Bell, Book and Candle DVD Give-Away

"Ring the bell, open the book, light the candle."

It's October, and when October rolls around...I start slowly working my way through my favorite Hallowe'en movies. And although I enjoy a lot of different types of Halloween movies...I do think I like 'Witch' movies best of all. What can I say, they just resonate with me. So one of my favorite 'Witch' movies to watch at Halloween is a 'Vintage Witch' movie. Yep, 50+ years 'vintage' to be exact. A friend of mine said that for her, it's more of a Christmas movie because it's set in the Winter around Christmas time. But for me, it's still a Halloween movie for the mere fact, that it has a wonderfully magical Witch in it.
Maybe you've heard of it? It's the 1958 movie, "Bell, Book and Candle", starring the ultra lovely and beguiling Kim Novak as Gillian, along side Jimmy Stewart and Jack Lemmon. The basic synopsis is that "a modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancee, so she enchants him to love her instead... only to fall in love with him for real." And she is aided in her enchantments by the feline star of the show, Pyewacket. Pyewacket is Gillian's Siamese familiar who helps her perform all of her 'not so evil' bidding.
Now Pyewacket is an unusual name for a cat, don't you think? But it turns out to be sourced from something 'Witchy' indeed. Pyewacket was one of the familiar spirits of a witch, detected by the self-proclaimed "Witchfinder General", Matthew Hopkins, in March of 1644, in the town of Maningtree, Essex, UK. This was during the heightened times of the Witch Hunts in Europe. He claims to have overheard a coven of witches discussing their pact with the Devil. So upon torturing one of the women through sleep deprivation, she not only confessed, but also named her 'familiars.'And as it turns out, one of those familiars was named 'Pyewacket'! Although, it's not ascertained whether Pyewacket was actually a cat or not however. But the witch hunts and prosecutions led by Matthew Hopkins were chronicled in a 1647 published pamphlet titled, "The Discovery of Witches". (which can be read by clicking on the link) So it turns out that 'Pyewacket' may very well have been a true 'witches familiar' after all. And now, since it's officially Hallowe'en month, and because I enjoy spreading Hallowe'en magic...I purchased a new copy of "Bell, Book & Candle" for one of my October Give-Aways. I'm sure there will be many of you who've already seen this movie. But surely there are a few out there who haven't seen or heard of it before now, and who might genuinely like to win a free DVD copy. So here are the rules. Please only throw your name into my witch's cauldron if you have NOT seen the movie before, but would really like too. And that's it...nothing too spooky. Just leave a comment saying you'd like to be entered. Previous winners of other Halloween Tree Blog Give-Aways are welcome to participate, as long as you don't already own the movie, and haven't seen it yet. Someone in my house will draw the name of the winner from my cauldron on Tuesday, and your 'Bewitching' new 'retro' video will be mailed out as soon as the winner emails me with a mailing address. I want to send it out early in the month!

The Witch, The Cat and The Owl

There is nothing I enjoy more than stumbling upon wonderfully Magical and Creative things by sheer accident and/or dumb stroke of luck. So tonight I went on YouTube in search of something and there I found a sampling of "recommended" videos that I can only presume came courtesy of the YouTube marketing department. How creepy nice of them to invade my privacy monitor my viewing habits so that they could recommend further viewing material for my enjoyment. But lo and behold, the first video I see has a cartoon Witch on it, so of course I had to take a look. And I'm so happy I did too. For what I found is a cartoon that I can honestly say I've never even heard of before tonight. Now I'm sure there will be those of you who've known about this for ages, especially my friends in Europe....but this is the first time I've seen it, and I wanted to share, just in case anyone else has been in the dark since the 70's.

