bytheairport

Halloween Pumpkin

2009-04-20T17:26:00.006-05:00

I still have my Halloween pumpkin from last year.

I bought him in mid-October 2008, never carved him, rested him by my (non-working) fireplace on the cool tile floors, and he's still as fresh and firm as if I'd brought him home yesterday.

He continually reminds me of Patchy Pumpkin, but I just refer to him as Mr. Pumpkin. I'm going to keep him around indefinitely, and only throw him out should he start to rot. However, I expect he'll simply dry up in which case he'll be around forever as I'm an extremely, oddly sentimental person. Decades from now he'll probably be rested on my old lady desk.

License Plate Upcycle

2009-04-19T20:32:00.007-05:00

Due to an unfortunate incident causing me to feel the full brunt of the Brazil-like world we live in, I have several license plates. At least one of the plates was still current and I felt really frustrated that it would become moot following its replacement with a plate from another state.

At some point I had this idea to use my plates as desktop mail/paper files. This is a simple project that takes less than 15 minutes, makes clever use of old/irrelevant license plate(s), and will help organize your desk.

For this project you will need: a license plate, a ruler, and a permanent marker.

In general a license plate is about 12 inches wide. Using your ruler, measure across the width of the license plate at 5" and 7". This 2" space will be the base of the file. I put small marks at the top, center and bottom of my plate so that I get a nice straight edge.

Place your ruler or other sturdy edge along the inside (what will be the base of the file) of one set of marks and make sure your ruler is lined up with the marks.

A license plate is easily bended. Using your ruler as a guide, bend one side of the plate about 45 degrees. We're only going to bend halfway so that there will be room to position your hand to bend the other side.

Next place your ruler along the inside of the second set of marks and use your fingers as shown above to hold the ruler and bend the other side about 45 degrees.

Now you have a "U" shape. To finish the file work the sides to a vertical position so that you create a little file. The bottom corners will have a nice rounded shape.

To get the right shape I press down on the top of one side of the file against a hard surface and then rapidly bend the other side back and forth about 1" in both directions. This helps to work the metal into the right shape. You could also use clamps to clamp the base of the file to a desk and then work the sides into the right form.

Ta da! This little file also works well to hold CDs. Here is one of the files in use on my desk.
(Alternately, you could bend the plates in half and use them as book ends.)

Springtime

2009-04-14T17:28:00.006-05:00

Appy polly loggies for I've been very neglectful. I've been both horribly, terribly bored and uninspired; and dreadfully busy and motivated. But alas no time for ye olde blog. But once again, I have both the time, inspiration and motivation to blog about making stuff. As a prelude, please watch the video below of three of my cats totally going to town on the cat grass I planted for them from seed ("cat grass seed").

One of my favorite parts is that you can hear them nomm-ing on the grass.

The grass is extremely easy to grow and "cat grass seed" can be found at any pet supply store. In general, "cat grass seed" is just "oat grass seed" so you could just buy oat grass seed. My theory is that oat grass seed is cheaper because "cat grass seed" sounds fancy and specialized. Marketing.

A good tip for planting these (very hardy) seeds is to cover the pot with plastic cling wrap or some other plastic to created a humid space for the seeds to sprout. Don't leave it on once the seeds have sprouted or they will get crushed*. Another alternative are those shower cap style food covers or an actual, CLEAR shower cap (Accept the complimentary one next time you stay in a hotel, keep it, use it to sprout seeds.)

Grass in general is a very resilient plant. Keep this cat grass watered with some regularity and it will remain green and healthy through the bulk of its lifespan. I can't tell you from experience how long uneaten grass will grow. I try to limit my cats' access to the grass so that it grows for a long time and they can enjoy it more.

Additionally, if you have no grass-eating pets, I think that pots of fresh green grass look very fresh and clean.

*Or not. Actually, I covered my seeds with a used and resued large Ziplock-style bag and secured it with a large, stretchy headband. In truth the seal wasn't very tight as the plastic was too thick to be contained by the headband. I checked the seeds after a few days to check their progress and they were just sprouting. I took a look again after about 36 hours and the grass has shot up about 3 inches and pushed the plastic off the pot and sent the stretchy headband across the room. BOING!

Loops On Sticks

2009-01-27T15:45:00.008-06:00

I've tried in vain and have each time ended up frustrated trying to learn how to knit. It's all loops on sticks (albeit beautiful bamboo sticks) to me. Not being able to maintain even tension is a major issue.

