Working away like a busy bee!

Tuesday night I started the painting process again. I just finished up a few minutes ago, painting 3 shields took roughly six and a half hours total. My back hurts and my hand is cramped up from holding the paintbrush for so long. Those are the last ones I will do before Anime North, so at least I won't have to put myself through any more pain for that particular item. I've still got to put the five of them together though, for a total of 8.
I've also been working on a few other items over the weekend. I made an improved version of the Kokiri shield purse and the tuxedo mask slumber mask, each several times. I'm really itching to get some Cosplay started, or else I won't get any done and I would be sad.

The Fruits of Yesterday's Labours

Last night I finished my first prototype of this Kokiri Shield purse. At first I didn't really like it, but after not staring it for a few hours I think it's kind of cute. I especially like that it takes a lot shorter to make than the Hylian backpack. That one takes ages to paint. It might be a little small, and I'd like to devise a better method of attaching the strap. This way is a little awkward and it is difficult to attach the strap to the zipper. It is fully lined though, with an inner zipper pocket.

This is an assortment of applique eyes I've started on. Can you tell whose they will be?

Hylian Prototype

Over the past week I've been working on a few things. I finished my first prototype of the Hylian Shield backpack I am going to sell at Anime North.

There were a few of problems I had in the construction. I realized as I was sewing the side panel of the bag onto the back face that I had somehow drafted the zipper panel too short. In itself, that isn't too big of a deal as the zipper is still long enough to give the bag a large opening, but the fact that I already bought the zippers at the shorter length means that I have to account for the mistake somewhere else. Since I had already cut out the bottom panels in the canvas and interfacing and I had them mostly constructed, I decided to cut out the extra length I would need out of the brown canvas and attach it between the zipper panel and the bottom panel at both ends sans interfacing. The structural integrity of the bag is still alright though. I extended the bottom pattern piece for the rest of the bags I make.

I also found that the original straps I drafted are too short. They are an alright length for someone my size to wear but don't allow for much adjustment and would probably not be comfortable on someone with substantial shoulders. I've made the pattern piece 3 inches longer now.

I didn't like how the zipper pocket in the inside turned out in the prototype. The zippers I bought are too thin to make the zipper look nice on the right side without any extra bits added. I bought some brown bias tape so that I could just add some seam allowance but then I decided it would be nicer just to make a welt that covers the zipper. Overall I'm pretty happy with what I came up with. Now I just have to make it like 15 times, and make some other items I can sell too.