signs of the season

I know it's early August. I can tell  by the sounds in my neighborhood....kids enjoying their summer break, lawnmowers breaking the early morning silence nearly everyday, some sort of motorized watercraft reving it's engine down at the river...it's clearly the middle of Summer.

But I mentioned before that we're having a milder than usual season this year and that's added to my ever growing anticipation for Autumn. Maybe it's our Practical Magic Fall Blog Party. I've been brewing up all sorts of ideas for my post as well as trying to come up with a party giveaway. Both would have a Fall theme so I've been going through old magazines and books for inspiration.

Michael's already put out their Autumn things a few weeks ago although surprisingly they don't have as much Halloween out as they normally would by this time (or is it just me?)

I broke down during yesterday's visit and bought this year's first addition to my crow collection. How could I resist a glitter covered crow and I HAD to use that 40% off coupon for something! Plus, doesn't he look fab on this wire candelabra I found at the thrift store for $3? I think I should be truly inspired now and those ideas will start pouring out like warm cider and hot buttered rum any minute. And just in case you're dreaming of a Halloween Soiree in the woods like I am here are a few of my favorite inspirations from Country Living.

3 muses challenge

This week's theme for The Three Muses challenge is "Love Is Blind".

 

I worked on this all week and did several versions I wasn't really

happy with. I put tails on them at one point (she was a cat and

he was a fox), didn't love it so I gave him a troll head...

Still not too happy with it. Finally I just did a literal interpretation

and covered their eyes! And I had fun layering the elements

and playing with the colors and hues.

dress up challenge august

Yipee! I'm finally caught up this month and actually have 8 dresses for 8 months.

It's time for the Dress Up Challenge at Alice and Camilla.

I can't believe it's August already! Where did the year go?

This is January, my last catch up dress.

 I imagined a frost and sparkle covered gown

for a fabulous Winter Ball. I painted an antique ivory wash on the paper

but it isn't showing up that well on the pic. Maybe you can see

it better on your monitor. The bodice is made from silver glitter

paper and I added more glitter and frost to the

neckline, hem and on the velvet pansy.

I love books and libraries. The older the better.

During the summer break my son and I try to visit as many libraries

and bookstores as we can and discover new ones we

haven't been to before. I was also a school librarian for a few years.

So I thought for August I would make a dress with a library theme.

I used text from an old book, an image of Charlotte Bronte, another image

of an old library card and pieces of vintage lace. The antique book

is one of my treasured copies of poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

My little wardrobe is filling up! I can't wait to do the Fall

dresses so come back and check for September.

♥