Mayalaran: Calligraphy, Crystals, and Light
I’ve wanted to make the Shardblade Mayalaran, from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, for over a year. And this summer, I did it!
Not only did I make an awesome crystal cosplay sword, but I also added animated LEDs so it glows beautifully with green and blue hues. I’m super proud of that Arduino programming, but I am also sneaky. I incorporated several other details that I consider truly beautiful into my Maya Shardblade.
First, I enjoy calligraphy. I am a novice for sure, but calligraphy is precise and so beautiful to me. For the symbols and decorations on the side of the sword, I used some calligraphy pens to create a design that is flowing and organic looking. I then cut out the design from paper on my Silhouette and glued it onto the EVA Foam side of the sword so that looks like embossing. Why? Calligraphy is important in the Stormlight Archive, and it can have both symbolic and religious significances. Calligraphic glyps are socially and religiously loaded in these fantasy books. To bring in the lore and world building a bit more, I wanted there to be mirror symmetry on the sword as well. I made sure that the design would be reflected in the right and left sides of the cosplay sword. This particular Shardblade has some history, and I wanted to grant an organic growing vine feel with leaves and give a distinct nod to the sword’s past.
Secondly, beautiful diffused light. There is something magical about amazing lighting. It’s like a visual orchestra, a feast that only existing for a short period of time. I notice things like the sun’s perfect highlight on a sport car’s rims, indirect light through a doctor’s office window blinds making a perfectly symmetrical pattern on the wall, or the way the moon aligns between the tree branches. I care about light. To try and encapsulate the idea of living light in my cosplay Maya sword, I did two things. First, I poured my own resin crystals with silicone molds to achieve the gradient color effects I wanted. The resin crystals are translucent blue, purple, and green. There are specks of glitter in the resin castings, as well as milky mica power to give the crystals the “quarts” like effect. You know how a gemstone grows out of its substrate, it’s often more milky and less transparent at the base of the crystal? (Didn’t I tell you I notice stuff like this?!?!?!) Secondly, I used ripple textured plexiglass to diffuse the LED light for the blade of the sword. Now, for a truly brilliant idea - I also sanded the edge of the plexiglass to create the suggestion of a sharp glowing sword edge! It worked amazingly well.
Finally, my beautiful self! (Haha!) I’m going to be transparent and brief to say that this summer has been challenging for me and my family. Pretty messy and unfun. But I say that to help remind myself that seasons are seasonal. I can grow and change and adapt. But it can be exhausting when I must use my creativity to help solve other people’s problems all the time.
One reason I like crafting so much is that it’s purely for me! Just me. Some pretty amazing stuff has come out of my artistic alone time. I am beyond privileged to have the ideas and grit to make cool cosplay costumes. But to SHARE it with such wonderful fans and friends like you is truly miraculous. It’s the corporate moments of, “You understand how cool this is too!” which makes me so happy. Giddy even. I am proud of my hard work and the amazing results.
As I’ve reflected on the amazing photoshoot that I had in Capitol Reef National Park, I am reminded yet again of why I love cosplay so much: I love making beautiful things to remind myself that I already am.
This very well be my most favorite photo of myself ever. My most excellent best friend - and husband - was my photographer for the photoshoot. How did he capture this moment and me make me look so gorgeous?!?! Of course, it could only ever be his charm and encouraging kindness, cheering on my extravagant crafting antics.
Cheers peeps! You’re gonna love what’s next!