Many of my friends know I had a high grade cervical dysplasia in 2008. The dysplasia was caused by HPV, a virus that is sexually transmitted. I first found out I had HPV when I had a Pap come back positive. From there the doctor did a Colposcopy and taking a look with the microscope, she preformed a biopsy. I can tell you that none of this was fun. It was agonizing waiting around for results and tests. There was so much poking and prodding going on that I came to resent being a woman. It is so frustrating to feel perfectly fine but know that you may be carrying a time bomb deep inside your core.
On March 4th, 2008 the doctor preformed a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). This is where they cut away the effected tissue. It was this moment, lying in the doctor's office staring at the the fluorescent lights and smelling my burning flesh that I knew I never wanted any other woman to have to go through this process. The procedure is uncomfortable to say the least. The recovery is worse.
I was lucky. I still am lucky. My dysplasia never developed into a tumor, never wandered off, infecting other organs. Sure there have been some complications but nothing that I couldn't face.
I want to make women everywhere aware of how important it is to have a pap done every year. No skipping because you don't want to or you don't like going to the doctor and having your feet in the stirrups. I can 100% tell you that what I experienced is worse than any slight discomfort a pap will bring you.
So now you know and knowing is half the battle.
In promotion of HPV and Cervical Cancer awareness I will be riding in the Pelotonia. This is a two day 180 mile bike ride. Each rider pledges to raise $2,200 that will go directly to the James Cancer Research Hospital here in Columbus, Ohio. In the coming weeks and months I will begin training for this grueling ride. I will ask for your support, best wishes and donations. Help me get the word out. Help me enable others to find a cure.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Barda- Boots/knees
Wohoo! My Barda boots arrived today! Or rather the gothic/cyberpunk hot mess that will become my boots.
Notice I have my quilting ruler against the boot?? That's right- a 4 inch platform.
I am 5'2" and when I read Barda's description- that she was 7' tall I knew I would need some help. Thankfully the source material had very chunky boots on- I just took it to an excessive height. I will cover the boots in fabric, leaving the platforms exposed.
Even though I was knocked out for most of the day and occupied with my job the rest of the time I was able to put a big red DONE stamp on my knee pads. These were purchased from WalMart, the center primed, panted with Model Master's "Bright Blue" and given a clear coat for the shine. I hand sewed the reptile fabric around the edges and then used E-6000 glue and some black trim to go around the edges.
I posed the knee pads below the laser cut scale fabric that will make up my stockings for effect.
I was also able to finish priming the bracer parts and the shoulder piece is now painted as well.
Notice I have my quilting ruler against the boot?? That's right- a 4 inch platform.
I am 5'2" and when I read Barda's description- that she was 7' tall I knew I would need some help. Thankfully the source material had very chunky boots on- I just took it to an excessive height. I will cover the boots in fabric, leaving the platforms exposed.
Even though I was knocked out for most of the day and occupied with my job the rest of the time I was able to put a big red DONE stamp on my knee pads. These were purchased from WalMart, the center primed, panted with Model Master's "Bright Blue" and given a clear coat for the shine. I hand sewed the reptile fabric around the edges and then used E-6000 glue and some black trim to go around the edges.
I posed the knee pads below the laser cut scale fabric that will make up my stockings for effect.
I was also able to finish priming the bracer parts and the shoulder piece is now painted as well.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Ame Comi Barda Update
Today was a full day in the studio. I was so focused that I skipped family dinner at my parent's condo (sorry Mom!) and missed 1/2 of my planned workout (swimming). I did come up for air around 7:30 and did get a nice hour trainer ride in.
I started off the day with creating a pattern for the neck corset/collar. This was a new item for me, I've seen these but never made one myself. I cut out 4 trapezoids, stitched them together and then put it on inside out. I took a sharpie and marked the curves. I finally was happy with the pattern and found some black cotton duck cloth to use. I wanted to keep the costume within the same texture so I tacked the collar to a foam head and sprayed it with PlastiDip. A lot of PlastiDip. So much PlastiDip that I was dripping on the basement floor. Unfortunately when it dried, you CAN'T EVEN TELL! I think I will try using the dip kind next instead of the spray. Eh, it's a learning curve.
