Feel Good Friday!

Man! Was this a LONG week! Well never fear-the weekend is here! It's time to kick back and relax while watching the leaves blow into your yard and wishing your dogs have thumbs so you could send them out to rake. Wait, is that only me who has that wish? Okay, okay, I'll get to some feeling good stuffs!

It's no secret that my husband and I LOVE Lucha Libre (Mexican Professional Wrestling to you gringos). Firecracker Press has the most amazing Luchador poster not to mention other great stationary and zines. If Luchadors aren't your thing (heaven forbid!) then check out their other great products. You will not be disappointed.

Can I tell you how much I love Craftzine's blog? The gang over there rock my socks! They have the best articles, tips and just plain greatness over there!  You can find them on Flickr, Twitter and Facebook. Currently I am loving the scary knitted mask and the creepy costumes they are showcasing. Oh yeah and remember my interview with Rachel? Well, she writes for them so you know it has to be uber super duper cool. Head over there now and you can also get a killer cookie recipe from another amazing chick, Giggly Mama and Family .

Two things I love-Halloween and cuteness (okay, I love lots more but for the sake of October, I'm loving Halloween-I always love cute things) Fiberartsy stitched up the cutest Frankenbunny! I want to squeeze him! So stinking cute!

When I was a little kid, I loved this cartoon. I still sing this song as an adult. Watch it now before Disney sends me a letter telling me that they are going to sue me for everything I'm worth and put me in the "Disney jail".

Well, there you have it! I hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend. I'm gonna watch all those dog training shows to see if I can teach the beasts to do my bidding for me. Something tells me I'm out of luck.

A Glowing Light in the Window.

When the late 1960's hit the world like a ton of bricks and change was  
in the air - changes to Halloween decorations followed. I have one  
word for you - Plastics! Gone were the paper mache' Jack-o-lanterns  
and candy containers of yesteryear. In came the blow molded soft  
plastic of a new generation. As the name implies, liquid plastic was  
plopped into a mold and air was introduced to the mix and the mold was  
lined with the goop. When cooled it retained the shape of the mold.  
plain and simple.
 
The main manufacturing company for years was Empire Plastic out of  
North Carolina. There were other but they were the biggest. Most of  
what you see here (90% are Empire). These little fella's were made to  
be used indoors or in windows. That is why you see a lot of them faded  
on the front from Sun exposure.

This is a fairy common decoration with many  
different variations. The one on the left has a ring of Skeletons  
around the base, the one on the right Witches. The one in the middle  
has the Treat on the opposite side

A couple variations on the Scarecrow theme.
 

Always popular - dressing up the Jack-o-Lantern in  
a witch hat

These are a couple of rarer blow mold's. The  
Ghost hangs on a wall.

The Haunted House is fairly rare especially because it was molded in  
Green plastic instead of Orange. There is a modern day reproduction  
using the same Empire Mold done in Orange.

Any child of the 60s and 70s remembers carrying  
either a pillow case or one of these! Yeah there was the paper bags  
but they didn't quite hold the amount of loot you could fit into one  
of these babies. Of course the Pumpkin has Treat on the other side and  
a smiley face. The Devil bucket is made by a company named TopStone -  
known for making crappy rubber Halloween masks seen in the back of  
Monster Magazines. There is also a Pumpkin Pirate (if you have one - I  
need it!!).

These particular decorations were made for years using the same molds so it is really hard to nail down an exact date for them. But they are all fun regardless of when they are from. Only 9 more days till Halloween!I hope your house is decorated with lots of scary fun and magic!

That Paulette! She's a doll!

I know many of you in Craftster land have come across Paulette's amazing dolls. She has crazy insane talent not to mention that she is such a sweetheart. She always has the right things to say and makes you feel like one of the family. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself
My father was in the US Air Force and we lived all over the US. Because of this I will talk to almost anyone, anywhere, which sometimes embarrasses my family. I am the eldest of 4 children and like to take charge. I have five children, 3 boys, 10 yrs, 8yrs, and 5yrs, and two girls, 2 1/2 yrs, and 1yr. My husband is incredibly supportive and rushes home from work when I need him. He usually cleans up the yucky stuffs, and generally treats me like a queen. He also gets excited about my crafts and helps with advice.

You make the most amazing crafts (especially dolls!) How did you get started?
My Mom was always making something. I remember her at her sewing machine late into the night making Christmas presents or some crafts to sell. She also did other crafts like toll painting, and stained glass. It was just natural to sit beside her and craft with her. When I moved out I was dismayed at how much stuff I no longer had at my disposal and began to build my own cache. I've always thought that home made was better than store bought and so, I started crafting for my kids and to decorate my own home. I'm not happy unless I'm creating SOMETHING! I try to do everything as cheaply as possible, and so I incorporate found items and items that I buy at thrift stores into my crafting. Most of what I've learned of making dolls was pulled straight off the internet.

