Next, very pretty paper pumpkins. I’ve surely been on a pumpkin kick this year. These look like the kind of thing you could make masses of for party decorations.
In the mood for Victorian vampires? Here’s a treat: the original web series, Blood and Bone China.
‘It is 1897 and a city is in turmoil. In the smoky, dirty depths of middle England, the people are terrified. The once bustling streets of Stoke are empty, the silence is only broken by the whispers of devils, demons and vampires. Poor souls are being taken, vanishing without a trace.’
Also, the theme song is pretty good. Here’s the opening chapter. You can get caught up at their site–the final chapter is coming soon!
This cloudy Saturday found us at Portland Nursery’s Apple Tasting. I can’t believe I’d never been there. Man, that place is huge for being right in the city.
The line to get to the apples
We tasted a few dozen varieties of apples and pears, then bought some for the tasty price of .99/lb. We met some nice people, too! Of course, the reason I wanted to go was the scarecrows.
On our way out to the fest, we saw something intriguing along Stark St., so I had to go back and have a look. Turns out it was Scare Hollow, a home haunt that has grown over the last five years from a few animatronic props to a full-blown walk-thru with actors. This year, it’s all about a futuristic town gone bad. They open on Wednesday. I think I have to go.
Scare Hollow
The other thing we did on the way back is check out the house on Long Street, otherwise known as Lonesomeville Pottery. Every year they put up great scarecrows, and dozens and dozens of pumpkins, both carved and ceramic. You simply must see this place at night. But even better, their Autumn Sale is next Friday. They have seasonal items, which I’m hoping means I can grab a pumpkin or two!
Online image-editing site Picnik has tons of cool goodies for Halloween editing. A lot of it is premium. The service is great, and if I used it more often, I would totally upgrade. As it is, I stuck to the free stuff when I vamped up myself and the Spousal Unit.
I’m not much of a costume person. Last year I went to a party as a lolcat, and nobody got it. And I got the font right and everything! Sigh. That’s pretty typical of my costuming experience, so this geeky girl doesn’t go there. Take Back Halloween almost makes me reconsider. Sadly, most of the costumes still have to be explained (never a good thing), but they are still cool ideas. Note: this is not a costume retailer, just an idea source. Kinda wish they did sell these things!
2nd Street Cemetery, which is fast becoming a favorite spookblog, has introduced me to the new tradition of Booing. I vaguely remember doing something like this when I worked in an office several years ago. Can’t remember if it was Christmas or Halloween. Either way, sounds like fun in an office or a neighborhood. Get Booing.!
Oh man, do I ever wish these were sugar-free. So cute I’m tempted anyway, these are Krispy Skremes, available for the season from Krispy Kreme. There’s also other cute stuff on the website.
Via Art of Darkness comes Hide, by Andrew Shouldice. A very creepy little game for PC and Mac. I got killed in about two minutes. The graphics are old-skool, which is actually refreshing. It manages to be plenty spooky, trust me.
Okay, I think I’m done, except for one last treat, again via Art of Darkness:
I was going to give you a post full of craft video goodness today, but I got totally distracted by the amazing Steve Spangler. Here are some cool and probably very messy things to do with the kids (or, you know, the not-kids) for Halloween.
First up, oozing pumpkins:
How disgusting is that?
Next, some serious fun with dry ice bubbles:
I love how he says: “Nothing I do is messy.” Fib!
Next, make yourself a bloody secret message:
I’m thinking you could totally use this cornstarch monster at a party:
This one is so easy, and again, I could totally see a bunch of these screaming balloons at a party for people to play with:
The awesome gryphon is there year-round. As are the vases in the background you shouldn’t be looking at. So, here we have the countdown calendar I got at the craft fair, the famous Blingkin, and some other sparkly odds and ends. I wanted this to be a glittery table.
Only one link today. I was cruising through the other countdown blogs and found Retroween via 2nd Street Cemetery. I know a lot of folks like the retro-look paper decorations, and this is the place to get ’em.
And now, a little animation from Michael Dougherty, maker of the modern Halloween classic Trick-r-Treat:
I’ve collected a lot of gorgeous Halloween and Dia de los Muertos beads and charms this year. What to do, what to do…oh wait, I’ve had this charm bracelet kit sitting around for years! I think these beads are from my awestruck trip to Shipwreck Beads. If you are within, say, six hours of this place, it’s worth the trip. While I’ve seen the skulls everywhere this season, I’ve only seen the little coffins there.
You can’t see it, but there’s a fearsome witch behind us. That’s me in the back, our friend Anna in front, and Bill (The Spousal Unit) over on the right. We are at the witch house at the Wenzel Farms Fantasy Trail.
Every Halloween and Christmas, Wenzel Farms transforms over 1000 feet of trail into a holiday funhouse.
The trail is especially great for kids, with slides and kid-sized attractions. It was exactly what I was in the mood for, and we had a great time.
After the Farm, we headed off for our annual pilgrimage to the Davis Graveyard.
This year’s big new thing was the build-out of the Abbey. You can’t tell from my blah picture, but everything looks amazing. And that guy to the right gave me guff when I put a donation in the box. Called me Scottish. If the shoe fits…
The Halloween countdown calendar is by Kimzey Kreations. The front is a changeable plate, and I will definitely want a new plate for Christmas. Sadly, she doesn’t yet have an online presence, but if you’re desperate to have one of these gorgeous calendars for yourself, ask me and I’ll send you her email address.
The cards are by Deana of Cusp Designs. We spent a few minutes talking about Artfire, which I noticed when they first launched, then kinda forgot about. She loves them as a venue, so I think I’ll have a poke around.
The wonderful cuff I’m just going to mumble about, because I have no idea who I bought it from. I’m so ashamed. I just put on the cuff, and I loved it so much I held out my wrist and said “you cut off the tag, and I will give you money.” I had two people complain that they wanted that cuff. Too bad. All mine.
Finally, get a load of that teeny mummy zombie. I don’t even like zombies, and I think he’s adorkable. He was made by my friend Tina, of CFL Creates. She has a ton of them in her store right now. They are so much cuter in person than in my inadequate photo. I mean, lookit his widdle eyeballs hangin’ out.
