I used to say here on Tumblr that I would wear the “Wishing Gown” one day. It didn’t happen the way I originally dreamed, but I found a way.

Hi, Tumblr. It’s been a while.

I haven’t posted here in a very long time. Other apps and interests took up priority, and while I tried to keep my account alive via Insta posts, I’ve hardly been keeping up with that even. But recent events made me want to return for at least one more post.

When I joined Tumblr, I was in high school. My obsession with this blog grew in college, and during that time, I found a very small place within the Phantom of the Opera fandom. Here, I met some amazing people who went on to become true-life friends that I hold dear to this very day. And while I cringe at a lot of the things I posted back in the day, one thing I would always post about was my love for Phantom and Christine Daaé. I used to share my love for this show constantly, talk about my desire to play Christine, and vow to one day wear the stunning costume she wears during ”Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.”

Life had other plans.

I moved to New York and started auditioning. I performed a few things here and there, but I received rejection more often than not. That, along with the struggles of multiple survival jobs, led to depression, leading to weight-gain, leading to halting auditions. I’m not the person I was when I made this blog, and coming to terms with that also meant accepting some hard truths. Some dreams stay dreams, and that’s okay. But not all of them stay that way.

In 2020, after a dream vacation was canceled due to the shut down, I decided to finally take up the challenge and learn how to sew. Over the past years, I found a love for cosplay, but used to tell myself I would never be good at sewing. To be honest, I never really tried. So, I taught myself over quarantine, and while I am no expert, I am very grateful for the skills I acquired. All of this I learned in the hopes of one day making the costume I swore to myself I would one day wear.

2021 came, and I finally did what I set out to do. It took 3 months, and literal blood, sweat, and tears, but I recreated Maria Björnson’s “Wishing” Gown. It’s not perfect, but I couldn’t be more proud of what I made. And now, I have some lovely photos by the amazing CJHCAPTURE (on Insta) to show off.

It may not have happened on stage, or on Broadway, like I had wanted, but at least I can make good on the promise I made here on Tumblr years ago. ”I will wear that dress some day.” And I have.

It’s a big day for the OUTLANDER community! “Go Tell The Bees…” is out, @outlander_starz announced season 6 is premiering in March, and it also happens to be Brianna’s birthday! Let’s all pour a dram of whiskey and celebrate at the Ridge! Season 5/ “Beachy” Claire Fraser costume made by yours truly 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #outlander #outlanderstarz #outlandercosplay #clairerandall #clairefraser #clairefrasercosplay #craighnadun #sassenach #sassenachwarriors #jamiefraser #lallybroch #frasersridge (at Fraser's Ridge, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoRqbDF1jV/?utm_medium=tumblr

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 💚📖🥀 Words cannot properly express what @beautyandthebeast means to me. From growing up in a place where I didn’t truly felt like I belonged, to learning how to look beyond the surface to find beauty within, this “tale as old as time” helped shape the person I am today. I have and always will hold this story, its music, and its characters close to my heart. #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #beautyandthebeast #batb #belle #bellecosplay #disney #disneycosplay #batb30 #librarybelle #beautyandthebeast30thanniversary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlYfmylNOm/?utm_medium=tumblr

Here is the full costume on! Someone point me in the direction of the library 💚🥀📖 #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #beautyandthebeast #batb #belle #bellecosplay #disney #disneycosplay #batb30 #librarybelle #beautyandthebeast30thanniversary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhG_ZEFctR/?utm_medium=tumblr

A bit of a closer look at my “Library Belle” cosplay! So happy with how it turned out, and glad I got it finished before the anniversary on Monday. #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #beautyandthebeast #batb #belle #bellecosplay #disney #disneycosplay #batb30 #librarybelle #beautyandthebeast30thanniversary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWei7JZl2IW/?utm_medium=tumblr

Let’s talk about expectations! I’m nearing the end of my Library Belle project, and since the start, I had been worried about the sleeves. Now, that they’re completed, they’re not what I had planned. Thought I had them down after the last mock-up, but something happened after I put it all together. At the first try on, I was disappointed. Why wasn’t this what I had in mind? But the more I looked at it, and once I put the whole ensemble together, the more I fell in love with what I made. This project was never meant to be an exact recreation of the dress from the movie, but my own interpretation of it. In the end, I ended up being really happy with the fit and style of the sleeves. It also left room for me to add an additional accessory that will add a little bit of the live-action remake to the costume! Though it might not have been what was planned, something great still came of it. I can’t wait to show what I’ve made very soon. 💚 #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #wip #beautyandthebeast #batb #belle #bellecosplay #disney #disneycosplay #batb30 #beautyandthebeast30thanniversary #librarybelle https://www.instagram.com/p/CWV7zLYlzb7/?utm_medium=tumblr

