A Magical New Year!

What do Magic Mushrooms have to do with "Happy New Year"? I found some fun and fascinating folklore!
The Autumnal Magic Mushroom or Amantia Muscaria has long be associated with elves, gnomes and fairy tales. Just look inside a children's book they pop up everywhere. It's history as a hallucinogen dates back 10,000 years. Often used by Shaman and mixed with other ingredients to ward off potentially deadly side effects. Magic Mushrooms are associated with Midwinter, Christmas and New Years. Folklore says Santa used these Mushrooms to aid in the flight of his reindeer. Santa an elf himself is dressed in the same colors as the Magic Mushroom.
The Vintage postcards above are just amazing! They are French "Bonne Annee" meaning Happy New Year. "Prosit Neujahr" which is a German toast to the New Year! Slovakia "Stastlivy Novuy Rok" Happy New Year. I love the last one which is the money bag holding the Magic mushroom umbrella.
So on that thought I'd love to end by saying "Happy New Year"!
May 2011 find you and yours: Health, Happiness, Love and Prosperity! These are my Wishes for us all!

Wonderful Winter

Wishing everyone a beautiful Winter!

Celebrate 365 Magazine has featured my Krampus

I guess I'm on nice list this year! My Krampus Ornament is featured in Celebrate 365 A Journal For the Ornament Enthusiast Winter 2010 issue. There is a wonderful article about Krampus among many other fantastic articles, ornaments and folk art! This magazine is a must for collectors. If you are an artist it's just full of inspiration and wonderful & amazing folk artists. Artists whom I'm so just so thrilled and honored to be among! Thank you Connie and everyone involved at Celebrate 365! To order a single copy of the magazine click here.
I'll be listing Krampus in my Etsy shop soon. Right now I'm enjoying using him as a behavior modification tool for my boys. Just as a little reminder not to be naughty!
He's now listed in my Etsy Shop click here to be transported.

Krampus A Devilish Sidekick

Krampus is the Holiday Devil that traditionally accompanies St. Nicholas during the first 2 weeks of December. The eve of December 5th known as Krampusnacht on this night St. Nicholas brings gifts to the good. The bad however aren't so lucky! Right alongside St. Nicholas is Krampus. He is the punisher of the bad! Have you been naughty this year? Do you deserve a spanking or perhaps you need to be carried off entirely! Krampus gives a whole new meaning to You'd better Watch Out, You'd better not cry! I'm telling you why Krampus Claws is coming to town! The word Krampus is Old German for Claw(Krampen).
The versions above are from old postcards. As you can see there are many different types of Krampus. My Sugar Cookie version is a tamer version but don't let him fool you! He carries a Birch branch for spanking!
Some fun Krampus links:
Krampus.com
Krampus Movie
Etsy

A little more than frost on the pumpkin

Poor Jack the critters really tore up his face. One Jack is completely gone maybe he was carried off by a Yeti. You have to be on the look out for them this time of year! Happy December!

My Gingerbread Man was bitten is a finalist in the Better Homes and Gardens Contest

I'm so excited my Gingerbread Man was chosen as a finalist this week in the Better Homes and Gardens Handmade Ornament contest! There are other artists who you may know also that are entered. So please go take a peek and also think about entering yourself. The grand prize is $1,000 and a chance to have your ornament featured in the magazine! I'd also like to wish everyone a wonderful cyber Monday! Some wonderful deals on Etsy today!
Update: My Gingerbread ornament placed 9th and my Snowman Pine Cone Ornament placed 14th! Thank you so much to those of you who took the time to vote for me!!!

Fresh Baked Sugar Cookie Ornaments

I just finished these Sugar Cookie Ornaments. I decided to go with a more retro look with Aqua and Pink. I've even lightened up Gingerbread man a little. They are on there way to a Shop in my local mall that carries artist made treats. I hope they will all find homes for the Holidays! If they don't check back and I will list them in my Etsy shop. I'm putting the Christmas Tree up today. I promised I'd put the Tree up when we got our first Snow. Well, it's just a dusting but it's still Snowing!
I'm having 10% Off for the Holidays in my Etsy shop! Use Coupon Code: HSALE2010

Cranberry Sauce

Ok that is not traditional Cranberry Sauce! It's one of my favorite local Cranberry Wines some say sauce. So I'm raising a glass to toast all that I'm thankful for! "Cheers" to all of you my blog friends! Thank you for being a wonderful part of my life. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, Gobble!

Yuletide Image Inspiration

I love these retro Christmas images! You can find wonderful vintage plates, cards and gift wrap on both ebay and etsy. I needed a little inspiration! I think I'm going to have to bust out with the Christmas tunes also. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. For those of you getting snow send some our way!
Too see more Retro Christmas click here to be transported to my Etsy Treasury!

Welcome to the Himalayas!

Ok that's the line used in the movie Monsters Inc. Does anyone remember when Mike and Sulley were banished to the land of the Abominable Snowman? He served them lemon snow cones.
Yeti or Abominable Snowman is a magical ape like creature from the Himalayan Mountain region. So why not add him into the Christmas mix! The Rudolph movies did!
My Yeti is hanging out here if you'd like a closer look. Don't worry he doesn't bite no teeth!

The Snowmen are starting to multiple

I've just added these Snowmen to my Etsy Shop. Getting up before the kids I can get a lot of painting done! Now I've got to go glitter a Yeti. Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend!

