PuMPkiN SPiCe - Fall is Almost Here?

Oh don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled it's almost Fall but where have these past months gone? I looked at the date of my last post and seriously I was shocked to see that I hadn't posted anything for months and months.  I am so behind and I apologize and thank you all for sticking with me. I hope you'd knew I'd eventually resurface, and here I am.

Ok Jeannine, then why haven't you posted? Where have I been?!

Well....sigh.. ok, here goes: I was hired at a job after I got laid off last October, for a place I thought would work out really well for me. It wasn't and didn't. I never got anxiety at a job before and this place gave me an anxiety attack it seemed about every other day.  Where I sat for one, was facing a wall. There was no one to talk to all day. You were basically within cubicle walls and left pretty much for dead all day, unless I had a question about what I was doing, then I'd ask one of the other two gals in my department. They never spoke to me otherwise, no one did. Never a hi, how are you, how was your weekend, got any plans, what are you up to, blah blah blah, casual kind of conversation or rather just being friendly kind of talk. Nope. I was by myself all day, most everyday. It was miserable and depressing and after 6 long months, I finally quit. When I got home, I was emotionally done. I'd just want to cry and go to bed. I had no joy. No happiness. No nothing to do anything. I was ok on the weekend sort of but then Sunday night, I'd sink down into misery again knowing I had to go back. So there it is. Me just miserable and feeling emotionally and certainly creatively paralyzed, unable to function while I was working there. I felt like I owed it to myself and my health to leave, end it. I hated giving up the very large paycheck but money isn't everything so I did it with no regrets. It's in the past now thankfully and I can feel myself rising out of the ashes and soon I'll be back to running at 100%. Thank God in heaven it's over!

On the flip side of that though is I'm not working. Yet anyway. I've had some interviews and if I want to drive 2 hours each way and work 50 hours a week, yes I will have another high paying, soul sucking, life draining job. No. NO NO NO! I've discovered that I don't have it in me any longer to do that kind of work. I have a life. I have animals, a farm, a great husband to hang out with, my horses and dogs need my attention, I've got my art, all the things I want to create, places to go. You get the picture. Life is NOT about work! I'll figure out what I'm going to do. Maybe.

What do I WANT to do? I want to move back to snow country and be a ski instructor again or work in the ski industry again. It's my happy place. It's fun, energetic, positive, healthy. It's just a wonderful lifestyle and it's who I am. Moving to TN, I put it on hold thinking, oh you're too old, you'll grow out of it. No, never did and I'm sure I never will. So I'm sort of in the process of figuring out how to make it happen again. That'll be another blog post. Yes, I promise I'll be back soon and update you with any progress on that front!

Back to Fall: This morning I went with a good friend to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and what was on the menu? Pumpkin spice pancakes! Yes, it's that time again for everything cinnamon-y, clove, and whatever else makes up our favorite holiday scent. I didn't have them but I was happy they were back. I'm sure Starbucks has their pumpkin spice lattes back on the menu as well. Yay for Fall!! Hurry and get here!! I love everything about it; the scents (pumpkin spice!), the weather, Halloween, pumpkins on the porch, corn stalks, all of it!

One of my new painted garden stones - in time for Fall

Pumpkin Man - a new sculpt

And this summer I grew a lot of flowers and made a new garden. I even planted sunflowers! They were gorgeous but didn't stick around as long as I'd hoped. I may try another type next spring. My zinnias were and are gorgeous. Those have to be my all time favorite flower now and I'm going to plant oodles of them next year.

They were so tall!

Not full grown but charming with the metal sap bucket

 

A bit of decor in the front garden

Herbs: Basil, lavender (2), rosemary (2) and citronella (bugs!)

Something else? We adopted another wonderful dog. That makes #6. No I'm NOT a hoarder as some have accused me of. I do not "collect" animals to just have them or to try and "save them all", but while I'm able, I'm going to do my part. I'm helping/rescuing an otherwise soon-to-be-run over dog that will surely get hit on the highway if he's not taken in, so that's what I did. Again.  I have 2 older dogs that I believe are about 15 and then 4 younger ones. My vet says they will "cycle" and I unfortunately know what she's referring to, which is very sad...but I get it's one of those awful parts of life we all have to face sometime or another.  

The new doggie is named Dolly. She's a full pitbull with the biggest head I've ever seen! She's white and brown and just the sweetest dog ever. I've not heard a growl or seen any type of aggressive posture whatsoever. Just all big tongue and lots of kisses. 

Look at that face!

