1. What got you into cosplay?

I went to Otakon in…what…1999, I think. Everyone had a costume and some were really good. I knew my mom could sew so I asked her to make me a costume for 2000. She did ^_^. My first costume was Fuu from Magic Knight Rayearth.

2. How do you choose who you will cosplay?
More often than not I love the character or the character design. Another big influence is my sister, Agent KA. She’ll say, “You have to be this character, because I’m doing this one, and you’ll be great.” Then she stares at me all big eyed. That’s all it really takes.

3. How has cosplay affected your life?
I learned how to sew stuff! I can fix clothes and I re-upholstered my couches ^_^. Seriously, I have a creative outlet and something I can be proud of. It helped me find my creative niche. When I’m not in a time crunch, it’s also a great stress reliever. It’s also brought me a lot closer to my group of friends.

4. What keeps you busy outside of conventions?
My son!!! Ev takes up costume time like nothing else in the world. And now he wants to play with my sewing machine. Between him, my husband, and being a full time teaching-student I’m pretty busy.

5. Do you see yourself continuing to cosplay 5 years or 10 years from now?
Yup. Every time I say I want to start scaling back I plan another costume.

6. What is your dream costume?
Can you have two dream costumes? I want to re-do my Racaseal costume out of wonderflex. I totally screwed that thing up three years ago and it deserves better than that. I’ve grown a little in my technical skills and I want to show it off. I’m also working on a Herald-Mage Vanyel costume. I’ve code-named it the Peacock and I’ve been gathering materials for it for two years. One day, it will be done.

7. What is your favorite costume you've done and why?
My Clow Country Princess Sakura dress. I am really proud of how nicely it came out. I’m not embarrassed to say that there are some things I’m planning on changing on it, but overall it is very well made. And I love the fabrics I used.

8. Is there any advise you can give for our visitors?
If you are really interested in cosplay, please work at it. Everyone has skills they CAN improve, it just takes time, patience, and practice.

9. What is the hardest part about cosplaying?
Separating myself from the money it takes to make a costume. I have no clue how to make a costume inexpensively, so they always cost so much.

10. Who would win in a battle to the death? The King (Burger King) or Ronald McDonald? Why?Neither...The giant pizza man statue in front of Pizza Johns would roll up and own them both.