carnival lights

Amazing!

 

That's all I can say about this weekend's Le Mysterieux Carnival party. Everyone of you absolutely blew me away with your creativity and the amount of work you put into your carnival posts.

 

There were booths, rides, stories, treats, mouth watering photos and even videos. I have never seen so many amazing silver tickets. I love how everyone was able to tie the carnival and Halloween theme together. I would say they were made for each other.

 

 

Things are starting to settle down around here. Lucinda is back in her old spot on my tea cart and Madame Veruca decided to take up the space right next to her. They must have lots to talk about.

 

After looking over my carnival post 99 times I realized there were photos and stories I left out. I think 18 hours of non stop editing  started to boggle my brain a little. So I added the missing ones here and there and you're welcome to take a look again to see if you can spot them.

 

I even realized I completely forgot to include my Spider Veins Candy Floss in the witch's booth so here it is with the ladies.

 

We are getting ready to draw winners and announce prizes this weekend and I'll have all of that posted here. It was great to see party goers participating in all our booths. I think only one of you tried the Death Clock. I have to admit I'm too chicken to do it!

 

 

I'm finishing up a couple of fun little projects then I'll be getting ready for the Bewitching Home blog party on Saturday. It will give me a chance to finally witchyfy my house (well more than it normally is). I noticed no one in our neighborhood has put up decorations yet and I think that has a lot to do with the hot weather we've been having. But today I need birthday decorations because it's also my 'little' guy's birthday. He is 16!

 

 

I just finished making all my visits so I hope I didn't miss any of you. If I did please let me know!

 

Thank you for all your incredible work. Marfi and I had so much fun putting this together and I had a blast seeing what you came up with. Some of you have already asked about next year!

 

The carnival lights will always be on so anyone can visit our page whenever they like. But the magical portal through the Haunted Woods will close for now while we enjoy the rest of the Halloween season. Keep your eyes and ears open for the sound of the carnival train.

 

 

You never know when it might come around again.

 

 

 



sweet insanity

The words of Ron Weaseley comes to mind right now.

"Can we panic now?"

 

 

Yikes! Are you madly snapping pictures of skeletons and cotton candy? Or maybe pulling your hair out trying to figure out how to make dead folliage in 99 degree heat look like the haunted woods?

 

I think this is the most last minute I have ever been for my own blog party but I know it will somehow all come together in the end. My house looks like an orange and black bomb went off in it and my poor Luna kitty doesn't know what to do.

 

 

I've been running off this the last few days since I can't have caffeine so I apologize in advance if my party post ends up looking like a sugary haze.

 

I had to run out to the backyard early this morning to take a few pics before the sun melts everything again. We are in the middle of a heatwave which makes it a challenge to stay in autumn mode. It was 101 here yesterday. On the 1st of October.

 

I realized when I was out in my yard how much I miss not having my sweet LaLou to help out this year. I think she really liked watching me set up my parties and she loved checking out all my crazy props.

 

 

I loved having her around for my Witches Teas. Miss that little girl.

 

So back I go to do more carnivaling and hair pulling. Maybe I'll go visit Marfi first and see what kind of sweets she has to keep her going. See you VERY SOON!

 

 

 



hello autumn

 

Can you hear it? That faint whistle in the distance?

 

Just a soft whisper beyond the rustling leaves.

 

 

I thought I saw a hint of pumpkin glitter kissing LaLou's plum tree this morning.

 

The carnival is making it's way into the haunted woods.

 

So get those silver tickets ready.

 

You can still sign up and join the fun but hurry!

 

Fall is nearly here and the pumpkins, ghosts and freaks are waiting.

 

 

 

Don't you just love this season?

 

I'll be back very soon for the Autumn Altered Witch Shoe Challenge!

 

 

 

 



carnival mysteries

Maybe it's my imagination or I might just be too eager to see summer come to an end. Now that I'm looking forward to fall again I search for signs that it's just around the corner. There's a certain time in late summer when the light starts to change. In the evening especially when the sunset starts to look a little bit more golden, outlines are less harsh and shadows start to come out of hiding. That's when I begin to feel that autumn tingle in my toes.

I can't help making frequent trips to my favorite shops to check for more Halloween goodies. Stores like Home Goods and Pier 1 are in full Halloween mode already and I try to visit them all before everyone else starts picking the pretty displays apart.

