HALLOWEEN!

I know you are all just dying to know how my huge sewing project turned out, those of you who knew I had a huge sewing project. The rest of you are... well... anyway, here you are! (Movie Quote.. kinda)

I have to preface this post with the fact that Bethanie is the one that came up with the ideas for the Trunk-Or-Treat. I had nothing.... I told her I had a dress and a tea set and she ran with it. If you ever need ideas, ask Bethanie. I couldn't do the Columns and Lions, but the rest of her ideas were pretty good.

Bethanie suggested I take my tea set (a couple pictures were taken today),
and I remembered I had my cool lamp and doilies,and set up on a chair and table for tea. (In my naivete, I though I could go out Saturday to Walmart and get an ornate patio set but apparently they are out of season. IN VEGAS? Also, furniture is expensive. Just FYI. )

She had many suggestions for what to put behind me, but I settled for an ornate picture and flowers (I wanted a BIG SPRAY of those artistic branches, weeds, and grasses behind me but... well.. apparently I have NO concept of price). I was going to be working on embroidery, but in the haste to get out to the car I had put the hoop somewhere and I didn't find it until this morning (on top of the cookie jar).
Do you like my table cloth? It's my half finished alter cloth from about 4 years ago. I'll finish it eventually.

And then, there was the dress... (ignore the hair... no time)It turned out much better than I thought. My shawl looks nice too, huh? Too bad I put beads on it and now I very much dislike the little clicking sounds they makes.

Here is the problem with a train though. At least its washable.

Most of my time was actually spent on the underdress. I took a picture of it using my timer where the view is weird and... well.. here it is. (Ignore the pile of finished projects to the side. I have WAY too much free time and don't know what to do with a bunch of baby outfits and blankets)I look rather large. The outer material is shear so for the bodice I actually had 3 pieces of material to work with. Even so, you can still see the line of my petticoat under it at the neckline.

The dress was a little tight and I didn't have time to put in all the hooks down the back (which I wouldn't have been able to do up myself anyways. Do you know how hard it is to do up a dress like that BY YOURSELF?)...
Hence why I wore the overcoat. I had a better picture of it gaping in the back but then it was a little...

Be glad I didn't put the picture in.

And I didn't have time to hem the bottom shear material or the lining.
You didn't even notice that in the trunk or treat pictures did you? Ha... that's what I thought.

Then, as long as I was undressing and taking pictures... here is my petticoat.
Had you worried for a sec, didn't I? I thought u'd rather hear than see my testimony.

And here is the back. I know you've seen the bottom of this before. The skirt of the petticoat is a little more period correct than my costume. The pattern I was using didn't have any pleating/gathering in the back and I didn't notice until I put the skirt onto the bodice.

Sometimes my middle name is more of a reminder.

The underdress would probably fit better with gathering in the back which is why I didn't worry too much when the bodice was a bit tight. I did add material to put two pleats in the back of the overcoat, but had thought I had added enough material to make more. Well it is just a costume. The sleeves are WAY too big to be period and the train is so NOT.

Not that I know these things.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! I love a chance to dress up. I just hope my ward doesn't think I am even more socially unacceptable than they already know me to be.

PS. I ran out of my chocolate (Reese's) candy in the first fifteen minutes (I had bought over 150 pieces) that I started giving out ONE smarty each. Then I went to Smiths afterwards and got myself more. Now I'm having my own after Halloween party.

PPS. I'm a little worried about next year. This year was SO MUCH better than last year but I don't know if I can top this one. Although I did see a lady at Smiths dressed up as Willie Wonka (complete with goggles and top hat). Ah.. the possibilities.