~~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...

~~Heavenly Scent Summer Fair Success~~

My wonderful friend Amy, the most talented artist I know

Another great friend Kari, the soldered pendant queen

My friend Kari makes soldered pendants and altered dominoes

Some of my favorite pieces that I've done

More of my own things

My own things

The weather was outstanding (65-70 degrees and mostly sunny), the crowd was steady and heavy, the company was great ( I was booth neighbors with one of my best freinds, and booth co-owners with another one of my best friends), the sales were surprisingly wonderful considering the economy, so all in all this past weekend was a pleasant surprise! I even got alot of people to sign uo for some workshops I am teaching this fall. A few blog posts back I posted about the Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Summer Faire, and it continues to be one of the most attended fairs in this area of lower Michigan. Some pictures for anyone who would like to see the set up. It all went together so effortlessly. It looked like we were pro's at this, which we definitely are not!

Tag Swap Filled!

I'm thrilled at the interest in joining the altered tag swap I am hosting. I am afraid it is closed to anyone who has not yet signed up, but if this one goes over as well as I think it will, I will be hosting more in the future. Just a thought.. perhaps next time I could open it to 11 or 12 people and have everyone send $1 to help defray the cost of the tags? Please stay tuned for photos of the altered creations everyone makes and shares!