Journal - Dovah Design

Wearable dragon skull helmet prop posed to the right at a 3/4 angle on a gray mannequin in front of a black background.

Dovah Diary

My Favorite Cosplay Mold Making Materials

Cosplay Mold Making Beginnings When I began cosplaying in 2014, cosplay mold making seemed like a mysterious, daunting kind of maker-magic reserved for the cosplay elite. Oil based clay that never dries? Resin that starts "kicking?" Tin- vs platinum-cure silicone? It was all so overwhelming. And yet, the prop that…

SamDecember 2, 2023

Custom Blue Dragon Pauldron. An armored shoulder piece with many sharp, blue scales adorning a silver base.

Dovah Diary

Nerd Caliber Interview: Cosplay Pauldrons

This month, I was invited by Nerd Caliber Magazine to discuss each individual cosplay pauldron I've made over the years. In it, I discuss the various techniques used to make pauldrons for my Skyrim, Diablo Cusader, Snow White Knight, and more! Check out the interview below! 👇 I've also included…

SamAugust 25, 2020

Darth Revan helmet prop from the front on a black background, centered over a purple "diagram" background with vector patterns.

Tutorials

Darth Revan Helmet — Free Star Wars Cosplay Pattern!

While Sci-Fi has never really been "my genre of choice," there has always been a sprinkle of fantasy about the Star Wars franchise that has grabbed me. From the ultimate battle of light versus dark to the nuances of it's sharp-tongued female warriors, Star Wars makes for a truly fantastic…

SamMay 4, 2020

Skyrim Ancient Nord Armor, Dovah Design walking across the stage during the Friday Night Costume Contest (FNCC) during Dragon Con 2014.

Conventions

Cosplay Contest 101: What to Expect When Competing with Cosplay

Cosplay Contest 101 It's May again and my home town convention — MegaCon — is right around the corner. Typically I attend MegaCon with the sole purpose of competing in the cosplay contest. The Slytherin in me finds a thrill in being on stage and showing off the hard work…

SamMay 5, 2019

Sam working on her cosplay business in her garage, smiling in front of her work table, the greatsword of artorias work in progress on the table begind her.

Dovah Diary

Crafting a Cosplay Business

I'm about to celebrate my fifth anniversary as a cosplayer and prop maker. Really — five years! Looking back makes me wonder where all that time went. As busy as I was, I still wonder how much more I might have done if I pushed myself a little harder, worked…

SamApril 12, 2019

Winners from the MegaCon Costume contest 2018, standing on stage and making silly faces at the camera.

Conventions

MegaCon Costume Contest 2018: Best in Show with Snow Knight!

2018 marked my fourth visit to my hometown convention, MegaCon. Of course I had to participate in the annual cosplay contest. This year, the MegaCon Costume contest acted as the "Master of Cosplay Southeast Qualifier," so the stakes were even higher! To up my game, I gave Snow Knight some…

SamMay 27, 2018

Armored Snow White, sitting on old stone wall while holding halberd, looking up and to the left

Cosplay

The Snow White Knight: A Disney Princess Cosplay

Disney Princess — the words roll off the tongue like silk don't they? In fact, they usually conjure up images of flowing dresses, romantic ballads, and doe eyed sighs... gak. A "classic" Disney Princess is definitely not my usual inspiration for cosplay. Of course this is not to say all…

SamOctober 14, 2017

Final duct tape cosplay mannequin, completed and filled with expanding foam.

Tutorials

Tutorial: Make Your Own Cosplay Mannequin for Patterning

Every cosplayer has made their own custom tape patterns. You know the drill: wrap yourself in cling wrap, layer masking tape on top, sketch your design, and violà! Instant costume pattern. But have you ever wished you didn't have to wrap yourself up every time you need a pattern? What if…

SamJune 9, 2017

Cosplay

Pauldron Perfect: The New and Improved Pauldrons of Akkhan

The Pauldrons of Akkhan have finally been perfected! It took me months to decide how to fix these giant pieces of armor, especially after the disappointment of their failure in 2015. The goal for 2016 was to lighten the weight of each pauldron, recreate their glowing "spike" centers, and ensure each was centered on my…

SamApril 29, 2017

Fred Reed, of Fred and Elle Designs, giving the judges some insight in to his progress in S01 E01 of Cosplay Melee.

Dovah Diary

Three Reasons “Cosplay Melee” is the Show All Cosplayers Need

If you haven't been tuning in to the new series Cosplay Melee on SyFy, you've been missing out on some serious cosplay talent. Cosplay Melee is a new "game show for cosplayers," reminiscent of the popular series Face Off. In each episode, four contestants compete for a Ten Thousand dollar…

SamApril 20, 2017