:: scarlet : cosplay and costuming ::

welcome to the costuming section of my site! follow the links on the left to navigate, and if you have any questions, please contact me.

Updates:

1/5/07 : Changes to the About Me section-- I am no longer doing commissions. I'm going to work on finishing up all of my projects for my own sanity...and storage.

I will be selling some of my personal costumes soon, however. Keep your eyes peeled on my LJ and For Sale page.

11/6/06 : Jabba, V&V EGA, Frank the Rabbit, Dorme, Daria, and Ayame pages updated.

10/7/06: photos and sister pages updated. the new design's almost done!

7/17/06: new site launched, old style ditched.

frequently asked questions

a.) who are you?

awesome question. please check out my homepage, as well as my personal info page. in terms of sewing and crafting stuff, i've been making stuff from scratch nearly all of my life. i'd like to think that nothing is un-makeable. i always find a way...if you're interested in the texty, blogging me, please read my Blog.

b.) i don't know how to sew or make props. will you teach me hands-on?

sewing, knitting, propbuilding- nearly all of my personal costume-making is my form of meditation and stress-relief. when i've tried to teach others in the past they were not only confused and frustrated, but so was i...i'm an awful teacher when it comes to handicrafts, because i am self-taught.

but, please read my tutorials and making-of pages and definitely check out the links to other excellent teaching sites. for sewing, the forums on ACP (American Cosplay Paradise), Costuming.org, Sewing.org or Cosplay.com are excellent resources for asking questions, learning, and finding people in your local area. for props, i also recommend the cosplay.com boards, as well as Costuming.org and other specific boards like TheForce.net. if you live in the Chattanooga, TN area, please drop by and join the local cosplay forum i run.

c.) can i borrow your stuff or rent it out? how about a piece of a costume rather than the whole thing?

hell no. i don't loan people stuff. it always comes back damaged, if it comes back at all.

d.) how do you choose your characters?

i look at planning for an upcoming cosplay very rationally: it's a blend of four things.

first, i have to visually 'like' the look of the costume and the feel of it. secondly, i have to be able to locally (or know of non-local, but readily available) obtain the supplies.

third, i have to be able to keep to a budget of no more than $50 per costume, otherwise it seems a ridiculous waste of money.

last, but not least, since i am plus sized, i have to judge the costume and character in lieu of whether or not the look will suit me.

e.) do you do commissions for costumes?

not anymore. currently i am on hiatus, finishing up my personal projects. i will be selling some personal costumes in the future, so keep posted on my myspace, LJ, and For Sale page on my main site.

yes, but i have specific, set terms. i also have a very limited number of slots and will only take on commissions that i'm interested in or feel that i can do a good job with. please read them carefully before asking me for a quote.

i will only do chattanooga-area commissions, with at least 5 months' notice prior to the earliest date needed-- longer if the costume is more intricate, historical, or involves props. again, when in doubt- ask!

i need to be able to physically measure you to get things right. there will also have to be a second, and possibly third, tailoring for a better fit.

if you are interested, please contact me and don't forget to include at least one good (min. 300 x 300 pixel) reference picture of what character you're wanting to cosplay and your street clothing size.

i charge a flat hourly fee for all labour, from research to completion, so be forewarned that it may be pricey for certain costumes. if you have chosen something that requires supplies over $40, you will be required to accompany me to purchase these supplies, or pay in advance prior to purchase.

if i do take on your project and provide you a quote, please remember that it is an estimate of what i think labour hours and materials will total out as. it is by NO MEANS set in stone. your final cost may or may not be higher or lower.

i don't offer refunds or repairs on the costumes. once you've paid for it, it's yours, so take care of it.

please remember that as with any commissioned costume, you cannot enter into competition on any level without my written consent. it's the equivalent of using cliff notes, and just plain wrong.

f.) what about wigs and shoes?

in many cases i may be able to also make or style the wig or a hairpiece for your commisssioned character, sometimes i cannot. it's a character by character basis. for my own costumes, i make all of my headwear and wigs, because i like the process of learning new things.

as for shoes, i don't make them. i can make boot covers, but i prefer not to. eBay and Electrique Boutique are excellent resources for finding cosplaying shoes, however.

g.) what cons do you go to? where do you wear all your stuff?

I regularly attend Chattacon, AWA, MTAC, Adventurecon and, of course, DragonCon. i stick to my general area, otherwise the gas prices kick my behind. around town, i am a member of a sci-fi fanclub and the Rebel Legion, and we wear our costumes to certain events.

h.) do you sell any of your personal costumes?

yes. i am planning to in the future. please check out my For Sale page or my costuming LJ listed on the menu for updates. i'll also be selling styled and unstyled wigs, shoes, jackets, etc...

i.) how long does it take you to make a costume?

it depends on how elabourate it is, and how detailed or tailored i want to make it. it also depends on what i have going on that week aside from costuming related stuff. when i travel and ride in cars, i tend to get alot done..but when i'm a home, chasing around the constantly peeing puppy, i don't get so much done. also, i sew alot of stuff by hand, because my sewing machine is unreliable, and it takes twice as long. my yuuko costume took 3 months of daily work, but my padme green robe only took a week and a half of intermittent labor.

	Alice v. 2.0 Lolita		Willy Wonka Lolita Version
Yellow andPink Sweet Lolita		Butterfly Satin Corset
	Marie Antoinette Fetish & Vinyl		Seventies Chick Polyester Attack
Velvet and Vinyl EGA		Wendy's Girl Wendy's Restaurant
	Colonel Sanders KFC		Chihuahua Taco Bell

tutorials and downloads

Cat o' Nines	Riding Crop	Clip-in Hair Extensions	Mini-petticoat

Padme Naboo symbol		Yuuko Parasol design	Yuuko Plackard

sithvixen's page of tutorials (from many different authors )

	Catherine Deane / Victim Bride The Cell		Anna Valerious Van Helsing
Velma Kelly Chicago		Queen Mirror The Brothers Grimm
	Burger King Burger King Mascot		Katrina V. Tassel Sleepy Hollow
Evil Lt. Uhura Star Trek		Padme Amidala Ep. I, TPM
	Handmaiden Dorme Ep. II, ATOC		Padme Skywalker ROTS ep. III
Napoleon Dynamite		Lady Deathstrike X-Men 2
	Padme Naberrie Ep. II, ATOC		Padme Skywalker Ep. III, ROTS
Jabba the Hutt Ep. VI, RotJ		Boushh Leia Ep. VI, RotJ
	Mourning Arwen LotR: TT		Padme Amidala Pre-Senate Kimono
Frank the Rabbit Donnie Darko		Dancing Gown Elizabeth
	Princess Leia Ewok Village Dress		Dr. Elsa Schneider Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

	Ayame InuYasha		Alice (Disney) Alice in Wonderland
Daria B& B, Daria		Eis Hexe / Helga Trinity Blood
	Himawari xxxHolic / Tsubasa		Yuuko xxxHolic
Dawn Three Tiers III		Miwako Paradise Kiss
	Roy Mustang F.M. Alchemist		Dr. Girlfriend Venture Brothers
Empire Esther Trinity Blood		Starfire Swords and Science