Where to start?

         The idea for this journal is a result of a period of boredom I had during the summer.  I started looking through the Internet to find anything that interested me.  As it turns out, I came across two groups that somehow excited me.  These groups are the 501^st Legion (http://www.501st.com/) and the Rebel Legion (http://www.rebellegion.com/).

         These are groups who enjoy cosplay (dressing in costumes) relating to Star Wars and performing acts of charity. While I love the idea of their charity work, my real excitement came from the costuming.

         OK.  That sounds weird.  The excitement came from figuring out how to build the costume and props needed to join either group.  I looked at the requirements for the costumes that interested me the most.  The thing that bothered me the most was how many dead links there were when it came to making the props and costumes.  In spite of the dead links, I started thinking how I would make each prop. I got the idea to try doing this, to become a member of the Rebel Legion, because I like the Jedi.  What does it take to make the belt, the utility pouches, and the lightsaber the Jedi wear?  How can a costume get a personal touch and still fit into the canon costume requirements?

I also wanted to catalogue the route I took to get there.  Why did I make this prop one way over another way?  What novelties can be added to the costume and still be within the required specifications?  What features can I put into my personal lightsaber?

         And that’s where I decided to start: the Lightsaber.