Craft Your Cosplay Dreams

A compilation of costume designs and illustrations depicted in a fresh art nouveau style. Every page offers full colour illustrations and written insights into the concept and details behind the costumes. They offer a new twist on some much loved characters across numerous iconic series and is a source of inspiration for anyone with a love of all things geeky!

Recreate the braids, buns, and twists of your favorite historical, sci-fi, and fantasy heroes and heroines with Badass Braids. Step-by-step, illustrated instructions will show you how to make the hairstyles from Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Legend of Zelda, Vikings, The Lord of the Rings, and more. When she’s not studying for her PhD in social neuroscience, Silvousplaits (a.k.a. Shannon Burns) is creating and posting weekly instructional videos on her YouTube channel of DIY hair art that mimics the hairstyles of valiant men and women in the best historical, sci-fi, and fantasy shows and movies. In Badass Braids, Shannon shows you how to transform your hair, step by step. The book covers braids and styles from a full spectrum of fantasy worlds (and galaxies), from ancient adversaries and viking warriors to romantic renegades and sci-fi heroines. With an introduction to the styling techniques for different kinds of basic braids, interviews with behind-the-scenes stylists and actors, and original styles inspired by fan-favorites, you will learn to recreate the hairstyles of Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Anne Boleyn (The Tudors), the Norse king Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings), Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), and many more. Badass Braids is the perfect gift for geeky men and women of all ages!

"This is teaching at its best!" --Hans Camenzind, inventor of the 555 timer (the world's most successful integrated circuit), and author of Much Ado About Almost Nothing: Man's Encounter with the Electron (Booklocker.com) "A fabulous book: well written, well paced, fun, and informative. I also love the sense of humor. It's very good at disarming the fear. And it's gorgeous. I'll be recommending this book highly." --Tom Igoe, author of Physical Computing and Making Things Talk A "magnificent and rewarding book. ... Every step of this structured instruction is expertly illustrated with photos and crisp diagrams. . . . This really is the best way to learn." --Kevin Kelly, in Cool Tools The first edition of Make: Electronics established a new benchmark for introductory texts. This second edition enhances that learning experience. Here you will find unique, photographically precise diagrams of breadboarded components, to help you build circuits with speed and precision. A new shopping guide and a simplified range of components, will minimize your investment in parts for the projects. A completely new section on the Arduino shows you how to write properly structured programs instead of just downloading other people's code. Projects have been reworked to provide additional features, and the book has been restructured to offer a step-by-step learning process that is as clear and visually pleasing on handheld devices as it is on paper. Full color is used throughout. As before, Make: Electronics begins with the basics. You'll see for yourself how components work--and what happens when they don't. You'll short out a battery and overheat an LED. You'll also open up a potentiometer and a relay to see what's inside. No other book gives you such an opportunity to learn from real-life experiences. Ultimately, you will build gadgets that have lasting value, and you'll have a complete understanding of how they work. From capacitors to transistors to microcontrollers--it's all here. Hans Camenzind, inventor of the 555 Timer (the world's most successful integrated circuit chip), said that "This is teaching at its best!" when he reviewed the first edition. Now the second edition offers even more!

A Beginner's Guide to Special Makeup Effects: Monsters, Maniacs and More is an introduction to special effects makeup using cost-effective tools and materials that can be found in local stores. The book is divided into three sections - Simple Makeup, Advanced Materials and Techniques and Advanced Makeup - and features tutorials to create characters such as a pirate, vampire, ghost, robot, burn victim, witch, zombie and goblin. Each character is introduced with a full-page photograph of the finished makeup and illustrated with full-color, step-by-step photographs. The book also includes instructions on how to make fake teeth, apply bald caps, create gory wounds and injuries and make simple prosthetics. Each makeup tutorial is designed to progressively build on the techniques outlined in the preceding tutorial, guiding readers from the basics of foundation, highlight and shadow to creating advanced creature makeups. This is a beginner makeup book suited for students of Stage Makeup courses, as well as for the theatre technician working and training on their own.

