Texas Homecoming (Mum's the Word)

Round about September a very interesting section pops up in the craft stores here in Texas. There are ribbons and trinkets, beads and flowers and bells and whistles and other amazing items in the local school colors.

It is Homecoming Season in the Great State of Texas.

"For the uninitiated, a homecoming mum is an oversize mum corsage decorated with three-foot long streamers in the school colors, bells, charms, banners, little plush animals done up in bows, sparkly letters, even Christmas tree lights.

It is usually worn in the middle of the chest like a breastplate with the streamers flowing down the front of the body almost touching the ankles. It is, in short, a fashion statement.

But homecoming mums are so much more than that. They are a sign that somebody loves you. They’re no longer given only by boyfriends. Mums can come from friends, your mom, dad, aunt, or even a booster boy (a boy-friend who is not your date)." ~ from TheArtfulCrafter.com

Well, this being the weekend of Maddy's Sweet Sixteen marked her very first date. She was asked to the Homecoming Game.

In Texas tradition, the boy gives the girl a Homecoming Mum and the girl gives the boy a Homecoming Garter. So, off we went to a friend's house for a quick lesson; to the craft store for some supplies; and to the coffee table to create.

Here is the Garter that Maddy and I made for her date.
(red and gold are her colors, but he goes to a different school which has black and gold as their colors- so we added token black accents)

Here is Maddy wearing her Homecoming Mum. It was truly gorgeous! Her date made it with his sister's help. There were so many beautiful ribbons and trinkets.
They also made her a cute little Finger Mum.

Here they are wearing their Homecoming garb on their way to the game.

Her school lost. They were creamed, actually. She didn't care one bit.