Wondering how to create the most regal Elfin Empress or forest Faerie Queen cosplay? Find out how Dragonfly and myself brought this fantasy costume to life from concept to photograph.
Just cutting out all of the elements took a couple of days!
Skadi Jewellery Design ambassador Dragonfly came to me with a great idea a while back for some elf ear cuffs. I decided to make up for my slow progress in making them by adding a few trinkets, now here we are a couple of years later, she looks like an incredible elf warrior queen and I’m so proud to be part of it!
Like most of our collaborations it started off with an offhand remark and snowballed into an elaborate project…
Making the elf jewellery set
This was my first attempt at ear cuffs so a bit of research was required. After trawling through hundreds of elaborate wire contraptions wrapping every which way around the ear my main takeaway was that I wanted to keep it simple! Every added element meant the cuffs were likely to fit on fewer ears sizes. Cut to several hours later with a desk and surrounding floor littered with cardboard prototypes and I finally had a simple spade shape which would sit comfortably on the top of the ear without falling off. I created the leafy scrollwork design to fit in with an enchanted forest theme and from that point the chandelier earrings design pretty much took care of itself!
As with the elf ear cuffs, I wanted the crown to fit as many head sizes as possible and the only way to do that was to make it adjustable. I wanted to keep a fine lightweight appearance so I decided to use a chain to secure it to the head. The main section I divided into 3 so they could bend with the shape of the head.
More than 10 hours of saw piercing followed by engraving, shaping, soldering and polishing and the shiny silver elf set was ready for it’s trip from Melbourne to Portugal!
Styling, make-up & photography
As soon as I told Dragonfly I was finally making her some elf ears she was immediately brimming with styling ideas! As a professional make-up artist, model, photographer and generally creative genius, I’m always happy to leave Dragonfly to her own devices and be completely surprised by whatever she comes up with. One of my favourite parts of the process is the anticipation and seeing those stunning photos for the first time with no idea what to expect.
Of course this set was no exception! The enchanting forest monarch with a warrior edge which Dragonfly created with the jewellery I made is a mesmerising figure. I can’t wait to see what kind of character we come up with next!
‘Part of the process of becoming a professional make up artist was the need to improve my skills to do what I love most in the process of the photoshoots I make for each work . And Skadi was from our fist collab the biggest impulse I needed to accomplish my make up goals. In every Photoshoot I did for Clare I felt challenged to do something different and the weight of the responsibility to do justice to the beauty of each jewellery piece was getting bigger.
With this particular shoot I feel really proud that I was” part” of the influence to make Clare do these elven ears. Since I saw Shannara Chronicles and the earcuffs Amberle used I was in love with it and I imagined how Clare would be able to do something similar and unique at the same time. And again we think as one and when she showed me the result it was exactly as I imagined In my head . I guess it’s really true ,”Great minds think alike”.
I’m so grateful to represent Skadi as her ambassador and couldn’t be more proud. For this look I had the help of a friend who is so talented too and doesn’t know it as she should . Zélia from Penteados Veia Artística has such skills to make the most amazing braid hairstyles I think she should work full time on it. I think the hairstyle was a great help to make the look more badass .
I wanted to create a mix of an Elf look but not a cute one, more like an warrior style . The look was entirely made freehand on the day . I didn’t even make a Facechart for it. I just bought face lace stickers and added them . I used a brand I’m addicted to and I think that also made a big difference. Danessa Myricks products are amazing and versatile, they worked perfectly on this look. I’m really proud with the results . I can’t wait to create our next character 
‘ – Dragonfly
If you would like to see past collaborations between Dragonfly and myself check out the gallery. See more of Dragonfly’s incredible make-up artistry and photography on her Instagram M.A.MAKEUP