Meg and Mog is the story of a Witch (Meg), her black striped Cat (Mog), and their friend Owl. With 3 of my favorite things represented (Witches, Cats and Owls)...I knew I'd just have to love it. Apparently, Meg and Mog was a children's book series written by Helen Nicoll, that was first published in the 70's. It was later made into an animated pre-school series, which aired in the UK in 2003. It's a cute little cartoon, but what I enjoy most, is the very basic animation style of Jan Pienkowski. Meg is a well-intentioned Witch dealing with the not-so-good results of her spells. Mog is her talking striped cat, and the 3rd character is a talking Owl. The actual story is somewhat weak, but considering the intended audience was pre-schoolers, I guess I can't complain. The Meg and Mog books appear to be available on Amazon, and the Halloweeny art really gets me in the mood for the upcoming season. I am posting Episode 1 for your viewing pleasure, and a link for Episode 2. Happy Hump Day! :o)

Episode 1


Episode 2 - Meg and Mog Espisode 2

100 Fickle Felines Shop IKEA

All good witches and wizards love cats right?! And cats are an icon of Halloween....but that's as far I can stretch the link here. Although this isn't Halloween related per se...I just had to do a cat post when I saw this bit of news combining 3 things I love in one neat little package....Cats, IKEA, and Creativity! It seems that the creative team from the advertising firm that handles IKEA love cats too. And being that we 'creative' types are often just one step shy of 'crazy' anyway....they came up with a clever, albeit a tad bit crazy and industrious concept to say the least. They decided to let 100 Cats loose in an empty IKEA store in London, and film the results for a commercial. Say what? Yes, you read that right not 1, not 10....but 100 Fickle Felines with free reign to explore the place in any way they saw fit.

I for one cannot imagine trying to keep up with 100 cats in a store that large. Far too many places for them to hide out. Heck, I can't even find my own black cat in my own house sometimes and I know every square inch of it. Can you imagine trying to find all those kitties in a huge IKEA store? Obviously there were many handlers there to do the wrangling, but still...what a job! And some of the cat owners were on hand too. But can you imagine how mortified you'd be if YOUR cat decided to mark its territory on a brand new sofa or something? I mean would you be obligated to buy the sofa then? Or worse, would they just wipe it down and proceed to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer? Eeegads! If you watch the second video of the making of the shoot, you will see that not all the cats were cooperative....go figure! But the results are pretty cool! The first video is the finished commercial and the second video is the making of the commercial. Cat lovers should enjoy these, but does it make you want to shop IKEA now? Guess that is the real test of the ad's effectiveness.

A Magical Season Indeed

Today I want to blog about an artist who creates fabulously whimsical paper mache ornaments and figures. You may already be familiar with Season's Art. The artist of these magically fun creations is Becca from the Magikal Seasons Blog which some of you follow. Season's Art is her Etsy store where you can find the latest whimsies for the season at hand. Of course since we're briskly cruising into Fall now...you will find her shop bursting at the seams with Witches, Black Cats, Autumn Leave, Skeletons, Jack O'Lanterns, Scarecrows and other assorted icons of the Autumn Season and Halloween. Each piece is handcrafted with love and humor and FUN! You will know the work by their trademark smiles which make them look a lot like the vintage style of Halloweens past. And adding original handcrafted pieces to your Halloween Collection is far more fun than the mass produced store bought stuff. (Don't get me wrong...I love that stuff too.) But being an artist, I enjoy owning things that have been crafted by other Halloween loving artists. I can personally attest to being the proud owner of a trio of what else.......OWLS of course! When I saw that Becca had added these to her store...I jumped on them. And they are super cute, and I love them. So if you haven't seen her work, cruise on over to her Season's Art Etsy Shop now or check out her Magikal Seasons Blog. And don't worry, when Halloween is over, she'll already have the placed stocked up with Winter/Christmas items perfect for gift giving!

The Grim Rea-Purrr Cat Predicts Death

Okay, this is a most fascinating story. As I've said before...I always have my eyes and mind wide open for glimpses of the mystical and magical in everyday life. And in my opinion, this story certainly qualifies. This is the story of a cat named Oscar, who was adopted by the Dementia unit of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island. It turns out that Oscar is a kitty with a magical, albeit slightly 'macabre' gift. The cat has 'Divination' powers that allow him to predict and pinpoint the exact time of death of the patients within 2-4 hours. A dying patient is not an uncommon occurrence there, as they often receive 'end of life' care on the locked ward of the facility. And almost immediately upon his arrival to the home, Oscar began predicting the deaths just a few hours before they occurred.

