Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
About
How it started
I started cosplaying in 2013, completely as a fun weekend hobby. I was mostly doing steampunk stuff at first. But it wasn't until Phoenix Comicon 2013 that my whole life changed.
You see, I made the mistake of seeing how awesome all the Star Wars cosplayers looked. All the Mandalorians, and the Stormtroopers, the Jedi and the Sith... all looking like they could walk right onto the set of a movie. Their costumes were just incredible.
And then I attended the costume contest that night, and saw all the award winning costumes on display... And I was instantly hooked. I loved everything about what I was seeing... and I had to get involved.
By the end of 2013, I was putting together my first Star Wars character. It wasn't very good, that first costume. But I kept working at it, kept upgrading it. Kept developing my skills, and changing things I didn't like. And for 2 years, I kept focusing on getting better and better.
Switching to full time prop maker
By the time 2015 rolled around, I was very unhappy with my job. I was a vet tech - and I loved what I did. Helping sick puppies all day, working with animals? That part was fantastic. But the stresses of working for a manager that did not treat her team well (as is so common in service industries unfortunately) was leaving me exhausted and miserable every day when I got home.
I had opened up an etsy shop, around that same time. Selling some of the small props I was making for myself. And then... the etsy store really started moving. I was selling more costume pieces than I expected to. It was taking up more and more of my time each week, just to keep up with orders... and financially, I was needing that day job less and less.
By the time 2016 happened... I quit my day job as a vet tech, and switched to making props full time. And honestly? I haven't looked back since. I do miss working with animals a lot. But being my own boss, making my own schedule and setting the goals that are exciting to me? I love that so much more. Besides, I have 3 cats and 2 dogs now. So there's always one animal in my lap at all times anyway, even while I'm working!
Working with comic conventions
As my propmaking began to gain more attention online, I started working more closely with several local conventions. At first, with the smaller shows in my state - Yumacon, Tucson Comic Con, and a few others. But that rapidly began to expand out to larger shows, and further across the country.
Now I've worked with several of the largest shows in the country, either as a professional guest, or as a costume contest judge, including shows like:
- San Diego Comicon International
- Emerald City Comicon
- Wondercon
- Phoenix Fan Fusion
- Baltimore Comic Con
- Los Angeles Comic Con
Shows like to work with me because I put a lot of effort into bringing something special for their attendees. Eye-catching costumes, plenty of stage presence, informative and entertaining panels, and years of expertise for their costume contest judging table.
What's next?
I have so many plans for the future of Amber Brite Props, and I'm very excited to be working on them!
- I want to continue to create more tutorials for cosplayers, and to share the knowledge I've gained over the years.
- I want to coordinate with more conventions worldwide and bring my costumes and my expertise to enrich their convention's offerings.
- I want to continue to add new props to my portfolio, and reach a point soon where I begin to hire apprentices to help keep up with my ever-growing list of orders.
There are so many great things in store for the future, and I can't wait to see what's next!