Little Helpers

There are days that I find myself a little obsessed with getting things ready for a gathering.  My kitchen is covered in random projects, none quite completed, and my children are in the middle of them.  I realized that during those times I should try to include them.  I know that their mark will be on the final project, but a little more character never hurt anything.  So this last week while making some spell books, I had the help from a couple of boys.  They did a great job transforming the covers of some journals from a boring white canvas to weathered black or brown.  Then when I found a large stack of plain white bags, that could be used to bag purchases, I put my three year old to work with some spooky stamps and a stamp pad.  They turned out wonderful (he completed far more then we needed, but he was so motivated) even if he looked like he had caught some infectious skin disease.  They each got a chance to improve there fine motor skills by stringing charms onto our soon to be necklaces.  And even though this next one was a bit challenging, I enjoyed guiding a little hand as he help me paint some stencils onto some small totes (note why we opted for one bag to look somewhat like a batman symbol).

Creepy Necklaces $2

Scary Stenciled Totes $2

Spooky spell journals $3

I love that this is something that I can include my children in.  They did a great job, I don't think I could have done any better myself.  I know I'll have my kids with me this weekend at our gathering, and with our newly added kid approved treasures (and free kid games) don't be afraid to bring yours too!

Mother-in-Laws

Since I've been married I've heard my fair share of awful mother-in-law stories.  I know plenty of women who struggle with their husband's mother.  Well I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones, because I can honestly say that there is nothing I would change about my mother-in-law.  Sure there are some stories, and sure she still uses expressions like "Oh my....", or "Heavens no!", but these are the reasons that I love her.  I love that she reads to my children, or that she always seems impressed with my cooking (if she only knew), and mostly I love that she has given me the one thing in my life that I love most.....my family.  She crafted in the days before Etsy, and sewed far more for economical function then for fashion popularity.  She can refinish furniture with the best of them, and can turn just about anything into a pillow.  So I am excited that she's decided to bring her own creations to our upcoming gathering.

 

 She's recently picked up an old hobby, painting.  I love the sweetness of her characters, they make her paintings hold just a little bit of magic, she is so talented in that way. 

 

 As our gathering draws closer, I grow more and more excited to see what others will bring.  That's really what makes these gatherings fun, admiring other's finds, sharing ideas, making memories, just being together with friends, and one great mother-in-law. 

Guilty Husband....Guilty Wife

 A couple of days ago it dawned on me that my own Husband doesn't read the blog that I put my blood, sweat, and tears into (I might be slightly exaggerating).  I know that men typically don't read blogs, so truthfully I wasn't that surprised that my husband wasn't following what I wrote.  But really the whole putting yourself out there on a blog, makes me a little insecure (something he is fully aware of) so I decided to lay on the guilt. My rant began.... "I can't believe you don't read what I write, YOU know why I am doing this, I need your support, I just can't believe it, how can I expect others to read it if my OWN Husband doesn't, my feelings are hurt (this line always gets him), I'm mad, I don't know why I even bother.....".  Well that was really just the beginning, next came the sulking, then a few snide comments thrown in during random conversation.  This went on for hours, well maybe not hours, but definitely through dinner, because after clearing his plate, he excused himself to go and read a very important blog.  For those of you who don't know my Husband, he is a horrible tease, in fact during my rant, he laughed at me, you heard me right, giggled and laughed.  That's kind of how our relationship goes, I get mad, he laughs, I mope, he giggles, I pout, he very lovingly (and childishly) gives in.  Well since that day, I know he's made an effort to check the blog, he lets me know of any grammatical errors (I'm sure there is plenty, sorry), and also informs me when I need to put up a new post.  But yesterday I guess he read the "Rustic Wares" post, and was a little testy.  "So..." he tells me "you make it sound like, pop, the cake stand just appeared for you to give to your friend.  Then you and your little wood burner whipped up the "perfect delivery dish" (yep he did the finger quotations with that expression), did you forget about someone."  I pointed out that I did mention him a bit further down, something about his 8th grade wood shop class.  He smirked, and although I know he was just giving me a hard time, I think he felt a little left out.  I felt a little guilty, because really he is my yin to my yang, my jelly to my peanut butter, my cheese to my macaroni.  And because today is his very special day (Happy Birthday!), I want to give credit where credit is deserved, and I'm not just talking about the cake stand. 

Rustic Wares

Alright so I'm horrible at remembering birthdays.  I hope no one ever takes it personally when I call to wish them a happy birthday, and I'm a couple of days late.  Well last week was no exception, and I missed a couple of birthdays (actually I did manage to sneak a very last minute phone call to one).  Anyhow in order to redeem myself to one friend who always is helping me out, I thought cookies were in order.  The thing about making cookies in my house however, is that somehow after making a full batch, there is only a few that stay around long enough to be given away.  I don't know if you have the same problem, but I can tell you taking a paper plate to a friends with seven cookies on it, looks pretty pathetic, especially if your trying to save face for forgetting her birthday in the first place.  So I came up with an idea.  After grabbing from my stash, and a bout with my wood burner, I had the perfect delivery dish for my sweet friend.

I chose chickens to represent her and her six girls & one rooster for her hubby

My husband has tinkered with wood since his 8th grade shop class.  His most recent creations are these cake stands, and other carved handiwork.

