Cosplay Spotlight: Billythebrick

Welcome to another cosplay spotlight! This week's interview is with local cosplayer Billythebrick!

Photo by: Girl with the Blue Hair

How and when did you get into cosplay?

Technically I started when I was 14. I fell in love with Star Trek: The Next Generation thanks to
some VHS tapes my dad left me when he died and I had a command jumpsuit custom made and I made a phaser out of cardboard using the Technical Manual as a blueprint. It was the first costume I wore to a convention. I got made fun of for it back then and stopped. Fast forward 20 years and I wore my first cosplay that started me on my current path - my son and I did ECCC 2014 together as Endor Luke and Wicket the Ewok. That was what really started me on the path to really getting into cosplay and prop making.

What was the first cosplay you ever did?

Oops, I sort of answered this above :D

What’s your approach to building a cosplay? 

Step one is to find all the reference photos or screenshots I can. And then take some of my own. If it’s from animation (which I do a lot of), the next step is to figure out my interpretation of how something would look in reality. And then I decide on materials, what type of fabric, do I need to 3D model and print something, mold and cast something, etc.
Once I have all of my references and parts and materials list, then things get a little chaotic. I tend not to focus on just one piece until it’s done because there is often so much down time (waiting for a print, waiting for something to cure, waiting for Barge, etc.) that I flit between pieces of a cosplay (or even pieces of multiple cosplays). Which of course means I always have several in progress, not finished costumes or props at any given time :)
I also tend to be pretty methodical and iterative on the things I’m making. Unless I find a perfect pattern for a piece of clothing, I’m almost always either modifying a pattern or drafting one from scratch which means at least 1 or 2 mockups out of muslin before I get my final pattern. The same thing applies to making prototypes out of cheap foam before making a final piece, or printing a low resolution prototype or 3 before finalizing a model.

It’s really hard to pick just one favorite cosplay, and I know for me it depends a lot on the situation, so I have a few different categories:

What is your favorite cosplay to wear to cons?

Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke for two reasons. First, I get to wear a mask. Wearing a mask is the easiest way for me to disappear into a character when I want to. Secondly, although its not as popular as some of my other cosplays, the people who do recognize it absolutely love it and the character.

What is your favorite cosplay to wear for photoshoots?

Azkaban Sirius Black. I’ve actually not done many actual photoshoots in general and I’ve only done one with this, but I feel like I have more pose and expression options with this cosplay than any other. In the one shoot I did with Kyla, we got 24 amazing photos. If I get 4-6 from a shoot, I consider it a success and we got 24! It probably helps that I also work really well with her.

What was your favorite cosplay to make?

This is a hard question. I always try to challenge myself when choosing my next costume, so there is always something I’m learning or doing with each build, but I’m going to go with Ashitaka again. It was my first ‘real’ cosplay that I made head to toe from scratch. I’d never touched a sewing machine, sculpted clay, carved wood, made a mold or cast a piece, 3D printed a prop, or used thermoplastic before I started that cosplay and I had to learn and do all of those things to make it happen. There is not a single thing on that costume that I didn’t make myself and so I’m super proud of it. (Loki is a very close second though).

If you can choose, what is your favorite cosplay in general?

Right now it’s Loki. This one will probably vary a lot over time, but even after spending 12 hours as Loki at SDCC, I can easily say it’s my favorite overall right now. I’ve never taken more pictures with more people than I have as Loki and I’ve only worn Loki twice to cons! When people not only love the character but also your cosplay, it makes it hard not to enjoy wearing it no matter how miserable you might get in it.

Favorite fandom to cosplay from?

This is also very hard to answer, but I’m going to go with Voltron. I have 2.5 cosplays from Voltron (Keith, Old Man Keith, and Hipster Lotor) and I always enjoy wearing them and hanging out with other Voltron fans. Sirius is a close second because, like Voltron, it’s hard to not find other cosplayers from the same fandom who want you to hang out and take photos together.

Favorite con/cosplay moment?

