Oh the goodness over at Martha Stewart Crafts is never ending. If you want to go the crafty route but don't necessarily want to do it yourself then Martha Stewart Crafts is for you. Inexpensive fun ways to dress up your haunted house for Halloween. I especially like this garland.
First of all, let me say it was an honor to be asked by Molly to do some guest posting this week here on "a few of my favorite things". I have been excited to share some of my favorite things with all of you. Let's start the week off with Halloween (a favorite for sure)!
I have adored Halloween for as long as I can remember. A major reason may be because it falls during autumn, my favorite season. The cool and crisp air, the crunching leaves, the caramel apples, donuts and cider, pumpkin carving, and early evenings. My mother always had the greatest decorations for our home. She would use window paint each holiday to create festive scenes on our two front picture windows. I can also still remember the spider tablecloths, wooden cat donut holder, and fan-skirt witch decorations. While on an extended vacation in the bay area of California, I discovered a treasure trove for Halloween decorations.
American Harvest, located in downtown Pleasanton California (East of San Francisco), will draw you in immediately through the amazing window display. The store is filled with antiques and other Halloween themed treasures. When I walked into the store I immediately thought of the Martha Stewart design team, which is always a favorite for me. You will find glittery pumpkins, vintage photographs that change when you look at them from a different angle (one normal and one skeletal and eerie), black candlesticks, skeleton garland, and black masquerade masks.
It made me so excited for Halloween I couldn't stand it! I went back and asked Sharon, the owner, if I could take pictures of her store and she gave me the okay. She also mentioned she has a website and blog (what a treat)! If you are anywhere near Pleasanton, please go check out this lovely store for yourself (or click on over to her sites).
I have also been thinking about Halloween Costumes for my daughter, Farrah. I enjoy making her costumes myself, which probably stems from the fact that my mother would make our costumes when we were younger. I don't ever remember having the cheap-o plastic costumes from the store (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Of course, I always had the hand-me-down costumes from my other 4 siblings but that was fine with me. Farrah's first Halloween fell just a few weeks after she was born, so I knew her costume had to be pretty simple and minimal. I ended up creating a felt leaf skirt to match a strawberry knit hat a friend had given me for her. She wore red tights and a red onesie and the costume was complete and SO cute. Last year I created a robin bird costume for her using lots of felt and a couple mini red feather boas. I put them together with a brown onesie, brown beanie, dark tights, ribbon, and safety pins.
For this year I am thinking a storybook or fairy tale character, possibly Little Red Riding Hood or Goldilocks. I saw these images of Little Red Riding Hood and felt inspired.
by John Everett Millais
by Henry Peach Robinson
I think I may have actually been Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween one year when I was little. Wouldn't that be fun to compare the photos?
I am really excited and am anticipating this Halloween season that is upon us. Hopefully you are too!
My mind is already swimming with ideas for my boys Halloween costumes. I am pretty sure my three year will make it known what he wants to be. But my little guy, who is only 20 months, is at the mercy of his mama. I am almost 100% sure that Benny will be a little super hero. He has an adorable junk food superman tee that I think would look fabulous paired with this custom cape. I can see the boys playing around with the cape long after Halloween has come and gone.
I am pretty sure I am going to have to add these scary candles to our Halloween decor. I already have the perfect spot for them. So spooky!