I still have my Mountain Cur Sophie who I found with 2 broken legs as well as ribs, emaciated, and neglected and because she couldn't walk, she'd drag herself. It was pitiful. She's now thriving! She runs the fastest of all my dogs, loves to play, is a whopping 68 lbs, previously 24, and is a joy. 

Sophie

Bug and Lucy, my 2 other rescues are doing great as well and growing to be big, wonderful dogs. And of course there's my 6 kitties too. Yes, it's a very full house but you know what? It's full of LOVE!!!

Summer into Fall, and Where are my Old Friends?

Yesterday when I was out in my paddocks shoveling horse poop, I could feel it; a change in the air. You can't really describe it other than maybe a rustling of the trees, or a breeze, but it's definitely there; Fall. Even though I actually enjoyed most of my summer, my 2nd one here in Tennessee, and that's probably cause I got heat relief by putting up a swimming pool, I'm looking forward to Fall. Enough 90 degree+ days!

While not enjoying being outside swimming and splashing around, I've been busy working on my 2nd store, but there's just not enough hours in the day. This coming weekend I am hoping to get more accomplished; a few more pieces made and posted, and also my Etsy banner and avatar uploaded. I have them done, just no energy when I get home from my spirit-draining job. Sigh...

With these season changes, so come life changes...As I've been looking through my old blog friends, ones I had when I first started my own blog and online business, I see some are no longer active. Many of the postings are from a year or more ago. What's really sad is that some of my dear blog friends have passed. Sad.. My good friend and first fan, Jonty from Darkside Creations over in the U.K., passed suddenly from a massive heart attack and he was so young, with a family. I believe in his mid-30's or so. He was an amazing papier mache artist who found me through the web and we became chatty friends over the next few years until that. Then another gal, cancer. I followed her stage IV postings and I knew the eventuality of it, but still...you hope that won't come to pass, until you no longer see postings. Other friends are no longer creating, or have family issues or health issues of their own. I too have had many events going on in the past few years and neglected my art and blog.

I feel happiest when I'm creating, whether for my stores or just for myself. It feeds the soul as the saying goes. For my granddaughter's birthday this year, I bought her first sewing machine and I'm hoping she will become a lifetime creator/crafter herself and I'll have been a positive influence in that way. Sort of carry on the family tradition. For me anyway, when life gets in the way, art is a comforting refuge. 

Have a happy weekend friends! Jeannine

Warm Up Your Home with Fall Decor!

Bring the beauty of colorful fall foliage indoors this Fall with some simple crafts that use leaves and other elements to create seasonal home accents for any room in your house. 
 

Craft a stunning wreath that incorporates all the colors of Fall. Layer brown leaves and pinecones with vibrant mums and yarrow in shades of red and yellow. Be on the lookout for other colorful leaves, add small dried gourds, acorns, or tie in some sisal, jute or festive ribbon to pull it all together.

 

Garnish plain pillar candles with leaves for an elegant yet understated display. Place the leaves where you like, then decoupage them into place. If needed, use tacky white craft glue to hold the stems down. Cover the candles and leaves with another coat of decoupage medium.

 

This is so easy and one of my favorites! Simply place a votive candle in a clear glass container and surround it with unshelled nuts or acorns you find on a walk. Display it anywhere; a table, buffet, or mantel. Once Fall is over, add in scented pinecones, jingle bells, or small glass ornaments to ring in the Christmas season!

Dog Days......

In these heat-filled, semi-humid dog days of summer, my comfort is knowing that the days of Orange and Black are not far away...

Did you ever wonder where the origin of using these colors for Halloween started? Celtics were given the most credit for the beginnings of the holiday as a festival of the harvest. And orange, being the most prevalent color of autumn. The color of pumpkins, the warmth of fire. It also signifies strength and endurance, and used often in feng shui, being the "social" color, instilling lively conversations and good times in your home.

 

 

Black, the color of mystery and void. The color of a space with no beginning and no end. Black holds the power of energy and protection.

 

Do you see now why this is a perfect color combination for Halloween?

 

 

 

Favorite Fall Things

Fall is peeking it's head around the corner up here in Washington. The leaves are slowly changing from bright vivid green, to just a touch of autumny orange and gold. Big puffy clouds are high in the brighter-than-blue sky and there's that undeniable crispness in the air. It's going to be warm this week, maybe in the 80's I heard, but it's still got the feel of Fall.



Fall brings my favorite month with it; October. My birthday, haunted houses start their yearly seasonal appearance, then Halloween! Decorating my front porch with pumpkins, gourds and other Fall ephemera is something I look forward to each year. Every year I get at least 1 new Fall/Halloween item to display. And being the Halloween Queen that I am, of course my display is up all year!!!



