ShutoCon 2013 Day 4 out of 4

For the last part of the con we had 3 other roommates with us. It was nice, they were all fun to hang around and I got to meet more new people!
Also I didn't feel like getting dressed on the last day, so I just threw on my kigurumi. It was nice and warm and soft and wonderful!

Food…for a vegan at a con… It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But now that I learned I can be more prepared for the future! One thing I thought I could eat was Candy Roasted Almonds….boy was I wrong. I had one nasty tummy ache a couple hours later. On another note today was the day we got to go to the DBZ panel! We got to meet and ask questions and hear funny stories from the voice actors themselves! It was soooo amazing! Sadly I didn't get any pictures because we were so far back and my phone camera sucks. But needless to say the most amazing thing ever! 

Now for some cosplay craziness!

At that the last minute I threw my money at this cat pillow! I NEEDED it! I mean look at it! How could you NOT want to buy it!?!

And in the end that is all! We left that day on a happy note and slept and slept! 

Don't miss out of the beginning of this adventure!

Day 1 --here

ShutoCon 2013 Day 3 out of 4

Day 3, Day after the big opening day and can I not tell you enough. We. Are. Exhausted.

I can say so watching the table, I was a little scared at first. But after 5mins, I was really comfortable with it.

ShutoCon 2013 Day 2 out of 4

So Day 2 of this adventure is actually day 1 of the actual convention. So on this day we woke up early to gather all our stuff and headed for the artist ally. WORK OUT! That's all I'm staying. My arms were sore for the rest of the con that's for sure.

So after we got the table all set up and looked around the Dealers Room and bought things…. We finally went to the Opening Ceremony. 

So opening ceremony you basically learn about the Convention. The major events and any donation things that will be going on. At ShutoCon we donate gently used Manga to the children's Hospital. When I went to DragonCon in Atlanta they were actually having a blood drive. We learned what a Safe Zone was and that ShutoCon was now on that list. Where everyone can come together, straight, gay, bi, transgender, ect. This is a safe place where acts of violence or acts of harassment are NOT tolerated. And I personally think that is the best thing ever. 

So first day I decided to blow all my money! HAHA just kidding. But I did spend a bit of my money. I finally bought a Kigurumi!

This things are $60 USA dollars! Pretty expensive! I was going to get one online, but I figured I could save on shipping if I bought one at the con. Ashley and Jeremy bought a figurine box thingy. All the figures were so cute! 

Lots of cosplayers at the convention as always!

And there's always someone with a boom box! 

NEXT! Getting ready for the Masquerade BALL!!!

And then I got to dance with someone! 

I gave my phone to Jeremy since he was the only one with pockets, and that is what happens. Now you all know I suck at dancing. But it was still a fun night, I even stayed friends with the gentleman I danced with! His name is Rob and he is cooollll. 

After the ball we went to the bar and there I had my first Cosmo! We were just a couple of animals at the bar! HAHA! 

And that's it for Day 2! If you want you didn't see Day 1, check it out! 

Day 1 -- here

ShutoCon 2013 Day 1 out of 4

So anime conventions… Who loves going to them? I DO! I love them, the people, and experiences. They are a wonderful way to meet people, learn things and to just have fun with people that would otherwise be strangers. There's just something great about being around people that make you feel normal, when the outside world thinks your anything but normal. We conventions goers even suffer from a little "con depression" when the convention is over. We have to go back to the real world, and the people in it. But we make some great friends, and because of that we are happy.

So ShutoCon took place at the Lansing Center this year. Lansing is Michigan's Capital, it's a pretty awesome place. Big river and lots of cool places and small restaurants. If your interested in ShutoCon and all it's amazing events check out there website - here

This years events included the voice actors of Dragon Ball Z (american dub), Masquerade Ball, Cosplay Competition, and some other great events. This Convention is also a Safe Zone for people. Bully someone you get kicked out,simple. Also this has to be the first convention I've ever been to where I've seen such a vast difference in ages! I saw a grandma dressed up as a white mage from Final Fantasy, and a man as old as my dad dressed up like Fred Flintstone! I seen mothers bring there 5-year olds and families coming to the convention together. It was truly a magical experience the see such a range of ages. Most cons I've been to you rarely see anyone under the teen age or over 30 something. It was relieving (to me at least) that it won't be weird if I still like stuff like this when I'm older.

Now lets start DAY 1! Went to Ashley's house and we left a day before the convention to get a heads up on settling in. I recommend this to all con goers! Even more so if your in Artist alley, or have a very detailed costume that takes time to get ready. You'll be thankful for every extra minute. 

This had been my first time wearing a wig, believe it or not. It was so much fun trying it on, and pretending my hair was long and blue. 

