D20 Girls Magazine - January 2013

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE
Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)
Cover Photography By: Chris Wiggins - CosIT Photography

cosITphotography.com
Model: Sarah Tanner
Cosplaying As: Candy Cane Miss Fortune from League of Legends
Staff Credits
IN THIS ISSUE
Editor in Chief - Erika Litherland

Content Editor - Tara Watson
Layout Editor - Katie Zheng
Copy Editor - Tiana Pimentel
Ryan Irvin
Writers - Katarina Love
Valerie Kitty Starr
Kimberly Willis-Starin
Tara Watson
Erika Litherland
Cory Benzenhoefer
Brittney Fischer
Leah Colburn
Stephanie Hull
Katie Zheng
Kara Peznecker
Bridgett Bowie
Niki Soto
Contributors - Con X
Kayla Waters & Sakuya Cosplay
Silver Lining Designs
CosT Photography
Sarah Tanner
N3 Photography
The D20 Girls of North Carolina
Always Love Lorn
Constance Lightwood
Apocalypse Sue
Michelle Savana Photography
GoldiBlox
Evan Bremer
Hex Mex Creations
Orchard Corset
Katherine Stocking
Craig Mitchell Dyer Photography
Katherine Elizabeth Coleman
Allison Thomas
Trinity Fannin
D20 Girls across the nation
D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13
Contents
D20 Girls Magazine is

published four times
per year. Manufactured
and published in the
United States of America.
The Editor-in-Chief
welcomes submissions
from all sources. Such
submissions should be
addressed to EDITOR and
sent to submissions@
D20Girls.com. D20 Girls
Magazine is a copyright
of OGO Publications.
Products named in these
pages are trade names
or trademarks of their
respective companies.
The publisher shall
not be responsible
for slight changes or
typographical errors that
do not lessen the value
of the advertisement.
The publishers liability
for other errors or
omissions in connection
with an advertisement is
limited to republication
of the advertisement in
any subsequent issue
or the refund of any
monies paid for the
advertisement.
4
9
14
17
21
36
44
74
Letter From the Editor

Nerd Girls of the Future
New Years Resolutions
Things We Love.
Ask Leah
Geeky Flicks: January - March 2013
D20 Girls Out and About
Best Nerdy Gift
VALENTINES DAY
6
48
50
56
Nerdy Dates
Love Songs
A Fairy Tale Wedding
My Jewish-Pagan Doctor Who Wedding
22 From Goldilocks to GoldiBlox,

Creating Load Bearing Dreams Through Story
ARTICLES
18 Pigtails for Peace
24 Interview with Evan Bremmer:
Voice of The Joker in Gotham High
46 DIY Polymer Clay Zombie Mushroom
59 D20 Girls Rock! FEATURING:
Chiki, Destelle Geneviefve, Dolly
PHOTO SPREADS
10 Cover Girl - Sarah Tanner
12 North Carolina D20 Girls
68 Photos FEATURING:
Katherine Elizabeth Coleman,
Allison Thomas,
Trinity Fannin
CORSETS
38 A Cosplay Fantasy of Final Fantasy
28
29
30
34
Modern Corsetry Terminology

How to Measure for a Corset
So You Want to Buy a Corset
Im Huge In Japan!
Letter From the Editor:

Its winter!
As the world (or at least the northern half of it) gets colder, things slow
down and go dormant. But not here at D20! Were already gearing up
for a new year of conventions, photo shoots, trade shows, and all manner of activities!
D20 Girls Magazine is no exception! Were making some big changes
around here, and are so excited to share them with you! First off is a
new staff, including yours truly!
My name is Tara Watson. Im the content editor of the magazine. I
grew up in smallish town in California, and then went to high school in
an even smaller town in Kansas before attending Emporia State University, where I graduated with a bachelors degree in theatre arts. Ive
copy edited for a local newspaper, written articles for various online
publications, including G.A.M.E.R.S. Newspaper, our sister publication. Among my other jobs, Ive taught preschool, been a librarian, and run my own custom sewing business. Of course, I also have my hobbies, which
include reading, tabletop RPGs, MMORPGs, cooking, soccer, ancient civilizations and mythology, interstellar
travel, and full-contact origami. (Ok, maybe not the last two, but itd be cool!) My fandoms include Star Wars,
Stargate SG1, Harry Potter, Battletech, Warmachine, Firefly, Farscape, Marvels Avengers (I want a Quinjet!),
and Tolkien. Im a recovering WoW raidmonkey.
Illustrations By: Washue
But enough about me! The magazines going to have so much cool stuff! Were expanding, providing more
awesome stories, pictorals, and great interviews!
In this issue, youll meet up-and-coming talent Evan Bremer, the voice of the Joker in the new radio drama
Gotham High. Youll get great geeky date ideas for you and your favorite Player 2! Wanting to try corsets, but
have no idea what to look for? Fear not! We have 8 pages of information on how to fit a corset, what to look
for, and even an idea for a fantastic corset-based costume! If youre looking for love for you and your favorite
Player 2, weve got everything from great geeky date ideas, to a nerdy love song playlist, to two fantastic weddings! Youll meet some amazing D20 Girls in a fantastic Final Fantasy pictoral, as well as in candid shots doing
what they do best.
Were always looking for new ideas to bring you! Have an idea or suggestion for what youd like to see? Let us
know at www.D20Girls.com!
Thanks for reading, and well see you in the world!
--Tara
NERDY DATES
COSPLAY
NERDS
Dating can be scary, and planning a romantic nerdy date can be even harder if youre not
sure what to do. But dont fret, Nerdy romantic evenings dont have to be expensive or
nerve-wracking to be memorable! Here are some ideas for the perfect geek night out.
othing says sweet, sweet romance like a hot pizza, cold

Mountain Dew (or your favorite
beverage), and a comfy couch
with two controllers hooked up
to play your favorite games.
CAUTION:
This can sometimes end poorly

if you are both competitive
players, so try to find a fun
co-op. Nothing says I love
you like heals and coverage
from the hordes you and your
partner are fighting against!
Take it up a Notch: Take your
date to an arcade. If you live
near a Dave and Busters or
Gameworks you can even
combine the outing with a
dinner date, If you live in Ohio,
check out Just Play Games. Its
a unique twist on an internet
caf that allows you to pay to
play games on their consoles
and TVs.
TABLETOP
RPG NERDS
refer dice over directional

pads? If your sweetheart
doesnt play your game, take
a night where the two of you
can create characters for an
upcoming campaign. It gives
you a chance to answer any
questions your significant other
might have about stats and
rules without them feeling
silly in front of the group or
getting flustered.
CAUTION:
Maybe youre not a big rules

and stats buff, but your Game
Master should be. If you need
help, dont be afraid to talk
to him/her. Nothings worse
than sinking a bunch of time
into a character sheet that
you have to redo because of a
misunderstanding of the rules.
Also, some GMs dont want
you to make characters without
them, no matter how much you
know about the system.
Take it up a Notch: Go the

website for your game of
choice and look for standalone campaigns that you can
run. Most of these will come
with characters, histories and
background information. A
stand-alone game can be a
great introduction to a system
because you jump in with
a sheet and you get to see
how those stats really work.
With a better understanding
of the system, you can then
turn around and make new
characters for a continuing
game. This is also an excellent
solution to allow you to
privately share the game with
your significant other when
your GM doesnt want you to
make characters without them.
ANIME NERDS
BOOK\MANGA
NERDS
Contributions from: Erika Litherland, Katrina Love, Kimberly Wills-Starin, Valerie Kitty Starr
GAMING
NERDS
(TV) MOVIE
f you both like to cosplay, then

this is the perfect time to work
on a couples cosplay together.
A couples cosplay is sure to be
a multiple date event too! From
research to planning, shopping
to crafting, you can spend a lot
of time with your significant
other while working on
something that youll ultimately
get to wear together!
CAUTION:
Cosplay creation almost always

takes more time and more
money than you think it will,
and sometimes frustration will
make for short tempers.
Take it up a Notch: Go to your
local thrift store and play a
round of Who am I? You
get thirty minutes to create a
costume based off a character
from your favorite shows, books
or games. Get a third person
to award accuracy points or
declare a winner. The winner
has to buy the other one
lunch or dinner! Photos are
encouraged, and dont forget
to buy one small item to take
home as a memento.
ind out some of your

significant others favorite
anime, movies or TV series
and devote a good chunk of
time to watching with them!
If you cant get ahold of their
favorite, or if you already know
you dont like it, try to find
something in the same genre
that will be new for both of you.
CAUTION:
We dont mean to do it, but

when we love something it
can be hard to be quiet. Be
prepared for You have to
see this part and other
interruptions. Just try to remind
your sweetheart No spoilers!
Take it up a Notch: Get in comfy
clothes and build a pillow and
blanket fort to snuggle in while
you watch. You get the fun of
building it together and then
you get to crawl inside with
your snacks and significant
other. It certainly will make
the date memorable. Hey
remember that time we made
a pillow fort?
rack down that elusive

missing piece of your
significant others favorite
collection. Local comic or used
book stores can be terrific tools
for this sort of search, but it
may cost you a little extra to
get it sent to the store before
you can pick it up. Try www.
Half.com if you want to chance
finding it on your own.
CAUTION:
Once you give them something