What are your favorite Fall things? Here's a few of mine:
Sweaters and hoodies
Vegetable soup with seasonal vegetables
Orange and red leaves
Hot apple cider
Candy corn
Candy apples
Horror movies and endless reruns of my fave: Halloween
Pumpkin patches
Whirlwinds of leaves that blow along the ground...

What are some of yours?

I leave you with this lovely song about Fall. You've probably all heard it. It's an unmistakable melody - very haunting and melancholy - just beautiful. This was my father's favorite song. It was originally recorded in French as Les Feuilles Mortes (means The Dying Leaves) with lyrics by poet Jacques Prevert.

Autumn Leaves (Johnny Mercer)
The falling leaves drift by the window,
The autumn leaves of red and gold.
I see your lips, the summer kisses,
The sun-burned hands I used to hold.
Since you went away the days grow long,
And soon I'll hear old winter's song,
But I miss you most of all my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall.

Decorating with Halloween Collectibles

Did you know that decorating for Halloween is second only to Christmas decorating and the gap is rapidly closing? And although many vintage or antique Halloween pieces are both rare and expensive, that doesn't need to stop you from finding lots of fun stuff to collect and display!

In Washington state where I live, there's a little town called Sumner, that luckily for me, is right down my hill about 2 miles. It's a main street of little shops featuring folk art collectibles, antiques, Saltbox prims, and shabby chic. It is one of my favorite places to find pieces to add to my Halloween collection.

This summer while shopping at a small antique store, I stumbled upon an old candy tin shaped like a pumpkin which I picked up for a song. I'm always on the look-out! Right now, I'm finding that I really enjoy the handmade items lovingly created by other artists. I know the work that goes into each piece, so I try to buy them when I can to support my fellow artists.

When I bought my rustic black buffet to go with my old farm table, I realized it was the perfect place to display my Fall and Halloween collection all year long.

The top is decorated with bittersweet berries and papier mache pumpkin people

A Dan DiPaolo collectible, amongst candles, metal signs, crows, pumpkins and witch hats!

And don't forget about the porch!

Of Halloween and Snowmen

A Spooky Halloween night!

I've been less than crafty lately. Been waiting for Spring and of doing "Spring things"; planning my gardens, envisioning how they'll look this Spring and Summer when all the perennials come back, where I'll put the Coneflowers and Black Eyed Susan's, how many Zinnia plants to put in my rusted wheelbarrow, or should I put Lavender? Maybe some herbs too?

The wheelbarrow in my garden

And then of course there will be horse things to do. Lots of riding this time of year once the ground dries up a little. Here in Washington, Spring and Summer is the time we fellow equestrians wait for all rainy year to ride.

Which brings me in a rather round about way to Halloween and Snowmen. Two of my favorite things. I'm thinking ahead to future projects and where I'll focus most of my attention. What sold for me the best on Etsy and what buyers have been asking me for is what I'll make the most of. I'm going back to my roots so to speak. I love painting. And I especially love painting snowmen by Plum Purdy Designs. Oh sure, I have my own too, but Renee Mullin's provides some wonderful patterns and I think I'll go back to them for awhile. I've been painting them for years and I never tire of them. And snowmen ornament with twig arms. They make me happy.

A snowman paperweight and wooden sled I painted for a craft show last year

There are fleece angels to be sewn as well. With glittery wings and halos of gold stars. And many pumpkins to be painted, sculpted, and stitched. And witches to be sculpted with pointy noses and pointier chins!

Maybe if I start planning and making a list, I will actually begin to be more crafty. Better get started now!

A Bit of Progress

Remember the painting I was working on with the dancing skeleton? Finally I have a bit of progress on it. I forgot how much work it takes, at least for me!

I'm liking how it's all working so far. Each color block will be a different Halloween scene, yet tie in together. I'm also adding other elements besides painting. I've got some "altered" art ideas that I'm going to incorporate which should add some visual interest as well.

Hope you enjoy the preview! A lot left to do, so back to painting I go!

Halloween Comes this Night! Papier Mache Box

One of the new finished pieces I've been working on; a cylinder shaped papier mache box. Sort of looks like a pint size ice cream container doesn't it? I wonder what delectable flavor would be inside? How about Black Widow Berry? LOL!

