I'm working on this costume... I designed it myself, inspired, I suppose you could say, on the fact that I had this red and black wig, and nothing to use it with. So everything started up around that wig. I had a lot of ideas I wanted to incorporate into the design, and a lot of interesting methods I wanted to use in the making. The color scheme was black and red to match the wig, with silver accents. The idea was for a dark, evil sorceress type with elven ears and a curly horn (so everyone knows she's eeevil) on one side of my forehead. Aside from that I wanted sharp edges and long, flowy garments. I definitely wanted something to billow behind me as I walked.

I had just been researching using craft foam to make armor for another costume, so I started with a helmet, and for a first time job I liked the way it looked. Once it was done I made a few more armor pieces. Then I started acquiring fabrics to use. But before I started sewing I made a prop for myself. My "magic staff" completed, I started making decorations for it. Another thing I'd wanted to do with this design was use a lot of small, intricate details, which is something my other costumes lack. So the decorations were many and small. Next I played with latex and made a horn prosthetic that I could be pleased with.

So now I have armor, prosthetics, and a prop. I just need everything else! Well, dammit, I suck at everything else! I've ruined a good bit of expensive pleather trying to make a top for myself, and gone through numerous incarnations of my sanity trying to change the design around to suit my lack of pleather sewing skills.(or any sewing skills really) Over and over again the machine has thwarted me, to the point of me completely changing the upper half of the costume. Of course, as soon as I do this the lower half is in need of a change to match, and everything I've done on that front is no good anymore.

I'm really, reeeaaally trying NOT to throw this out the window right now. Reaaally-reaally!


At this juncture of this costumes life it has caused me nothing but frustration. The most I can say I've gotten from it is experience with the different techniques I've tried. As much as I'd love to toss this pile of crap, keeping the experience and ridding myself of the mess, I've used so many materials I feel it would be a waste to throw them all away now.

Now we come to the question. Do I toss it all and waste what I've done so far, or continue on and possibly waste much more?