they want to read, you may find
yourself watching them enjoy
your gift instead of enjoying
your company!
Take it up a Notch: Go to a
local book store and choose
one book that you think you
would like but dont own,
then trade books with your
SO and find a comfy place to
cuddle together and read.
Reading something the other
person would enjoy can be
very insightful, and it just may
introduce you to something
that you find yourself loving
too! And thats just one more
thing you can share.
TIPS FOR
NERDS
OF ALL
FLAVORS
Take pictures:
Nothing scandalous, something

you can print and put on your
desk at work or decorate your
home with. Then it can spark the
memory every time you see it,
and thats the real point. Making
lasting memories with the
person you love.
Plan ahead:
Life is busy. It becomes harder

to make spur of the moment
dates happen. So plan a day in
advance to do something that
you can both look forward to.
Fluffydragon and her husband
of 6 years plan to go watch the
new Diehard for Valentines
Day.
DONT
HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT
OTHER?
No such thing as perfect:
The main thing about dates

is that it should be about the
two of you. Find the things that
you both enjoy and do them
together. Things will never go
100% according to plan, but
that doesnt mean the date is
ruined. Take a deep breath and
improvise. Ten years from now
it will be those moments you
remember the most.
Graphics By: Moriette
If youve decided you want to

get serious about looking for a
significant other, head over to
www.nerdsatheart.com or find
them on facebook. Nerds at
Heart hosts singles events and
mixers geared toward nerds!
They host events in multiple
states too!
She wanted to be a pink Super Girl for Halloween. She

justified her color-scheme by telling me. I know pink isnt
the right color mommy but its my favorite color so that
makes it ok. I love that shes already latched onto the idea
that she can love something and still put her own personality
into it, even if it isnt 100% accurate.
Graciebloves Daughter
Photo By: Silver Lining Designs
Sophie M. 5
Dont stress.
As Valentines Day approaches

it can be hard to remember that
you dont need a significant
other. Youre awesome all on
your own!
But even if youre single it
doesnt mean you have to
spend the holiday alone!
Photography By: Bentpic5 Models: Kayla Waters & Sakuya Cosplay
I wont lie, Im biased, but my daughter is a completely

adorable nerd in the making. She loves Sailor Moon, playing
Kirbys epic yarn, and The Avengers, (except for the Hulk).
We had a conversation the other day about what a siren is.
When we were finished she looked at me and asked, So
Jigglypuff is a siren?
Or you could head out to

nerd themed events. You
never know who youre going
to meet at one. Every other
month in a cozy bar in a Kansas
college town you can attend
Super Nerd Night where you
play games and meet other
local people who share your
interests!
A for effort:
Youll make your date feel

special if you take the time to
look a little nicer than usual for
your date. Even if youre sitting
at home, skip the sweatpants
on special dates, unless the
comfy look is part of the point
of the date, that is.
Nerd Girls
of the Future
For example, you could host

a game night! Mix it up with
classic board games as well
as modern multi-player
console games. This can be
done intentionally as an AntiValentines Day singles party or
as an open sort of party for all
of your friends. Have everyone
bring some sort of snack or
drink to share.
SARAH
TANNER
HYPNOTIQ
AS Candy Cane Miss Fortune
FROM League of Legends
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CosIT Photography

Cerulean Photography
10
11
GENEVIEFE
DESTELLE
MISS MINA
CHIKI
MAKA LEE
12
KIT KATT
TOMIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
N3 PHOTOGRAPHY
13
NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

AlwaysLoveLorn
Find a way to make cosplaying & conventions
work for me. I need to stop, breathe, & make
time for the things I love. I have focused a lot
on work & paying off bills so much these last
two years that I have cut out the fun in my life.
I would like to have the time to sew costumes
& make a living from that & attending Cons
but until then, I just need to make time for
what makes me happy.
Leah
Colette
Lose weight, finish all my
currently on hold games, make
a harley quinn cosplay finally,
make boyfriends nerd painting
and get him a joker costume so
we can cosplay together.
Ruby
Ruby Red
Corset train, work on my posture,

FINISH SOME OF MY GAMES, work
out harder and sew every day.
Use my new Kinect at least 15

minutes three times a week!
Work out/be more active and lose the

couple of inches that I put on...
Lemon Lime
Kimberly Wills-Starin
Take the New Year to refresh my work
area. Trash the scraps Im sure I wont use to
organize my work space and make things more
efficient.
Maintain my weight now that I lost

what I wanted to, dont procrastinate on
costumes, do more pro shoots, and get a
million followers on my fan page ;D
Photos By: Silver Lining Designs
Sort, clean and donate larger pieces of fabric

to the Project Linus donation box at the
fabric store. Volunteers take the fabric and
make blankets for those in need.
(http://www.projectlinus.org/about/)
Constance
Quality over
Quantity. Im trying
to make costumes
that are fairly
simple so I can
focus on construction techniques.
Its good to learn
things and to improve your craft.
14
15
Chiki
Trinity
I resolve not to procrastinate to the extent

I have in the past on costumes. No matter
how much you tell yourself a week before
convention is plenty of time, I assure you,
for your mental health, it is not.
Alexandria
Stop smoking, start getting

back into shape, and start
learning how to sew my
own cosplays and make
more efficient props!
Tara
To finally watch every

episode of all of the
Dragonball series....
Seriously, Ive been putting
it off for too long.
Nightmare Marzipan
To start my Kitchen
Superheroes line! Wonder
Woman aprons, ladies!
things
we
love.
MLP Fluttershy Necklace

$25
Darth Vader Necklace
$30
By RocketsandRainbows at Etsy
Dr Who Apron
$85
Full Metal Alchemist Apron
$65
By DarlingArmy at Etsy
Open my lolita and

geek chic Etsy shop!
Apocalypse Sue
I dont know how nerdy the getting fit thing is but its on my
list. More specific, finish insanity. Watch aaaaaaall of Dr. who.
Get a Lust costume done. Get a female Dr. Who costume
done. New wig for Apocalypse Sue. If I get the Lust costume
done, maybe enter a cosplay contest. Learn how to use a
sewing machine and put a dress together. Maybe learn how
to knit so I can make my own Dr. Who scarf so I dont have to
shell out money to buy one.
Angelle
Work out (lose all the weight I gained since D*con),
finish some prop and costume projects that have been
on my to-do list for years, frame and hang the various
artwork Ive acquired from multiple conventions over
the past several years, play the video games on my
to-play list, read the comics that Ive acquired over the
last several years that are sitting in a giant stack!
Sarah
To sew more
costumes, my
machine has
been so lonely
lately.
Lilith
Your one-stop nerd shop
Katie
Improve my portfolio.
Focus all my interest on my nerdy interest. So far I am buying all new wardrobe to support my love, even
bumper stickers, and cosplaying is coming around as well. Tomorrow Im going to be doing some Karen
Gillan. I even am trying to fight my anxiety fears of Conventions and going distance alone... Its going to be
hard for the last part.. But Im planning on doing a calendar here soon to help get me money so I know Im
financially safe taking road trips to conventions. Consider this the year of the Vyxiin. The fox is back XD
Alien Chopsticks
$7.99
From Think Geek
Finish all the songs on Just

Dance 4!
Lacey
16
Portal 2
Companion Cube Ice Tray
$12.99
From Think Geek
www.facebook.com/TheNerdNook
www.etsy.com/shop/TheNerdNook
D20 jewelry, crocheted hats, amigirumi,
hair doo-dads, chainmaille jewelry
and more!
We take custom commissions!

17
Pigtails for Peace

By Erika Litherland
I have been a nerdy girl all my

life. This love of science fiction,
video games, and comic books
wasnt just some phase that I
went through; at some point
society stepped in and taught
me all about normal. Girls are
supposed to like make up and
doing their hair and all things
pink, right? I know Im over
simplifying a stereotype, but you
get my point. This idea of normal
and the pressure to conform
to it can be immense. As a girl
who also does like a lot of girl
things, it was just easier for me
to compartmentalize myself and
the things I liked as shareable
or secret. I didnt stop watching
Star Trek and playing video
games; I just didnt publicize
those activities. Even as an adult,
this behavior continued. I had
developed a love of MMOs,
Firefly, Dr. Who, and tabletop
gaming, but I didnt generally
18
talk about those things outside

of my small group of friends who
shared those interests; and then
I met Jondi.
Jondi and I became fast
friends and in October 2011
I finally gave in to her gentle
prodding about the D20 Girls
Project. What could be better
than an organization full of
women who loved the things
that I loved? But the more I
embraced the side of me that
qualified me as a nerd girl, the
more I realized just how out
of my depth I truly was. There
seemed to be this unwritten list
of requirements for claiming to
like something, as if a fandom
were some sort of old school
boys club that I had no right
asking for membership unless I
could remember the character
who died in episode 3 or what
the main characters mothers
maiden name was.
I went to my first convention