But it hasn't dampened my adoration for beautiful knits or for those who can knit, and knit original things. (While adoring, I'm still completely green with envy!)

Need. This. Owl. Sweater. To. Continue. Living.

One such AMAZING knitted piece is this incredibly creative and adorable owl sweater by Kate whose blog is called Needled. It makes me want to try knitting again because there is a free pattern available for the sweater at the blog.

Chicken Noodle Soup with Sweet Potato

2008-12-17T14:33:00.009-06:00

Chicken Noodle Soup with Sweet Potato

I was inspired to make chicken noodle soup with sweet potato after seeing a recipe for sweet potato and chicken stew; the combination of sweet potato and rosemary sounded really good. This soup is full of fresh vegetables and the sweet potatoes delicate sweet taste goes very well with rosemary.

Chicken Noodle Soup with Sweet Potato

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut in chunks
2 ribs celery, diced
2 carrots, scrubbed, peels on and diced
1 can (13 oz) cooked chicken breast in water
1 C water
1 box (32 oz) chicken broth
1 T bacon/ham pieces (I used Hormel Real Bacon with Picnic Bacon pieces)
1 C rotini pasta
2 T olive oil
Diced garlic, to taste
1/2 t minced fresh rosemary
1 T vinegar
Onion powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

Put olive oil, garlic, celery, carrot, and sweet potato in a soup pot over medium heat. Combine to coat vegetables. Cook until celery is tender, and the carrot and potato are beginning to soften. Then add bacon pieces and water; simmer.

Meanwhile add chicken with water to pot and break up large chunks of chicken. Next add rosemary, onion powder, salt and pepper. Combine ingredients, add pasta and combine again. Add broth and cook soup covered until vegetables and pasta are done then add vinegar and stir.

666

2008-12-09T08:24:00.003-06:00

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With the utmost urbane intentions . . .

2008-11-27T21:00:00.005-06:00

happy thanksgiving!

Today i cooked steak for the first time. I was asked and protested citing a) not really caring for steak, b) never buying steak, c) having never before cooked steak, but my parents insisted. I wasn't opposed to cooking, I was opposed to screwing up something so classic. I'm not even going to describe what I did to cook the steak -- T-bones -- I'm embarrassed at my lack of finesse.

I did make some great twice baked potatoes. I cooked several smallish russet potatoes in the microwave until done. Then I sliced them in half and let them cool. I scooped out a hole in the halves and kept the scrapings. I mixed the scrapped away potatoes with milk, butter, cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, and freshly prepared bacon crumbles.

Then I filled the halves with the cheese potato mixture, sprinkled with fresh ground garlic salt, more grated cheddar and some bacon crumbles chopped very finely. Then I baked them until the cheese on top was melted.

We also had a garden salad.

This wasn't an "official Thanksgiving" dinner. My mother had to work today until 7PM so we decided to have nice dinner, but to have turkey on Friday after shopping for extremely cheap electronics, as they seem to be the gift to give this year. But when haven't they been in the last 15 years?

New for Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T16:53:00.005-06:00

Black and Bluebells
Delicate light blue bluebell flower (plastic, German) with onyx. All sterling silver. Approx. 1.25" in length.

Helios Panoptes Earrings
All-seeing Helios. Long, swinging earrings created with vintage brass chain, acrylic yellow beads, enameled leaves, and mother of pearl shell. Sterling silver lever back earwires and findings. Approx. length 2.5".

Don't forget! Holiday shipping to USA & Canada - $1 per item!

Babies

2008-11-23T10:18:00.006-06:00

Lately, I've been shopping for a baby shower gift. A friend from art school is having a girl in January. I'm determined to give her handmade gifts. In my search for the perfect gift, I've been really impressed by the adorable teeny, tiny shoes for baby on Etsy.

Organic Crocheted Booties | SheKnitsAm y

Since my friend is having a baby in winter I've been considering a lot of cold weather gifts. These organic cotton and merino wool blend crocheted booties are probably very warm and soft of baby's little foot.

Olive Dottie Baby Booties | Pedro Sprout

These little shoes are not only adorable but they are made from Ecospun felt which is created by recycling plastic bottles.

I Heart My Robot Baby Shoes | Baby Grin (Devilish Grin)

One thing I was really impressed with and happy about is that my friend has chosen a very gender neutral look for her nursery, a Jungle theme with lots of natural colors and different textures. These little baby shoes, which are made from very cute imported Japanese linen fabric, give me that same feeling. These little shoes are appropriate for either a boy or a girl.

