My Batman Face

When we held our Batman program this fall, I was repeatedly asked why I chose to dress as the Joker rather than Batman himself. The answer is actually twofold. 1. I wanted to wear the purple blazer again so I could justify having purchased it. 2. This picture right here:

I'd already done a Batman costume for Halloween two years ago. It's a fun costume but I wanted to try something new this year.

My Tonks face

This one is a serious flash-back, the costume that started it all. This is my costume from a Harry Potter program we held about three or four years ago. The picture quality isn't great so you can't see the purple and green in my hair. Also not visible are the safety pins along my pant seams or my combat boots.

Looking for my regularly scheduled book review? Rejoin me tomorrow for my review of Patricia Dunn's Rebels by Accident.

My Halloween face

I have never purchased a Halloween costume. Growing up, we made our costumes out of things we already had around the house. That habit of making unusual costumes out of the commonplace has followed me into adulthood. This year's costume is the most store-bought I've ever had. I found a cow costume at a discount store. The hood and gloves were missing so it was ridiculously cheap. A t-shirt hood with craft foam ears and a pair of stretch gloves easily replaced the missing pieces. And because I can't do anything simply, I didn't want to be a plain old cow. So this is the variation I came up with.

Super cow, defender of Earth

Accompanied here by Zippety as Captain Underpants

I also considered another variation, rejected because someone suggested it might make me look like a flasher cow. Plus it covered up my tail. 

Doctor Moo

 

 

My Viking face

Here is a flash-back to last Halloween when I dressed as a viking. It was a very easy costume to put together and not too hot to wear. I did get some weird looks from the little storytime kids, though. I'm pretty sure I scared one of them.

My summer faces

As part of our summer reading program this year the head of our youth department, Keli, decided to set the kids a challenge. We wanted them to read a total of 1500 books over the course of the program (a small improvement on last year's 1400ish). As they reached various milestones along the way we wore assorted costumes as a reward. Here's what my summer looked like costume-wise.

Red Day - 100 books

Sports/College Day - 250 books

Cape Day - 500 books

Hat Day - 750 books

Clash Day - 1000 books

Crazy Hair Day - 1250 books

And the biggie:

Mad Scientist Day - 1500 books

My Velma Dinkley face

Two years ago, as part of our summer reading program, we had a teen program on forensics and police procedure. For added fun, several of us on the staff dressed up as members of Mystery Inc (aka the Scooby Doo gang) So, here I am as Velma Dinkley. It's hard to see here but the outfit included orange knee socks and brown shoes.
 

Jinkies, it was fun.

My Hobbit face

As I mentioned last night, I'll be participating in the 48 Hour Book Challenge this weekend. So, you get the many faces post a little early this month.

This costume was from the Hobbit program we did for teen summer reading last year. Again, most of this was stuff I already had around the house. The Hobbit feet were really simple to make with craft foam, a little paint, and some brown yarn. You can't tell from this photo but the leaf on my cape has my name written in Elvish (one of the program activities).

My Effie Trinket face

When we decided to do a Catching Fire program, there was no question as to whether or not we would do any costuming. After a lot of debate I decided to model my costume after a resident of the Capitol. Green pants, green shirt over a yellow shirt, and gold suspenders with yellow sprayed hair and lots of gold make-up. I certainly got a lot of weird looks.

Not sure what this face was about

This hair took a prodigious amount of colored hair spray. It was quite hard to the touch.

My Willy Wonka face

I quite enjoy dressing up for programs, so when we came up with the idea for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory event I knew I had to do something big. This costume is partly inspired by the description of Willy Wonka in the book and partly by the costume worn by Gene Wilder in the classic film. The costume was a hit with the young participants.

 

Interestingly, the only part of this costume purchased specifically for this event was the purple blazer. Those green pants are a regular part of my wardrobe.

The many faces of Marfalfa - pirates

We're pretty fond of dressing up in costumes at my library. It's a great way to advertise a program. So, I'll be sharing photos of myself (and sometimes of one or more of my coworkers) in costume in this new feature. You can expect to see these about once a month.

This particular costume was for our end of summer reading party last year.