I had always wanted to do an Ifurita cosplay, because she's hands-down the coolest character in a series that's rife with cool characters, El Hazard. The most difficult part of this costume was the power key staff. I made the key part using styrofoam and foamboard, and the staff part I made using a retractable car-washing brush which I could unscrew and fold up to allow for easy transportation. All of the other components had to be made out of craft foam, except for the spheres, (which were first of painted styrofoam. I soon replaced them with oversized plastic Christmas ornaments.)

Concerning the costume itself, the toughest part to make proved to be the tights, which I had to serge together and adjust to fit my legs over and over again in a seemingly endless cycle (which is still going on.) The headdress and bracelets also proved to be a challenge- I made them out of polystyrene, craft foam and plastic Christmas ornaments. The necklace I made using craft foam and sculpey.

I wore this costume to AnimeIowa 2003 and, while I was happy it won a Hall Costume award, I was a mite disappointed that hardly anybody recognized my character. (I know El Hazard is an old series, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be forgotten THIS early on. Sheesh.)