I was wearing Sirius Black at RenCon last year and as I was walking down the street a little boy yelled out ‘Sirius!’ I turned around and his face was pure joy and shock. He threw out his arms and ran over to me and hugged me. He didn’t say a word. Then ran back to his mom and we went our separate ways. A few days later his mom found me and messaged me to say that he had been sad about Sirius’s death ever since watching the movies and when he saw me he was so happy to find out that Sirius was actually still alive.

What is your dream cosplay (or cosplays plural, if there’s more than one)?

I have 2 dream cosplays - and they are both big robot builds. I really want to do an Optimus Prime and there is a really cool Art Nouveau take on him that is just gorgeous. I also really want to do Roy’s VF-1J from Macross/Robotech, but I want to do it so that I can get out of it and be wearing Roy’s flight suit and helmet inside.

Be sure to give Will a follow!
E-Mail: billythebrickcosplay@gmail.com
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Cosplay Spotlight: Cosplaypeigi

For this week's spotlight, we're taking a hop across the pond to talk to UK cosplayer, Cosplaypeigi!

How and when did you get into cosplay?

I began cosplaying around August 2015. I started as I was invited to a convention by friends and felt like it would be fun to go in cosplay.

What was the first cosplay you did?

The first costume I did was Clementine from The Walking Dead Game, I still have it hanging in my wardrobe!

What’s your approach to building a cosplay?

I usually plan my costumes far in advance. I’ll typically spend 1-2 months researching, looking for references, gathering samples, reading up on others who have made the same costume and get a general idea of how much I’m spending. Then I will then start to pattern out the costume, making sure to cross-reference it (sometimes I’ll even ask friends to check if my pattern looks right). After patterning I’ll actually begin the construction process, this usually takes (what feels like) forever; I’ll develop and change the pattern, things will go wrong and sometimes I’ll take short-cuts.

I usually enter a project open minded, however, sometimes I do get frustrated when I can’t get  right or my machine isn’t working. But often I’ll get over whatever issue I’m having after I walk away for a couple of hours.

It’s really hard to pick just one favorite cosplay, and I know for me it depends a lot on the situation, so I have a few different categories:

What is your favorite cosplay to wear to cons?

My favorite costume to wear at conventions would be Satine or Rey. I love the reaction people get when I wear Satine as people are happy that I’ve made a costume for a character that is slightly more niche. Rey is easy to wear and there isn’t hours of kitting up and putting on makeup.

What is your favorite cosplay to wear for photoshoots?
Satine, I can get to pose in regally. I like the way the colours within the costume are complemented by more neutral backgrounds, making locations easier to find, especially at conventions. Lastly, I like the way that the headpiece surrounds my face and the detailing within the costume makes closeups look nice.
I do prefer wearing Rey for location shoots as the costume is really good for action shots, loactios with Rey are also easier to access as I live near forests and areas that fit with the scenes in ‘The Force Awakens.’

What was your favorite cosplay to make?

My favorite costume to make was Satine. It was the first big costume I made completely from scratch and was a huge learning experience, from the pattern drafting to working with worbla and corset making.

If you can choose, what is your favorite cosplay in general?

My favorite costume has to be Satine! I’m so proud of the costume and all I’ve learned from making it; as well as being able to portray a character that means so much to me.

Favorite fandom to cosplay from?

Star Wars!

Favorite con/cosplay moment?

Meeting one of my best friends who has taught me so much as well as meeting many other people who are some of my closest friends. I also love being able to be part of a community that is bigger than me; and have a sense of belonging amongst like minded people.

What is your dream cosplay (or cosplays plural, if there’s more than one)?

Ohh, I have loads! I would love to do Phasma as well as actually finishing Hux. But it changes all the time!


Your favorite cosplay photo 
I have two.

Photo by Phoebe Potter

Photo by Anthony Curley Photography

Be sure to give Peigi a follow!
Instagram: @cosplaypeigi
Twitter:  @peigilovescows

Interested in being featured? Message me on Instagram or Facebook!

Cosplay Spotlight: Flaming Monkey Society Cosplay

Well, I figured it was about time I brought back cosplay interviews, so here to kick things off again is

Flaming Monkey Society Cosplay!

