Monday, September 30, 2013

Vintage Halloween puzzle

 
Isn't this sweet!
I love old time vintage Halloween stuff.
This comes from a vintage Children's magazine....so darned cute.
Some how the sweetness of days gone by come rushing in when I see these kind of images.
I am decorating for Halloween in my house....it is always a major to do.
I was wishing some elves would have put the rest of it in place when I went to bed.
Dang...no elves.
Happy Monday to you!
 
oohhh...here is the key in case you were wondering about the answers!
 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Back in the day...1982

Good Saturday to you!
This is me and one of my sisters.....back in 1982.
My sister is on the left...her name is Angie  (Angie baby...if you sing the song to her..lol)
I am on the right.  She is four years older than me.
We have had some seriously fabulous times...laughing so hard our mom would yell at us to be quiet for the millionth time.
We would play old computer games like digdug and remote control....with a  Kahlua shake.
Watch the "Kids in the hall" until our ribs would ache with laughter.
She would make a string contraption all across our room so she could pull it and turn out the lights.  She would also fall asleep with gum in her mouth...to find it stuck in her hair....lol.
We would cover our walls with tiger beat pictures of Shaun cassidy, leif erickson, and elton john.....and also that hunky guy from the blue lagoon.
 
Anyway...I could tell a million stories...but she has serious back pain right now....gonna see her next week. 
I hope she gets better soon....I know back pain can come and go.
She also has arthritis now...so that is bad too.
 
She should have a Kahlua shake...I think I will text her that!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fall...sweetest time of year freebie

I am so happy fall is here....I love the cool down, changing colors, the fresh apples, and anything Halloweeny!
I forgot to have a Carmel apple at the fair this year...dang.  Now I have to get one at Greenbluff (a wonderful community of orchards and farms)....just north of Spokane.  This is the apple state....we have tons of them. 
Stitch up this Carmel apple....so sweet!
*Please note that all freebies are for you to use to make finished goods (no mass producing) and gifts...they are still legally my designs.

Gotta show ya my newest tags....available on my etsy now.

 
 There are 6 different tags...sayings include: Cutest pumpkin in the patch, Trick or treat candy & sweets, I'm batty for you!, Time to cast some nasty spells, Halloween... frightful yet delightful, and If you think I'm a witch..you should meet my sister. These are made from my original ATC watercolored paintings. New 2013.
These are just for fun, all in the spirit of HALLOWEEN. Each tag is 2 3/8" x 4 3/4".
These are great for you scrapbooking, altered art,crafts, and decorations.

Have a cozy weekend!

Come to whipperberry's Friday Flair and pin me linky party!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Old Halloween yummies

 
Happy chilly autumn to ya!
Our temp went from 90's....to 50's in a flash....what's with this crazy weather?
I wanted to share some fun pictures with you....old Halloween ideas for goodies.
They are fun.... a little weird...and kooky.
These all come from cookbooks.
The pumpkin is cheerful....but totally different from the cakes from the magazines now.

I think you'll have to click on this to see it larger.....how to cut up a gumdrop to make a cat from a cupcake.  The pumpkin seems much easier....he he he.
 
This is my favorite....a dad with the kids....i guess mom is taking the pic because in real life mom would be in there.  It is super fun though. 
 
I remember people giving popcorn balls as treats on Halloween night....apples too.  One lady gave Popsicles (in Washington state?)...I loved that house.  One old man would give dimes....I was shocked.  This was the one time a year that the candy was all mine....we didn't have to share.  We lived in a home where the only snack was a nice piece of toast.  When my mom cooked...you got your portion and that was it....because it was gone.  So this trick or treat deal was major!
 
I used to inspect my daughters candy like I was an FBI agent.  She would only eat Hershey's and some nerds.  She didn't like candy.....I was always shocked and took over the candy and also bagged some up for her grandpa.  He loved getting these goodies (he is a thrifty Scotsman).

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Missing my wonderful mom

16 years ago today.....I lost my mom to a lung disease.  Yes she smoked....the one thing she did to cope with a hard life.  She also had Rheumatoid arthritis.  She was devoted to us five children and was a great inspiration.  She wasn't perfect, but she was close.
 
I must confess....I hated the smoke when I was a kid....me and my sister would bury our heads in our shirts for a filter.  We all had a lot of secondhand smoke.
I wish she would have quit smoking like my dad did.  My dad is fine and healthy....he quit drinking 43 years ago as well.  She did quit, but it was way too late...she was terminal.
 
I would give anything to have one more carefree day with her....maybe shopping, having one of her meals, talking about just about anything would be great.
 
As I have said before on the blog...my one and only daughter was just born 20 days before my moms death...I do believe her will was strong....and she willed herself to see my baby.
My mom was a navy vet, a fabulous Morse code operator, a terrific secretary, a wonderful story teller, was soooo darned smart, she could play anything on the piano, she was a great cook, sewer, crafter, made every holiday really special, and sooo much more!
 
If you still have your mom with you...consider yourself very lucky!
 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Agatha Willow....Sweet witch doll pattern

Meet Agatha Willow
a sweet witch doll
She is my newest pattern...available now!
She is on my Etsy and my Patternmart.
You can also get the printed and mailed version on my website.

Agatha may be casting a spell on you...she lives in the forest & she is forecasting a wonderful Halloween this year. She stands on her own & makes a great table display. Her hair is cheesecloth...with a very simple way to attach to her head.

She holds this lil pumpkin treat bag....fill it with dried flowers or candy.

She has a secret....she is so easy....because you don't make a body for her!
Her body is a bud vase!
Doll measures: 6 1/2" wide, 16" high. All the how-tos are included....with diagrams. 
She will be a great craft show seller, perfect for your Halloween decor, and is sweet ....not scary.
 
