AlpacaAsh

Ronghua: the making of a silk flower 🪷

I started learning Ronghua this year! It’s a technique from China all about using silk thread and wire to create flowers.

I’d seen this technique a little while ago and was fascinated by it. I’m very excited my current project called for a flower to be made. 😘

I’ve really enjoyed making this one and hope I have the time to make more. It’s very relaxing, except for the part when you cut the strips. That part is very scary. 😱 I did lose a couple petals in that step but it’s okay, we learn and get better! Here’s to learning new things and being okay with being bad at something. 🤝

Thank you to for the great resources! I also got my thread and tools from them for this project! Not sponsored at all. I just found them through a friend and decided to try it. 💕

✨Red Mage Cosplay Up-Close!✨

Since I wore my Red Mage cosplay to this year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest, I figured it was time to show some of the super up close details all in one place!

This cosplay was a ton of work because FFXIV designs are deceiving in just how much is going on. It took ample amounts of patterning, sewing, embroidery, structure, leatherwork, millinery, 3d modeling and printing, and prop work to complete! The hat and coat even have in-game stats in their linings!

I’ll always shoutout for helping me finish our moogle son and his home. She even made him a phoenix down to hold.
And also for walking me through a 2 step mold process to cast the little moogle out of silicone. 💕

I’m so happy she’s held up so well all these years and I plan to keep wearing her as long as possible!

Final fantasy XIV Fanfest Recap! 🫶✨

The weekend was a whirlwind and over way too quickly in my humble opinion. However, the folks we saw for either the first time or the first time in a long time, made it a magical whirlwind.

I will always stand by the statement that the FFXIV community is one of the best and most welcoming groups of people out there. Thank you for all the laughs, hugs, stickers, and dance moves.

Thank you to the team for making a great event for us all to come together and enjoy. It takes a lot to put something like this on, so know that your efforts were so greatly appreciated.

Taking these immaculate vibes into the rest of the year. 🙇🏼‍♀️💕

A Look At My Late Victorian Chemise!

I made this chemise last fall as part of my Sakizo Celes Opera Dress cosplay. I chose to dive into 1890’s fashion for this so to do it up right, I wanted to create all of the proper undergarments. I really want to get the correct silhouette and that starts from the inside!

I drafted my chemise based on patterns from Agnes Walker’s book “Needlework and Cutting Out”. I decided my neckline design and lace placement by taking inspiration from 1890’s fashion catalogs. It’s not an overly complicated garment but was a nice smaller project to knock out and get back into the swing of making garments again. I love how they turn all the raw edges to the outside and then cover with ribbon/tape. Historical fashion always gets my brain buzzing.

Petticoat still in progress but should have more to show soon! I’m posting in my highlights as I go as well!

Holiday Matsuri 2025 Post!!

What a magical weekend! I was honored to be a judge for the Winter Cosplay Championship and boy howdy, was it an amazing show.

Congratulations to all the contestants for all the amazing work. It was such a joy to see y’all and y’all are seriously inspiring. The passion was absolutely infectious. Thank you for letting me perceive you and roll around on the floor under your costumes. 💕

Congratulations to all our new Team USA’s!

NCC :
GICOF:
ECG: .cos and
WCS:

Congratulations to our craft winners!

Solo:
Duo: .impulse.cosplay

And a big congrats to all the folks who won sponsor and judges awards!!

Thank you to for trusting me with such an important job and all the back breaking work you do! Thank you for keeping things running! Thank you to for herding us judges! She’s an expert gremlin wrangler. Love you all so much 💕

And of course, thank you to my fellow judges (who are all hecking inspiring wth) for being the amazing and chaotic in all the best ways. Miss yall already 😭.

And thank you to all the friends I did get to see even if it was short bc of the hectic schedule! I was so happy to see all of you. 💕💕💕