The car was packed! Jeremy couldn't see out the back window, and if he turned to hard boxes could fall. IT WAS AN ADVENTURE! And because of his silly driving I left a banana peel in his car all weekend…Just kidding. Jeremy is a good driver and I just forgot about the banana peel. 

When we got there we walked to the closest coffee place. I was going to get coffee…but I couldn't figure out how to talk to the people there on drinks. For me it's easier for me to make a Starbucks coffee vegan, then at that place. 

So we get settled into our room, move all our things in. Hang all our clothes up and put things in the drawers. Jeremy and I play around with his masquerade mask, talking about how it rests weird on your nose. Then Ashley notices they are working on the bathroom next store (she was out of the room) walks into the room, passes the bathroom and makes a disgusted scream noise. Our bathroom was flooded, and the tub was filled with gross water and the flood was soaked. Ashley then ran to the phone and did some of her hotel magic, getting us a new room and 25 dollars to spend within the hotel. 

After we moved everything into our new room, which looked exactly the same. We took in the view from our room, which thanks to Ashley's planning we got a room on the side of the hotel with a great view of the Lansing Convention Center and the main street. We then decided to walk to the Center and take a look around. We actually didn't think we would be able to get in, but the door was unlocked, so we continued on. It was so big and beautiful! The windows were amazing and colorful, and the architecture was lovely. Hey I can't help but appreciate a nicely built structure when I see one. After that we took a walk outside and explored the surrounding area. 

We walked along the river and saw lots of ducks. We stopped by a organic foods market, and saw a random door in the side of a building. We had fun making assumptions on what the door was used for. It was around a nice place to be, even with the silly graffiti. 

Later we stopped by Taco 911, it was a nice small sit down food place. There really wasn't anyone there, but I assume where there's a game in the stadium the place is packed. It's also the place where I left my business card. Though a last weekend while at Anime Park (small free convention) I noticed my number wasn't right on the card, it's my old number. So you can't call me, but feel free to send me an email or message here. 

And there you have it! The end of Day 1!! Day 2 coming soon! 

Bookmark Winners!

The votes are in! I give you the winner designs, I may print the others later just to see how will those do. I can't wait to get this in the mail, I'm nervous because I've never used the printing site before. But it was recommended to me by CynicalSniper-Studios. I can tell you $54.25 for 15 bookmarks of each with 7day shipping is not a bad price, so I am pleased with that. 

Sadly since I don't know much about the world of bookmarks, I went with the paper they recommended for bookmarks. Nothing special but hard card stock, I believe; but as time goes on I'm sure they will become more fancy! Hopefully these sell well at Shutocon! *Crossing my fingers* 

VOTE!! Which bookmarks should I print!!!

Happy Monday! 

Getting ready for a convention next month, I'm actually very behind in the work that needs to be done! So voting will only be open till Wednesday March 6th, 8PM, standard eastern time, after then I will count all the votes up to put my orders in Thursday morning. I'll be selling these at ShutoCon in Lansing, Michigan and (if all goes well) my very empty etsy store. Not sure on the prices yet, still have somethings to factor in. But for right now I just need to know which ones to print! All this are hand painted with water color and acrylic, then inked with a blank pen, only digital touching up was to adjust the colors a little from the scanner. Thinking about adding a bow to the top if I have enough time, if not they will go as is.

I enjoyed painting these very much, and had a lot of fun coming up with designs. I loved pokemon growing up, but never got into playing the games and I collected cards here and there. If anything it was just because the art on the cards was pretty. But even tho I didn't get into the typical games, I did HIGHLY enjoy Pokemon Snap and Hey You Pikachu! Those games were by far the best to me. 

I plan on painting all 150 original pokemon since those were my generations first and to me the most treasured out of them all. After the originals, I'll paint the all of the others and keep them in stock as long as they are asked for. 

NOW GO AND VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

Charmander

Eevee

Jigglypuff

Squirtle

Art for Shutocon 2013 Part 1

So I'm not really sure I told anyone here, but I'll be going to Shutocon 2013. It's a Anime/Video Game convention held in Lansing Michigan. I'll be sharing a table with my friend Ashley at Cynical Sniper Studios, I'll be selling my own work as well as helping sell her pillows as well. Since I haven't been to a convention  in a long time. I'm starting small and only selling 4 different pokemon images. I'm pretty sure I'll be doing bookmarks. Ashley really wants me to do buttons as well, if I have the time I will consider it. Just depends on money and time. So here's 2 of the 4 images I have done, please forgive me for the quality. All the photos were taken with the instagram app and I didn't think about showing them until now.

Enjoy!