#or maybe I should do etsy harry merch

[jet-bradley]

i really fundamentally do not understand harry potter fans who defend their childhood self's right to like a book.

like--and please know im not trying to traumadump, i feel ambivalent about this--the things i went through as a kid caused me to forget huge pieces of being a kid. i know a lot of stuff happened to me that i have 0 emotional connection to and i cant place myself in my own shoes and recall or even imagine what it was like to be in those situations. so if childhood me liked harry potter--and i know xe did, because "i" pulled an all-nighter with a friend waiting for pottermore's release, and was very strongly opinionated about the books and movies--that doesnt really. affect me now. because im a different person.

and i dont think that's trauma, i think trauma forced me to speedrun that process of growing into a different person, but everyone does the same thing. you might keep a passion or two as you age but overall you should lose connection to a lot of your childhood interests as you age.

the big difference is that when i look at my life now, and my life as a kid, i don't know that i'd go back to being a kid. opening doors to my memories of being a kid can trigger really fucking bad symptoms. so i don't do it. because being a kid, maybe i didn't have as many responsibilities, but i also didn't have any agency and i don't want to give up what i've accomplished for myself as an adult. i don't regret that my childhood will never be back; i take comfort in it. it's helped me accept letting go of a lot of things from when i was younger easier.

so when i look at harry potter fans who refuse to let go of something that keeps marginalized people from existing in public--yes, even if you buy merch from etsy and pirate the movies--because it "reminds them of their childhood"? yeah they are speaking from an alternate dimension to me. i can't even really summarize what the difference in perspective is here. it's not just that they're determined to hang onto a period of time that's never coming back, it's that they'd want it back in the first place. like, must... be nice? idk.

[ao3commentoftheday]

Hello! I'm sorry if this comes out of nowhere but I've been having a crisis with Harry Potter lately and I've seen your blog speak on JKR and HP and fanfic before, it's the only place I know to turn to.

I grew up in a third world developing country that really offers nothing by way of entertainment. We don't really have cons here, online stores don't ship to us (and even when they do, I grew up impoverished so I couldn't afford it anyways), basically there's really no way to get merch from beloved books or tv shows or movies here. And I grew up with Harry Potter, and I loved it so dearly, and I always dreamed that one day when I had my own life I would get myself a wand, and robes, and pins and all the merch I never got to have as a little girl.

But then...JKR's reveal as a TERF happened and ever since then I've been having a crisis. I don't want to buy merch because it would support her and her idiotic bigotry, but at the same time the little girl inside of me is heartbroken that she can never have all these things she dreamed of as a show of her love to the books she read.

I'm aware that royalties from merch sales don't go to JKR, but I'd still feel dirty, yet it hurts to give it all up. I've looked into maybe buying second-hand HP merch over the years a few times, but as you can imagine that wouldn't really work, since the merch is always damaged or worn or stained or what have you (it being second hand).

It's been something I've been struggling with ever since JKR's downfall, and now that September 1st is coming up again, the crisis has only flared stronger and I just need advice, or comfort, or anything.

Is there any way I can get HP merch or HP branded items without having to feel dirty for associating with a TERF? Should the little girl in me let go of her dream of dressing up as a witch one day and brandishing a wand around because I didn't get to do it in time, before the reveal of her bigotry? I feel so stupid and selfish for worrying about this and for hurting over this, but I just...don't know.

Feel free to ignore me, I realize how soppy and stupid this whole thing is, I'm sorry for wasting your time. I love your blog and everything you do on it, it's helped me learn a lot, so thank you for that :DD.

--

*hugs you lots*

Feelings aren't always logical, but that doesn't make them any less real. Whether you want to have these feelings of not, they're there and you should listen to them. That little girl inside of you still needs to be taken care of, even though you're all grown up now. But you need to take care of grown up you, too.

I came to Harry Potter when I was probably 20-ish years old. I have fond memories of the series and I even read fic for it though I don't remember ever writing any. I've been to Harry Potter World. I owned the DVDs. I got Sorted into Ravenclaw and I've made homemade butter beer.

All that being said, Harry Potter was never a core part of my growing up or finding my identity. For me, that was Anne of Green Gables and Wesley from Star Trek: TNG. I don't know how I'd feel if those things were suddenly associated with hate in my mind.

Fulfilling a childhood dream is, to me, separate from supporting a bigot. You fell in love with the world she created long before you knew her views. Buying a wand or a scarf isn't the same thing as excusing her behaviour or explaining away the things she's said and done.

