My Cosplaying

I've grown up with conventions all my life, my father Joe Motes use to run a convention called Vulkon Entertainment. It was dedicated to most scifi shows, but he did create a few for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Back then I really wasn't into cosplaying, but I did find it interesting to see what people did. It wouldn't be until I attended my first convenion outside of Vulkon that I got really interested in cosplaying, Dragoncon 2009 to be exact.

My friend Monica on the left and I am on the right.

 Before I started to cosplay I was in a high school club called Paladin Society where I volunteered at Renaissance Fairs thought out south Florida. This is where I learned how to sew, weave on a loom, learned about Apothecary and weapons fighting. After I got into my university I thought I never sew again, but in 2013 I got inspire by a famous cosplayer. Her name is Reika and she a famous Japanese cosplayer that has traveled the world to appear as a main guest for anime conventions. The work she puts in her cosplays were breath taking and it really inspired me to try my skills at cosplaying. If you have not heard of her check her Facebook page as soon as possable! She was some amazing cosplays so juct click here --> Reika

Ren Jinguji on the left from Uta no Prince-sama and Reika cosplaying Ren.

So in the summer of 2013, I started to work on a few cosplays.The first two characters were Boris Airay from Alice in the country of Hearts and Ai Mikaze from Uta no Prince-sama. In fact I made two outfits for Ai that summer :) I am a big Uta no Prince-sama fan that my friends call it an obsession XD. I am currently working on a Natsuki cosplay from that show :3.

Boris Airay

The outfits did not take long to make, but it was very enjoyable to see it all come together. I was able to take Boris with me to Dragoncon 2013 and he was such a success!!!!! A lot of the little kids enjoyed him and every once in a while I heard "Boris!" being yelled across the hotel lobbies XD.

My next cosplay has been by far my favorite on to take to conventions. Not just because he so recognizable, but I love his personality! Undertaker from Black Butler :) He can be seen a lot at anime conventions, but I worked really hard on this outfit and I even made the funerary lockets using hair donated by my friends. Yup I am that devoted to this character XD As an archaeologist, I have the same passion about the dead as Undertaker has for his 'guests'.
Though the heels do get tiring after a while, but I enjoy how many people stop me photos when I dress up as Undertaker. Still trying to perfect that laugh though ;)
The first convention I took him to was Anime Matsuri 2014 and I plan to bring him back for Anime Matsuri 2015!!! So if you attend Anime Matsuri keep your eyes peeled for me and say hi!

As of now I have a few more character I have done. All of them special in their own way for me. I am still learning and have run into a few difficulties. Like buying contacts can be a problem since I have -9 vision so I can't have different colors eyes like some of the characters. Also I don't know much about wig styling and make up, but friends have been helping me learn and I love them for that <3. Also prop making has been a huge difficulty for me, but luckily most of my characters don't have too many complicated items. Though I really want to make that scythe for Undertaker seen in the manga!!! That is on my wish list :3

Shizuo Heiwajima from Durarara!!

Currently I also make cosplays for my friends that don't sew (they pay for everything along with some service charge) and do photo ops for them.

So for now I  will keep sewing and if you see me at a convention I don't mind if you say hi to me.
If you have a Facebook and like to see future works check out my fan page: Tabitha's Cosplay & Photography

Until next time minna-san, bye bye! :)

Lord Uroko