in March of 2012 and I
instantly found that I both
loved and hated conventions
with equal passion. Here you
are, surrounded by the things
you love and people who also
love those things, but if you
express interest in a fandom you
suddenly have to prove your
right to like it. The word fake
flows pretty freely through all
of nerddom, but it wasnt until
that first convention that it hit
me how similar to high school
this had become. The desire to
be normal hadnt changed, but
the definition of normal had
taken on new meaning... and I
still didnt qualify. I love Dr. Who,
but I havent watched even a full
season in order and somehow
I suddenly felt like that was
important; like I couldnt really
claim to love Dr. Who because I
hadnt put in the same amount
of hours as the fans who have

watched every season and movie
ever produced. I was suddenly
immensely afraid of saying
anything about Dr. Who at all for
fear that Id be quizzed, fail, and
be labeled fake. At some level
this also made me question if I
could really say I loved Dr. Who,
even to myself.
This sudden bout of selfdoubt could have easily pushed
me back into that shell where
Id put my nerdy hobbies neatly
into their boxes and pretend
that I wasnt as into them as I
thought I was. But being part
of the D20 Girls had introduced
me to an amazing group of girls
who have never once held their
nerd cred over me. Instead of
feeling fake, I embraced my lack
of knowledge as a problem of
education, not a lack of passion.
To put it more simply, it became
a perfect excuse to throw myself
into being a nerd.
In recent months a spotlight
has been turned onto the issue
of fake nerd girls. And while
this isnt a new sentiment, it
is disheartening. Its an issue
we can all relate to. Weve
seen those girls at conventions

wearing skimpy outfits and
its easy to let jealousy or
cattiness color our perception
of these girls. We pick apart
their costumes and ask them
questions about the nerddom
they are promoting and when
they dont know enough, we
tear them apart. This behavior
is not limited to cosplayers; its
as familiar as the hallways of
the high school that we thought
we left behind. We grow up
comparing ourselves to others
and pointing out others flaws to
distract from our own. We want
everyone to look at someone
else because were afraid that if
they dont, theyll turn all that
animosity on us instead.
We seem to forget that
underneath the skimpy costume
is a girl who tried her best to
look like the character shes
portraying; its a double edged
sword. The girls who dont fit
the body type are torn apart,
but a girl who can rock those
costumes is called slutty and
fake. Have we forgotten that the
characters they are portraying
wear these outfits too? I could
go on and on about the way that

females are portrayed in most
nerddoms and how unrealistic
those images often are, but I
wont. The point Im trying to
make here is that youre bashing
someone for trying to fit a mold
that is incredibly hard to actually
squeeze into, and most of the
time they do it for no other
reason than for the love of the
source material. Sometimes
that love comes with larger
doses of knowledge than others.
Im not naive, I do realize that
sometimes girls squeeze into
these outfits because they were
hired to do so, and occasionally
they not only dont know
anything about what theyre
wearing but they dont care that
they dont know either. We often
forget that those booth babes
are employees. Hired by vendors
or sponsors to work these events
and this job, like so many others,
often comes with a uniform. It
would be easy to claim that we
should be mad at vendors for
hiring these girls but thats not
fair either. The vendors are there
to make money, and this form of
marketing is clearly working for
19
them, which speaks more to the

market that they are selling to.
So why is it that in this scenario,
its the girl that were angry at?
As a community we should
be welcoming new faces,
encouraging people to embrace
their hobbies, and grow in their
fandoms. And that isnt about
what your gender happens to
be or how many hours youve
logged or even the amount
of facts you know. Its about
the sheer joy you get from
something you love. We need
to fully embrace that feeling of
community and stand up and say
that were not ok with bullying.
I was struggling with my feelings
on this issue when I stumbled
across a Facebook group called
Pigtails for Peace. This amazing
group was started by a girl who
had enough of being bullied.
Her response to being bullied
for wearing pigtails to school
wasnt to yell and scream or get
violent; she made her statement
by continuing to wear them and
getting her friends to wear them
20
too. Now theyre getting national

recognition for standing up to
bullies of every gender, race,
domestic lifestyle, and social
class. I like that message and
the fact that standing up to these
bullies is as simple as a set of
pigtails.
For this issue of the D20 Girls
Magazine I asked the D20 Girls
across the nation to take pictures
of themselves in pigtails and
nerdy shirts or cosplays. The
message in these images is one
of pride, in ourselves and in our
fandoms. Its also a message
of resolution: to stop making
the idea of being nerdy into a
competition and to start making
it about sharing what we love
with others. And perhaps most
importantly, its an admission of
our imperfect natures. We arent
perfect, but were still learning
and growing, and were making
an effort. ALBinWonderland,
a youtube vlogger, said it
best: There is no such thing
as fake geek girls. There are
only girls who are at different
varying levels of falling in love

with something that society
generically considers to fall
under the nerd culture category.
Id argue that this could apply to
even those booth babes, if they
just gave nerddom a real chance.
Until then, lets all stop pointing
fingers at each other and simply
enjoy the fact that we share a
love for some really awesome
things. You could always follow
the golden rule: if you cant say
something nice, then dont say
anything at all.
Models:
LemonLime, Gracieblove, Little
Alice, Harley, Apocalypse Sue,
AlwaysLoveLorn, Haimaru,
KitKatCaughtcha, Washue
Photography By:
The Enthusiasts
Michelle Savana Photography
Dear Leah,
I just got into the convention scene over the past year. I love
it!!! But...my other half is less than enthused. Even when we find
a sitter for our kids, hes dragging his heels. When hes there, he
just stands back and doesnt do or say much to me or anyone
else. Hes a bit of an introvert, and doesnt care much for crowds,
but I know hed love going to cons as much as I do if hed give it a
chance. We have a lot of the same fandoms, some of mine are a
direct result of his own love of it! Id love to be able to share the
con experience with him without making him be the cosplay pack
mule. Have you got any suggestions for ways to get him involved
without making him monstrously uncomfortable?
Thanks,
Share the Love

Okay, first, its SO FREAKING GOOD that you wanna share such an important part of your life
with your significant other. That being said... this just might not be his cup of tea. The way you
describe him, hes a nerd, which is fan-freaking-tastic, but being naturally introverted is something
that runs deeper than hobbies. This could be just one of those things thats your girl time, where
then menfolk could just stay at home.
If he acts like hed like to get more involved, I think what I would do is sit with him a few days
before the con and go through the programming schedule together. Have the you-list, us-list, and
him-list of panels and things to go to- its not like you (or he) has to stick to it like your life depends
on it. Just give him an opportunity to call the shots and wander off without feeling like he has to be
right by you the whole time.
On top of that, wing it! Maybe if hes not following you around and watching you get attention
for cosplay, hed be more comfortable being there outside of being the cosplay packmule. If that
doesnt work, keep in mind that hes no less of a nerd and youre not a bad girlfriend for doing this
one separately.
Silver lining here: Hes not horribly relationship-killing convention jealous.
Ask Leah
21
From Goldielocks to GoldiBlox,

Creating Load Bearing Dreams Through Story
By: Stephanie Hull
In September, 2012, 29 year

old Stanford Engineer Debbie
Sterling launched an innovative
toy: a construction set with
story book designed to catch
the interest of young girls. She
called her creation GoldieBlox
after the main character of
the book she wrote to add
an interactive element to the
engineering toy genre.
What specifically sets the
$30 GoldieBlox apart from toys
like Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys
or the classic Erector Set is the
purposeful introduction of the
basic principles of engineering
contained within each story: the
girl (aimed at the 5-9 year set)
reads the story and builds along
with Goldie, learning about
wheels, axles, pulleys, force and
22
friction. The pieces will interact

with subsequent books to
facilitate creativity.
Growing up, I was always
intimidated by the word,
engineering, says Sterling. I
thought it was just for boys. Im
creating GoldieBlox so that girls,
from a young age, can learn
that engineering is for them
too. By incorporating a female
role model character, storylines
girls can relate to and a sense
of humor, GoldieBlox will lessen
the intimidation factor and get
girls excited about building. In
short, she set out specifically
to assist in acquiring the spatial
thinking skills necessary for a
career in engineering.
Sterling is no stranger to
strong female role models.
Her grandmother was one of
the first female cartoonists
and one of the creative minds
behind Mr. Magoo. With that
background, it should come as
no surprise that she wrote and
illustrated the prototypes for
the books herself. Once she
had the concept, she set up a
Kickstarter (an online threshold
pledge system for funding
creative projects) account,
raising more than a quarter
million dollars in a month. Using
that funding, she produced the
first book and toy, GoldieBlox
and the Spinning Machine,
selling out the first run- set

for a February 2013 releasein less than a month. Her
company, appropriately named
GoldieBlox, Inc., started taking
orders for the second run,
due out April 2013. Currently
available in only in hardcopy,
Sterling plans to release the
books for the iPad and iPhone,
complete with narration and
animation.
GoldieBlox has it all: a
curious and relatable female
character, an intelligent
and creative designer and a
firm grasp on how to attract
females to a field traditionally
dominated by males. It won
the Editors Choice Award
at the World Maker Faire in
September, the very month
of its first release. The toy
can be pre-ordered through
Debbie Sterlings website, www.
GoldieBlox.com. After all, as
the website says, Engineers
are solving some of the biggest
challenges our society faces.
They are critical to the world
economy, earn higher salaries
and have greater job security.
And they are 89% male.
We believe engineers cant
responsibly build our worlds
future without the female
perspective. We are here to
bring the female voice into
engineering.
23
Evan Bremer: A Voice In the Making