Instead of buying licensed merch, maybe consider buying fan-made creations. I don't know what's available where you live, but here in Canada Etsy has lots of LGBT-supporting artists who create Harry Potter-themed items. You could also commission artwork or crafts or, if you're feeling handy yourself, follow some of the myriad pinterest and youtube tutorials on how to make wands etc.

Every person who once loved Harry Potter needs to decide for themselves what they're comfortable doing now that JKR has revealed her bigotry.

Treat trans people like people. Give them support and respect. Use their preferred pronouns and names and don't tolerate people who refuse to do so. As long as you do that, I don't think it matters too much whether your socks have a snitch on them or your pen looks like a wand.

#asks and answers #long post

[harryfeatgaga]

Basically Harry start taking notes from gawgaw - she did a musical movie, he should do one in the future. Like imagine him playing a character like gawgaw’s in that movie dealing with what she had to go through but through his characters eyes and experiences 😔🤭🤸🏼 also Harry some of the harries merch on Etsy is sexier than the official merch so.... hire them maybe? Or make sexier merch? I’m joking I know it’s not up to him this is all laffs for legal reasons ☺️ what do u think Paige

I HOPE HE DOES A MOVIE LIKE ASIB SOME DAY THAT WOULD BE SO FUCKING ICONICCCCCCCCCC

[cozycosplaycorner]

5 Reasons to attend Conventions

Nerd hubs. Anime Conferences. Conventions. Almost everyone in the anime & cosplay community has either heard of or attended one

ALMOST everyone

There can be many reasons to why you or your friends haven't attended a con. Maybe you suffer from bad anxiety, perhaps school or work is taking up all your time or you possibly just don’t have the money for a ticket, let alone transport and accommodation. These reasons are totally fair, don’t get me wrong!

BUT

If you’re considering attending a convention, and you need just the last bit of convincing, I’m here to persuade you into joining the gang of con-goers. Whether or not you’re a cosplayer, there’s always something fun to do at a con. I’m personally a HUGE fan of attending cons, and I would totally recommend it to anyone having doubts or concerns.

ANYWAYS! Here are 5 reasons why you should attend conventions!

1. Make new friends

Stumbling across a fellow cosplayer or fan of a certain series is for some a short and nice encounter - but for others, it can form (life long) friendships/ relationships. Even if it’s a simple discussion about your favorite BNHA ship or a compliment about your wig, but that small conversation can lead to so much more! Maybe you decide to hit Artist Alley together, maybe film some tiktoks together, even exchange instagram and facebook profiles! The people you meet at cons could turn out to be a friend for life!

Bonus: If you live far away from each other and aren’t able to meet physically, attending the same particular con as well as other cons can become a great ritual to stay in contact!

2. Attend events

Who doesn’t love a fun quiz or game? At conventions there are TONS of different activities to attend. Need to show off your overpowered Harry Potter knowledge? There’s a quiz for it! Wanna show off your dance skills? Hit the Just Dance booth in the came room! Wanna meet other cosplayers from your favorite fandom? Attend a meetup! The possibilities are ENDLESS and you will NEVER be bored!

Bonus: Remember what I said about friends earlier? Events are GREAT places to both meet and spend time with your fellow con-going friends!

3. Experience a cosplay show LIVE

We have all seen seen acts or performances from a convention masquerade. Fun skits you can watch over and over on the internet. But lemme tell ya: it ain’t nothing like watching it IRL. It is a whole other experience than watching an act through a small screen (obviously). The lights, the music, the acting, the whole atmosphere is INCREDIBLE. One CANNOT attend a con, without watching the cosplay show. No. Just, no.

Bonus: If you’re lucky, you can even get the possibility to talk to some of the contestants, which can be super fun (and helpful, if you plan on participating yourself)

4. Go on photoshoots

This one mostly applies to cosplayers FYI

Most conventions have some cool locations that you don’t typically come across in your everyday life. Perhaps the con is near a forrest, in a hotel with lounges or around high tech looking stuff. There are photographers everywhere willing to take photos, so why not grab the chance of bedazzling your instagram page?

Bonus: There are almost always other cosplayers from the same franchise, so they could also join for some extra cool photos! Both new and old friends ;)

5. Buy cool stuff

This one is kinds self-explanatory, but I had to include it anyway. The marketplace at cons are huge, and you have to skip the whole “waiting for your etsy order to arrive” process. If you’re lucky, some of your favorite artists may attend the con as well. Dealers’ hall and Artist alley are FILLED with all kinds of merchandise, posters, art, live commissions etc. It’s great!

