1000 AMAZING COSPLAY & COSTUME IDEAS

Many of you know that we are working on putting together a new publication through Quarry Books that will be 1000 Incredible Cosplay and Costume Ideas. I wanted to write a post to explain why we wanted to do this book. Dr. Grymm and I aren’t necessarily known for cosplay, so I want to tell you a little about our inspiration.

I have been reading comic books and playing video games avidly as a geek girl since I was in high school and I discovered a band of nerds to hang around with. I used to watch Animes, trade comics and play Magic the Gathering and D & D with these friends. I remember spending time talking with one friend in particular about the clothing designs in games and comics. It always stuck with me that we would talk about how some of particularly the female costumes seem to defy physics and that was part of the appeal. These were designs that could be free from constraints of the real world. That observation always stuck with me.

Fast forward to 15 years later and I started following along at home with two particular friends who really provided the inspiration bed for us to start researching this process. The first is our friend (and one of the artists featured in the 2011-2012 Steampunk Bizarre) Jessica Lilley. Last summer Jessica worked hard to create a terrifically accurate Tali Z’Orah cosplay from Mass Effect 3 for DragonCon. Joey and I played along at home watching progress pictures and chatting with Jessica about various ways to make the costume come to life and be safe to wear (seeing is really overrated), while still being accurate to the source material. I was so fascinated by the process that I started to look at other costumers and realized all the amazing work that was being done.



People were taking those physics defying designs that are so appealing from games and comics and MAKING THEM REAL. Not only making them real but making them well enough that they could be worn all day at a convention and stay in place or hold up. I started to fall in love with the INNOVATION that these people were accomplishing on a daily basis. No one was selling them a pattern and giving instructions on how to do something, they were just making their own way. Not only that, we learned that people were swapping tips and suggestions on how to make the costumes just that much more accurately and creating this incredible community of people doing amazing things.

You can see the appeal of having these incredible photos that really show off the work that is put into a costume and making all the details perfect. Along with that comes the ability to roleplay a bit and have some fun. I find that my favorite images are the ones where the cosplayers are really getting into the spirit of becoming the character. For instance I saw a Yuna cosplay last night where the subject was standing on water and splashing with her staff. It looked straight out the game. More than that though, IT LOOKED FUN.

Those are the things we want to highlight with this project. Innovation, artistry and fun. I am so amazed to see the submissions I am getting from all over the world. I got one from South Africa, which came with a little back story to the work. The cosplayers who submitted couldn't access the same kind of materials we can get here in the US for a reasonable budget. So instead of cintra or craft foam, they made this incredible looking armor out of cardboard, papier mache and joint compound. That's the kind of work that makes me wish we had more space to include information about each project, because you can't tell what materials were used from the photos.

To add even more excitement to the book, we are joined by Internationally known Cosplayer, Yaya Han as a co-author of this book! She has lent her knowledge and point of view about this great community to this publication and we couldn't be more honored to have her onboard.

In a personal statement from Yaya:

"I just would like to re-iterate what a great project this is. Even though there is no monetary compensation, I believe this book is worth being a part of. Why? Because the cosplay scene is growing fast and shifting toward the mainstream. But right now the public media still has huge misconceptions about cosplayers as fetishists, booth babes, and faux geeks.

We need to set the record straight, by giving the mainstream media a collection of incredible costumes that are hand/home made, with passion and creativity. I want to be a part of "1000 Incredible Cosplay and Costume Ideas" because I know it can help non-geeks and mass media understand what WE are all about, and what is means to be a cosplayer. I believe this book can serve as a guideline to Cosplay for many years to come. So please read the guidelines and SUBMIT! Be a part of Cosplay History!"

When this book is actually in my hands next year I am going to be so proud of it. I can't wait to do some traveling to promote the work inside of it. I will be telling the story about the South Africa cosplayer, and the gentleman who submitted a version of Kilik from Soul Caliber IV that was hand painted by his grandmother. These are the inspirational stories that I wanted to celebrate with this book and these are the stories that I want to make sure are told.

Please help spread the word! Time is running out (August 31) and we want the best from around the world. E-Mail us directly at 1000@DrGrymmLaboratories.net.

Cheers!

Mrs. Grymm

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR GIVE AWAY!

Mrs. Grymm was recently treated with an advanced review copy of the Girl in the Clockwork Collar, the sequel to the Girl in the Steel Corset by our good friend, Kady Cross. The book is officially released in May. 

