Elentari-Liv

Project started Jan. 2012, finished July 5th 2012.

Awards:
"Best Journeyman" CONvergence 2012
"Above and Beyond" award from MN Society of Costumers

Sabriel is from Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series, and is the central character in the first book. If you haven't read these books, I highly recommend them.

This is really my favorite book. There are many series I love, but I feel a special bond with Sabriel. This made it easy to put so much effort into this cosplay. I knew that if I was going to do this, I was going to make it the very best I could. I am very happy with the end product

Here's some details about parts of this cosplay:

Keys: The key embroidery was definitely the greatest challenge. The keys are stenciled on with a silver paint sharpie, then embroidered with a single layer of metallic embroidery thread. There are about 600 keys, and this part took six months. The surcoat is crepe back satin, trimmed in ribbon.

Scale armor: This was fun. The scales are knitted with acrylic yarn, so the scale mail is comfy and flexible.

Bandolier: This is made with pleather, faux suede inside the pouches, and sheets of craft foam to add thickness. The design is based on the description from the book and the cover art from "Abhorsen," the third book in the Old Kingdom series.

Sword: The sword is made from a plastic store bought sword (the Sweet Pea sword from Suckerpunch). The hilt was created using model magic and apoxie clay. The blade was elongated with apoxie clay as well. The emerald pommel is made with glass beads. The hilt is made with foam sheets, pleather, and brads for studs.

Belt Buckle: This was interesting since the belt buckle from the cover art is the bronze face of Kerrigor, foreshadowing Sabriel's encounter with him in the book. So, I decided to develop another design. I chose the lion head pendant because the front door of Abhorsen's house has the lion head door handle. I like to think that Sabriel would be comforted by having this reminder of her father with her.

Bells: I found the 7 bells on e-bay and The Brass Barnacle nautical store. The 6th bell is sliver plated, the 7th is nickle. The other bells are bronze, painted with liquid metal paint so the bells still ring perfectly. The 7th bell was made with a silver tip on the handle, so the other bells have apoxie silver tips to match.

Ring: The ring was made with apoxie and a small crystal using the description of Mogget's ring from the book. This ring is to be used if Mogget's collar is ever removed. Mogget is a cat in the series...who is actually quite more than he seems.

Pants: Faux suede with two front pockets.

Book: The Book of the Dead is described in the book as bound in green leather, with silver clasps, and covered in charter marks for binding. The book here is made with thick foam sheets, a wooden box, painted pleather, and old shoe buckles.

Boots: store bought