"Harsher punishment for parole violaters, Stan...and...world peace."

This year, I was flooded with Halloween costume orders on my Etsy store, just like last year-- except THIS time I was prepared. I stocked up on all the sewing essentials I knew that I would need, and started taking orders in September. I knew I would probably be sewing my butt off until the week before Halloween, so when my friend asked me if I would be willing to make her a special order costume, I was hesitant to add anything more to my plate. She insisted that she wouldn't need it until the day OF Halloween, so I finally agreed to do it. 

She wanted to be Miss Congeniality, from the cover picture on the DVD. That pink dress where she is wearing a sash and holding handcuffs and roses all nonchalantly. It seems funny to me that my friend had never been able to find a similar dress in a store or online, but she said she had looked high and low "forever." Maybe it's just so specific of a gown that it doesn't show up in retail often? I don't know. Anyhow, I started looking for patterns casually whenever I had to go to the fabric store for supplies, and eventually I stumbled across one that looked similar enough to the pink satin goal that is Sandra Bullock's cover gown. 

After finishing all of my store orders by the 27th of October, I began to tackle the pink dress and it turned out to be far more complicated than I thought it would be. I didn't realize it had this entire corset contraption underneath the lining of the dress, complete with interfacing and boning galore. Once zipped up, this dress wouldn't be going anywhere. 

Here's a picture of the inside nonsense once it was finished:

The dress also required a slit to be manufactured into its side, which the pattern did not include. My friend would be wearing this costume to work on Halloween, so it couldn't be quite as revealing as the original dress. I lowered the slit and built it into the right side seam. I'd never done a slit in a dress before, so it was a little tricky, since I had to put the slit into the lining as well, and then sew them together as neatly as possible. Wouldn't want the girl to look like a hussy. 

Anyhow, I was pretty happy with how the dress came together, considering it was unlike anything I've ever made before, and extremely fitted. I've made more corsets in my 25 years of life than I can count, but those are adjustable to size through laces-- this dress had to fit like a glove as is. 

I'm sure if I had to make this dress again, it would turn out more finished-looking, but for a first try, it ain't bad, I suppose. My friend loved it and looked adorable in it, so that's all that really matters. I also got it to her in the nick of time, so that's good too. 

Boo to YOU!

This past Friday, my entire family and I attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom. I made my twin sisters their costumes as well as my own (which I featured in my previous post). My mom made my brother Mat's Lone Ranger vest, and it turned out awesomely. My other brother Stu went as a "bandit" that the Lone Ranger was tracking. 

We trick-or-treated, saw the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow, and dashed all about the kingdom in our getups until the stroke of midnight. (Then we still stuck around a few more moments to capture some more pictures and eat some cotton candy from the Confectionary...) The Boo to You parade is the best parade I've ever seen at Disney World, and I never get tired of it. I'm really grateful that my entire family got to see it this year. 

This is my sister's Cinderella "rags" outfit that I put together, based off of a McCall's pattern. She looks adorable in it. 

This is my other sister's Merida gown and belt, that looks far more flattering on her than on my dress form, but you can still get the general idea from the picture. I believe this was also based on a McCall's pattern with some alterations and add-ons, like the ruffles on the sleeves and neckline. 

You can get a better view of the western vest my mom made in this picture of the Lone Ranger. So mysterious...

I'm glad that I was able to have a little getaway trip with my family for the weekend, but now it's back to the grind with costume orders for customers! Halloween is only a few weeks away! :)

She really is a funny girl.

Belle from Beauty and the Beast has always been my absolute favorite Disney princess. I mean, I love them all, but none can compare with the admiration I've felt for this brunette, bookworm of a girl that I was introduced to when Beauty and the Beast first debuted in kindergarten. And ever since kindergarten, I've sported a gold ballgown for Halloween at least...four times, I think? Could be five. I think I reused the same ballgown once or twice, although it may have gotten a bit shorter as the years advanced. 

Anyhow, this year I decided to go back to my roots and dress-up as Belle for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. As a Disney Cast Member, I am able to receive discounted tickets for my family and myself, so we're all going! Even my brother is flying in from California to take part in the spooky outing. 

I did, however, decide to shake it up with my Belle costume and go as "village Belle" in her blue dress this time instead of her yellow ballgown. I was also inspired by the version of the village look presented on ABC's Once Upon A Time, so I modeled my costume after that one. That costume utilized a three piece outfit, including a corset vest, which I thought would be flattering and French at the same time. Instead of brown trimming around the vest like in the show, I chose to use a wine colored trim instead. No reason really, other than I thought it looked prettier. I also made the blouse out of lace and cotton and full circle skirt out of bridal satin in a jewel blue tone. 

I'm extremely happy with how my costume turned out and I can't wait to wear it this coming Friday while I trick-or-treat in the Magic Kingdom with my family and fiancé! 

God Help The Outcasts

Ever since the Disney animated feature The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released in 1996, Esmeralda has been one of my favorite Disney characters of all time. My cousins, sisters, and I used to run around the backyard with remnants and scarves tied around our waists and in our hair, pretending to be gypsies on the run from the menacing Judge Claude Frollo. It was one of my favorite games-- and all inspired by one fiery, sassy, gorgeously animated gypsy.

It only makes sense that for one Halloween, my sister wanted to "officially" dress up as Esmeralda. I volunteered to help sew it, and between my mom and I and about four different patterns, we found the elements I needed to piece together to make Esmeralda's whole outfit: peasant blouse, teal corset, coined handkerchief, and a swirly twirly purple skirt. There is no point in a skirt if it doesn't whirl out when you spin, especially if you are a dancing gypsy.

I was pretty thrilled with how the costume turned out, overall. Between my sister and I, we've worn it for several Halloweens since its original debut. It's also a best seller in my Etsy shop, especially around October and convention times.

I'm just happy to know that there are so many other girls out there who like to play "gypsies." Esmeralda rocks.