Portfolio | Testimonials
ABOUT ME
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Name: Ger (pronounced Jair, not Grr XD) Location: Boston, USA Favorite anime: Macross, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Fushigi Yuugi, Naruto, Kekkaishi Favorite game: Final Fantasy VI and VIII, Warcraft Cosplays: Osaki Nana (Nana), Tifa Lockhart (FFVII), Cid Highwind (FFVII Advent Children), Shadow (FFVI), Suboshi (Fushigi Yuugi), Gaara (Naruto), Shiva (FFX), Eve (Black Cat), Berserker Yuna (FFX-2) |
Why I Make Props
I love making things, and I love costuming. I discovered early on when I started cosplaying that I enjoyed making the props much more than making the costumes! While I do make all my own costumes (and now that I'm married, I gotta make my husband's costumes too!), I'd totally pick making weapons and props over sewing any day. This is good news for you!
My Props Philosophy
All my props balance beauty and durability. A cosplayer that will be cosplaying the same character for 2 days of a convention, posing for multiple pictures, and maybe entering the Masquerade faces the challenge of having a prop sturdy enough to withstand a lot of jostling, being mistakenly whacked on walls, or dropped. So the tricky part is to balance sturdiness and weight. I promise I will never make a prop heavier than you can handle (because I know the pain of carrying around a Buster Sword for 10 hours). Most of my props also come apart for easy shipping or storage.
My Materials
I'm primarily a woodworker. I've got a small woodshop where I do the majority of my propwork and a separate painting and finishing room. The weight and feel of wood mimicks the feel of a metal weapon but is much lighter. For huge props like scythes I use foam and fiberglass to reduce the weight, although fiberglass is nasty stuff and I try to use it as little as possible.
What Can You Expect From Your Prop?
To me, a prop is the ultimate expression of a costume. I never feel complete unless I have a prop with my own costumes - it's the magical touch that really transports me into the mindset of that character. Plus, props make every photo look 100x more amazing. I want every cosplayer to feel that every time they pick up a prop that I've made, they're transported into the world of their character. Your prop will look and feel sturdy and realistic and, most importantly, complement your costume so you can stroll the halls of your convention with confidence!