~ A Wee Bit More Halloween Decorating, the Missing Jack O'Lantern, Pumpkin

This time of year is so much fun that you can feel the excitement in the air. All the little (and big!) kids waiting as patiently as possible for that big day. Chocolate Day! OK, so maybe it's really called Halloween.

Last year I really thought that Sweet Hubby had broken my "almost vintage" pumpkin Jack O' Lantern that I loved so much, and of course I was sad about it. It's been with us since the early 80's. Only "vintage" by some loose definitions of today. Somehow even the 80's seems like vintage these days. It is fashioned more like those which are older though. The jack o' lantern was handmade by a potter. I don't remember his name, nor any of the other things he made. But I love how it is obviously handcrafted and not mass produced from a mold. Of course I have some of those, too.

I decided to look again for the missing pumpkin. When I asked Sweet Hubby before if he had seen it or remembered breaking anything that looked like it, he said maybe he had.... seen something broken that could have been a pumpkin. Sweet man, confessing just in case. But this time I found it. Right where I thought it was supposed to be. Of course I'm sure it was in a parallel universe. Somewhere, somebody was admiring my wonderful jack o' lantern last year. If "they" do measure time in years, or at all. I'm happy that my jack o lantern pumpkin returned to me.

He's showing his age these days. He's a little cracked and showing some signs of getting older. But that's fine. He's just perfect the way he is.

~ Halloween Decorating, White Pumpkin - Black Pumpkin? Yes, Please

Have you had fun visiting all the Halloween Blog Party sites? I'm about half way through, I think. If you run into a few that don't have many Halloween pictures or a post, just keep going. I started at the end and now working my way up the list. Usually people start at the top and don't make it to the bottom. So be sure to visit the ones on the end, too!

How-to:
The little pumpkins were either green or orange ones that I bought years ago. I liked the shape and I'm really looking for ways to reuse anything so I don't add to the garbage in the world.

These are the foam ones that are so cheap.
The secret is Fusion Spray Paint. Fusion is made for painting plastic, but I have found that it is one of the best all around paints. I've painted wrought iron outside and it holds up very well. It is also excellent on wood.
(They are not shiny, it's just the light from the window.)

~ Halloween Decorating Countdown, White Pumpkins & More

2008 - The last couple of years I've started adding some white pumpkins to the mix of Halloween decorations.Years ago, there were only orange faux pumpkins and no white ones at all. Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart both seemed to start featuring them about the same time. This year, I was so sure I would swing all the way over to doing all of my Halloween decorating in just black and white. But it was not quite Halloween-ish enough after all. We just needed a  touch of orange. This is the only time of year that happens. Pumpkin colors, terracotta shades, yes, but not orange. Suddenly about the time the maple trees start showing off their fall colors, that little tiny once-a-year-orange desire hits. It makes Halloween more fun as well to embrace a color that I don't usually use.

I changed the bottom book underneath the small pumpkin that was posted before. First of all the book was dark and didn't show up as well on the black marble, and the one that is there now has so much more character and is very torn up! Perfect.

The larger white pumpkin wears a monogram transfer, which has the tiniest touch of orange around the medallion. You might need glasses on to see that though.
The pumpkins are not actually "white" but more of a cream color. This color does actually occur in nature so they don't look quite so fake.

The spiders continue to have quite a party on the entry table, and one of them seems to think she can snatch that silver crown from the pumpkin. But on the other side of the table, a nice size raven is watching him. Stay tuned for more.

See ya' soon!

~ Decorating for Halloween Continues & Meet Emily Grace

I simply love celebrating each season of the year, and Fall and Halloween are two of my favorite things. Just a little something here and there to remind us of the new time of year filled with new hopes and dreams, and cooler weather.

In years past, few people decorated outside, or inside their homes for Halloween. As a kid, none of us would have noticed. We were way too busy thinking about trick or treating. It was about how much candy we could find in such a short time, just one little evening before returning home and to bed. Kids went out all alone, no need for parents to tag along. There would be so many kids running around and going house to house. I can't really remember any houses that didn't give out candy. I really think that Martha Stewart fanned the flame of desire for Halloween decorating. And that's a good thing, most of the time.

The juxtaposition of an ornate mirror with a shredded cheesecloth draped on it is exactly what I look for in decorating anytime of the year. Mix it up, make it unexpected, and don't follow a cookie cutter formula. Toss in some spiders, with a touch of glitter, and it's just the right recipe for fun, whimsy, a touch of elegant, at least for Halloween anyway.

And speaking of fun and whimsical, meet Emily Grace. Each one of these art prints becomes my new favorite. After hours of dressing them up, and adding friends for them to play with, they have their own personality to me. Emily and her friends are in the shop now and available for quick delivery before Halloween.

