The Abandoned House

I've started work on my next little house. This one isn't so little. At around 20 x 21 x 10 it's a monster compared to my other wee places. This one also differs in that it's a reno.

This house was salvaged from the side of the road by my mum and granny. My (almost) 80 year old gran was kicked out of the van to scoop it up before the garbage men sentenced it to certain doom. Part of me wonders how on earth people discard things like this, as though they've got no worth. I can't imagine anyone would deny most little girls would jump at the chance to love on a nice big doll house. Heck, most of the grown women I know would kick me in the shin to get at this house!

This one also differs in that I've only got two weeks to get it ready for showing off! Eek! Thankfully I'll be going for a sort of Halloweeny look so wobbles and imperfection will be just fine.

I've started by ripping out the interior. Notice that blue carpet in the upper right room? When pulled up it revealed a red carpet which had been installed by Satan's minions, flying monkeys and Voldemort because the damned thing would not come up.

After hacking,  pulling, blowing up my hair drier and very nearly breaking the whole damned thing this was the best I could manage. What to do with a lumpy floor? Egg carton stones!

I know a stone floor on the second floor of a cottage doesn't exactly make sense but sense is highly over-rated... especially when you've got a two week deadline.

I'm waiting for it to dry up a bit before I go any further with the inside but I'm pretty pleased with the transformation so far :)

Now if I can just figure out what the heck to do with the exterior....

E is for Edward

That's Edward Gorey not the sparkly fellow.

Here's a wee Ghastly I created for the Wicked Children Altoid Swap on craftster.org.

The bed is made from an Altoid tin, little Edward is paperclay with wool hair, the foot and head boards are coffee stir sticks.

The little guy is surrounded with his sketchy pencil and Ghastlycrumb drawings. There's also a skeletal hand reaching from beneath the covers (who needs a teddy bear?!)

I'm not ashamed to say I was sad to see this one go. I am very happy to say that he's found a nice home.

Witch Portrait Wips

I was asked if I'd like to have a show at Impresario Artisan Market in Cobourg. Specifically, would I like to have one in October. Heck yeah! Are you kidding me? A chance to celebrate Halloween, art and craft all in one kaboodle. Wheee!

One of the projects I'm working on for the show is a series of witch portraits. A coven of 13 ladies, mixed media collages, 5 x 7 on canvas. Here's half the brood.

I've still got a few to go but I'm pretty happy with how they are coming along *knocks on wood*.

Will post the whole lot when they're framed and gussied up :)

Happy mess making!

Kinda Creepy Cabinet Cards

This month the Alpha Stamps design team was challenged to make a cabinet card with a bit of a twist. Keeping a traditional colour pallet but adding a bit-o-quirk. So here's the results...

Card one with a cute wee lass, glitter and butterflies....

... and a third leg.

Again, a sort of traditional, conservative exterior....

... and inside a little bit of madness, devils peeking over shoulders, headless bodies and a helpless little victim.


Hop over to Alpha Stamps to check out the nifty stuff on sale for the Cab Card Curiosity swap. The Cab Card frames that are on sale now are really, really faboo!

A Purple Brooch and Coffin's

I'm having a grand time making these brooches. The base of my latest are these Square Tins from Alpha Stamps. I really like them because I can punch out the acrylic window quite easily and, in this case, hide the edging using this dreamy Rhinestone Chain (seriously, this chain is absolutely yummy!)

I know, I know, I've been harping on about all the Halloweeny stuff I should be doing and I pinky swear that I have started the spooky mess making. It's all slowly (very slowly) coming around but I've got to wait for glue to dry and papery bits to arrive in the mailbox. Here's an 'in-progress' sneak peek at one of the projects I've got on the go.

Hopefully I'll have something to show off tomorrow that's mostly done.

xoxo

Remembered - A work in progress

I should be cleaning my house but again I've been distracted. This is the very last project before Halloween madness. If it isn't my ship is sunk.

My aunt called the other day and said "I have some old photos I'd like framed for your uncle. Where should I go? Michaels?" I told her to shut the hell up and send them to me. You see, my uncle lost both of his parents recently. Like many who live a long and lovely life together, they left, one after the other, not very far apart at all.

 

Aren't they the sweetest?!

There's still a few touches to go so don't worry about the wonk ;) but I'm happy with how it's coming along. 

Anywho, have a grand weekend... I'll be entertaining, running around like a lunatic, and praying I make a dent in a few arty messes.

A hint from the gruesome fairy folks

School has started back up again and we're slowly working our way back into a regular routine. I'm glad for it. One of my favourite things about our routine are those few minutes walking down the hill to the school bus stop with the kidlet. I realize he's old enough to take the jaunt down there himself, but it's nice, awfully nice, to get outside, and spend a few minutes with my fabulously funny kid.

Sometimes on those little walks we spy grand things. Perhaps we'll see signs of the changing seasons. Maybe we'll see some little miracle of nature in our very own yard. Or, we may be lucky enough to find a gift left by the wee folk.

Here is today's find...

BRAINS! Okay, it's really just some sort of nut, BUT the kid thought it was pretty cool and I'm taking it as a sign from the wee folk to stop messing about on my other projects and get going with the Halloweeny stuff already!

I think the little people have had enough of this strange dry summer. Our recent downpour has refreshed and revived, and given us all a little tease of a cozy autumn to come. I'm with them... bring on the fall.