By: Tara Watson
Bremer hadnt really pursued a

career in voiceover, and was a
junior in college when he found
a class for voice acting. He took
it, and learned about voicing for
television and radio, and realized
that he really could make a
career of it.
That laugh.
That piercing, maniacal cackle.
It pierces through the speakers,
letting everyone know that Jack
Napier, aka The Joker, is plotting
something particularly nasty.
Never mind the fact that every
time he sets a plan into motion,
Bruce Wayne will thwart it. That
part doesnt matter. Its all about
the anticipation, and the chance
that he just might pull it off on
the new radio drama Gotham
High.
24
But who is the man behind

the laugh? Who gives Jack the
shrill edge of madness that
separates the clown from the
boys?
Enter Evan Bremer.
Bremer comes across as
bright and optimistic, but
tempered with a measure of
self-deprecation. He got his first
taste of voice acting in 2007 in
a class that his father told him
about. It was a surprise, and one
that he hasnt forgotten. In the

class, he got to learn from voice
actor Crispin Freeman, noted
for his voicing of Alucard in the
Hellsing series. He voiced a few
lines for Scrapped Princess, and
was bitten by the voice acting
bug. Next was a class with voice
actress Sherri Berger. Bremer
credits Freeman with teaching
him how to record his voice,
but says that it was Berger who
taught him how to act with it.
Fast forward a few years.
His first big break came when

he auditioned for the radio
adaptation of Natsuki Takayas
manga Fruits Basket as Yuki
Sohma. He recorded his voice
and sent it to the producers.
Then radio magic happened
in editing, and his voice was
suddenly interacting with the
other actors. Hearing the final
production, Bremer was nothing
short of in love with his chosen
vocation.
Having made the decision,
Bremer needed an agent. His
college voiceover professor lent

him the use of her equipment,
and he created demo reels for
distribution. Demos went out
to every agency in the Chicago
area, and DeSanti Models picked
him up.
Gotham High is a story of the
Batman characters if they were
all in the same high school as
teens. Originating as a neverrun animated series, when
auditions for a radio adaptation
were announced, the 24 year
old Bremer auditioned for every
male part. He was thrilled when
he was offered the part of a
teenaged Jack Napier.
Bremer hadnt been a
big Batman follower before
hearing about the Gotham High
auditions. When he started
doing research, he found a
new voice acting hero in Mark

Hamill. As far as hed known,
Hamills fame was for playing
Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars
franchise, and that hed faded,
only doing bit parts here and
there. Upon learning of Hamills
extensive work in voice acting,
particularly that of The Joker, he
sat up and paid more attention.
When he learned that hed been
cast as the Joker in Gotham High,
he pulled heavily from Hamills
portrayal of the Clown Prince
of Crime, as evidenced by the
tonality and drawn-out syllabics
in Gotham Highs Joker.
When asked who his favorite
mainstream Joker is, he
immediately cites Mark Hamill,
but is quick to follow with
the late Heath Ledger. Their
performances capture different
facets of the character, but are
25
equally valid and outstanding

in their own way, and Bremer
would love to be able to follow
in their footsteps.
blue ninja and the green

samurai for far too long and I
want to bring something new
to the party!
If these are his inspirations,

then what is the story behind
his recent tweet stating that
actor and motion-capture
master Andy Serkis is his totem
animal? Bremer laughs and says
that watching Serkis move, and
watching him twist his voice as
well as his physique to create
characters is amazing, and that
he is in awe of Serkis talent.
What does the Evan Bremer

of the future have planned?
In 5 years, I would like to be
sitting at a table hosting a panel
at San Diego Comic-Con while
wearing cosplay.
Evan Bremer is not only a

voice actor. He is also a game
designer and amateur cosplayer.
He is very vocal in the matter
of acceptance, particularly in
the face of the recent rash of
fake geek girl arguments,
having blogged about it on his
website. Cosplay is one of
my favorite pass times. I do
not consider myself a good
cosplayer, since I cant barely
make anything myself and when
I do, production is sluggish at
best, but cosplay is something
I love and Ill never give it
up. And I believe that people
should cosplay who they love no
matter what. Bremer intends
to develop new cosplays this
year, expanding on his current
costumes of Mortal Kombats
Sub Zero and a samurai version
of Legend of Zeldas Link. This
year, he plans to create a version
of Disney/Pixars Wall.e and
a Hawkeye based on Jeremy
Renners portrayal in The
Avengers. He says Ive been the
26
Thats not an impossible

dream. This year, Bremer will
be hosting a voiceover panel at
Anime Central, the Midwests
largest anime convention.
Bremer posted on Facebook
and on his own website I have
some big news for you all. I will
be officially showcasing a panel
at Anime Central 2013. Its called
Voice Acting Industry: How to
get in! A couple others and I will
be hosting a lecture about what
it takes to get into the voiceover
business as well as give out
some hot tips for anyone who is
interested in trying to get their
foot in the door. You have no
idea how excited I am Bremers
excitement is infectious, and his
enthusiasm comes through both
in his written updates as well as
when speaking to him.
What does he want to see

happen in his career? To
have my voice in video games
and anime, and to have as
many credits as my idols, both
professional and non-profit.
Considering who his idols are, its
a lofty goal, but one that Bremer
is well capable of achieving.
Evan Bremer can be
found online at http://
evanbremervoiceover.
com/ and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.
com/evanbremervoiceover.
Gotham Highs first episode,
Dance the Knight Away, can
be heard at http://blip.tv/
lacthewatcher/gotham-highaudio-drama-episode-dancethe-kinght-away-6488186,
with behind the scenes clips
on youtube at http://www.
youtube.com/channel/
UCFoow8rdYxH3Jxtxym15XSw.
Bremer describes himself as

a total geek, with Speed Racer
being his favorite movie and
Sonic the Hedgehog holds court
as his favorite comic and video
game character. Hes played
all of the games featuring the
speedy critter, starting with
Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega
Genesis. When what side of the
Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate

he falls on, Bremer laughs and
says Firefly!
27
Modern Corsetry Terminology:
How to Measure for a Corset:
By: Cory Benzenhoefer
BONING:
This is the structural part of
a corset, sewn in at seams in
pockets to create the affects of
waist reduction that steel boned
corsets offer.
Plastic or acrylic bones: ribs
made of plastics which are made
to offer structure, but not waist
reduction. Found in fashion
corsets and lingerie, also often
used in dressmaking.
Flat steel bones: used in the
construction of waist reducing
corsets, most usually in places
that dont need much flexibility
in wear (such as the back or the
sides). Usually coated in plastic
to avoid sharp edges and rust.
Spiral steel bones: (also referred
to as spring steel) made of the
same steel as flat steel bones,
but in such a manner that they
bend and flex like a spring. Used
in the curvier areas in a corset,
or in all boning spots on many
custom built corsets.
BUSK:
The hard flat bone often used
on the front middle of corsets
for closure. It has loops on one
side and hooks on the other and
provides a sturdy closure option
that contributes to structure.
BUST:
Those are your breasts, silly!
(remember: busk and bust are
two very different things!)
COUTIL:
The canvas-like herringbone
pattern fabric used on the
inside of a corset, made from
yarns of cotton.
28
COUTURE:
In the same way as this term
is used in the fashion world at
large, this refers to many corsets
with custom-made elements,
whether off the rack or custom.
This could be embroidery,
beading, or any other hand-sewn
element or embellishment.
CUSTOM:
A corset made to the exact
measurements and requirements
of its wearer.
LACING:
Much like shoelaces, this refers
to the apparatus usually at
the back of the corset that
contributes to the ability to
tighten a corset for waist
reduction. Often a fashion corset
not designed for waist reduction
will have lacing at the back--if
it is made with plastic or acrylic
bones, the lacing is only included
for decoration.
LONG LINE:
A corset that is made longer
on the bottom either to
accommodate a very long torso
or to wear over the hips and
buttocks.
MIDBUST:
A corset cut to cover about
midway up the bust, usually with
a straight cut across the top.
Also sometimes referred to as
Edwardian.
OFF THE RACK:
A corset that is manufactured
in a predetermined size, only
to be worn by someone who
fits the measurements of the
predesignated sizes set forth by
the manufacturer and designed
to be worn only occasionally, not

recommended for waist training.
OVERBUST:
A corset with a cut that goes
over the bust.
UNDERBUST:
The cut of a corset meant to be
worn to only modify the waist
line and not cover the bust.
Also commonly referred to as a
cincher.
WAIST REDUCTION:
The process by which one
cinches down ones waist and
ribcage shape with the use of
a heavily structured corset.
This can be achieved with
occasional corset wear in a
non-permanent fashion, it can
also be done permanently with
extensive custom corset wear
and direction of a doctor and
corsetiere (see: waist training).
WAIST TAPE:
A horizontal tape sometimes
made from a twill often found at
waist level inside a corset. This is
used to take some of the strain
of the corset and prevent it from
stretching out of shape.
WAIST TRAINING:
The practice of using corsets
with progressively smaller
measurements (with the help
of a corsetiere and doctor) to
permanently alter the shape
and size of ones ribcage and
waistline. This process can be
extremely dangerous, please do
not attempt it without the advice
of a doctor and guidance of a
qualified corsetieree.
Full bust - around the fullest

part of your bust, with or
without a bra, depending
on how you plan on wearing
your corset.
Ribcage/chest - under your
bust at your ribcage
Waist - right at the smallest
point in your natural waist
Top of hip - right at the top
of where your hip bone starts
(this may not be necessary for
some off the rack corsets)
Hip - all the way around the
fullest part of your hips and
buttocks
Please note: a custom

corsetiere may have other
or different measurement
instructions, which they will
provide to you.
Drawing By: Moriette
29
29
So you want to buy a corset.

