Pictures from Fallcon 2014!  Got to have a table with my wifey, as always, where we had our books and crafts and things.  The art behind us belongs to Rainarc, who is the cover artist to our book, “Seeking the Storyteller,” we were table mates so we combined our powers :)

Had a really good time meeting some great cosplayers and fans of my work. I’m still getting used to having fans, but it’s so great meeting everyone <3 Thanks for all of the support you show us!

Hey Aesha!  I would’ve pronounced your name wrong, too, lol.  Anyhow, this may be a long answer, but I get wordy and stuff, so here we go!

Here’s the thing about confidence: it takes time.  It’s something you constantly work at.  I’m 31 years old and have had years of working on my confidence.  I grew up in the 80s.  I grew up in a time where there weren’t that many conventions, cosplay wasn’t as huge as it is now, anime was still new and video games were still growing.  Being a geek was just not cool, and not “common” with black girls — so I was told.  I somehow wasn’t “acting black” because I was into dragon balls and doing fatalities in Mortal Kombat.  This is still a thing that happens sometimes, but it wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as it was when I was growing up.  

So when I see it happen now I’m like, “This is so old.”  I think bullies think they’re coming in with new material.  The reality is, they’re not.  Bullying is as old as time, you know?  Calling someone fat?  Thanks for the info, I already know what I look like.  ”That person isn’t black.”  Really?  I could’ve sworn when I stared at the picture for reference her skin color changed.  When I got bashed for my cosplay I had this moment of, “… really?” It kind of baffled me.  Not because of the bullying itself, but the fact that it happened within the geek community.  Growing up, the people who picked on geeks weren’t other geeks, it was the people outside the circle, the ones who didn’t get what made Saturday morning anime on Sci-Fi so great.  It certainly wasn’t the geeky kid sitting next to me during lunch.  So now my mind is like, “You have got to be kidding,” because… really?  We’re all geeks, why are we bashing each other?

I also grew up with some pretty confident women around me.  That whole black, independent woman thing was huge (still is).  Someone talk shit about you?  Fuck them.  Someone hurt you?  Set fire to their car. Someone hit you?  Hit them back.  Harder.  Stab them.  Something. Don’t take that shit lying down.  I’m being serious, black women were (and still are) expected to be no nonsense sassy superstars.  Someone told you you were fat?  Whatever, you just can’t handle all this.  And it’s not a bad mentality to have, but there’s something really important that I think people should admit to when it comes to confidence: it’s not something we have 24/7.  

I know a lot of people talk about body positivity and confidence, which is fantastic, but something else to talk about is the fact that you’re not going to feel great all the time. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has a bad day.  That’s something really important to realize and why I really love it when people come out and say that.  I love when these big names in the community open up like, “I didn’t always feel like I could take on the world.”  Because it’s true.  Insecurity isn’t exclusive to the chunky kid, or the black kid, or the gay kid, it happens to everyone, for different reasons.  And even if you’re the most confident, black, female, fat, lesbian out there, sometimes you wake up feeling like crap.  And that’s o.k.  Sometimes the insecure fat kid in me wants to hide in a sweater. Sometimes the insecure little girl stands and watches the boys play video games and she wonders if she’s weird for wanting to play, too. Sometimes the black girl wonders if she’s good enough. Sometimes the lesbian questions if she should hold her wifey’s hand in certain areas they visit.  It happens.  It happens to everyone, and that’s normal.  

Everyone has that doubtful voice in their head that tries to tell them that something is a bad idea.  For instance, when my wifey said she could make Wonder Woman for me, I was really excited, but I also had this moment of, “Am I really about to cosplay this?  She’s an icon.  She’s not black, she’s not fat, she’s beautiful.  Am I really about to do this?”  But my wifey, as always, was by my side and that dress is one of my favorite things to cosplay.  But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t intimidated at first.  When you hear that insecure voice, address it, talk about it, tell someone, “I don’t know,” and talk about it.  Don’t let it fester, you know?  When I started to feel unsure I was like, “Oh man wifey, I dunno…” and she was like, “You’re going to be beautiful in this, I promise.”  And you wanna know something funny? The day I posted that picture for the first time on my cosplay page, I did get bashed!  Someone made a comment about how I looked like I was eating myself to death!  But you know what?  I felt so good in that dress and felt so gorgeous that confident Brichibi was there in an instant like, “Oh please.”

