Wednesday, October 26, 2011

ghosts of Halloween past

Hello everyone! I'm back from San Diego and trying to catch up!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and Mel's as well. We usually dress up, though honestly haven't had any reason to for a couple of years unfortunately. Of course around Halloween you're reminded of all your past costumes. Yesterday, I saw that Andrea of PaperSparrow (an amazing DIY blog that's new to me that I'm already in love with!) did a post on one of my favorite illustrators, Edward Gorey. It reminded me of one of my favorite Halloween costumes, from 2002. (Yes, that means really old—scanned, even—photos coming up shortly!)

Gorey was a master of macabre illustration, and one of his darkly humorous books, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, features an alphabet of disturbed little children about to reach their demise. We decided to go as two of them. We pulled inspiration from Victorian schoolchildren, Charles Addams, and of course, Edward Gorey himself.
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H is for Hector, done in by a thug...


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And W is for Winnie embedded in ice...


Of course, it was way too high concept for anyone to actually get what we were, so they all just thought we were ghouls. Which was perfectly fine. But I still think we did a pretty good job and had a lot of fun with the costumes, and I sure enjoyed playing makeup artist!



Are you planning any fun costumes this year??

19 comments:

  1. Love your costumes,so clever! I try to be something cute every year, but I always end up a man in the end. Last year I was a gnome, that was pretty cute. This year I am either going to be a derby girl or Bob Ross. Bob Ross just came to me when a friend asked if anyone wanted to borrow her afro wig. I figure a plaid shirt and a palette and I am ready to go. The derby girl is cuter though, hard to decide...

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  2. Ohhh wow I had forgotten all about those pictures! Love the costumes :)
    Karlene

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  3. such a great costume idea! I love how you interpreted it and who cares if no one got it--their loss, right! I have a few things in mind for a costume but now just need to get down to making them : ) Thanks for your sweet comment about my little blog--you are too sweet. can't wait to see what you come up with this year! xoxo

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  4. wow, you guys look great! the ice on your face is really cool! (ha ha, get it?!) :D

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  5. Wonderful Tasha. You both look fantastic, can't wait to see what you come up with this year.xxx

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  6. Alas - i have no where to go this Hallo's - not that I have there wherewithall to actually dress up. But - you looked FAB!

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  7. What great costumes.I am planning on dressing up this year and looks like I a going to have to dress hubby up by force cuz he keeps refusing.lol.Not sure what I am dressing as yet.

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  8. I love Edward Gorey! And your costumes looked amazing!!! I sort of want to dress up as "K is for Kate, who was struck with an axe" now (although Neville who died of ennui was always my favourite) Too bad I don't have anywhere to wear a costume this year :(

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  9. How did you get the ice effect? Looks great!
    Rock Salt?

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  10. @Jennie You may be sorry you asked... crystal cat litter!

    @Kate That would be awesome to go as K is for Kate! I love Neville, too. I always wondered if it was possible to be the lady laying over the coffin in the animation he did for the beginning of Mystery! on PBS. ;)

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  11. Wow fabulous costumes! I do love Halloween, but I never do it I get rather grumpy about it cos it's the day after my birthday and I don't want to wear costume for my birthday I prefer to be glam! As you know I'm not really a grumpy person but this subject gets me grumpy ha ha!

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  12. Cat litter! That is really clever!! I adore Gorey: he was a brilliant artist with such an elegant and dark aesthetic. Right up my alley :)
    Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, and I have to admit I am jealous of those with Birthdays around the end of October. Would much prefer dressing up in costume to mine - which every however many years lands on Thanksgiving. Bleh. Just turkey and annoying family obligations.

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  13. I didn't recognize you and Mel from the photos! I suppose that means the make up and costumes were perfect :D

    We are going to halloween party tonight (combined burlesque and horror, can't wait what it will be!) and I'm planning to put together mexican day-of-the-dead sugar skull meets Frida Kahlo meets burlesque-outfit. Photos propably end up in my blog at some point ;)

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  14. I am trying desperately to find some white face paint....if I do I will be dressing up as corpse bride....complete with my wedding dress! Will see if I can pull it off! x

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  15. brilliant idea and you two look perfect!

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  16. Those are some impressive costumes! I am going to a party at my favorite watering hole, and I am dressing as Rosie the Riveter. Sleeves and pants are necessary for Halloween in Wisconsin. It might just snow on you. ;)

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  17. I'm trying to do a costume on the cheap so I will be going as Paula Deen, ya'll!! And I won't forget the butter...

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  18. Omg you look amazing!! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/

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