But first a little backstory to his chosen photo because it is just way too hilarious: "I accidentally walked into a roving gang of Matt the Radar Technicians.  We got into a heated discussion about how lame Kyleo Ren is.  This guy pulled out a light saber and I said "well that's a fancy laser sword there buddy, thanks for the light".  Proceeded to light my fake cigar on it lol."

How and when did you get into cosplay?

I've always made my own Halloween costumes,  but I had never been to a con before 5 years ago.  I was invited on a free vacation to Dragoncon. I learned there was a place for my passion to be appreciated. 

What was the first cosplay you ever did?

The first cosplay at a con was a yellow lantern sith crossover. I didn't have access to a sewing machine so I bribed my mom to make a cloak of my design.  Bought a light saber from ultrasabers and repainted the hilt. Then made a very basic set of armor.

What’s your approach to building a cosplay?

I have an absurdly long list of characters I want to do, including a few OC. My approach for making/research is always random, like I'll have a dream of 2 characters that got a crossover. Then I'll go wander around hobby stores,  visualize in my head things I can use to make props. Then I'll take my 2 favorite versions of what I'm making and combine them to try and do something newish with something old.

It’s really hard to pick just one favorite cosplay, and I know for me it depends a lot on the situation, so I have a few different categories:

What is your favorite cosplay to wear to cons? 

That would a tie depending on location/weather.  For warmer cons: Iron Bull from Dragon Age. No shirt, and people will go out of their way to run over and take photos with me. So both meanings of the word cool.  In cooler weather: Ghostrider.  Not only did it come together and epic, the skull has a surprisingly high breathability and vision for me.

What is your favorite cosplay to wear for photoshoots?

Probably Ghostrider, for a demon from hell, he is surprisingly photogenic.

What was your favorite cosplay to make? 

Indiana Jones as a jedi.  Because I  have a lightsaber whip.

If you can choose, what is your favorite cosplay in general?  

I'd say Iron Bull.  Such a fun character, and it's always well received. 

Favorite fandom to cosplay from? 

Probably Star Wars...its so easy to do crossovers and it's my favorite fandom.

Favorite con/cosplay moment?  

Last year at Dragoncon,  I got in the hotel elevator to go get pre-con coffee.  The other people waiting for the elevator were the cast of Legends of Tomorrow.  I started chatting with them and ended up getting invited to eat breakfast with them. The wife and friends were upset I didn't go back and get them buahahaha. 

What is your dream cosplay (or cosplays plural, if there’s more than one)?

Probably Arthas Menethil from Warcraft.  With a glowing frostmourne.  It's a big armor build with lots of room for sweet LED armor. Plus probably the best sword in the series. 

Be sure to give Matt a follow!

Instagram: @flamingmonkeysocietycosplay

Etsy: flamingmonkeysociety

Interested in being featured? Message me on Instagram or Facebook!

Poe Dameron Build (The Force Awakens)

Photo: @captain.m.photography (Instagram)

It's been a tragically long time since I posted on here, so I decided it was time to finally write the walk-through of my TFA Poe cosplay. Never mind the fact it's been like half a year since I finished it. It's a fairly easy build, especially considering I didn't make the jacket myself (which would have made this cosplay twenty times harder, and the jacket probably wouldn't be nearly as beautiful, because leather).

Jacket
Arguably the most important piece of this cosplay. Certainly my favorite. As previously mentioned, I didn't make it myself. I purchased this one from fjackets.com; it also comes in men's sizes, for those of you who are actually cosplaying your own gender, just go to the Star Wars section of the website for all the options.

Wig

My wig is a Benny from Arda Wigs, in the color that was previously Natural Black. Which I think has now been changed to Deep Brown. I didn't do any styling, I just have to wrangle the curls every time to make them go the directions I want.

Shirt
I used McCalls M7291 View B with a few simple modifications. I left off the front patch pockets, replaced the fold-down collar with a mandarin collar from a different pattern, and left out the lacing up the front. The front V goes a bit low, so I put a hidden hook-and-eye closure to keep the shirt closed. My fabric was a natural/beige linen from Joanns.

