Modesty's Costume Closet

3D printing has opened the door to new types of cosplay and every year it grows more accessible. I made a post back in 2022 about getting my first 3D printer . And I would say all that advice still stands, except now I have a new 3D printer, I've had more experience and therefore more to say. Am I an expert? Nowhere near it, but I'm beyond beginner at this point. So In this little overview, I'm going to go through some preconceptions I had about 3D printing, safety considerations, and a few more suggestions in considering a 3D printer whether it's your first machine or just another machine to add to the collection.  Preconceptions Here are things I've thought might be common misconceptions...based mostly on my own experience.  3D Printing is FAST! 💨Speed can be relative but in my mind I was thinking some kind of sci-fi replicator that would create something within seconds or minutes. I did not expect it to take more than 2 hours. But I have had prints that lasting ...

 In an effort to finish many projects, I've been keeping my head down and just working on things and not writing about them.  I have ideas for a variety of posts, some of which are outlined or half-written.  My hope is to work on a couple of series including:  3D printing Costumes Shoemaking EVA Foam Costumes Ren Faire/LARP Costumes I also have posts plans for:  My Sailor Jupiter Costume Progress New things I've learned about Kimono making Hope to get to writing soon. :) 

Modesty is the internet handle I adopted for myself way back in high school. I will answer to it as a name. People I meet on the internet tend to call me that. But I adopted this as a name for myself not only because it starts with "M" like my real name, but it is a virtue I aspire to. I don't always live up to it, but I continue trying.  What is Modesty? Now, immediately, the connotation for modesty seems to be telling women how to dress. And as everyone knows, people LOVE being told what to do.  Modesty, like any virtue, cannot be forced upon you to really take root. It must be nurtured in the heart of the person themselves. So, modesty is not forcing you to cover up.  The sister virtue to modesty is humility , which opposes pride...the greatest vice. It is the focus on self that often causes strife between people. Humility is not a popular virtue, but it is healthy and important for living with others harmoniously. And ultimately, make us happy.  Humility doesn't ...

 For most of my costumes, I assume that my time outside will be minimal. Nothing more than walking from the parking lot to the venue. But there are plenty of reasons for outdoor events to be costume events as well, such as Ren Faires, Live Action Role Play (LARP), Historical Reenactment, Film Shoots, and outdoor theatre.  In this post I want to go over how to make sure your costume can deal with:  Heat and Cold Precipitation Sun Exposure Uneven Terrain Dirt/Mud/Dust Shopping Convenience Staying Healthy and Hydrated Your physical health, safety and comfort should be a top consideration in designs.  Temperatures 🌡 When and where the event is located will affect the weather you'll likely encounter. So here are some suggestions for adjusting or planning your design to suit the typical temperature of the event's location.  Hot Weather 😎 For our body to keep cool, it needs sweat to evaporate off our skin. The more skin we can expose to the air, the more efficient ou...

Resin is common casting material for costumes accessories and props. Typically, it comes out as a clear, hard, plastic product. There are 3 major types of resin I'd like to introduce: UV Resin, Epoxy Resin, and Plaster-Resin. So lets jump in.  🚨Health and Safety⚠ Epoxy resins especially have harmful health effects if not handled properly. The fumes created while mixing are noxious and require ventilation and personal protective equipment such as a respirator. It is a skin irritant so best practice requires nitrile gloves and clothing. Best protect your eyes from splash as well.  During the curing process, the resin gets hot. So be careful with what you use as a mold and what you put it near.  Lastly, sanding resin is especially harmful to lungs and even nerves. You must wear a respirator, a dust mask doesn't cut it.  UV resin does expose you to low levels of UV light so take care of your skin and eyes. Granted the exposure is very short, but worth mentioning. Again,...

 Just giving the update that my dress is done! I did my performance, but I'm still waiting on the video footage.  [Image -tbd] For accessories, in the end I made a couple of pearl necklaces. They did not hit my partner thankfully. I have the t-strap mary janes...they're a bit rough to dance in. And I made a headband with a feather in it. I have a couple of simple pearl earrings I could wear too and the beaded false lashes.  Retrospective I should have measured between the layers of fringe with a ruler. It was all pretty thick on the hem but it did move nice.  I wore nylons instead of my usual shorts. This was nicer looking IMO.  The brooch I used on the belt flew off during practice. Had to tape it closed with a band-aide. 

 The design frenzy has settled down. The initial excitement wanes a bit as expected. But there is still more to think about. While I'm pleased with the potential ideas, there are a few things I should consider on a more logical and practical basis. For example, what's going to be the challenge in making this dress? How expensive do I think it will be? Is my production plan the best way to make this? When it comes to accessories, what will be great for dancing and what will get in the way or become an annoyance?  Current preferred Design Lets start with determining potential Accessories. Accessory Evaluation Going off my drawing, here are the accessories I might use:  Feathered Headband Stud Earrings Long Pearl Necklaces  Ornamented Necklace Black Gloves Gold bangle bracelets White Feather Boa Ornamented Belt/Sash T-strap Mary Jane Shoes A couple of non-negotiables include the shoes and at least one other Flapper staple such as the headband or pearls.  For dancin...