Here is the pauldron held up next to the collar. I couldn't get the shoulder round enough (I was using a clay jar to shape it on) so I ended up using some drywall crack filler to well...fill in the cracks. It's not my preferred method but this shouldn't get dinged up too much so I'm not worried about it flaking or cracking.
Next I painted because I like to paint. I love the red here. I used Model Master in "Chrysler Engine Red" for the crown and "Bright Blue" for the shoulder piece. The yellow circles are white foamies that I painted with yellow 3d 'slick' fabric paint. I would of used yellow PlastiDip except I couldn't find any locally and I wasn't about to spend $10 on shipping for a can.
I spent some time during breakfast to do some research on Barda's Boom Stick (Megarod- whatever!) and in looking at the reference picture again I missed the detail on the right arm. Oh Noes!! I *think* it's a gauntlet. Filling in the details, I designed a gauntlet and set to work on construction. I'm making it a 2 part item, painting them separately and then joining them together. Below is the upper part.
I used the same construction as the crown- a WF base with foamie strips glued on to create a 3D effect. Next I take a larger sheet of WF and start to soften it around the base gauntlet.
The process takes a bit but is totally worth it! This isn't a final, I can see some lumps and bumps, but it is just about ready for primer.
Right now I've got primer on my pauldron and I need to put the final touches on my gaunlet and shape that as well. I'm going to wait on the 2nd plastidip coat on the collar until the morning. It's stinky stuff. I've got to tackle the bikini part and make a wee pouch to hold my keys/phone sooner rather than later. My goal is to be done by Wed the 26th because my boots should be arriving on Thursday and it will be a last min push to have them ready for Saturday.
I started off the day with creating a pattern for the neck corset/collar. This was a new item for me, I've seen these but never made one myself. I cut out 4 trapezoids, stitched them together and then put it on inside out. I took a sharpie and marked the curves. I finally was happy with the pattern and found some black cotton duck cloth to use. I wanted to keep the costume within the same texture so I tacked the collar to a foam head and sprayed it with PlastiDip. A lot of PlastiDip. So much PlastiDip that I was dripping on the basement floor. Unfortunately when it dried, you CAN'T EVEN TELL! I think I will try using the dip kind next instead of the spray. Eh, it's a learning curve.
Here is the pauldron held up next to the collar. I couldn't get the shoulder round enough (I was using a clay jar to shape it on) so I ended up using some drywall crack filler to well...fill in the cracks. It's not my preferred method but this shouldn't get dinged up too much so I'm not worried about it flaking or cracking.
Next I painted because I like to paint. I love the red here. I used Model Master in "Chrysler Engine Red" for the crown and "Bright Blue" for the shoulder piece. The yellow circles are white foamies that I painted with yellow 3d 'slick' fabric paint. I would of used yellow PlastiDip except I couldn't find any locally and I wasn't about to spend $10 on shipping for a can.
I spent some time during breakfast to do some research on Barda's Boom Stick (Megarod- whatever!) and in looking at the reference picture again I missed the detail on the right arm. Oh Noes!! I *think* it's a gauntlet. Filling in the details, I designed a gauntlet and set to work on construction. I'm making it a 2 part item, painting them separately and then joining them together. Below is the upper part.
I used the same construction as the crown- a WF base with foamie strips glued on to create a 3D effect. Next I take a larger sheet of WF and start to soften it around the base gauntlet.
The process takes a bit but is totally worth it! This isn't a final, I can see some lumps and bumps, but it is just about ready for primer.