Comfort is also hugely important.  Confidence is great, but it’s also important that you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, and that adds to that confidence.  I love that Wonder Woman dress and feel good it in.  I did my own take on her, one that I would feel comfortable wearing and one that I thought would look good on me.  Find things that make you feel good.  

It’s all a process, really, and it’s not a race.  Take your time.  Just because you see a plus sized woman working her curves doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong if you’re not ready to do that yet.  Take as long as you need.  Try new things out.  Have fun with it.  Find groups that are body positive and share a picture.  Start with a selfie and work your way up.  Do something cute with your hair.  Wear some new eyeshadow.  Do what makes you feel good, that’s what this is all about: you feeling good about yourself.

If you can’t see yourself stepping out of sweats, work those sweats! Sporty looks are cute!  Get some cute tennis shoes to match.  And smile.  A smile goes a long way.  Then work your way up, get some cute jeans, maybe a skirt that reaches your ankles.  Have fun with your wardrobe, have fun in the things that make you feel comfortable.  And as far as cosplay goes, don’t be afraid to alter an outfit into something you want to wear.  That’s what I did with Wonder Woman, and it’s fun coming up with new styles and interpretations to characters.    

I hope this helps <3

fabulousfuckyou:

angeldictator:

naughtynightowlinthesexysexlair:

angeldictator:

Beast Boy Progress!

This is exactly how I’ve always imagined Beast Boy looked like in real life.

!!! oh my goshh thank youu so much ;u;

scREAMS IM IN LOVE WITH YOU

Holy wow!

linefaced:

Yayyy

Cuties!

Thank you so much!  The first thing to remember is that its all about having fun, and to not worry about what your cosplay looks like compared to someone else, ESPECIALLY when you’re starting out, because that can just bring about some unwanted intimidation feels that you really don’t need. Honestly, just pick a character and go for it.  Don’t be afraid to ask for tips on how to make stuff, or look at tutorials or whatnot, or heck, if you can’t make certain parts don’t be afraid to go out and buy bits and pieces, places like Goodwill are your friend (especially around Halloween).  

This fabulousness (quoting you and smiling while I do so) is from years and years of cosplay, my first cosplay was back in 2004.  

Like this is my first cosplay:

That was 10 years ago.  The important thing to remember is that, just like with anything else, it takes times and practice and you’ll improve over time. So just pick who you want to cosplay and get going  <3  

sarahfongcosplay:

JUST GOT INTO DC, CHIE DAY! #chieSatonaka #chie #persona4 #persona #cosplay #trialOfTheDragon #ausa #animeUSA

Look at this cutie!

sweets4asweet:

Me as Miss Piggy at ColossalCon 2014!

ominide:

MISS PIGGY AND KERMIT!!

[fb] Full General Cosplay shots

Sweeeeets!  I love her so much, follow her, follow her immediately!

nikolasdraperivey:

“My name is Miles Morales and I’M Spider-Man.”


(snippets of what’s to come) 

Oh no he’s at it again this man must be stopped!  *fangirls too much over his existence* 

nikolasdraperivey:

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN meets ALL NEW GHOST RIDER (one shot)

MILES MORALES MEETS ROBBIE REYES! These are for a one shot I’m doing that involves the All New Ghost Rider crossing paths with the Ultimate Spider-Man. The story takes place 7 years in the future for both characters. I’m doing this for fun. Keep your eyes open for more! :) I’m writing and drawing it. Props to Felipe Smith and Brian Michael Bendis for creating such great characters. I hope to do them justice in my one shot. I don’t have a scanner right now…but when I get one I promise I’ll scan these. :)

So I want this to spread around like wildfire, because it needs to. Remember that ridiculously amazing Ultimate Spider-man cosplayer we all reblogged?  This is him.  Reblog this as much as you reblogged that cosplay.  

I posted this on my cosplay page so I thought I’d post it here, too, since I may be offering a different POV since I cosplay AND sell at cons, and cosplay while I’m selling.

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