Ode to Scary Books & Movies

Cultivate your appetite for old scary movies and books with these awesome burlap halloween ornaments that pay homage to the likes of Vincent Price and Beverly Garland. Each one deserves a spotlight of its own. Let's roll the tape!

Some fake fall bushes had just the right kind of 'flower' that worked with The Forgotten Planet. Remember the glow-in-the-dark stars from the Raven Lantern post? A few found their way onto this ornament as well.

And the washers that held those round wooden balls that I painted for that post found their way into The Robot & The Man ornament.

Strategic placement of the top two buttons echo the eye of our star, Beverly Garland, in Not of This Earth! Yikes!  By the way, I discovered these fabulous movie posters at the blog "Found in Mom's Basement." It's listed as a free art resource for vintage ads on my sidebar. The book jackets are also from there.  

I laughed upon seeing the Invasion of the Saucer-Men poster --it looks like someone else didn't like their brussel sprouts growing up, either!

And of course, I had to make one of the House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price!  After having created all these decorations, I now can't wait to see those kitchy old movies.  


But before we pop that popcorn, let's take a look at how to make burlap movie poster halloween ornaments:

Adventures of Benny

Meet Benito.  Benny for short.  He's got lots of purrrsonality and spunk! 

 We had SUCH a great weekend, which is why I'm just now getting around to posting. Hubby and I got a new camera and spent the weekend outside playing in the perfect fall weather. Benito, never to be one to be left out, invited us for a game of Hedge Apple Soccer.

 "Can you pet me now, mama?  Ok.  How about now? Well then, what about now?"

 "I know that hedge apple is around here somewhere...."

"Oh this fall weather is blissful...."

"Wait. What were we doing? ...."

"Oh yeah...HEDGE APPLE SOCCER!"

"Never mind. I'm so over that."

Q: What's your favorite thing to do on a weekend?

Gratitude for Pets

From Tuxedo Cat to Tuxedo Oreos!

*Catch MORE of Benny's antics here*

Bewitched!

Obsession is perhaps too light a word for what happened to me as the inspiration for these pillows took hold!  These enchantresses will help you celebrate Halloween in high style.

It started with one, and quickly became two, then a third demanded to be created. By this time, I had half a coven completed.

Vintage photos had me under a spell and were perfect for this project!

Pretty soon, pumpkins, ravens and pitchforks demanded their familiar place in the lineup.

Q: What's been your latest creative obsession?


Here's how you create these bewitching pillows:
(Be sure to click on the link to see more photos!)

Raven Lantern

 "And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting...
...just above my chamber door...
and the lamp-light o'ver him streaming throws his shadow on the floor..."
Edgar Allen Poe "The Raven"

After transforming last week's jar with fall flowers, I started seeing halloween-inspired versions in my mind's eye. My hubby liked how the glow lights created the perfect little night light, so I made The Raven version just for him.

In this one I included glow-in-the-dark stars and wooden balls, along with a few black glass marbles to play off the raven.

 In the dark the lantern glows an eery electric blue with ghostly green suspended stars and 'planets.'

back side of Raven Lantern

I have no idea how to capture the glowing effect you see in the dark while having enough light to show the decorated top of the jar. So, these photos are the best I could do. It's way cooler in person!

"Quoth the raven: 'Nevermore.'"

Q: What's one of your favorite halloween poems or songs?

Here's how you create The Raven Lantern:

Fireflies & Candy Corn Inspirations

Nothing says fall has arrived like a bit of crispness in the air, the leaves starting turn, and... candy corn!  After a productive weekend of Fall Cleaning, I wanted to do a quick little recycle project to kick off the fall decorating season. Inspiration was provided by a craving for candy corn plus this shapely little jar that used to hold spaghetti sauce.

Of course, if you wanted to be a little healthier, you could fill the jar with a good trail mix! Aren't these colors just gorgeous together?  But wait!  Inspiration hit again as I felt a strange mix of wistfulness about summer fireflies disappearing and anticipation at the thought of halloween around the corner:

Clear glass marbles and a couple of glow sticks transform the jar into a lovely little lantern. Doesn't it harken to those childhood dreams of a firefly lantern? I found a tube of 15 glow bracelets for a buck. Or, you could put one of those battery-operated tea lights in the bottom and fill the jar with the marbles.

Sure looks good as part of a fall montage.  Who knew an old spaghetti jar could have so many fall outfits?  


Q: What inspires you about fall?


Making this dressy little jar is so simple, it literally took me maybe 5 minutes once I'd gathered the supplies.


Here's how you do it:

Mountain Labors

"The mountains are calling; therefore I must go." 

--John Muir

 The labor day holiday found us headed for the mountains. One cannot help but feel expansive in nature such as this.

We found that the 'labors' of setting up camp, building the fire, watching the animals, and getting back to the basic elements connected us with a much deeper, timeless rhythm that nourishes the soul. 

You can hear this deep simplicity in the music of John Denver. Here's Brad Fitch who sang John's songs over the holiday and had the crowd dancing - literally.


Q: What have you done lately to feed your soul?

On Pins & Needles

Have you ever seen a peanut butter jar lid look so elegant? This one takes on a new function as a pincushion, embellished with gold ribbon and a beautiful gold button in the center.

It now sits atop an upcycled steel can that can hold thread, buttons, or whatever your heart desires. A strip of muslin, a fancy ribbon and a flourish of velvety flowers with a pearly gold center transforms what once had been a can of pineapple. 

I've been taking cans, glass, paper and plastic to the recycling bin for well over 20 years now, and sometimes can't help seeing some of these objects as opportunities to create art!


Q: When's the last time you saw something extraordinary in the ordinary?


Here's how you make ordinary cans and lids into extraordinary storage containers: