Greetings from Fl

[zharek]

Hello, my name is Ian(Zharek Raldeesh is my Jedi name) and I'm 17. I live in Florida and am planning on joining the JA next year when I'm 18.

I've been obsessed with Star Wars since the resugence in the 90's prior to the release of the special editions. My cousins started collecting the toys, and eventually, I wanted my own. So in 1996, my Aunt bought me a toy landspeeder and a Shadows of The Empire bounty Hunter Chewbacca figure. Soon, I had begun to amass a collection of figures and toys. I got my first lightsaber(It wasn't liscenced, but it was still in essence, a saber.) and I have been playing and practicing with them ever since. I have recently gotten into choreography with the sabers.
I remember recieving the original trilogy on VHS for my birthday in early 97 and how I would watch those videos to death. But as I got older, I started to notice that all of my cousins stopped being obsessed with the franchise, and soon, I was the only one left. I never grew up. I still buy and collect figures, I still like to play with my lightsabers, and I still like to learn as much as I can about the universe.

So eventually, I started getting into costuming because I knew that it'd be one of the only ways to meet other people who share my devout love of Star Wars. I have been working on acquiring a jedi costume since October, when I sewed my first and very amateurish jedi tunic. Next, I bought an fx Obi-wan saber and an orange custom saber. Then, I tried to sew another tunic. This time, it came out better, but it wasn't perfect. Recently, I bought my boots and the other day, I ordered for a tailor to sew me another tunic, which I'm hoping to get by the end of June. All I need is my belt and maybe a robe and I'm set. I already have an undertunic that I think is passable, and it has an improvized mandarin collar.



Here's my tunic from my second attempt at sewing, although I have since modified it.


My next tunic is going to be brown colored. I usually weild my orange saber and if not, both sabers, but that pic was taken before I bought my orange one.

[JediKai]

Welcome to the Assembly! I'm glad you found your way here. You are among friends who also "never grew up". Some of us are old enough to be your grandparent! ;D

I hope you have directed your tailor to our tutorial pages
www.thejediassembly.com/tutorials.php

If any advice on making the costume is needed, you have but to ask in our costuming forums.

I look forward to receiving your application when you turn 18!

[Jan-Qui Coran]

bows

Greetings Zharek Raldeesh,
Greetings & welcome to The Jedi Assembly. Yes you have found the group to help you with your Jedi. I know I'm most definitely old enough to be your grandmother. I started costuming when I was in my late 50's.
Very good young one that you are taking on the challenge of sewing your tunics. Very good for your beginnings. One gets better at it as time moves forward.

I also had someone sew me a tunic after that I made my own.
The robe can be a bit of a challenge because of the material involved but it's not hard to make. Much simpler then the tunic.

Please feel free to ask questions about anything you need help on.

With the belt you will either need to make one or possibly buy one & being leather it would be good to look around. We have members who can make belts & there are web sites that sell them. You might even be able to find one on ebay. Just make sure to get a decent one that will hold up with repeated use.
You mentioned you recently got your boots. Please make sure you practice wearing them to break them in & that they are comfortable to wear. You may need after you wear them some insoles that will help your feet be more comfortable. Sometimes costumers can be in costume for several hours & it doesn't do well with sore feet. I know I've been through that myself. (I think my max time in costume is 18 hours---not all standing but much walking.) This happens at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia on Labor Day Weekend---it's a non-stop convention.
MTFBWY
Jan-Qui

[zharek]

Yeah, I'm used to being in costume. I don't find wearing just the tunic and undertunic very hard, although I do get wicked sweaty if I wear a shirt under my undertunic. I'm getting used to wearing boots as well, but at first, it was difficult to walk around in them. They don't really hurt my feet much. I wear my costume regularly when I go out to practice with sabers. My neighbours see me and think I'm nerdy, but really, it's not so different from going out and playing football if you're into that sort of thing. Everyone does something they like to do, why should anyone be judged?

I have found people on Ebay selling Jedi belts for 25 to 70 dollars.
And regarding my robe, I think I'll buy my robe later on. I'm not very good at sewing nor do I have a sewing machine. But I have a lot of time until I'm elligible to join, so after the belt and my new tunic, I'm going to turn my sights to another costume I'm trying to do: a scout trooper. From what I know, that costume doesn't need to be sewn, you can buy all the clothes for cheap. But since the armor is so expensive, I won't be able to buy my robe until either I take a break from building or purchasing stuff for the costume, or until I'm totally done.

I do have a placeholder that I scavenged from an old rubies costume(It wasn't a star wars costume), but it's black, so I might just dye it.

[acalsohei]

Welcome, Zharek. It looks like you've found the right place, and you have a very good start on your costume. I look forward to seeing your progress.

[zharek]

I kind of gave up on sewing and bought one. It didn't cost much and it's very well done, but I need to add velcro because of course, the tabards love to fall off. I just wore it to Ancient City Con and people were stopping me quite often to take pictures, not only because of the costume but also because of my lightsaber which is orange. A lot of people don't know that they exist. I'm still missing the proper belt, but my placeholder is good enough. And my aunt is almost finished with my Jedi robe, but for now, I use a black knee-length, short-sleeved robe that I salvaged some time ago from an old costume. I won't wear this when I join, but it's closer to my mental portrayal of my character, the Grey Jedi Knight Zharek Raldeesh.

Zharek is extremely skilled at sneaking around and his mind tricks are quite powerful when he does get caught. To blend better, he wears darker clothing. Brown pants, dark brown tunic, black lightsaber hilt and belt, and a black robe that allows for better freedom of movement. He backs out of the war and leaves the Temple when he figures that both the Republic and the Seperatists are evil in their own way. Grey Jedi use both light side and dark side skills but aren't corrupted by the dark side, so the black robe and brown tunic and pants sort of cancel each other out and work to say that he isn't a Jedi but he isn't a dark Jedi either. Additionally, orange is both a Sith lightsaber color and a Jedi color. Freedon Nadd had an orange saber, as did a few Sith npc's in KOTOR 2 I think.


My robes are on in this picture.

And here's the link to the only picture I could find of myself at the convention. I had a backpack on my back and they didn't give me time to take it off. I don't like the photo, but it's the only one I've found so, oh well.
photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=30513533&event=1039102&CategoryID=14633

[Nova Darklighter]

Looks like you're making a good start on your costume. You'll be surprised how fast a year can pass. But you certainly found your kindred spirits.
Is Zharek from a game a book or a persona you created? I don't game and haven't read all the novels of the EU yet so I'm curious about his origins.