Pants
I used Simplicity 4110, View A, which is an out of print pattern so you'll need to do a little hunting to find it. I got mine on Etsy. I left much of it the same, but I left off the back pockets, side pocket, all the little loop things, and I doubled the width of the belt loops to make them more screen accurate. I had a hard time finding a fabric that was the right weight and shade of brown (all his scenes in this costume are dimly lit and it's a whacky shade of brown as it is). I finally found this twill on fabric.com.


Belt
I got a belt blank and a two inch rectangle buckle blank from Tandy Leather. I used a dark brown leather stain (also from Tandy) to dye both sides of the belt, then attached the buckle once it was dry. I then measured the length and cut the belt down to size, then punched a hole for the buckle closure.

Boots
The screen accurate boots are from Pozu, but they only come in men's sizes and I have tiny feet, so I found a similar pair on Ebay and modified them by removing some buckles and straps to make them more accurate.

Blaster Rifle
Poe's blaster from the beginning of the movie is a bit complicated because no one ever made a toy of it and there aren't many people who sell them on Etsy. Also I'm very small so the ones on Etsy are definitely not to scale to my size. However, the blaster is a rifle version of the blaster Finn uses through much of the movie, which they did make toys of, so I bought the Finn blaster, painted it up, then used thick craft foam and paper mache to make the rifle stock.

Makeup
I contour my face to make my features a bit more like Poe's, then for the five o'clock shadow, I use black cake makeup and a dry stipple sponge (wetting the sponge gives it a darker pigment, and since I'm going for shadow, not full beard, the dry sponge technique keeps it a bit faded). I also use a little bit of the black makeup and an eyeshadow applicator sponge to fill in my eyebrows so they match the dark wig.

Map Piece
This was just a fun little piece I made that I haven't really gotten to use in any shoots yet, just because it's tiny and hard to utilize. After a great deal of hunting for decent references, I made my map to Luke Skywalker out of thick craft foam (leftovers of the same stuff I used for the rifle stock) and paper mache, then I painted and weathered it. I then made a little sack out of some scrap fabric from the pants and some twine for a drawstring closure. I've actually made quite a few extras of this prop that I plan to sell on my Etsy store when I eventually have time to reopen it.

And there you have it! Poe is honestly one of my favorite characters, so getting to cosplay him has been a dream, and this costume was fun and pretty easy to make. I've got a couple other Poe costumes in the works so keep an eye out on my Instagram for those, and keep checking back here for more build walk-throughs! I also plan to get back to the cosplayer interviews I started at the beginning of the year. Until then... May the Force be with you!

Photo: @russell_photography_pnw (Instagram)

Cosplay Spotlight: Madly Megan Cosplay

Photo: kaylaevansphotography

2017 is coming to a close, and what better way to welcome in the new year than with the first cosplay spotlight interview: Madly Megan Cosplay!

How and when did you get into cosplay?


I remember there was one day I was home sick and I was watching the syfy channel, a show about cosplay was playing. I never really knew that was a thing until then, the costumes in shows and movies were always so cool and it looked so fun! But it wasn’t till I went to my first con a few years ago and saw all the amazing costumes in person that I really wanted to dive in!

I went to school for theater and did quite a bit of costuming while there, cosplay offers the perfect opportunity to use those skills!


What was the first cosplay you ever did?


My first cosplay was Speedy from Arrow


What’s your approach to building a cosplay?

It depends on whether I’m going for the closest replica of the costume as I can or not. I’m currently working on a couple characters that will be genderbent, for those I’ve been looking at different version of the characters costume and create something that’s my own. 

If I’m doing a close as possible to the original I find as many photos from as many angles as possible. Next I determine if I can find patterns for the costume or if I need to draft my own. I always do a mock-up in MusLin because it’s cheap and allows you to test for size. Once I find fabric that’ll work I create the final version of the costume. 


I know it's really hard to pick just one favorite cosplay, so I have a few different categories:


What is your favorite cosplay to wear to cons?


So far my favorite has probably been silk, the fabric is really light so I don’t get to warm and the character offers so many fun poses!

What is your favorite cosplay to wear for photoshoots?