See ya' soon! I'm happy to stopped by.

~ Halloween Decorating, Whimsical, Elegant or Scary

No matter what style you like to decorate with, Halloween is just plain fun. What other holiday gives everyone the OK to be mischievously like a kid again? When doing your own decorating for this fun holiday, you can go in any direction you wish. It can be a bit scary and ghoulish, which I've seen Martha Stewart do very well, or it can be a bit elegant and whimsical.

The best place to start is by looking around your own haunted mansion, or your sweet little cottage, and find things you already have to embellish and build upon. What do you do you see that you can transform into something else, or add a few touches to make it a part of the season? Old jars, books, fabric, paper, photos, etc., and I bet you can think of a bunch more! Think of new ways to display your old decorations with some new (old) things you have somewhere else in the house.

Since I've been using black and white and damask for a long time, it was the perfect way to start my Halloween decor. And I still have no sofa in the living room and that room remains in the "meantime" stage, I almost skipped doing anything on the entry table. But I missed not having the fun of doing something to usher in the holiday. So the entry table and mantel will have be about all that is decorated this year. And a little bit outside, of course. I need to see a smiling Jack O Lantern on the porch, too.

Doesn't every pumpkin deserve a hat if it wants one? This little cone hat was fairly simple to make. It's just an embellished cone using damask paper, with a flat round bottom. To bring a touch of elegance and to the candle I, wrapped it in some damask paper, too. (Although I lit the candle for the picture, I would not leave it lit with paper on it.)

I'll continue to post a few little peeks until the Halloween Blog Parties begin.

I love making Treasuries on Etsy. The one above came from a bit of insomnia last night. It happened to open at midnight. So the name is "Midnight Hour." Lots of great goodies, mostly from the Design Style Team (InteriorDesignTeam)

This treasury has ended, but you can find some beautiful things on Etsy by searching "interiordesignteam" or "cssteam"

See ya' soon!

~ Halloween GiveAway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who came by
and left a little note.

The Winner is TEAH! Congrats!!

Send me an email with your address and I'll have the Vintage Witch Print in the mail.



There are a couple of new prints in the shop. One is the art print above.
Halloween goodies for just a little bit longer.
Halloween is getting so close and I haven't even bought snickers yet! Oh my.

See ya' soon!

~ Halloween GiveAway #2

In years past, a dead car battery could send this little household into a tizzy. But today, it's all OK.

Darling Daughter took her car in for service on Saturday and used her Daddy's truck for the night. She called to tell me that she really thought the battery sounded weak. I told the Daddy, but... well you guessed it.

This morning the battery was a goner. But I remembered that our insurance policy had a little add on for just such a thing. So I'm waiting for a battery jump so I can take Sweet Hubby's little truck for some new starting power.

Don't you wish you could just go plug yourself in some days and get some new energy to run on!? At least the cooler weather does give many of us a little boost.

So all the time I have for a new post is to do a little

GiveAway.

I think this print is so cute and fun. Just celebrating a little good magic in all of us, especially if you love vintage.

POST YOUR COMMENT HERE
and I'll pick a name next TUES OCT 7th.

(I might be out of town that day, but
I'll announce the winner as soon as I return.)

See ya' soon!

~ Fall Decorating, Last Day Nie Nie Benefit Sale

Oh I love this! Funny, it's mine. I don't quite remember this arrangement. But I love that big gourd. Now where is it? This is from 2006 and the previous fall photo with the large floral (thanks for the compliments on it) is from 2005. What fun finding older photos and seeing what you did before. Last year I used more of the white pumpkins, but I haven't found all of them yet either. But now that I look at the picture, half of those small gourds were real! That does remind me of the beautiful bag of real ones I found last year. So those are gone for sure. But I hope I have a photo somewhere. I'd like to do that again.

(UPDATE on Benefit Sale: All Sold!
What big hearts people have.
Thank YOU to all who participated!)

Last day of the Nie Nie Benefit Sale on Etsy. So amazing at the kindness and generosity of everyone. 1 pm EST.

Two Beau Bunny Prints will be up for sale there today. Since I will be mailing these out, be sure to let me know if you purchase one so I can send you a little surprise. But the sweet ladies who purchased from my shop after the benefit ones sold, I sent you something, too.

See ya' soon!

~ Nie Nie Benefit Sale!! Tues - Friday, Sept 22 - 26

UPDATE: Wednesday
SEE >> Morgan's Blog for updates.
Click below.

Sale CONTINUES again TODAY, &
Thurs, Friday.. at 1 pm EST.
Morgan says she still has more fabulous things!
Click on the box/picture below for updates at Morgan's Blog.

