10 year blogging break anniversary prevented

Hello!

Long time no see! I mean, it has barely been 9 and half years since last update. Why this blog was left behind is due to many reasons. Facebook and other social media happened, life happened, change in my cosplaying ways happened... But I think it's more important why this text now exists.

Also, it is so weird that like 98% of Finnish cosplay blogs died between 2015-2016.

I'm tired of the fast paced cosplay atmosphere. And also unsure about where it is going. I want a place where to write texts and thoughts longer than what I can fit into Instagram story. Social media feels like it's always in a hurry, and that I somehow need to make every little bit of content impactful, grand, showy. To fight for attention. Even if it only was a very simple WIP photo of something I am working on. Also IG feels like it's going to explore any moment, and I have no idea what is the next best alternative. No more cosplay.com or worldcosplay.net 😅

When I last wrote, there was a different kind of community, where crafting WIPs was the main thing to be shared. Then the ready result. I am a crafter first and foremost. I crave a place for slower, more personal way to share content. A place which search engines can find, since content uploaded to any social media is lost into abyss once it has been there for longer than a week. So that if someone is making the same costume, they can find the work of someone else who has done it too.

So hello. 

Aerith, latest big cosplay build. Photo by Arcilune

What has happened

I have always been bad with my internet nicks. Now I use the name Niinkos in cosplay context. I have probably lost few people on the way thanks to changing it, sorry! Currently I only post to Instagram.

Cosplay for me has changed in last 10 years. These days it is about crafting, and friends. Before I chased some recognition and numbers(guilty...), but now I just want to make silly little costumes from games and sources that mean something to me. It makes me happy if my friends like the stuff and I can connect to people who are fans of the same series. Instead of making something new for every convention, I cherish every make and try to choose costumes I want to wear again and again. I try to get photos of every costume in different locations, moods. 

What has happened

I'm trying to rack my brain for what has happened since my last time here. I'm not sure if I even made any costumes between 2017-2022. Missing from here are BotW Link and Star Trek TNG uniform which were made in those busy years during finishing uni and finding work. Then in 2022 I started cosplay crafting again as I completed Critical Role Jester, which was a proper driving force back into cosplay scene. It also helped that conventions happened again after the big bad C.

And boy, was a break needed. In late 2017 I was making wrong cosplays for the wrong reasons and not generally enjoying the hobby and the convention scene as I should.

Cosplay is one of the most wasteful hobbies, especially when chasing reference accuracy. Getting more use out of every bit of material, and the time spent making the costumes, should be the goal.

What else...

There was this WoW CMV -project in 2019. (Please don't watch any of the channel's newer stuff, it's some AI-made craptastical crap). But it would be fun to take part in something like this again!

I discovered that pair cosplays are a very good driving force for completing costumes!

I partook in a competition with a skit! Link to the skit

Photo from the end of our Assembly Summer 2023 competition skit with Nevara. Photo: Mikael Peltomaa.

Competition participation taught me patience I didn't know was possible for me. That, if I'm not happy with something, I should remake it until I am happy with it.

I am part of the old fart 30+ cosplayers club of Finland who have no idea anymore what the youth are up to.

Not cosplay related, but I also started reading again. Just finished Stormlight Archive. Last year I dove into bunch of 80-90s fantasy, like The Belgariad, The Death Gate Cycle(fav from childhood💘) and Dragonriders of Pern. Next up on the list I have Malazan Book of the Fallen, after I have read some bit more lightweight stuff. Need a palate cleanser between two huge fantasy series.

What is to come

Now I'm working on a dream costume, which I have had in the back of my mind for these past 10 years. Ever since completing OG/Dissidia Terra from FFVI, I have wanted to make a Sakizou version of her. Now it is coming. With all it's details and bling, fancy fabrics and knick knacks. And I would like to share that journey here.

I am also hoping to hone up my cosplay photography skills. I aim to do more on-location shoots. And I really would love to make a CMV. Maybe shoot with people I don't know, though I don't feel like I'm good enough yet.

My photography from Desucon 2023. Upper row: Fukka as Senjougahara and Link, bottom left: Nevara as Malon, bottom right: Woodi as Hanayo Koizumi

I am also hoping I would be less introverted and meet  the people in Finnish cosplay scene more. But it is hard when having non-existant bravery when it comes to getting to know new people.

Goals are goals for a reason.

But, until next time! This was meant as a kind of wrap-up of last 10 years. Next posts might drive deeper into things that have happened or will happen.