Halloween Costumes

My niece's bear costume ended up very cute and fitting pretty well. I had to cut some length off the arms and make the booties smaller, but I'm proud of myself for getting it mostly right on the first try.





For my own costume, I took apart a dress I wore to a themed banquet 7 years ago. I was an angel, you can't see much of the wings in the picture.



I took off the top metallic layer of the dress and just used the lining.
Fourteen yards of fringe later...

Voila! Flapper Laurie.

Dan wore the vinyl riding coat I made him a few years ago, did his own goth makeup, and spent all night explaining what his costume was. Last time he wore the coat, sans makeup, someone said he was from the Matrix. This time, he was mistaken for a Sith lord. You decide.

View from the sewing machine

My parents stayed over last weekend and helped us fill gaps in the foundation and clean the gutters. Thanks Mom and Dad! It rained all day yesterday, and the basement stayed completely dry.

They also brought some home grown produce, including the blueberries for this cereal box photo- worthy breakfast. Only those ads have orange juice and milk, not pink lemonade, right?
I was off work until Thursday, I took vacation time to see Ana off on Wednesday. Hope her return to Brazil and her family if going well. Then I had to work a whole three days. Such a long week.

This weekend, I've been hanging out with Dan on his first day of vacation and sewing Megan's first Halloween costume, a little brown bear, Simplicity pattern 7317. So far it's coming out just like I'd hoped.

I have the bodysuit completely done, and started the hood. The fabric is fleece, so she can wear it instead of coat. Or whatever babies use for outwear. Hopefully it fits!

Next tour starts in 5 minutes

We had a housewarming party this weekend, an open house all afternoon and evening. Somehow our guests managed to show up at pretty regular intervals throughout the party, so we were running house tours every fifteen minutes. The highlight of the tour, at least in my opinion, was the library.

Yes, the Steampunk Library! It's in its infancy now, there are a few more elements I definitely want, and of course I would love suggestions to increase the steaminess. Obviously missing is a window treatment. I'd also like a reading lamp and a footstool. We also own several antique reproduction maps that have yet to make it on the walls.

The wallspace next to the tall bookshelf is reserved for some form of loft access. We're thinking a library ladder, if anyone knows a good source for one, let me know. We'd also like some kind of shelving or storage system for the loft. I made my hubby crazy arranging and rearranging the boxes we have up there so you can't see them from below. I think cardboard visible up there, like it is in the photo, is an eyesore. Any thoughts? Do share!