Glittered Pine Cone Ornaments

I'm lucky to have some wonderful vintage pine cone people ornaments. These Elves and Snowmen are my version. I made some similar last year so I thought I'd make more. I feel like an Elf myself right now! I saw they were taking away the last of the Halloween stuff at the store today. They were replaced with Candy Canes. I'm just not ready need more time! Now I'm off to paint and glitter well you know! Wishing you all a wonderful and creative day!

My Halloween & Fall Ornaments have been featured on Martha Stewart's website

These are the Halloween and Fall Ornaments that are featured on Martha Stewart's website. I entered her Your Best Halloween Creations 2010 contest. I'm number 4 in the photo line up! There are some wonderful Halloween Creations that were picked. I'm thrilled to be included with this bunch! Deborah Adams of Possible Impossibilities Studio was a runner up with her Brimstone Pumpkin Man. I love her work so amazing! I'm just so thrilled!

Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween! May your day and night be filled with Magic and Sweet Treats!

Spooky Tree # 2

Here's Spooky Tree #2! The Witch Hag is front and center a wicked original by Sheila of Primdolly. She also makes other creatures of the Night! The little Green Goblin was created by Theresa of Sycamore Moon Studio. His hat is a real acorn cap and his body is spun cotton he's got a lot going on for a little fellow. I love him because he is a cutie but also because he is so original! I'd love a tree full of these Green Goblins! Who wouldn't oh and she also makes some wonderful root people too. The little Jol is from Shell Hawk and he's next to William Bezek's wonderful Acorn! There is also a Skeleton ornament from William. The wonderful Pumpkin on the base is yes none other than a Gourdqueen original! I love Linda's work she rocks the Halloween world off it's gourd. The Skelly Doll I adore and Nina from Gothic Southern Belle Art created her. More Tags from Retro Rudolph's and the pear and cat ornies are Greg Guedel. The other glass ornaments I got years ago at Joann Fabrics. Now some of these I was lucky enough to win in giveaways so never hesitate to enter because you could win some wonderful and amazing Treats!
Now I'm off to tie down the house before the Wicked Winds whip though here today! I hope we all don't blow away!

My Spooky Tree filled with Goodies & not just from me

I also love to collect other artists Halloween and Christmas when I can. So here's one of my Spooky Trees decorated with just a few of my favorites. Lisa Nelson of Bucks County Designs Black Cat and Jol Ornament is front and center. She's wonderful and I love her vibrant spooky creations! Lori Rudolph of Retro Rudolph's vintage style lantern's and tags grace this tree. I love vintage style Halloween goodies and no one does that better than Lori! Greg Gudel is amazing I love his original Halloween woodcarvings. I can't afford those at the moment. I was able to snag these paper mache ornaments which are reproduced by Bethany Lowe. The glass owl and jack ornament is by Old World Christmas. The little Jol with the hat is vintage plastic and I found him on ebay. The other dodas are mine. So that's just one tree I'll post the other tomorrow! Now I'm off to put Halloween bags together for kid parties. Wishing you all a day filled with Spooky Goodness!

Night Glow

Just thought I share some photos of our Halloween lights. Since we don't get Trick or Treaters way back here in the woods I just put some lights up on our deck. I was wondering if any of you put up lights for Halloween? If we lived in a neighborhood I'd go all out.

Monster High Dolls not your average Barbie

I love these Monster Dolls by Mattel. I prefer them to your average Barbie. I found them in the Target ad yesterday. I won't be getting them since I don't think the boys would be into them to much! lol!

The Haunted Trail at the Lake

I really don't think there could be a better setting for a Haunted Trail than a beautiful Lake. There was a Witch and a Vampire and Spider Man. Many Ghosts and Ghouls came out for the occasion. The scene was set for Spooky Fun. Then Darkness fell and the Haunted Trail was open. Tricks and Treats for everyone!

Trick-r-Treat- animated short & a Pumpkin Fairy Giveaway!

This is a fun Short for those of you who are a Sam fans!
You must fly over to see my Friend Jeanne who is having a Magical Giveaway! She's giving away a very enchanting pumpkin Fairy! Click here to be transported!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend too!

Trick r Treat Movie Sam

Isn't he the cutest. Don't you just want this action figure Sam from the Trick r Treat Movie. I loved the movie they need to make another one spooky good!

Back from the Art Show

My husband took some of my Ornaments to his Art Show in North Carolina. Several of them sold which is wonderful! Thank You! For those of you interested several of my Halloween ornament sets listed on Etsy are now listed individually. Oliver Owl has flown home and is now listed here if you'd like to take a peek. I'm in the process of making loads of Christmas. I'm hoping to do a local show so back to work for me. Wishing you all a wonderfully creative day!

Clowning Around

I got these retro Halloween masks a few years ago. Every year we take spooky pictures in our woods. I use photo shop and adjust the tint for the desired affect. Wishing everyone a very spooky weekend!

Oliver Owl Ornament

I just finished Oliver. I don't have him listed anywhere yet he is going on a road trip down to North Carolina. He may not come back but if he does I'll let you know where he'll be.
Owls I love them don't you! They have been associated with mystery and magic since ancient times. A nocturnal bird of prey who's eerie screech could be mistaken for a scream! No wonder they fit perfectly into Autumnal and Halloween decor. Owls often known as a Witches Familiar. It was also thought that a Witch could shape shift into an Owl. Hecate the Witch Goddess and Athena the Goddess of Wisdom both had Owls as their familiars. During dusk known as witching time the death of the day is called Owl Light. During this time a Witch can be transported into the other world. I just thought this was fun info!