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kelldar.com

  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys

    October 25, 2002 /

    I’ll be back Monday. Watch the monkeys for me while I’m gone. And: reminder to me to write about the weird black thing I got in the mail. And that poster I had to do.

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i decided not to be an adult

    October 24, 2002 /

    I am not going to mess with finding that guy today. I went yesterday and bought Kodocha 3 and 4. That is the cutest comic. I got a free “Manga Sampler” with them… I want to read Marmalade Boy. I paid a bunch on my credit card yesterday. Go me! Oh and I got my first checks ever… they are…

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    kelldar
  • when i talked about school
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i talked about school

    October 23, 2002 /

    Oh, and I made a 97 on my Anthropology midterm! go me! She started writing a chart of all the grades on the board… and it was like, 98, 97, 86, 79,78,77,76,75,74… and I’m sitting there, all like, “oh god, I hope I made a 77. I bet I made a 77. Oh please have let me made a 77…”…

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    anime fanart,  Blog,  my art

    sketchblog: super sailor jupiter

    October 23, 2002 /

    art reference for my upcoming Eternal Sailor Jupiter costume!

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    kelldar
  • Arwen still not finished
    Blog,  costumes

    Arwen still not finished

    October 23, 2002 /

    Didn’t finish Arwen yet. Still! I’m not happy with the sleeves, and that’s holding up progress. Plus my necklace hasn’t come. 🙁

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    Blog,  misc fanart,  my art

    sketchblog: amalthea

    October 22, 2002 /

    art reference for my amalthea costume I’m planning on doing!

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i found Are You Being Served fanfic

    October 21, 2002 /

    I had to share. Trading Spaces fanfiction and Are You Being Served? fanfic. OMG Was watching BBC last night and caught part of Manchild with Anthony Stewart Head in it. I only got to see like, 5 minutes ’cause dad came in and kicked me out of the living room. Will have to watch for it later…

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i spend too much time at the fabric store

    October 21, 2002 /

    went to the RAT Halloween carnival. Kristie’s nephew says I am “the coolest person in the world” because “Kell knows everything.” I won 2 cakes and a pie. Woo. Finally have a design for Bad Candy… hopefully can start on it tonight unless dad kicks me off the comp. Cath went to go see… Aida? Is that the name? She…

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    kelldar
  • Arwen mostly done
    Blog,  costumes

    Arwen mostly done

    October 21, 2002 /

    Arwen is mostly done. Haven’t done the underskirt or hemmed the bottom of the dress yet, and I still have to make the white sleeves, but that’s it. It’s so pretty! Next we’re going to get White Utena, Sakura and Amalthea done. Then concentrate on my two main costumes for Katsu.

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    anime fanart,  Blog,  my art

    sketchblog: asuka

    October 21, 2002 /

    art reference for my upcoming Asuka costume!

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    anime fanart,  Blog,  my art

    sketchblog: aluminum siren

    October 20, 2002 /

    Costume reference art, for my upcoming Aluminum Siren costume

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    kelldar
  • when we took Lina pics
    a day at the races,  Blog,  costumes

    when we took Lina pics

    October 19, 2002 /

    Haw Haw. The rest of the pics from thursday night are up! Here’s some favs!

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    anime fanart,  Blog,  my art

    sketchblog: Nanami

    October 18, 2002 /

    Costume reference for the Nanami costume I’m planning on doing!

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i got the sign

    October 18, 2002 /

    I did it. I got out of class early ’cause I had my midterm today. I was an hour ahead of schedule, so I did it. I pulled into the U turn area in the middle of the road, and pretended to be looking in my trunk so that no one driving by would get suspicious. As soon as there…

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    kelldar
  • Arwen progress
    Blog,  costumes

    Arwen progress

    October 17, 2002 /

    Finished sewing up the side of the Arwen dress and put the zipper in. Made the boot covers. I had enough suede leftover from the bootcovers that I can make a little fellowship cloak. I dyed the gloves the other night, but they were too blue, not dark enough. So i got some black dye yesterday and put them in…

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when we were at the wrong applebee’s

    October 17, 2002 /

    dood people are wacky for a harry potter tie. So yesterday Cat and I had agreed to meet at applebee’s to eat lunch before the movie. She called me earlier to tell me she might be late, she had to get her oil changed (her car’s, not her own). I ended up getting there fifteen minutes EARLY ’cause traffic was…

