#FeatureFriday with Anomalous Pulsar

Today has a great feature with Anomalous Pulsar! Learn more about this ambitious crafter below!

I'm an over 30 cosplayer, I love making things (duh), cooking and videogames. I love learning, too, be it how to use a new tool or random factoids.
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​How and when did you get into cosplay?
While I haven't been actively making my own costumes until about three years ago, I cosplayed once in my early twenties. My first convention was Sakura-Con was back in 2007, but the first time I cosplayed was in an Ebay costume for Sakura-Con 2008. The costume was a huge disappointment and was horrendously uncomfortable, so I just kind of let the hobby fall to the wayside.

I had wanted to cosplay for quite some time, even after that, but my lack of skill and knowledge was an intimidating hurdle. So I kind of lurked about on the internet, soaking up as much information as I could. Even though I didn't try them , I read boatloads of tutorials and started learning how to sew small projects.

It wasn't until a friend discovered cosplay and jumped in feet first that I decided I would try it again. Seeing him throw caution to the wind and have fun made me jealous enough to do it. I wanted to have fun instead of sitting on the sidelines!

So, for ECCC 2015 I busted out my ancient Singer and drafted my first pattern: Female Pokémon Protagonist from X&Y- the skirt specifically. It took two tries, I wasn't happy with the first ones pleats, but man- that feeling of victory when I got the zippers set, nice crisp pleats AND functional pockets? I was hooked, and hard. The cosplay contest that ECCC cemented my adoration for the competitive side of cosplay, as well.

So far as my name? Well... I like space, and I really like the cool weird things that happen in space. My name is short for "Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar" Which is another name for a Magnetar, that being a type of neutron star with a monstrous magnetic field. It just sort of fit me, and now it's my handle on most things.

What do you do when you're not in cosplay or geeking out?
Right now I'm studying to gain my Electricians Administrators License, it's fascinating and I'm really enjoying it. That aside, I'm a housewife! I maintain the home and plan our meals and stereotypical stuff like that- sans the kids. I garden, wage a never ending war on scotch-broom, and I really like cooking; feeding people makes me almost as happy as cosplay.

What is your proudest cosplay accomplishment?
That would be taking the novice category win at Sakura-Con 2017 with my Inuyasha build. I didn't think I had a popsicles chance in a firepit, and I just about fainted backstage when Diego told me I was a winner. I wound up sitting on one of the silver and black chests trying to tell myself "Yep, this is real!"

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now?
I've got a couple that I'm working on, Kyouma Mabuchi (for my husband) and Mira Yurizaki (for myself) from Dimension W. I'm also plunking away on a Sesshoumaru build to get a chance to do some more armor before I dive into the Gore Magala armor (Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate) I have planned for Sakura-Con 2020. I'm not a fast builder, but I hope to have Kyouma and Mira finished before Jet City Comic Show in November.

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration?
I've got a few I look up to:

Kruser Creations: not only is he a neighbor and good friend, he's an honorable dude who is Alor'ad of the local Mandalorian Mercs chapter. He regularly hosts armor parties and is absolutely willing to teach people crafting techniques.

Kamui Cosplay: She's cute, she's smart and I love her tutorials. I've been watching and reading them for years, and she's definitely an inspirational figure.

Yaya Han: A talented crafter, a wildly savvy businesswoman and a really nice person to boot!

Ivy Doomkitty: She's a hugely positive force in the community as I see her. She encourages body positivity, kindness to others and owning who you are. Cosplay is for Everyone. The first time I heard that it was in a panel she hosted and it's stuck with me, firmly.

With all the negativity in the cosplay community these days, what's a positive message you would like to enforce and encourage others with?
Cosplay is for everyone, and it's up to people to cosplay how they want. Whether or not you like how someone portrays a character, it's not ok to tell them horrid things. In essence, we're all just playing dress up so don't judge (at least verbally/text, we're all human)- unless you're a judge in a contest and people COME to you for that purpose. Think about what you are going to say to someone, and how it will make them feel before you say/type it.

We also need to stop backhanded compliments "Your cosplay is so much better than 'The Other Person Cosplaying the Same Character'." having been on both sides of receiving that compliment/put down in other areas, it's never nice.

What is your dream cosplay?
Tough one here, since there are so many characters I really like. One that's been on my mind for many a year is the Paladin Tier 4 (specifically the Burning Crusade intro version of it) from World of Warcraft for myself. I'd also like to do a Etzio Auditore Altair armor in real silk dupioni, silk velvet and leather for my husband some day. That one will be expensive. Lately I've also been daydreaming of doing a Nero build from Fate/EXTRA. I've never done a cosplay I'd consider risqué before, and her design with cropped jacket and bum-window has captured my heart!

​What is your favorite convention to attend and why?
Sakura-Con! It's big, but not too big, and I love the vibe. It makes me happy in a way that other conventions I've been to don't. I don't get the same feeling of anxiety or stress that I do even at smaller conventions.

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves?
For the love of all that's holy if someone is eating leave them be. Even if it's lunchtime or later, it might be the first meal of the day for them. I scared a poor girl -quite by accident- after the 2017 Sakura-Con costume contest because I hadn't eaten yet and she interrupted my quality time with a cheese danish and coffee. It was early (I hadn't had time to eat before the contest) I was cranky and hungry and I didn't even say anything and the poor girl looked like she wanted to run away. I made time after eating to take a picture with her, but please wait to ask for pictures until after someone is done eating or resting.

Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that others can learn from?
Hm. Test patches. Always test things out with test patches. I put barge on my finished Sango armor on the paint job to attach the ribbons to the greaves. That was very nearly a bad thing. The paint bubbled like horrific pink slime where I had put the stuff. Lucky for me the ribbon adhered nicely and nobody can see the near blunder. But seriously, testing patches is always good, be it sewing or bonding or trimming.

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers?
Don't let other peoples finished works of beauty make you feel like you can't do it yourself, especially if you blunder. We ALL make mistakes, some of us just don't post when we do. I try to make a point of posting when I bork something, and posting how I addressed the issue- because I know how easy it can be to get discouraged when all you see are amazing, beautiful or epic things.

I’m gonna parrot some things people have probably already heard a bunch of times, but I don’t care: You can cosplay whatever you want regardless of age, race, weight, sex, lewdness, whatever. You cosplay who you want to cosplay in the way you want to do it. I’m well into my thirties and I’m gonna cosplay Sailor Saturn someday, because reasons.

Also- if you ever see my husband and I at Sakura-Con or Jet City Comic Show, don’t hesitate to come up and say “Hi!” Just please wait until after we are done eating. ;)

Where can we find you on all things social?
I'm most active on Instagram @anomalouspulsar! Even if I'm not posting, I have notifications turned on and I respond to DMs pretty quick especially if it's cosplay-related questions.
I also have a Facebook. I link allot of my posts from Instagram there.
Tumblr is a bit random, I mostly just follow people there.
I also have my own website/portfolio thing. I typically only update it with major things, but I'm trying to be more active with it.

Photos for this interview provided by Bill Meyenburg, Charlie Liu, and Rob Norlen

What a great read! Go follow her on all things social!

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