Philly Comic Con

So a couple of weekends ago we headed up to Philly to the Wizard World Comic Con. I love comics and Billy D. Williams was supposed to be there, so I was all about it. Here's some pictures!


We were greeted by a flock of jedi on the escalators.


Billy D. Williams! First thing in the door, there he is and a wig out and get nervous and can't say anything. Also, Margo Kidder was right next to him. It was almost too much right at the start!


Please excuse the blurriness...but I had to take this one quick haha


And clearly this guy is blurry because he's moving so fast...


I loved this bucket of pokemans.


So good.


The Boondock Saints were there, too. Another freak out moment ^_^


And a Delorian! This is a street legal replica of the Back to the Future time machine. You had to pay to have sit in it, but all the procedes went to Team Fox for Parkinson's Research, so we were more than happy to contribute.


We stepped out of the convention center for a bit to grab some cash because the atm's there had been drained lol. Also Andy had never been around Philly, so we saw some of the more notable downtown stuffs and Chinatown.






So much fun and geekery! We got some prints from Tom Whalen and Josh Howard was there and I geeked out for a hot second and got a book from him.

We're still gearing up for Otakon...more buttons and all kinds of super cute things will debut at our booth there. So if you love Anime, totally swing by!


<3

The Katsucon Experience

So one of the things I do as an artist to get my work out there is to go to different conventions. I've been to Otakon in Baltimore twice, it's the second largest Anime convention in the country with about 20,000 attendees a year. Wizard World Philly once, it's a comic convention hosted by Wizard Magazine. And last weekend was my first time at Katsucon, a smaller Anime convention in DC that has about a couple thousand that attend. So far, Otakon has been my greatest success, I doubled my profit the second year I went and this year we are planning to move from the Artist Alley to the Dealer's Room, which WAY more people visit and fork over their cash ^_^

Katsucon was kind of disappointing. I had a good time, my sister came with me and my friends Clint & Alicia from Alicia's Anime were in the dealer's room so we got to hang out when we needed a break from our booths. The disappointing part was how the con was run. It was their first year in a new venue, which always has it's issues, but those of us in the Artist Alley definitely had our qualms. The Crafter's Corner of the Alley was were people who do 3D art, amigurumi, jewelry, cosplay, buttons, etc. could have their booths. First we were promised a space in the dealer's room, which was super exciting! Then they came back and said we were moved back into the Alley, but they would open the divider between the Dealer's Room and the Alley so we would have more exposure. Ok! Sounds great! And it was for the first day, but then on Saturday, which is generally the busiest day of any weekend convention, the wall was closed, and stayed closed the rest of the time. Lame.

Another complaint some of the artist's had were the specifics of what could be sold. Generally, artist sell mostly Fan Art and commissions for Fan Art and a little bit of original stuff. Katsucon wanted very little fan art and mostly original stuff. They pushed the point by making some artist take down some of their work once they were already there. And with my buttons, there was a tiny rule that I never saw that said you couldn't sell buttons with words on them. So all of those new buttons I designed? Yeah, they made me take them down. Half of my stock was taken down. If they had been more specific I would have spent a lot more time on other designs that would have been acceptable. Super Lame.

I know a few of the artists this year that not going back to that con. It would definitely take a lot for me to do that con again. But we made the best of it, made a profit at least and got some good photos. Here's the pictures, which is what most of you are going to look and pay no attention to my tl:dr ^_^

My view on the first day. I could see into the dealer's room with people moving back and forth through both rooms. Plus I could run over and see Alicia's Anime quick like a bunny!

My booth on Friday. Look at all those pretty buttons! And my pretty sister! She was trainer from Pokemon.

Button close-up.

Jackie! Gotta catch 'em all.

Professor Sprout was there! I'm glad she was wearing the proper protective ear muffs for the Mandrakes.

Domo kun was there, too.

This was our view on Saturday and Sunday. Awesome o.O

GAH! Storm and Scout Troopers! I was SO happy to see them. We were just chillin.

And don't forget R2D2. I love how he's cheesin ^_^

Gagas! Jackie took this one, I never saw them but I was super excited when I saw the pic on the camera.

Dr. Who cast? Yes, please.

This sushi's name is Paco. He was covered in buttons by the end of the weekend!

She came by every day stock up on more buttons ^_^

The booth on Saturday with the Alley behind us.

They stuck the gamers in the back of the hall.

In the dealer's room. There were lots of swords.

Happy Japan was there! I love them.

Alicia & Clint from Alicia's Anime. I love them! Check out there site, they have so much cool stuff.

Some New Designs!

I've been working on a bunch of new designs for Katsucon (Next weekend!) and here are some of them. I have about 30, but I don't want to overload my shop, so 10 will work for today. Let me know what you think!

This one is my favorite ^_^

Sweet Lolita & Sweet Rococo has some beautiful sweet loli dresses!

Gothic Lolita

Harajuku Girl. My sister got me a dress from the Harajuku District ^_^

No, I will NOT draw you as an anime character! For people with great talent who get taken advantage of by their friends lol

Yummy Sushi! Give me a spicy tuna roll any day.

Kiss me, I'm an Anime Fan :-*

Onigiri!

This says Kawaii - it means cute!

I draw anime. I wish I could draw it well.

Otakon 09 Picture Extravaganza!

It's been a week since Otakon and I'm still dizzy from the experience. It was SO much fun. We couldn't escape from the booth too much to look around, though I did venture into the dealer's room a couple of times ^_^ Anyway, we had a GREAT weekend and The Pink Samurai is going strong. Here are some pictures of the awesome kids who came out to the show.

Imagine this x 4...and on two floors. I love that Jason is in the middle!

Shun! Shun the non-believer!

Super kawaii in orange.

I don't know what's happening here, but I like it.

This guy had a huge contraption on his back, I applauded his dedication.

Couldn't get a good pic of them, but they were Dr. Girlfriend & Phantom Limb from the Venture Bros.! Only my favorite cartoon ever.

You're gonna say "wow' every time.

OMG RAPTOR JESUS! This guy won Otakon in my mind.

A couple of my sister's friends stopped by to say hi and raid the buttons.

The cutest Bumblebee Mario ever.

I think this is a neopet or something. Props to them if they made that themselves.

I don't think the phone is part of the cosplay.

Remeber her from my first Otakon? She came back wearing the purse she got from me 2 years ago! I was so happy to see it still being used and loved. Its the 99 potions bag. I'll have more bags for you next year, I promise ^_^

I'm a helper.

Checking out the buttons. Dick dyi-ed me a sweet display out of an old frame from Salvation Army.

I wish I could do this every day.

21 & 24! More Venture Bros. goodness. They actually found their pic on my flickr and commented on it! It made my day.

So cute. She was bopping people on the head all day.

na naaaa na na na na na na naa na na na na na naaaa

Samurai Pikachu.

We did really well at the show, a good example for other crafty people that craft fairs aren't the only way to go. Next year will be even better and we're already planning our next cons! Anime USA, Nekocon, and Katsucon here we come!