To Zam or not to Zam

Hi there,

when DH finally decided to get his TK armour I said that if I ever joined the legion it would be as Zam :zam, she's the coolest female character.

So now I'm starting to think about it seriously as DH is now going to start his Jango.
But reading all the stuff on here I'm getting scared , is it really that much work that it takes over 6 months??!!

I've got lots of time and I'm a pretty good sewer (I make most of my own clothes) and do lots of other creative stuff but is that enough?? I also don't want to spend 1000s on it so will time and creativity substitute for cash?

Good job JJ Penguin.
I will be watching you

Hi JJPenguin, welcome to TDH,

I first saw this on a LOTR costuming website - and thought it quite appropriate: I'm paraphrasing here as I can't remember the exact quote: If you want to have a costume it can be A) expensive, quick and good ... B) Quick, cheap and not-so-good or C) Good, inexpensive and time consuming.

You sound like an experienced seamstress (Which is a real plus for this costume!) And if you can paint (greeblies and armor parts) and learn to work with leather (heck if I can learn it - anyone can! ) You shouldn't have any trouble with this costume. It's a matter of finding and buying the parts you can't make yourself (i.e. the boots).

Time is a relative factor... It's taken me so long to get as far as I have because I don't have a lot of free time (almost none to be honest) and some of this requires blocks of free time to accomplish. If you've got time - it won't take as long to finish the costume.

Yes, time and creativity do substitute for cash... take a look at Cressie's Low-Budget Zam for example. She pulled that off fantastically IMHO. She didn't have as much time as she wanted to do Zam, but she had one great costume for DragonCon last year!

I'm hardly one to give advice re: Zam as I have been collecting bits and pieces for over... two years (?) and have yet to cut into my neoprene. But I do know the LOTR_Costume formula, and it is this:

• I want it now! ​
• I want it cheap! ​
• I want it to be perfect! ​

Yes! That's the one!!! *Criminey... the alzheimer's is kicking in early! It's the AZ heat... I swear it! )

Zamovar... I'm not much better than you. *sighs* But no shipping box *ran out of room!* - my greebs are painted and the skirt is done. Someday....

MaulMaus said:

Yes! That's the one!!! *Criminey... the alzheimer's is kicking in early! It's the AZ heat... I swear it! )

Click to expand...

Well........ I have to confess I had to go to the alleycatscratch website to get the quote right... But it's a good Rule of Thumb, isn't it?
:zam