Jon Snow riding Ghost from Game of Thrones

Happy Halloween 2014! It's a new year and I'm trying a new style of costume. After 5 years of big head costumes, I'm trying what I call a "riding" costume. It was so successful this year that I'll probably try another one next year. No idea what the topic will be, but I love it for a variety of reasons:

• I can see the people around me without needing to use a wireless camera transmitter and monitor inside the costume. It's just so much fun seeing everyone smile and crowd around me! After so many hours of effort, it's really fun to have people enjoy the results.
• It's less hot. It's still pretty hot, but my head wasn't covered and I was able to wear shorts inside the costume. At the end of the night I actually felt sick due to the constant temperature difference between my legs (warm), chest (hot), and head (cool). But I was alright after sleeping it off.
• People can actually see my face. This is mostly a branding thing. People might actually recognize me next year and realize I am the same person making big costumes each year.

This year I actually started working on the costume September 1 instead of October 1. It still took about the same amount of time (50 hours), but it was much more relaxing to do it over a longer stretch. It also made it easier to order things online as I worked. It wasn't necessary for me to get rush shipping in order to get things done on time.

Honestly, this was a fantastic experience. I liked the costume after I was done (that doesn't always happen) and pretty much everyone was very enthusiastic about it. Some even said it was my best ever.

designing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume
building the Jon Snow & Ghost costume
putting on costume at iPass
wearing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume on Halloween at iPass
(NOT DONE) wearing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume on Halloween for Trick or Treaters

designing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume
building the Jon Snow & Ghost costume
putting on costume at iPass
wearing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume on Halloween at iPass
(NOT DONE) wearing the Jon Snow & Ghost costume on Halloween for Trick or Treaters