If you missed getting a Beau Bunny Print

and would still like to purchase one
as part of the Benefit Sale,

I have donated 2 more

and they will be for sale!

The Nie Nie Benefit Sale at Etsy
starts TODAY, 1 pm EST, 10 am PST
Click on the box/picture above to go to
Morgan Moore's Blog
for details and FAQ's.


CLICK BUTTON ABOVE TO GO TO ETSY SALE.

This is a SALE, no bids. You like it, you buy it.
Quick and Easy.

See ya' tomorrow for the winner of the Beau Bunny Bandito Print.

~ Halloween Chandelier

A new art print in the shop for Halloween. Isn't if fun? I love mixing things which interest me the most for decorating everyday with a holiday. Chandeliers and Halloween seemed like a great combination.

I'm watching the guys putting the roof on and waiting for the landscape guy who put the French drain in to come by for $$. It's great to get these things done but not relaxing fun. Although it all needs to be done, it's always a bit of a surprise writing the checks. Deep breath in!

Watching the weather channel during hurricane season is a way of life. Even when you stop holding your breath in hopes that the next one will miss you, you still watch hoping and praying for where it is headed. What a season! Hope you are all doing OK and none of the storms have caused any real damage to any of you.

I'll be back when the dust settles a little bit. See ya' soon!

~ Happy Holiday Weekend & Beau Bandito

Beau Bunny Bandito is making a new appearance in the Etsy shop
and I thought you might like to see him.

Beau always makes me smile, but this little rascal with his bandito mask trying to pretend he hasn't gotten any treats yet just cracks me up! I wonder if anyone will fall for it and forget that he already got a treat from them.

It will be a fabulous Autumn to have hurricane season over with this year. Watching the weather for us, it makes me so worried about the people where the storms will hit even if they miss us.

They will be putting the new roof on our house next week. Yes, fall will have to be quieter and less stressful!

Have a Happy & Safe Holiday!

~ Black Glazed Finish for Painted Furniture & Cabinets

** SEE THE UPDATE TO THIS POST ON HOW TO DO A BLACK GLAZE HERE **

When thinking of writing this tutorial I was considering what the differences might be between doing this black glaze the antiqued white (mocha) glaze that I have written about previously.

A lot of people like wood cabinets rather than white. I love both. Some days I love one, then the next day I love the other look. And it can switch at any time.
In addition to changing your white cabinets into a richer more finished look with glazing, you can also do this for wood cabinets. If you look at cabinet doors, etc. at the stores you will see that they often have a black or brown glaze on them, as do many good furniture pieces. This is pretty easy to do once you get used to it. Although this is simple, it can be frustrating at first, but once you get the feel for what the paint does, it is really easy.

1. Black Paint, one little bottle of craft paint will do most jobs.
2. Glaze, either the same used on walls, or use a bottle from the craft store found either in with the artists supplies or craft paints
3. Small art brushes
4. Rags, lots of them.
5. Latex gloves are quite handy to have, or you will have black hands most likely
6. Small container or bucket of water to dilute and clean up as you go.

Start with a small container and mix some glaze and a little water. Just enough water so that the paint is thin enough to run into the crevices. (Although I have done this with just water to make it thin enough, water dries quicker than glaze. If you feel good with the technique you can do it with just water.)

Add black paint to the ratio of 1 part paint to 3 or 4 parts glaze & mix.

Add more glaze or water as needed to control the strength & thickness of the paint.

You will use a small artist brush to brush on like a pin stripe line beside the moldings or lines of the piece. As soon as you paint that area, take a damp rag on your index finger, angled away from the painted area and wipe it clean, leaving the glaze where you want it. (Sounds tough, but it gets easy!)

Carved areas or crevices: Brush on the glaze into all the deepest areas and along side any moldings. The black can stain a bit where ever it touches. So be sure to control it. Keep water and damp rags nearby to remove from any area as soon as you need to. (If it gets on the wood where you really don't want it, Comet will usually remove it right away.)

The smaller the line and the more detailed you want it, the smaller the brush to a certain degree. You will not be using any large brushes for this kind of detail glaze.

I like to splatter and speckle mine when I'm done. You do this by loading the brush with watered down paint, and tapping the brush on something hard over the area you want splattered, and it will splatter specks from the tips of the brush.

OR you can use an old toothbrush. Load it with watered down paint, and then use your thumb to splatter the paint by pulling the bristles back and letting them go. Some old paint brushes are short and stiff enough to it that way as well.

The glaze outlines the molding shapes and really adds a lot to ordinary cabinets. Lots of people have done this who had not painted much or at all before. Once they got the feel for it, they all did a fabulous job with it.

~ See Y'All Soon ~