Pure elation! Do you see it? And I thought I’d have a little
pirate girl, or a piggy, or a little cardboard robot girl with a
polka-dot bow. No, Charlotte was very clear that she wanted to be a mermaid. And
somehow the timing worked out well this year, so I went all out!
I created the tail texture by running gathering stitches in a fanned-out pattern. Huge relief that it worked as planned! The
skirt is supposed to be the ocean, but I didn’t quite get to the
seaweed and fish I had in mind. I love the color variegation there
though – makes for great interpretive water.
I
made a removable plastic sleeve for the fin so Charlotte could enjoy
her Halloween without being barked at about dragging her tail. It
worked out swimmingly — though the tail stayed off the ground anyhow
as she pranced around in just about the same pose as you see in this
photo. Crazy cute!
I drafted the pattern for the bodice and went a bit nuts with
ruffles and trim. At one place in the sleeve seam there’s something
like 12 layers (a couple sets of doubled ruffles & piping, trim,
& the usual stuff). I had to outfit Charlotte with a sleeved dance
leotard underneath to keep her little arms comfortable. And dance she
has, in full regalia, on Halloween and every day since.
Isaac’s contribution was the crown. I handed him the materials and said, "Go for it!"
He responsed, "What’s wrong with this one?" (The original plastic crown underneath all of the goop).
"Nothing’s wrong with it, but it could be so much more mermaid-y."
"Ya, I guess," he said, but then proceeded to spend the next thirty
or forty minutes deeply enthralled, improving in every way my original
plan. He even got out the drill so the button shanks on the back of
the crown jewels would nest into the plastic just so. I mean he really
got into it. He’s proud of that crown.
He went a bit crazy with the wand too. Got burned in the process : (
Besides the hot-glue burns, we had extra-fun this year. It was
Charlotte’s first Halloween where she understood what was up – costume,
candy, costume. What a joy to see the magic in her eyes! She’s really pretty caught up in her underwater fantasy.
And obviously, Elijah’s still got the magic. Thank heaven Jedis
lead a simpler, less-layered, unglittered existence or I might not have
made the deadline. Love my twirly, big-eyed dreamers.
WOW! That’s the one I’d been waiting to see… it turned out so beautifully! She looks ecstatic!
Will you adopt me?! I am in love with this costume, it is absolutely stunning. Fantastic work – and well done to Isaac on the crown and wand too 🙂
This is amazing work ! The tail, the ocean, and the CROWN & wand !!! The Jedi was awesome too, but as a dreamy girl, I go for the mermaid and the jewelry, of course 😉
I just showed my mother the mermaid and the Jedi. She adored the mermaid, saying it was beautiful. Then proceeded to say “what a shame, you didn’t have a mother like that”. I highly agree with everything she said. Haha. I would have loved that mermaid outfit as a girl. I was very much a girly girl. The mermaid turned out “swimmingly”, congratulations on great costumes!
love it, love it, love it – so darn cute!!
adorable!!!
what a cutie
jessi
beautiful. you can see in her face how happy she is. all the hard work was worth it.
this costume is one of the most beautiful i’ve ever seen. your little girl is adorable. how wonderful that both of you are so talented.
I am crazy nuts for that second photo! I wanna pinch here! And I am totally feeling the waves 🙂
xoAM
Just lovely. The colors and the design are beautiful. Great pictures as usual too!
Too beautiful! Wrap it up in blue tissue and save it for her little girl someday:-) Isn’t it nice to give them such lovely memories of childhood!
just gorgeous, my little girl would kill for the same dress ! Congratulations for this huge work but I guess that the best reward was her smile wasn’it ?
Stunning!
Katrina was a mermaid too and I think that the wrist holder for the tail is a requirement too. Katrina just wore hers on her wrist and the tail never got dragged, or tripped over.
Wow! Stunning! I’m happy being me; with MY life, My husband, MY children, MY quilting… But sometimes when I read your blog, I turn a tinge of green!
Amazing – now that my daughter is older, we’ve moved beyond mermaids and princesses. This year it was minnie mouse. She’s already decided next year’s costume – mad scientist.
unbelievable..that whole get-up is amazing!
Beautiful work on that costume! You should sell that pattern!
Ohhhh how beautiful. My 2 1/2 year old went out as a princess, however I was not nearly as crafty, as that mermaid dress is fantastic!
