The Elders - Burning Man Theme Camp 2009

www.windycity novelties.com and www.tattoosales.com are the two websights that we used to purchase our LED lights and tattoos. The LED items from Windy City that were purchased were the following: wine glasses, 7 color #LIT 802; led rainbow fiber optic ncklce #LIT 050; LED lite-up LEI necklace #LIT179 and the LED spinner wand rainbox #LIT 008. The wand Dan had to totally rewire so that it would run continuously and would run off of 3 C batteries.(If you do not modify the wand it burns up too many batteries and the button has to be held down continuously to keep it spinning and glowing.) He has devised PVC pipe to mount the spinners on so that they can be attached to our bicycles at night and will flash above our heads.

Since last year I have periodically gone to thrift stores on and off Vashon Island collecting costumes. I have washed and stored them in appropriately labeled bags...i.e. Dan, Carol, scarves, hats, sarongs, community costumes etc. Yesterday I began ironing, mixing and matching my clothes and getting everything organized so that we are ready to go in August. For myself there are about 12 outfits that can be mixed and matched. In addition, I have collected lots of brightly colored sarongs and scarves that can be tied to lines that need markers so that we do not trip. At the same time the scaves add a festive air and the sarongs provide privacy under our Kelty sunshade. I also use the long, brightly colored scarves and sarongs to enhance my costumes and hats by tying them around my hat, head or body. From my cycling clothes, a couple of tie died looking skorts will also be put to good use as well as some padded cycling underwear for those long days on the bicycle seat. This year Sue and I also bought black boots to protect our feet from the playa dust and to look cool. Dan has two utilikilts that he had made here in Seattle. His favorite head gear is a wild looking long black wig. For warmth and evening use he wears jester hats. In addition, I have found some wild, brightly colored shirts and pants that he wears during the day for sun protection and in the evening for warmth over his polar fleece.

Sue and I are working on an easy to make wrap around, totally non traditional, kilt. We ordered a pattern from SSS a site that sells a pattern for a runners kilt. We're modifying it to be a wraparound, sort of sarong style, part loin cloth, and part kilt.