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when someone threw a brick

    October 16, 2002 /

    Someone threw a brick through my gramma’s dining room window today. Hooligans! I’ll come up there and show you punks what happens to anyone who mess with my gramma. Had a lot of drama today. Not liking the drama. I am going to go see Spirited Away with Cat tomorrow. And… Rocky Horror!!! I called Ash and talked to her…

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    kelldar
  • sketchblog: super sailor jupiter
    Blog,  my art,  video game fanart

    sketchblog: peach

    October 15, 2002 /

    Reference sketch of Princess Peach, a costume I’m planning on doing

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    kelldar
  • Tentative 2003 Schedule!
    Blog,  costumes

    Tentative 2003 Schedule!

    October 14, 2002 /

    Tentative Schedule: *Katsucon: Belldandy (Ah My Goddess) Chun-Li (Street Fighter) White Utena (Utena manga illustration) Amalthea (Last Unicorn) Rewearing: Sailorjupiter (for the masq – maybe upgraded version), Ocha, Cammy, maybe Rally *Project A-kon: Nanami (Utena) Nina (Tekken 3) Aluminum Siren (Sailormoon) Rewearing: Quistis, Chun-Li, maybe Padme, Belldandy (with wings – for the masq) *Anime Expo: Morrigan (Darkstalkers, with Ash as…

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    kelldar
  • when i had ya’ll watch the monkeys
    a day at the races,  Blog

    when i made a note

    October 14, 2002 /

    Note to self : Sell gryffindor tie on ebay

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    kelldar
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My Costume History Day 48 - Honda Tohru from Fruit My Costume History Day 48 - Honda Tohru from Fruits Basket, for Katsucon 2004

After just finishing that Arwen costume and working on that new Belldandy costume, I wanted to do something a little more simple and casual. I had gotten into Fruits Basket recently, so I decided throwing together a quick version of her uniform was the ticket.

I bought the navy blue pleated skirt on ebay, and then took it to Hancock to find a matching fabric. Settled on a navy blue cotton for the top. I’m sure mom & I used some kind of pattern for this but I’m not sure what - it does button up the front. I again used my Sailor Jupiter collar as a template for creating this collar - though this one I just pull off and on over my head and it’s not attached to the top at all. The center front triangle section did have an opening at the side to make it easy to get on - it closes with velcro. Added the blue stripes using ribbon, and made the cuffs the same way.

The hair bows were yellow ribbons I glued to barrettes and I had the socks and shoes. All in all a quick and easy costume.

Had a lot of fun wearing it at Katsucon - especially running into an entire Fruits Basket group who didn’t have a Tohru!! I took it to a few more conventions that year - it was a great simple costume, didn’t take up a lot of luggage space and didn’t need a wig.

It sat in my closet for a few years after that, and around 2012/2013 I decided to sell it. I got it and shot it on the white backdrop first - I did have to get new shoes for the photoshoot, because the original ones had died by that point. I do love how the photos turned out.

So it went to a new home after that, which makes me a little sad but I hope it had a good life after me.
My Costume History Day 47 - Belldandy from Oh! My My Costume History Day 47 - Belldandy from Oh! My Goddess, for Katsucon 2004

I wanted to get some more use out of my Belldandy wig, which was to that point the most I’d ever spent on a costume wig. I thought the outfit she wore on the cover of 1-555-GODDESS would be a fun project to recreate!

The base of this costume is a bodice — made it out of a blue fabric (can’t remember exactly what), with plastic boning and it laces up the back. It also has “straps” that I beaded that hang down the back. The white designs on it were done in suede and heat-bonded on. The shawl is made of some really cool orange and metallic gold fabric I found at Hancock - it’s got some heavy interfacing in it to keep the shape, and for the design on all of the streamers down the back, I painted the design on.

I had to make up everything from the hips down, so I decided on skirt that was open in the front and flared out at the bottom. I used that same sparkly lingerie-like material I was obsessed with back then - I dyed it pink, and added part of a hoopskirt hoop into the hem to make it flare out. Also added some of the undyed fabric along the front edge to look like an underskirt, just because I felt like it needed something else.

The headpiece is all built around a headband - covered in some light blue crepe fabric, with the two large pieces that hang down the front attached at the back. The white suede designs are heat-bonded on here too. The parts that stick out of the top have wire on the inside to keep them sticking out - I painted the designs on those, too.

