New year, new stuff, lots of links!

The new year is here, and I'm finally ready to make my first post.

The second in Ari's series of artworks entitled 'Gina is unimpressed by dumb glasses'. The book shop bag in my hand seems to be quickly evolving into a permanent fixture.

So far it's been quite a busy year in terms of events and seeing friends. I've been to the vintage fair in Sheffield with Ari, and last week we finally held our first lolita meet up of 2014.

Maturity lapse.

I've been looking into volunteering opportunities (sadly it seems there aren't any!), and I recently wrote the first article on our joint blog in a while. It seems we took an unexpected hiatus, but we're busy working away on new features for the coming year and will hopefully become more productive in the next few months. 

Recently I have been reading a lot, trying to write more of the multiple Secret Book Projects That Will Never Be Finished, having fun times with friends, playing games, and thinking about the answers to the Big Scary Questions About The Future that need sorting. I've also been trying to keep up to date with my Goodreads account as one of my new year's goals was to try and read even more than usual!

I have a few plans in the upcoming months, and one of the most exciting is that I will be attending the annual Tea Party Club event in London in April, Enchanted!

I'm pretty damn excited for this event! I was meant to go to Frock On! which was their event last year but sadly in the end I couldn't make it. This year however I am definitely going to be there, and outfit planning is in the making, but I am also indecisive and this hinders the progress a little tiny bit lot. I am bouncing between styles - classic, gothic, or sweet. Polar opposites, I know...

A shot from the meet up last weekend, with newcomer Beth (second-to-the-right) who was lovely!

Also in the next month or so I will be purchasing my tickets for The Asylum weekend! It is totally unbelievable and mind-boggling to think that the recent event happened 5 months ago, and as usual I am proactive and planning my attire for the next one, where I will be accompanied by some of my closest friends!

At the beginning of the year I started making these cute jars for friends and family. I paint them and add glitter and ribbons, and sometimes add pieces of paper with funny memories that I've shared with that person. Everyone seemed to like them! One of my goals this year is to travel more and visit new places with Ari, and so I made myself a crazy rainbow jar in which to save my travel-funding monies!

In the next few weeks I plan to write another article for our joint blog, and keep up with my reading goals, not to mention updating this blog more and more frequently when I have news to share/things to ramble about/junk.  
 

Currently reading: This Star Won't Go out by Esther Earl.

Currently drinking: Copious amounts of chocolate milk.

Awesome internet person who makes me happy: Peachie!

What helped get me through this month: Her awesome musical talent

Lucky-Con 2013!

Today's post will be about my experience at Lucky-Con 2013! Enjoy!

                   My friend Ari (left) and me (right) in our co-ords for the con.

 

             

              My accessories: Ari took this shot after I bought the cute wrist cuffs from a trader at the con! They were good value for £6 - be sure to check out their online store:http://www.stockingshock.co.uk/

We were a little late to the con (my fault for having packages to pick up beforehand!) And when we got there we checked out the trader room. There were a lot less traders than last year which was a shame - although I'm sure my wallet was thankful! As well as Stocking Shock selling their cute handmade lolita accessories there was an anime/manga merch stall, a Japanese candy stall -Yay! I finally got strawberry Pocky! - a badge stall, an artist's craft stall, a photography stall and a trader selling awesome video game inspired footwear.

Ari looked super kawaii in her Bittersweet co-ord!

Yay, finally got my Pocky!

                                           

Quite a few people were in attendance at the con, here are just a few of them.

What time is it? Adventure Time!

 

 

 

 A great thing about the convention is that although it's small, run by a great group of volunteers and charges a reasonable price for tickets, all the money they make at the human auction ( a fun event where attendees bid for the company of the participants for the day), goes to the charity Aid for Japan, who offer respite and much-needed help to those who were affected by the recent Tsunami. Even now, years after the disaster many are left bereft of family members and many children were made orphaned in the wake of the earthquake.

 Akemi Solloway works with the charity to offer help and trips to the UK for young people who are traumatised by the tsunami. She showed a video of a girl who she helped after she lost her parents and sibling, and it was nice to see the other attendees giving something back to the country who's culture they admire so much. The human auction made over £400 for the charity which, for such a small convention, is an amazing achievement. It really warmed my heart to see those who could bidding £20 or more during the auction. It's definitely money well spent.

 

There was some amazing cosplaying going on at Lucky-Con this year. A lot of people had put a ton of effort into their outfits - some even making them by hand- which is really nice to see, especially at such a relatively small convention. 

Check out this ingenious Steve cosplay from Minecraft.

Sorry for the incoming out of focus shots - my mum's camera is old and unreliable - next time I'm definitely taking my beast Fuji instead!

The above cosplay (Jack the Faun) rightfully won the handmade cosplay competition. The amount of work and detail that went into the outfit and the make up was incredible.

 A selection of Vocaloids and Hello Kitty were also in attendance!

                          Everyone in the competition looked fabulous, there were some really original character choices this year.

After all that, there was time for some delicious ramen. The noodle shop worked out really well and was a new idea for this year - I'm pretty sure all the noodles sold out! Hmm I could go for some right now actually...

The convention offers many events throughout the day, including the aforementioned human auction, video game tournaments, a quiz, talks on Japanese culture and hobbies, cosplay competitions, karaoke and a disco and much more. Lucky-con was a hit again this year, and I estimate that it's popularity and amenities will only grow in the years to come, and I hope to be there to witness it myself!  Thanks to everyone who helped put the event together, and I'll see you next year! 

Sayonara gozaimasu!