Halloween Mantel....SPOOKY!!!!!!!!!

My 2011 Halloween Mantel

I love the way this wreath turned out! Parts of it ended up being a happy mistake! It was supposed to be a double ruffle....running out of burlap allowed me to use one of my favorite materials....TULLE, baby!!!

Lovin' the Halloween scrapbook paper flowers. It took a little finese to get them just right, but I think they look really cute. My favorite is the black and white stripe flower. It reverses to black and white skulls.

I had fun painting all my pumpkins black with gun-metal metallic overtop. Bath and Body Works sells fun sleeves for candles now. The skull sleeve featured here was a steal at 50% off, plus my 20% off coupon. No one loves a bargin more than me!!!!

I got this picture a few years ago at Tai Pan in SLC, Utah. It was only a few dollars. What I wouldn't give to have a Tai Pan here in Charlotte. It's a decorator's dream store!

This Spooky Mantel is featured at:
Home Stories A to Z

Losses

Losses are sad, for the most part, depending on the loss. We have recently suffered a blow that will have rippling effects far beyond the moment itself. Yesterday, I received a text from my husband stating that there had been a horrific crash at the Las Vegas IndyCar race. "It didn't look good", he said, in text form. I hurried up at the store and got home to a frenzie of media coverage. The world of Indy fans, personel, team members, managers, and owners and my husband, the recent Director of Videography for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Production company, were waiting impatiently for news. Dan Wheldon, winner of the 2011 Indy 500 was involved in an unimaginable firey crash along with 14 of his collegues. Jeff knew, having been a racing uber-fan from the time he could walk, that this would be a sad, sad day. And, as it unfortunately turned out, he was right. What a horrible time to be "right". Dearest Dan, we wish you God's speed. We know you're racing with all the others before you on an amazing golden track in Heaven. We pray now for those that are left behind to deal with their losses....xoxoxoxoxo

Hey....!!!

Growing up in the Midwest meant that "hay... is for horses". Now that I'm living it up Southern-style..."hey" is for everything. "Hey girl", "hey coach", "hey honey". I've never shoveled so much "hey" in my life....happily. It has taken some getting used to...but I also find that "y'all" rolls off the tongue pretty easily, as well. So, if I say "hey y'all" while welcoming you onto my front porch, consider it a form of my new-found Southern hospitality. xoxo

I love ALL things FALL!!!

Since making the big move from the Midwest to the South last year, I haven't had quite the same FALL seasonal experiences I remember. For one, the weather here is MUCH warmer. We don't huddle under blankets at the local high school Friday night game. Sipping hot cocoa beside a roaring fire will be a few weeks to months down the line. Taking a neighborhood walk, without breaking a sweat, will be awhile off. The leaves don't tend to change into the beautiful vibrant hues of gold, orange, red and brown that you picture for autumn. Instead, one day they are here, the next day they are everywhere screaming to be raked into piles. BUT, that's OK, it's still fall, afterall!! I hope to inspire you with some pictures of my favorite "room" of our new home....the front porch. I've never had a front porch to speak of. This is a new and welcomed "beast" in my life. I love to think of creative ways to display projects that I have designed especially for my oversized, SOUTHERN, rocking chair style front porch! ENJOY!! :)