Reused my wig, bangles, gloves and socks from my first Belldandy. The necklace and earrings I bought - lucky finds at Claire’s! I was really proud of how this turned out! I wore it at Katsucon 04, and then later took it to MTAC 04 where I entered the costume contest, where it won Best Master Craftsmenship. Nice!

I really need to get this shot on the white backdrop one day. I know it needs some repairs - like, I know I stole the hoop out of its hem at some point for something else so I need to figure out a replacement. Maybe I’ll get this one done for white backdrops later this year...
My Costume History Day 46 - Arwen (original design My Costume History Day 46 - Arwen (original design) from LOTR, for ROTK midnight show

So as we were all anxiously awaiting to see the costumes from ROTK, there was a tiny little snippet of Arwen in her coronation dress in some promo image. It was just her head with the tiara, but I wanted to make it. So I designed something I thought would go with it - a wedding dress.

Both parts of this, the dress and robe, are modified versions of Simplicity 9891. The underdress is made of a matte white satin, with fitted sleeves and I made it way longer and wider. I wear platform boots with this to be elf height, so it needed all that extra length! The neckline trim was from Calontir Trims, and I added some pearls to it. For the design on the sleeves, I copied a motif from one of Elrond’s costumes and painted it on with silver fabric paint, and beaded around it as well.

The robe I made out of a silver stretch velvet; it has two sets of lower sleeves, one of the velvet and one of the white satin, and I beaded the collar. The hem was a happy accident - we put horsehair in the hem to give it some body, and it created this wavy effect, which I ended up loving. The belt is also made of the velvet, with the same motif painted on and beaded.

My tiara was made by Atelier des Elfes and is still one of my fav pieces in my collection of costume pieces.

I wore this to the ROTK midnight show, and then to several conventions throughout 2004 and 2005. I also did a photoshoot at our local art museum (and one of the photos ended up in a gag book I stumbled across at Barnes and Noble while wedding planning years later! Story for another time!)

I actually wore this in the Dragoncon 04 parade - I made an extra skirt that was longer than everything else that the rest of the costume could sit on and not get dragged on the road. The laces of my boots got tangled midway through and I thought I was a goner! LOL

Still have it - it’s not in great shape. The satin fabric is weakened at the sleeve seams, and some of the velvet has lost its stretch. Always thought about remaking it from the ground up with 20 more years experience - that would be fun!
My Costume History Day 45 - Padme’s Loyalist Commi My Costume History Day 45 - Padme’s Loyalist Committee Gown from Star Wars AOTC, made for Dragoncon 2003

My 2nd serious Star Wars costume for my 2nd dragoncon!

For the top and skirt I found a iridescent blue taffeta at Hancock, and a sequin fabric for the inset on the top. The robe fabric is the screen accurate velvet burnout - but I used black, because that’s what I saw on screen - black and blue, more than purple.

I can’t remember what Mom & I used as a pattern for the top and skirt, but I’m pretty sure the robe was a very chopped up and altered Simplicity 9891. I used that pattern a LOT! I added the trim to the edges, and the robe velcros to the top and skirt all the way down the front to keep them together. The appliques were all floral pieces I got at Hancock and dyed to match my fabric.

The necklace is cardboard and gold lame, and my dad helped me with the headpiece - it’s craft metal backed in craft foam to help keep it comfortable, and I glued a hairpiece into it, so it all just sits right on top of my head.

I had a disaster just a few days before Dragoncon when trying to finish this - I realized I was not going to have enough of the screen accurate velvet to finish the sleeves. I had to call the fabric store I’d ordered it from and beg them to overnight a yard to me. They were reluctant saying it would be very expensive and I just cried “I knooooowwww”. But they did and I was able to finish it.

It was a beast to wear - just a lot of fabric to deal with plus the giant, heavy headpiece. I had to use around 40 giant bobbie pin to keep it on my head. This was the year they had the Dcon masquerade offsite, so when we got on the bus to go over there, I clanged my headpiece on the doorframe getting on the bus. That HURT! LOL

After dcon, I did some upgrades - I painted all the trim a little darker, and biggest of all I fixed the shape of the sleeves of the top. I wore this to a few local Star Wars events over the next few months, but kinda retired it after I did my Leia.