I enjoyed discovering New York as imagined by Ms. Cross - its always fun to read about a familiar place and enjoy the way the author has captured it. I read most of this book on the train to the city for a meeting last week, and couldn't put it down, its a very exciting and quick read. I had to walk by the current location of the Waldorf-Astoria on my way and found myself immediately picturing Finley standing in the same spot (although, if you read the author's well researched notes Finely would have been at a different address!), as some of the action is related to the hotel. If you like intrigue, action, and good fight scenes I urge you to check out this series.

Dr. Grymm Laboratories happens to have an extra advanced review copy of the book available for giveaway! You can win the copy by leaving a comment here on the blog telling us why you want to read this book! We'll pick our favorite comment a week from today, Tuesday, 3/6. Only comments here on the blog will count so make sure to pass it on. We'll have the book signed by the author and personalized however the winner wishes.


CONTEST UPDATE! 3/6/12

It looks like we have a winner! Kady Cross has made her decision and the winner of the advanced copy of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar goes to JOHN KELLIN! Kellin Please contact us at DrGrymm@DrGrymmLaboratories.net to arrange for us getting the book to you.
Thank you and congratulations to all who sumbitted an entry!
 

Mrs. Grymm

Dr. Grymm on Selling NY: The Steampunk Apartment

As some of you remember, we had mentioned in summer of last year that we were asked to be on the HGTV show Selling NY, to assist them in helping explain the Steampunk subculture and design aesthetic. Why? Because they had a unique and difficult apartment they needed to sell for an eccentric client. This property has been well publicized in several papers and magazines as well as being one of the Wall Street Journals top viewed articles. This of course brought along alot of negative commentary from both the Steampunk community and self appointed critics of unique apartments. Now I can understand that without actually having the opportunity to experience this apartments first hand, the typical couch jockey might label it cluttered, a mess, juvenile, ridiculous and my favorite, "not Steampunk at all".

So after doing some research, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt a Realtor from CORE found me via our book 1000 Steampunk Creations and brought me on to be the "Steampunk Expert", a title I have never been comfortable with. NO ONE is a Steampunk Expert. Like any art based movement, it is up to the viewer to interpret and make their own opinion on an esthetic that is loosely based on time periods, styles, and materials. Of course being that it is an alternate reality, there is no real right or wrong no matter what the stubborn Neo-Vics and uptight posers would like you to believe. Yes it comes from our rich history of literature storytelling, science and invention, but an actual part of history... No.

So is this unique apartment completely Steampunk? No. But is any thing out there that completely is? No. The movies and books we love have the elements in it and most usually are not completely Steampunk and there is still a thread of realism and actual history to them. This apartment is an nice mixture of Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Post Apocalyptic, but more so it was designed by someone who loved and appreciated the look for himself. People forget that it's not that the Realtors who decorated this apartment by what they thought Steampunk was because it is a "hot new movement hitting the main stream". This apartment is as unique as the fellow who decided to live in it, not even he knew what Steampunk was, and when he up and moved on he left these Realtors with a challenge.

Coming from an apartment sales background during a chapter of my life, I understood this challenge all too well. They were in a bind. They wanted someone to buy this apartment for what it was, not to gut it and start over. This Apartment is not just filled with junk. most of the pieces are valuable antiques and parts of history that were discarded and refurbished now with a purpose. And no, it's not every ones cup of tea, but that's OK. There is someone who will love it. Their "needle in a haystack" buyer, and I for one was honored to lend my voice to help them find that person.

I made the call to a select few of the people in the Steampunk community to help the potential buyers and other agents realize that we the Steampunk Community are not a bunch of freaks running around in costumes. We are intelligent, talented, business minded artists who haven't forgotten how powerful imagination is. As most who know me, I am very selective about what I lend my voice and image to. I don't do this for fame and glory. I believe that what I say ultimately represents not only me and my business, but also the Steampunk Art community that I have come to love.

So all in all, here is edited episode showing just the Steampunk property. Special thanks to CORE, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt, Michael Bridenstine and the crew for coming out to my Lab and allowing me to be a part of this.

So final word from Dr. Grymm: It's your choice how you decorate your home. Be it white walls, gothic, tree house, or dungeon. When we as Steampunks start judging what others precieve as "Steampunk done wrong", we are no better then the people who hate our community and our imagination, and we're not helping anyone. Please let Steampunk inspire others the way it inspired you! I don't care if it's Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, your neighbors kid, or your mail man! We all have the right to our own opinions.  Don't let anyone ever tell you differently.

