Useful Sites

If there's one place that is indispensable for a cosplayer, it's Goodwill (or any other cheap secondhand store). You can find almost anything there if you look enough, and for dirt cheap. It's especially good for cheap shoes that you're going to cover up with fabric to make boots. ^_^

Dani's Cosplay Supplies Beads, buttons, leather, shoe supplies, feathers, paint, wigs, and anything else you could need.

The Cosplay/Anime Costuming and Masquerade Link Page A very large database of cosplay sites, convention pages, photo albums and such.

Cosplay.com The main cosplay site. The forums here are good for getting advice and opinions.

A Fan's View One of the biggest anime convention report and photo album sites out there. Famous for super-fast upload of cosplay pics.

How To Create Your Own Hardsuit For those brave souls who want to venture into the land of fiberglass, here's a great tutorial.

Cosplay Closet Tips & Tricks FAQ A huge and immensely useful archive of tips and tricks - from cleaning to glueing to finding sheet metal.

Definitive How-To Costume & Prop Building - great how-to on vacuumforming plastic. Specializes in Star Wars costumes, but techniques can be applied to anything.

Proptology A great site on prop-making. Includes a detailed and very informative examination of different papier-maché techniques, (plus recipes and instructions), as well as instructions on how to simulate different metals, and suggested reading for aspiring prop-makers.

Folkwear Patterns A great source for hard-to-find or obscure patterns. You can find a proper kimono pattern here, unlike the ones available from Simplicity or other major pattern companies (which only offer kimono-ish generic robe patterns)

Anneliese's Fibers and Stuff SCAdian's site that has some truly excellent info and instructions on making historical Japanese clothing.

Fabrics.net An information, resource, and referral network for sewers.

Designer Fabrics One of the best fabric places in Toronto. Specializes in drapery and upholstery fabrics, has the biggest and most beautiful selection of brocades anywhere, and also has tons of great spandexes, sheers, silks and velvets.

Kryolan Makers of fine theatrical makeup.

Warehoused Plastic Sales They sell plastic. ^_^

Dick Blick Art Supplies Tons of crafting and art supplies.

Active Surplus Your one-stop source for....well, pretty much anything weird. They sell used electronics, plastic, tools, medical instruments, computer parts, and all sorts of odd bits. An invaluable resource for the prop-maker. Plus they have a big gorilla out front!

Cosplay Girls' Convention Checklist A very useful list of things to bring to cons.

Aboveground Art Supplies If you're in Toronto and looking for art/crafting supplies, this is the place to go. They've got stuff for painting, sculpture, screenprinting, crafting, batik, drafting, and more.

Lee Valley Tools Words cannot express how much I love this place. They have the most incredible selection of high-quality woodworking tools, hardware, gardening supplies....everything you could possibly need. My personal recommendations: the Japanese crosscut saws, my beloved pushknife, and the microplane wood rasp.