Ahhh... Halloween...

It has come too early for me this year. I'm getting a terribly late start! I only have half our decorations up. The Halloween Tree isn't up yet, and there are no lights on the porch.... AUGH! And this doesn't even take into account costumes!

At first Riley wanted to be Mrs. Lovett from the movie/play Sweeney Todd. She of course wanted me to make the costume because, "yours are always so much better than the store ones". Okay, I have to say that did make up for all the work... just a little bit. Hehe.

So.. I started (grudgingly) working on Mrs. Lovett's costume. I love the idea of it, but I knew it was going to be hard. You cant see in the picture that she also has layers of ruffles down the back of her skirt. So.. I finally buckled down and tackled the thing I thought would he hardest. The corset. Yes. It's a corset and she's only 14. BUT, as part of the costume it hides a lot of the top of the dress.. thus making my job easier. So I found one online for $20! I was surprised at the price I didn't think I could find one I'd be willing to pay for. Shipping was decent too. Uh.. did I mention it's coming from the U.K.? Seriously. It's a good thing I love Halloween so much.

So... Matt gets home that night and decides to look online for Mrs. Lovett costumes and "help" me. Of course he finds one that's mass produced... and Riley freaks because it doesn't look like the real dress. There is much pouting. But then he comes across the Alice in Wonderland Red Court dress that she had wanted me to make last year. The mass produced one is actually pretty good. So.... she flips and is now doing Alice. Pros: The dress is already made and will only require a little tweaking. Cons: I have a corset on it's way from the U.K. Doh!

So... I don't even want to know what it would cost me to ship that thing back. Riley promises she'll be Mrs. Lovett next year. Which gives me plenty of time to tackle the dress. Whew. Have we already established that I don't know how to sew? I'm usually just winging it and crossing my fingers.

Livie wants to be Lara Croft again this year. Which is fine, but I'm hoping to talk her into the fairy dress I made for Sammi a few years ago. Just to mix things up a little.


Okay! So we've got Riley in a pre-made dress. Livie in one of two already made costumes. You'd think I've got clear sailing wouldn't you? Nope. Not on your life.

Sammi, after toying with being Katniss Everdeen, (we decided she'd be too hard to recognize since the movie hasn't come out yet) has decided to be Sweeney Todd himself.

So I've been hard at work. I'm proud of myself though, I'm learning to cut some corners. I found black pinstripe pants at D.I. which I will take in and shorten for her. I also found a white blouse. I will be making new sleeves for it since they need to be kind of poofy and have a super long cuff. (Oi.. sleeves) I also got a belt at D.I. I bought the wig, razor, fingerless gloves and a scarf. Now all I have to do, aside from fixing the pants and the shirt, is make his vest! I hope I can find a pattern that resembles it somewhat. because I've got no clue how to make a double breasted vest with pointy collars!

Wish me luck! I'm going in!