What/Who inspires you?
There are so many talented doll artists out there! Every time I pick up an issue of Art Doll Quarterly, I am inspired. I love Crafstster because there are supportive artists who inspire. I love the works of Russian painters who depict fairy tales, and I love the challenge of bringing a character from a book "to life."

Do you have a website?
My blog: craftewomansworkshop.blogspot.com
My Etsy store: craftewoman.etsy.com

What's your next big project?
Christmas gifts for my family. This is always a challenge. I have to make things that are as good as last year. I always think that I've run out of ideas, and then inspiration hits!

BONUS QUESTION!
Happiness is....
Giving neck kisses to your 2 year old, and having her say, "that tickles." and then I say, "that's why you like it." Date night on a Friday when you get to leave the kids behind and be just a couple for a few hours. Reading Harry Potter to the boys before they go to bed. The family sitting around the table and eating home made muffins. Shopping and lunch with just the (adult) girls. An hour long conversation on the phone chatting with my sisters or my Mom.


Awww, I get such a warm fuzzy feeling from this reading this. Paulette is so wonderful!  Make sure you check out her blog, etsy and say hello to her on Craftster!

 

Tie One On Tuesday!

Well the seasons are changing, there is a nip in the air and it is time for a refreshing Fall beverage. Many of you probably don’t know this, but I am not a beer drinker. I haven’t really had one for quite a few years now. I guess I imbibed my share back in my punk rock days and I have a more sophisticated, refined palette now. But there is something I love that comes in a brown bottle that is sweet and tasty and for all I know is good for you too. I am talking about Hard Cider – heck it is made from natural stuff so how could it not be good for you! I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the reason I like cider so much is the girl drink drunk in me. I like sweet tropical cocktails, so in essence I must like Cider (for the record – I use to drink California Coolers in High School too)!

So here are my recommendations for some outstanding Ciders I have tried recently:

First off we have Warwick Valley Winery Doc’s Draft Hard Cider. It has a nice effervescent pop to it that will make you nose tingle as well as a great apple taste.

Next up is possibly one of my all time favorites, from the Rabbit’s Foot Meadery is their Apple Cyser Extra Dry Apple and Honey wine. More of a mead then a cider but oh so tasty with a taste of pure Oregon wildflower honey!

Following the Cyser, is a nice sweet tasting (yes another one) cider with a little twist from Bellwether. Bellwether’s Cherry Street Hard Ciders name says it all. It is an Apple hard cider with a Cherry finish. Oh soo good! Bellwether makes a regular Cider as well but I prefer the Cherry taste.

Last up for this installment we have something from across the pond (that’s Europe there Smapte) 

Dry Blackthorn Cider – the home of Hard Cider.  is a staple in Britain and for good reason – it tastes really good! And at a price point you can afford to really tie one on!!   

So, in conclusion, let’s review: Apple cider? It’s good for children and old people (keeps them regular) – Hard Cider? It is better and gets you loaded with out all that heaviness of repeated Brewski’s ! Keep in mind of you don’t like the taste of Apples then you probably are not going to like these recommendations. But who doesn’t like Apples?

Happy Bobbing TOOT’ers!  

I Got A Rock.

I love a good animated movie and Halloween seems to have it's share of them. Some are good for kids of any age while others should only be viewed after dark.

One of my all time favorite Halloween movies is the stop motion animation classic created by Rankin and Bass entitled Mad Monster Party. This campy light take on some of your favorite monsters and some new faces will bring giggles and wiggles for everyone involved. Dr. Frankenstein decides to retire and throws a party to find his successor. There are lots of awesome 1960's songs that will get stuck in your head for days and days. Rankin and Bass are the kings of stop motion and this one does not disappoint.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown isn't necessarily a movie but it is classic animation that has typical Charlie Brown optimism. While everyone is getting candy, he gets the proverbial rock.  The story doesn't center around Charlie Brown this time but instead around Linus and his faith in the Great Pumpkin. The Great Pumpkin will bring presents to good little boys and girls who believe in him. This animation is such a classic that it has been parodied on such awesome shows as The Simpsons. A little side note-I always got presents from the Great Pumpkin. He always had a pair of socks or a toy when I got home from trick or treating. I kind of miss that-maybe I need to start believing again or dropping more hints to OMP.

