Feature Friday: Meru Cosplay
Well, my plan to roll out Feature Friday every week in July failed, but I’m back at it. Today, I’m featuring my new friend Meru Cosplay who found me on Bloglovin’. I’m so happy that she reached out to me because her work is gorgeous, and I instantly decided that we were going to be friends. Not only is she a fantastic cosplayer, but she is a hardworking and dedicated mother which is completely inspiring. Read her whole feature below.
What is your cosplay name? Meru
How did you come about your cosplay name? It’s based off one of my nicknames, Mer.
What is your real world name? Meredith
What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying? Right now I’m taking a break from my career to be a fulltime caregiver to my young daughter. She keeps me busy, and I also have other hobbies. I really like to run and just started getting back into that. I’m a homeowner and constantly updating the decor, so my sewing skills really come in handy. I also love to read (Haruki Murakami is my favorite!) and watch anime! Travel is also something my husband and I enjoy doing together, but we haven’t done any big trips in a while.
How old are you? Thirty-something.
How long have you been cosplaying? 13 years.
What made you want to start cosplaying? When I was in high school, it was just a far-off dream. I liked the idea of showing my fandom through costumes, especially since I’m not a great writer or artist. There weren’t any anime conventions near me in the Florida panhandle, and my parents weren’t too keen on the idea of me going several hours from home to attend events. Once I turned 18, I attended Anime Weekend Atlanta and never looked back!
What are your goals for cosplay? I cosplay for myself. It’s just a hobby, and probably always will be. My goals are to continue improving at makeup and wig styling, start making tutorials and YouTube videos, and use more fabrics/materials that are out of my comfort zone.
What is your dream cosplay? I have so many! Right now I’m working on one, Rapunzel from Tangled. My ultimate dream cosplay is Angewomon from Digimon.
When did you learn to sew? In 2005, my mother-in-law showed me how to thread my machine and the basics of sewing while we constructed a costume together (Mew Ichigo from Tokyo Mew Mew). It was a really great starting point and inspired me to keep trying.
You are a mother. That is amazing. How do you balance your hobby with your family life? My family always comes first, but it still leaves me a little bit of time to work on my craft. I can get a lot done while my daughter naps, or after she goes to bed in the evenings. I still do my hobby, just not as much as before.
Do you ever plan on cosplaying with your child? Oh, yes! I have an entire folder of costumes I hope to make and wear together some day. There’s a lot of Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, and Madoka Magica designs that would be so much fun!
Do you have any advice for other parents out there who want to or do cosplay? Honestly, I’m just winging it like all new parents. It’s helpful to be flexible and not have rigid deadlines, because that just makes things more stressful for me. I’m only just now starting to work on projects every day, and my daughter is almost 18 months. Definitely prioritize sleeping over working on cosplay — your body will thank you!
What is your favorite cosplay you have done so far? Why? I really love my Ballgown Louise cosplay. She’s one of my favorite characters, and the design was such a challenge to make since it was my first time working with historical patterns and making a big, poofy dress. I feel so happy wearing it, and since it’s an obscure outfit, it really makes my day when I meet people that actually know who I’m cosplaying. I’ve met a lot of Zero no Tsukaima fans through that costume, and it’s such a neat feeling!
Who is your favorite cosplayer? Maridah, Calssara, and Sparkle Pipsi have great work, and are super nice!
Top 5 resources/tutorials you have found for cosplay help?
- Getting to Know Your Serger – This is a great refresher for when I haven’t used my serger in a while.
- How to Sew a Circle Skirt – I used this to help with my Sailor V double circle skirt recently. It breaks down the math and shows how to create your own pattern.
- Ruffles & Rolled Hem – Great video tutorial that shows how to set up a serger to do rolled hems and gathers. This was a lifesaver when I made trim for Princess Peach.
- Sailor Fuku Cosplay Tutorial – I made my both my Sailor Venus and Sailor V costumes with this detailed tutorial from Sparkle Pipsi.
- Using Boning in Your Costumes: Part 1 & Part 2 – I’ve used boning in many of my costumes. It’s great for ballgowns, corsets, bodices, and bunnysuits! These two resources break it down very nicely, even if you’re new to the techniques.
If you didn’t just fall in love with Meru then we can’t be friends anymore. Ok that’s not true, but I really do hope you enjoyed her work and story. Make sure you go follow her at all of her social media links below. Don’t forget to subscribe via email or Bloglovin’ to never miss a post!
Meru’s Social Media:
Cosplay Portfolio & Blog: merucosplay.com
Facebook: Meru Cosplay
Instagram: @meru.cosplay
Twitter: @valliere
Photography Credits:
Fionna by ALP Photography
Fujiko Mine by Obtuse Photo
Himari Takakura by Steven Noreyko
Kaitou Jeanne by Dim Horizon Studio
Leviathan and portrait by LJinto
Louise Ballgown by Bentpic5
Tsumugi by Lionel Lum
Tsumugi Silly by Benny Lee Photography