Illustration By: Moriette
Corsetry is a whole different

category from clothing.
Historically, corsets were worn
to reduce the waist and were
purported to help posture.
Women would wear them from
adolescence and thereby often
had trouble sitting and standing
without them by adulthood.
YOU, new corset wearer,
are probably not looking for
something this structured and
likely are only looking for waist
reduction thats going to give you
that hourglass look for a costume
or occasional wear without being
intolerably uncomfortable.
So, waist reduction, how
does that work? Well, its pretty
simple. A corset is made of
30
heavy duty materials like coutil,

canvas and steel boning. Theyre
constructed in such a way that
they smooth and reduce your
waistline when the cording in the
back is pulled tightthis is called
tight lacing.
How do you know what size
you need? Well, this is a little
more complicated question.
There are companies who sell
corsets made in a specified range
of sizes. Generally speaking,
these off the rack corsets
will work for costuming and
occasional wear. Theyre not
a great idea for waist training
(something well talk about
later) and a terrible idea if your
measurements dont fit in their
sizing chart. As an example,

well look at my measurements.
I measure 43 at the bust, 36
at the waist, and 45 at the
hip. Looking at a manufacturer
of corsets who has a wide
distribution in the US/UK, they
recommend measuring the
smallest part of your waist and
subtracting 4 to get your corset
size. Now, this would mean I
should wear a size 32 corset,
without looking at the other
measurements involved. I say
this is important because not
everyone is proportionate to
their specifications, so you dont
want to get a corset and find
that its a bit too large in the bust
or too small in the hips. So the
next step is to find the actual

size chart for their corsets (you
may need to ask the companys
customer service people for
this). Looking at the size chart
for this company, a size 32 corset
is suitable for a bust of 42-43,
a natural waist of 36-37 and
a hip of 44-45 so I happen to
fit in their sizing chart, but not
everyone does. Another thing
to consider here is the style
and length of your prospective
corset. Im 6 feet tall and long
waisted, so I personally have to
consider the length from top
to bottom of the corset, most
importantly with overbusts, so
my breasts dont literally fall out
of the top. Its not like a bustier
or a corset-style top you can
wear a little higher up on your
torsothe waist of your corset
needs to fall on your waist or
youll be squeezing your ribs and
at minimum be uncomfortable,
at maximum crack a rib.
If your measurements dont
fit into the sizing chart for an off
the rack corset, its time to look
for a custom. Some companies
that sell off the rack will make
their corsets to order in your
measurements, usually this costs
a little extra, but its definitely
worth it for a proper fit. Other
corset manufacturers ONLY deal
in custom sizing. This is a great
thing to look for, even if you
fit into an off the rack corset.
Custom sizing can be the saving
grace in your hunt and can make
or break the appearance of your
corset. Its especially important
if you plan on wearing it for
extended periods of time or
waist training. To be fair, off the
rack corsets are really only ideal
for occasional wear, even for a

person who fits into their sizing
chart perfectly. They wont be
comfortable enough to wear for
an extended period of time, and
they definitely will not shape
your waist into anything that it
isnt already.
On the subject of waist
training: first and foremost
(and I cant stress this enough),
never start this process before
consulting your doctor. You CAN
injure yourself if its not done
properly, and not the sort of
injury you can simply walk off.
For legal reasons, I cant really
walk you through the process,
but quite basically it involves
wearing corsetry thats made
a bit more sturdy and heavy
duty than a standard modern
steel boned corset and using
those corsets to gradually
change the shape and curve of
the waist, hips and ribcage. This
should ALWAYS be done with
an experienced corsetiere who
makes corsetry custom for their
clients and is knowledgeable in
the process of waist training.
Most companies who make
off the rack corsets will offer
corsetry they suggest is suitable
for waist training, but rest
assured, no matter how often
you wear one of them, they
will not be anywhere near as
effective as one made just for
you and your waist training
regimen.
So. Now you know most of
the basics, here are a few more
things to know. Youll want to
make sure the corset youre
getting has steel bones. Acrylic
bones do not a corset make!
Theyre not made to produce
any sort of waist reduction and

will crease and fold after wearing
them for a short period of time.
In order to be considered an
actual authentic corset, it
needs to have steel boning. This
boning can be flat, spiral or a
combination of the two. Spiral
boning is a little easier to bend
and move in, flat boning is a little
more restrictive. As an example:
I have an overbust with flat steel
bones and an identical one with
spiral steel. The flat boned one
keeps me from bending at the
waist, so I find myself squatting
or asking people to pick things
up off the ground for me quite a
lot. In the spiral boned corset, I
dont experience this at all. Spiral
steel bones are also a bit more
effective for creating dramatic
waist reduction, so if you have
been waist training and want a
corset you can wear out, youll
want to look for spiral boning.
Corsets are lined with heavy
fabric that will wick at least a
little moisture away from your
body and help your corset hold
its shape the way its supposed
to. Usually cotton coutil or duck
are used on the layer closest
to your skin, a waist tape will
usually be visible on the inside
(although some corsetieres use
an extra layer on top of waist
tape), there will be at least one
additional layer between that
one and the outer layer usually
made of the same thing the
inner layer is. The outermost
layer is the one everyone will
see, so this can be poly brocade,
leather, pvc, cotton, silk...really
whatever your corsetiere offers.
There are corsetieres who will
offer options with lining, these
31
will be fitted over the core

layers and may make your new
corset a bit more comfortable if
you have sensitive skin and cant
wear sturdier fabrics.
Corset laces should start at
the top and bottom and meet in
the middle. So when you tighten,
you pull from the middle and tie
the laces together in the middle.
Dont tie your laces around
your corsetthis can weaken
your busk (if you have one) and
cause undesirable bending of
your boning. Your laces should
be very long, I have been known
to just tie them in a long bow
and let them hang or tie them
up and tuck them into the top.
Lacing should be a sturdy thick
lace, not a ribbon or a cord. It
should have the sort of strength
and structure of a good thick
boot lace. If you dont like the
color or want to change out the
cord for any other reason, please
make sure you buy a corset
lace to replace it, anything else
could end up breaking while its
tightened.
Tightening your corset is
not as scary a proposition as it
may sound. Firstly, remember
that the first few times you pull
those laces tight, they may not
move smoothly through the
grommets in the back of your
corset. This is normal, similar to
thick tennis shoe laces for their
first few wears. The easiest way
Ive found to tighten on my own
(and I have a bit of a shoulder
injury, so its very difficult for
me to reach back there and pull
those cords) is to pull either top
or bottom closed first. So start
at the top and pull pull pull until
its just as tight as I think itll go...
32
then go from the bottom to the

middle, pull pull pull. Then pull
those ends once more just to
even everything out and tie. This
works really well when youre
all alone with a new-ish corset.
If youve used it a while and the
cords pull through the grommets
freely, you can hook the laces
on a door handle (not a plain
old round one, the kind that are
like a long handlethe kind the
raptors learned how to open
in Jurassic Park) and walk away
until youre tight laced. Then
hold those cords and walk back
to unhook yourself and tie.
I CANT BREATHE! This is
one of the most common things
heard from the mouths of new
corset wearers the first time
they are tight laced. Well yeah,
you probably cant. Everything
in your chest and stomach area
is being squeezed and your body
is kind of saying, hey wait,
this...no stop oh my goodness I
dont have space to function!
First rule: dont start breathing
quickly. Youll hyperventilate.
Second rule: think about how
youre breathing. Your breaths
should be coming from your
diaphragm, not your chest (band
and vocal types know what Im
talking about here). Third rule:
if you still feel like you cant
breathe, loosen up a little until
you get the hang of diaphragm
breaths. Put your corset on early,
and give yourself about an inch
of breathing room, then go finish
getting ready. Get your makeup
on, wig, shoes, drive to where
youre going...all of that. Then
when youre ready to make your
appearance, finish tight lacing.
You dont want to do this forever,
just the first couple of times you

put it on, maximum, to get used
to diaphragm breathing. Its not
terribly difficult to get the hang
of.
If youre wearing an off the
rack overbust corset, its always a
good idea to put a pair of pasties
on underneath. Not only for
comfort (canvas/coutil/cotton
duck is not all that comfortable
on nipples, lets be honest)
but just in case something
slips if you have to bend
over or reach for something.
Wardrobe malfunction isnt as
big a concern if youre wearing
a custom sized overbust, but its
something to think about more
from a comfort standpoint.
Above all else, if youre
buying a corset, you should be
able to speak to the seller and
get a good feel for what they
know and how they can guide
you through the process. A
good corsetiere (even if they
only sell off the rack) knows
the limitations and capabilities
of their product and can tell
you what to expect through
the process. If you take your
waist measurement and its
24, a good corsetiere would be
able to say they dont believe
a size 20 corset would be very
comfortable due to your lack of
body fat and inability to squish
as much as someone larger. A
good corsetiere can recommend
styles, colors and shapes based
on what youre looking for your
corset to do. Above all, dont be
afraid to ask questions. A good
corset is an investment, and
you want to make sure you get
return on that investment in the
form of wear and use.
33
34
35
Geeky Flicks
january
January - March 2013

march
Texas Chainsaw 3D
All Superheroes Must Die

Jan 4, Limited Release
: NR
Genre: Indie
A group of abducted young
superheroes, their powers stripped by
:R
Genre: Horror
Leatherface terrorizes
a young woman who
has come to Texas to
claim an inheritance:
a mansion with a
terrifying secret in
the basement. Dan
Yeager, Alexandra
Deddario.
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters

