Monday, October 31, 2011

Last minute Halloween ideas+Safety tips!


Halloween! It's finally here. Well, we've covered costumes, parties, food, and pretty much everything you need to know to have an incredible day...now we wanted give you some quick last minute ideas AND put on our "safety hat" and give you some tips on a safe and healthy Halloween. In event planning, safety is one of those things that nobody really thinks about if it's done well. However, safety is ALWAYS on our minds. It's in the planning and is always thought about ahead of time, especially if the event is extreme in anyway (fire, children present, etc). As far as last minute? Well, we plan for everything but sometimes, things happen that can be unforeseen...

Last minute costumes:
 Kitty Cat:
Super easy.
What you will need: a black skirt or pair of pants and black top. Black cat ears & tail (available at most super stores like target or Walmart). Add a tutu for some pizzazz, or nail polish. Black dramatic eye makeup tops it off. Done and done.


80's Aerobics instructor:
What you will need:
Legwarmers, a one piece suit ( it can be a swimsuit), a belt and a ribbon for your hair.
Bonus: arm warmers, dumbells and a boom box with annoyingly peppy music playing.

Devil in a blue dress.
What you will need: A blue dress. Pumps. Devil Ears. Done.

And now for some DJS safety tips!

For kids:
1. Make sure costumes are weather appropriate, that your kid won't trip on it and that swords and other "weapons" are soft and flexible.
2. Kids should not go trick or treating alone. It's best to go in a large group with a few parents and some older siblings, and much more fun that way too!
3. Don't let your kid eat homemade or tampered with treats. 
4. Only go to neighborhoods you know and remember that businesses usually have candy for trick or treaters too, and are generally more safe that strange neighborhoods.
5. Only walk on sidewalks, not in the road.
For you, the party goer OR chaperone:

1. Don't wear a mask while trick or treating with your kids. It will freak people out and in some states, it's illegal. 

2. Make sure you're not allergic to the make-up your put on by testing it first.
3. Make sure your yard and porch is clutter free so nobody else's kid trips and you end up getting sued.
4. Just like any other night: don't walk to parties in the dark alone, don't leave your drink unattended, do travel in a group, don't drink and drive always have a plan B as to where you can crash if you indeed can't drive. 

Want more tips? Check them out here. There's a lot!

Happy Halloween!!! 






THE CAPTAIN AND HIS SOLDIERS PT 3 - union jack set

Here is the final piece to the Union Jack set.

It started as a fairly simple 80's blond table.



But it did have this great wood graining on the surface


This whole project was a learning process or a feat of trial and error.
Figuring out what would work, what could work, and what just wasn't going to fly.


I first painted the apron and legs in blue


Then decided I wanted it white


The blue and red was kept thin and even distressed to take advantage of the graining.
The entire table was rubbed down with dark wax.
It helped to emphasize the grain ...


richen the red ...


darken the blue ...


and finally to ton down the white to match the color of the drop cloth on the seats


The table also has a leaf that I did in red to create a wider strip down the center when used.


This set will be on display at
THE FAIR TRADE MARKET POP UP
starting November 2nd thru to the end of the month or until it sells.

Many of my piece are being used in the store to display textiles and artisan wears from
around the world. All are for sale and we hope they find new homes.
For more information on the store including address and hours:

I will be attending an opening gala evening Thursday Nov. 3 and will take photos to share
more about all the beautiful products, textiles, and vendors.

Mixité: entrevista a “What is A?”, Eva Serrats i Jorge Raedó

http://www.mixite.es/entrevista-a-what-is-a-eva-serrats-i-jorge-raedo/

Sunday, October 30, 2011

GHOST OF HALLOWEEN PAST - costumes

Last year George and I did the ghost thing but a little more elaborate
than a simple sheet.
Ghosts from the Titanic
George gets to know a great deal of the customers he delivers to,
and the last couple have been spent together doing those deliveries all dressed up.
Last Halloween we stopped in to see Bunny and got a photo taken with her.

Miss Bunny unfortunately passed days after her 101st birthday Oct 16th 2011.

I have always made all my costumes thru the yrs.
2009 I wanted to be the characters on a lotto scratch card I bought

King and Queen of Hearts

When I give him a a full face of hair it takes at least an hour or more in the early morning
to get ever hair glued in place.
2008

Here is George half way through getting his beard glued on

Leprechauns

At the time I was a warehouse manager and this costume was fun and easy to work in
and it was mighty cute too!




Captain Morgan


George actually wore the pirate costume to deliver for the day
and changed into a leprechaun when we went out for the night.




The next three are costumes I made several years before
George and I met.

Energizer Bunny

I actually made 5 costumes like this,
Sylvester the cat, Wiley Coyote, Scooby Doo, and Tiger
All were sold except the the Bunny

Miner 49er

GANDOLF the GREY

Here's a couple of pumpkins I carved for the front porch last year.



Many years ago I also used to be a professional pumpkin carver.


I also won a few community contests for this work



I will be resurrecting The Cat for this years festivities.


And George will be ....
we'll you'll just have to wait and see.

Halloween craft idea: Create your own Halloween Bag


For Halloween you can create your own treat bags. You can do this together with your child. First find a suitable box. I took a 12 can cola box, which was cut in half. (I made 2). Decorate the boxes with paper and cut outs. Many magazines have Halloween pumpkins on the cover. Ask your little boy or girl to make drawings and glue them on too. To make it sturdy cover it with clear tape. (This goes faster if you have wide tape). Make two holes on the side and attach a pipe cleaner to make a handle.


Have a great Trick-or-Treat !

Chistmas Set Amigurumi Pattern is now Available on Amazon


K and J Dolls crochet patterns on Amazon for the Kindle