Thank You!

Thank you to all who read my last post about Buddy and sent prayers, kept us in your thoughts and gave condolences. It was much appreciated and helped with healing my heart. I read something lately about how people don't connect face to face much anymore and that online friendships or relationships aren't really real. I think that sometimes that can be true but, not with my blog friends.

 For some of us communicating online is all we have and what is comfortable for us. You're friendships are all very real and personal to me.

Thank you again for your kind words and thoughts in this season of Thanksgiving.

Buddy

100 Days of Halloween? Where? As usual things got busy and I haven't been able to post anything. Sigh....

One of the main reasons I couldn't, or really didn't want to post anything was that one of my dogs got sick and passed away. His name was Buddy. Early in October he went in for a dental cleaning and needed to have two teeth extracted. He never recovered from that. He was 16 years old.

I had adopted Buddy and his companion, Sandy, from a co-worker of mine that had passed away last year so I only had him less that a year but, he stole my heart. He was one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. Even though he couldn't see or hear very well anymore he never got grumpy or nippy with anyone. He loved to go for his walks and he still loved to play with his tiger toy.

I was very much on the fence about the surgery. It was kind of a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation. His heart was healthy but, he had age on his side. I do not blame the vet that did the procedure as other vets that examined Buddy said they couldn't find that anything had been done wrong.

He had the surgery on 10/1 and passed on 10/17. I knew things weren't right as his breathing became very eratic and labored. After several different medications, nothing seemed to work. Then he stopped eating and that's when we knew we couldn't let him suffer any longer. He passed quickly and peacefully and I stayed with him the whole time.

So, I apologize for being a bummer to anyone who reads this post but, I need to put it out there in the internet universe that a wonderful dog and faithful companion is gone. Prior to being with me Buddy belonged to my co-worker for 15 years, until his passing. Buddy wasn't a wonder, rescue dog but, just a kind loyal friend.

Rest in peace Buddy. I know you were greeted with open and loving arms.

We miss you.
Love,
Joane

100 Days of Halloween: Vintage Halloween Glamour

Even Halloween needs a little glamour.....

100 Days of Halloween: A Couple of Good Movies for Your Halloween Movie List

I caught up on some movie watching this weekend and watched to really good movies that will get you in the mood for Halloween.

I'm going to go ahead and give the IMDb description. Why re-write what's already good.....

The first is The Possession

A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child.

This movie is based on a true story and I remember seeing the story on the TV show "The Haunted". Here is a link to the real story The Possession and Its True Story. 

I like ghost stories more than gore stories. This movie is along the lines of a ghost story with some good surprise moments that scared the crap out of me. 

The other movie I saw was "The Awakening".

In 1921, England is overwhelmed by the loss and grief of World War I. Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart visits a boarding school to explain sightings of a child ghost. Everything she believes unravels as the 'missing' begin to show themselves.

This is a great Halloween movie! Ghosts, a spooky boarding school in England, scary dollhouses, etc. No gore, just a good ghost story. I don't want to give too much away. So, get some popcorn and a blanket, cozy up on the couch and enjoy the movies!

100 Days of Halloween: Featured Etsy Shop and Artist, Hoodoo & Jynxed Art

This Etsy shop has super creepy cute Halloween stuff. More information about the artist is below.

HooDoo and Jynxed Art

Spooky Treats, Voodoo Dolls, Pumpkins and Halloween Art by Hoodoo & Jynxed Art

Halloween has always been a year long passion for me. I have always been drawn to the imagery, especially the vintage images of cats in star covered witches hats, Jack O'Lanterns with wicked grimaces and witches flying in front of a grinning moon. 
As a professional artist, I have done everything from portraits, logos, signs, tattoos to designing stained glass windows. Many of my pieces are in private collections. I create about 200 - 300 pieces of realistic art / Halloween art & handcrafted items a year. I gladly accept commissions for custom art as well. Feel free to email me about your project.

100 Days of Halloween: Hemlock Grove

As we get closer to the season I hope to find some new scary/spooky TV shows or movies to post about. Of course, I will watch all the traditional goodies - Charlie Brown Halloween, Hocus Pocus, etc. it wouldn't be Halloween without them!

