La Petite Sorciere

 As a Halloween Artist myself, it only stands to reason that I just love me some Hallowe'en Art....I mean who doesn't, right?  Anything Halloween themed always grabs my attention.  And I fell instantly in love with this spell-binding lil' Sorceress with her pumpkins and sidekicks!  The piece is titled La Petite Sorciere and I simply adore it! So I wanted to be sure to give props and a shout out to a fellow artist, the lovely and talented  Fragile Zombie, from France.   You can check out more of her 'Dark Creations' over at DeviantArt! 

© La Petite Sorciere by Fragile Zombie / Deviant Art

This Halloween, Pumpkins Go Postal!

Jumpin' Jack O'Lanterns....It's almost Halloween!  Speaking of Halloween and more importantly, of Jack O'Lanterns....there is no better way to celebrate our favorite holiday than to mail out all those spooky cards and boxes of candy, signed, sealed and delivered with 'Jack-o'-Lantern' Forever Stamps!  These Pumpkin Postage Stamps are most pleasing to my Lil' Halloween Soul,...and are hands down my favorite stamps to come along since the Edgar Allen Poe Stamps of 2009 and the 2013 Harry Potter Collection!  

In fact, they are quite possibly my favorite stamps ever!  I mean nothing says Happy Halloween better than Grinning Jacks.  These beauties went on sale this week, and are going fast...go figure!  But the good news is, you can stock up on them and break them out again every October, because they are 'Forever Stamps'!  So in the immortal words of Edgar A. Poe...once bought at today's price, these festive stamps will be mail-able at that same price...."Forevermore"!  You can't beat that.

For your enjoyment, below is a collage of a few other spooky stamp offerings the US Postal Service has served up in past years...so which Halloween Stamp do you feel best epitomizes the essence of the Halloween Season?

Commune with the Spirits!

It's that SPOOKY time of year again....the perfect time to commune with the SPIRITS!  And I'm not just talking apparitions here.....I'm talking about the SPIRITS you pour into your glass!  Gone are the days of those banal bottles and boring booze....as something far more WICKED, this way comes!  Check out these frighteningly fabulous finds, certain to 'Raise the Dead' at this year's Halloween Bash! Best of all....when the bottle runs dry, just wash it out and add it to your Halloween Decor.  I'd be first in line to buy one of each, except for one small problem....I can't seem to find anywhere that these diabolical beauties are actually sold!  So what gives?  Are they real products, or just superbly sinister graphic campaigns? If anyone out there in HalloweenTown happens to know where we can lay our slimy lil' claws on these specimens, please do share the info with us!

Okay, so here's the selections...
If you're into conjuring up the dead, then 'Evil Spirits Vodka' is the perfect choice, with it's ominously dark Ouija Board graphics, book and planchet, summoning spirits should be no problem for you.

If you prefer the day after Halloween better, then you can celebrate Dia de los Muertas in colorful style with a few of these decorative Day of the Dead Skull bottles from 'Kah Tequila'.  They're the perfect festive decanters to drink up and then leave out for display!

For those of us whose favorite icon of Halloween is the great Jack O'Lantern...there is something special just for us as well. Check out these 'Pumpkin Face Ultra Premium Dominican Rums'...Yum!  Tasty rums in the coolest Grimacing Jack decanters ever!  And again...a libation and decoration all rolled into one...can't beat that! 

And last, but certainly not least is the Oh So Spooky, 'Frozen Ghost Vodka'. I'm a sucker for clever packaging anyway, and this bottle with a vapory grey ghost trapped inside is just the slickest.  But that's not all...what would a Frozen Ghost Vodka be without an accompanying Ghost story, hmmm?  Lucky for you and I, there just so happens to be one ripe for the reading...and it's just the thing to share on the Halloween Countdown.  So before you head off to your nearest Liquor Store in search of one of these fine Halloween 'Spirits'....take a moment to read "The Legend of the Frozen Ghost"!

 


The Legend of the Frozen Ghost

---

This is a story of people whose names are lost to time, set in a location which is a sworn secret, for reasons that will become clear at the end of this tale.
Generations ago, a family in Western Canada had a proud but small farm. They raised crops and livestock so plentifully, they outproduced all the other farms in the colony. Soon, people began to realize that the spring that watered their land was the sweetest and purest in the area and was thought to be the source of their success.

