Grandma has been busy sewing costumes, which made their debut at the preschool party last Friday. ViMae chose to wear her dragon costume from last year with a few new twists, and Augie decided to be a Jedi knight.
There is no longer a pattern for a Jedi robe, but I found some great
tutorials online...it seems lots of people still make these for both
kids and grownups. Augie knew that Jedi knights wore a hooded robe in any shade of brown, with an obi and a utility belt (for the light saber, of course). I learned that robes were not uniform, and that they were deliberately roomy in order to conceal the knight's face or belongings.
Meanwhile we "upgraded" ViMae's costume. Smaug, a character in The Hobbit, develops a gold-crusted chest from sleeping on his piles of stolen treasure. This year we added to the effect with gold-coin buttons she and I found in my 50-year-old coffee can button collection. We also added gloves on which I created bright claws. A spray of red and orange "flames" tacked to the palm of her left glove enables her to breathe fire, which she does ferociously.
Three things strike me about these costumes. One, the kids chose them for the characters they represent, from stories they've come to love. Two, their Daddy happens to love
The Hobbit and Star Wars more than they know, and that will be much more important to them some day than it is now. And three, I know that they will play with these costumes well beyond Halloween. (They both wore wolf suits based on Max and
Where The Wild Things Are, made by their Grandma Anita, for years until they couldn't squeeze into them any more.) I hope that some day they'll tell their kids, and later their grandkids, about Halloween back in the old days when they were young and wore costumes made by grandmothers.
15 comments:
Because of you,these wonderful costumes will become part of the fabric of their childhood.
Shoot, I'd wear that cape to this day. These are so much cooler than what my mom came up with. Usually, a hobo. Tin cup hanging off the belt, stick with a bandana bundle, five-o'clock shadow.
Those two will be the cutest little goblins on the block. You did a wonderful job on the costumes. I expect they will remember the costumes their grandma made.
They are very fortunate to have a Grandma (or two!) that can sew that well. I am with Murr: my parents never came up with anything that cool, ever! :-)
What wonderful memories you are making! Of course they will remember! Good job Grandma! :)
Grandmother's favorite job- making memories. I'm sure you did that with these wonderful costumes. Gold and Silver dragons sleep on coins just like Smaug.
I love their costumes!! It's a shame that most costumes are pre-packaged these days. It's so much cooler to be of a kind! You're one awesomely-crafty, creative lady! Happy trick-or-treating!!
xoxo
There costumes are wonderful. Great job.
Oh, you are so talented! I flunked sewing in Home Ec and have hated it ever since. Thanks for sharing with us.
Precious costumes! I love the upgraded dragon and the way you put your old buttons to use. These are indeed costumes that should make for hours upon hours of imaginative play. You're an awesome (and crafty) grandma!
Happy Halloween!
How cool!!!
Those are GREAT!!!
Heck, I want one of the dragon costumes for myself!!!
Belated Happy Hallowe'en!
~shoes~
Wow. What wonderful Costumes!
Lucky kids!
Lucky Grandma!
You're the best, Nancy! The kids look great!
You are impressively crafty!
LOVE the costumes! Especially that Jedi one.
Post a Comment