Oscar, who is not an especially friendly or social cat, makes his rounds each day to each of the patients rooms. He goes in, walks around, checks things out and leaves if all is well. But like a feline Grim Reaper...if he senses and knows that a patient will be dying, he will get up on their bed and snuggle up to them, contentedly purring and easing them through their transition into the after-life. He will usually remain with them for the 2 hours leading up to their death. And he does not leave their side once they have passed, but rather waits for the undertakers to come take the body. He then joins the processional of health care workers who walk with him to the door to honor the patient. Oscar is not allowed off the premises, but he does follow to the door and watches as the patient is taken away.

To date, Oscar has accurately predicted the deaths of 25 patients and has won the trust and admiration of a previously skeptical medical staff. Oscar's focus is not to heal, and he doesn't befriend the patients at any other time than when they are transitioning into death. His job appears to be aiding and comforting them as they make that transition. And without fail, he will be settled on their bed for 2 hours prior to their actual time of death. The staff and Doctors have offered up several quasi-scientific theories for this behavior, such as an animal's ability to tune into signals of the human body like minute chemical changes and shifts in hormones.

But there is another theory that was offered up by none other than Laurie Cabot, Salem's first official Witch. She believes Oscar is in psychic communication with the patients. She states that, "Science has found that the brainwaves of cats never go into Beta mode, they are always in Alpha. And it is in the Alpha range that all psychic things happen. He knows they are going to die because he is picking up on their brainwaves. He is clearly trying to help these people walk over into the other world."

Interesting to note...Oscar is but one of six cats at the nursing facility, yet he is the only one who exhibits this strange gift and behavior. Needless to say, Oscar is indeed tuned into knowledge that even the caregivers themselves cannot access. To me, that is pretty magical indeed. I am posting the link to the full story by Victoria Moore because it truly is fascinating to read about the patient the Doctor thought Oscar got wrong, and his very unusual response when one family did not wish for him to be in the room with their dying loved one. You must check it out. "The Cat that can Predict Death."

The story also got me to pondering on how I'd feel if I were one of those terminally ill patients. Would it make me anxious every day when Oscar made his rounds? Would I start panicking if he lingered just a little too long in my room? If I were the family of a patient, would I become paranoid and begin to think that Oscar truly is the Grim Reaper in fur and whiskers...waiting to lay the curse of death on my loved one? Should I refuse to let the cat into the room at all to try and delay the inevitable?

And what of my own black cat Coventina? What psychic powers does she possess? The first and only thing that comes to mind is her extremely irritating psychic ability to know when anyone has left a door cracked open, so that she can run outside and hide in the bushes, forcing you to spend 2 hours trying to coax her back inside, thereby making you swear out loud, miss your appointment and think very hard about giving her back to the person that cursed you with her in the first place...ha!!! I don't think it's in quite the same league as Oscar's gifts however. And honestly, I am rather glad of that since she came and laid on my bed for several hours this morning! :o)

My Art - Just for Grins

"With a lift of his chin, and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or 'quit it',
He started to sing, as he tackled the thing,
That couldn't be done, and he did it!"
~ Edgar A. Guest

Today's image was a vintage inspired card I did several months ago. I love all the different styles of vintage Hallowe'en imagery. From black cats, to witches to moons and pumpkin men, they are all so varied and unique.

So what puts a big GRIN on your face? How about the fact that there are just 5 (count 'em), FIVE more days til Hallowe'en/Samhain? That should be enough to put a big grin on everyone's face. So go out and give the world your best Pumpkin Headed grin this week and enjoy the final countdown!

Scary Hallowe'en Stalker

All Photographs © Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

We opened my daughter's drawer one day to find my evil black kitty Coventina hiding inside. She was hiding, as if perhaps we didn't notice her in there. She was being so sly, (or so she thought), that I just had to grab my camera and take some photos of her covert operations. Upon viewing the photos later, I thought they were perfect for one of those crazy 'Catz' photos that that Frog Queen is always posting....(u knowz, the onez with the funky spellingz!)

