The chocolate war

I wasn't going to buy anymore guinea pig costumes this year, partly because I felt like I'd been there done that, but also because time is short supply and who really needs a bunch of model horse Halloween costumes?

Then I was weak and bought some anyway.

I removed the butterfly wings from their blanket and cut the velcro tabs off the Hershey's Bar, and that probably would have been as far as I got had Andrea Brygidyr not tagged me in a guinea pig costume post on Facebook.

She had bought not one, not two but three small animal costumes, and one of them was the Hershey's Bar. I don't know why, but that felt like a challenge.

You know, I have trouble resisting challenges. I pulled out my Hershey's Bar and got to work.

The first order of business was shortening the chest section. Then I added straps. Since this is such a lightweight costume, I decided to treat it like a dress sheet rather than a heavy blanket: One strap across the front, one under the belly and a butt rope.

At this point it could have been done, but something was bothering me.

This is what was bothering me. I hate the way the back part sticks out over Hummingbreeze's tail. The solution, of course, was to add some darts. I really didn't want to, but I knew I wouldn't be happy with it as it was.

There are a lot of good seamstresses in the hobby, but I am not one of them. 

Still, I think this looks a lot better.

The next order of business was to make a halter and leadrope.

Usually, I make nylon halters for costumes, but this time I decided to go with a simple leather halter, the kind people buy for turnout.

It's not the best thing I've ever made. Heck, it's not even the best guinea pig costume I've ever converted. Still, I'm pleased with my day's work.

Thank you for the push, Andrea. I can't wait to see what you do with your Hershey's Bar!