Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Autumn poems, free paperdolls and super homemade costumes!

Hi You-all!!

'Georgia Rose' ooak Collage Art Doll by inkspired
On sale for a limited time - $15

It has finally stopped snowing this afternoon.
It started last night about 7pm. Only a couple of inches stuck around.
The streets are melted, and most of our driveway.
By tomorrow it will all be gone!
that's Colorado weather for you....

This photo was taken yesterday!
It is a ceramic pot with silk flowers, placed on top of my garden out front.


'Come' said the wind to the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows and we will play.
Put on your dresses scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold.

- children's song, 1880's


Here in Colorado for Halloween we have to make our costumes ready for any kind of weather. For the first several years I lived here, Halloween marked the first snow storm of the season!!
We all know to make costumes that fit over heavy jackets,
but can be worn alone in 65' to 70' degree weather also!
It's a fun challenge!

What about where you live?
Do you celebrate 'All Hallow's Eve'?
I'd love to hear from you!
What are your Halloween traditions that you do every year?
What is your favorite decorations of the season?
I have fixed the 'comments' section
so it is super easy for you to leave comments now!  Hip hip - hooray!

Don't forget how fun and easy your own homemade clown costume can be!
I like the ones 'put together with variety' kind
rather than the sewn ones for look alike couples, or purchased ones.
Although, a purchased squirting flower is pretty cool!

Don't even get me started on the scary clown costumes,
or the bloody clowns prowling around.
Grrr....hmphhh....rrrrr....

Stand up for imagination!!!

vintage clown with giant toothpaste!

We generally decorate with a few scarecrows,
some bats, maybe some pumpkins...

Wizard of Oz scarecrow, Barbie, 2007

Here is a fun female scarecrow costume from Liana's:


Here are some more of her fantastic paper doll costumes:



All of these costumes will fit 'Grace' whom I have included!
Thanks again, Liana - you do wonderful work!
Check out her web site, addy to the right -

Tired of orange, black, yellow, black....?

Here's a great red white and blue costume idea for you!!

c.1916

c.1917

A little miss Liberty or a walking Statue of Liberty is a fun idea too,
with costume parts you probably have at home!
Make some head gear with fun foam, headbands and barrettes!




vintage clip, copyright free!

"Listen...
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost crisp'd,
break free from the trees
And fall."

- Adelaide Crapsey, from 'November Night', 1878 - 1914

to bead for your own personal use

'Thaaaat's All Folks!'
- Porky Pig

inkspired


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Count von Count with Halloween quotes, free paperdolls and Christopher Lee

'Batty, batty bat bat -
one, two bats!'

Count von Count, Sesame Street

Count von Count, Sesame Street

The Count has always been one of my favorite characters.
I was introduced to him when my son started watching Sesame Street as a child.
The Count quickly became a favorite,
and we still quote him today!!!

:>)


(With a Transylvania Dracula type accent)

'That's One!
One Bat!
eh, eh, eh.
Batty-batty-bat-bat
One!
One Bat!'

The Count has a great sense of humor, and likes to play tricks on the others,
but only if it involves counting!

tee hee...

beading pattern
How many can you make?
We must COUNT...




"Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare.
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween!"

- from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas




Dracula has continued through the years to be a fascinating figure.
Real or legend?
I believe he is based on legends of real people,
most likely Count Vlad, the Impaler.
The thing with Vlad is, he wasn't that much different than many aggressors of the day.  Let's not forget how ancient Roman Emperors lined the streets leading to Rome and Jerusalem with cross after cross of dead/dying Christians.
Nero liked to have impaled Christians set on fire as the torches that lit his 'parties'.

So was Count Vlad wicked, even evil?
You bet.
Could he do all the things attributed to Dracula?
Nope, not a chance.
But then, you know a good story is repeated and repeated and embellished on through the story tellers.
Why should Dracula be any different?

a portrait attributed to be that of Vlad

For me, if I do Dracula I want it poking fun at him (the legend),
like the Day of the Dead celebrants poking fun at death!


Can you make a funny title for this cartoon?
I will post all entries!!!




vintage Happy Halloween paper doll card


"Tis the night -
the night of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they -
it is they."

- Arthur Cleveland Coxe


vintage movie poster, 'The Mummy'

You should see the movie!
Christopher Lee portrayed 'Dracula' in many many movies.



Christopher Lee became the definitive Dracula,
and played the part over and over
and quite well!!

'Dracula Has Risen From the Grave', c.1968



Sir Christopher Lee


'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn
and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.'

- William Shakespeare





vintage paper doll greeting card

Well, I can't do justice to any 'movie Dracula' without mentioning one of the master of disguises and horror megastars of all time,
Bela Lugosi:

Bela Lugosi, 1931

Check out his movies!
Don't forget to see a few of Christopher Lee's,
and Lon Chaney's!!!
It's a fright night fest...
of fun!

Time to go whip up some fun here -
maybe a batch of brownies with stenciled powdered sugar bats on top,
or a pitcher of orange-something to drink,
or maybe some spider cupcakes!
:>)

inkspired

Monday, October 24, 2011

Boooo - Hoooo

Twitch Sister 'Twaura', original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

On sale through October 31, 2011 for only $15!

