"'I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir, because I'm not myself, you see'"

Happy Halloween! Just came back from a fun trip of trick or treating with college friends. We stopped by the president's house, but she wasn't home, but her husband gave us candy. We then went to a couple residential houses - one man opened the door wearing a full skeleton costume, carrying a bowl of candy and a bowl of toothbrushes and toothpaste. I took a toothbrush and piece of candy, but then he stopped me and told me to take a toothpaste! I told him I had plenty of toothpaste and we all moved on. At another house, there was a sign telling visitors to go to number 4. The house contained separate apartments and we went to the second floor and knocked on the door to number 4 and two young men opened the door. They were very nice, but it was a bit strange to get candy this way...My friends and I went a few house more, then Raisa and I turned back to go home and work. Ah yes, lots of fun for college students trick or treating.

I finally finished my costume on friday. It took me three days in the costume shop to finish my wonderful pinafore. As here is the finished costume: *drumroll*

Tah dah! It ended up very cute (and poufy!). 

Also some of my friends and I all dressed up before going out in the cold! (bottom to top: Marilyn Monroe, Glinda the Good Witch, Alice in Wonderland, a cupcake, a Pirate Zombie and a Witch)

Oh google.

Occasionally Google uses different images as their logos. Today, in honor of Halloween, they used a really cool Scooby-Doo logo. For some reason I decided to search this (don't ask why) and I somehow found that a little while ago Google posted a functional PacMan game as their logo. Is that not sick or what?

Alice Costumes

Was just poking around on Youtube and found this. It's the designer Colleen Atwood from the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland talking about a couple of the costumes from the movie. I haven't seen it yet, but I love some of (ok, mainly Alice's) the costumes. They are very creative and intricately detailed. I've always wanted to be part of designing amazing costumes. *Sigh* maybe someday.

All in the Golden Afternoon

I'm being Alice in Wonderland for Halloween and my petticoat finally arrived! It's sooo poufy! So much fun! Below are a couple photos of the dress and petticoat. You'll be seeing finished outfit photos a bit later.

 (top to bottom: dress and petticoat, close-up and dress and petticoat hanging on closet door)

He exists!

My college does Big Sib, Little Sib for all the first years in the houses and it has been an awesome week so far. Monday I received a little labrador retriever figurine in a doghouse made of tea on my door. Tuesday I received a sparkly red ornament that was a replica of an 1890's period shoe. Today I received a pretty pink rose in a vase with a card signed by Mr. Darcy. This is enough to make my life!! What other girl has the opportunity to receive a flower from one of her favorite fictional men? And I am now very thankful to have the same name as his romantic partner.


Also, this is my 50th blog post. Huzzah! I feel it right to celebrate with an appropriate quote:

"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment ~ Jane Austen"

Found this

via my college's twitter site. Pretty interesting considering todays social economy. Click here.

Treasure hunting

I went through my brothers' closet today and found a shirt that will work perfectly for Urinetown. It is a young man's size small with a cream background and a brown check pattern. I tried it on, rolled up the sleeves, pulled back my hair into a cap, and voila! Instant manlitude! Now I just need a pair of pants. I found a pair of brown cords at target in the boys section which I may get if I can't find anything else (I know there is an old pair of khakis that I used in Returning Road my freshman year that are boys sized, so I may try to find those in the depths of my attic).

I also bought a new pair of jazz shoes (mine were completely destroyed) and they are pretty and soft and wonderful (a vast improvement from my other pair). Can't wait to wear the wonderful black leathery goodness with my manly khaki dress socks (thank you Target!!).

Lots of fun stuff

Urinetown is finally up and running (sort of - well at least I have all my assigned roles and costumes pieces to hunt for). The director wants me to wear an Oliver Twist/Newsies like outfit, so I've been watching videos and looking at pictures so I know what to get. Looks like I'll be on the hunt for a patterned button down, straight leg jeans or knickers or something like that, tallish socks, suspenders, and a newsboy cap. I think I'll also get a new pair of jazz shoes because I haven't purchased a new pair in a while (and the ones I have are very destroyed and uncomfortable to dance in).

I also went poking around the downtown and found a brand new alice in wonderland dress! I've wanted one for ages but just didn't find the right fabric and this one fits almost perfect. It just needs a couple darts up the front and a white pinafore - nothing I can't do in more than a few hours. Oh and a giant poofy petticoat (which i have been DYING to purchase for years! Now I will have a reason to wear a 50's dress too!).

In costume lab, I finished the pattern I modified for my partner. Now it is time to just transfer it onto fabric and start pinning and sewing. We are using lots of tools that I have never seen before (like a tracing wheel with little spokey things that are good for marking with wax and through paper). Hopefully I will have photos of my work soon!

Long day.....

I just got back from an excursion to UMass to get art supplies for my costume design class. I needed watercolor brushes and paper, a palette, a pencil sharpener, and a portfolio to keep my works of art in and some of my housemates and I have discovered it is much cheaper to purchase art supplies at the UMass campus store than at the (really awesome) art store in town. So a friend and I went to the art store and purchased all that I needed (except the watercolor paper which I thought there might be a better selection in town). After, we walked back to the bus stop and found a massive crowd of people waiting to get on. We figured we wouldn't be able to get on so we walked the the other stop. Big mistake. We ended up waiting nearly an hour and a half before getting on a bus because every passing bus was filled to the gills! So I'm finally home and completely exhausted, but I do have my awesome art supplies :).

Urinetown rehearsals are good - I had one on Thursday night and we read through the script. I noticed all the really funny parts in the show this time and I guess I better understand all the jokes and such this time around. The dynamic is also very different because the whole cast is women with a few playing guys (myself included!), but I like it a lot. We have a dance "audition" tomorrow so that the choreographer can get a sense of how well we dance and what she can do with us.

The girl across the hall from me is really into anime and watches the Hayao Miyazaki movies which is nice because I have had few people in the past who enjoyed these movies. She also loves cute kitties from icanhascheezburger.com and has converted me. They are absolutely amazingly cute!