A jealous neighbor schemed to divert their water to his own property. Stealing onto their land one bitterly cold winter night, he was confronted by the farm’s owner, known only as Tobias. The neighbor struck him with his shovel, knocking him unconscious into a pond near the mouth of the spring. The water thief completed his work, diverting some of the spring’s output to his property by means of the underground channel he dug.

Tobias’s body was later discovered in the ice that froze the pond deep on that frigid winter night.
No one knew how he died. The secret was safe until the neighbor began to report a strange presence of Tobias that haunted his every step. A presence that ultimately drove him mad. He confessed everything as he was driven in a prison cart to the colony’s sanitarium.

The farm has changed hands many times over the centuries, and now that same spring’s water is used to produce Frozen Ghost Vodka. That pure water gives Frozen Ghost its unparalleled smooth, crisp character, even before it is distilled six times for the ultimate purity.

We won’t reveal the spring’s location for your own protection. For on the rare occasions that a visitor has attempted to approach the site, an undeniable chill overtakes the stranger, along with a dark foreboding that a more dangerous fate quickly approaches. It is said that Tobias is still keeping watch over his spring. 

So don’t let your curiosity overtake you and tempt you to search for the water’s source. Just be satisfied that you can raise a glass to the one who is watching over the pure taste of Frozen Ghost Vodka, the supernatural super-premium. 

***  Just wanted to post this follow up information from fellow Halloween Head (Oddworldian) about Where you can find these products.  Thank you for sharing this info with us, you rock!
 
"You can go to pumkinfacerum.com and they have links to order. Here is a link to buy the combo of all 4 designs": http://www.napacabs.com/Pumpkin-Face-White-Reserve-Cream-and-23-Year-Rum-4-Bottle-Combo-P20302.aspx

"You can also purchase kah tequila from napacabs.com"

"Another one you might be interested in is Jekyll and Hyde" at http://www.binnys.com/spirits/Jekyll_Berry_Liqueur_11456.html
AND http://www.binnys.com/spirits/Hyde_Herbal_Liqueur_11458.html

"I was unsuccessful in finding Frozen Ghost or Evil Spirits, but from their website http://evilspiritsdistillery.com/wp/ they may not be out yet."

Ghostly Dresses DIY Costume Tips

Today's post shares some Halloween costume tips straight from the costume designers from the old 'Ghost Whisperer' show.  At least I think it's old...is that show still on the air?  I love how these 'Ghostly Dresses' look worn and tattered, musty and old.  Just what one would expect a Ghostess to wear?  And their tips are simple enough for even the most novice among us to be able to implement and come away with some 'rottenly good' Halloween threadbare frocks!

Halloween costume tips from the 

'Ghost Whisperer' costume designer!

 
Practical tips for perfecting a Ghostly Wardrobe from the TV show Ghost Whisperer:

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PERFECTING A GHOSTLY WARDROBE

Use old clothing or buy items from the local Thrift shop

*You’ll find great treasures and keep your costs low

Age the items by using pumice stones, sandpaper, paint or oil

*Different fabrics will have various results: chiffon ages wonderfully, while denim is harder to distress

Be eco-friendly by using safe products such as water-based paints, glues and glitter

Layer fabrics to create dimension and visual interest

*Try using dirt with glue to age the garment

Throw the dirt and glue on, let it dry and see what happens

Here are a few Ghost Whisperer trade secrets:
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PERFECTING A GHOSTLY WARDROBE
Use old clothing or buy items from the local Thrift shop
*You’ll find great treasures and keep your costs low
Age the items by using pumice stones, sandpaper, paint or oil
*Different fabrics will have various results: chiffon ages wonderfully, while denim is harder to distress
Be eco-friendly by using safe products such as water-based paints, glues and glitter
Layer fabrics to create dimension and visual interest
*Try using dirt with glue to age the garment
Throw the dirt and glue on, let it dry and see what happens
- See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

