ainokaku's Page

I've been playing dress up since I was tiny. Well... tinier than I am now ^^; . I guess I never really grew out of it. When I was young, my Mom and Gran'ma would make me some of the most amazing costumes for Halloween (Disney: Snow White, Ariel, Esmeralda... Egyptian Princess, Clown, Ballerina, Faerie Tale Princess) and I would run around in them every day after school and pretend to be the character.

Later in life I discovered the wonders of the Theatre. One of my favorite parts of acting has always been the costumes, props, and make up. If I'm not in the show, I work back stage in costumes, make up, and/or props. Because of this, a big part of cosplay for me is the acting element. Part of what makes up a good cosplay is being in character. And that involves knowing the character as well as possible; how they hold themselves, how they talk, pose, etc.

I have been cosplaying for 5 years now. I started out simple, with thrift store cosplay and have worked my way up to making my own costumes. I have, however, always made my own props; from simple things such as rabbit ears for some of my earliest cosplays, to far more complex props. Over the years I have worked with a variety of materials, and through a great deal of trial and error, have developed various tricks and techniques that produce detailed products that looks like they might as well have popped out of the screen.

As a commissioner, I follow a strict code of conduct and ethics when it comes to my work. I pride myself on being able to make anything from tails and ears, to staffs, pendants, lockets, swords, arm bands, etc. Even, for example, if you already have a plastic sword that needs a specific hilt and some detail work… I can and have done that. I can also make a purse or bag to match you costume. Anything prop or accessory wise you might need, I can make it.