Reference
"The Art of Final Fantasy IX" by Squaresoft

Awards
Best Workmanship-Master Division
at KatsuCon 2002

Background
Powers:: White Magic, Summoner...
After her parents passed away, Eiko was raised by summoners, magic users with the ability to summon eidolons to do their bidding. Under their care, Eiko learned White Magic and developed a very special friendship with the Moogles. Although only six years of age, Eiko is a precocious little girl with the ability to read the thoughts of eidolons and animals.

Inspiration
Before FFIX ever came to the US, a friend & I were pouring over the new art from Japan in the gaming mags. She was very intent on doing Princess Garnet & I wanted to cosplay with her. Eiko was the natural choice since I am so little. My friend finished, wore, & sold hers before I ever finished mine... but I think it was worth the wait. This is one of my masterpiece costumes to say the least. When I am in Eiko, I feel I truly am Eiko.

Creation
This costume was very difficult in planning & creation. I spent alot of time just trying to decide on contrasting fabrics for texture.

The 2 toned wig & a third color of hair extensions were purchased. I commissioned Yaya to create the wig & horn as accurately as possible. The bow was made of yellow vinyl & sewn in. Earrings were handmade with beads & wire.

The body suit was made from pink lightweight spandex with the dark purple socks sewn into place... also installed my first invisible zipper successfully! I used a standard body suit pattern. Red shirt/gloves was made from interlock knit material & canvas workmans gloves. I used a woman's sweater pattern as reference. This is all one piece with gloves included. Wings shown here are irridescent white material sewn with batting & wired for stability. They insert into the red shirt via slots sewn into place. Wings presented at KatsuCon 2002 which contained glowing lighting, are made from white turkey feathers on a wire base, & attached to a harness of plastic & wide elastic. Belt is a purchased military pistol belt painted yellow & silver.

Boots *perfect!* were purchased from a local thrift store. Boots covers were made freehand, of white pleather, wired & stapled for stability & sewn/glued into place with silver button covers as accents. I have to wear white loose socks & two other pairs to keep them on since I bought the boots very large for accuracy. Pants cuffs are black pleather with silver button covers as accents, and tie on underneath the yellow jumpsuit.

The yellow jumpsuit, my favorite part of this costume, was the absolute hardest part to make. There was no pattern used. It is made of yellow tablecloth vinyl, sewn with grey thread. My refernce was very detailed & accurate, so each placement of the buckles, d-rings & clips are in place. The pants clip to the bodice for easy removal & buckles in the back for tight placement of the bodice. The belts, buckles, tabs, belt loops are all hand done & sewn into place on the right pant leg. 64 grommets were hand hammered & laced with black leather strips. The pants are lined with satin & stuffed with batting to give the proper poofiness.

The Moogle was completely handmade by me & is a functional backpack as well. It was made as a gift for Yaya for her FFX Lulu costume. The flute used in the KatsuCon 2002 cosplay was a cool branch found in JoAnn's, repainted with copper & black metallics. I used silk leaves from other plants, painted them with metallic paint & glitter & glued them into place. It was laced with hemp string.

Credits
Thanks to JoAnn Etc, Home Depot, Buford HWY Army/Navy Supply, Jin's Wigs, Rainbow Feathers, WalMart & others for supplies.

Thanks to Yaya Han for the wig, horn & feather wing creation.

Thanks to Brian Boling for the wiring & lighting effects on the feather wings.

Gift Art
:: CG courtesy of DigitalShin ::

Photos
:: photoshoot courtesy of Meg Hanson ::

:: convention photos courtesy of
Ollie, Kevin Lillard, Anna-Neko
& Dave "Boots" ::