PG-13
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
The fabled siblings are given a
grown-up spin as bounty hunters
specializing in witches. Jeremy
Janssen.
work together to defeat his game, and

save the city. Jason Trost.
february
The Sorcerer and the White Snake

Feb. 8, Limited
PG-13
Genre: Fantasy
Ancinent Chinese legend in which
an herbalist falls in love with a
thousand year old White Snake
disguised as a woman. A sorcerer
Li, Shengyi Huang.
36
PG-13
Genre: Thriller
Mysterious girl Lena
comes to a small
Southern town.
Together with local
boy Ethan, they
discovers secrets
about the town,
their families, and
themselves. Emma
Thompson, Emmy
Rossum, Alice
Englert.
Jack the Giant Slayer
Oz the Great and Powerful
Carrie
NR
Genre: Fantasy
The tenuous truce between
humans and giants is strained
as a farmer leads a group into
the giants kingdom to rescue a
princess. Nicholas Hoult, Stanley
Tucci, Ewan McGreggor.
NR
Genre: Fantasy
A stage magician is carried via
tornado to a magical land whose
inhabitants hail him as a Real
Wizard, while three witches each
have their own plan for him.
James Franco, Rachel Weisz,
Michelle Williams.
R
Genre: Horror.
A quiet high school girl
unleashes her newfound
NR
Escape from Planet Earth
The Croods
Genre:
Framed for treason, the
Joe team is terminated.
NR
Genre: Animated
Bold astronaut Scorch Supernova is
NR
Genre: Animated
A prehistoric family sets out on
Cobra and their own

government to save the
a dangerous alien planet. Brendan Fraser,

Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba.
Nicholas Cage, Ryan Reynolds,

Emma Stone.
Channing Tatum, Dwayne

Johnson, Ray Park.
who bully her. Julianne Moore,

Chlo Grace Moretz.
The Host
NR
Genre: Sci-Fi
over human hosts. One invader
bonds with her host, and together they set out to free the humans
from enslavement. Saoirse Ronan,
Dianne Kruger, William Hurt.
37
LEFT D20
TO RIGHT:
Relm, Terra, Lenna,
Rydia,
Celes
GIRLS MAGAZINE
WINTER
2012-13
38
39
Princess Lenna
Charlotte Tycoon
FINAL FANTASY V
MODELED BY: Mizuhana Cosplay

I began my Amano journey with Princess Lenna
Charlotte Tycoon. I made this costume initially for
Anime Boston 2008, and then re-wore it with updates
for Animazement 2010. The costume is a mess of
gold and copper, with thousands of hand strung
beads sewn to the skirt. It also features copper wiring
stripped from an abandoned house. This costume
took the most work to interpret from the original
sketch. The Lenna concept art is so completely
different from how she appears in the game. The
design granted me tons of wiggle room and what
resulted was an amalgamation of the feelings I have
for the character and my personal style.
A Cosplay Fantasy
of Final Fantasy
BY: Chiki
f we view cosplayers as artists (and I do),

then they must have their own style. My
cosplay signature over the years has become
Final Fantasy Amano Concept Art. In 2008, upon
completing my first Amano inspired costume of
Princess Lenna Charlotte Tycoon from Final Fantasy
V, I found my cosplay voice.
Amanos concept art for the Final Fantasy games
tends to be very organic and not incredibly detailed. Its easy to interpret how youd like, which is
40
perfect for a cosplayer like me who hates to be limited by the confines of being accurate. Plus, theres
gold! Lots and lots of gold!

The Saturday that Hurricane Sandy struck
the coast of North Carolina, my fellow North Carolina
D20 Girls and I ventured out heavily weighed down
with pale makeup, glitter, and beads to model each
of my creations. I dont think Ive had a prouder moment in my life than when these amazing photos got
back to me.
Rydia of Mist
FINAL FANTASY IV
MODELED BY: Anna Panda

Rydia was my second venture into Final Fantasy
costuming. The original costume was completed
for Animazement 2011 and re-worn with updates
for Anime Weekend Atlanta 2011. I think gathering
supplies for this costume took longer than making
it. I was so inspired by all the different fabrics
and materials I gathered that I found myself
overwhelmed by the possibilities, and I could not
decide which direction to go. The answer came
to me when I was sorting through a box of old
costumes. There sat a hand-made kimono that had
last been worn by a dear friend of mine who had
passed away. From there the costume took a life of
its own, stemming from the sleeves of the kimono
and building from there. Now this costume is a
homage to a lost friendship, which seems fitting for
the character.
41
Relm Arrownry
Celes Chere
FINAL FANTASY VI
FINAL FANTASY VI
MODELED BY: Chiki
MODELED BY: Geneviefe dEstelle
Relm was an exercise in cosplay supply recycling.

I have a terrible time throwing away any craft
supplies I may find a use for some day, so after four
other heavily detailed Final Fantasy costumes and
a plethora of costumes from other series, I had
accumulated quite the stash of supplies. Relm was
Celes Chere was never in my

costuming plans; it was only after
re-discovering artwork of her
character that I decided to create
the costume. This costume is the
least detailed of the lot but possibly
the most beloved amongst my
friends. Its funny how unplanned
things tend to go the best.
born from recycled bits of a Black Canary costume,

thrift store fabric finds, scraps from Steam Punk
Sailor Venus and leftovers from all the Final Fantasy
costumes that preceded it. I only purchased two
things for this costume: the wig and the painters
pallet. I felt like I was cosplaying green.
Terra Branford
FINAL FANTASY VI
MODELED BY: Maka Lee

Terra Branford is the fourth in the lineup and
the most planned out costume of the bunch.
The fabric was purchased 5 months prior to
the construction of this costume for Katsucon
2012, then it sat unceremoniously in a pile
of forgotten materials for months before
being hastily constructed a week before the
convention. Yes, I have a problem. Despite that,
this costume turned out beautifully and I am
very proud of it. This Terra design incorporates
aspects from both Amanos concept art and
Sakizous illustration art. The end result is a
mixture of the two designs and my favorite
cosplay of the five.
PHOTOS BY: N3 Photography

MAKEUP BY: Geneviefe dEstelle
COSTUMES BY: Chiki Cosplay
42
43
D20 GIRLS OUT AND ABOUT
Sarah Tanner
Alyssa
Fire Trinket & Little Alice
44
NC Girls
Little Alice & Apocalypse Sue
Dolly & Shiloh

45
DiY
N MA
W
O
R
U
E YO
e
n
i
r
u
g
i
F
y
a
l
C
r
e
ym
l
o
P
E
I
ZOMB
MAK
OOM
SHR
U
M
Y
R
O
LEST
By: Moriette
Step 6
Bake the charm!
Place it into the oven.
Hint - Sculpey bakes at 275 C per 1/4
Careful! Its always better to
underbake than overbake.
Materials Polymer Clay (Sculpey, Primo, etc) | Markers (Prismacolor, Sharpie, etc)
Step 7
Drawing it in!
Step 1
Prepare the clay
Youll need 3 colors: Yellow,

Brown, White
Step 2
Shape the clay
Using your ngers, mold the base of othe mushroom

with white clay. Using the palm of your hand press until
you have the cap of the mushroom.
Step 3
Align
the
two
pieces
On Cap: Use brown to detail the marking in.