I'm also in carnival mode now. It's so exciting to see the growing list of revelers for our Le Mysterieux Carnival blog party. What carnival you might ask? The one Marfi and I are hosting in the haunted woods of course. If you haven't signed up yet head on over and visit our page. I'm always adding new links to the sidebar for more ideas and inspiration.

 

 

Mysterious creatures are starting to gather around here too. Here is a lass with a story to tell. Come to the carnival and hear the tale of Sirena McKenna, one of our curious attractions from the mystical waters of Loch Ness.

 

 

 

 

Don't forget your silver ticket!

 

Amazing creatures are also gathering over at Marfi's house. Take a look! Are you ready for our Halloween carnival? We can't wait to see you there.

 

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I also want to say thank you for helping to give my pet rescue awareness page a great start. It's nice to see a few familiar faces supporting our furry friends. Please visit Peace Paws Petunias on Facebook. Cross posting and spreading the word about dogs and cats waiting for homes gives each one of them a better chance. Please become a friend and help if you're a furry paw lover too.

 

Hope you're having a great week so far. It's back to school for lots of our kids so I know we're all busy busy busy!

 

 

 

pretty parasols

When I was a little girl my grandmother would often walk me to or from school. Whenever it was sunny she always showed up with two parasols, one for her and a little one for me. I loved walking around with my parasol, I think it was a red plaid one, and even today I can't resist picking up a pretty one to add to my collection.

 

I still can't wait for the first rain so I can use one of my umbrellas. Many of which have accumulated in the trunk of my car. I wish more ladies used them here in sunny California like they seem to in the south. I think there is some strange unspoken rule that says umbrellas are just for the rain and only little old ladies use them on a sunny day. How silly is that?

I have been revisiting my parasol fascination again and I recently came across this really fun project at Dollar Store Crafts.

It looks super easy. I really wanted to make one first before posting it but I couldn't wait to share. I'm also still on a hunt for the right umbrella. So here is the project. Thank you to Disney from Ruffles & Stuff for creating it.

Materials:

• boring old umbrella (on hand)
• Dollar Store shower curtain liner $1
• An old button

Cost Estimate: $1

1) First you want to measure all the way around the bottom of your umbrella, and double it for how much curtain liner you will need (plus extra for a flower, and top ruffles). For example, my umbrella was 120" around, and I cut four 2" sections that were the full length of the curtain, for a total of about 280 inches. No need to add seam allowance because it doesn't unravel! Yay!

2) Then sew a straight stitch (on your machine's longest stitch length) down the middle of all the strips, and pull the bottom thread to gently gather.

3) Hand stitch them onto your umbrella, wherever you like! So easy!!

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I also wanted to share another beautiful wedding with you. This one was posted on Green Wedding Shoes. What I love about this wedding isn't just the way they used all these beautiful parasols...

...but the theme for the wedding was also a vintage carnival! So if you need a little inspiration for your carnival booth take a look at what this couple did. I also added links to Le Mysterieux Carnival's homepage under CURIOSITIES. You'll find another amazing carnival wedding, artists and even an old  TV series about a mysterious dark carnival.

Hope you're having a great week. It's been crazy hot here, 110 this weekend and our air has been bad due to several wild fires. Good time to stay indoors and work on our blog party!



what to wear?

Just in case you might be wondering what one wears to a carnival in the woods. I found some fabulously whimsical fashions in this photo shoot by Paul Schmidt and worn by Charlotte Free.These were originally featured in Jalouse June/July 2011. Black and white stripes, big polka dots, pumpkin orange and pink cotton candy hair. How perfect is that?

Click "read more" for rest of pics.

window shopping

August might feel like midsummer to lots of people. The weather certainly won't argue. But once I turn my calender from July to August I'm already thinking of Fall.

I have been finding the cutest Halloween stuff. Each year I tell myself I really can't add one more thing to my collection but as soon as the stores put them out I start finding reasons to justify just one more witch...or ghost...or owl.

I'm really excited about our Halloween carnival blog party so I'm starting to look for goodies I can use for it. Hunting for treasures and planning an event is always exciting for me. I was at Cost Plus World Market a few days ago and found these fun treats.

 

Carnival cupcakes and cotton candy! How perfect are these?

 

 

Do you remember funnel cakes at the carnival or fair? It's been ages since I've had any. It might have been at a state fair I went to years and years ago. I think it might be fun to try this and give it a Halloween twist.

Hope you're having a great weekend and please stop by our blog party page, Les Mysterieux Carnival. Grab your ticket and join us for some wicked Autumn fun.

imagine a place

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