This is my first visit to your blog in 2 MONTHS! My laptop got soaked with a bottle of lysol (niiice, makes a great airfreshner!) and I’m just getting back online now.
Have missed your stories!!
April
So wonderful, Heather. We should all have such talented Moms as you.
WOW! I wish I could sew clothes..absolutely beautiful. How great that you can do that for your kids.
Amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. What a lucky little girl!
DUDE!! i thought the jedi costume rocked, but this is TOO cute!!! i love the last picture…it totally looks like she’s got a tail instead of legs. *giggle*
lucky kids, lucky mom!! 🙂
your children are so fortunate to have a mom that takes the time to make such wonderful things for them to enjoy, and you are so fortunate to have beautiful children who love the things you make for them. both costumes were fantastic! but of course, as a girl, this is the one i would have swooned over as a kid. beautiful. =]
OH MY GOD! That is the coolest mermaid costume EVER! It is so pretty and sparkly and fun. The tail is awesome! Can I borrow it for my daughter next year?? : )
Beautiful! So glad to hear Charlotte had a great time. It was my daughter’s first year of understanding what Halloween is all about too and she had a blast. It really is great to see through a child’s eyes.
Wow! What a beautiful costume and you can see she was defiantly loving it.
Now THAT. Is a costume.
All I can say is that I love how your brain works. 🙂
Oh goodness, I better not show Eliza!! She would want one now, not for next Halloween. To cute Heather.
Sandi
Wow! That’s one cool costume. Love it!
Wow!!! Both costumes and kids are just gorgeous! You did a great job!
I am pretty much a lurker on your blog, Heather, but I had to come out of hiding to congratulate you on two fantastic costumes! I never would have thought of the idea for the mermaid. That it is so original!
Isn’t it great when they appreciate your hard work? I made my daughter’s renaissance dress and my son’s BLUE pirate costumes and, well, at least my son was SUPER excited. The two year old just went with whatever mommy wanted her to be this year. I’m sure that is the last year of that!
Just WONDERFUL! How fun, for ALL! Yes you can see it in the glimmer in her eyes! You did a fantastic job! Just love how it all came together!
Congratulations on a fun time for all!
Paula
Wow, that is just incredible.
Dang that is cute. I was all proud of the spider costume I made Aidan – until I saw this. OK. I’m still proud as I just started sewing a few years ago but geez, I don’t think I can ever match your talents. Awesome job!
Ummm… I think I spot a few trash ties, too…
Ridiculously cute! Wow!! 🙂
how gorgeous/twirly/fantastic!
This is a fantastic custome! I LOVE that your husband made the crown and wand – and it gave him a reason to break out the power tools!!
Aww! She looks so pretty! Those colors are amazing too… stunning.
That is one heck of an awesome costume. Has she changed out of it yet? I wouldn’t!!
The crown and scepter are also very cool!
That is positively magical!
You have such a gift Heather – I hope you know that. This costume is very special.
Beautiful! So creative!
Question about hair: do you just use water to get your daughter’s hair to stay smooth? I’ve got a daughter with straighty, silky hair and I really try hard to get it into ponytails and whatnot.
Oh, this is a unexpected question – Yes, I mist her hair with a bit of water, pat it with some gel and use a fine-tooth comb. I comb the gel through to distribute it and then make her little piggies or ponies. Best system I’ve found for containing all those little baby fly-away hairs, though they make an appearance by the end of the day in their own adorable way.
Wow, that is brilliant! It’s the best interpretation of mermaid I’ve seen — I’ve always wondered how to do a tail without hobbling the kid and that’s it– brilliant! Great Jedi cloak too…
Wow… what a beautiful mermaid you have at your house! I hope you don’t live too close to the ocean – she’s surely swim away!
(This is bringing back great memories of the costumes my mom sewed for me.)
Beautiful! I love it!
I’m a lurker, I’ll admit it, but I had to comment on the ingeniousness (it’s a word, I just used it!) of the mermaid costume. I would have never thought to make a mermaid costume where the tail wasn’t worn, but rather, almost like an accessory, but lending the illusion. Pure genious, and very beautiful. I aspire to the tenth of what you can do. ^_^
You are truly talented. Your pictures are extraordinary and the costumes are incredible. You have a beautiful blog!! So very impressed.
She’s absolutely beautiful! I love the tail…very cool. (Plus the crown looks pretty cool!)
