The Town Of Halloween

I finished stitching this pattern many moons ago, but finally got it put together as a pillow a few weeks back.

 

 I initially stitched the big spider web with the suggested 1 strand of black DMC, but I just wasn't happy with how it looked.  Instead, I decided to try the #8 black perle cotton that the instructions said to use for the blanket stitch on the edging of the pillow.  BINGO!... it gave me exactly the effect I was looking for :)

 

This pattern was a really fun stitch, and I'm excited to add to my ever growing Halloween collection. 

Even though November is just around the corner, the autumn hued trees are still putting on quite a show in our region.  This maple in our back yard is just glorious this year... I just had to share!

When we planted that baby tree all those years ago, I never thought I would see the day when it would be peeking over the top of our house like it is here...

 

While you're visiting, would you like a closer look at my front porch decor for this year?

Happy Halloween, everyone... thanks so much for stopping by!

  
Tracey 

 

More Fall and Halloween

Before we reach the end of this month, I wanted to give you a peek of what I've been stitching the last month and show you my Fall/Halloween mantle/decor for this year.

As soon as I saw the pattern of "The Town Of Halloween" by the Primitive Hare in the Just Cross Stitch magazine, 2012 Special Collector's Issue, I knew it was a must stitch!! 

I thought I was going to put in on hold until next year, but one day last month when I was going through my craft cupboard, I stumbled across some forgotten fabric that was just perfect for it!  Many moons ago, I bought a Mill Mini-Afghan in Golden Wheat, to use for this Santa wall hanging.  I didn't need the whole thing, so I tucked the extra away...

 

Since the Halloween pattern was so primitive, I thought - why not give the fabric a coffee bath to age it up a bit?  Well, it changed the colour a bit, but not as much as I would have liked.  (I figure this fabric must have some polyester in it and that's why it didn't "take" very well.)

As I worked on this, I saw a few others out there in blog land doing it too.  When I had a closer look at these, it seems that I should have been doing the backstitching (especially the big spider web) with just one strand of floss instead of 2.  Now, it could just be me - but I found the instructions a bit confusing... what do you think??

The fabric shows way lighter here than in real life!

  

This year I was not in the mood when it came to decorating for fall, so I can't take any credit for what you are about to see.  My daughter, Chantelle was home for a visit a couple of weeks ago and she was more than willing to help me out!  :-)

Grrrr... I find it so difficult to get a true colour of my green walls!!

Love this plaque that I got at Hobby Lobby last year...

... I had to laugh, because on closer inspection this year, I noticed that the letter "S" was missing...

... and also forgotten here too! lol

Thanks so much, Chantelle!!  

By any chance, do you also happen to be coming home for a visit when it's time for my Christmas decor to go up???  :-)

Tracey

Halloween is Done for Another Year...

... but my Halloween stitching is not!  Looks like I will have a couple of new pieces to display for the holiday next year, since I didn't get them finished last month.

I bought this pattern last year when I fell in love with it at first sight!  As you can see, it has all the elements of that perfect Halloween picture... along with a witch stitching too... what fun!!

"Witches Stitch Too!!" by Homespun Elegance

I found this frame on one of my recent visits to Goodwill and I think it will be just the right fit for this piece when it's done.  Might have to change the colour of it though... what do you think?  Surely couldn't leave it there for $3.99! (actually it only cost me $2.00... 50% off and no tax!!)

My sweet hubby saw it and thought I bought it because I wanted the whole picture.  When I explained to him how much I can save by framing some things myself, he now understands and will probably be on the lookout for used frames in his travels!  :^)

So with Halloween over and everything packed away, my fireplace mantel looked pretty sad.  Yesterday I moved some of my autumn decor around and added a few new items too; the metal pumpkin I bought for $12.00 on the day of my shopping adventure with Bonnie, the cute little wooden HOME plaque which was a birthday gift from Jody,  and the darling owl garland I just bought on clearance at the grocery store for $2.97!!

