#FeatureFriday with Sadie by Design

Sadie started doing Feature Friday's around the exact same time I did. It was such an awesome coincidence and it truly makes Friday's double the fun now. We decided to interview each other, and I'm super excited about this one, because Sadie is such a talented cosplayer and I'm so happy she took the time to do this interview with me.

​I'll quit babbling so you can find out just how awesome this woman really is!

​​How and when did you get into cosplay? 
​I got into cosplay because I wanted to start doing fashion design and modelling. An opportunity to join a girl as her Jack Skellington came up, and I decided to create my own design and join. I fell in love, and have been continuing ever since. I actually want to redo this costume to be more like my original design now that my sewing skills have improved so much. 

​What do your friends and family think of your hobby? 
Really, I think they thought it was a little weird at first, but now, they are always asking me what I’m working on. Even some of my more “old fashioned” family members have told me they think what I’m doing is awesome. It’s been really good to have such great support from the people I most care about. 

If you're still cosplaying in 10+ years, do you think it will have an effect on your cosplay choices, or the characters you choose to portray? 
In ten years, I absolutely will still be cosplaying. In a way, it will only affect my decisions based on who I’m cosplaying with. I will probably have kids in ten years, so I plan to also make costumes for them to match whatever I’m doing. Other than things like that, I really just plan to continue doing whatever makes me happy. 

What do you do when you’re not in cosplay or geeking out?
​My slogan, “Engineer by day. Superhero by night.” Is actually 100% true. By day I’m a full-time engineer at a fiber optics company. My degree was in optical engineering, so that’s what funds the hobbies. Haha. I also love running, eating, and drinking fine wine and craft beer. 

​How do you choose your next cosplay? 
I have a list that I keep of things that inspire me. Usually, I try to keep a small list of projects I definitely want to complete, but I have cosplay ADD. I have about five projects going at once, and usually it’s whatever I’m most inspired to get done at the moment is what ends up getting shown. 

Who is your cosplay idol/inspiration? 
People will probably roll their eyes at this, but I really do love Yaya Han. I love her work, but I also love that she is an entrepreneur who has turned her love for costuming into a business venture that will ultimately make the world of cosplay a better place through her fabric and pattern lines. A few other designers that I really admire are Firefly Path, Mango Sirene, and Courtoon. 

What cosplay(s) are you working on right now? 
Remember that cosplay ADD I was talking about earlier? Right now, I have materials on hand to complete more than several costumes. Star Guardian Lux, Hermione, Princess Mononoke, Tinkerbell, and a custom Star Wars costume are just a few of the ones I have at least started on. 

What is your dream cosplay? 
My dream cosplay is more of a project than one specific cosplay. Eventually, I’d like to have a portfolio of all of the classic Disney Princesses. 

What is holding you back from making your dream cosplay becoming a reality? 
​Time. I’m super busy all the time. Right now, I have Briar Rose, Cinderella, and Snow White done in this portfolio, but I’d really like to redo Briar Rose. I think the next one will probably be Ariel. We’ll see though. It’s a matter of when I have time to do these. Finding the right fabric is always a chore too as I am extremely picky as to how the dresses should be brought to life in my head. 

​You also have a cosplay blog. When did you start it? 
My first post was published on 2/11/2015

What made you want to start a blog? 
I have a good friend from college who started a blog, Engineering in Style. I really loved that it was helping her meet new people within a niche community, and I felt like it would be a fun way to express myself on a level a little more personal than social media. 

What is your favorite convention to attend? 
I don’t know!!!! I really love SC Comicon. I had a ton of fun there both years I’ve been. I also attend Gen Con because I get to see all of my friends in Indiana when I go. Ultimately, the craziest, and most fun convention I think I’ve attended was PAX East. It was just unlike anything I’d seen at the con scene before, and I hope to go back again next year. 

What is your dream convention to attend? 
Right now, my dream convention is ColossalCon. Because swimsuits! With some luck, I will get to go next year. After that is accomplished, my goal is to go international. There isn’t one specific convention I have picked out; I just think it would be cool to take cosplay out of the country. 

Do you have any cosplay or convention pet peeves? 
​Ok, so I definitely am not good when things get overly crowded because I hate feeling like I’m walking on top of people. I also absolutely hate it when I’m eating, and I can see people taking photos of me out of the corner of my eye. I can put my food down for a picture. Just in general, I’d rather be posing for a photo than doing something stupid. Anyways, yeah, it’s polite to ask people before you just take creepy across the room pictures of them. 

​Do you have any horror stories or mistakes you've made that other's can learn from? 
I often push too much of my work to the last minute, and end up taking shortcuts that sometimes almost cost me the costume. The best advice I can give is to give yourself enough time to do quality work that will last, and know when to throw in the towel. Cosplay is fun, but it isn’t worth risking a disaster or a health issue. 

Do you have any tips or words of encouragement for other cosplayers? 
Don’t sit around wasting all your time on the internet. I am guilty of this myself. I love to look at other people’s work, but imagine how much I could get done if I just went and did my own thing. Sometimes looking at other stuff can get discouraging too. “Why are they so much better than me?” “Why didn’t my picture get as many likes?” “She’s so perfect. I wish I had her abs.” I am really competitive, so I constantly have to remind myself that while it is great motivation, it can also become negative. Get your resources, get your fabric, and get yourself out there. No one will notice you if you sit around wishing to be as good as other people. Also, I know we are all trying to make a name for ourselves, but be kind and respectful. And HAVE FUN!

Do you have anything else you want to say, or add to this interview? 
​The last thing I want to share is that I have been lucky enough to find a way that cosplay allows me to give back to the community with the SC Upstate Heroes. It has been the most rewarding experience of my life to be a part of a group that takes time out of their schedule to visit the children’s hospital as super heroes. If you’re ever given the opportunity to do something like this please don’t pass up the chance. If there isn’t anything like this in your area then get a couple friends together and start your own!
​

Where can we find you on all things social?
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram @sadiebydesign
Twitter @sadiebydesign
Website
sadie.geerligs@gmail.com 

Photos used in this blog post courtesy of; City Light Cosplay, Doublestomp Productions, Alt Media Pros, SC Upstate Heroes, Joe's Studio, COTC Photography, and Angry Dog Studio.

PS: Did I mention, this Black Cat photo hasn't been released on any other social media yet?! You're welcome!

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Sadie as much as I did. She is such a cool cosplayer and a great blogger. It's always nice finding other cosplayers who are out to help the community. Find her on all things social, read a few of her tutorials on her blog, and be as amazed by her as I am.

Don't forget that she will be hosting an interview with me as well! Stay tuned to her blog to find out when that goes live, and as always, comment below who you would love featured on the blog!

​*kiss kiss*