owlsorts

Evocative

 

Photos of the mysterious sort. Taken with the hipstamatic app on my iPhone. What lovely evocative images these turned out to be... gives one ideas....

Jenny

Will you step into my parlor?

As promised yesterday... a peek into my parlor! It's all about the mantle.

Chills ran down my spine when I was rummaging in the attic and came across this old portrait. I vaguely recall it is my great great (great?) grandmother and her sister, and it came from my grandmother's house. It was damaged in the move, and had been stashed away and long forgotten.

Now it holds the place of honor above the fireplace. The rips in the canvas are wonderfully creepy looking, and perfect for a Halloween mantle. The frame was too strong a gold, so I gave it quick coat of black glaze.

And I looked up Mary Howitt's little poem, here's the first verse...

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly,
"Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show you when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the Fly, "to ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

My favorite thing to work with is cheesecloth! Found it in the creepiest of places... the sewing section at Walmart! (cue scary music)  Tulle is another big fave, now I wish I'd bought tons more. You can make anything seem sinister just by wrapping it in black tulle and tying with black satin ribbon.

Counting down... less than a week to go and still lots to do here. How are your preparations coming along? Are you "last minute" like me or have you been ready for weeks?

Jenny

The Case of the Menacing Mantle

Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly...

Nope, the parlor comes later, first I must lead you into the boo-doir where something mysterious and altogether creepy is happening to the fireplace. It's twilight, and the ravens seem to be gathering on the mantle...

while down below, on the hearth...

candles cast eerie shadows on the cool marble...

The shadows deepen...

and his eyes aglow, a silent sentinel keeps watch...

until it's time for bed!

I actually took these photos for last weeks holiday extravaganza, but only today did I have a spare moment to post. It is so cool to have this creepy scene in our bedroom. I love the drama!

The tombstones were in my attic (what... you don't have tombstones in your attic?) They're cut from one-inch thick styrofoam with a bread knife (and hacked a bit, which leaves them looking like ancient crumbling stone), then painted a flat gray latex, and rough shadows and highlights are added in black and white, then the whole thing is finished with a spattering of dark and light shades of gray. Remarkably authentic, especially in low light, and very easy to carry around. I made them a few years ago as scenery for a Halloween video.

I wish the tile surround was that fabulous harlequin pattern, but it is actually gift wrap! Hey presto!

Today I also decorated the living room mantle and it is pretty darn cool if I do say so! Perhaps tomorrow I shall invite you into my parlor...

Jenny