There now- I'm content to relax a bit and leave things the way they are until it's time to decorate for that BIG holiday in December...

Tracey

Seasonal Stitchery & Decor

I've changed things around a bit on my autumn/Halloween mantle this year.  I've added more of my cross stitch pieces- two of which you may remember from last year, and the small one on the right is newly framed for display this year.

The black letter "H" does double duty-- stands for "H"alloween, and is also the first letter of our surname  :^)

 I picked up this little black frame for Alphabet Pumpkin (by JBW Designs) at HomeSense for $5.99.  I'm always on the lookout for square frames; especially black ones.  Kind of like that little black dress... it always seems to work!

I still have a bit more decorating to do, but I wanted to kick things off with the mantle which is the focal point of our sitting room.

For even more fall themed inspiration grab a coffee, take a break, and head on over to visit Layla at The Lettered Cottage where I'm linked up to her Autumn Link Party:

Tracey

Greetings Autumn Lovers

How welcoming is this? We arrived at Jody's this month for our cross stitch meeting to be greeted by this lovely autumn display. Jody always has a theme going on... and it amazes me where she finds the time to do it!

Stepping into the entryway, we were greeted by the Scarecrow....

Upon entering the living room, we were greeted by the best theme ever....!

If my suspicions are correct, Jody prepared this feast of candy for us to indulge in so that we would leave the candy we bought for Halloween ALONE.

Who else will admit that they break into the goodies before the goblins arrive?

.......Traceeeeeeyyy....????

Bonnie

It's Time to Decorate (and to show some stitching too!)

Let's start on the front porch... not a whole lot going on there this year. But it wouldn't be Halloween without this witch and owl wallhanging I made back in 2000. It is one of my absolute favourite pieces and I look forward to putting it out by my front door this time every year.

Here's another little wall hanging I stitched with another witch and owl on it (plus a black cat thrown in the mix!)... along with a cute vintage looking sign that Bonnie gave each of the 3 of us last Halloween time (thanks Bonnie!)

Step inside and you will get your first glimpse of our newly renovated "sitting room". It's been a long process and there's still a bit more to do, but you get the idea. Once it's totally complete, I will show more with the before and after pics. For this posting I mainly wanted to share my fall/ Halloween decorating ideas.

I knew when I saw this Bent Creek pattern I just had to stitch it! Who hasn't hollered out this phrase while hurrying down the street on Halloween night, excited to see what goodies were waiting for you at your next stop? Oh, how I miss those days!

This little pumpkin man carrying his Jack-O-Lantern was a birthday gift a few years back (thanks Jody!). He looks right at home perched on top of a pile of chestnuts, with a few fall leaves mixed in... along with beautiful gold coloured curtains as the perfect backdrop which were made for me by another member of our little group (thanks Anita!).

Ghouls Night Out was sure a fun, quick stitch! It was the first time I had ever tried Vicki Clayton's hand-dyed silk threads
(Fool's Gold & Primitive Black) What a treat! I will definitely be using these lovely threads again!

I have to thank our talented contractor for thinking to put this ledge above the closet he installed.

Not only is there room to display my goodies, but he also thought to put rope lighting along the back of it and also hooked it up to the light switch! You can't tell in this pic, but at night it just gives a really nice glow to the space :^)

I've really had fun decorating for the fall season for the first time in this new room. I've really loved checking out a lot of your other blogs for inspiration too. Seems like I'm not the only one who gets so much joy from this beautiful time of year!

Tracey

Look out Martha!

Today I decorated... And in record time.

This pumpkin topiary took me a total of 4.5 minutes and that included removing the pumpkins from out of the van and then ripping the price tags off the leaf picks.

That's right my friends, Martha has met her match.

Meet The Gourds

Isn't it sweet how they watch over their young one?

I love how the baby looks up to mommy and daddy.

I think mamma could use a little Mary Kay moisturizer though....

The entire ensemble....

What a gorgeous day it was today.

Now if I could only find the ambition to cut the grass....

Bonnie