Another one of my childhood favorites is The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Okay, not so much Mr. Toad (I would always fast forward through that one) but The Adventures of Ichabod is still  one of my favorites. This 1949 Disney cartoon features the voice of Bing Crosby and classic Disney artwork. The story is a retelling of Washington Irving's Sleepy Hollow and although it's light hearted and for the kids, it contains some really scary and amazing art work. 

Three things that I love are Tim Burton, stop motion animation and Johnny Depp. Corpse Bride has all these things and more. If you're not familar with the story, it tells the tale of Victor who is reluctant to get married and ends up hitched to a dead woman. He is transported to the world of the dead, where he spends the rest of the movie trying to get back to the land of the living.

Last but not least is Wallace and Gromit Curse of the Were Rabbit. This movie is just way too cute and for some reason all of Wallace and Gromit movies makes me want to eat cheese...wait, where was I? Oh yeah, Curse of the Were Rabbit ...Wallace and Gromit are out to solve the mystery of the missing veggies in their garden and other gardens around them. The mystery becomes more convoluted when a love interest flutters into the picture.

Well, there ya go! Not very scary but great movies to watch after a long night of trick or treating. Remember to save some candy for the kids and don't give out those crappy boxes of raisins unless you want your house egged (and I do it too! ). Until next week!

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

I know, I know, I missed last week's Scrappy Dog Sunday but I have an excuse. A very big excuse, well, actually a little one. A 15 pound excuse name Pete or his proper name Peter. He is our new Min Pin and in one short week he has managed to wrap my big ol' bear of a husband around his little paw. World  meet Pete-Pete meet the world.

Who really is Peter, the Min Pin of Mystery?
I'm just a little guy who has been looking for a forever home. I've had a few homes over the last couple of years and it looks like I found the perfect fit with Mom and Dad Pedersen. I'm Pistol Pete Pedersen! Oh yeah, I gotta give a shout out to my two new sisters, Lola and Jujube. They have been treating me real nice by giving me kisses and letting me climb in the window and bark at the wind blowing with them.

So far, what has been the best part of your new family?
WOW! That's tough question. There are so many great things here. I would have to say, in the evening-sprawling across my new papa's lap with my blanket of the day. There are so many blankets here, it's like a Turkish Bazaar. I also get treats when I go outside and use the bathroom. I try to sneak a few extras in but mom is too smart for that. I also get to go on walks, sleep in the bed with everybody and look out a big window. It's GREAT!

What would you say to other people out there looking for a new puppy in their lives?
I would say give rescue dogs a chance! We're all great dogs and we all deserve great loving safe homes. We will love you forever and give you extra hugs and kisses. It took me awhile, but I finally found my forever home.

What's your view on cats, squirrels and mice?
I am an excellent cat chaser! If mom or dad say CAT then I know to take off running through the bushes and follow my sisters. I'm pretty indifferent to squirrels and mice. They are fun to watch but I'm not sure I want to bring one home to meet the family. I've heard they can be a surly bunch.

Happiness is...
My new home and family.

Little Petey Pedersen, in just a short time you have brought happiness to our house. You are a perfect fit for our family. I can't wait to see what adventures you and the girls get into next.

Feel Good Friday!

 

You know, I love my husband. Sure he can be grumpy sometimes and yell at kids to get off our lawn (for the record, he has never actually done that-I just always tease him about it) but for the most part, he is an amazing ,kind, wonderful and inspiring person. I was feeling a little down today and he knew the right thing to say. After he told me how much he loves me and how wonderful I am (both of which are true-just saying) he told me to put on my big girl panties and fly right (again, which is true). He constantly reminds me that we are truly blessed and lucky to have a wonderful group of friends, silly puppies and stablility in our lives that most don't.  Thank you sweetie-for keeping me in check, making me laugh,keeping a smile on my face and being the best husband out there. Now that I have you all in either tears or throwing up-on to more feeling goodiness!

 

This needlebook and pin cushion are so adorable! I can't stand it! Cdshortprudhomme makes some of the cutest items and she has a spoiled little puppy. LOVE IT!

I love Geek Crafts! There are so many amazing and differernt craft there that it's hard not to embrace your inner geek with every visit.  I squealed with delight when I saw all the Doctor Who crafts. Oh so happy!

I love Shana Logic. They have the cutest stuff and all of it is 100% handmade and independently designed. How cool is that?

 

Oh my goodness! I am getting a cavity from all the sweetness. I don't think I can stand it anymore.  I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and tries to make it out to a pumpkin patch for some Fall fun. I think I'm gonna have Mr. OMP build me a  fire,watch some scary movies,  work on some crafts, and  snuggle down for a rainy weekend. Ahhhh,,,,Bliss!