Red Baby Booties | Pleasantly Plump Knits

There is something about knitted (and crocheted) things that seems so right for babies. The softness and handmade aspect seems very loving and secure. These little booties have a unique crisscross design that I especially like.

Embroidered Baby Shoes | Anneeta

Immediately when I saw these little shoes I thought of the embroidered pillowcases and table runners my grandmother made. And in fact, these booties are made from reclaimed hand embroidered linens -- such a tender and genius idea. The lining fabric is also vintage. A really great gift for the vintage lover.

New for November

2008-11-08T20:24:00.005-06:00

Born with Silver Scissors Earrings $14.50

Golden Lasso Earrings $14.50

Ta da!

2008-11-06T18:36:00.005-06:00

Kokeshi Applique Vintage Sweater

Vintage black sweater with buttons along shoulder has applique of original kokeshi doll head motif; reinforced with black felt on inside.

Kokeshi Applique Vintage Sweater

United States of America:

2008-11-04T18:34:00.003-06:00

Did you vote today?

Shepherd's Pie

2008-11-03T07:30:00.002-06:00

Shepherd's pie (or sometimes called cottage pie) is a traditional English dish that developed as a way to make the most of leftovers. Leftover beef or mutton was diced and combined with vegetable, and a "crust" of left over potatoes, mashed, is spread on top.

Sometimes, however, a person wants a shepherd's pie but doesn't have any leftovers to make one. In this case something that could be called a reverse shepherd's pie can be made: a pie made fresh (that tastes even better the next day).

Behold my Shepherd's Pie!

I made such a shepherd's pie the other night using ground turkey. As with much of my savory cooking, I don't do a lot of fancy measurin'. Here is a rough idea of what I did to make my pie:

For meat and vegetable filling:
1 lb ground turkey
3 small green bell peppers, chopped
half a medium onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
About 1 or 1.5 cups frozen peas and carrots (or any veggies, frozen soup mix veggies work great too)
olive oil
garlic powder
salt
pepper
sage

In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Then add chopped vegetables and cook with salt, pepper, and garlic until onion is translucent and other vegetables are beginning to become tender. Next a add ground turkey and sage. Cook until turkey is done. Drain and reserve drippings. Dump this mixture in a large bowl and add frozen vegetables and mix. Set aside.

Gravy:
roux
chicken stock/pan drippings
salt/pepper
garlic
sage

I make a simple gravy by creating a roux and mixing it with stock/ drippings. (Honstly, there are a lot of resources on the internet about making roux and creating gravy. Alternately, you could buy a prepared gravy. Gravy is easy to make. The hard part is making a smooth mixture. However, in a shepherd's pie you can get away with a few lumps.) Basic gravy directions: In a skillet over low heat, add chicken stock and/or meat drippings. Add roux and whisk to create a smooth gravy. I guess I made about a cup of gravy, but the amount of gravy really depends on how much pie you are making. Or how much you like gravy.

Mashed potato "crust":
Make either fresh mashed potatoes or instant according to box directions. I made instant using all milk, extra butter, lots of garlic powder, and pepper.

To assemble:
Heat oven to broil. In an oven proof dish add meat/vegetable mixture to bottom and pour gravy over. Spread mashed potatoes on top and bake until top of potatoes begins to brown.

I find shepherd's pie is pretty good and filling on its own BUT it's also really good paired with an other comfort food, like macaroni and cheese. AND a fresh shepherd's pie like this tastes even better leftover because the flavors have time to coalesce.

Post-Halloween Wrap Up.

2008-11-01T15:42:00.005-05:00

Last night I went to a party at the zoo. The zoo always has events for children during October, but this was their first attempt at an adults-only Halloween party. It was fun, but I thought of a million ways to make it better.

There were several Jokers and I imagine it to be a very popular costume this year. But I amused myself by imagining they were all congregated as part of some Joker convention. I was the only Wednesday. One woman really freaked out on me and just had to get her photo taken with me because she loves Wednesday so much. That was nice.

One year I wore a 1950's style dress trying to be "a 1950's housewife." This kid I knew from Russia thought my costume was "being pregnant" because "isn't those the types of dresses you wear when pregnant?" Maybe something was lost in translation, but no one else knew what I was either. So my point is, at least I didn't have to explain that I was Wednesday.

