Current cosplay projects 10-2026: Rest is for the weak

Hi everyone,

Picture by Yvonnografie

The house renovations are in full swing, and I tried to also do a lot of cosplay crafting to calm my mind. I noticed that crafting was more calming to me than other activities, so I did what worked for me. To feel a bit better, Yvonnografie and I went to a cute spot in nature to shoot Halloween Fern. We both needed some outside play time and decided to team up for the first time. We had a bit of a chaotic time due to some police involvement in the nearby area, but we made the best of it! And the pictures turned out perfect. <3 In the end, I enjoyed being outside for a day and working together to create these adorable images.

Picture by DmvdBerg Photography

The planned Nurse Joy cosplay group happened with the cutest nurses. Thanks to the lovely people who kept going! We had a great time in Rotterdam being silly. 🙂
And because I was notified of a little Pokémon convention nearby me just a week later, I attended that too as Nurse Joy. Decided to go for the cosplay competition as well, since I’ve been riddled with doubts recently and I could use the distraction and possibly a pick-me-up. Sadly, it wasn’t what I hoped for. Most people were nice, but I think different categories were needed. Not judges favourite (won by a costume that wasn’t from a media that was allowed by the rules stated on their website, which I find weird. When I asked about it, the organization stated that the rules had been changed, but that it apparently forgotten to be communicated) and audience favourite. There were so many promising cosplayers and I feel they have been denied a shot at winning. Feel free to call me bitter, but I am seeing creating cosplayers lose their enthusiasm in a shared hobby. Which means I see them losing their spark. It is painful to see. And slowly, my spark is dying too, because seeing that pain is not something I’m immune to. For competitions, I mean. I do love hanging out with fellow cosplayers and crafting. But competitions seem useless to me.

Picture by Kayleefirecat

I also attended the bird photoshoot with my FFXIV white mage. The design is altered a little, so it fit my requirements of shooting with birds better. (Like no cat elements, no gloves, comfy shoes.) It looked like it’d be raining that day for a long while. And it did. However, I was decently prepared with layers and a sturdy wig. The outfit can handle a bit of weather, so it is fine. 🙂 (It also made for some amazing pictures.)
It was a lot of fun to do a photoshoot with Kaylee again and I think you really should book one of her fun shoots! Sadly, while the costume could handle some weather, it didn’t handle the washing machine well. So that one is now over. 🙁 But that also means I can now pick a new project to make. My storage space isn’t infinite, so I need to cycle through cosplays.

Picture by Rvaandrager

And I found out via Instagram that there would be a photoshoot at a pretty location in Belgium. Decided to go for that too, with 10H bride. That cosplay has been waiting for a shoot for way too long. But finally Nier! Took some time, so I am a bit nervous about how it will feel.
A few days before we’d go there, we checked the website of the location, just to be sure. And somehow all information regarding the photoshoot day had disappeared. After calling, we found out that it had silently been cancelled in favor of an external event. Sadly, I couldn’t pivot well. Most costumes I have, have been packed for Scotland. So I had to cancel shooting with that group. But I did get an offer for a different location with similair vibes and thus the shoot with the planned 10H was still on! I had a great day with Sunni.cos and Rvaandrager and we really got some great pictures.

Aerith cosplay test

Also: I did some more preparations for Scotland. I’m a little nervous about bringing Gwendolyn there. Her armor is quite fragile. I did buy a special storage for her, but it is nerve-wracking. I just am not comfortable with foam and travel. Bad past experience. But I am doing my best for Gwendolyn! <3

Next to that: Aerith has been bought! And she arrived already 🙂 Can’t wait to shoot her together with MissWafflescos and others! But that’s for after Scotland. I’ll edit her dress and jacket a bit. A girl needs pockets. And better details. I kinda want to make a small silly prop, but I don’t know what. I do have her flower basket and a guard stick, so what else does she need? Suggestions?

And my 3D printer died. Burnt internal component. Something I really couldn’t use right now. So much for taking it easy these months, I guess? I need to fix this in order to gain some chill in my brain. 🙁 I am leaving it to the manufacturer of the printer to help me out, but man, it sucks.

Cosplay progress summary:

• Vampire Queen – OC: Because I started this period being at home a lot, I printed a prop for this character. While it is not big, it took about 30 hours to print. This orb is part of her story, so quite important. I also ordered and assembled the electronics for in the print. I got some help with assembling, because it was too difficult for me to do solo. The result is as I hoped and I can’t wait to show you the complete look.
  When I decided to try and sew something for this costume, I noticed I didn’t like it at all. But I did find out what I wanted it to be! Time to pivot and get new materials. I could re-use some parts and fabric, so it is not a full loss. 🙂 Mene gave me black fabric to start with and I love how it looks with some scraps of red. So I am hopeful 😀

• Fern (flower promo dress) – Sousou no Frieren: Picking up from where I left, I added the skirts (with pockets!) and zipper in the main dress. For the flower hairpin, I grabbed cardboard, safety pins, made the flowers needed and glued it together. The flowers are made with machine embroidery, satin and beads. Quite the task for all those small ones on the skirt. But with that all assembled, this cosplay is ready! Just in time for Scotland. 🙂 Time to debut her in a castle in the Scottish highlands! This costume is my head-canon of “What if Fern lived out her life without the war happening?”.
  I might add some props like a lace umbrella or a fan later, but I first want to see how I feel about this accurate version.

• Fern (white cat fan art) – Sousou no Frieren: Requested by Fhant and others, I dared them to buy me the cat ears and tail or else I wouldn’t make her. Well, they did! So I worked hard on this one to clear my backlog, and I did it in 2 days. I am SPEED.* No idea when or where I will shoot this version, but it is cute to have. 🙂 Maybe I need to go a bit out of my comfort zone and shoot this in a hotel? Boudoir-like setting? I’d prefer something cute, but I’m struggling with envisioning a shoot for this one. I’m taking suggestions, I guess.
  I am not planning on keeping her for a long time, but who knows?

*Not regarding Malzeno, ahahaha.

• Malzeno – Monster Hunter: Starting with shaping the sword, so I can see the “vision”. Adding thorns, building the right length, assembling the guard and making the thorn vine went quite smoothly. I had a blast painting this sword. Placing the electronics was a small puzzle, but a rewarding one. I’ve also started with trying to figure out some more electronics for other parts of the costume.
  Next to that, I went back to making more fabric progress on this cosplay. I made butt pillows to get the skirt in the right shape. Then I continued with figuring out the pattern of the skirt, cutting it from the actual fabric and lining. Added pockets too, because I like to keep some stuff on me. Made the cravat as well, because it was easy to do in between and have a part completed.
  I also figured out how the capelet should work and made it out of the final fabric.

Upcoming events and projects

I’m possibly attending a fantasy event in the library Amersfoort. The Midwinterfair is a maybe too. BUT SOON (aka in a few days): SCOTLAND! And a new job right after. So I might slow down for real now. I should, really.
I did start with a new project. But slowly. Cause this one is allowed to take time. It is Esther from Trinity Blood. An oldie again, since I’ve noticed those projects give me a lot of joy. 🙂 It’s nice to work on something without the pressure of being on time to enjoy the hype.

Keep on crafting,
Amirine