Furthermore, it you ARE the right person for this apartment, contact CORE today!!

Thanks for watching and reading.

~Dr. Grymm

BOOK REVIEW: Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos!

We recently received our review copy of the new how-to book penned by Thomas Willeford of Brute Force Studios. The book is titled Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos. Its no secret that we are friendly with Thomas, his work has appeared in our last two Steampunk Bizarre exhibitions.

That being said, I think he has done a great job putting this book together. If you have ever heard Thomas give one of his panels at a convention, you'll clearly recognize his voice and story telling style all throughout this book. He has lots of side bar anecdotes and tips that come across as though you are listening to Mister Willeford himself.

My favorite section of the book is the chapter he wrote about finding his materials at flea markets and antique stores. I like that he took the time to discuss valuable antiques versus items that are more commonly found and the importance of researching items before disassembling them. Dr. Grymm and I got into steampunk from the angle of enjoying finding old items and learning about their previous purpose as well as a way to give new life to scavenged items so of course this chapter appealed to me.

Beyond that I found the instructions for the projects to be very clear. These are not beginner projects, but I think that is nice. I spend a lot of time in the craft section when I visit a bookstore, so to me it is a boon to have a more complex set of skills involved in the projects. I especially liked the instructions for the Aetheric Ray Deflector solid brass goggles and Professor Grimmelore's Mark I Superior Replacement Arm. I thought both of these projects were good to include in a how-to book because they rely on modifying commonly found items from the hardware store, rather than scavenged pieces. I think for someone new to this kind of project (but experienced with tools and techniques), would find these to be great first steampunk projects.

I would recommend this book as a perfect item to pick up for your favorite Steampunk enthusiast for Christmas. Maybe you might even get a version of one of the items in the book as a return gift! Keep your eye on the blog for a few more reviews coming from the desk of Mrs. Grymm in the next few weeks!

The Mechanical Ink Manipulator featured at the NY Ink Exhibit!

The newest contraption in Dr. Grymm's arsenal can be seen exclusively at the Mobilis in Mobili Exhibit at the Wooster Street Social Club in NY City through January 14, 2012. Hosted by ModVic's Bruce Rosenbaum, this exhibit has captured some very unique artists such as Tom Seppe, Steve Brooks, Aaron  Ristau, and Brett Kelley to name a few. Located in one of the most famed tattoo shops in New York City, the opening reception was no small gathering. About 500 guests graced the parlor that night of all ages. And the guests were as unique as the entertainment. A fashion show, Burlesque dancers, and another amazing performance by our friends, Frenchy and the Punk!

"The Mechanical Ink Manipulator" The Story:

My contribution for this Exhibit was yet another evil contraption cooked up by Dr. Grymm. A Steampunk Tattoo Gun Arm found in a dark closet in Grymm's Lab. The contraption was in an old dusty crate with the inscription "For Lydia", on it.  Once dusted off and polished it was noticed that a single glass vile of squid ink remained unused and attached to the device, as if it was only meant for one use. The most devious detail of this device was the business end... It did not have one needle, it had six! Surely made for the toughest of skin and a great tattoo enthusiast who did not mind a little extra dose of pain with their art. The device seemed to still be in working order after all these years. Once plugged in, a violent hum and tremor charged forth as the engine glowed an ominous orange flickering glow. The hand sprang to life as if it had a predetermined design in mind. Sadly after a small spark and the smell of burning copper, the machine shut down before we were able to see what the image it was trying to ink would be.  A message perhaps from Grymm, himself?  Someday we hope to work out the bugs and find out what the mystery could be. 

Construction

The piece was constructed using various vintage parts from the lab. An old paint sprayer, a "hand massager" projector bits, Typewriter parts, radio knobs, and various glass bits. Here are a few work in progress shots of before and after.

DETAILS:

To find out more about the event and the other artists involved take a look at this great article from NYBODYART, or this article from YRB Magazine,  and check out some amazing pics from the opening event by Bobby Putney, and these by Michael Salerno!

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And since I'm throwing around LINKS all willie-nillie, I'd like to share a few with you:

One from out friends at WIRED.COM, a review about the new HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK book.

Second, from NEW ENGLAND ARTS, a review of the Steampunk Bizarre!

Third, FLICKUME's Review of Steam Driven, and mention of it also in WIRED.COM!

And lastly, do you want to hear a recording of Mrs. Grymm at the Boston Book Festival talking Steampunk with Kelly Link, Gavin Grant, & Holly Black? go HERE

Enjoy!

~Dr. Grymm