I haven’t done many shoots yet so I can’t really say on this one. 

What was your favorite cosplay to make?
 

Black Siren! I’m constructing her right now. It’s the first costume I’ve done completely from scratch including the pattern. 

If you can choose, what is your favorite cosplay in general?


Casual Raven! I just love her!


Favorite fandom to cosplay from?


Marvel so far!


Favorite con/cosplay moment?


All of Rose City Comic Con! It was my second Con cosplaying and I got to meet so many cool people!


What is your dream cosplay (or cosplays plural, if there’s more than one)?

Oh man… Sally (nightmare before Christmas), Rey (Star Wars), X-23, starfire… the list could go on and on

Be sure to give Megan a follow!

Instagram: madlymegancosplay

Facebook: Madly Megan Cosplay

Interested in being featured? Message me on Instagram or Facebook!

Coming Soon: Cosplay Spotlights!

Greetings, fellow nerds!

This little post is just to announce that starting next week, I'm going to be introducing a new feature on my blog: cosplay spotlights! These posts will feature a different cosplayer every week or so and will include an interview, one of their favorite cosplay photos, and links to their social media so you can continue to follow their amazing work. I've already got a number of applicants and I'm super excited to share these talented cosplayers with you because they're all incredible!

If you're interested in being featured, just send me a message on either my Instagram or Facebook and we'll work out the details. Interviews will be conducted and published in order of submission, so you'll be added to a queue, and it may be a few weeks before I send you the questions, but I assure you I've got your name written down and you won't be forgotten!

I hope you're all as excited for this as I am! The first interview will be up next week, so keep an eye on my social media for that announcement.

May the Force be with you!
-Megan

Resistance Rey Build Walk Thru

I've been meaning to write this walk thru for a while, but the fact that I finally am getting around to it the week The Last Jedi comes out is much more fitting than any other time I could have posted it. I made Resistance Rey over the course of about five months, and considering I patterned the vest myself, I'm pretty impressed with that. Before I get into the walk thru, I should mention that not everything about this costume is Rebel Legion approvable so if you're looking for some assistance making your RL cosplay, you'll need to make some adjustments. I'll make note of instances of things I know that would need changing, for easy reference. You can also find their full guidelines here.

Boots
Starting with the easy stuff, I decided to upgrade since the last time I made Rey and splurged for the screen accurate Po-zu boots. They are so worth the money, they're super comfortable (even all day at a con) and high quality, and they're sustainably made too. Po-zu recently released an official Star Wars line, which includes the Rey boots.

Belt
I used the same belt as from my scavenger Rey cosplay, the instructions for which you can find on my post for that build.

Blaster
There are lots of options for getting Rey's blaster (Etsy, Nerf, making it yourself, etc), but I bought this 3D printed one on Etsy.

Holster
Using the same roll of suede I used for the belt, I used this tutorial as a guide. I didn't really make any changes to their instructions and pattern, and the pattern fit perfectly around my blaster as is, no trimming necessary.

Lightsaber
I just got the Disney Store Rey lightsaber, but it's not RL approvable, and there's also plenty of other fancier options (Black Series, Etsy, etc).

Bag/Satchel
I used this tutorial (but got canvas fabric at Joanns instead of taking apart a bag). The fabric I bought was a little too green instead of olive drab, so I tea dyed it. Like a lot.

Pants
I bought a pair of olive drab jeans at the thrift store, cut them off below the knees, and used the extra fabric and some batting to make the knee pads. I vaguely followed this tutorial, though mostly I just used it for the knee pad pattern because I didn't do the extra part with the seam above the knees.

Shirt

I used this pattern, making the tank top version with the mandarin collar. I used a slightly heavy white stretch knit fabric from Joanns that had a similar texture to a closeup I found of Rey's shirt.
There is some confusion with the direction of the wrap, which is supposed to be right over left (the RL page says left over right I believe, but that could just be a mix up that never got revised because all the RL approved cosplayers I've seen have right over left).
As for the collar, it's not easy to see just from stills of TFA because she's wearing the vest, but promo stills we've gotten from TLJ show the mandarin collar.
You'll also want to keep all the edges raw (this includes leaving out the neck band piece from the pattern) and use a zigzag/overlay stitch on the edges (you'll probably want to iron the edges too because if your fabric acts like mine, it'll get very squiggly).