The best costume I saw all night were two guys dressed as Amish men, and their costume was "two hot young Amish boys." Genius!

I'm not done spookin' it up: tonight is the last night to travel through the haunted corn maze.

Wednesday Addams and The Joker

2008-10-30T12:00:00.004-05:00

I got this awesome vintage dress back at the end of summer for $7. When I first saw it I thought of Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby. But as weeks went by it started to remind me more of Wednesday Addams. Either way, it's a great dress, but ultimately I thought I'd have an easier time finding a Wednesday wig rather than a Rosemary wig.

Mia Farrow as Rosemary Woodhouse (L), Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams (R)

Shoes from Target: Issac Mizrahi for Target.

Awful cheap wig, but it will work for the one night I'm going to wear it.

My boyfriend is going to be Joker. We were able to thrift all of the clothing for his costume. I tried to dye the suit to a more vibrant purple but the suit is apparently 100% polyester, so it didn't dye. The vest and pocket handkerchief were dyed green (the vest was brown). He bought the bank robbery mask and we're going to "Jokerize" his face.

Claymation Zombies

2008-10-29T15:10:00.003-05:00

Chainsaw Maid

Claymation video from Japan of a zombie attack and the faithful maid with her chainsaw. (Warning: claymation gore.)

Halloween Pumpkin and friend

2008-10-28T17:11:00.005-05:00

This is my Halloween pumpkin and his new pal, Osage Orange. An Osage Orange is a strange bumpy, green fruit that comes from the Osage Orange tree. The tree begins to drop is fruit close to Halloween. I think the fruits texture and color make it a great addition to Jack O' Lanterns at Halloween.

The flesh of the Osage Orange is stringy and fibrous and inedible, but squirrels love to eat the seeds which are edible. The fruit is pretty big (grapefruit size) and very heavy. You can read more about the Osage Orange here.

Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-27T17:23:00.011-05:00

As a rule it's better to wait until pretty close to Halloween to carve your pumpkin. Otherwise come Halloween while you will have something scary - a decomposing heap of squash with mold - you won't have a lantern.

I actually can't remember when I last carved a pumpkin because I like to keep mine for as long as possible. A pumpkin can last well into December, or even January, if you don't "kill it."

Having said all of this on NOT carving, here are some good places to find ideas for carving your Jack:

Yes, We Carve: Barak O' Lanterns (free)
Show support for US Democratic presidential nominee, Barak Obama, by carving a Barak O' Lantern. Stencils for download and reader submitted photos of their Barak O' Lanterns.

Martha Stewart Pumpkin Templates (free)
Martha has templates and instructions for a lot of differnt methods of carving and decorating pumpkins. Some techniques use linoleum carving tools to etch the flesh and other utilize the stem as a the nose. Martha cuts the bottom out of her pumpkins, rather than the top. I like the silhouette designs that are etched and ink coated (see above). If I carve my pumpkin at all I'll probably use this etched/silhouette technique.

Snap O 'Lantern (free instructions)
If you are feeling really ambitions and know anything about electronics you could make this amazing robotic Snap O' Lantern using a miniature pumpkin. This little pumpkin opens and closes his mouth like a snap and has LED eyes. Check out the video.

An iPod Halloween

2008-10-24T09:36:00.007-05:00

For my birthday this year I received an 80g iPod making me one of the last people on Earth to have an iPod, or so it seems. Of course the first thing I did was download a bunch of Halloween related things. Here is my list of spookifying downloads for your iPod/iTunes:

1. This American Life: Episode 319: For Halloween, scary stories that are all true. Kidnappings, zombie raccoons, haunted houses — real haunted houses! — and things that go "EEEEK!!!" in the night. Plus, a new story by David Sedaris, in which he walks among the dead."

The story about the woman who is attacked by the raccoon is truly terrifying. There is another Halloween episode from 1996 entitled "Halloween" featuring stories about things that are supposed to be scary but aren't. The end of the show features listeners calling in and leaving their best screams on voice mail.

You can download episodes of This American Life from iTunes for 95 cents or listen online for free.

2. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

A complete American Halloween classic, who can resist the Peanuts kids? My favorite part is probably the dancing black cat decoration in the opening sequence. He's so cute. When you buy this episode you also get It's Magic, Charlie Brown and Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown. $9.99 for three episodes.

