Mad Alice is in the House....

The Teen and I attended our local Comiccon  and I decided to attend as Mad Alice. The Teen introduced me to American McGee's Alice and Madness Returns a couple of years ago. I have always loved Alice in Wonderland and have to admit I was mildly disturbed when he first showed me the game shots online. 

I did discover there was something about the game that I loved. Maybe that it contained a darker element to it. It wasn't a typical flowery version of Alice. It was darker and more intense and I was drawn to that. So when tossing out ideas for costumes I fell on Mad Alice. 

This is my first foray into the world of cosplay, not counting Halloween. I wanted to make as much of the costume as possible. I am funny like that. So I started collecting pieces over the last few months, some of which I have posted already as teasers. I have been very fortunate to find awesome deals on things. I scoured the net looking for things to bring this costume together. Buying what I wasn't able to, or didn't have time to make myself. 

I made the dress myself, not using a pattern because I am risky like that. I had purchased a pattern for an Alice in Wonderland costume but I didn't have the time or patience to sit there and work out math to enlarge the pattern. So I decided to wing it using my sewing know-how and muddling through. I have always been told I tend to do things the hard way and this probably is a good example of this. 

It was an interesting experience, to say the least. My sewing machine died a couple of weeks before the con so I thankfully was able to borrow a machine from my co-worker. 

I basically traced a tank top I had (of course not calculating that the tank top was jersey, which stretches, and my dress material was not) and then made a full circle skirt from what I have learned making a 50s dress years ago. The sleeves I did use a pattern for since no alterations were required for those. The apron I pretty much whipped up. 

I had made stencils for the pocket symbols and used fabric medium with black acrylic paint to apply to the pockets. Sewed them on, reaching back to high school sewing class in pocket making, I might add. 

I had a bunch of fun splattering the red paint all over the pristine, white apron in my living room. Normally I cringe at messy clothing but how can you have a Mad Alice without a little blood splatter. So I laid out a drop cloth and got to work splashing droplets of red paint all over. By the end I was giggling like a little girl. It was fun to get messy. I had lost touch with that childlike wonder many moons ago. It was good to get back in touch. 

I also got back in touch with my childlike state of playing with clay. A statement piece of Alice's dress has to be her skull bow in the back. She also wears an Omega necklace around her neck. I knew I could make both so I set to work. It was good working with my hands and shaping things. 

The Teen would regularly check in on my progress and nod his approval. He seemed impressed and I got a few "that will work" as I went along. 

All in all it was an amazing experience. There was some blood, sweat and tears along the way but totally worth it and I am looking forward to next year and seeing what I can come up with. I do think I might give the steampunk outfit a stab *pun totally intended* 

I will be posting about the actual con in a day or two. Until then, Hugs and Smoochies from Mad Alice in the Madhouse 

<3 Arawynn <3

Out Damn Pox, Out I Say....

It would seem that Chicken Pox has descended upon the Madhouse this week. The Teen is absolutely, positively miserable right now. I feel for him. 

I didn't notice the spots until really late Tuesday night. Being that The Teen has asthma and it kicks up when he is sick I wasn't taking any chances so off to emergency we went (at the direction of the TeleHealth nurse, of course) 

We were there all night, in isolation seeing as they weren't sure what it was when we were triaged. After about five hours we finally saw a doctor who promptly looked him over and declared "It's not Chicken Pox, he probably just ate something new or came into contact with something and is having an allergic reaction". Blood work was done as well as swabs and off to home we went. 

I headed off to work after dropping The Teen off at home and honestly could have tried out for an extra on The Walking Dead. Felt like it too, but made it through the day. 

Got home to discover the rash had gotten worse. I was still convinced it was Chicken Pox even though the doctor had said it wasn't. Gave him some allergy meds and his antibotics and he headed off to bed after a very large bowl of chicken noodle soup (pretty much the only thing he will eat when he isn't feeling well) 

Woke up this morning and came downstairs to find him sitting on the couch looking absolutely miserable. You could seriously play connect the dots all over his body. I refrained, of course, would have been bad form and I am sure he would be less than amused. 

So I called our family doctor and was told she was booked solid for the day and was like "F*&K". I really wanted to get his checked. This momma bear doesn't like to see her cub not feeling well. The receptionist said the Doctor wasn't in yet, but would call back when she did come in and she had a chance to talk to her about it. 

I was so grateful to get a call saying that the doctor wanted him in and checked ASAP. So off to the doctor we went and within five seconds of walking in the room she declared it to definitely be Chicken Pox and was none too impressed to find out the hospital had passed it off as nothing more than an allergic reaction. 

Seems he could have had less of an outbreak had the hospital given him anti-viral meds when we took him in, instead of him now having a worse outbreak and miserable now. The teen was unimpressed, as was I. I get that hospitals can get crazy busy and the staff are often overworked but this isn't the first time we have gone in and been sent home only to have his condition worsen and him end up in the hospital when they could have done preventative measures to keep him from getting worse. 

I love my family doctor, she is amazing. She made room for him even though she was booked solid. She gave me the run down on what to do to alleviate some of his discomfort. Told me to what to look for, and when to call her back. Like I said she is amazing and we are so blessed to have her. 

The Teen is of course not too impressed with being told he has the Chicken Pox and can't really do anything but wait it out. All I keep hearing from him is how much it "SUCKS". I am praying for a speedy recovery for him. 

I have been doing a lot of disinfecting and taking immune boosting stuffs. Just a waiting game now till the healing begins.

So Out Damn Pox, Out I Say!

<3 Arawynn <3