This treasure box measures about 7" tall x about 5" wide. It's adorned with wooden polka dot ball feet, and crowned with a paper clay pumpkin and black widow. Wrapped around it's girth are painted pumpkins, stars, and moons topped with a pen and ink saying, "Moonlight Starbright Halloween Comes this Night!" There's lots of antique washes on this piece, and then it's sealed with a satin varnish.

Signed by me along with the "By Way of Salem" seal of approval! Now for sale on Etsy.

The Grand Halloween Hoedown!

Greetings!

I'm so thankful that my dear sis Bag #1, has been on hand to keep things rollin' along here during my absence. I'd been busily getting our property and house ready for a very important event that all our friends have been awaiting all year long - dubbed "Doc Satan's Halloween Hoedown" in honor of our dear friend, John (that's him in the lower photo with me, grinning madly as he clutches his skull beer mug!). John usually hosts the Halloween Hoedown at his home (which is known as the "First Church of Halloween" because it is gloriously decorated from floor to ceiling with all manner of Halloween decor) but was unable to this year due to prior commitments (he was directing a play in Nashville all September and October).

We had close to 75 people attend! Wow, a success beyond my wildest dreams. But oy, what a lot of work it was - my back is still aching, yet it was well worth it. It was great to put a fresh coat of paint in the kitchen and totally "Autumnize" it!

As you came up to the property, a bloody "Welcome!" sign with a skeletal arm foretold the event; with bales of hay, pumpkins, skulls, and gravestones lining the way and dotting the landscape here and there.

At the top of our parking platform stood a 10-foot tall character we dubbed "Jack Effigy," created from two old wooden ladders, a flowing section of ragged muslin cloth, two very craggly branches for arms, and a huge carved Jack O'Lantern looming as his head. With his outstretched arms, he welcomed the partygoers to come inside and join the revelry.

We decorated our old barn with festive Jack O'Lanterns and a really cool sound/motion activated ghost that flew past the upper loft windows moaning "OooOoOoo!" The front porch featured amazing full-sized handiwork by local artist Ethan Black, including the "Slasher Bride" and "The Mummy." Everywhere inside our home you'd find Halloween decorations; from our "Old Croney Mama" who lustily screeched as she stirred a giant cauldron, to the vintage art, posters, and collectibles which stretched from the front dining room to the candy-corn colored kitchen, all the way down the purple hallway (lit with eery black lights) to the Pirate's Den sitting area and beyond into the Library and my neon-green Art Studio.

My husband Mark created a super-cool fog machine that emitted a thick, atmospheric layer of fog which crept close to the ground and blanketed a good portion of the acreage in the back yard. Think of all the horror movies you've seen where the fog creeps eerily along the ground and you get the idea. We also created a section of "Haunted Woods" for anyone brave enough to walk through, complete with scary sounds!

Nearby, at the rustic "Stump Henge" area encircling our ancient apple tree, we had a traditional Ofrenda, a table set out to honor those who have since passed on. Anyone was welcome to come light a candle to honor a loved one here.

There was food, drink, and lots of live music by two very phenomenal local Nashville bands: The Secret Commonwealth, who play awesome, soul-stirring Celtic songs of love, war, booze and death. The other band, The Exotic Ones, espouse the very best of 1960's "surfabilly rock." Think of Dick Dale's surf rock and cross it with The Cramps and you get the idea!

I even revved up my old tractor and took a few brave souls on a demented ride around our property in the hot pink lawn cart, cackling madly in the brisk, starry night air along the twists and turns!

We had two roaring bonfires, roasted weenies and marshmallows, danced and sang and laughed and rocked and even got in a showing of the perennial Halloween favorite, "Mad Monster Party" to boot. By the time the party came to an end at around 1:30am, we were tired and partied-out, but thoroughly thrilled to have had such a rip-roaring good time.

Next year, same time, same place. See you there, dearies!

Something new and different, but still Witchy!

If you've been following me for awhile, you know that I've talked about trying some new things in terms of crafts. Yes of course, I'll still do my quirky odds-bodkin characters - hey, that's just part of my wacky personality! In fact, you'll be happy to know I've got one in the works right now! But on the flip side, yes, there's some sweetness in me, somewhere. My dear sis, Bag #2 calls me "Little Haus Frau on the Prairie", well I'm not quite like that... ok, well maybe a little.


On that note, here's another of my little quilts that I just finished, and posted on Etsy tonite. This one was fun! Not only cool Halloween colors, but ribbon, and fun fabrics, and also a needlefelted spider. I show it hanging on one of those flag holders outside - works perfect!


So here's to new things, I hope you like it! Of course, feedback is always welcome dearies!