Getting into the Spirit

(photo of Delilah Jenkins)

I couldn't resist making a Halloween playlist. I plan to have this playing as trick-or-treat background music. 

Want to buy some of these tracks? Click on "iTunes iMix"

- Shannon Schmalfeldt

Remembering Halloween

Spiderman with the Harry Potter Beetlejuice Fairy

My sister and I were talking about Halloween costumes and festivities when we were kids. We are both disappointed that we are seeing less and less creative and recycled costumes these days. Our favorite part of the year was imagining and designing our costumes. We had this trunk in the attic of costume parts. It was a literal treasure chest of old clothes, costumes my mom wore as a girl, weird hats, my dad's cap and gown from high school, an old US Navy uniform, my Grandma's prom dress all mixed in with old wigs, costume jewelry, and other odds and ends... everything a kid would need to imagine a character for Halloween. This Halloween trunk was the best! We would dig inside and pull out one or two pieces and present our ideas to the matriarchs of our family. They would add the necessary makeup and re-purposed props to make our designs a reality. One year, I was "Ms Kitty" from "Gunsmoke" (don't ask). The magic trunk produced an old floor length red skirt with ruffle under skirt and a big purple feather for my hair. My mom added a purple bustier from her unmentionables drawer (worn over a sweatshirt to keep me modest and warm). Then all I needed was make-up and a beauty mark. The next year my cousin Jen was a gypsy. The red skirt came back out from the depths of the trunk along with various scarves and a ruffle shirt.

We both miss the Halloween trunk and have vowed to rekindle this tradition with our children and grandchildren. My daughter is five and we have been imagining characters together for the last two years. Each costume has been constructed from things we already own and a little imagination. Her costume at three years old was one of my favorites. She was a Harry Potter, Beetlejuice Fairy... all of her favorite things at once. Last year she was a Kitty Cat Fairy Viking. This year she is planning on wearing an outfit I bought her on a trip to India. She is preparing to be an Indian princess. We've had a lot of fun exploring the Indian culture online and she has already picked out the colors of her Bindi (blue center with gold ring around the outside.)

Make your Halloween a green Halloween. Try making costumes from items lying around the house. Take a trip to the local thrift store and find a treasure trove of ideas using vintage clothes and weird bobbles. If you are not gifted in the way of craftiness and MUST buy a ready made costume, buy a good quality one and save it to possibly use again or reinvent.

*The queen of craft and home, Martha Stewart, has some great ideas on her site for costumes. Her team has come up with a wide range of ideas from super simple no sew costumes (I was the Tulle Ghost last year. I used old sheer curtains on their way to a thrift store instead of Tulle) to more complex crafted identities.

*Thedailygreen.com has some creative ideas to turn your recycling bin refuse into creative characters. I love the little boy's Samurai costume.

If you know of some more great "home made" costume sites please leave their address as a comment.  Only 10 more days to prepare :)  Happy Halloween everyone.

-Shannon Schmalfeldt

Autumn Music Playlist

My favorite time of year is Autumn.  I love the crisping of the air, the colors, the fall festivals, and layering!  It seems like it takes forever for Fall to reach the south.  My friends in Wyoming and Michigan are already feeling its full effects.  I am patiently waiting for "full on" scarf and jacket season (usually arrives down here mid October). This is my new Autumn playlist that is on all the time while I'm designing, driving, playing ... LIVING :) and soaking up the season change.

Want to buy some of these tracks?  Click on "iTunes iMix"

- Shannon Schmalfeldt