Right now I've got primer on my pauldron and I need to put the final touches on my gaunlet and shape that as well. I'm going to wait on the 2nd plastidip coat on the collar until the morning. It's stinky stuff. I've got to tackle the bikini part and make a wee pouch to hold my keys/phone sooner rather than later. My goal is to be done by Wed the 26th because my boots should be arriving on Thursday and it will be a last min push to have them ready for Saturday.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Crown
I love working with Wonderflex. There is just so much you can do with it.
First I cut out the crown shape out of Foamie. In order to get it to bend slightly in the front I scored the back side of the shape with a pen, creating a groove. Looking at the reference picture I want some raised detail in the crown so I cut out the raised detail out of a second layer of foamie. Gluing the raised detail to the crown, I set it aside to dry.
Next I cut out the crown shape out of WF. I cut out a second crown but add about an inch all the way around.
Heating the WF on low, I melt the crown shape softly on one side. It is pliable and starts to get a glossy sheen to it. This lets me know that it's ready to stick to the foamie. I gently pressed it to the back edge of the foamie, making sure to bend both foamie and WF along the groove. You need to go slow here, making sure that the WF isn't too hot. I tend to work in small sections. WF does NOT always stick to foamie, sometimes when it's cooled down, you can peal the foamie away so make sure you are gentle. If you are going to use my method to get built up detail make sure you encase the foamie in WF.
After the crown is cooled and hard I heat the front crown cut out. Remember how we cut this with an extra 1" around it? That is so we can wrap it around and 'stick' it to the back of the crown. Heating the WF on low on one side of the crown I wait until it's shiny and then start wrapping. I use a wooden clay sculpting tool to get into the detail and cracks. I used my thumbnail to get inside the circles.
Here is an up close shot of the raised detail after I've given it 2 coats of primer spray. I will use my nail sanding sponge to sand it down, hit it with another shot of primer, sand again then paint.
First I cut out the crown shape out of Foamie. In order to get it to bend slightly in the front I scored the back side of the shape with a pen, creating a groove. Looking at the reference picture I want some raised detail in the crown so I cut out the raised detail out of a second layer of foamie. Gluing the raised detail to the crown, I set it aside to dry.
Next I cut out the crown shape out of WF. I cut out a second crown but add about an inch all the way around.
Heating the WF on low, I melt the crown shape softly on one side. It is pliable and starts to get a glossy sheen to it. This lets me know that it's ready to stick to the foamie. I gently pressed it to the back edge of the foamie, making sure to bend both foamie and WF along the groove. You need to go slow here, making sure that the WF isn't too hot. I tend to work in small sections. WF does NOT always stick to foamie, sometimes when it's cooled down, you can peal the foamie away so make sure you are gentle. If you are going to use my method to get built up detail make sure you encase the foamie in WF.
After the crown is cooled and hard I heat the front crown cut out. Remember how we cut this with an extra 1" around it? That is so we can wrap it around and 'stick' it to the back of the crown. Heating the WF on low on one side of the crown I wait until it's shiny and then start wrapping. I use a wooden clay sculpting tool to get into the detail and cracks. I used my thumbnail to get inside the circles.
Here is an up close shot of the raised detail after I've given it 2 coats of primer spray. I will use my nail sanding sponge to sand it down, hit it with another shot of primer, sand again then paint.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Barda Update
With 2 weeks to go to Ohayocon I'm starting to get more focused on what I'm doing.
I've patterned out the red bottoms out of an existing bikini. The goat leather will stretch a bit, but nothing like spandex. Thank goodness these are pre-triathlon so they are a bit big.
I've cut out the bottoms, not quite sure where to go from here so it's on hold until I wrap my brain around the sewing.
Instead I've been doing what I do best- working on the armor.
I've patterned out the red bottoms out of an existing bikini. The goat leather will stretch a bit, but nothing like spandex. Thank goodness these are pre-triathlon so they are a bit big.
I've cut out the bottoms, not quite sure where to go from here so it's on hold until I wrap my brain around the sewing.
Instead I've been doing what I do best- working on the armor.
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