You probably don't have yellow eyes, but I bet Lucy here (pictured in the cozy Halloween costume I designed and sewed this week) could tame you by staring into them if you did (or maybe you do. Maybe you're two days old and have jaundice. I don't know who's reading this thing). Anyway, I don't want to waste your time making fun of infants overdosing on bilirubin. That was actually a reference to Max, protagonist of Where the Wild Things Are — one of the best children's picture books of all time and a current favourite in our home. Every children's book writer should look to that book as a model of just how brilliant a picture book can be. I still haven't seen the Spike Jonze film adaptation. It's on our Netflix queue, but my husband is so sentimental, I don't think he could handle it. He gets sad looking at strangers' baby photos because "they're all grown up now and isn't that just so sad????" (His words.) Especially when a song like Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" is playing. That just kills him.
Anyway, when my toddler asked to be Max for Halloween, I was stoked. She has good taste, clearly. But also I thought it would be fun to design and draft the pattern for it myself.
Here she is holding up the jellybeans I used to bribe her to put on the costume today on our fall family road trip to Connecticut. (Exhibit A that I am not afraid to provide incentives, like any good boss. We all need a Christmas bonus as motivation now and then.)
On Monday I am going to post a pattern for anyone who cares to make their own Max costume. But luckily for you, lazy jaundiced baby, I bought too much white fleece at the WalMart in Upstate New York, which means I am making another one to give away. It's sized to fit an average two-year-old, though it could probably fit anywhere from 12-30 months, depending on how chubby/tall the kid is. All you have to do is comment on this post to enter. If you don't have a toddler of your own, enter to win it for a friend's. You have until midnight Monday (Eastern time). I will email the winner Tuesday morning, and get it in the mail that afternoon. Hopefully it will get to you by Halloween. If not, it can go in the Tickle Trunk (American friends: "Tickle Trunk" is not what you think. Totally wholesome. Look it up). Let the wild rumpus start!
P.S. If you post anonymously, I can't include you in the contest! I need to be able to contact the winner.
I love it! She looks incredible and the costume is perfection. My daughter has made me read Where the Wild Things Are so much that I have it memorized verbatim. I "read" it to her while I drive on road trips. (I have also memorized Knuffle Bunny and Pinkalicious and several other books!)
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous, Sue! (The costume, but your little girl especially!) My 8yr old (boy!!) just joined the sewing club at school, so I may have to hit you up for some pointers!
ReplyDeleteI don't need to win but I have to comment because your kid is so cute it kills me! She's amazing. So is that costume. Love it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The film is sad, not in a good way.
Pick me! Pick me!
ReplyDeleteNo, me! Me! That is some serious cuteness there. The costume looks great, and Lucy is one flippin' stunning kid. I wish she and Charlie could hang out. And be Maxes together. I'd go nuts from the adorableness.
ReplyDelete(As fate would have it, we are right now watching the old Scholastic animated version of Wild Things, with the words along the screen so you can read along. Charlie loses his mind over it.)
Agreed. Lucy is so beautiful - she's adorable!
ReplyDeleteI too don't need to win the costume, but wanted to say I think it is the sweetest costume of all time. I just love it. My little Erik won't stop commenting on it. He's pointing at the screen saying "Jumpa Jumpa Jumpa". Lord knows why!
L.Stinner
Tristan is too big for this costume but I wanted to give you props for being so talented. And for Lucy for being the cutest ever.
ReplyDeleteGood job Beaubs!
great job sue! you are real talent!!! i don't need to win the costume either but i think it's fab! and lucy is a real doll.
ReplyDeletekeep up the good work!
rina
Sue, I maybe creative but I am envious of all your fabric creations. To make something from cloth must be so gratifying and a Halloween costume for your beautiful Lucy. I don't have kids, but every time Halloween rolls around and I see parents in line at Walmart with those fake itchy costumes I always am grateful for my childhood. My mother, a wiz with the sewing machine like yourself could create anything my mind could dream up. My favorite was a rain cloud with rain drops and lighting bolt head band. I feel home made is way more authentic in creating your alter ego for the one day a year and applaud you for creating such a cute little Max.
