Surviving the Wasteland at WonderCon

geek2geeketsy
Apr 3
2 min read

This past weekend, I grabbed my gear, stocked up on Nuka-Cola, and headed to WonderCon in Anaheim. As someone who creates and sells handmade Fallout-inspired items, conventions like this are an awesome way to meet fellow fans, get inspired, and start planning for the future.

A Wastelander’s Welcome

The second I stepped onto the convention floor, I felt right at home. Cosplayers were everywhere—Brotherhood of Steel knights, vault dwellers, even a few ghouls. The effort and detail people put into their outfits were amazing. It’s always cool to see how much love this community has for the Fallout universe.

A vault dweller outside anaheim convention center during wondercon. — Outside the convention center

Exploring and Gathering Inspiration

I didn’t have a booth this year, but that gave me time to really take everything in. I checked out tons of handmade merch, picked up some new ideas, and got to chat with other creators about their work. Seeing the creativity on display made me even more excited to bring my own booth next year. Plus, I picked up some great tips from vendors who’ve been in the game for a while.

Highlights from the Con

Beyond soaking in all the amazing art and craftsmanship, I hit up a panel about movie and TV props. Hearing from industry professionals about their design process, material choices, and on set anecdotes was incredible. As someone who loves making things, learning about how Hollywood prop makers bring their creations to life gave me a ton of inspiration for my own work. I also met some other makers who specialize in handcrafted fandom merch, and we swapped stories about the highs and lows of creating for a passionate fanbase. It’s always awesome to connect with people who get it.

A Wondercon panel, foam superglue is displayed on the presenters screen. — Prop Makers Guild Panel

Planning for Next Year

Now that I’m back home and back in the workshop, I’m already sketching out new ideas inspired by everything I saw at WonderCon. Next year, I’ll be there with my own booth, ready to showcase my latest Fallout-inspired creations. This trip wasn’t just about having fun (though there was plenty of that)—it was a chance to learn, plan, and take things to the next level.

If you missed WonderCon, you can still check out my handmade Fallout-inspired items on my website. Whether you’re looking to add something unique to your collection or find a gift for a fellow vault dweller, I’ve got you covered.

Until next time, stay safe out there in the wasteland.