Here are a few Ghost Whisperer trade secrets:
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PERFECTING A GHOSTLY WARDROBE
Use old clothing or buy items from the local Thrift shop
*You’ll find great treasures and keep your costs low
Age the items by using pumice stones, sandpaper, paint or oil
*Different fabrics will have various results: chiffon ages wonderfully, while denim is harder to distress
Be eco-friendly by using safe products such as water-based paints, glues and glitter
Layer fabrics to create dimension and visual interest
*Try using dirt with glue to age the garment
Throw the dirt and glue on, let it dry and see what happens
- See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

Here are a few Ghost Whisperer trade secrets:
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PERFECTING A GHOSTLY WARDROBE
Use old clothing or buy items from the local Thrift shop
*You’ll find great treasures and keep your costs low
Age the items by using pumice stones, sandpaper, paint or oil
*Different fabrics will have various results: chiffon ages wonderfully, while denim is harder to distress
Be eco-friendly by using safe products such as water-based paints, glues and glitter
Layer fabrics to create dimension and visual interest
*Try using dirt with glue to age the garment
Throw the dirt and glue on, let it dry and see what happens
- See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

'Ghost Whisperer' Costume Designer gives great Halloween costume tips - See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

'Ghost Whisperer' Costume Designer gives great Halloween costume tips - See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

'Ghost Whisperer' Costume Designer gives great Halloween costume tips - See more at: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1506854.php/Ghost-Whisperer-Costume-Designer-gives-great-Halloween-costume-tips#sthash.wbnSY1Fu.dpuf

Shaggin' on Halloween

For today's Halloween Countdown post....I wanted to take the opportunity to share two of my favorite creative things mixed into one....Halloween Art and Shag!  Unless you've been living under a decrepit old rock somewhere....you've surely heard of the artist Shag?!  Aka...Josh Agle?!  Well all of his work is superb of course, especially all his retro Tiki stuff.  But I have a special affinity for any and all of his art that I would deem in the Halloween realm.  That includes Disney Haunted Mansion art, the Classic Monsters, and the Dark Arts.  My biggest Halloween wish would be for a Coffee Table Book of all Shag's Halloween themed art...I would keep it out year round.  So for today's countdown I thought I'd share a few of my spookiest favorites and send you a link to see more of his work if you're interested. 

The Wolfman

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

Dracula

 

Beware of Flying Reapers

This is a fantastic Halloween Scare Tactic, boy would I love to have one of these on Halloween Night!  Kudos to Tom Mabe!

Macabre Opera Mask

Happy Friday!  It's the weekend....hooray!  So I had been contemplating a Halloween Masquerade Ball for this year's party theme, and I just saw this fabulous Skull Opera Mask that apparently had been available in the past on Amazon.  I LOVE this!  It's also versatile, and could easily be used for Dia de los Muertos themes and parties as well.

Since Opera Masks are traditionally held up with the little stick on the side, it only makes sense that this Macabre Mask is held up with a 'Skeleton Arm' of course!  How completely Creepy and Clever is that?!. Unfortunately, it's no longer available on Amazon, so if anyone knows where else this beauty could be purchased, I'd love to know.

For Sale - Disney Haunted Mansion

Well, sort of.....
Would you want to live in a Haunted Mansion? Not just any old Haunted Mansion mind you, but Disney's Haunted Mansion? Well, not the 'actual' Haunted Mansion on Disney Property, but would you be interested in living in a replica of the Haunted Mansion? 

That's right, for the scary low price of just $873,000, you could live in your very own exact replica of The Haunted Mansion in a gated community in Duluth, Georgia!  The Mansion Replica was built by Designer and Disney Contractor, Mark Hurt in 1996.  And yes, every 'deadly' detail of the architecture is precise, because Mr. Hurt measured the real Disney Mansion to make certain it was exact. 

 
Included in the listing is a 2 story library, elevator and official Haunted Mansion plaque on the front gate.  Mark paid special attention to detail because he wanted it to be authentic!  There's even a 'spine-tingling' surprise awaiting guests in the 1st floor bathroom.  As they wash their hands in the sink...the lights begin to flicker and Ezra the Ghost appears in the mirror.  Oh  so spooky!

