Halloween 2012
 

Viking!

I'm making my costume this year. Last night I made one bracer for my right arm. It's really cool. I would totally wear that kind of thing around if I could.

I got a bad-ass helmet,

LIKE THIS:
Attachment 41122
a blonde wig

and a big hammer. Attachment 41123

I'm going to make a fur vest and boot covers. I'll make a big belt, and buckle too.

I should have taken pics while I was making the bracer... I'll try to remember to when I make the left one.

anyone going overboard like me this year?

I am. I'm going as an oar.

or what?

DO!!!

Or a drifter, I guess. :lol:

that's not code for h-o-b-o, is it?

Don't forget the cod piece...

What's in your pocket ?

He's got crabs in his cod piece!

and cods in his crab piece!

Jim, each post I love you more and more.

and leave your hat on.

Yes. I may go as flotsam, maybe as jetsam.

No. Let's review:

'overboard'

'oar'

'or what?'

'a drifter'

;)

Then again, hobos probably make good rafts.

those puns don't really hold water

metarzanyoujane

This is all aboat punishing me, isn't it? (Practicing to move to Canada just in case...)

You keel me.

dude - the bad guy on Dexter dressed up as an S&M Viking.

It totally worked for me.

Its coming along nicely. Im gonna put some pics up here shortly. Bracers done, vest done, belt done...boot covers ( like fur leg warmers) nearly done.... Need to make a brooch and a belt buckle, and figure out a kilt or something...

bracers:

first the piece of pleather cut to a shape that will roll around my arm. my forearm is 14" at the top and 9 at the wrist, so i cut it to 16 and 11 so i would have an overlap area.
Attachment 41261

then fold the front edge back, and hem with gold thread
Attachment 41264
Attachment 41263

once done, I stuck brass furniture nails through to give it studs, and set up the velcro closure

Attachment 41262

on the first one I used sparkly embroidery floss, but that was SUCH a pain in the ass I switched to regular gold button thread. here's the first one up close:
Attachment 41265

and finished:

Attachment 41266

now the vest.

I bought a brown dress shirt one size too small at goodwill for $3.50. cut the sleeves and collar off,
Attachment 41267
...and laid it on my 'fur' to cut the shape.
Attachment 41268
I got the fur at JoAnn fabric for $20.

here's half on half off:

Attachment 41269

now both sides are on:
Attachment 41270

I have a ratty looking piece that will drape over my shoulders to cover that part of the shirt you can still see.

I had to put belt loops into the vest to hold my belt up. i just cut slices in each side, tucked a strip of fur into them and sewed the ends onto the inside of the shirt:

Attachment 41271

the shoulder drape thing snaps on at the back of the collar:

Attachment 41272

the boot covers are simple, just squares with snaps to hold them on, and an elastic strap at the ankle:
Attachment 41273
Attachment 41274
Attachment 41275

on my leg:

Attachment 41276

now, I need some kind of kilt, i think

but here's most of it:

Attachment 41278

I'll have to do a neater job with the braids, but I dig the look. you can just see my gold arm ring. thats gold cloth wrapped around some wire. that will need adjusting, and maybe a twin for the other arm.....

Attachment 41279

Nice! You made some quick progress.

You totally look like a viking.

I think Heidi has been hitting the 'roids.

Kidding. Nice costume.

Lol, im gonna go conquer brianna!
Trilby!

AWESOME!

You are the man forever, Jim.

Valhalla I am Coming!

Outstanding!!

I am totally stealing your idea of buying a garment and then sewing the outer fabric onto it. Genius.

I think you should DYE YOUR OWN HAIR TO MATCH THE BRAIDS!!!!

DO IT!!

And dye your eyes to match your gown!

As I posted down toward each new picture of your emerging Viking self, I kept thinking, "Pillage me, Jim! Pillage me hard!"

And then I saw the above post and ....and....well....


I'm now forever in your power, you mighty beast of a man!

:heartpump

You'll have to change your name to Valhalla.

:rimshot:

This costume is going to be so awesome the fat lady is going to sing!!!

Brilliant Jim!

I see what you did there;)

Awesome costume!

