Spooky Wrap-up (and the give-away)!

Just thought I'd share a little Halloween fun, since I posted about costumes earlier. I got a camera worked out, so I was able to take some shots before everyone left for the weekend.

Colette was "Penelope", from the movie that came out earlier this year. What an easy costume! We got a piggie nose, and a jacket from my closet - done. It was a fun movie, by the way. Emmalyn was the Tooth Fairy. We made over an old formal - those shiny things on the bottom are big teeth shapes. You can't see the little wings sewn onto the dress in the back...it was a great costume for a big girl wearing to school all day. She said this is her last year for costumes (wow- my little girl is really growing up).

Dawson really wanted to be Gandoolf. From Lord of the Rings - not sure how you spell that!

He was so cute in his get-up. People thought he was father time, an elf, etc. etc.

It was a crack-up! I made his costume (tunic and robe) from a king size sheet from the thrift, and a little bias tape. I think he's planning on sporting his beard again sometime at the end of December, with a red hat....this kid loves to pretend!

Dawson is really organized, too. He sorted out all of his candy. I told him that he can have only 5 pieces each day.

So he put 5 pieces each in little bags and got them all ready for the week.

That's my boy!

Daniel was a pirate. My Mom said that he kept his hat and eye patch on for a long time - wow.

I made his costume from an inexpensive sweat suit from Wal Mart. I like to use "real" clothes for the little ones that like to play in costumes for a few weeks after Halloween. His little coat is made with the sweat shirt inside-out and backwards because there was a silk screened image on the front of it. It worked great with red bias tape and brass grommets. I'm getting less and less afraid of cutting things up!

Hubby and I didn't go out of town (like we'd planned). We calculated all the furniture we could buy with the money we would have spent, and decided to go that route. Smart, we are. :)

We had a lovely time shopping together - working on our home addition.

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Announcing....

Just another teaser for my first blog give-away!!

Love this book - so I'm actually going to give three of them, each with a Paddywacks Studio goodie. That's three separate drawings. Since I don't have that many readers, your odds are pretty good! Leave a comment...

Official give-away starts tomorrow - check in for pictures and instructions, then leave your comments
through the weekend.
Have fun! :)

It's That Time Again - Halloween Costumes!

I've made a lot of Halloween costumes over the years. We're in the thick of costume preparations now at our house. Tomorrow night is a big church fall festival, and the kids will dress up - I think even the older ones want to join in the fun! Because my camera died, and I don't know how soon we'll be able to replace it, I thought I'd share photos from the past for a few posts.

Colette as a snowball.

Emmalyn, the pink satin cow.

The princess phase. So cute! Clowns really are scary! I loved how these costumes turned out. I made them staring with inexpensive sweats from Wal Mart. I just added the colorful striped fabric ruffles and stuff. Colette's (smaller girl) has bias tape with wire in it for a skirt hem. That turned out really fun.We called these "glamour witches". I bought thrifted black dresses and added more layers to the skirts. We found cool spider webb-ish loosely woven fabric for the shawls. Wigs really help to change the whole look of a kid (see terrifying clowns above). My little witches are standing there with their cousin, Sam. I think he was Woody for about 5 years in a row. Hey, if it ain't broke... :)
Pioneer girls. Sweet...Emmalyn as a southern belle. How darling she is (pre-teen, growing up...)

Colette won a contest with this one. High impact...high maintenance!

Last year. Easy costuming for me. Colette as angel, Emmalyn as dark fairy, and Dawson as vampire. I hope to get pics of this year!

My girls don't really need my help dressing up. They've been doing it since they were tiny toddlers. Well, maybe they do need my help - I had to draw in a top for little pinkie, there!
OOPS!

Odd is just a way of looking at things...

Tagged!!

I must now think of five odd things about myself to share with you all. I feel like a pretty normal person. What is "odd", anyway??

FIVE ODD THINGS

1. I am a prolific, but quiet, sneezer. My friends and family often start counting when I begin a sneeze attack. I find that a bit annoying, so I try to tell them to stop, but I can't speak very well mid-sneeze. It must be funny to watch. My record is 21 sneezes in a row. that was in 9th grade. My average is about 7 sneezes.

2. I used to be a donut maker. I actually burnt myself quite badly on the arm with a tray just out of the fryer. It was scary...but I do love donuts, even though I'm very aware of how unhealthy they are. :) My favorite is the oh, so yummy, maple bar.

3. I can touch my tongue to my nose. Of course, many people can do that. I actually decided that I wanted to have that skill, so I practiced (more junior high life). That's odd. My son really wishes I could lick my elbow - he keeps asking me if I can (like I'm going to practice that...). lol

4. I play many instruments and I sing. I was a choral teacher and private voice teacher for many years. I play the piano, flute, oboe - even the recorder, slide whistle, and kazoo. However, the oddest instrument I play is the nose flute. You blow air through your nose into a small plastic thing, and create a resonating chamber by opening your mouth. Adjusting your mouth shape changes the pitch. It's hysterical!!! I'm really good at it. Ha!

5. Shock treatment is fun. It tickles! My family has done a lot of crazy things for kicks over the years. Once my Dad found an antique machine that produced an electrical current when you cranked it's handle round and round. We spent many gatherings standing in a big circle with hands held, letting the electricity run through all of us. I've often thought of how odd that would seem to an "outsider". I guess odd is just a way of looking at things!!

MY DAD - BRILLIANTLY ODD AND LOVEABLE

Have a great day!

P.S. These funny pictures of my Dad and me were taken at our cabin during the annual "Camp Hideaway" trip that I plan for my girls and their friends. I'll have to create a special post about my Father so that his dignity can be restored - ha!