Beware the Stalker Kitty on Hallowe'en...you never know what could be lurking in your drawers! :o)

My Art - Smiling Cats & Grinning Jacks

Happy Hump Day Everyone! I must say I got a kick out of reading every one's reactions to the bizarre Pumpkin Dance post yesterday. Glad you all watched it, as it is now becoming somewhat of a personal tradition for me to view this every October for a good chuckle. :o)
Today's post is some artwork I created this year for Hallowe'en. Some of my art is strictly graphic illustration work from start to finish. But some of it begins with a photograph, which is the case with these two pieces. The Grinning Pumpkin Man and the Grinning Black Cat are two Hallowe'en figures from my vast collection. They were set up on the dining room table where they were 'styled' and photographed.

In addition to Lifestyle Stock Photography and Portraiture...I also enjoy shooting various still life shots that I have styled. So these were in that category, and I especially love shooting Still Life Photography of Hallowe'en items. Go figure! I like to think of it as taking one person's wonderful art that was cast in one form, and then translating it into a second art form and media type. This is a way to keep the art alive and growing and transforming it into more art. Perhaps a way for art to 'reproduce' or 'multiply'! So I took the initial shots which I liked just as they were, but then I sat down and used my favorite tool, Photoshop, to work a little "Wendy Magic" on them. (I often prefer things to look a bit old or weathered, instead of shiny and new.) Then I wrote some verse to add to them and they were done. (Click on images to view larger.) I like these enough that I will probably print them out on my large format printer and frame them up to hang on the wall as Hallowe'en decor. (The art images above were created from similar 'styled' stock photographs like the one below, of both figures together.)

In fact, I think this is one of the big reasons why I love Hallowe'en so much....because I view it as a fun and creative holiday. One that is about 'creating' and 'frivolity', instead of 'buying' and 'getting'. From our costumes, to our masks, to our yard haunts and house decor....Hallowe'en gives us the perfect excuse to BE CREATIVE!Photography, Art & Writing © 2009 Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

Vintage Trick or Treat

For my friends who know me from MySpace and Facebook, you may have already seen these old photos. But for the rest of you they are new. I dug these out of my Mom's big box of old photos. I just cannot believe that out of that huge box of old photos, I could only find a few that were Hallowe'en related. Did they not LOVE Hallowe'en as much as I do? Why did they not photographically document my favorite holiday? Surely it must run in my genes....yet there is no tangible proof that my own parental units even came close to loving this holiday as much as I do. Which just furthers my speculation that I must have been adopted...ha! If I didn't look so much like them, I'd swear they were impostors! :o)
So the first one is actually of my brother. Yes the notorious perpetrator of 'hook man' horror from an earlier post! He would be the sweet little blue eyed, blond 'Casper the Friendly Ghost'. Boy did they get that costume wrong. And I have no idea who the rest of those chitlins are, but they could very well be some of my cousins who were closer to his age than mine. Or it may have been taken at school for that matter since they are lined up. But I love the selection of old costumes here. I don't have the actual picture in front of me right this minute, but I remember that the date on it was before I was born, and I think it was around 1967-68.

The second photo is of my brother and I. I believe it was dated 1972-73. You'll remember that the hard plastic masks were all the rage in the early 70's. Cheap store bought costumes are what we wanted...not good quality, creative duds fashioned by our own parent's loving hands. You will notice that my brother is no longer a 'friendly' ghost. I don't know what he was exactly, and frankly his whole costume clashes. My friend Mr. D told me once about the costume and who it was, but I forgot. Also note the Budda and the Aztec Sun on the wall.....you gotta dig the 70's!
All I know for certain, is that I did NOT enjoy those masks at all. They made me feel claustrophobic and you could feel your own hot breath condensing on the inside. You could hardly see out of the eye holes and if you tried to stick your tongue out of the little mouth hole, you likely learned the hard way that the molded plastic had sharp edges that cut your tongue. YES....I tried it okay?! I remember well, and I learned my lesson! Later I will post some pics of the Hallowe'en costumes I have fashioned for my own lil' banshees. I think they are way cuter than the store bought stuff!
Photos © Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

My Art - Black Cats & Grinning Jacks

"Black Cats and Grinning Jacks
...make Hallowe'en Fun!
But if one dares to speak to you
....best turn around and run!"

