And Finally . . . Olivia

Maybe it started with the Halloween-themed toilet paper or, perhaps, the orange pumpkin-printed crepe paper lining all the beams in the house or the giant candy-corn-filled glass pumpkin by the front door but no matter how it started, Halloween has always been a big deal in my family. My mom started it (with all of the craziness mentioned above) but the tradition lives on with me. 

I love Halloween. I allow the kids to dream up any costume and then I hunker down and do my best to bring it to life. Their requests have calmed down in the past couple of years as they have realized that if they are an obscure video game character only about 1 in 100 will recognize and appreciate their costume . . . but that's a great screening process. In that one person, they find a kindred spirit.

Sometimes, the kids' choices are hard to find. I'm pretty sure that Princess Zelda, Link and Bowser Jr. would never have had their day if I were only looking at Costco or Target. Plus, the costumes I make are usually worn over and over throughout the year as dress-ups so I don't mind spending the extra time to make something washable that will last.

But I'm not against buying a costume, no sir-ee! Last year, Oliver wanted to be the ever-popular ninja so I giddily picked that up at the costume shop and he couldn't have been happier. And Evelyn's "fancy mermaid" costume? An awesome Costco buy that only required simple alterations to be the hit costume of the year. 

Those two cheats allowed me time to work on Abby's costume: Olivia. Apparently, my dad doesn't know who Olivia is. "You're going to make her a pig?!," he asked incredulously. 

Yep, that's the way I roll. How do you explain Olivia to somebody who hasn't read the Ian Falconer books OR watched the popular cartoon? "She's like the Miss Piggy of now, Dad. She's spunky and cool and creative . . . She's a very cool pig and her friends will know who she is!," I defended.

So, drumroll please, here is Olivia.

Abby relaxing at her school's costume parade.

After failing to find the right knit material to make the shirt, I found the perfect dress. It was an Old Navy steal. I made the jumper to layer over it and the huge, Olivia ears out of felt and a gold headband. The tights were purchased at the costume shop at the same time as Oliver's ninja costume - score! - and I'm pretty sure that the Mary Jane shoes were from Payless. The ears are ridiculously large, as are the character's, but I probably should have taken into account that Abby does not have a giant pig-head. Oh well, there was no mistaking that she was a pig. No Waldo confusion whatsoever. Just a happy, comfy in her skin - and her costume - Abby.

Happy costume hunting/making! It's my favorite part of Halloween!