On Base: Draw in eyes and mouth with black. :}
On Tag: Write in the red character using red.
Extra: Use light blue to ll in the eyes.
Complete!
And
SQUISH
Step 4
Shape the Tag
Flatten the yellow

clay into a rectangle.
46
Step 5
All together now...
Press the tag
into the mushroom.
47
Love Songs
Honorable Mention
Wizard Love MeekaKitty
Lumos Flies All Caps
Nerd Girl (Sweet Version) The Four Eyes
Hot Girl in the Comic Shop Tripod
Geek Like Me The Wonderstrucks
Boo! Valentines Day! Boo!
The Breakup List
Love Like Woe The Ready Set

Down with Love Michael Buble with Holly Palmer
Single Natasha Bedingfield
Love Hurts Nazareth
The Morning Sad Veruca Salt
Breathe Again Sara Bareilles

Cry Kelly Clarkson
Jar of Hearts Christina Perri
Shake it Off - Florence and the Machine
I Almost Do Taylor Swift
Movie/TV
Anyone Else But You Mouldy Peaches (Juno)
Storybook Love Mark Knopfler (The Princess Bride)
A Thousand Years Christina Perri (Twilight)
Laundry Day Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible)
The Power of Love Huey Lewis and The News (Back to the Future)
Nerdy Crushes
Nerd Girl MC Chris
Hey Molly Mike Lombardo
Chemical Love Charlie McDonnell
Here Comes My Baby Sons of Admirals
My Universe Revolves Around You - Danny Tieger
WoW Is A Feeling Pure Pwnage
Do You Want to Date My Avatar The Guild
Video Games
Navis Song (Hey, Listen!) Meekakitty
Mario Kart Love Song Sam Hart
Pokemon Love Song HelloIamDanica
Still Alive GLaDOS & Jonathan Coulton
Somewhere Beyond the Sea Bobby Darin (Bioshock)
48
Roy Allysons List
Nightmare Marzipans List
Elephant Lovesong Medly - Moulin Rouge

Dare You to Move - Switchfoot
Falling Slowly - Once
Halls - Colton and Zara
To Be With You - Slim Man
Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera

On My Own - Les Miserables
Granger Danger - A Very Potter Musical
Hallelujah - Lenord Cohen
You Make My Dreams Come True - Hall and Oates
Graciebloves List
Leah Roses List
Parachute (Acoustic) Ingrid Michaelson

Antonia Motion City Soundtrack
The Book of Love The Magnetic Fields
Past Lives Ke$ha
Pretty Little Girl Blink 182
Were In This Together Nine Inch Nails

My Favorite Book - Stars,
Lovesong - The Cure,
Until the End of the World - Apoptygma Berzerk
The More You Ruv Someone - Avenue Q.
Moriettes List
Tong Hua (Fairy Tale) - Guang Liang
Say U Love Me - Jason and Lara
Why Did I Fall In Love With You - DBSK
Flower - Back-On
Haru Haru - Big Bang
Mixtress Mandys List

Come What May - Moulin Rouge
Cant Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon
When You Say You Love Me - Josh Groban
A Walk Through Hell - Say Anything
Your Song - Ewan McGregor
Sairins List
Far Away - Nickleback
La Vie en Rose - (Louis Armstrongs version)
Purple Rain - Prince
Save Me - Queen
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Illustrations By: Washue

49
y
r
i
a
AF
e
l
a
T ing
d
d
e
W
BY KARA PESZNECKER
hen girls say they

want a fairy tale
wedding, they
usually dont mean
it literally, but I am not a typical
girl. I had never spent years
dreaming of my ideal wedding.
I didnt have the perfect dress
picked out. I hadnt been
what food would be served.

about what I wanted. The one
thing that I did know is that
my husband-elect and I were
unashamed geeky, gamer,
fantasy-loving metalheads and
we wanted a wedding that
50
and brought all of our family and

friends together in a fun way.
51
My husband Gary and I

love any excuse to dress up. I
remember on our first date he
informed me that he enjoyed
LARPing. I have to admit that
was an avenue of nerddom
that I had never traveled down
before, but when he told me
costumes were involved I was
in. This made our decision to
have a themed wedding quite
natural, and from that point
on my vision for our wedding
was Bilbo Bagginss Birthday.
We asked all our friends and
family to be inspired by their
favorite fantasy or fairy-tale
characters and come in costume.
We encouraged costumes
across all genres medieval,
viking, steampunk, Disney
we really werent picky about
how they dressed up as long
they gave it some effort and
had fun with it. In our save
the dates we included a list
appropriate costumes ideas that
included knights, fairies, pirates,
damsels in distress, princes
and princesses, hobbits, elves,
dragon hunters, men in tights,
your 15th level Elven Wizard/
Cleric, your cousins 67th level
Resto Druid, etc. I am very
happy to say we saw pretty much
every single one of those ideas
represented and so much more.
Photography By: http://www.craigmitchelldyer.com
52
okay to fire up their motorcycles

and reve them loudly during
our ceremony. The situation
was resolved quite quickly
when they were confronted by
my husbands uncle (dressed in
traditional Scottish garb and,
armed with a large sword) and
his cousin (dressed as Thor,
wielding Mjlnir) asked them
to leave. During our vows, we
promised to love each other
until death or undeath did we
part, as our subtle nod to the
zombie apocalypse. In place of
a unity candle our fathers built
us a treasure chest that we filled
with letters from our mothers,
gifts, and a bottle of his uncles
special home-brewed mead. The
chest was then locked with two
antique padlocks to which we
each hold a key. We will open the
chest on our 5th anniversary and
share in our treasure. For me, the
highlight of the ceremony was
our processional music. Gary and
I met at an Epica concert where

they played a symphonic metal
version of the Imperial March.
Even before we knew each other
we shared in that special moment
and I am pretty sure we both
shed a tear of joy. For the
wedding I found a live recorded
version of the song and managed
to keep it a secret from Gary
to play as we walked down the
aisle together for the first time as
husband and wife.
During the reception we
kept the fantasy feeling alive by
playing traditional celtic and
folk music along with folk metal
and dancing to some epic power
metal. Our first dance was to
Blind Guardians The Maiden
and the Minstrel Knight that is
based on the story of Tristan and
Isolde. Our cake topper was two
fairies standing on a bridge that
had a waterfall going down into
a pond on a sheet cake that had
a mermaid bathing in it while a

white dragon kept watch. I cut
the cake with a dagger strapped
to my boot. We drank mead out
of custom painted drinking horns
and my Maid of Honor told
everyone that Gary was not my
first long-haired love, but that in
fact that honor in fact belongs to
Legolas, who still stands in my
living room today. Toward the
end of the ceremony my mom
informed me that my brothers
best friend had arrived and that I
might want to take a look at our
gift table. There, on the table, was
a big beautiful Captain America
shield, which I fully intend on
using in a cosplay in the near
future. We couldnt pass up the
opportunity for a photo-op so
my husband stole his cousins
Thor helmet and hammer and
posed for our final picture before
driving off into the sunset to our
heavy metal after party.
The wedding itself was held

at Eagle Fern Park in Estacada,
Oregon in an old open-air
A-frame structure, complete
with moss and surrounded
by large evergreens and lush
vegetation. It truly felt like
we had stepped into Middle
Earth until of course some
park- goers thought it would be
53
54
55
June 21 2012
Bridgett & Peter

My Jewish-pagan
doctor who wedding
y husband and I are

huge nerds. We watch
things, we read things
and we create things that are
worthy of the nerddom name. So
when we decided to get married
we had many ideas! Some of the
more exciting thoughts were of
a Klingon or Betazoid wedding.
Lots of things were vetoed until
finally we decided that our main
nerd flare would be Doctor Who!
56
I grew up watching the show

and was able to introduce it to
my husband. The doctor helped
us bond on many levels. Once
we decided on a theme we had
to think of everything else. My
colors were white, blue, black,
and pale pearlescent. We had it
at a local camp ground because I
wanted to be closer to the earth.
My bridesmaids dresses were
royal blue with white poke dots
while his grooms men were all
different doctors! We had the
first, the fourth, the eleventh,
and my husband was the tenth.
My something blue was my knee
high royal blue convers with Bad
wolf on the side! Our chuppah
was blue to represent the TARDIS
and once our ceremony was

finished we ran off stage to the
theme song! I could not have
asked for a more perfect day.
I had the perfect balance of
family, fun, and nerddom.
57
58
CHIKI
59
WINTER 2012-13
D20 GIRLS
D20 Girls
RockMAGAZINE
- Featuring CHIKI
CHIKI
NC D20 Girls Manager
Chiki began her life immersed

in a costuming world. She
learned to sew at age 10 and
grew up in Opera costume
shops with her aunt, now the
costume shop manager for
the Barter Theater. When she
was not backstage, she also
participated onstage performing
for Sarasota opera, Chautauqua
opera, school productions, and
Community Theater. She began
her venture into Cosplay in 2001
when she was in 8th grade.
60
Since then shes attended over