Folklore and Tradition are part of what connects us to the spirit of Hallowe'en! Connecting with our past and sharing our beliefs and superstitions is all part of the fun of the holiday! Does your family hold any superstitious beliefs....do you refuse to stay on the 13th floor or fear black cats that cross your path? I think it's fair to say that many people hold superstitious beliefs about Hallowe'en itself....but are they founded in truth or myth?

(Click on the image to enlarge, if you can't see the words)

Artwork © Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

Hallowe'en is Coming....

Okay....so I have the MOST spooktacular news to share. Just two days ago, we went to the movies to see Ice Age 3D at the mall. And much to my utter delight....the Hallowe'en Store directly across from the mall was not only back for the coming holiday, but had already begun stocking the store. The sign is up, but I don't think it's quite open yet...woo hoo! ( This photo is not MY Hallowe'en store however. I posted a photo of mine on this blog last year because it had the BIGGEST inflatable Jack o'Lantern EVER created, sitting out front.)

So Michael's always starts early for the crafters, but this is officially the earliest I've ever seen any full blown Hallowe'en store open here in Florida. They are getting a jump start on things this year it seems. And I know that bringing out seasonal stuff this early really irks the 'you know what' out of a lot of folks...but it thrills me to pieces! And my friend Suz from California reported that her Hallowe'en store was also starting up out there. So from Florida to California...Hallowe'en is coming coast to coast! And you really should start looking early....because the best stuff goes fast and is usually not around closer to the holiday itself.
And speaking of Hallowe'en....it seems there are more and more 'Pet Costumes' available now as well. And although I am all for the pets participating in the festivities...I am rather shocked that anyone can get their cats to wear a costume. Obedient dogs yes....fickle cats NO! But I did find this image on-line, and it obviously proves that someone's cat, somewhere...is a complete freak of nature and will actually abide being decorated. Unless of course this feline has already been taxidermied...which frankly, I find easier to believe. But more power to the cat and its owner, as I just love this photo. To the rest of you who are thinking of bedecking your kitties out for Hallowe'en....good luck with that!!

It's time for some Hocus Pocus!

Well hello to everyone.....hello? Is anyone still out there? Why NO they are NOT, because my last post was in October and this lil' Witch got so busy with all the Hallowe'en festivities that I vanished in the night....'POOF'! Then, as I am quite accustomed to doing...I hibernated through the long dark days of Winter. I frittered away my time working on spells, cleaning out the cobwebs, and making some minor adjustments to my broomstick. My trusty familiar Coventina made for good company and became quite adept at hunting down the ingredients for my potions. She provided me with frogs, lizards and even a snake! What a good little kitty! All that, and my not-so-evil bidding too! What more could a good witch like me ask for in a companion?! Here she is conjuring up her own brand of feline magic on my potions table!

Well, by the calculations of the gigantic clock on my chamber walls...it looks to be just a mere 5 months and 11 days until Hallowe'en! So I decided I had a long enough vacation, and should set about to conjuring up some magical goodies to begin the countdown. So perhaps I can find you all again, my pretties! I know you are out there lurking in the shadows somewhere. So come out, come out wherever you are and lets commence with some Hocus Pocus shall we?

Cat O'Lanterns

Are these not the most clever use of pumpkins you've ever laid eyes on? I just love these Black Cat Jack O'Lanterns. Put a candle in the head and the eyes light up. I am going to attempt to make one I think. If I succeed, I'll post my results. Meow....

Voo Doo Kitty

What do you get when you mix Black Cats with Voodoo? You get Voodoo Kitty that's what! You can pick up your very own Voodoo Kitty at www.mysticvoodoo.com. And this is the end all be all site for Voodoo. Everything you wanted to know, you can find out here. It's rather fascinating actually. Too much work for me personally...but I dig the theory. Of course the core component is that you have to BELIEVE in it for it to work. Hmmmm... I wonder how you find out whether your intended victim believes in it before you commence to poking pins in their eyes?