Attachment 41317
The annual halloween visit to hershey park was today. I'm tired.

We had a blast as usual....now I just need some TP for my bunghole.

Prefect halloween weather!

well, this is the final product
 

the wig makes me really hot. i think i will probably appear with it on, but take it off after it's been seen for the judging....
Attachment 41360

new additions are the kilt, whic is an elastic waist band doubled up and sewn together, with left over pieces of the pleather cut into necktie shapes and folded over. i used some copper wire to attach them. also, the belt buckle and brooch are done. I also have some cloth of gold hanging down the back of my neck from the helmet, but it is not shown here.

too hot?

lose the longjohns. +10 for authenticity and I *promise* you'll get more attention.

plus, dye your hair!

Mission accomplished - for real !

Great job, Jim. Lots of imagination plus follow-through.

That's great!

You did all that yourself? Super job! You look great. :)

well, 90%. I had my mom do some sewing machine work attaching the fur to the shirt, and edging the belt, but other than that... yeah. All I know is that I'm going to be a Viking for Halloween for the next 5 years.

Awesome, but if I may suggest, the braids need to match the beard. I'd like to see the braids died gingery red. As it is, they look like you just scalped Heidi.

Jim, did you buy the materials at the fabric store? The reason why I'm asking is because my nephew wants to be a bald eagle, but my sister doesn't want to dish out $40. She's planning on making it the way she made his parrot costume last year. However, it was made from fabric, and I like the fur you've got.

Fur was $10/yd at Jo Ann fabric.

Thanks, Jim. I'll check out JoAnn Fabric. Hopefully stores here carry it too.

They have all the weird shit out front for halloween. There were several shades and stripes/spots to pick from.

1. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, # 1334
10911 Northwest Fwy
Houston, TX 77092-7305
713-688-2747

2. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, # 1418
5520 Weslayan St
Houston, TX 77005-1942
713-666-3328

3. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, # 1497
12121 Westheimer Rd Ste 104
Houston, TX 77077-6654
281-597-8686

Thanks, Bruce. Luckily the Northwest Frwy location is near where I live, so I won't have to travel far.

I might add that the for is very soft and warm. I'm thinking that I might wear those for leg warmers if I go skiing this year... and maybe the helmet if I can drink some kind of chin strap. as long as it embarrasses my kids, I'm into it.

Skiing Viking ... Doooooo eeeeettt! With pics, pls.

Beer Helmet.

Fur.

rig

lol voice to text


I think the last missing bit is Woad.

I'm gonna be blue.

I wish youse guys could come.

ohjesus. that's an awesome site. there's an epic halloween costume contest going on there. I have to check myself before I become a cos-play nutter. It would be easy. it happened to V. I saw him shave his head for the sake of awesomeness with his kid. I bet he'd do it again in a heart beat.

I wish every day was Halloween. If we could all wear nutty stuff whenever we felt the urge that would be totally cool. I'd have a vast collection of vests. and maybe hats.

christ... I'm so slappy from no sleep that I can't even sleep and I'm rambling on and on like a crackhead.

gnite pricks!

you look effing awesome!

as for "hot" wearing the wig - dude, I did that for about nine months (wear a wig) so man up and wear that mutha!

this makes me happy today!

You're completely correct on all counts (and yes, there are pics). I do have to tell you that recovering from dyeing your hair is a lot faster than recovering from cutting it all off.

:) * 1000

fun party. Ripley won best Female Costume as Sally from Nightmare before Christmmas, Spencer was Jack White
Attachment 41402

I got Male Runner up. dammit.

Below: From the Left: Megan as Flo (Female Runner Up); Keith and Kristin (A Vampire and his victim); Spencer, Steve (Mayhem) was the Best Male (he's married to Flo), and Ripley
Attachment 41404


Amanda and Megan

Attachment 41406

And John as Waldo, Liz as Top Gun Pilot, and Aaron as Luigi

Attachment 41408

everyone had a good time, no one got arrested, no spills, no broken furniture, no upper deckers. We'll probably do this again next year. I think I'll be Viking.

you wuz robbed! you should have gone all berzerker on their asses!

great pics, looks like a great party!

Ripley's costume is awesome!