25 conventions and has made
over 45 costumes. Some of her
favorite characters to cosplay are
Sailor Venus from Sailor Moon,
Super Girl, Rarity from My Little
Ponies: Friendship is Magic, and
ladies from Final Fantasy IV, V,
and VI.
When she isnt behind a
sewing machine, Chiki works
as a professional photographer
and obsesses over the Fallout
series of video games, Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, and manages her

state of North Carolina for the
D20 Girls project.
A love of cosplay and a need
to find a community within the
often cruel cosplay world led
her to the D20 Girls Project. As a
state manager she and her girls
enjoy attending conventions,
coordinating photo shoots, and
hanging out. She is very proud of
how close the girls in her state
have become as friends.
CHIKI
61
WINTER 2012-13
D20 GIRLS
D20 Girls
RockMAGAZINE
- Featuring CHIKI
DESTELLE GENEVIEFVE
Article By: Chiki
ELIZABETH
TURNER
MS/NC D20 Girl
If there was a major for being

a better geek Elizabeth is well
on her way to earning a Masters
degree in it. As a graduate
student studying Library Science
at UNC Chapel Hill, Elizabeth
applies her knowledge to the
little things in nerdom, like
effectively researching characters
she cosplays and finding the
best ways to search ebay for
the perfect touches to add to
her Lolita coordinates. She has
turned a passion for geek culture
into a lifestyle. Elizabeth began
cosplaying at age 16: Elizabeth
Swan was the first character she
chose, from there she expanded
into further costuming endevors
that led her to participation
in SCA. Historical Fashion
costuming is her first love, but
she returned to her geek roots
by her junior year in college
when she got involved with the
501st/ Rebel Legion and began
attending conventions.
Her schooling brought her
from her from Mississippi to
62
D20 GIRLS
MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13
DESTELLE
GENEVIEFVE
D20 Girls Rock - Featuring DESTELLE GENEVIEFVE
North Carolina all the while

remaining an active D20 Girl.
She now is an integral part of the
NC Girls and spends much time
cosplaying, going to conventions
and plotting adventures with
her fellow girls. Shes especially
proficient in sharing her
knowledge and talents with
others through panels she leads
at conventions on a variety of
topics including: Lolita, Theater
Makeup, and the Plight of the
Nerd Girl in Society.
Im a fairly balanced geek
as far as fandoms coming
from a variety of fields Turner
explains, my first fandoms
were Harry Potter, Tolkien, and
Avatar the Last Airbender. My
current fandoms are DC, BBC,
and I have rediscovered a love
for Tolkien. Id been out of the
fandom for a while but the new
movie got me back in. Teen
Titans and Birds of Prey are my
favorite DC comics though I tend
to like independent stories like
Sandman and Preacher more
than superhero ones.

Proving a love for table top
gaming, she has been playing
Dungeons and Dragons since
she was 14: My first character
somehow managed to be really
overpowered in Charisma skills
so even though I was only a level
1, I managed to disguise myself
as the pirate captain whose
camp we were infiltrating, steal
his plans, and then let the party
set fire to the galley (which had
all highly flammable booze in
it). The DM was all wtf is even
happening? Best part of that
campaign? It was an official
part of my lit class that year.
The teachers assistant was the
Dungeon Master.
If D20 was a college course,
wed say she gets an A+!
63
64
D20 GIRLS
MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13 D20 Girls Rock - Featuring DESTELLE GENEVIEFVE
DESTELLE
GENEVIEFVE
DOLLY
65
WINTER 2012-13
D20 Rock
GIRLS -MAGAZINE
D20 Girls
Featuring Dolly
DOLLY
The name is Dolly! I work
very hard in the world we live
in and enjoy every moment life
shares with me. I often use the
word Hun way too much, and
smile when the time just isnt
right. I take things to heart and
my emotions are pure. I consider
myself witty yet laugh at almost
every pun. I am a five foot
small Puerto Rican girl with
nothing but a geeky mind to
lead me through.
I am a gamer
Girls played with Barbies, yet I
played with Mario. Girls did their
hair, while I found Cloud his wig.
I have always been on a personal
level with my video games. From
Survival horror, to Rpgs, I am
a gamer girl; from head to toe
you can see it. I have tattoos
of the PlayStation buttons and
Nobuo Uematsus real signature,
but this isnt just an image. This
isnt just a hobby. Its my life.
I not only play video games
with friends and family, but Im
working in school right now to
become a gaming producer and I
plan to make it to the top. I WILL
bring gaming to the next level
with all the gamer girls in this
generation. I want to show the
world that being a gamer girl is
not only about being beautiful
with the things you love, but
making a difference in the world
within it.
I am an anime fan
My first boyfriend was
66
New Jersey D20 Girl

Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho. We
had a really solid relationship,
with him fighting yokai and all,
until I became overly obsessed
with the anime Marmalade Boy.
It was all uphill from there. The
art is what caught my attention
at first; I became so passionate
about drawing the features of
characters and giving them their
own lives. It then became all
about the music. How magical
the melodies worked to continue
a story. It came together when I
noticed the sheer brilliance of an
anime plot line. Call me crazy for
falling in love with Cartoons,
(which we will not call them ever
again!) but they are the gripping
stone of my creativity. Without
the lessons learned from anime
heroes, I would never be the
woman I am today.
I am a manga freak
489490..491Oh, well I
should probably stop counting
the manga and manhwa on my
wall. These are my collectors
items. They are the pieces of
my childhood and gripping tales
of my years to come. Every
character, word, and image
running through the pages of
these books is truly incredible.
You have never experienced an
out of world enlightenment until
you have turned the pages of a
manga or manhwa.
I am a cosplayer
Finding beauty in a character
is an amazing feeling. Being able
to show off their beauty, inside

and out is phenomenal! I have
been cosplaying for a little over
two years now. As I am new to
the game, I have gone through
several gorgeous costumes. My
line up so far has been: Lilth
from Darkstalkers, Yoko from
Gurren Lagann, Lumiere from
Kiddy Grade, Garnet from Final
Fantasy IX, Shadow Bolt from
My Little Pony, C.C from Code
Geass, Pleinair from the Disgaea
series, Gijinka Goldeen from the
Pokemon series and Dollface
from Twisted Metal.
I am me
I have never let being a
geeky girl slow me down, and
yes, it was hard at first. I was
bullied for loving what I did. I
was harassed for being in touch
with a character or story from
any platform of geeky wonder.
That never once pushed my
passion for them away. The
world isnt perfect. But its there
for us, doing the best it can. And
thats what makes it so damn
beautiful. This is a quote spoken
by Roy Mustang from Full Metal
Alchemist and his words ring
true. Like the world, I am not
perfect, and that to me is the
ultimate beauty. I am a strong
geeky girl and truly proud of it.
Now, I am a D20 girl pushing
women to be proud of who they
are, too. To be proud of what
they love and voice it to the
world!
DOLLY
67
WINTER 2012-13
D20 Rock
GIRLS -MAGAZINE
D20 Girls
Featuring Dolly
K AT H E R I N E
ELIZABETH COLEMAN
AS Harley Quinn
FROM Batman
ALLISON
THOMAS
NATSUO COSPLAY
As Megurine Luka
FROM Vocaloid
I actually purchased this

costume from Calssara cosplay
68
69
K AT H E R I N E
ELIZABETH COLEMAN
AS Sailor Venus
FROM Sailor Moon
TRINITY
FANNIN
As Natsu
FROM Fairy Tale
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bentpic5
70
71
TRINITY
FANNIN
AS Erza
FROM Fairy Tale
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bentpic5
ALLISON
THOMAS
NATSUO COSPLAY
As Yuki Cross
FROM Vampire Knight
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Tony Teresi
www.t3-photo.com
I hand made this whole

costume myself. The jacket is
lined and the scythe is made
by carving polystyrene foam.
72
73
best
nerdy
gift.
Michelle
Death Star Infuser
Dr Who Apisode Plushie
Dr Who K9
Trinity
I got a Tardis
mini fridge!!!!
Katrina
A Super nintendo.
Corey
I got a Catwoman pimp
chalice, a Batman pint glass
with a cape, a black Batman
logo glass and a wonder
woman shot glass with a cape.
Alyssa
Dr Who - Exterminate
News, reviews, convention coverage...
www.gamersnewspaper.com
74
75
76

D20 Girls Magazine - January 2013

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D20 Girls Magazine - January 2013

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WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

Cover Photography By: Chris Wiggins - CosIT Photography

Editor in Chief - Erika Litherland

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

D20 Girls Magazine is

Letter From the Editor

22 From Goldilocks to GoldiBlox,

38 A Cosplay Fantasy of Final Fantasy

Modern Corsetry Terminology

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

Letter From the Editor:

Illustrations By: Washue

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

othing says sweet, sweet romance like a hot pizza, cold

This can sometimes end poorly

refer dice over directional

Maybe youre not a big rules

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

Take it up a Notch: Go the

f you both like to cosplay, then

Cosplay creation almost always

ind out some of your

We dont mean to do it, but

rack down that elusive

Once you give them something

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

Nothing scandalous, something

Life is busy. It becomes harder

No such thing as perfect:

The main thing about dates

If youve decided you want to

She wanted to be a pink Super Girl for Halloween. She

As Valentines Day approaches

Photography By: Bentpic5 Models: Kayla Waters & Sakuya Cosplay

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

I wont lie, Im biased, but my daughter is a completely

Or you could head out to

Youll make your date feel

For example, you could host

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CosIT Photography

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Corset train, work on my posture,

Use my new Kinect at least 15

Work out/be more active and lose the

Maintain my weight now that I lost

Sort, clean and donate larger pieces of fabric

D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE WINTER 2012-13

Matt Blakeley (order #4246141)

WINTER 2012-13 D20 GIRLS MAGAZINE

I resolve not to procrastinate to the extent

Stop smoking, start getting

To finally watch every