3. History Channel Haunted Histories: Vampire Secrets

"Vampires: the undead." I watched this once before on TV during daylight and found it interesting and educating. But the first time I watched after buying it from iTunes ($1.99!) , I watched it at night in my bed and was pretty freaked out, especially when the part about Countess Elizabeth Bathory started. What a crazy! The cats were in the living room jumping around and I was convinced something was trying to get in my apartment.

The myth and story of the vampire is based on real life psychopaths from history. Be scared and learn something!

4. History Channel Haunted Histories: The Search for the Real Frankenstein

I didn't know that much about the historical, factual aspects of Frankenstein's monster. But it's a much more modern monster; originating out of the Industrial Revolution and the further experiments with electricity. The story Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelly and until I watched this History Channel piece I did not know she was as young as she was when she wrote the novel -- she finished it when she was 19. And the story is based upon actual experiments of the time. Watching this documentary makes you consider more and more that the title of the book refers to the doctor and not the monster.

Skeleton Parade by Jack Prelutsky

2008-10-21T18:11:00.008-05:00

Skeleton Parade by Jack Prelutsky

The skeletons are out tonight,
they march about the street,
With bony bodies, bony heads
and bony hands and feet.
Bony bony bony bones
with nothing in between,
Up and down and all around
they march on Halloween.

Skeleton Finger Puppet @ Cheryl A. Smith

Hemoglobin Creepily Luxurious Soap @ Washable Art

Skeleton Love Pin and Sticker Set @ Black Lily Pie

Colored Skull Necklace @ Holly Modine Studio

Poor Yorick Amazonite and Wood Earrings @ bytheairport

Black Cats Eat Babies (and Homemade Cat Treats)

2008-10-20T07:00:00.004-05:00

October 20: Black cats

Worshiped as a god by the Egyptians and likened to serpents in Hebrew and Babylonian folktales, the cat has been a source of reverence and/or fear since forever.

The Romans, who also considered the black cat sacred, were the first to bring it to Europe. With it's mysterious dark color and ability to seem almost invisible at night, the black cat was an omen of bad luck in most of Europe, but in Ireland, Britain, and many Asian cultures it was considered benign or auspicious. (1)

In Europe around the 17th century, black cats were believed to be witches familiars or devils, or even The Devil himself in disguise. Black cats were believed to posses the ability to shape-shift. (My black cat shape shifts from standing to sitting to a kind of melting shape when he stretches out to sleep.)

If a cat wasn't a witch in disguise, it was at least the witches equivalent and harming a black cat was the same as harming a witch (Heaven points?). And because there was no PETA to assault anyone with red paint, a popular Eastertime practice existed at the time of rounding up and killing black cats. (2)

However in Scotland, seeing a black cat on your porch was a sign of forthcoming prosperity. And in England, the wives of fisherman believed keeping a black cat would protect their husbands while at sea ("You go to sea and catch fish all day while I stay at home and pet this cat.") Cats have always been considered good luck charms on ships, due in large part to their mouse catching abilities -- mice being a bane of ships for contaminating stores of food and because pirates, much like elephants, are terrified of mice.

In Japan, a black cat crossing ones path is a sign of good luck. But in India the black cat was a bad omen.

Even today the black cat lives a life of extremes: still viewed cautiously as a possessor of magick powers but also a symbol of good luck, especially with regards to its ability to bring good luck in gambling. In hoodoo traditions the bones of black cats are said to grant the possessor the ability to become invisible or to bring back a lost love. (3)

My black cat is nothing if not the complete antithesis of the evil black cat. A complete baby, he sleeps for hours in the bedroom window soaking up as much sunlight as possible, he often sleeps on his back like a dead bug. Eveready, named for the battery who uses a black cat jumping through a number 9, is the most loyal cat I have: he always comes when called and he's always looking for my lap to curl up in. And when he's not sleeping he's playing with his favorite mouse to y which he will fetch if you throw it.

But even if there are "evil" black cats, they are probably just like any other cat and can be easily distracted with string or food. Maybe to be safe this Halloween from the evil plots of shape-shifting black soldiers of the Devil you should take along some tasty homemade salmon cat treats.*

These treats are made with canned salmon. DO NOT add any spices or herbs to the cat treat recipe! Seasonings like onions can be poisonous to cats. And cats do not need high salt foods.

Homemade Salmon Cat Treats

1 C canned salmon, packed
1/2 C reserved salmon juice
1/2 T olive oil
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/2 C cornmeal
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350F. Drain salmon and reserve juice. Juice should be about 1/2 cup, but you can add water or chicken stock to match if there isn't enough juice.

