If you see me at a convention, please call me Heather. A little secret about me is that I get nervous when people call me Tenshi IRL ^^;;. I'm 28 years old, born and bred in Las Vegas, and I have a BA in Studio Art. I work as a graphic designer/embroidery technician.

I started cosplaying in 1999, when my grandmother made me a Sailor Star Jupiter costume for Halloween. That was my only costume until I learned how to sew in early 2001. I then made my first two costumes for my first anime convention, Anime Expo 2001. Looking back on it these years later, I now know how bad those costumes were -- but at the time I was just proud of learning how to use the sewing machine :).

Since that date, I have made almost 50 costumes for myself. (No, I can't believe I've made that many either ^^;;) In 2003, I also began making costumes for my friends and family. I really love making costumes for other people, because I think it makes me a better costumer. One of my biggest challenges is trying to fit all the sizes and shapes of my friends!

I think I'm best at fidgety little detail work. I really like to curl up in a chair with beading or hand embroidery, and zone out while listening to TV or radio. I'm not a very energetic person, and that's probably why I like tasks like that so much! Another of my strengths is patterning. My mind naturally thinks in very mathematical and geometrical ways, so I use that to my advantage rather than using patterns. My biggest weaknesses are procrastination and wig styling ^^;;.

I occasionally compete in Masquerades. I used to compete at Anime Expo, but since 2007 I've been attending Fanime instead and have has a blast participating there every year! I also have experience running Masquerades. I was co-coordinator of Anime Vegas' Masquerade from 2004-2008, and I ran the Masquerade Ball in 2009. I like to judge contests too, and I've been honored to judge at Anime Fannatiku, Chibifest, and other cosplay events in Las Vegas.

My favorite costumes are as follows:
Sera Myu Sailor Uranus: This is probably my favorite costume of all time. It combines everything I love about cosplay - problem solving, sparkly things, lots of detail work and a beloved character. If I could only save one costume from a burning building this one would be it.
Oscar's Ballgown: I love this costume for all the reasons listed for Myu Uranus. Plus, I've never spent so much time on just one costume. Although it was stressful I am happy I went with beads on the overskirt.
Fire Kimono Sakura: Beads, paint and a dramatic skirt. What more could you ask for? It would probably be higher on this list if I could actually move by myself in it.
Super Sailor Moon: This is my favorite costume I've made for another person. It was fun to figure out how to create the rainbow effect and I learned a lot while making that wig!
Super Sailor Uranus: This is by far my most worn costume because it's fun to be a Senshi and I adore Haruka.
Oto no Pretear: Compared to what I make nowadays this may not look like anything special, but it was an incredibly ambitious project for my lowly skills back then. I was pretty successful, which is why I feel it deserves a mention here!