It’s not perfect but it still has a place in my heart. I haven’t been able to shoot it because I can’t get in the top - one day I’ll alter it so we can it shot on the backdrop!
Hadn’t updated this in nearly 2 years, so here’s a Hadn’t updated this in nearly 2 years, so here’s a new version - MOST of the costumes I’ve made 1998-2025.
My costumes that are turning 20 this year! My costumes that are turning 20 this year!
Easy video trend where I just get to plug in some Easy video trend where I just get to plug in some fav costume photos? Yes please!
My Costume History Day 44 - Teela from Masters of My Costume History Day 44 - Teela from Masters of the Universe/He-Man, for Dragoncon 2003

Since I’d done She-Ra in 2002, I really wanted to do a Teela costume too. And Dragoncon was the best opportunity I’d had to do a costume like that!

I bought a white leotard and cut the sleeves off to make the lower arm gauntlets. Found a coppery sort-of crepe fabric at Hancock for the vest - I don’t think Mom & I used a pattern for this, I think we just kinda made it up as we went. It closes in the front with a hook and eye, and for the little “snake” chest details on the front, we made individual pieces and appliqued them together to create a 3d effect.

Bought the wig online, and made the tiara out of some craft foam, leftover vest fabric and a red gemstone. It bobbie pins into the wig. Boots I had, added some fur just tucked into the top.

Orko I made out of a little teddy bear, a bouncy ball, batting, duct tape, floral wire, paper mache, craft foam, and fabric for his little robe and hat. He attaches to my wrist with fishing line.

Wore this at Dragoncon and had fun in it! I wanted to wear it again the next year to SDCC, but I didn’t like how the snake chest appliques weren’t obvious, in a lot of pics they just disappeared. So I went in with some watered down fabric paint and painted around the stitch lines to try to give it some more depth. And then after SDCC I had people making fun of me for painting the details on. Can’t win.

Also had a guy come up to me in the Mattel booth, where I was taking pics in front of a big He-Man mural, and ask who I was supposed to be dressed as. I said Teela. He said no, you can’t be Teela, you’re too short. Ok like sorry I didn’t get leg extending surgery for my COSPLAY? WTF LOL

I haven’t worn it since SDCC 2004, but I do still have it all. Several times it’s almost made the cut of getting a white backdrop shoot recently - in 2024 I even washed the leotard in prep for it, but it just didn’t happen. Orko needs some repairs too... so maybe I’ll get around to that this year. Fingers crossed.
My Costume History Day 43 - Susan Sto Helit from D My Costume History Day 43 - Susan Sto Helit from Discworld, made for Dragoncon 2003

Dragoncon is always a great opportunity to do costumes that wouldn’t really fly or be noticed at any other con. At the time I went to Dragoncon in 2002, I was reading through all of the Discworld books, and I thought Susan would be a fun costume to do for this con - and I immediately decided I’d do it for the next year, 2003.

And I started on it almost as soon as I got home. I based it on Paul Kidby artwork! It’s mostly put together of bought and modified pieces. I bought the bodice and skirt on ebay - when the skirt arrived, I cut it at an angle and cauterized the edge. Bought the gloves, used my Morrigan boots. Made the cape out of some black fabric, bought the wig from Amphigory and painted the stripe in with some watered down acrylics.

Death of Rats I made out of various things... styrofoam ball, sculpey, batting, friendly plastic, floral wire, some scrap black fabric. I thought he turned out so cute! I bought the scythe at Halloween time and painted it.

And then I had to sit on for months until the next Dragoncon LOL. Thankfully I didn’t lose interest and did wear it - put it on as SOON as we got to Dragoncon that year! I was really happy with it.

Though I didn’t wear it again after that for a few years - until Terry Pratchett was a guest at MidSouthCon in 2007! I was like omg I gotta get this Susan costume out and wearable again. Unfortunately I’d loaned the cape to someone and never got it back, so I substituted my husband’s Vader cape instead. The cheap bodice I’d used in 2003 RIPPED at some of the lower eyelets when I went to put it on, so I threw a black underbust corset on over it. Not particularly the look I wanted but I was trying to make it work!

I did get to meet Terry Pratchett, he signed a book for me, complimented my costume so goal achieved. I do still have it all - but Death of Rats’ sculpey pieces are crumbling into dust. One day I’ll do a bunch of repairs and upgrades and get this shot on the backdrop! I need better pics!
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