easy peasy spidey

I made Jack's costume while he was napping today. His naps are just hour (he sleeps 14+ hours at night these days!), so I had to be quick and efficient! I gathered up a black sweatshirt, two pairs of girls' thick black tights, some bubble wrap, yarn, scissors and thread.



I cut off the legs of the tights, being sure to save one of the tops for later. I decided on stuffing the legs with bubble wrap because a.) it's light, b.) it makes fun noises when the legs move, and c.) that's what we had lying around the basement.



I used the tops of the tights for the spider head/hat. I gathered the top and tied it with some yarn. I cut out some round pieces of white felt and sewed on some black buttons for the eyes. The eyes were then hot-glued to the hat.



I tucked in the ends and used a needle and thread to stitch them to the seam of the sweatshirt that he'll be wearing inside-out. (There's a T-Rex on the other side)




My little spider loved all of his arms! I was thinking about attaching the arms to each other, but as it turns out I like the way they all kind of flop around as he walks.

He'll be wearing some warm black fleece plants for his first real round of Trick-or-Treating, just had to have him try it on for size! This was so easy to make and would totally work for any age!




and one from Dan's moped photo studio... (don't mind the dirty socks!)

costumes! costumes! costumes!

My sister's Halloween costume party was last night, so I can finally unveil the costumes I was working on for the past few weeks! I should apologize for the pics - low lighting is not conducive to iPhone pics!

My sister was Lady Gaga. She started the night out in a shiny silver dress, a curly wig, and a mask. Very Gaga-esque! THEN, she changed into Lady Gaga's meat dress that she wore for the MTV VMA Awards.


I must say this is the coolest looking thing I have ever made! I wanted to be close to the construction of the real dress, while actually using real cuts of meat throughout the one I was making.



I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! The T-bone headpiece and the boots are my favorite!


Going along with my sister's pop star theme, I went as Katy Perry. I also had two looks. I recreated the dress she wore in her controversial Sesame Street appearance, that was cut from the show as she was showing too much cleavage in the opinion of many parents.


Mine was far less controversial, but pretty funny, nonetheless. I did have to explain it to some people who were not completely up to par on pop culture news... They thought I was Katy Perry on her wedding day.


I also had to pay homage to her blue wig that she donned a few times, so my second look was more comfortable and a nod to my days as a California Gurl.


I also whipped up some salt and pepper costumes for my parents. Easiest costumes to make EVER! I dyed some chef hats gray, and hot glued some black dots on them, as they were the lids to the shakers. I bought some clear plastic "fabric," cut holes for their heads, and then hot glued some sparkly white and black felt pieces I cut out for the salt and pepper. Add and 'S' and a 'P' and VOILA!


Yay! Halloween is so much fun! Still not nailed down on what I'm doing for Jack's costume! haha I have a week left!

everything is piling up

I've been absent. Everything is piling up. I am making Halloween costumes and decorations, planning a mini trip to Chicago and a trip to Italy/France, trying to keep up on house stuff - all in the midst of entertaining an ever-adventurous and curious little fellow. Oh, and I've had that seasonal "sickness" that I've forgetten existed, having spent the last three years in the same spring-ish/fall-ish season of San Francisco.

I really can't wait to share the costumes I've been working on. I'll share a few little decorations I've been working on though...

Note: They're not perfect, as I did them without a pattern as I watched several episodes of 'Dexter'. That show is amazing and we're almost caught up!





I love me some plaid!

getting spooky!

It's crunch time! Halloween is just around the corner! I am working on top secret costumes for my sister and Jack! I want to share NOW! I am terrible at keeping trivial secrets! AH! It's killing me! I am still trying to figure out what Dan and I will be for my sister's annual costume party...hmm...

We've been Fred Flintstone and Betty Rubble having an affair


Our friends from another moped gang


A lobster and a fisherman


I had a few really great ideas that were themed for Dan, Jack and myself, but Dan and I won't be around for Halloween, and Jack won't be going to the Halloween party. Bummer!

I will share some masks I painted. I got them for less than a dollar at JoAnn's and used acrylic paint for them. I am using them for something SUPER cute! Can't share that quite yet either! Ooohh, so many secrets! Let's just say they'll make for cute greetings to friends far away!