left to right- bottom: Yvonne Bernard - owner, Anita,

(back) Trudi Biondi, Norman Bernard and Yvette (Bernard) Bittle

Just Boo-tiful

     It's september 19, 1936, at the famous post war Oriental Gardens Theater in Hollywood.  A murder has just been committed and youre going to help solve it. 

     Most of the props and costumes needed to make that time and place come alive are available at the House of Make Believe in Clearwater.  Also, available at the costume shop are selections of "How to Host a Murder," a board game in which the participants recreate, complete with costumes, props, murder mysteries tinged with glamour and romance. 

     "I like unique and different things, " said owner Yvonne Bernard, discussing some of the shop's unusual offerings in a business devoted totally to fantasy."People today are looking for something.  The mother and father both have to work to survive.  They have to have a moment to say, 'I can have a good time too."' That philosophy is evidenced by Ms. Bernard's wide selection of costumes- disguises including everything from Robin Hood lookalikes to Carmen Miranda wannabees.

     "The history of clothing is very interesting to me," said Ms. Bernard recalling the House of Make Believe's beginnings 12 years ago. " I left nursing to do this.  I had alread been interested in costumes and mother was a seamstress - it was something artistic and creative."

     The House of Make Believe started out in a small store behind MacDonald's Restaurant on Gulf to Bay Blvd.  A need for more space prompted the move to a larger building, and in the past four months the costume shop has moved to its current 1001 N. Hercules Avenue address.

     Ms. Bernard credits the House of Make Believe's success to the hard work of family and friends- a group that includes her latehusband, Patrick, her mother, sister and friends.  Now the Bernard's son and daughters have joined the business.

     "We're a family owned business. I can't write the home office when sales are down," she said. With that kind of mind-set the shop's last move was not made lightly. "Each phase you go through,you're scared each step of the way.  You know you're going to work hard and set realistic goals." She said she also prays alot.

     "With God's help if something is supposed to succeed it will," she said. "I know some people say I'm really way out - or living in a make believe world."