Halloween has certainly changed for me over the years. I was never a huge fan of thinking up complicated costumes and elaborately decorating my house (I’m just not that creative), but when my kids were little, we made sure that Halloween was a very exciting time. We always carved the pumpkin as a family, and I had a storage container full of simple decorations that the kids loved to put up every year a few days before the big night. We always had a skeleton hanging outside from the porch and scary music playing in the front hall. Each year either Mike or I would take the kids out trick or treating while the other stayed home to hand out the candy (and eat a good portion of it :)). Now our kids are grown, and I find that I am really not that into Halloween anymore. We didn’t even carve a pumpkin this year. Instead, we just put a collection of home-grown pumpkins on our porch and promised them to our next door neighbour after tonight for baking pumpkin pies.
My friend, Marcy, on the other hand, is a Halloween freak :). I was at her house last weekend, and I couldn’t believe the amount of decorations she had, inside and out. She has more Halloween decorations than most people have Christmas decorations. And when it comes to costumes, this family is out of this world with creativity. Marcy’s parents live with them, and her mother is a wizard with a sewing machine. Every year she creates elaborate costumes for everyone in the family, and this year she outdid herself. Marcy wore her costume to work today, and I just had to share some photos with you (we were supposed to be working though, so I had to be quick and reverted to “auto” mode). Her costume is considered steampunk, which is defined by http://www.divinecaroline.com as “a loose term used to describe an extraordinary fashion trend. By remixing styles from the Victorian era, classic Goth, gypsy, and industrial fetish, steampunk fashion creates a unique and beautifully disturbing look.” It arose from the sub-genre of science fiction by the same name. Marcy’s mom sewed every piece of this costume, including the cute little hat. I was totally in awe! What do you think?
photos from the loonybin 
What talent … to create a costume like that and then to sew it… wonderful..
I used to knit and crochet (before I became addicted to my computer), but sewing never appealed to me. It just seems like so much work :). That’s why I admire people like Marcy’s mom so much and my mom too because she used to sew many of our clothes when we were kids! It’s definitely a talent.
Well that puts my eye patch and plastic sword to shame. Way to go Marcy!
Arrrr matey!! She was a really good sport about me taking the pictures too :). I tried to get her to wear the costume when we went shopping at lunch, but that was pushing it a little too far LOL!! I wish I had pictures of the rest off her family in their costumes, particularly her husband’s Sherlock Holmes costume. They were incredible!!
Wow – that is some costume your friend has!
I know!! Isn’t it awesome? It was quite hot though, so she only wore it for a little while at work. Just long enough for me to get pictures :).
A far cry from my sheet with holes in it for the eyes! That is an amazing costume for sure! 🙂
Ya, that was about the extent of my costume making too :). The simpler the better was my motto!! LOL Her mom makes complex costumes like this every year. I think it takes her a couple of months each year to complete them!
Wow, first time I heard the term steampunk! I like it! She looks terrific too!
I knew the term steampunk because I have read a couple of novels from that genre, but I had never actually seen the clothing style. You should Google it sometime because her costume was tame compared to some of the steampunk clothing!