Now that I have Netflix, it's easier to find some interesting and new things to watch. I've had Hemlock Grove on my list for awhile and just started watching. I'm not good at reviewing tv/movies.  I can't ever really tell if an actor gave "a convincing performance as so and so....". I just know what I like and Hemlock Grove has kept me intrigued. There are some characters that annoy me. Not because of bad acting but, because the characters are annoying or stupid (Dougray Scott's character is one of them, he such a wuss) I've finished season 1 and now am onto season 2. I won't give any spoilers but, I've just read that it is up in the air about a season 3 and season 2 was left with a cliffhanger. So, I might be left with not knowing what happens. But, I think it is worth the watch.

Hemlock Grove is on Netflix and produced by Eli Roth.

100 Days of Halloween: Victorian Trading Company

I am always pleased to receive the Victorian Trading Company's catalog when it arrives in my mail. Their online catalog is wonderful and they often have more available than shown in the paper catalog. The catalog is always beautifully laid out and, of course, I especially love the versions that come out for fall.

Mind you, a majority of the items are beyond my financial resources but, I get lots of ideas from the catalog and I have ordered  a couple of trinkets that were under $20.00. Here is the link to their site Victorian Trading Company. Below are some of the items that caught my eye and are not too expensive.

Fortune Teller's and Dream Dictionary Book $12.95

Gothic  3-way Slipcover $29.95

Ol' Pumpkin Head Cookie Jar $29.95

Spider Web Cupcake Wraps $9.95

Vintage Halloween Postcard Charm Bracelet $17.99

Nature's Gem Pin $19.95

Grim Reaper $19.95

Cobweb Leaded Glass $99.95

Enjoy! 

100 Days of Halloween: Micheal's has more stuff!

Geez! I had great intentions of doing my 100 days right and I get slammed at work again! Anyhoo, I'll keep at it as much as I can. Now that my guest room is unoccupied, it's now my craft room again. I've organized things and am starting on some Halloween projects. I made another trek to Micheal's and they are pretty much in full swing for Halloween. I'm waiting until items are marked down and then I will start making some small purchases. Here's what I found:

Some skeletons...

I love these spell books. I bought some last year.

Not scary....

Scary!!!

They had some cute fall, harvesty stuff as well.

I also went to Jo-Ann's. Not a lot of Halloween stuff yet but, things looked like they were in transition. Also, I saw the first signage for a Halloween Spirit store! Oh happy days to come!

100 Days of Halloween: 16 Easy but Awesome Homemade Halloween Decorations

I found this on Pinterest. They really do seem easy. I love the lawn ghosts and stair mice. I think I'm going to try those for my house.

16 Easy but Awesome Halloween Decorations

100 Days of Halloween

It's here. Exactly 100 days until Halloween. I can feel it in the air. Please join me in exploring all that is Halloween for 100 days.

Here's a little sneak peek at what Michael's has in it's stores now. I'll be making weekly journeys there to oggle the goods as they come in.

Summer of Fae: The Last Post for Summer of Fae

Today will be the last post for Summer of Fae (at least for this year!) It's been fun posting all this fun fairy stuff. Of course, I didn't get around to half of the things I wanted to post. Oh well, next summer!

Tomorrow is an exciting day because it will be exactly 100 days until Halloween! I'm going to try the 100 Days of Halloween series again. I know that last year by the time October came around I was swamped at work but, I did manage to get more than a few posts up.

For now, we'll say farewell to summer (even though it's still over 100 degrees here in Nevada and October will show us days of at least 80 degrees). Usually, around this time year, I feel a change in my bones that I can't explain. A turning of the season I suppose......

Thanks to all that followed the Summer of Fae and I hope you enjoyed it. I leave you with some images of my favorite fairy artist Paulina Cassidy.

Star Tarot

Crytalline

Wild Strawberries

Willowwhisp

Galania

Cinder

Delphinium

Summer of Fae: Fairy Jewelry Part II

More beautiful trinkets from Etsy. I didn't even scratch the surface of fairy things available on Etsy.....

Swarovski Crystal Rings

Alice in Wonderland

Delicate Flowers

Believe

Fairy Star Pendant

Summer of Fae: Fairy Jewelry, Part 1

There  are so many beautiful pieces of fairy jewelry on Etsy that I'm going to have to break it into several parts. Here are just a few that caught my eye. Below each photo is the link to each item if you wish to know more about it or purchase the item from the Etsy seller. Enjoy!

I still believe pendant

Bejeweled Fairy Pendant

Fairy Locket

Fairy Charm Bracelet

Fairy Earrings

Feather Cuff