Wicked Witch of the West's Hat

[MaulWalker]

What makeup are you guys using? It looks a little too dark and too even if that makes sense. That was about the only criticism I can give here. Unless you don't bring them back out this year at D*Con. Then I'll criticize you for that.

We used PAX - a mixture of Creatix and medical adhesive. Goes on great over the appliances, doesn't rub off like grease paint, but a b!tch to get off of your skin. We probably won't be doing that again!

 

[MGM1060FAN]

Great costume! Love the broomstick, too! I've been trying to make one for years but the correct broom straw has eluded me. Some have suggested I use raffia but it doesn't seem to fall like it does in the movie. Others have said they imported special grass from overseas. May I ask what you used? I had the stick portion made several years ago but I still need the two silver rings as well as the straw. Your help would be greatly appreciated! I do have a full-size reproduction of the witch's hourglass which was made by an artist on the west coast. The detail is fantastic!

 

[Shylaah]

I can't find/see the original pic :cry
somebody clue me!!!

MGM1060FAN, please post pic of your hourglass if you have some!
That was the scariest moment in the movie for me when I was wee.....
when the witch slammed the hour glass in front of Dorothy and told her she was gonna die!!
Yeah, red sand nightmares for a while after that!!!

Shylaah

 

[MaulWalker]

Great costume! Love the broomstick, too! I've been trying to make one for years but the correct broom straw has eluded me. Some have suggested I use raffia but it doesn't seem to fall like it does in the movie. Others have said they imported special grass from overseas. May I ask what you used? I had the stick portion made several years ago but I still need the two silver rings as well as the straw. Your help would be greatly appreciated! I do have a full-size reproduction of the witch's hourglass which was made by an artist on the west coast. The detail is fantastic!

The broom straw was a real issue to find. I got very lucky tho - I was walking by a Pottery Barn and they had bunches of grass displayed in vases. They were on close out, so I only paid about $3/bunch. As I remember the grass was imported from China.

The metal "rings" are made of aluminum sheeting I bought at a hobby shop. I cut long strips that would overlap at least an inch and rounded off the corners to make them less lethal. I drilled two small holes in each end and threaded 16 guage wire through the holes and twisted the wire. You have to be pretty close to see it - it doesn't show for photos.

 

[MaulWalker]

I can't find/see the original pic :cry
somebody clue me!!!

MGM1060FAN, please post pic of your hourglass if you have some!
That was the scariest moment in the movie for me when I was wee.....
when the witch slammed the hour glass in front of Dorothy and told her she was gonna die!!
Yeah, red sand nightmares for a while after that!!!

Shylaah

I'm afraid I lost the hat pictures when my hard drive crashed. You can see some more of it in the official costume pics from the Dragon*Con costume contest here Costuming Contest

 

[Shylaah]

Thanks MaulWalker. Can't make out the dress, but the hat and broom are certainly awesome!!! Great Job :thumbsup

Also, that sleeve you describe I believe is called a leg of mutton sleeve, or gigot sleeve.....if anyone else is looking for a pattern or to mod one.....

Shylaah

 

[MGM1060FAN]

Thanks for letting me know where you stumbled upon the grass for the broomstick. I keep looking in the craft stores but haven't found anything yet. When I have come across what I think is the right grass it's about half the length it should be! I've been looking for YEARS! I also like your solution for the silver rings.

I will post some pictures of the hourglass as soon as I get a computer at home. I've been emailing from the library and from work.

Another witch prop I've been looking for is the large crystal ball. Last year I finally found a company that manufactures clear acrylic spheres so I ordered a 22" one with an 8" opening. When it arrived I was disappointed to see a line (not a seam) going around the entire ball. It must be from the mold. It's too distracting as it interferes with the clarity of any image I place inside the ball. A frustrating experience but I did get my money back and was able to keep the ball.

 

[MGM1060FAN]

I can't find/see the original pic :cry
somebody clue me!!!

MGM1060FAN, please post pic of your hourglass if you have some!
That was the scariest moment in the movie for me when I was wee.....
when the witch slammed the hour glass in front of Dorothy and told her she was gonna die!!
Yeah, red sand nightmares for a while after that!!!

Shylaah

I'd be glad to send photos of the hourglass via my cell phone but I'm not sure how to exchange our information privately on this forum.

 

[Shylaah]

PM sent.....

Shylaah

 

[sblanck]

The cone is 14" high; the brim to crown measurements are 5 1/2" in the front, 8" in the back, 5" on the left, and 5 1/2" on the right.

Hello

what is the overall diameter of the brim? Just from looking at those measurements seems it wouldn't be a circle.

Thanks

 

[MaulWalker]

It isn't a circle, more of an oval. I marked the head size and then marked the points on the brim from the head size. I then connected the dots with a smooth line.

Lynn

 

[sblanck]

Yeah that is kind of what I came up with using CAD software looked really odd. Going with the 20" diameter one that I think the second version of the hat.

 

[MGM1060FAN]

Wow, it's been more than a year since my last posts on this thread! I'm glad RPF sent me a reminder email!

After countless visits to local craft stores I STILL have not found the right straw for the broomstick! If anyone can lead me in the right direction please let me know.

Just this week I found something that might work for the 2 metal rings. Google "tart rings" or "baking rings." They come in various sizes, small enough to use for this prop, I think.

I'd like to make the Wicked Witch's hat some day, too! I watched "The Wizard of Oz" every year on TV when I was growing up in the 70s, and she was the one character I most looked forward to seeing. I was actually a little sad when she melted, knowing that I would not be able to see her "beautiful wickedness" again for a whole year. As an adult I have discovered so many other OZ fans out there who felt the same way. I love it!