Arm Wraps and Gauntlets
For the grey under wraps, I used the same pattern as I did for the scavenger Rey wraps (instructions once again in the previous post), which I also sell in both colors on my Etsy store (as of right now (12/13), my store is temporarily on vacation while I cram too many cosplays before ECCC but as soon as I'm able, I'll be opening it again).
The gauntlets were a little harder. I used parts of this tutorial as a general guide/reference, but mostly I made things up as I went along. I used a gauntlet pattern from an old Legolas costume, traced it out on butcher paper, and added on the flared bottom part that goes over the hands. Once I had made a couple mockups to test my pattern, I cut it out on the same material as my vest (I'll get to that later). I also patterned out the pieces for the elbow pads and cut that from the same material and from a few layers of batting (you'll need lots of reference pictures because I eyeballed a lot of this and didn't take progress shots).
For the hole details on the wrist, I used this pattern and two different sized punches on a screw punch (you can find these for pretty cheap on Amazon and they are truly a blessing, I highly recommend getting yourself one). Once I'd punched out the holes, I used Fray Check to keep them from getting messed up.
The scalloped edges at the bottom are about a finger width each, so I used a nickel and traced out the scallops, then cut them and locked it in with Fray check.
When you go to sew up the seam, keep in mind that the flared bottom part around the hands is open along the edge (so zigzag stitch your edges, because everything is raw edges with Rey). So make your seam only to the wrist, and make a clip in the seam allowance to allow the flared part to flare properly (if that makes any sense. If not, feel free to comment and I'll try to make more sense).

Vest
Arguably the hardest and most important part of this costume is the vest. I made my pattern myself, using another vest pattern as a guide, and because I didn't really take progress pictures, giving you a real walk thru of my process would be messy. So I'm just going to give you a basic overview, give you some tips, tell you the changes that need to be made for RL, and point you in the right direction for some resources.
So first of all, the fabric I used was a grey herringbone wool from Dorr Mill. The exact one I bought is sold out currently, but they have a few different shades and their customer service is very helpful so you can always shoot them an email and find out if/when they'll get certain products back. I got two yards so I'd have enough for both the vest and the gauntlets (and have extra in case of screw ups).
For the pattern, basically I took the pattern pieces I already had and traced them onto butcher paper, making adjustments so the front wouldn't have princess seams, and slicing everything at the waist for the peplum. I made the back all one piece and cut out the extremely curved princess seam pieces. I made the peplum pattern myself (and had to adjust it a bit to add more flare). Before you go and cut up your expensive wool, definitely do a mock up on some muslin or scrap fabric so you know your pattern will actually work (this is how I learned I needed to make adjustments on the peplum).
Before I move on to the next part of the vest, I need to point out the adjustments that needs to be made to my method in order to be approved for the Rebel Legion. The collar is supposed to be all one piece with the body of the vest, with a side seam that matches up to the shoulder seam. My collar is a separate piece (and doesn't have the side seams). You'll also need to have ladder stitching on the back princess seams and the collar side seams (as detailed in this tutorial).
Once again, all the edges on Rey's costumes are always raw, so you'll need to have a zigzag stitch.
Finally, the shoulder pads. I used an actual shoulder pad to make my pattern, cut out a couple layers of batting and a layer of wool for each piece (make sure to have about an inch extra around the edges to fold under the batting). I used pretty much the same method as I did for the knee pads on the pants and the elbow pads on the gauntlets, sewing the wool over the batting around the edges, then sewing the topstiching details (I totally freehanded those ridges and I'm still amazed that it worked out perfectly). Then you just sew them onto the shoulders of the vest.

So there you have it! I hope my tutorial is of some help, at least to get you started in the right direction. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to leave a comment, or you can message me on instagram! You can also find a ton more resources, including reference pictures and more tutorials, on my Rey cosplay Pinterest board.