Your children are fabulously fortunate to have such talented and creative parents. This costume is lovely. She just radiates pride and happiness in it.
So sweet!
Hope someday I’ll be able to make my little girl as happy as yours seems to be with her beautiful costume!!!!
Thanks for sharing such wonderful photos!
Wow Heather. She is beautiful!!!!!!!!
Whoever makes the costumes at Disney must be really jealous! Tops all of the store bought mermaid costumes! Looks beautiful!
She looks amazing!! She looks like she really loved that costume!! Great work!
My gosh you are fantastic…!! What wonderful costumes…I wish I had a Mom like you !! Well I did have a Mom somewhat like you lol…but that’s been a long time ago now. She sewed all my clothes in the 40’s and 50’s. Your kids are very lucky little ones.
Okay…my jaw is STILL on the floor. WOW. Nuff said. -jw
My five year old looking over my shoulder said “Oh, she’s a Mermaid, and a Mermaid Princess!!” We both agree she looks very cute.
My daughter Charlotte was also a mermaid this year and I made her costume from scratch. Must have been something in the water 🙂
Your darling Charlotte looks lovely and so warm! Here in Canada I had to work in an aqua coloured vest and pants into the works to keep her toasty!
Very cute. Your mermaid princess is a doll:) Nice work!
Thanks, Heather. Now my 5 year old just said, “Mom, I want you to make one like that for me.” As if I can just whip it out in her sleep. She was very happy with her Sacagawea I made her, but she really longed to be a Mermaid.
Amazing! Beautiful job Heather. What a lucky little girl, she looks so cute.
STU-UN-NING! What a completely unique and perfectly marvelous Mermaid Princess! I’m so happy it turned out as fabulous as you planned. It’s also nice to see a child’s mermaid costume that is age-appropriate. I see these flesh-colored things in stores with shell patches sewn on the front and wonder why the costume designers are trying to make little girls grow up too fast!
Charlotte looks like she is on top of the world! Or perhaps the bottom of the ocean?
To quote Philippa Gaunt, of ‘Children of the Lamp’ it is FABULONGOSHOOMARVELISHLYWONDERPIPICAL!
Elijah looks awesome, too. A fierce young Jedi, he is!
Oh my god. Best mermaid ever. Best mom ever. Wow!!!!!
I’m with the other Melanie… will you adopt me too?
What a magical costume. It really makes me sad that we don’t really have Halloween in Australia. I want to be a kid again and go trick-or-treating for the first time.
This is darling! I especially like the tail idea–very unique. And the crown and wand are gorgeous–your hubby did a great job, especially for a guy!
oh fantastic!!!
I think that that is the coolest mermaid costume ever!
Wowww, enchanting !! I can understand why your daughter loves it. My little one saw the pictures and demanded a mermaid dress for herself *LOL*.
In Germany we are not very big in Halloween, yet. Even though every year it becomes more popular, very few moms do the effort and create such a beautiful costume. I´m no exception there :O/ Maybe I should rethink it again. Maja would surely be grateful for a costume like Charlotte´s …
BR from Germany, Chris
I love your work ^^ but I dont speak english…I’m a sad French 🙁 but there are your pictures for my eyes ^^ and They me warms the heart !
this is so cute! I wish there was a pattern for it (not that mine would ever look as good as that one). I just wrote a post on my blog about your fabrics and how after seeing your fabrics and your blog, I’ve been inspired to learn how to sew. I’ll be looking for your patterns to come out! 🙂
I want to be a mermaid now!!
wow!! that is absolutely beautiful!! what a lucky little girl!!
LOVE the costumes Heather!!! It was so nice to meet you at the Quilt Market last week:) You are so pretty!
~Chelsea
Heather, that costume is amazing, and what a beautiful little girl!
I’m joining in on all of the gushing. That is one of the most beautiful Halloween costumes I’ve ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous! I love the colors going on there. MMmmmm! That skirt is beautiful! She looks thrilled, as any little princess would be.
And that Jedi costume is great too. I really like your blog. {Not sure if I’ve commented before…}
Fabulous Costume!! Lucky Girl!! Lots of inspiration with this one 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
How very creative of you!
Your daughter looks so sweet and happy.
My daughter loved dress up at that age.
Now, she’s 22 and has a Jedi costume just like
your son’s. Hers is made of washed cream silk and was made by a friend. She participates in Star Wars fan parties in Los Angeles.
