Inspiration

So, this Halloween costume I'm making. When I really think about it, it's been years in the planning.

See, as a child, I watched Mystery! on PBS with my parents. Poirot was always my favorite. And my favorite Poirot story was "The Affar at the Victory Ball" featuring some of the most exquisite costumes I'd ever seen. The story centered around a group of friends who all dressed as characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, and thus began my fascination with Harlequin. Ironically, I never did study or read up on the Commedia, and to this day I know very little about it. But harlequin patterns and characters loosely based on Harlequin and his friends I find completely enchanting. I buy harlequin patterned scrapbooking papers, anything diamond patterned -- I adore argyle, and I swear it has to be for the diamonds -- I've even bought a graphic short story just because it features Harlequin.

Fast forward quite a bit. In, oh I dunno, January? or so, sometime between last Halloween and this Halloween at any rate, I sketched out a costume idea. I knew exactly what colors it must be, though I couldn't tell you why, and what materials I'd prefer. This costume is the reason I decided not to theme our Halloween party this year. That's how determined I was to make it. I made a special trip with Mom and Pam to the uber-mega-fabric-store-of-doom just to find the right fabrics. I already have the zip ties to bone my corset (trust me on that one). I bought a classic mask at the renaissance festival just to go with this costume, and then serve as a decorative piece until I have occasion to wear it again -- which I most certainly will. I started actually googling the concept sometime about a month or so ago, and found no other examples that are anything like what I'm making. Mine is a very loose interpretation. And what's odd is, I haven't even found anything else in my color scheme. Hmm. Where on Earth did I come up with that?

So I've started working on it, as mentioned previously, and I tend to watch movies while I sew. The other night, I put on the only vaguely ghost-related movie I have that's absolutely not creepy or scary whatsoever. Even tamer than Van Helsing. I watched The Phantom of the Opera. Halfway through the movie (give or take), I realized something. I found my color scheme.

For those of you who've seen the movie, do you remember the Masquerade scene? You should, it's easily the most beautiful scene in the movie, which is saying a lot considering how spectacular the whole thing is (if you disagree, just bear with me, k?). The entire scene, except for the technical staff and two notable guests, is clothed in black and shades of antique gold and white. As the scene opened, I answered my color scheme question. Without realizing it, I had based my costume not only on my lifelong fascination, but also on the most brilliantly costumed scene I can think of.

Hmm...

If only my costume were to turn out that gorgeous.

The Trouble With Halloween...

See, the trouble with Halloween is that it requires a costume. At least, when you're me it does. I know plenty of people opt not to dress up, but where's the fun in that? I must not only have a costume, I must make said costume. It's a point of honor. I know how to sew, therefore I must use/show off/practice my skill by making my own costume.

This year I have chosen to outdo myself (hopefully) by making a costume with staying power. This will be my most ambitious (and expensive) endeavor yet. It actually may be more spectacular than the dryad of two years ago:



Freezing, by the way. It looked better in motion, too.

Anyway, I'm hoarding all of my precious spare time in these last two weeks before Halloween, because I MUST get this costume of mine finished before THE night. Boy am I glad that The Man (as I shall henceforth refer to he who I love best in the world) and I didn't decide to have our party on the weekend before Halloween...

You Deserve Pie.

I promised pictures, and pictures you shall have. But they shall not be of fiber. Oh no. They shall be pictures of the one thing more glorious than any fiber imaginable. They shall be pictures of food.

Yes, my friends, I can cook. It's not a thing I do often, as I am, ya know, rarely home (notice the lack of regularity on the blog?). But at work, anytime one of us in the department has a birthday, we celebrate by having a "food day" which means gorging ourselves over the course of a very long lunch. Everyone brings something and our potluck is often themed. For my birthday I requested Mediterranean cuisine. Someone else asked for an international food day. This time, the birthday boy requested Southern food. Hmm...

Now, I have always wanted to try sweet potato pie, ever since I knew such a thing existed. But no such pie ever presented itself, and I never was brave enough to try and bake one myself. Well, a Southern food day was the perfect opportunity to step up and bake my first pie ever.

I think it turned out pretty well. Do me a favor: imagine "Also Sprach Zarathustra" playing here. Okay?

Dunnn...


DUNNN...


DUNNNN...


DUN-NAAAHHHH!!!!!!


Heehee... okay, I'm dun. That's just what I thought of when I saw those pictures all lined up on my flickr page. I'm melodramatic, what can I say?

Anyway, I'm sure you're all wondering what that mouth-wateringly golden awesomeness tasted like. Well, it tasted like slightly different pumpkin pie. Which is what I was told to expect, so I'm guessing I did pretty well. Also, there wasn't any left. I take that, too, as a good sign.

I shall now leave you to meditate upon the glory of pie.

Halloween Month!!!

No, I haven't disappeared. Fall is really busy for me. It's football season, first off, so that cuts out half my weekends, and then it's also Renaissance Festival season, which cuts out the rest. But I do have some crafty stuff in progress, and more to be started soon as I begin trying to actually complete Christmas presents on time this year (or maybe even early!), so there will be pics soon. Just wanted to post real quick to say...

OMG!

IT'S OCTOBER!!!

I love Halloween Month. :)