Talk about the perfect pad for hosting next year's big Halloween Bash!  But don't bother scheduling a tour unless you can pre-qualify.  The listing was set to expire on Nov. 1st, and as of Oct. 26th, it had 45 bids on Ebay.  Fortunately, none of those bids had met the seller's asking price, so chances are good that it's still on the market.  So for those of you who've always wished you could live in the Haunted Mansion....here's your chance.  Of course the house does include the one complimentary Ghost in the bathroom, but you'll have to attract the other 998 Happy Haunts on your own!  So the question is....if you had the money, would you want to reside in the 'Haunted Mansion'?

What Color is a Scarecrow?

“Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk.”

 

The second offering this year in my Color Collage posts, centers around a Fall icon that is near and dear to my heart!  That sentry of the fields, the Lord of the Harvest himself....the SCARECROW!  Just what is a cornfield without it's mighty protector, the Scarecrow, anyway?  Nothing I say!  Every field needs a good Scarecrow to oversee the crops and keep those pesky crows from feasting on the goods before they get to market!  And the size, style and colors of the Scarecrow are as unlimited as your own imagination of course.  

So when I ask myself the question...What Color is a Scarecrow?  I do not get one particular color or color scheme coming to mind.  No, I see lots of colors...a variety as diverse as the Scarecrows and the Crops they guard.  What about you....does any one particular color resonate with you when you envision a Scarecrow?  Or do you also see a multitude of colors coming to mind?  And...do YOU have a Scarecrow standing guard in your yard during the Autumn months?  We do, but ours is a bit 'dark' if you will, not much color other than his big ole' punkin' head!  :o)

Seasonal Sipping

I've been absent a few days while enduring the last minute rush before the start of school. In an extremely odd schedule this year, my chitlins started classes on a Wednesday....and who even knows the logic behind that foolishness??! Not I, but that being said, the days are now quieter....and I'm hoping they'll prove to be more conducive to Hallowe'en Crafting. Only time will tell on that one however, as Fall Semester is a busy season at school with Volleyball in full swing. But my hopes remain high!

So as with most things Hallowe'en inspired...the Seasonal Ales/Beers are also starting to make their appearance earlier and earlier. I read that we used to not see them on store shelves until late Sept. to early Oct. But now they are starting to show up in August. I say, why not enjoy those first sips of Autumn Spiced Ale early? If you wait to stock up in October, you might find the supply has dwindled away and been replaced by Christmas Ales.
I found a few new ones, at least new to me....(which I'm sure may be old news to any Beer aficionados out there). But I think my favorite thing about the Seasonal Ales would have to be the packaging. I am the biggest sucker on the planet for Hallowe'en design on products. Most of the time I don't even particularly dig the flavor of the spices in these seasonal specialty brews, but I'll buy them just to sit out on the counter so I can look at them....pathetic I know. But just get a gander at the label above on New Holland's Ichabod Pumpkin Ale! I mean that's just a spooky-cool label for a Hallowe'en Beer, don't ya think?!

And even cooler are the posters for their seasonal release parties, check 'em out. I don't know about ya'll, but they totally make me want to attend their event and throw back a few! (All New Holland Images © New Holland Brewing Company) And kudos to the artists' on their work here...as I could not find the names of who actually designed these, but I love their work.)
I also love this Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale! And it's description does make it sound most appealing and tasty..."Down to the hooting details: Night Owl is an easy-drinking pumpkin ale made with Pale, Munich and Crystal malts, green and roasted pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin in the mash, boil and fermenter. It is bittered with Magnum hops and spiced in conditioning with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger and allspice. " Yum Yum!Or even the Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale below...it just looks so 'Autumn-ish' and it makes me want to sit outside on a crisp Fall day in an adirondack chair, sipping on my Pumpkin Ale....watching colored leaves twirling by on the wind. That's what good packaging can do for a product! Are any of you connoisseurs of Autumn Ales? And if so, what labels would you recommend for seasonal sipping? We always buy some to serve at our Annual Pumpkin Carving Party, so inquiring minds would like to know! :o)
(Pumpkin Ale Trio Photo © Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

What's Bugging You?!