This is a huge acorn, and the top comes off to reveal a carved out bowl!

 So his new hobby gives us some more treasures for our upcoming gathering, come check them out, I'll even throw in the seven cookies.   

Friends Inspirations..... Sew Great

I really can't take creative credit for much of the crafts I do.  Really most of my ideas come from a friend in one way or another.  While I was putting together some crafts for our upcoming fall gathering, I once again relied on some friends for some creative inspirations.  I remembered these great witch legs one friend had dangling out of a drawer around Halloween, inspiration number one.  Now what should I do with all these sweaters I have hanging around, "Oh I've made sweater pumpkins before, really pretty easy", said one new found friend, inspiration number two.  Now what to do with all these sweater scraps after making all those pumpkins, remember those cute sewn mice from an Alice and Wonderland party at a friends house, inspiration number three.  Really the list goes on and on (freezer paper stencils, applique, pennants, inspiration 4, 5, & 6).

 

But wait a minute I'm not giving them all the credit, I mean really I've got to get some recognition for having such great taste in friends, and it was me after all who stuffed 15 pumpkins, 12 stripy legs, 6 tiny mice, and cut out 48 witch's shoes. 

It's An Addiction

So I know one of the steps of addiction is admitting you have a problem.  Well I'm admitting it, I have a problem, and it's with Halloween decoration (really it's with all holiday decorations).  Where most people have a couple of Halloween totes, I think I pull out nine or ten, not including the several I have for our annual Halloween party/spook alley.  Long ago my husband made a rule, no holiday decorations until the first of the month, so I patiently wait until October 1st to haul down all my totes to begin my spookifying process.  I enjoy every minute of it, and so do my children, especially my oldest.  He actually starts to ask about the Halloween decorations as soon as he sees the leaves changing (he's a smart one that boy), and I think I've passed my addiction to him (oh no his poor wife).  If I think about it, I believe my addiction comes from my own mother,  she doubled my Halloween stash in size, and don't even ask about her Christmas decorations. 

Here she is as Mother Nature, really as the entertainment for several children at a Halloween lunch with close friends.

My mother passed away a few years ago, and truly these holiday times are when I miss her the most.  She was known for her extravagant costumes, and the character to go with it.  So every Halloween when I pull out my creepy stockpile, I remember her, and all the great memories she created.  When somebody is gone, those moments are what you are left with, whether those moments be of your 60 year old mother dressed as Mother Nature,casting spells on small children for littering, or of how she always let me crawl up next to her for a LONG back tickle. 

So on keeping with my Halloween addiction, on October 19th we will be having our next gathering, and it will be a scary one!  We're calling it a Which Craft (it's a play on words : ) ), and along with some of our usual treasures, it will also be full of frightening surprises (keep checking there is plenty more to come).

Notice the eerie black widow painted by local artist Jamie Wayman

Great fall carved acorns both small and large

Plenty of apothecary jars for your creepy crawlies

 Really I think it will be just another Halloween celebration, one with vintage finds, handmade goods, free witches brew (warm cider), and disemboweled pastries (doughnuts).  Load everyone up, on October 19th for some haunted fun with A Huntsville Gathering.  So here's to forgoing my feelings of me being a Halloween hoarder, and hoping that my "addiction" may actually be making for some pretty great memories!

The Ugly Step Sister(s)

 
In early spring our beautiful bunch of hens were reduced over night to a tiny two.  The incident left one of my lovely girls (that's what I call my chickens), in such shock she refused to leave her pen, and she became incredibly broody.  Her lonely sister hen soon began to join her.  This went on for several weeks, until I decided to do something about it.  I collected some fertile eggs and gave her a reason to brood.  She took to the eggs instantly, and now with lifted spirits tended to her egg hatching duties.  After just a few short weeks she was the proud new mom of nine baby chicks.  The funny thing is, the eggs I  gathered were from a neighbor who has different types of hens, and a small bantam rooster.  She gathers and uses her eggs daily, so our new chicks from her eggs, were a first of a unique bunch.  One chick in particular looked very different from the start, she was twice the size of the others, and already sporting some funny fluffy feathers.  As they all began to grow I started to refer to her as the Ugly Step Sister.  I know it sounds a bit harsh, but really she is my favorite (sssshhhhh, don't tell the others).  She is by far the most cautious, and always tries to hurry away from our feet, but because of her shape, she is rather awkward, and is always stumbling and crashing into the others.  She has her place in the group, I would have her no other way, and truthfully I will be the most excited for her eggs, when she begins to lay.

Yep that's her, the orangey, fluffy one to the right

Sometimes I come home with a treasure that is like the Ugly Step Sister, really pretty comical to look at, but a treasure all the same.  That's how it is with these vintage metal T.V. trays, I almost laugh when I look at them, but it wouldn't be right if they looked any different then they do.  I was able to use them for a friends Baby Shower last week (one of the benefits of storing items until the next gathering), they were so useful, and really looked pretty great in our setup.
     

So every morning, with leftovers in hand, when I call to my girls from the back door (Here Girly, Girly, Girly, Girly, Girlies!), it's the Ugly Step Sister(s) stumbling along, that makes me smile the most.