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Tasha Could Make That

Tasha Could Make That

Vintage knitting, sewing, and a lifetime of craftiness

ghosts of Halloween past

October 27, 2011 by Tasha 19 Comments

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??

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: costumes, halloween

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ponchmor@nauticom.net says

    October 27, 2011 at 12:24 am

    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…

    Reply
  2. pinktutu72 says

    October 27, 2011 at 1:40 am

    Ohhh wow I had forgotten all about those pictures! Love the costumes 🙂
    Karlene

    Reply
  3. andrea says

    October 27, 2011 at 1:47 am

    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

    Reply
  4. maranda (persnickety vintage) says

    October 27, 2011 at 2:05 am

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

    Reply
  5. ME says

    October 27, 2011 at 4:32 am

    Well,I’m impressed.

    Reply
  6. Ivy Black says

    October 27, 2011 at 6:45 am

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

    Reply
  7. LandGirl1980 says

    October 27, 2011 at 12:01 pm

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

    Reply
  8. vintage_kitten says

    October 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. Kate says

    October 27, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    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 🙁

    Reply
  10. Jennie says

    October 27, 2011 at 6:35 pm

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

    Reply
  11. Tasha says

    October 27, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    @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. 😉

    Reply
  12. Straight Talking Mama! says

    October 27, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    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!

    Reply
  13. Moxie Tonic says

    October 27, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    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.

    Reply
  14. Rhia says

    October 28, 2011 at 6:44 am

    I didn’t recognize you and Mel from the photos! I suppose that means the make up and costumes were perfect 😀

    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 😉

    Reply
  15. Lady Cherry says

    October 28, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    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

    Reply
  16. milingmai says

    October 28, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    brilliant idea and you two look perfect!

    Reply
  17. Melissa says

    October 29, 2011 at 12:40 am

    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. 😉

    Reply
  18. Andrea says

    October 29, 2011 at 2:54 am

    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…

    Reply
  19. Second Hand Rose says

    November 1, 2011 at 3:32 pm

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

    Reply

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