Articles and Ideas August, 2009
Everything Old is New Again
Ever wonder the origins of our modern-day Halloween? Our holiday represents a merging of ancient Celtic culture and 8th Century Catholicism. Pope Boniface IV designated the day as All Saints' Day. The day was spent in honor of martyrs and saints of the Church. The festival, originally called "All Hallows’ Day" actually started the evening before, since back then "next day" began in the evening. Thus, October 31st was "All Hallow's Evening", shortened to ...
Posted in Myths & Legends, Stories, Myths & Legends | No Comments »
Are you like me? Does Halloween form the basis of many of your favorite childhood memories? It was absolutely magical for me as a child. Now that I’m a parent, I try to bring that level of excitement to my own munchkins. I’m no craft-happy homemaker (don’t I wish?!) but I do try to piece together some special times during the season. Traditions form the fabric which weaves the happiest, richest holiday memories. I ...
Posted in Halloween, Recipes | No Comments »
When building your Halloween "set", keep the traditional, but bring in the new: New if you lived in the 1700's that is! A movie that I suspect most of you have seen is the The Blair Witch Project. It is based on a legend that supposedly occurred in the 18th century.
One thing in that movie that generates fear and trembling is the "stick figures" that hang from trees around ...
Posted in 'How to' Halloween, Yard Haunters | 1 Comment »
How to hag it up!
(And…a little cheating never hurt anyone)
I found this great doll bed at the thrift store for 5 dollars. I knew I could hag this one up as a Halloween decoration!
After painting it an off white color, I sanded the edges to make it appear old:...
Posted in 'How to' Halloween, Crafts | No Comments »
Almost everyone recognizes that science fiction and horror are frequently used as tools for social commentary. We have all seen many issues argued in distant times and places with a variety of alien and human solutions or non-solutions. Sometimes though, stories are written that can be re-interpreted in ways not intended by the author (or perhaps it is, and that is the joke on us!)
Let us explore, for example, the movie Alien. When I first saw it at the drive-in ...
Posted in Halloween, Hollywood Horrors | No Comments »
Giving new "life" to tired decor
What a better way to create Halloween décor than through REINCARNATION! (Dr. Frankenstein would be proud!) Take some of your old discarded items and bring them “back to life.”
This old plastic barometer is about to become a Vintage Style Halloween Clock:
After finding your treasure, you must disassemble the piece. I took the back off, and pulled all of the “barometer” coils, and ...
Posted in 'How to' Halloween, Crafts | No Comments »
I recently had a chat with Lewis Lehrman, professional watercolor artist, teacher, author and Halloween painter who showcases his work at his website Haunted Studio. He has created an incredibly rewarding niche for himself, whereby clients send him images of a house they love or have lived in, or describe a vivid scene they remember. Lew then creates a custom spooky painting for them, complete with a haunting backdrop, pets, hidden ghosts, people and decor.
His trademarked phrase ...
Posted in Halloween | 2 Comments »
How to Haunt Your House
By Shawn and Lynne Mitchell
Sometimes, just sometimes, a book comes across your altar that makes your hands go clammy, that sets your heart racing, that makes your eyes go bug wide in wonder. How To Haunt Your House...
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