In First Time Sewing with a Serger, sewing experts Becky Hanson and Beth Baumgartel take you by the hand and teach you everything you need to know to sew with a serger, or overlock machine—a versatile and speedy stitching tool. Start by learning how a serger works, the many styles available, and the roles of various parts and accessories. Get a detailed overview of the variety of functional and decorative stitches you can make, plus must-have threads, tools, and notions. Next, familiarize yourself with how to thread your serger, set the stitch size, and use it to start and end seams, sew curves and corners, and more. You'll use these essential skills to make the nine fun, easy garment and home decor projects--skills you'll turn to again and again to create your own professional-looking pieces!

In First Time Garment Fitting, sewing and design expert Sarah Veblen takes you by the hand and teaches you everything you need to know to adapt patterns so you can sew garments that fit just right. With detailed descriptions of essential tools and techniques, the easy step-by-step instructions will have you altering patterns and sewing tops, pants, and skirts that fit you to a T in no time. The projects introduce key skills you’ll use again and again for all your garment sewing. With First Time Garment Fitting, you’ll soon be sewing amazing clothing with confidence.

Have you been trying to think of a way to conquer your local comic convention through cosplay? Do you gaze with envious eyes upon the fan-made suits of armored awesomeness strolling around every year on Halloween? Do you have a spot on your wall, bookshelf, or desk that desperately needs to be filled with a screen-accurate replica of your favorite science-fiction or fantasy weapon? If so, look no further. We've got just the book for you! In this book, master prop maker Shawn Thorsson uses his unique blend of humor and insight to turn years of painful experience into detailed explanations. He'll show you many of the tools, methods, and processes that you can use to create professional-looking science fiction and fantasy props and armor. The ultimate collision of creative imagination and practical maker skills, making props and costume armor involves sculpting, molding, casting, 3D printing, CNC fabrication, painting, and countless other techniques and technologies. In this book, you'll learn: Basic fabrication methods using inexpensive, commonly-available tools and materials Simple, low-cost methods to make foam armor out of easy-to-find foam mats How to use the popular Pepakura software to build 3D models with paper Multiple molding and casting techniques How to build a "vacuforming" machine to make armor from plastic sheet stock Painting and weathering techniques that will bring your props to life Just enough safety advice to keep you from losing body parts along the way Whether you're just a beginner or a seasoned builder with countless projects behind you, this book is sure to be an invaluable addition to your workshop library.

An essential sewing reference, including how-tos for dozens of stitches, sewing and mending basics, embroidered embellishments, and creative projects. Discover the pleasures of slow stitching as Lynn Krawczyk shows you how to enjoy the meditative process of stitching by hand. Stitching and embroidery are great ways to add color, texture, and interest to all kinds of textiles. After mastering a variety of stitches, apply them to imaginative projects, such as a boro sketchbook cover, a stuffed toy bunny, a wabi sabi neck scarf, and an embroidered square bowl. Even experienced sewers and embroiderers will learn how to transfer patterns, ideas for organizing and caring for thread, differences in thread types, and troubleshooting tips. Hand Sewing Magic is an all-in-one guide for hand stitchers of all levels of skill, and for all applications. In this unique guide book you will: Get an in-depth overview of tools and materials, including thread, needles, fabric, and other key supplies. Explore a comprehensive visual dictionary of thirty-five stitches, plus dozens of variations, including basic mending, stylish decorative embellishments, and unique art stitching. Discover key techniques, such as starting and ending threads, the correct way to use an embroidery hoop, stitching curved shapes, color shading, and more. Gain confidence in your stitching and embroidery skills as you try new techniques. Learn essential tips and tricks from influential and innovative stitchers, including Joanne Sharpe, Allison Aller, and Catherine Redford. Use stitches and techniques in unique ways for ten simple and stunning projects. With Hand Sewing Magic, you'll make the most of your hand stitching and give all your projects a beautiful handmade look.