An Obligatory "Journey" Post

Journey. For those of you who have played the game, I really needn't say much else except "omg". For others, let me just tell you this: never before have I been so completely and utterly absorbed/obsessed with a game. From its sweeping visuals, to its emotionally gripping gameplay, Journey is by far one of the best games out on the market. On a scale of 1 to Awesome, it's Awesome x10, making it a MUST BUY for anyone who thinks they're serious about games. 

I can't think of a single game that has kept me coming back again and again, or has given me, the player, such an incredible game experience. As my sister's boyfriend put it so eloquently: "You've managed to turn a 2 hour game into a 40 hour game." And it's true. I have.

However, in order to understand this statement in its entirety, you have to realize that I've taken this a bit further than just gameplay, and it's taken the form of ... Cosplay. (My one true love.)

As any self-respecting, self-proclaimed nerd, I've undertaken this massive project so that I may enjoy Journey outside of its game form. And luckily, I've managed to wrangle in a couple of friends to join me! Below are the different levels of embroidery work for the different cloaks I'm going to create. And when I say "embroider", I mean embroider.

 

 

As a detail whore, I really want the effect hand embroidering will give the different costumes. And while I realize that this is suicide-inducing, I've already gotten started on one of the scarves. (Yay, progress!) I found the pattern off of Tumblr (Journey Scarf Pattern) and bought the supplies from JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts. I'll also include a list of the different materials and their prices, as best as I can remember, and I'll also include the hours I've spent making it.

For those of you who don't want to embroider, or sew, or knit a scarf, here's a lovely little thread provided by thatgamecompany for other Journey crafts. Enjoy!
 

(Note: This list does not include future materials. This is what I have on hand right now.)

Materials:

17" Plastic No-Slip Hoop (1) . . . $ 19.99

Dritz® Chenille Hand Needles-Size 18/22 6/Pkg (1) . . . $ 2.49

Fiskars Quality Forged 4'' Embroidery Scissors (1) . . . $ 10.99

Embroidery Stitching Tool Needle Threader (1) . . . $ 4.99

Iron On Transfer Pencil (1) . . . $ 4.99

DMC Pearl Cotton-Balls sz 8 95 yds 498 Dk. Red (1) . . . $ 2.99

DMC Metallic Embroidery Thread Silver (1) . . . $ 3.49

Sew Classic Linen-Linen Look Solids, Honey (2yds) . . . $ 9.99 per yard

 

Hours:

(this includes cutting, sewing, stitching, and pattern making)

13 hours [and counting]

 

 

 

Journey image via gamingirresponsibly.com

Journey Cloak Embroidery Pattern via viczar-skiekatsu.deviantart.com

Journey Scarf via me! Wish me luck!

New Year, New Blog, New Post

A Word of Warning:

Here at Obsessive Nerd you won't find be finding anything fancy. I won't be sharing gems of wisdom, or glorious insights into my perception on life. I am merely creating a space for myself where I can talk/post/write/dream about my obsessions, and all of the little things that follow.

That being said, I am probably extremely boring to listen to and/or read. I tend to rave, go on tangents, or otherwise explain, in exact detail, my current topic of interest for any length of time.(Sometimes days, usually weeks.)

If you have little to no fascination with the following subjects: history, literature, travel, cosplay, video games, or art, you should probably stop reading now. If you do like these things, and are thinking that you've found someone who understands you, bear in mind that I tend to take things that people love, and beat them into the ground. :)

That being said, let me properly introduce you into one of my many obsessions ...

While doing research on one of my favorite historical figures (Oda Nobunaga) this evening, I came across this amazing discovery: Azuchi Momoyama Theme Park, also known as Edo Wonderland.

Standing watch over the city of Ise, this replica of Azuchi Castle, Nobunaga's opulent six-tiered fortress on the shores of Lake Biwa, is the center of a sprawling castle town. The best part? It's a theme park centered around life in 16th century Japan!

Upon entering the main gate, specially trained staff walk the park in period costume to help transport you back in time. As a visitor, you can also rent a costume to enhance your enjoyment and overall experience.

The re-created town is complete with a shrine, temple, old houses, and a theatre where you can enjoy Geisha performances or see an Edo court case.

There's also a Ninja Museum, a Ninja maze, and a Ninja house of tricks where you can test your skill at throwing shuriken (ninja stars) and win prizes. From a special gate, you can ride a bus shaped like a kago, an old-style palanquin, to take you up to the Azuchi Castle replica, where inside a museum is dedicated to Oda Nobunaga. The top floor, like that of the original, is made of pure gold and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and scenic coastlines of Ise Bay.

While it's not the original castle (as the initial fortress was burnt to the ground in 1582), Azuchi Momoyama Theme Park offers a glimpse inside of what the real castle could look like, minus the splashes of red woodwork, and blue rooftop.

As a lover of Japanese history, this is practically a paradise for a nerd like me! Tea ceremonies, samurai processions, old timey souvenier shops ... I can barely contain my excitement! I definitely will be making a stop on my Japanese Castle Tour this year.