==================================================================
        October Daye Cosplay (with Rose Goblin!)
        Kelson Vibber, 2026-09-02
        ==================================================================
       
       Last weekend we went to WorldCon / LACon V for a day. It was our 
       first convention since 2019 (for, you know, reasons), and Katie 
       finally got to build a rose goblin and cosplay as October Daye, 
       something she's been planning to for years. (Basically since we 
       were gifted the jacket.)
       
       Spike is described in the books as a cross between a rose bush and 
       a cat. Three craft store grape-vine wreaths, soaked for reshaping, 
       give it structure. Bougainvillea vines are woven through it to add 
       thorns, though she ended up trimming them so it wouldn't be 
       hazardous if someone grabbed it, or if someone else's costume 
       brushed up against it. (We both managed to stab ourselves on the 
       thorns while she was making it.) She cut a bunch of artificial 
       leaves to look like rose leaves, and sewed them onto the vines.
       
       For the eyes, a pair of LEDs are hooked up to a battery (the 
       switch hidden under leaves) and placed inside mini ping-pong 
       balls, held in place inside the head by wire. Originally she was 
       planning to put it on a skateboard and pull it along behind her, 
       holding it on using magnets and washers, but the magnets turned 
       out not to be strong enough. So the day before the con, she 
       scrapped the skateboard and built a handle into Spike's back so 
       she could carry it around. It turned out to be better anyway, 
       since the skateboard wouldn't have gone on an escalator!
       
 (IMG) October Daye
 (IMG) October with Spike
       
 (IMG) Spike, the Rose Goblin
 (IMG) Spike (again)
       
 (TXT) (plain text)