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"Everyone wants to be a pirate," Dysinski said. "It‘s But, unquestionably, the most popular costume this season is pirate suits. The variety of rental cosâ€" tumes she offers ranges from trees and sevenâ€"foot tall chickens, to superhero and flamenco dancer outâ€" fits. She made about 50 per cent of the 400 to 600 cosâ€" tumes in her new store, and over the next few months she hopes to increase that figure to 90 per cent. Her costumes have been worn by actors in numerous theatrical productions, including Moulin Rouge, Julius Caesar and the Wizard of Oz. She went to George Brown College for two years and took pattern drafting courses, so now, in addition to making costumes, she creates patterns. "I‘ve always wanted to do costumes, in one facet or another." The 24â€"yearâ€"old previâ€" ously worked at Mavis Theâ€" atrical Supplies, a job she thoroughly enjoyed until the store closed. z> & ; New Waterloo costume Dysinski took this lifeâ€" long passion one step furâ€" ther earlier this month when she opened her own cosâ€" tume store â€" Queen of Hearts Costumes â€" at 91 King St. N., in uptown Waterloo. "Sew scary‘ By the time she reached high school, she was making her own clothes and Halâ€" loween costumes â€" a task she relished and worked on all year. Her mother was a seamâ€" stress, and Dysinski used her extra fabric to clothe her dolls. lexandra Dysinski A;b:gan making clothes d costumes for her toys when she was a little girl. By Jennirer Ormsron Chronicle Staff "One day is busier than the previous. The response has been absolutely tremenâ€" So far business has been steadily picking up, Dysinski said. "It‘s as good ésia‘:_c:r.ldy store," she said. Waterloo resident Kathy Proksch ventured into the store for the first time, and she too was impressed with the array of merchandise. "I think we have the best selection, especially in the masks and wigs departâ€" ment." Gerlach said it‘s the store‘s broad selection that sets it apart from its comâ€" petitors. They carry a line of handaaftedwoodweapons, which cost between $24 and $52, made by a local craftsperson. Queen of Hearts has a large selection of accesâ€" sories, like masks, wigs and props, for sale. She sells her customâ€" made costumes as well, and specializes in "big and tall, short and stout." And customized rentals generally cost $40 to $100, plus an extra $15 fee, although she can‘t take any more orders before Halâ€" loween. Pirate costumes cost about $50 to rent for one day. Most of her rental cosâ€" tumes are between $20 and $100. In fact, the most unusual costume requests she‘s had are for a pink, frilly pirate suit and for a bear mascot sporting buccaneer garb. "Pirates have always been one of the more popuâ€" lar costumes. I think this just makes it the big one." The Pirates of the Caribbean movie sparked this trend, said Eric Gerlach, Dysinski‘s boyfriend, whose responsibilities at the store range from stocking sheives to providing financial advice. pirates, pirates, pirates." dous from the hood." The owner of a new costume store â€" her boyfriend, Eric Gerlach, 25, mode BUSINESS Dysinski predicts her shop will delight Halloween enthusiasts neighbour store â€" Queen of Hearts Costumes â€" , model some of the 91 King St. N. s business _ will _ bustle tumes at many occ throughout _ the year _ other than Halloween because people wear cosâ€" Christmas, New â€" Alexandra Dysinski, 24, and store‘s merchandise. many occasions JENNIFER ORMsTo® PHOTO "We just want people to have fun and be inspired." For more information, call the store at 519â€"886â€" And that‘s what she hopes to provide for her customers. "When people come into the store, whether they purâ€" chase anything or not, I want them to be inspired. I want their imaginations to start churning. "It was the bewsrthal loween I‘ve ever had." So in about three hours she put together a polarâ€" fleece lined cloak, which she wore over her costume. But â€" as Halloween approached, and frost blanâ€" keted the yard, she knew her outfit wouldn‘t do. She decided to go as a pirate wench, and wear a short skirt, leather corset and lacy shirt. Dysinski‘s most memoâ€" rable Halloween was in 1998, when her friends held a haunted backyard for kids. costume wearer. I would not advise anyone who has never worn anything restricâ€" tive or corseted before to put this dress on," she said jokingly. When she wears the 50â€" pound gown, the corset reduces her waist size by 12 inches. 200 hours to make The $6,000 baroque princess dress â€" an awardâ€" winning piece â€" took her One of her most prized costumes is so valuable she doesn‘t even keep it in her shop. "We‘re kept jumping all yearâ€"round." She also makes cusâ€" tomized bathing suits for synchronized swimmers. Eve, St. Patrick‘s Day, Easter, Mardi Gras, Pride Week and the Royal Medieval Faire will all be busy times for her shop, she said, adding there are many theme parties and weddings in the summer. "It‘s not for the causal