"These black cat Voodoo poppets are loaded with charms, beads, buttons, and what-nots to bring you the best of luck in all of your endeavors! They are stuffed with aromatic, magickal herbs to bring you the best of luck and happiness. Each cat comes with catnip to use as an offering, 7 removable whisker pins, and instructions for use as a focusing tool in meditation. "

Ha...'Whisker Pins'...if that ain't the Cat's Pajamas then I don't know what is! This lil' cutie would be a great Halloween gift. I'd love to have one. Maybe the Great Pumpkin will leave one on my doorstep this Halloween! Oooh...I wonder if they make an Owl?

Vintage Cat Cartoon

Just found this old 1956 Disneyland video about CATS titled, "The Great Cat Family"! It is in 2 parts, each about 6 minutes, but it's really fabulous old Disney animation. I personally like Part 2 the best because it talks about Cats, Witches and the superstitions around them during the burning times. Some of the cartoon footage later resurfaced in the 1982 Disney TV special "A Disney Halloween." I dedicate this entry to my own black cat...Coventina! In fact, she sat on my desk in front of my monitor and watched it with me...ha! You gotta love CATS!

Coventina and Jack

Speaking of Lucky Black Cats.....here is a funny little pic of my sweet Coventina. Her curiosity was getting the better of her when she discovered my new Jack Skellington-esque pumpkin. And she looked so darn cute and spooky sitting next to him that I just had to shoot her! With my camera that is! My what BIG EYES they have! :o)
Boo Image © 2008 W. Amdahl (All Rights Reserved)

Cat PEEPS

How bout' some PEEPS for my peeps! Like Candy Corn and those Orange Peanut things...Peeps are one of those disgustingly sweet confections that I can live without. That was until I saw THESE PEEPS! First thing that caught my eye were the cute black kitty cats adorning the packaging that look just like my sweet little familiar Coventina. They have a retro look to them that I think is swell. Then I noticed the Peeps themselves...sugary brown kitties....how stinking cute is that? And last but not least, I realized that these were no ordinary PEEPS, because these were COCOA flavored! Yum....I just might actually dig a chocolate flavored marshmellow, especially floating atop a mug of Hot Chocolate. So for .99...I thought what the heck, might as well give them a try.

Black Cat Superstition

One of my favorite icons of Hallowe'en is the Black Cat. Black Cat lore has figured prominently around the world. Some cultures view the Black Cat as lucky, but many symbolically affiliate them with Evil and of course Witchcraft. Black Cats have long been considered as Witches' Familiars. Because cats are nocturnal and roam at night, they were believed to be supernatural servants of Witches, or even Witches themselves. As the Witches' Familiars, Black Cats were believed to be shape shifters, as a result of which, the Witches could transform into them by saying a spell and travel about doing evil things unnoticed. A 'Familiar' is an animal-shaped spirit who serves for witchery or other magician-related subjects. Familiars were imagined to serve their owners as domestic servants, farmhands, spies, and companions, in addition to helping bewitch enemies. These spirits were also said to inspire artists and writers. That part is true for me!

Some of my favorite Black Cat superstitions are:

1.) If a witch becomes human, her black cat will no longer reside in her house.

2.) A black cat on top of a tombstone meant certainly that the soul of the departed was possessed by the devil.

3.) If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.

4.) If a black cat lay on the bed of an ill person, that person will soon die. However it is also said that a black cat will not remain in the home of someone who is about to die. So if your black cat leaves home...you better get yourself to the hospital and QUICK!

5.) A strange black cat on a porch brings prosperity to the owner. (Don't I wish!)

And being the (Very) Good Witch that I pretend to be....it is only obvious that I too have my own little Black Kitty as a familiar. Her name is Coventina and she always rides shotgun with me on my broomstick. And YES...I use her to do all of my 'not so evil' bidding! Okay...actually she only purrs and gives kisses and claws up everything in my house. But she has been known to pounce on my husband and kids while they are sleeping, and to leave bleeding slashes on our skin from her razor sharp claws. So that should count as something sinister...therefore I shall deem her the Evil Black Kitty Cat! For more interesting reading on Black Cat Folklore click here:

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2321/folklore.htm

Wendy Witch & Covenetina

© 2006-2008 Wendy

(All Rights Reserved)