Lily Houghton: doctor of botany and female trouser-wearer 🐍🌺 Who else is going to be watching JUNGLE CRUISE on @disneyplus this weekend? #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #disneyplus #disneyplusday #junglecruise #lilyhoughton #emilyblunt #disney #disneycosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/CWONzaPFG7Q/?utm_medium=tumblr

📺 PLEASE STAND BY 📺 Happy #wandawednesday folks! Who else is getting excited for Disney+ day??? #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #wandavision #wandamaximoff #scarletwitch #scarletwitchcosplay #wandavisioncosplay #disneyplus #disneyplusday (at Westview) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWGfiGslQjU/?utm_medium=tumblr

Update on Library Belle! 📖💚 The body of the bodice, including the corseted back, is done, and the final touches of the skirt should be finished in the next couple of days. After that, it’s on to sleeves…which I’m still trying to figure out how they’re going to work 😅 Can’t wait to see how this one turns out. Should finish in plenty of time for the 30th Anniversary! #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #wip #beautyandthebeast #batb #belle #bellecosplay #disney #disneycosplay #batb30 https://www.instagram.com/p/CWEHqjwFLiP/?utm_medium=tumblr

Another sewing milestone: breaking my first machine needle 😅 #sewing #sewsenach https://www.instagram.com/p/CV-1qEEFvmO/?utm_medium=tumblr

“She was tall and built like the figurehead of a ship carved by a generous hand." - Six of Crows Let’s give it up for complex, canonically plus-sized characters! One of the reasons I fell so in love with Nina Zenik was her confidence and unapologetic nature for who she was. Discovering this character has inspired me to take on that same confidence in my own body. #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplaygirl #cosplayersofinstagram #sewing #sewsenach #shadowandbone #grishaverse #shadowandbonecosplay #ninazenik #ninazenikcosplay #sixofcrows #netflix (at Beyond the Fold) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV8IG2yFqvi/?utm_medium=tumblr

Can I just say again how much I love @heruniverse new Ashoka Tano cardigan? Now that it’s getting colder outside, it’s the perfect sweater to wear around the apartment…or for facing off some Sith Lords, whatever the day brings 😉 Check the link in my bio to get your own! #HUCommunity #heruniverse #starwars #ashokatano https://www.instagram.com/p/CV5jlg5Fk4-/?utm_medium=tumblr

Take me back to Phantom’s reopening please 🎶 @phantomopera #phantomoftheopera #phantombway #phantomisback (at Majestic Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVxzGl8lnv8/?utm_medium=tumblr

One more Pumpkin Witch post! All in favor for those wanting to extend the spooky season, please raise your brooms! #sewing #sewsenach #halloween #pumpkinwitch #halloweencostume https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtmi7JFEC7/?utm_medium=tumblr

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃 #sewing #sewsenach #halloween #halloweencostume #witch #pumpkinwitch #spooky https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsorIclDtK/?utm_medium=tumblr

My Halloween costume is complete! 🎃 This orange fabric was donated to me, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to make a Halloween look with it! Made design, sewed a skirt and added some trim, and thus, this Pumpkin Witch look was born. Very happy with how it turned out! #sewing #sewsenach #halloween #halloweencostume #witch #pumpkinwitch #spooky https://www.instagram.com/p/CVqLmFtFn93/?utm_medium=tumblr

It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! ✨🎃✨ Have another Mary Sanderson post! I’ll reveal my actual Halloween look tomorrow, but don’t mind me as I get myself hyped to see @adrinkinggamenyc present HOCUS POCUS tomorrow! It’s became a Halloween tradition with my friends, and I cannot wait to see it again this year. #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplayersofinstagram #cosplaygirl #hocuspocus #marysanderson #winifredsanderson #sarahsanderson #sandersonsisters #halloween (at Salem, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVk6ThmFLyN/?utm_medium=tumblr