I’ve lived here close to twenty years and I’m still finding new things to do during Carnival season – there’s so much!
Today was the first time I attended a party to decorate shoes for Muses – a glitterific experience! Let me explain – Muses is an all-women’s krewe (or Carnival organization) and they have an incredible parade on the Thursday before Mardi Gras. Hundreds of women ride on the floats in this parade, and they’re known for having super-fabulous throws.
The rarest and most special Muses throw is the hand-decorated shoe – the Muses symbol is the shoe. So members of Muses collect old shoes and decorate them beyond imagination, with inordinate amounts of glitter and other gorgeous details, plus the Muses “M”, or the name “Muses”, and package them specially to hand to lucky viewers on the parade route.
Each rider is only allowed to bring thirty shoes on the float with her, so receiving a Muses shoe during the parade is super-special! I know a member who had a friend commission an “engagement” shoe – she handed it down to him during the parade and he used the shoe to propose! Very romantic – and risky, too! It’s not always easy for riders to find their friends and family when they’re zipping by on a moving float in the dark!
So today I had the chance to help a friend decorate her shoes. We sat around the kitchen table and glittered away, in between snacking on cheese straws and red beans and rice and king cake. What you’ll see in the slide show are shoes still in progress – none of them are “done” yet. But they are already so beautiful – every square centimeter covered in glitter. Enjoy!
That looks like so much fun!
Yes- fun and glittery! I had glitter on my face, clothes, everywhere!
This looks like so much fun, Carla! Love all that glitter!
Mardi Gras = glitter! Yay!
I loved this! Thank you. Posted it on my wall and I an trying how to figure out how to reblog it!
So glad you enjoyed! It was great fun! Cheers!
I love this…I have not heard of the Muses parade. The shoes are fantabulous!
Oh, come for Muses sometime – it’s the best!
What a creative idea..glitteratti shoes!! Love it..
You have a great blog here, mind if I tag along?
Lynne
Yes, please come along, Lynne! So glad you’re here!
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How fantastic!
It must hurt if you get pegged by one of those shoes being thrown off a float.
Those are *impressive* shoes! My mom would LOVE them.
They are very glittery!
I love those shoes. My daughter is 10 and I just shared this story about the Muses with her. We live in Mississippi and I have always been afraid to take her to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. This is the first time I have heard of the Muses. I think we are going to try to attend next year. Hopefully this is a family oriented safe parade. Thanks for sharing this story.
If you didn’t see the news story yet, you’ll enjoy today’s post. If you ever need help with parade viewing spots, please let me know and I’ll help!
Thank you. I’m sure we will need some help. My husband works offshore so my daughter and I have to do alot of things by ourselves if we want to do them. Sheri
Keep in touch!
Very cool post. Love the glittery creations.
Thanks, Ruth! Thinking of you and headed your way tonight (to your blog at least!) to see what you’ve been up to!