Boo Hoooo
It' been a rough few days.
Ick.
It is definitely  Fall here with cooler weather, everything changing colors,
and all outside going to seed (achOO!!).
If I didn't have eyes (which I am SO grateful that I do!)
my nose would tell me it is fall.
My allergies would tell me it is fall.
My fibromyalgia would tell me it is fall.
My migraine-y head would tell me it is fall.
Boo Hoo
AchOO!
oh, ouch!

some fall/Halloween images from turkeyfeathers' blog
Use these for embroidery, woodburning,
painting, costume decorations, coloring pages, transfers...
what else can you think of?



"October's poplars are
flaming torches
lighting the way
to winter."

- Nova Bair


all images - RubberStampAvenue

Betsy McCall, 1973


"Listen! the wind is rising,
and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves!"

- Humbert Walfe

and FALL is somewhere in-between!
or, if you live in Colorado,
we get both!

This illustration is a great idea for a Halloween costume!
With all the layers, it should be good for many different temperatures during
Trick or Treat!
Make giant cutlery with recycled cardboard from a big box,
and spray with silver paint.
Smudge edges with black paint.
Voila!
OR
Draw a set of utensils, or just two, crossed like an 'X'.
Cut from shiny silver fabric, and use iron on webbing
to attach to the front of a fabric goodie bag.
Whenever the goodie bag is presented for 'treats',
the silverware will shine!
You can also iron onto a natural/brown color paper bag with smooth sides.


Do you have a little charmer that wants to be a ballerina?
Again?
and Again?
Check out this vintage pic for some different ballerina ideas:
Why not make an orange ballerina outfit, with fall leaves and fall flowers to decorate as shown?

For a simple ballerina skirt:
First, read all directions.
Then gather your materials together in one place.

Cut out big circles of netting from different colored netting fabric:
try layering orange, pink, peach, beige, light tan,
and even a layer of sparkle netting! 

Fold each circle in half. (This is also a great way to make an even circle).
Then in half again. You now have the center of the circle up at the point.
Cut off a LITTLE to mark where the waist will go.
Unfold. Cut one slit from side up to small circle cut out in the middle.***
***
If your ballerina is small enough, you can skip cutting a slit, and just cut out the inner circle, making sure it can go over her head or hips. Remember, you want enough room for many pretty gathers.
***
Check fit. Make hole larger as needed. You want a hole that is able to circle your ballerina's waist, and then have room for LOTS of gathers.
Match all colors of netting circles, and repeat, so you end up with several layers.
Pin or masking tape together - netting is a booger to pin.
Run a 'gathering' stitch around the inner circle.
You don't have to have a sewing machine, but it sure makes it easier!
Adjust fit.
Cut a piece of wide ribbon (like satin ribbon) and fold in half over top of waist circle+. Stitch in place, catching both sides of the ribbon in your stitches.
Pin first if you want.
Be sure and leave LONG ribbon tails, as this is what you tie the skirt on with.

+This keeps the scratchy netting from bothering your little ballerina.
It also makes the ties super simple, as they are just extensions of the ribbon; and keeps all the layers of netting together more firmly.
You don't need to do anything to the cut edges of the netting, it won't fray.

Can't make sense of these directions?
Try putting it all together with long gathering stitches.
If it is right, you can then go back and do a regular stitch.
If it's wrong, it will be MUCH EASIER to rip out!

**Send me some photos you guys. Still afraid to leave a comment?**
You can send photos (smaller files please) to my e-mail:

For a Halloween Ballerina, buy some silk flower/leaves/berries garlands.
Really, one should be all you need.
Cut apart the garland and you can hot glue them on your costume
 where you wish. NOT with ballerina inside, please!
If you want to use this costume again, you can safety pin on the foliage.

Add a pair of thicker tights, some matching ribbon to twist up from the shoes to the knee, or just below knee.  Safety pin to secure, if needed.
Put on a little sleeveless undershirt, then layer:
t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, ruffled short sleeve blouse, etc.
until your ballerina will be warm enough for night air.
On top of all this under-gear, you will need
1 pretty sleeveless undershirt
or
1 pretty vest
You can decorate the top layer only with berries, foliage etc. left over from your ballerina skirt endeavor. Use hot glue (with no ballerina inside, please) or again just safety pin embellishments on, to be removed later.

Oh! Oh!
I want to see your ballerinas!!
:0)





paper dolls from a Circus Ballet set


There comes a time when
autumn asks,
"What have you been doing
all summer?" 



Enjoy all the colors!
Count how many different colors you can see, in a walk.
Listen for the scruffling sound of dry leaves, on a sidewalk.
Gather pretty leaves to dry with your MicroFleur in your microwave,
     or press between the pages of a big heavy book.
Bake up some cupcakes, and decorate with fall colors in edible sugars.
Buy a new scent for your home - something that reminds you of apple pie.

See you tomorrow!

inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com
http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/