Handmade Doctor Who Halloween Costumes!

i have always loved halloween. In the past i would dress up every year, always making my own costume.  Now that i have kids i make their costumes almost every year.  Sometimes the costumes are easy to put together and sometimes they really challenge me!  This year both kids wanted to dress up as characters from the BBC show Doctor Who.  My daughter's first costume choice was a Weeping Angel, and i admit i was a feeling a little stress on how i was going to pull that one off. Thankfully for me, i knew she would change her mind several times before deciding on a final costume choice. 

i was right. She bounced back and forth between a few different ideas before deciding on a Sister of Plenitude (Cat-nun) from the New Earth Episode of Doctor Who.  

This is an image from the episode.  The costume is pretty straightforward. A gray dress/robe, white apron, white gloves, a headscarf and a flying nun's hat.  The most challenging part of the costume would be the cat nun's hat. Lucky for me, i found a tutorial for a Sister of Plenitude hat online. You can view it here and  here.   i had a really hard time following the tutorial, but still managed to come up with something that resembled the hat. 

Here is our finished costume!  i'm super pleased with how well it turned out!!  i need to work on the face paint a bit, but this was just a test run and i didn't want to use it all up before Halloween.  Her costume was made from a mens xl dress shirt. i cut up and sewed into a dress/robe. The apron was made from Sequoia's Saruman robe from last year, that was made from a sheet. Lots of recycling and repurposing around here! 

My boy's costume choice was the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith).  He wanted to go for this look, with the 'Silence' eyepatch which is from the Wedding of River Song episode.  He always wanted a fez which isn't in this episode, but is often associated with this doctor. 

First thing we did for his costume was hit the thrift store. We were able to find a tweed jacket, black skinny jeans and suspenders!  He borrowed the dress shirt from his dad, and already had the Sonic Screwdriver which can be purchased on amazon or at Hot Topic.

 Next we needed a faz!  although they can be purchased online, i knew it was something i could easily make. i found the burgundy-red felt at Joanne's craft store, and lined it with stablizer. i did a quick search online for a 'how to make a  Fez' tutorial and found this one which included a pattern. The first one i made was too small for my son so i gave it to my daughter. i made another just a little bit bigger, and it was perfect for my boy.

i'm pretty excited about the costumes this year (total Doctor Who nerd  :) )! i really think they turned out great and the kids love them! i'm just hoping it's not so cold that they have to totally bundle up to go trick or treating.  :)

October Garden and New Projects.

October garden is still going strong.  Although most of my summer crops are done i replanted many back in July/August and i'm finally beginning to get a good harvest from them. The peppers and tomatillos that were planted in the spring and are just now ripening and ready for harvest.  We have had two frosts so far but i've had most things covered and so they are still doing well.  My fall carrots are still a bit small but i'm getting lots of snow peas and swiss chard.  Zucchini and yellow squash are still hanging in there despite the cold temps. 

i have lots of new lettuce, kale and spinach planted in the tiered garden.  Kenan bought a tiller so two of my four gardens have now been tilled!  Nasturtium and marigolds are finally in full bloom.   Seems like every year they wait until right before it freezes/frosts to finally come into bloom. Hoping they stay pretty another week or two. 

With the cooler weather i am spending more time inside, which means i'm attempting to focus on my business again.  Although i keep saying i'm done making bendy dolls, i always go back to making them. :)   i'm really hoping to focus more on Waldorf dolls this winter, but until them i have lots of these bendy dolls available.

i've mainly been focusing on Halloween themed dolls, trying to sell a few so i can buy the supplies needed for other projects.  The two witches and wizard above are sold, but the pumpkin girls and ones below are still available. 

i've mainly been working on Halloween themed dolls, trying to sell a few so i can buy the supplies needed for other projects.  :)

i've also been working on organizing and creating a craft space.  i'm setting it up inside the tiny little laundry room. The space is really just a place to store my supplies and keep them organized, as i tend to take my projects into what ever room i am in at the time.  i'm hoping to eventually put cabinets and a counter top in here  so i can set up my sewing machine.  

Just for fun, i made my boy a Doctor Who Tardis hat. 

i've been thinking about stocking my etsy shop again, but until them i'm still just selling on my FB page.  i have bendy dolls, jewelry and a few hats for sale.  i rarely take custom orders, but if it sounds interesting and i have the materials i may consider.

i'm still spending a good amount of time in the garden.  i have quite a few fall crops in and i won't give up on it until it's buried in at least a foot of snow. :)