So today I ask the question.....What's Bugging You?! And I'm gonna tell you what's bugging me! Bugs....BUG ME! I live in FL where bugs pretty much surround us at all times. I am really not a fan of many bugs....save, ladybugs, butterflies, caterpillars, etc. I frankly just don't like the looks of them. The ones that are the most fear inducing however, would hands down be Spiders and Scorpions....eeeek! So imagine my horror when I ran across these 'bug infested' products.
I shake my head in bewilderment and ask WHY? Why would anyone want these products...unless you are some sort of freaky Entomologist?! I know for a fact that a mouse with a spider in it, would scare the crap out of me every time I inadvertently glanced down at it. And as irrational as it may sound, I also would NOT be able to shake the anxiety-inducing thought that those creepy creatures might somehow escape their plastic encasements and get loose! And yes, I do realize that they are 'supposedly' dead, and thereby theoretically could not actually move....but again I'll repeat....that it is admittedly an IRRATIONAL fear! I'm nothing if not honest about my shortcomings...ha!
Although I will concede that the 'Hallowe'en' enthusiast in me does like and appreciate the scare factor of using real bugs in my Hallowe'en display! But to do so would probably necessitate therapy at some point, so I'd have to weigh the pros and cons carefully before proceeding with such an endeavor!

(Bug in Mouse Images © Ed Speldy East on Amazon. Spider Paperweight, Scorpion Necklace and Beetle Necklace Images © Victorian Trading Company)

Halloween Headphones

Quick post today....as I must head out and do a little Hallowe'en Recon at my local stores. It's still a bit early, but August is usually when stuff starts appearing in HomeGoods, Old Time Pottery and places such as those.
Thought you might appreciate the wickedly cool detail in my new Hallowe'en Headphones! Aren't they fantastic?! Yeah okay, so they aren't 'really' mine....but I wish they were, so that counts right?!

Just look at the detail on these thrilling 'Thriller Headphones".....the little tombstones, the fence, the owl in the tree! Yes, these are a true work of art by the crazy talented Johnny Lighthands! Dude has some mad skills. And these beauties really should be put into mass production! Makes me want to put them on right now and crank up the 'Monster Mash' or 'Bad Moon Rising'!
(Photos © Johnny Lighthands)

Festival of the Dead

"From my rotting body, flowers shall grow
and I am in them and that is eternity."
~Edvard Munch

I plan to do a wrap up post of the Hallowe'en festivities in the next few days. And I still haven't gotten around to everyone to wish them a Happy Hallowe'en (which will now be belated). But today and tomorrow is Dia de los Muertos so I thought I'd take this opportunity to honor the days that honor the dead! I realize some folks might consider this a strange holiday or custom, but I am just in love with the whole idea of it. To me, those who die are never dead. I feel they are always still here with me as long as I continue to think of them, dream of them and remember them in my daily life. I don't want my Father to be forgotten just because he is no longer on earth with us. I want my kids to think of him just as fondly as they do those grandparents who are still here. So we reference the funny things he did when something reminds us of him, or the way he chose to discipline versus the way we do. We remind them of times he spent with them to keep his spirit close at hand, and never far from our hearts and minds. Just because someone is gone, doesn't mean you quit loving them or remembering them and it really shouldn't in my opinion.I like to think that the lives of the loved ones we've loved and lost are worth far more than to just be erased from our memories because we no longer see them on a daily basis. So the custom of celebrating the life and death of those who've passed seems a very natural thing to me. And couple that with the fact that I really do love graveyards and color and flowers and skulls and music......and it just seems a perfect thing to celebrate. I've often said that I don't want my funeral to be some sad, morose affair where a preacher threatens my friends and family members with fire and brimstone. But rather I'd love for them to have a party in my honor....pick a theme and celebrate and share all the funny stories of the odd and strange girl that I was. Poke fun at the quirky things I did that made me...me! And above all, be happy that I am at rest from the cold cruel reality of the mortal world. In fact, a Dia de los Muertos celebration in my honor might be a fun idea for my funeral. And as a spirit....I just know I'd be right there with them having the time of my life death!
I've never been fortunate enough to attend a Dia de los Muertos celebration before, although I'd absolutely love to. In fact, I'm not really sure we even have them here in central Florida. I know they are big out in California, and I'd love to attend one someday. Not sure if it is acceptable to encroach on another family's honoring of their deceased however, but I'd love to join them in honoring their relatives if they didn't mind an extra person. To me there is just something warming about the colors and the art of the festival...that takes the pain and sadness out of death. So today I'd like to honor my own group of friends and family who've passed on, and celebrate The Festival of the Dead!All Art and Photos © 2011 Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

RavenWood Apothecary No. 4 - Hallowe'en Hacienda Tour

Trick or Treat!(You can click on the images to view them larger in a slide show.)

