~~Mother Nature at her Finest~~

Recently I snapped a few pictures at the location in upper Michigan where our family cabin is. It is a spectacular view any time of year, but the colors on this particular weekend were outstanding. Something I could never get tired of looking at, not in a million years. Since these photos were taken 2 weeks ago, the colors have faded now, making room for ice and snow and cold ; meaning more white in the scene than any colors this vivid. I've always intended on taking photos of the same location, every month or so just to record the changes Mother Nature makes. Maybe that will be my New Years Resolution.

~~Autumn Is Upon Us~~

Time this Fall has flown by, and after spending the last 2 months getting ready for art shows and stocking my Etsy shop ready with Halloween goods,, I am a little "over" the whole holiday right now! The weather this past month has felt more like winter, anyway! Thanksgiving is usually a little overlooked in our household, making room for Halloween and Christmas on both ends. Apple picking with family, choosing just the right pumpkin on a crisp fall day, and family get-togethers at our cabin are all things I am thankful for. Food for thought..... "Count your blessings, not your troubles".

~~These Are a Few of My Favorite Things~~

Okay, so that title is usually connected with Christmas, not Halloween. But I have been decorating for Halloween the past few days in anticipation of having some out of state family visiting us for a week and I wanted to make my blog that much more festive. If you aren't in the Halloween mood yet, perhaps you will get some ideas from these photos. Fall and Halloween is just my time of year! Enjoy, and Happy (Early) Halloween!!

~~~Something Wicked This Way Comes~~~

I taught another workshop at the most amazing place nearby, Heavenly Scent Herb Farm . This time it was for a vintage look Halloween Shadowbox. Combining vintage images, tiny witches brooms, mini poison bottles and other 3-D embellishments. The shadowbox measures 6 x 8, and I have 2 of them for sale in my Etsy shop. Next workshop I am giving will be at Holly Hills Primitives, another shop which is only a few blocks from my house. She specializes in anything primitive, both vintage and reproduction. That workshop will be for the vintage captured witch in a jar. Very fun, both equally spooky and eerie looking!

Tag for a Cause

Sometimes creating art is for more than just pleasure, or fun. In this case, I created a tag on request for a good cause here. Someone many of you do not know, including myself has been hit with some life altering news about her health. This tag is one of many being sent to a dear friend of hers, who will then create an interesting keepsake for this artist. Please visit the link if you would like to learn more about this, and even perhaps create a tag to lift her spirits!

The Tag Swap Results ~~ Amazing!!~~

Barb H. of

Stamplicity Brenda G. of B'sHuronLightHouse

Kathy M. of VintageSnapsandScraps

Bren of ManicMenagerie

Carol B. of QueenBesAlteredNeeds

Lori D. of TreasuresOfThePast

Stacey M. of ArtSnark

Linda B. of MidwestieLady

Weeks ago I decided to host a tag swap, which you can read more about several posts below. 8 people joined the fun and what amazing work each and every tag has turned out to be! Everyone's work is so diverse, and I believe that everyone's own signature style is on their work. Some are stamped, some are hand drawn, some use images, ribbons and lace, glitter, inks, butttons, and so much more. I am the lucky one who gets to now choose which ones to keep for myself, and then divy the rest up to send to the very deserving participants. I want to thank all who joined in the fun, and also to tell you that in a few days, another tag swap will be announced, so if you want to receive some amazing work by some talented artists, come back for more info on the next TAG SWAP!!

~~~Happy Haunting~~~

A 5 x 5 Vintage Halloween canvas collage

2 pages from a vintage altered Halloween book at Ebay

Front cover to a 6 x 6 Vintage Halloween altered book at Ebay

One of my favorite 5 x 5 Halloween collages on stretched canvas

And yet another Halloween collage on canvas

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Whether it's the cooler weather I am so fond of, or the scent of freshly carved pumpkins mixed with falling crunchy leaves, or the vintage look of decorations I collect. Either way this time of year my head is spinning with plans of new creations, both for myself and for my Etsy shop . I think that sales are picking up after a dreary summer. It seems to me people need a treat now and then for therapy, and what better way to treat yourself than with a Halloween goodie! Some of my favorite "old" new things in my shop...