~elaine~
That mermaid costume is beyond adorable! Fabulous job!
Heather, I think that’s got to be the cutest costume I’ve ever seen…and I’ve done some pretty cute ones myself. But this one definitely takes the cake. You can see how special she felt too!
Lovely, lovely, lovely! What a mermaid!!!! and what a great Jedi!
My real compliments for such nice outfits!!
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Such fantastic execution! Just love it so much… 🙂
AMazing – you girls from the USA certainly know how to do costumes for your families – glad that’s one holiday we don’t really have here. Your little girl looks beautiful in her lovely costume.
Holy. Moly.
Both of your kids were absolutely gorgeous!!
Very awesome Costumes Heather!
wow, too amazing!!!!
WOW that is so beautiful! I have been anxiously waiting for your to post this since you gave us a teaser post a few weeks ago! I LOVE IT!!
oh wow!!! It’s just PERFECT!!! She looks beautiful too.
The mermaid costume is SOOOO beautiful. Although we don’t really celebrate Halloween where I live, seeing the costume makes me want to get one done for my 2 1/2 year-old ,well … just because. Love your blog and all the stuff you make … gorgeous!
Wow, gorgeous! Too bad childhood doesn’t last forever..
Exceptional creativity and vision on this costume. i have been selfishly enjoying your blog since I met your mother-in-law a year ago without yet telling you how much I appreciate it, but the costume could not go by without a comment of admiration. Again nice work
you are so talented!
also very creative
and a woman with superb taste.
Your solution of integrating the mermaid tail into the costume as an extension of the bodice on top of a an ocean-y skirt is wildly ingenious! It’s pretty, proves the concept and would be comfortable to wear, well done! Holy Moly!
Both children adorable in their get ups and your photo quality is superb!
Can I BUY that costume from you for my daughter? All she wants to be already for next Halloween is a MERMAID!??! 🙂
Jenny
Fabulous Mermaid!Priceless! Bravo to the Magic Wand Craftsman! Lavender Essential oil for those burned fingers! Elijah is growing so tall and handsome! Beautiful family!
Did you see your fabrics used to demonstrate some patterns in several of the recent Keepsake Quilting catalogs? I don’t know if they were on the Online store. If you need a “look see”, just let me know. Very pretty!
Fondly,
Penny
http://www.pennysanford.typepad.com
OMG. The other moms in your neighborhood must be insanely jealous at how COOL that costume was!!!
Okay,
I am in sooo in love with this costume.
Seriously, you should either make into a pattern for a book or sell it to a costume company. In the UK every single costume for girls in the shops are cutesy witches. Witches or ghosts. Well, then the UK hasn’t quite gotten the idea of Halloween being about dressing up as anything, not necessarily monsters. Being American over here, my son was Buzz Lightyear (easy) and my hubby Indiana Jones (hard) and I had no time for me. (go to http://www.stanleywebb.com to see.)
Congratz on everything design related. I am loving your logo and header image for this blog. Fantastic haircut. PS, is that your own unique font, or does it have a name? Cheers, and thanks very much for the adorable fabric.
Christina
I thought I was cool, sewing two Dracula capes with sparkly red lining for my girls. This mermaid costume is outstanding! Great stuff.
That is THE cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
This is one of the best hand made costumes I’ve ever seen. You should make them for a living!
Beautiful craftsmanship and creativity! You are a true artist!
i have twin, 4 year old sisters, and though I am an ameteur sewer of 14, I would like to make a mermaid costume for one of them next year. Could you post the directions or something?
I was just cathcing up with your blog and my daughter spied this, she is totally in love! She asked me if i can make her one…poor girl,lol.
It’s amazing, i’m blown away by your creativity.
délicieuse petite sirène !
magnifique
That is the most beautiful costume I have seen!!! You are very talented.
you have the cutest little girl that i have ever seen and i love the name charlotte I think it is so cute. you are so creative
She looks so cute…………..^-^
And great work on Mermaid Costume. It will really not trouble the kid. Wow that’s just GREAT…….
Wow……
That’s a great costume where the kid do not have any trouble wearing it….
Great thought and Good Look
Great tail design. Another how to mermaid costume is at http://www.costumemachine.com/keyword/mermaid
Anyway, we had a really fantastic holiday. I love to staying with them. There are so much laugh and happiness