Lightning Cosplay

A friend recently shared this amazing photo of "Lightning Cosplay" modeling one of her recently made costumes, and advertising her new book Lightning Cosplay - "Horns and Headdresses".

Photographs property of Lightning Cosplay

I downloaded the digital version for a bit over seven dollars to take a look at how she was making the detailed horns and the antlered headdresses that you can see on the Lightning Cosplay website portfolio.

The digital book is well worth the few dollars and gave me a great introduction to using thermoplastics such as Kobracast and Worbla. While we have dabbled in some other modeling and casting materials,  I've never even heard of these materials which she writes are very common materials used by Cosplayers.

Photographs property of Lightning Cosplay

The book is well written with great step by step photos and of course photos of the beautiful headdresses she has created. After reading it, I definitely want to get some of these materials to experiment. Check out her website or Facebeook page. Even if your not interested in creating your own headdresses, the photos of her creations are certainly Pinterest worthy!

As of this blog date she is currently sold out of horns on the Lightning Cosplay Etsy site but states that she creates and sells them fairly regularly.

An Appreciation of the Deliveryman

Sometimes I do have to wonder what the ladies and gentlemen from the various delivery services must think goes on at this house.

We've received some unusually labeled boxes from the postal services over the last few years; packages marked from "The Skeleton Store", a rather ominous looking package from "Halloween Haunt Sauce" labeled "poison", with skull and crossbones stickers, and the last few months have included our labeled "Monster of the Month" boxes.

Distortion's Unlimited "Monster of the Month"

I suppose the've seen it all though, they never give us weird looks or ask questions. Besides, they might be more disturbed if they knew what was actually in some of the boxes...

January's "Monster of the Month" the severed head of a vampire.

Hogwart's Gargoyles

I really have to appreciate the imagination of J.K. Rowling combined with the creativity of Universal Studios. These are amazing sculptures.

Entrance to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Owl Post

Did a little exploring in Hogsmeade yesterday, the end of a dismal rainy day that turned out rather nice by the time I made the drive. If your not a Harry Potter fan, Hogsmeade is the fictional wizard village of shops. This was really my first time to explore Hogsmeade on the Adventure Island side of Universal Studios Theme Park.

Hogsmeade street of shops

Rather liked the storefront design of the Owl Post Post Office

The Owl Post is the method of mail delivery by the wizards using, you guessed it, owls. You can buy stationary, cards, journals etc. in this store. It's a neat feature that you can mail your letters here and get the official Owl Post postmark. From what I learned though, you better bring a stamp because a sheet of ten of the official Harry Potter stamps are $15.

All the roof tops and businesses are covered with snow and ice  per the book

If you just want the Owl Post postmark though, to the right of the storefront is a cart where you can buy a postcard or whatever paper good you want and they will stamp it with the post mark for you.

I pilfered this photo from the internet, mine wasn't quite this clear

Thought it would have been a nice touch to have the owls animated in the window but they were just stuffed owls

Really have to appreciate how they made everything old looking, note the water stained ceiling. At least I think that is an intentional detail and not an actual water leak...

Owl Perches. Those boxes on the left are wands. There are lots and lots of wands in Hogsmeade. 

Self explanatory

Maybe I will post a few other images of Hogsmeade , Hogwarts, and Diagon Alley in the next few weeks before the weather gets to hot and the Universal Studio's crowds get bigger. I thought the Owl Post and getting the postmark was sort of a hidden gem for the HP fan that you might not otherwise pay attention to.