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I was thinking that you might be able to appreciate this- possibly find common ground and trade ideas. I find both costumes -amazing-...

In particular, I like the mask. The patterning you did for it is wonderful! Are you by any chance a taxidermist? Or just an enthusiast for craftwork? Because you do seem to have experience at this. Mind if I ask; honestly, about how much did it take to make the costume, concerning all the materials, pricewise? I'm thinking it would be a fun project to collaborate with a taxidermist friend of mine to make one- if I can afford it. I'll also let her know about your work; she might be curious about it, too. Thanks miss!

"Enthusiast" is a good word for it. :3
I tend to try as many things as I can to vary my skills.
I'm not a taxidermist, and couldn't be. Don't like gore. And at times I find it odd to work with skin, cause when its wet its so.. skin like.
Anyway, this is essentially my 2nd/3rd leather working venture. The first as a tiny doodle of a fish. The "2nd" was some very simple stamping on a set of bracers I collaboratively made with *lenalis who also is the one who taught and got me interested in the craft.

The total cost for the costume (including materials I bought and did not use for it)would be between 200 and 300 USD I would say... I didn't use as much of the fur and fabric as I purchased though. So some better planning would reduce the cost. (I didn't use any patterns, so I over bought in case I screwed up.)I initially was going to have a full length skirt and some wraps on the upper body. Somethings can also be scavenged from thrift stores and such. The beads/embellishments were second in cost after the fabric. And of course having a supply of animal parts (I had to buy the antlers) helps.
If you'd like a more detailed breakdown of the materials I used, let me know.

I also worked on collecting materials and building the costume over about 4 months of time. So that eased the cost and work burden.

I defiantly like that costume you linked!

*nods* I've been brainstorming a bit since seeing this for things that might create a more accessible experience yet without cutting too much quality. I was playing with the idea of making a paper-mache mask instead of using leather~ which would be -different-... cheaper to be sure, and something I have a good idea how to do. Making proper holes for a belt; as long as it can be tied off properly, doesn't mean the belt needs to be new or custom-made... though the antlers would need special attention. And I'd need to buy them. ^_^ Lucky I've got a friend who I might be able to buy them from. As for fur, I already have a moose-cape; though I've been using it as a carseat. XD (the head and shoulders of a moose) Hmm... The upper section seems like its own project, that a mask and headdress would be complete without a suit to go with it, though in entirety a full costume is ten times more awesome.

I looked around and saw a bunch of your old clay works; they are -amazing-. I've been wanting to work with clay for a long time, but I can't -find- any. There's no local craft store at all. Sculpey looks even better; is it skin-safe? My friend uses sculpey in a lot of her taxidermy projects. I was just curious if you know where I could maybe order some, and how much it would cost. I'm pretty low-budget, even though I have a job.

What do you think of a paper-mache mask as a starting place? I have some wonderful ideas to make it work, but could you see any potential problems with trying that route? And as I go along, because I think I might like to try a long-term project similar to this, I'd welcome correspondance. I did see the list of materials you used, I find it simple and helpful in explanation. I consider myself more a writer than an artist, so trying something 3-D is new ground for me since way back in highschool art classes. I'm excited! Though it will probably take at least as long as your project, maybe longer, and I'll have to give you inspirational credit if I finish something. But do you think you'd be able to help guide me along the way?

Btw, my name is Shawn, nice to make your aquaintance.

Awesome, that is really cool.

--
It is much more comfortable to be mad and know it, then to be sane and have one's doubts.

very interesting suit, who is that anyway? that you are costuming as?

--
May the shadows be with you.
~Shklii The Ocelot of #Therian-Pride
I hang around on [link] alot, come see if I'm there! username: kecharana, shklii