Halloween 2011

Well, It seems it has been a while.  I have been busy with many projects, but I wanted to make sure and get up a couple of pics from our Halloween Theme 2011.  We went with Gnomeo and Juliet for my wife and myself, and our daughter was Featherstone, the Flamingo.  These were a lot of fun to design and make.

I will add some more later.  We still need to have an actual photo shoot in the costumes.

What were you and yours this past Halloween?

What do I have coming up?  Christmas Carol Costumes.  Time to overhaul and make some new ones for our annual Christmas Carol production. 

Halloween Work Contest

We had a Halloween decorating/costume contest for work last Friday.  As a last minute decision (the Thursday prior) we decided to go with a People of Walmart theme.  If you have not seen this site, it is worth a visit. 

Here are a few pics of our department.

Gotta Love the People of Walmart

Group Photo

Group  Close Up

Again, Why do I need a boyfriend?

Tater tots, Shorties and Mullets

FAB-ULOUS

Here is my inspiration photo:



Why so Serious?

Tree frog costumes are on their way.  I am hoping to have them up in the next 2 days.

Oh, and we won our work contest also.  We get a pizza party provided by our work.  Not too bad for a costume that cost $0.00.  Everything was in our costume room.



Tree Frog Update

The body of the costume is complete.  It is SO CUTE.   I even altered the back of the costume so that it is a little more round stuffed and frog like.  I was advised that this needs to be a girl frog, since last years costume was a boy peacock.  I said we will try.  Tonight I will be working on the head piece.  That one will take a trial muslin or two to get the correct shape.  Hopefully pics by Friday of this week. 


It is made from fleece in the following colors: 

Pink

Turquoise

Electric Blue

Purple

Tree Frog

The fabric is cut out, unfortunately, I have found out that I am horrible at taking progress pictures.  I was so into the sewing moment, that I forgot to take pics.  It is a basic drafted body suit with a front and back drafted piece.  I am installing a sipper in the front, with a tummy cover.  I did spend my evening last night sewing wonderfully colored frog spots.  I have 24 so far.  I am going to add the spots before I sew the front and back together.  I think it will be easier that way. 

I still have to cut out the head piece and construct a frog face, but that will probably be tomorrow evening or Thursday nite.  I think I will base the drafting lines off of a football.  Sounds weird, but I think it will give the look we want.

Finished pics will come along as soon as it is complete.  I promise.

Here is a sour looking bat to tide you over.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Request

Well, My little one has put in her request for this year's outfit. 


We have done the Lobster.







The Fancy French Hen.







The Peacock.




And Now....  Drum Roll Please......................





The Tree Frog.






Sophia has been fascinated with The Princess and the Frog Movie since we took her on her birthday last year opening day.  So I took advantage of that and made my version of a Tiana Dress for her to wear to Disney when we went.  She loved it and was a hit.  Now she wants a frog costume, but not the movie frogs.  She wants to be a tree frog, but not just the ordinary tree frog.  a Purple Tree frog with red eyes, and pink and blue spots.  So we hit up Hancock Fabrics when they had their anniversary 53% off sale and purchased the required colors in fleece.  I will be drafting a tree frog costume in the next couple of weeks.  Pictures and production photos to follow.

What interesting Halloween costumes have you been requested to make for your friends and family? 
Any photos? 
Suggestions to make a great tree frog?  

Happy Sewing!

Friday Family Costumes

Happy Friday Everyone.  I hope that you enjoy looking at some of the costumes that I have made for my family below.  It includes the Halloween costumes that I have made for my daughter.  We love Halloween, and I have had an animal kick the last few years, but she is just so cute in them.  Also, my wife and I decided that we better go ahead and make the interesting costumes that we both like, because there will probably be many Fairy Princesses in the future.  Once she has more of a say in what she wants to be, it will be interesting.  It is our mission though not to go with store bought costumes.  We have the abilities, there is no reason in the world that we can't make her the best, most interesting princess costume, if that is what she wants to be. 

We go to Boo at the Zoo every year at the St. Louis Zoo, and we always get so many compliments on her costumes.  The Zoo workers have started looking for us now, and lots of people stop us to take pictures of her costumes.  It is very flattering.  We have decided this year to make business cards that I can pass out for people who might be interested in a new hand made, custom, one of a kind costume themselves.  Don't worry, at the end of this message, I will give you some of the costume ideas that Sophia has chosen for herself for the next few years.  This kid doesn't forget anything.  I know, it doesn't have to be Halloween to make and wear costumes.  Trust me, i do know this, she has a larger dress up chest than most kids have clothes. 

Halloween 2007.  Rock Lobster.  Still my FAVE.

Lobster and Alligator (the Alligator is her cousin and it was a purchased costume)

Halloween 2008.  Fancy French Hen (See the beret and French Scarf)

Soooo cute.

Henny Penny Profile.

Look, Steak & Eggs.  Ha Ha Ha.  I did make both if these costumes.

Ready to call it quits and nest-le down.

Wait for IT....

WHAT?

TA DA!

Halloween 2009

Thirsty Peacock.

Sophia decided at the Zoo in 2008 that she wanted to be a Peacock the next year, so I decided to make it happen.  All together, 120 peacock feathers, and about fifteen hours of work.  It was worth it.  You won't believe how many people asked where we bought that high grade of costume, and what a pleasure it was to tell them that it wasn't purchased, it was made by me.  The special costumes like these, we let her play with for a little while, but then we have carefully preserved them for the future.  

Last year, she decided that this year she wants to be a Tree Frog, and then next year she wants to be a penguin AND a wolf.  I said that was a very interesting choice, and if she meant that to be the next three years costumes, she said no.  She wants her left side to be a Puffin Penguin, and her right side to be a white wolf.  We'll have to see if that is still what she wants to be after I finish designing the Tree Frog for this year.  I mean, I do know how to do a half man half woman costume.  How much harder could a half penguin, half wolf be???  We shall see.