Okay...so here are few a more images from my Hallowe'en Hacienda....aka Ravenwood Apothecary. These are images from other areas and rooms. In the other rooms I tend to go with a more vintage look...or at least with the traditional orange and black color scheme. I realize I have a LOT of Halloween stuff. BUT,...in my defense, I've been collecting Hallowe'en items since I was a teenager. Some of it eventually gets sold in garage sales or given to GoodWill to make way for new things. I also receive a lot of Hallowe'en items from friends and family members as gifts for my birthday, Hallowe'en and even Christmas! And because decorating the majority of the house is such a huge undertaking....I usually designate the first weekend in September to the chore, and then leave it up til midway through November. I love looking at all the Halloween things....they bring me comfort and happiness. I love the glow of my flicker lights and candy corn lights and Jack O'Lanterns all aglow! It makes me happy and nostalgic. I realize I'm weird like that....but hey, we all have the things we really dig, and mine just happen to revolve around Hallowe'en!

Someone asked to see the Apothecary all together. But that's a little easier said than done since it is spread throughout a large area in smaller groupings. The shot below is a little further back on the main dining table, but of course that still cuts out the side areas.
And the next shot is taken from the foyer looking into the dining room. You can almost make out the main table, the china cabinet, the sideboard on the right, the Witch Doctor's Chair and Boney Maroney at the Piano! This still cuts off my Gypsy Witch Fortune Teller 's Vanity and the Herb Garden Hall Tree in the entryway! But it gives a little better view of what all the gruesome guests see as they dare to venture inside RavenWood Apothecary.
The next shot is a closer view of the Witch Doctor's Dressing Chair, and behind it you can kind of see the other side of the Apothecary that is displayed on the sideboard. I like to think of the chair as the dressing area where the Witchy Doctor in residence has removed her professional attire after a long hard day of potion brewing and herbal remedy dispensing. She's laid down her witch doctor's bag, hat, broom, spell book, plague mask, witch boots and striped stockings across the chair, and is perhaps soaking her warty, gnarled old toes in a hot cauldron of steaming mandrake root water. The next image is a more close up view of the Dining Room China Cabinet. My house is usually decorated in a Gypsy/Bohemian/Moroccan style, but at Hallowe'en I switch out the items to showcase my eclectic collection of Hallowe'en Serving Ware, Plates and Mugs.....and my Vintage Gurley Candles. I tend to switch things up every year, so you'll notice that what's on top of the hutch was different in this photo from last year than it was in this year's shot.
The next room below is supposed to be a home office, but it's not big enough for my office, so I use one of the bedrooms instead. We call it the 'Library' or 'Den' because behind those white curtains are book shelves that are packed from top to bottom with children's books and Hallowe'en Books. There is also a futon in there to watch TV on, or pull out if we have extra house guests. This room is also usually very 'Gypsy/Bohemain' with lots of bright colors and patterns. But I switch it out to the Orange and Black for Hallowe'en.

The TV is in the big Armoire on the left side of the photo, and the grouping below is what sits on top of that cabinet. Those very large lacey metal pumpkins were this year's acquisition from Home Goods! I needed something large to fill the space and they were perfect for the job.

