Community Halloween Party

Tonight was the annual Youth First/YMCA Community Halloween party. I know this particular gathering for costumed kids in Hastings has been going on for at least 14 years because this is my 13th season in the costume business and I know my predecessor, Judy, helped with costumes for at least a year before I purchased Dress Me Up from her.

Youth First is a wonderful organization that works toward building assets with young people in the Hastings area. The YMCA is a far more recent organization that Youth First has collaborated with on efforts like this particular party and others.

Because my costume business is so seasonal, and really more of a hobby than a business, rather than writing a check to support the party, I offer free costumes to the volunteers who help put on the party. In 13 years I have only visited the Community Halloween Party once with my own children. I recall it being a very crowded and over-whelming affair for my elementary aged country boys.

Tonight Mary and I dressed as pirates with "left-overs" from the shop and went to town with laundry baskets to collect the donated costumes so we could clean them and prep them for rental on Halloween. The party was held at the Senior high School Commons. What a great venue. There was plenty of room for a large crowd. All the kids and many of their parents looked fantastic. I love a good Halloween party.

THANK YOU to all the volunteers for taking the time to offer this event to the children in the Hastings area. And THANK YOU Ann of Youth First and Mike of the YMCA for continuing and improving upon this community tradition.

I'll try and post pictures as soon as I can. Have a Happy Halloween!

Yes, we Dress Up, Too.

My friend Linda, who works in the shop Mondays with her daughter Katie, brought a bunch of photos out this week. A lot of our customers ask us what we do for Halloween. Here are the photos of several of us from 2007. We wore our own Renaissance Festival costumes. Some of the pictured costumes are available for rent, some are our private belongings as we work on building more and more elaborate RenFest costumes each year.

Some years we create costumes for our group. We've been a Harem of Belly Dancers with an Oil Sheik for our husband and Arab Bouncers to keep us secure. We've been a gaggle of fairies with various themes; Fairy Goth Mother, Tooth Fairy, Cleaning Fairy, Gardening Fairy, etc. We even went as a Dead Wedding Party one year. That idea was born out of our plan to wear the costume left-overs on Halloween night. Kathy tried on a wedding dress that had been decorated with spiders and webbing. It was a beautiful fit so we decided to put all the hideous orange, salmon, and peach bride's maid dresses and prom dresses to good use. We had a great time dancing at The Point. Barb, our Grandmother of the Bride, won a prize that night (she usually does. She always plays her part to the hilt!). We also made enough money on our Dollar Dance to buy a round for the group.

We have tons of costumes left. It's really up to you to use your imagination and then play the part once you've got your costume on. Dress Up and have a blast this Friday night!

Pumpkin Carving

Sunday marked the home stretch week for the Halloween season and the Costume Shop. I'm opening each day at noon this week and staying open until 9 p.m. I may or may not attempt to sew costumes for my faithful friends. We've had a tough time finding the pattern style we wanted. But I'll make one more attempt today. We have tons of fantastic costumes still available and about 10 premium pumpkins left for sale.

Last night after we closed the Costume Shop for the evening we had a grand old party. Both of our sons invited their female friends over to carve pumpkins.

We love carving pumpkins. It's a time honored tradition that helps more chronologically mature folks recall their childhood. It presents challenges of strength and coordination for all. We are well beyond the years of asking the children to draw on their pumpkins so that mommy and daddy can carve for them. Last night the six of us swapped sharp objects, including every size and shape of finely honed knife that resides in my kitchen. (Yes, Luke, we used the new Cutco knives - they performed admirably, as did my trusty old Chicago Cutlery.)

I purchased some gimmicky pumpkin carving power tools at the grocery store. We used them but quickly determined that there really is no substitute for an honest to goodness sharp knife. Only one injury was recorded for the evening. Dale, the oldest amongst us, and perhaps the strongest, (although I bet Arthur can give him a run for his money these days) managed to slice his finger. It was the sort of cut that demanded a Band aid but didn't require pressure or stitches.