Pack a one cup measuring cup with salmon. Dump salmon in a bowl and break up with a fork. There may be some bones - vertebra - be sure to crush these in to tiny bits. The bones are soft and break up easily. Add egg olive oil, reserved juice and mix. Next add cornmeal, and then flour. Mix well so that a dough forms.

Spray a cookie sheet lightly with olive oil spray. Dump dough on sheetpan and press flat to 1/4 inch. Using a knife, pizza cutter or pastry cutter, cut the dough into treat sized pieces. Bake for 2o minutes.

Allow to cool completely and then break up into treats. Make sure treats are completely cooled before storing.

=^.^=

Dogs would probably love these treats too.

Black and Orange Cupcakes

2008-10-17T06:00:00.008-05:00

These black cupcakes are made from Jiffy mix with 1/2 teaspoon of apple pie spice added. Jiffy mix costs about 60 cents and it is actually quite tasty. A mix makes about 8 cupcakes. The mix is recession proof and I like that it only makes a few cupcakes. It's hard to eat a dozen cupcakes, but eight I can manage. And if you've never had Jiffy cornbread, you're missing out. It's pretty damn tasty. (It does contain animal lard. Sorry, vegetarians.)

I wanted to make black cake. I used black gel dye to color the batter. It takes a lot of dye to make cake black. I added 1/2 teaspoon of apple pie spice to give the cupcake at little something extra. Apple pie spice give the cake an "autumn" taste.

Orange dyed prepared cream cheese frosting, the best frosting ever.

Spooky black cake!

Silver foil papers. The frosting was piped on using a Ziplock bag.

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Click here view this project on Cut Out & Keep and to add it to your favorite projects.

Nosferatu

2008-10-15T08:00:00.004-05:00

Like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu is another German Expressionist silent film of the 1920's. Directed by F.W. Murnau, it is essentially the film adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The vampire, Count Orlock, is played by German actor Max Shreck whose last name means "terror" in German.

Halloween Etsy Shopping

2008-10-14T18:19:00.012-05:00

Today I have a migraine. A migraine feels like a little demon lives inside your skull and takes a notion periodically to chew on your brain. And in this respect a migraine is the ultimate haunt.

But enough of the demon who cuts teeth on my brain, let us now to shopping:

Paper Dolls Set Witches and Haunted House by AlissaStudio

I really like paper dolls. And I really like dioramas. And this paper doll set of witches and a haunted house sort of fulfills both of these likes. The attention to detail is wonderful as the fronts, backs and sides of this set are fully illustrated.

Vintage Halloween Mask 60s/70s Deadstock from The Vintage Supply Co.

Probably the best part of this vintage witch mask is that she appears to be wearing Batman earrings. I love, love, love Halloween decorations and costumes from Halloweens past. Vintage Halloween stuff is always more fun and scary to me.

Night Owl Button Brooch from bytheairport

You got me. I'm promoting myself here. But I do really love this brooch and it is Halloween-y. And if you won't promote yourself, who will? Ok then. So this brooch is built on a big button and it features a stout black out perched in a "tree" made of aventurine underneath a shell moon.

Silver Spooky Arch Back Cat Necklace from A.N. ORIGINAL JEWELRY

Perfecto! Spooky cat with classic Halloween cat arched back. She also has ghosts and bats in this same style.

Murder of Crows Chandelier print by CafeBaudelaire

Did you know that a group of crows is called a "murder?" This is because apparently a group of crows will occasionally kill a dying crow. These crows are wearing witches hats and roosting in a chandelier. This, I believe, probably equals tricks and witchery.

Halloween Penelope print from Fall Down Tree

I love this adorable black cat's woogley eyes and startled expression.

Copper and Brass Metal Raven Necklace by An Acidic Desire

The obvious correlation is the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Alan Poe. And while it is a haunting piece of poetry, it is actually set in December. But much like crows, black colored birds are an essential element to Halloween. They look like flying shadows.

Halloween Cupcake Pokes

2008-10-13T09:00:00.005-05:00

A treat for treats! These cupcake pokes are easily assembled with toothpicks and any non-toxic glue (any glue that school children eat and survive is perfect). Download and print the sheet on card stock and cut out the circles then glue the circles back-to-back with a toothpick sandwiched between.

Click to download the full sized version.