Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!

 Happy Hallowe'en everyone! 

I don't have anything in the Emporium this month but go to my Etsy shop, there is lots to choose from to add to your collection.

There are candy container ornaments for sale.


Don't forget the EHAG Emporium Sale tonight.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

My (minimal) Hallowe'en Displays

I have been so busy this year, as well as having a one year old visit us on the week-ends, I decided not to put up any major displays of anything that could get destroyed.


My wife and I, Nicole - Mike's fiancée, Joe - a friend of Mikes, and Mike carved pumpkins on Tuesday night. I did have picture of Joe's cat pumpkin but I don't know where it went. POOP! Nicole's pumpkin wasn't finished but I will show it later.


The pumpkins were moved outside so as not to rot. Nicole's pumpkin is the one beside the broom. We have been buying the bamboo brooms for years. They are the best thing that we have come across for sweeping up leaves. I apologize beforehand to anyone that I may offend - I HATE LEAF BLOWERS! They are so noisy.


I keep saying that I am doing minimal displays but for me this is very minimal.


About 15 years ago the corn husk garland on the edge of the mantle was popular. I managed to find one a few years after they were no longer being made. I like the tattered look of the garland.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Chic Shoes for Autumn Occasions


"Chic Shoes", in the heart of Jollity Village, proudly present a selection of their "Autumn Shoe Collection". These shoes are for the most discriminating who wish to step out in style no matter the occasion.

"The Lumina Shoe"


When an orange pumpkin on your shoe just will not look the best with your wardrobe choose the Lumina Shoe. A lumina pumpkin, leaves, and tendrils decorate the front of this lavender shoe.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in lavender sand giving it the look of suede. The lumina pumpkin is an early vintage plastic button edged in vintage milliner's leaves with brown vintage chenille tucked in amongst the leaves. The edge of the shoe is trimmed in black and brown vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 5 1/2" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Lumina Shoe" - $55.00 U.S. - 1 only

"The Autumn Leaves Pump"


This shoe is at it's best on the dance floor, listen to the rustle of the wind in the leaves as you dance.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in a rich chocolate brown sand giving it the look of suede. An ornate antique brass button sits in the centre of a cluster of milliner's leaves. The edge of the shoe is trimmed in orange vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 5" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Autumn Leaves Pump" - $55.00 U.S. - 1 only

"The Moon Blossom Shoe"

This shoe captures the beautiful mystery of the exotic night blooming Moon Blossom. The flower resembles the moon on a clear night with a haze of clouds surrounding it.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in a rich deep blue sand from a 1950's sand art kit. The moon is created from a vintage cream convex button placed on top of a vintage black concave button. Three vintage black velvet milliner's leaves edged in a white design surround the blossom. White fleece is placed behind the blossom to create the hazy cloud effect. The edge of the shoe is trimmed in black vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 4" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Moon Blossom Shoe" - $55.00 U.S. - 1 only
Go to my Etsy shop to purchase this shoe.

"The Elizabethan Quick Step Spider Stomp Shoe"

That rollicking dance from times gone by known as the "Elizabethan Quick Step Spider Stomp" has been revived and with it a shoe that brings back the essence of those courtly days. It is an elegant and understated shoe but with just enough flare to take it from the ordinary to the extraordinary. You will feel like a queen on the dance floor and truly the envy of all who spy these lovely shoes.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in a rich chocolate brown sand. The  The edge of the shoe is trimmed in dark brown, medium brown, and burgundy vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 4" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Elizabethan Quick Step Spider Stomp Shoe" - SOLD

"The Bohemian Dancing Shoe"

This dramatic shoe is not for the faint of heart. It demands attention and is a stunning addition to any wardrobe.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in glossy black crushed glass. The main decoration of this dramatic shoe is the antique rose coloured silk fringe. An antique orange bakelite oval is suspended from vintage black braid. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 5" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Bohemian Dancing Shoe" - $55.00 U.S. - 1 only
Go to my Etsy shop to purchase this shoe.

"The Delicata Dancing Slipper"

This dainty dancing slipper has all of the panache of the season. What more could you want than an orange shoe with black accents.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in fine orange sand giving it the look of suede. A vintage fur button is centred on an orange bow of early vintage orange velvet ribbon. The edge of the shoe is trimmed in orange and black vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 5 1/2" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Delicata Dancing Slipper" - $55.00 U.S. - 1 only
Go to my Etsy shop to purchase this shoe.

"The Spider Blossom Demi Boot"

The spider blossom although not rare is not a very common plant and is prized for its multiple blooms. Artists and designers have been inspired by them through the centuries.

This composition candy container ornament is covered in fine orange sand giving it the look of suede. The spider blossom is created from a vintage berry pip in the centre of an antique celluloid button. Three vintage black velvet milliner's leaves surround the blossom. The edge of the shoe is trimmed in orange vintage chenille. The ornament is approximately 6" from the top of the wire ring to the sole of the shoe and approximately 5 1/2" wide from the toe of the shoe to the farthest point of the wire ring. Treats and candy can be placed in the ornament.

"The Spider Blossom Demi Boot" - SOLD

To purchase or enquire about any of the ornaments please contact me here.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

An update about my updates.

That title probably didn't make much sense but I liked how it sounded and I'm tired. I have been trying to get the last few Hallowe'en items posted for about a week now. They were supposed to be posted yesterday and that didn't happen. I had to go to the airport to pick up our son and his fiancée. They weren't there to be picked up. My wife called me on the cell phone a little later and said that she had got the days mixed up. I was supposed to be there the next day, oh well.

The next day (which means today) I went out to the airport a little early so as to avoid the rush hour as well as do a little thrift shop browsing. I didn't find anything worth purchasing unfortunately. The cell phone rings. It is our son calling to say that they missed the flight from Vancouver to Victoria because... well that doesn't matter. They managed to get on a 6:00pm flight. I waited around for another couple of hours. I'm home now.

Tomorrow, I hope to get those shoe candy containers posted. We shall see.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have not made a post on my blog for a while, my apologies. Getting ready for winter has taken up a bit of my time. We had to clean up and bag branches ready to haul off to be recycled. There was two days of stacking wood. We had to call in the septic guy to pump out the septic tank. That meant digging up and clearing the opening to the tank and the grease trap. It is times like this that make you wish for the not so environmentally friendly sewer system. The sewer system in Victoria is pumped out to sea after being ground up and strained for solids! The powers that be see nothing wrong with this. Enough of my rant. In amongst all of this I have been in the studio working.

Our son, Mike said to decorate. He said that Phoenix would not be a problem. I started to set up a display in the hall and am just finishing it. I will post a picture in a few days. I love decorating for the holidays. Unfortunately I did not put out any of my Thanksgiving items this year.

Here is an article about some of my Thanksgiving collection that appeared in "Antiques and Collecting Magazine", November 2007.

  Click on each image to see a larger more readable version.  

I visited the National Museum of Funeral History online the other day. I leave you with the tag line at the top of their website -

"Any Day Above Ground Is A Good One."™

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Joy Studio is having a give-away!

Visit "Joy Studio" if you would like a chance to win some of the Hallowe'en fabric that she is giving away. Looks like there are some really neat patterns for those Hallowe'en projects that are soon coming up.


The winner will be announced on October 13rd, so hurry on over.