Laura Baugh
Great costume armor doesn’t necessarily require metalworking or toxic chemicals! We’ll cover armoring for historical, fantasy, and cosplay costumes. You’ll learn about a variety of inexpensive, readily-available materials, as well as specialized plastics like Worbla, Wonderflex, Sintra, and more. You’ll also make a piece of armor to take home yourself!
Show your geek pride! Make a D6 bracelet, earrings, or combination to wear out. Variations & creativity encouraged!
From Dragon Ball to Saiyuki, there’s no shortage of adaptations, retellings, and wholesale lifts of one of the world’s most popular tales. But most of the western world enjoying these retellings knows little of the original novel, and even less of the stories it itself combined and retold. Let’s look at the historical and cultural […]
What’s the difference between bakemono and ayakashi? Who are those four guys walking across the background? What are those little creatures that show up in your favorite anime? Get the most from your anime and Asian cinema experience when you understand the cultural background! Learn the basics of Japanese mythology in this folklore primer, and […]
The Vikings are having a moment in modern pop culture, what with Thor: Ragnarok, Neil Gaiman’s book, and more. But much of what we see in modern interpretations is far departed from the original mythos, and little of it is in context with actual Norse life and culture. Join the author of The Songweaver’s Vow […]
As the oldest monarchy in the world, Japan’s had plenty of time to have some amazing moments in history. Hear a few of the most important, most famous, or most fun—from the Genpei War to the Meiji Revolution, from girl power to magical red cows, from archery contests to smallpox—with illustrations, photos, ties to your […]
New Zealand: so much more than what you’ve seen in movies! Meet a vibrant community of authors, fandom, literary awards, and conventions. Learn about key players, award-winning titles to add to your list, and triumphs and struggles of writing sci-fi & fantasy in the South Pacific. Hear how a homeland prone to natural disaster has […]