Sewing cosplay outfits, attending conventions, playing D&D.
Step. Breath. Step. Breath. Pause…. Step. I had come to hike the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu. As an archaeologist, I was fulfilling a dream I had since first learning about the ancient city in middle school. Instead of living out a dream, I confronted my reality. The air is thin. (And so is … More Musical Inspiration: To climb a mountain pass
You may have heard some news recently about a movie called “Wonder Woman”. I have seen it twice now and each time I leave the theater filled with a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, and strength. It was the most fun I have had at a movie since possibly Mad Max: Fury Road. I am more familiar with … More The Costumes and Sisterhood of Wonder Woman
Do you rebel? Do you want to give hope to others? Do you love Star Wars? If so, you might be considering a Jyn Erso costume. I hope this post will be useful to you. … More Becoming Jyn Erso – Costume Notes
“May the Force be with us.” At the 2017 Emerald City Comic Con, the 15th anniversary of the convention, I debuted my Jyn Erso cosplay. She isn’t a Jedi or a career politician. Jyn is a regular woman caught in the crosshairs of Star Wars history. Initially concerned with self-preservation, she steps up when she see something … More Rebel With A Cause – Jyn Erso Cosplay
I’m working on a Jyn Erso costume for this weekend’s Emerald City Comic Con. Like all cosplay projects, my time management was horrendous. But I am incredibly proud of how it is coming together. Here are some teaser images of the work in progress. I’ll be posting a final costume write up and a photo … More The final countdown…ECCC & Jyn Erso
Chris Perkins isn’t the only one who gets to wear a gorgeous gold dragon! The scarf below was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law. It is a hand-painted silk scarf that she commissioned from a local PNW artist, Sage Hen Designs. The dragon’s wingspan stretches across the scarf and wraps around me when I wear … More A gold dragon for myself
When someone asks if you could transform Chris Perkins into a Gold Dragon, you say “Yes!” Embracing the Asian (mainly Chinese) inspiration for the Gold Dragons’ appearance and behavior, I drew on my personal Chinese heritage and designed a costume reminiscent of traditional Han Dynasty-era robes (the hanfu). The long full sleeves are shaped to resemble … More Gold Dragon for PAX West 2016
I started work on this Leliana costume in the summer of 2014, shortly before Dragon Age Inquisition was released. At the time she was the most complex costume that I tackled. Through this costume and the Dragon Age fan community I have met a number of wonderful people. After two years of great convention experiences, I … More Leliana, Spymaster of the Inquisition (Dragon Age Cosplay Gallery)
My love of creating is back. 2016 marked an intentional shift in how I approached my sewing and knitting queue, namely prioritizing everyday apparel over my costumes. I felt exuberance, joy, and peace of mind with fabric and thread in hand. I finished four knitted projects this year and I sewed eight garments. Here are my Top … More Top 5 Hits of 2016
Jyn Erso will likely become one of my favorite characters in the Star Wars Universe. I loved Rey. Love Rey. I admire and value Rey. At the same time, I don’t quite “look up to her”. There is a disconnect as a woman in her 30’s. Leia continues to be a role model, but as I was … More Wearing Hope on My Sleeve – a Jyn Erso Inspired Shirt
The Fabric Alchemist 