Bonus: Not having to wait 4+ weeks for your merch or art is just pretty nice

Welp! I hope my convincing job has been somewhat successful! Hope to see you at a con soon ;)

- Joshi

#cosplay #cozycosplaycorner #Joshi's corner #COSPLAY BLOG

[jlf23tumble]

Happy birthday to Lauren!

What is it with all these Virgos, amirite??? Birthday upon birthday, and I’m actually in Seattle at the mo, so I sort of rushed this off before I went and queued it up to run while I was out...fingers crossed all hell hasn’t broken loose, rendering this post the dude with the pizza gif, lmao. 

@kingsofeverything, I hope you’re having a luxurious birthday weekend, soaking up some well-deserved love, pizza gif man be damned! My post for you is merch related because I know how much you all-caps LOVE dot IT. And I’ve done a ton of merch posts in the past, but this one’s focused on things you can--nay, SHOULD--buy, like, tomorrow (alas, no beer koozie...yet). Before we dive deeper, I feel like it’s my civic duty to tell you that this item is back on the market, Amazon says only 14 left, run, don’t walk, I stg Zayn is holding my remote together through sheer force of tape magic:

What other wonders await you? More under the cut!

Let’s start where all lazy people start, Amazon, and spoiler alert, this game is one and fucking DONE, as soon as you know Niall’s a Virgo, you’re halfway to the backstage pass that IS this game’s ultimate goal (still, fun to do whilst drunk):

I feel like this is a cursed image because it has the vibe of “this is what you see when you wake up from a coma in some kind of fever-hell dream,” but maybe throw this fluffy blanket version in the trunk?? Surprise the AAA guy?

There’s a special place in Pasadena that plays Christian rock versions of One Direction songs, but this one’s probably a similar way to recreate the experience...and for one dollar (assuming you can’t find it on YouTube)!

I can’t even imagine how deep a dive you need to go in merch territory to want to wake up to an olde timey alarm clock with the C Suite of the Crayola team, but you have the option:

The best part of this terrible item? It got a one-star review...because the "artist” who created it didn’t even put this terrible image on it, there’s a full group shot instead, the horror for that particular harrie!

Okay, now that you’ve seen the worst, let’s take a look at the best, and Etsy’s where it’s at, support these guys! And if I were a better person, I would have saved their URLs, but I didn’t, so just type Louis Tomlinson in the search bar...you don’t have to go further than two pages deep to get this gold, yessss, Louis finally joins the ranks of Harry and Drake in the car air freshener trifecta:

I would love to see this hanging up in someone’s fancy house, some faceless spank-hands abstract ART:

I still call bullshit on this, but whatevs, this is cute, and I love it, along with every single pin up on Etsy, my GOD, are people creative up in that piece:

I legit love that this is for sale in the year of our lorde 2019, but you, too, can ironically enjoy all kinds of related merch, much like Harry Styles and his mom kink vintage shirts:

I wish I had more time to do more, but I hope you had an amazing day regardless, Lauren!! Thanks for all your hard fic-pimp work! You’re an inspiration!!

#happy birthday lauren #one direction #merch #god there's still so much of it #but i love everything on etsy by far

[harryfeatgaga]

Du you know any way to get the old merch or merch similar to the old one? I really lived the sweaters with just his name on them but the day i wanted to buy one they updated the official merch side 😭

maybe try etsy or something!

Anonymous said: i saw a post of liam singing “little things” somewhere and i don’t even cherish that song but he should not be allowed to sing that song he does NOT deserve it!!!!

that song is awful he can keep it jrnbhfgrhujifk

Anonymous said: where do we think the secret show is? 👀 do you have any guesses

THE ONE IN LONDON? I HAVE NO IDEA SOMEWHERE COOL IM SURE

Anonymous said: everytime i hear coucou! in cherry i cant help but think about the scene from frozen where a big dude goes "hoo hoo!! big summer blow out!" HAHAHHHA

ive never seen it but lMAO

Anonymous said: its funny that cherry's lyrics are actually really sad but the beat is somewhat cheerful in a folky way, its a very confusing feeling

right!!

Anonymous said: just listened to harrys album on a loop about 4 times , felt like only listened twice, i am loving the album more and MORE every time its crazy

love that