How Far Will You Go?

So there's no doubt about it. I love conferences. I love classes. And most of all I just love to learn new things. It's not true that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. . .

So, I'm going to head up to the Western Washington SCBWI for one of their October events.

This will be a character building, not mine, but fictional characters workshop and a query building workshop.

So while I love to learn new things, I can also stop by and see my cousin and his family and catch up with them. I love Seattle.

So how bout you...what will you go a long ways for....?

Gonzo

I love to decorate for Halloween and I had this little squash sitting around. I asked my daughter, "what do you think I'm going to do with this?"

She grinned and said, "Gonzo!"

She immediately knew what I was thinking before I said a word.

She knows how I think.

First I cut the ping-pong balls in half and colored them with pens to make eyes. Then I cut little slots to put the "eyes" inside the squash.

After I had the eyes in place I started painting.

Then I added a little wire hair.

I propped him up on a cake stand. I still have more to do but this was fun.

Whistle in the Dark by Susan Hill Long

Last Thursday I went to the debut book opening of Whistle in the Dark. It was held at the Cedar Hills Powell's Books.

This is a fictionalized historical novel about a young boy who wants a dog but gets a miner's cap instead.

I haven't read it yet but I have started it.

It was a fun evening listening to Susan Hill Long talk about her journey as a writer.

I'll post more when I finish the story. . . but for now, you just might want to run out and get your own copy. 

Signage

So with the creepy days of Halloween just around the corner, I've started pulling out the ghosts, ghouls and goblins and advertising ;D

Here's my latest little sign... I reused the sign from the Renewing of our Vows celebration. We had this stuck in the yard so people could find our place. It had a picture of me and my hubby on it but now that that's over, this is a good sign to celebrate Halloween.

It was super easy to make. All I needed were a few dollar store stencils and a little paint.

And my son penciled in the little ghost and I just had to fill-in the lines, kind of like coloring only with paint.

And then I stuck it in a pot out on the front porch to "warn" would-be trick-or-treaters that the house is haunted ;D

Did you notice my cauldron filled with flowers? A little good, a little evil (he-he-he) but isn't that what Halloween is all about?

You tell me, are you getting ready for the holiday?

99 Days!!! The Countdown Has Begun

Yep, it's right around the corner and time to get going...

So, are you like me, and have about a million projects you've started or are thinking about starting for the holidays? Well, there isn't much time left...not if you're knitting, crocheting, sewing, hammering, beading, drilling...yep, time flies.

I've started a few fun projects like this one.

It's going to be a forest green scarf with red fringe . . . yeah, I think it's perfect for Christmas. And, I'll admit it's meant to be fun..ny. I don't mind wearing stuff like this at the holidays and I have a few friends who might not mind either ;D

But, as you can see, I'm not very far on this project so I've got to get my little fingers flying over those sticks if I want to have these things ready before Santa comes.

How 'bout you...any projects hanging around that you need to get done?

Halloween Wreath

This is a super simple (no-sew) wreath. All you need is a frame, some fabric and a couple of spiders hanging around ;D

Here's how I did it.

First I pulled out some leftover fabric I had from the celebration we had this summer for renewing our vows. I laid the fabric out on the floor on my cutting board. Then I cut four strips - trying to make them each about the same size.

Then I started weaving them into the frame I had in the basement from last year.

I kept weaving strips into the frame until it looked pretty full.

I tried to make it even and then I hung it up on the front door to see how it looked.

I tucked and pushed pieces into place until it looked the way I wanted. Then I started sticking little spiders onto the fabric.

I started with one I had used for a zombie fun I'd done a couple years ago. This one was a clip on - so super simple and free, which is always a good price.

Then I added some little spiders from a dollar store where I'd bought a bundle of them a couple years ago.

So, being that I had all the materials, this was a free wreath. I even had the wreath hanger.

But you could use any leftover fabric that is one color: black, orange, green, red would work really well.

If you make one, let me know, I'd love to see it.

Happy Halloween...even if it is a little early.

Friday the 13th - it's a Wonderfully Witchy Day

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to bake. And ideas pop into my head at the most random times and I just have to make them.

Here's one I had today.

It was all about olives...green olives with those pink palmetto centers...they're kinda spooky, if you ask me. And they made me think of ghouls and goblins and, yes, witches.

So here's what I did with them.

I took blue corn chips and some dough and made hands to come crawling out of the (corn chip) ground. Then I topped the olives with a witches hat (an ice cream cone dipped in chocolate).

The hands were super simple to make. I took some poppin dough and rolled it out to make fingers, I put an almond sliver on each "fingertip" and then I baked them for 10 minutes.

Super simple and yummy too.