Right past the Witch's Dressing Chair is the opening to the Kitchen, Breakfast Nook and Family Room. In the breakfast nook I have an antique Hoosier cabinet that is usually filled with a Tiki Mug collection, but this year is the first year that I decided to switch the whole thing over to Halloween. I wanted to create the look and feel of an Olde Candy & Curiosities Shoppe, while continuing on with the apothecary theme. So I used more jars and an antique scale and then added in lots of vintage inspired items, and an assortment of candy that includes some retro brands. I figured I'd let the guests consume what they want of it come Hallowe'en night!
This is the small dining table in the breakfast nook dressed up for Hallowe'en with Owls and Autumn leaves.
The image below is a larger view of the area dressed up for Hallowe'en. And if you look really closely, you might even spy a Hallowe'en Tree!Yep...I found me my very own Hallowe'en Tree while we were at an antique show 2 years ago. Some man there had a truck full of iron work sculptures, swings, garden benches and bare branched trees. I instantly feel in love with the trees and knew that one was somehow going to make it's way home with me. Well that sucker is HEAVY! And the hubby was cursing me under his breath as he had to carry that monstrosity a very LONG way back to the SUV! But I already had visions of Hallowe'en Trees dancing in my head.
I found the ceramic hanging Jack O' Lanterns at Old Time Pottery for a few bucks a piece and bought 8 of them to hang from my metal tree. Then I found some thick, good quality burlap leaves at the Dollar Store with wired stems and promptly wired them on the branches. I perched an Owl up top and hung a small resin Skeleton below. And on All Hallow's Eve, I light the Jacks up with tea lights. It looks very cool! The problem is, I'm 5'9 and the tree is taller than I am, and the branches stick out quite far around the perimeter. So I quickly discovered that I have nowhere to really store my tree the rest of the year....bummer!
But luckily, my bedroom has a very eclectic Moroccan Gypsy Witch Fortune Teller vibe to it anyway, so I just stick the tree in my bedroom and leave it up all year long. It's great to hang purses and clothes on because it's so heavy duty. My Mom says my bedroom is starting to look a little scary with the phrenology head, and assortment of palmistry hands and owls and antique witch boots and venetian witch masks. But to me it is just filled with the things I love, and I don't consider them to be scary....eccentric and eclectic perhaps!

Last, but not least is the Living/Family room! It too is usually a casual Bohemian-esque area full of Buddahs and candles and suns and moons and Indian Pillows. And you can still see some of that, even though it too, gets the full Hallowe'en make-over! Do you see those black wooden Happy Halloween Blocks on top of the Entertainment Center? Well they were from a store called Signatures in Salem, and I got them several years ago. When I saw them in the store I totally loved them and thought they'd be perfect on one of the ledges in our house. Problem is...things look way smaller in a retail store than they actually are, and once I unpacked them from the suitcase, I quickly learned that they were pretty much too big to fit anywhere else in the house except on top of that piece of furniture! So there is where they will proudly be displayed forever more.
We still have one of those old style Big Screen HD TV's. You know the ones that are basically an obsolete and ugly piece of furniture now?! They predate the invention of the flat screen. Well ours still works perfectly well and has a great picture. And although the hubby desperately wants to replace it with a new sleek thin version....I refuse to part with it until it takes its dying breath, because as you can see in the image below....it holds my collection of vintage-inspired Repro Hallowe'en figures. I collected these over the years, primarily from a variety of Home Goods stores and they're really not very expensive at all. But I love them....and I group them all together under a "Spooky Hollow" sign...and that's the name of their little figurine community there atop my TV. Therefore, I refuse to allow the 'grumpy old troll' to destroy their little vintage neighborhood display area in the name of a sleeker, modern, way better flat screen TV that we don't really even watch anyway. ( Except at Hallowe'en time for our annual viewing of Sleepy Hollow and The Hallowe'en Tree!) And since the Halloween block dilemma from above will also forever remain a factor....I can never get rid of the entertainment center now either! Good thing I like antiques since both of these things will eventually become one! :o)
Well that concludes my Home Haunters Not So Scary Hallowe'en Tour of the Casa de Wendy and RavenWood Apothecary! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the Hallowe'en decorations. I know I always love to view how others decorate so that I can get inspired to do something new and creative. All Hallow's Eve is just days away now, and I've enjoyed spending this month communing with my fellow Hallowe'en Heads! Just a few more posts to go and we'll be through with the countdown for another year! Sadly, it all goes by way too fast for me! Hope you all have lots of fun things planned!All Images © 2010-2011 Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)