ReplyDeleteLauren
ooohhhhhhhhhhh I LOOOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have done an incredible job and I would LOVE to put my little Elli in this every single day!!!!! soooooooooooooooo cuuuuuuuute!!!!!
ReplyDelete:)
Would love to see that on my little girl! Way to go (and the movie is great, in a totally different kind of way. It's like nothing you've ever seen, so try to watch it without any expectations because it will blow them out of the water)!!
ReplyDeleteThe costume is gorgeous and it looks nice and warm which is important in Eau Claire Wisconsin.... so yeah, hook me up!
ReplyDeleteIf you can get your sentimental hubby to watch the film, I'd say go for it... I loved it, but it ISN'T a children's film. And I think that at heart it is true to the book and yes, sad but not in the manipulative way that, say... a Disney film can be. It's sad because life is tough and growing up is tough. bittersweet perhaps.
Sue your sewing puts our grade 8 Home Ec aprons to shame! What a cute costume. Just finished sewing Cohen's Bam Bam costume... hoping Itty Bitty Schmitty # 2 will fit into it next year so I have one less costume to make! Would be even cooler to see Cohen as Max next year (and a Halloween free of sewing for me!!!). Love how warm it looks too, means Lucy can show off her beautiful costume and not cover it up with a jacket like we were always forced to do!
ReplyDeleteA-A-A-Adorable!!!
ReplyDeleteAndraea is so going to regret sending me here. Because I AM GOING TO WIN!!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I could make my own if I don't though. Would have been awesome to have my littlest as Max and the two older ones and us parents as wild things. That's pretty much daily life in our house, anyway.
Andraea we love that scholastic dvd too! It's our roadtrip dvd - that and miffy play on endless loops anytime we make the trek into St. John's.
Haha - brain block. Sorry for spelling your name wrong Andreae and for taking so long to notice.
ReplyDeleteDon't include this is in the draw - second comment.
Ha ha. Incentives! Sarah did get that doll we promised her. I said she could get more if she kept up with it. But she said: "I only want this one" and doesn't seem to require any more bribing. She complains about her brother to the new doll. Awesome job on the costume Sue!
ReplyDeleteWow! That costume is incredible!
ReplyDeleteMy computer can barely handle the extreme cuteness on the screen right now. Max is one of Xavier's favourites. His uncle (Max) has a Max tattoo on his arm, so it's like we were destined for this. Our family legacy if you will.
Dreae, thanks for posting this, and we hope you don't mind us winning this costume. But we will gladly rent it out for a small cookie honorarium!
This blog is excellent Sue! We'll be back!
I love this so much that I'd save it for my son Dylan to wear next year! He's 5 weeks old... what can I say? I love to plan ahead and the costume is AWESOME. (By the way, Danielle sent me--your blog is great!)
ReplyDeletei would love to win it, so cute
ReplyDeleteHey Suze, This is only my second time on your blog - I checked it out last week. I had no idea about these hidden talents with the sewing machine. I am one of those moms that totally admires you as opposed to hates you for loving domesticity. I am a sucker for cooking baking and cleaning. I know cleaning what a loser! I can't help it i just love a clean house. Anyhow enough of that, I love your costume and lucy is a doll in it. She looks so big like a 5 year old! Must be the camera angle. Have fun with your contest!
ReplyDeleteThe contest closed last night at midnight. The winner is Alexander from St. John's, Newfoundland! I really do wish, however, there was enough time and enough white fleece to make you all a Max costume. I'll be posting instructions soon for anyone who cares to make their own.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this costume is so cute!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! do you sell them? i absolutely love it (and she's so cute, just like my little Rory).
ReplyDeleteThanks and that i have a keen offer: How To Properly Renovate A House average cost to remodel a house
ReplyDelete