took the picture, and I offered them cookies EXCEPT I didn't realize I had just run out and needed to restock. I felt like such a horrible person UGGGH. I redeemed myself later on when I had a good interaction with a little boy and his mom, but ugggh. I'm sorry children. I blame Bluucircles for stealing all the cookies. (I kid, but no really)

Skipping right along (actually skipping details, whoops), at 4pm was the ROTG gathering. Of course, there were A LOT of Jacks, but all the the Guardians were represented (well, there were no Norths there, but were earlier in the day). I met some really nice people there, and well, let's just say everyone got excited when it started snowing outside. (Granted, it was barely anything). Glad to see Dem-hips, Gryfeathr, Spritewright, Jimbly, and mamaflash there, and we chatted a bit!

Afterwards Bluucircles, Kiyasea and I headed out to find dinner. We ended up at an Italian place, where Kiyasea and I shared a delicious, authentic eggplant pizza. Then, with no self-restraint, we went back to Godiva again, hahaha. I just got a hot chocolate this time, which was like, literally pure chocolate, omg.

Later at night we went to the Artist Alley, where we ran into SewThoughtful and Armen, who we hung out with for the rest of the night. Eventually we head back to the room, eat cookies, and I promptly pass out.

Sunday

Sunday always means packing up and all that jazz. This day I was wearing Todd Allison from the webcomic Todd Allison and the Petunia Violet by zeeenya/Nozmo (everyone should read it). I've worn the costume a few times before, but this time wisecraxx was joining me as Petunia, and I was ecstatic. Bluucircles was wearing Vanellope and H.O.M.G. was she perfect. Had the little button nose and everything. Anyway, after checking bags and checking out, we headed to the Gazebo to meet up with Wisecraxx and Skwinky/skwinkography for our shoot! The Gaylord was SUCH a good place for TAPV photos (did I MENTION Todd is a botanist and loves plants?) so that was a lot of fun. Wisecraxx was the perfect Petunia, and a lot of people seemed to like our costumes because of how colorful they were. A few people actually knew who we were, so that was fantastic. I even gave Wisecraxx a hairpin, like Todd does in the comic (because I'm a derp).

We later ran into Sorairo-days, who did a wonderful little impromptu shoot with us. I can't remember what else we did other than casually hanging around with everyone. I didn't eat any meals there, so none of that.. hmmm. Yeah, eventually it was sadly time to go, so Bluucircles and I made our way back to Union Station where we parted ways, and all the tears were shed for the wonderful people I was parting with that weekend (okay, there were no actually tears, but plenty of FEELS).

Thanks to everyone who made Katsucon another success! Mentioning some of you who I only saw briefly, but still deserve to be mentioned here: my two cousins WafflesMcCoy and SuburbanVirusx, nightkinks, bombaycake, Mostflogged, Ju$tin, ButtPilgrim; and met kanracakes and staciastarbust, and more! I apologize if I left anyone out, but my memory is fuzzy.

Katsucon continues to be the best of cons, and I'm already excited for next year!!

(Notice I did not mention at all the Jewish youth convention going on. Luckily they didn't affect me personally really at all, and it's a shame that some people can't say the same....) Photo are from various sources.