London Anime Con

This year London Anime Con is being held on Saturday 9th February through to Sunday 10th February at the Rocket Complex N7 8DB and I am lucky enough to have a table in the Upstairs Zone exhibiting as ShinkuRose (same as my Etsy shop).  This is both very exciting and scary all at the same time.

The first decision I had to make is what to stock as this is the very first Lolita stall I have run.  After a lot of thought and discussion with my sewing partner, I decided on Jumper Skirts (JSK’s) and a few one pieces (OP’s) and these would be designed in such a way that one size would fit size 8- 10 and the larger size `12-14/16 with the offer to make to order both smaller and larger sizes.  I had made myself a JSK for MCM Expo which was complemented on and photographed a lot, it was also very easy and comfortable to wear and the construction was based on brand Lolita designs.  I used this to make the patterns for my garments which have  lovely shirred backs and the JSK’s have elasticated straps.

  

After making the patterns, fitting the toiles on my willing volunteers, the next stop was fabric shopping, always a joy, never a chore.  So on a sunny Sunday in December we set off for Bath where there is a super fabric shop in Green Street called Fashion Fabrics which has a great stock of cottons and spent lots of money and bought lots of super cotton.

      

I want to offer sweet, classic, country and gothic Lolita styles but the fabrics I found in Bath just covered Sweet, Country and Classic, there was nothing for Gothic so a couple of weeks later we had another shopping trip but this time to Shepherd’s Bush where there are some amazing fabric shops.  I felt like a kid in a sweety shop here as there were so many to choose from.

So far the JSK’s are nearly completed and the OP’s are started.

I am also going to have lots of hair accessories, canotiers and brooches which I have started but more of this later.

Toiles

Started my outfit and I have photographed the fitting process:

The start of the blouse

This is in the actual fabric and now just needs the sleeves finishing with a frill, the neckline needs to be completed and pretty buttons bought and buttonholes made

The JSK

Calico pinned to fit

The Back

The shirred back will obviously look neater on the finished dress

The Straps

Now to make the changes to the pattern and cut out.  Here is the lovely fabric I bought in Bath that I am going to use

Day out in London

I visited London last weekend if full Gothic Lolita coord. I had a great time and lots of compliments. On the station in Richmond a stranger asked to take my photo, in Covent Garden again my photo was taken this time without asking and lots of people said lovely things. My brother’s grandmother-in-law to be said I looked like a ‘little doll’.

In China Town

Drinking Boba tea

Next outing is to MCM Expo and I am planning what to make and wear for it at the moment. I bought some great border fabric in a super little shop in Bath and will be wearing full on sweet Lolita. I have some accessories but am also making some more, a bow headband and a fuzzy brooch are on the list to do.