Have a wonderful fall day!

Come to Whipperberry's Friday Flair and the Pin me linky Party!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Trick or treat.....smell my feet sign


Good Monday Morning!
Autumn is in the air!  My toes are cold!
I wanted to let you know of two things...
I did this pen and ink drawing...and had a blast....I have several more in the series yet to come.
It reminds me of Tim Burton and his style of artwork.  I just drew it free hand...no pencil....just lots of black ink!  Scribble and scribble.
 
I also want to share that the Washington state Quilt show is coming Oct 18-20...here in Spokane Washington.
I love this show....lots of beautiful quilts and it really inspires you to create.
But my favorite part is the vendors  (I am one of them...the vendors that is...same spot as last year)
The shopping is so much fun....all these designers and stores...all together in one spot.
It is like you are traveling to all of them.  This show is pretty big and well worth the trip.
I hope to see you there and come and say hello!

Come to the Pin me linky Party and Whipperberry's Friday flair!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Antique Trick or Treat

Vintage 50's  Halloween Party Hats and Noisemaker Horns
I love Vintage Halloween goodies....brings back that great happy feeling of being a kid....when getting some free candy was the highlight of the year!
RESERVED for CATANDFIDDLEFOLK 1940's Black Cat Head Candy Container for Halloween, Antique Small Hand Painted
Isn't this the cat's meow!
Ghost Vintage Bingo Cards.... Halloween, Scrapbooking, Embellishment, Journaling Card, Spot
Love this Bingo card
1960's Halloween Owl & Bat  Wall Decor, Color Copy, Halloween Collectibles, Up Cycled, Retro Halloween Decorations
not so scary bats and owl!
Vintage HALLOWEEN Owl Pumpkin swag PDF Pattern -  ornaments Banner ornies decor email primitive grubby decoration party
My owl and pumpkin swag pattern
Antique 1930's - 1940's Poseable Scary Black Cat Halloween Wall Hanging Decoration
Love this...what happened to his foot?  yikes!  Can't beat that face!
Vintage Classic Frankenstein Mask, Halloween Mask, Photobooth Prop, 1950s-60s Ben Cooper, Collegeville
I have a collection of old kids masks...makes me think of the what fun kids had when putting this on.
Circa 1905 Antique German Die-Cut Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns - Pumpkins - 9 Pieces - UNUSED
German die cuts....cool
Vintage Style SPOOKY BLACK CAT in Antique Tin Pincushion Halloween Folk Art
Awesome pincushion!
Vintage HALLOWEEN BAGS For Treats / Candy - Set Of Five
Treat bags...yes please...and fill them up too!  lol
RESERVED FOR TOCSIN Black Witch Earrings With Crystals
If only my ears were not so darned troublesome...I would get these lovelies!
There are all kinds of Halloween items....on Etsy....so much cooler than the big box stores.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Candy corn....yummy & sneaky peaky


It's Friday yet again....I know it is crazy right?!
Every time I turn around it is Friday again...lol.
Stitch up these candy corn before someone eats them!
*Please note that all freebies are for you to use to make finished goods (no mass producing) and gifts...they are still legally my designs.

Here is a sneaky peak at my next pattern....coming very very soon.
Feeling witchy?
 She has secrets....something pretty cool about her...can't tell yet.

 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

A little slice of heaven

A little slice of heaven....that is what Artist's trading cards are to me!
I love these little guys that are the size of a playing card.
You can paint, glue, draw, color pencil, pen and ink, or whatever you want to do with them.
 
I have blank ones by my couch...so that at any moment I can draw something with pencil and then go over it with a black permanent marker.
I later paint....sometimes with watercolors.
I love Americana....and I love being a Vet!

I always scan them for my business....then put a protective clear sleeve on them. 
With these witches...I used my best old pics and dressed them up.

This is just a wide variety of my babies.

It is hard to part with them.

I usually keep my favorites in this dollar store container.....Purple!

You can buy everything you need from art stores, hobby lobby, and Jo Anns.
I like these cards that you can get to put your ATC's in.

I love pumpkins!!! 
Any one can do art if they practice enough.
I had one drawing class for half a year in high school.....in the eighties......and that is it (until just recently I took an online class).
So all these years of designing art/patterns...I had one class of knowledge.
 So anyone can improve with practice.

These are so fun to mess around with and play. 
Try some little pieces of art...if it doesn't work ...throw it away and start again.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Tons of Halloween projects

 
Good morning to you! 
We had a terrible wind storm last night....kinda scary.  I hope no one was hurt.
Just wanting to let you know of the massive collection of Halloween pattern that I have designed....perfect for craft shows, online selling of the finished product and for your home decor.
This stacking pumpkins set above is BIG and makes a great display.

There are embroidery projects.... 

Whimsical fun....

Vintage inspired swag....

This is a closeup of the pumpkin on the swag....simple and easy

Fun wearable pins that use scraps of fabric....

This mouse is sweet and has a light up lantern....

Fun badges....that have the artwork included....make as many as you like....

Quilted wallhangings....and purses....

Pin keeps with pictures....

Witch mannequins.....the original design!

Fun stockings....a big fun display

adorable ghost....

ghouls night out....

Needle felted pumpkins.....fun fun project

midnight snack mousey....

Grinning jack.....

Monster mash lil pillows....

Vintage like treasure pockets.....with artwork! 
Halloween sampler quilts.....

Wool pins....great for small wool scraps...

Boo pumpkin doll....

Sweet trick or treat bag.
 
Plus I have lots of tags, flash cards, and other Halloween goodies too!!!!
 
All of these can be found on my Etsy (instant download)
my Patternmart (instant download)   or
my Website (printed patterns)
 
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Just alittle inspiration.....
 
I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true - hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it.
Ray Bradbury