Happy Halloween

May the treats be many and the tricks be few...
• • • • • • •
Happy Halloween!
• • • • • • •
Bruce Elsass' vintage collection Country Living 2007

Halloween Excursions

If you are a fan of Disney's spooky vintage shorts and are lucky
enough to live within driving distance of the Bay area then head
on over to the new WALT DISNEY FILM MUSEUM for the
HALLOWSCREEN event. Today and tomorrow only treat
yourself to a screening of Disney's classic haunted animated
shorts, including one of my all time favorites, The Skeleton Dance.
This timeless, macabre masterpiece with its beautifully illustrated
iconic Halloween imagery is a celebration of music, dance and
the art of animation. The perfectly syncopated quartet of dark
and mesmerizing dancing skeletons in the nightmarish graveyard
is a beautifully crafted work of art, sealing this films legendary
status as one of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time.

Halloween's Final Countdown

...and so begins the bittersweet week
of Halloween... sigh.
Final listings for the Halloween season
now in ETSY.

Haunted Masquerade Giveaway

I'm feeling like quite the social butterfly this

season as I head off to yet another Halloween
blog party. The very creative Cassandra from
My Artful Adventures is hosting a Haunted
Masquerade. Though I didn't have time to
make a mask for this event, I'll share a photo
of my favorite souvenir that I purchased
while attending the Shakespeare Festival
in Ashland Oregon.

• • • • • GIVEAWAY • • • • •

Leave me a comment on this post for a chance
to win this mini crown from my 2009 collection.
I will announce the winner on Tuesday 10.27.09.

Halloween Ornaments

Bat Flurry and Raven Ornaments now in ETSY.

Halloween Novelty

I love unexpected surprises. Not the kind you
get when a bat dive bombs your head while on
your evening walk but the subtle heart warming,
just because, put a smile on your face kind.
Inspired to combine the element of surprise with
the worn out look of childhood toys that spark
imagination and wonderment, I created a small
series of Halloween novelties. The first of this
series is now on eBay.

Click on photo for details on Wooden Boo Pull Out Toy.

Haunting Halloween

A merry little ghost it is.
Ghost with Spider Pop available in ETSY.

A Fanciful Halloween Party

When VANESSA throws a blog party, count

on me and a thousand other guests to be in
attendance. That's because her parties are a
feast for the eyes and an event for the soul.
Everyone is on their best behavior and the
festivities are over the top creative. Stop by
A FANCIFUL TWIST and join in the magical
Halloween celebration!

PARTY FAVOR GIVEAWAY!
I can't have you leaving here without
taking home a party favor. Leave me a comment
on this post before midnight Tuesday, Oct. 20th
for a chance to win one of my Halloween treat
cups. Wishing you all an enchanting Halloween!

Click on BOO BLOCKS photo for
purchasing information.

Current eBay auction
BAT BOO ORNAMENT BOX

Blog Sale

Click on graphic for blog link.

Time Marches On

...or in my case, is in a full out sprint.
Panic set in today as I stood in the very
recently remodeled ribbon isle at my local
craft store. As another chorus of Jingle Bells
filled the air I realized that the retailers
have already moved on to the holiday of
HoHo happiness. That overwhelming feeling
of being behind took hold as I'm no where
near ready to start whipping out the chubby
cherubs nor tinseled trees. After a long,
deep cleansing breath, I was able to regroup,
grab a spool of Halloween ribbon
(now in the clearance isle)
and continue on with my preparations for the
onslaught of ghosts and goblins who are about
to haunt my home in the coming weeks.
Though I can't stop the hands of time,
I plan on celebrating this holiday as if
I have time on my hands.

Bat Box with Boo Ornaments now on eBay.

Halloween Surprises

Brown paper packages tied up with string,
contains one of my favorite Halloween things!
Click on PHOTO to see what's inside.
Be sure to check back on Friday for my
HALLOWEEN BLOG SALE! I've been busy
creating some fun new pieces.

Halloween Treat Box

Treat Boxes available in ETSY.

A lot of gall

Over the years I have shared with you some of my
various Halloween collections. My newest
obsession are gifts from Mother Nature.
These oak balls, also known as galls, are insect
produced housing. Little critters lay their eggs
on tree twigs and secrete a chemical causing cells
to grow over the egg forming a protective housing
for the inhabitants. Each piece is an original, no
two are alike in shape, size or color. They range in
color from gothic black to vintage white to pale
pumpkin. You will find them scattered about my
home in bowls, under glass domes, and displayed in
centerpieces on my dining tables. Some refer to
these galls as abnormal growths and oddities but I
think they are the perfect “green” alternative to
Halloween decorating and I just can’t get
enough of them.

Halloween Victorian Inspired Toys

The history of animation began with a simple device
called the Thaumatrope. Dating back to the early
1800's the Thaumatrope works on the principle
of persistence of vision which is the eye's ability
to retain an image for a fraction of a second after
the object is gone. In this case, the eye continues
to see the two images on either side of the discs for
a split second after each has appeared. As the
Thaumatrope spins the series of quick flashes is
perceived as one continuous image.

I've always loved the simplicity of these Victorian
toys and their magical effect. So it was natural for me
to want to create some for myself, with a Halloween
theme of course. You can find these Spider & Web
and Cage & Bird thaumatropes in my ETSY shop.

Halloween Party Cups

Party Cups now in ETSY.
Halloween Blog Sale one week from today!

Halloween Treats

Visiting my favorite blogs of Halloween artists,
crafters, promoters, and enthusiasts I am continually
amazed at the quantity and quality of work that is
generated this time of year. We are so fortunate to
live in a time where finding the perfect addition, solution
or party inspiration is just a click away.
Treat Cones available in ETSY.

Halloween Harvest Moon

There is an undeniable connection to our
closest celestial body, the moon.
She is written about, sung to, and howled at
by those who are captivated by her majestic beauty.
Tonight, pause for a moment and observe her
spectacular performance as she illuminates the
heavens in her theater of darkness.
Full Moon Theater available in ETSY.

Halloween Blog Sale Coming October 16-18.
Click HERE for link.