Dale always creates very unconventional pumpkins. This year his specimen includes applique of carefully carved pumpkin guts to affect a single-nostril, nose bulge and a tongue sticking out. He completed his work of art by piercing it with an arrow.

Joscey carved a delightfully traditional and cheerful Jack-O-Lantern. The toothy smile makes you grin with the sheer pleasure of it. She took the most time, carefully executing her masterpiece with thoughtful precision and care.

Arthur carved what initially look like an alien pumpkin. It turned our to be a Frankensteinian creation complete with skin scars and protruding electrodes. He even left the bottom covered with mud for effect.

Joren and Kristin shared a pumpkin. Joren had already been carving in the afternoon with the youth group and opted for collaboration with his girlfriend. They came up with a mischievous face that appears to be cheerfully winking and suspiciously sneering all at the same time.

I attempted a sort of gremlin face; angular and asymetric, with dimples and a cleft in the chin. I like the results. Gazing upon all five of them last night caused me to smile with glee. The wind caused their candles to gutter, making their eerie glow even more other-worldly.

I love the mystery of All Hallow's Eve and the Christian assurance that follows in our November 1 celebration of All Saint's Day. I hope you carve a pumpkin this year. I also hope you'll commemorate those who have gone before us and celebrate the abundance in your life.

Wanna play dress up for Halloween? I DO! JOIN US!!!

Conehead

We had a great time in the shop on Saturday. It's so much fun when couples come in with a spirit of creativity and imagination, ready to have some fun.



One of our customers early in the day found an outrageous orange and white polyester jump-suit straight out of 1974. As she was giggling at her find and admiring how well it fit her, comfortable in the costume and contemplating accessories, her husband was digging around trying to find an Austin Powers sort of get-up. Failing that we offered him a great alternative.



"Would you consider going as a Conehead from Saturday Night Live? We have the head, the silver cape, and several hideous polyester leisure suits in a rainbow of colors and patterns."



"Let's try it!" he enthused.




We think he looks awesome. Sorry for the soft focus - it's tough to catch aliens in a clear and discernible shot. Besides, he didn't really want to be caught without his infamous six-pack!



Thanks, Folks! We'll see you in a couple weeks.



So, what's your costume going to be? Come on out and play Dress Up - we're sure we can help you find a creative and comfortable costume for your Halloween party this year.

JACK-O-LANTERNS

It's Saturday! And a beautiful Autumn day, warm and bright with deep blue skies and a riot of color on leaves everywhere. I could do with out the Box Elder Bugs and Asian Beetles, of course.

We received a load of giant pumpkins this week from my Skov-in-Laws who scored them at an agricultural auction in Iowa. We're selling them for a fantastic price, only $5 a piece. Come on our for a session of Dress Up and a pumpkin!

Peggy and Danika created a new sort of scarecrow to welcome you as you turn in the driveway. We named him Mr. Blue Moon. I think he's pretty cool. He looks very earie at night, especially as the moon waxes to its fullest point.

Today . . . . I think . . . . . I shall be a Biker Chick.

Hope to see you soon!

"Tis the Season - AGAIN!

Halloween is just around the corner; BEFORE the presidential election!

Dress Me Up Costume Rental is gearing up for a new season.  We're cleaning, constructing, and repairing costumes, getting the collection ready for you to play dress up!

Beginning Thursday, October 9, our 2008 hours will be:

Mondays - Thursdays 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays Noon - 5 p.m.

Sundays Closed

Extended Hours October 26 - November 3

Call us with questions, better yet - stop out for a session of Dress Up!

The costume shop is on U.S. Highway 61, five miles south of Hastings, on the west side of the road between the 110 mile marker to the south and 210th street to the north.  Look for the farmhouse driveway marked by a white mailbox with a reflective red arrow.

See you soon!  Happy Halloween Season!