Christmas Village

We went to Kosiar's Christmas Village last night with my husband's mother. He had been when he was a child. It was a first for me. If you go to their website and watch the flash intro, it's exactly what it's like when you approach. Over a big hill and then, voila, an amazing light display. 

 I like how the barn looks like a PA Dutch quilt.

(click on photo below for a larger image, I stitched two together so you could get the full effect)

As you walk around you see a lot of little houses with themed displays inside. 

Some are a little creepy for me but the kids like it. 

As you walk along the path, you see all sorts of hand painted wooden lighted cutouts.

Here's a Rudolph I set for a long exposure and them zoomed out. He's a light explosion!

The spinning propeller looks neat with a long exposure.

Zoe had a blast!

Andy Capp getting yelled at by his smoking wife... quite interesting.

We set up our tree this weekend too. 

One of my favorite ornaments...

I love my feather tree with vintage ornaments...

Foggy December morning...

Gingerbread Fantasy

The theme this year at Longwood Gardens for Christmas is Gingerbread.

I believe they have been making it for months to prepare. In every room and on every tree you'll find a little gingerbread man, leaf or flower. 

The main display was the Pierce DuPont House and conservatory recreated in gingerbread. It was really amazing to see. There were also larger than life gingerbread trees and a huge rotating Christmas tree covered in gingerbread garlands and whimsical, candy colored ornaments. You can see they filled the shelves with enormous jars of candy to complete the fantasy. 

In the kitchen of the Pierce DuPont House. 

I love the metal tree frame with the cookies hanging from it. 

This large vine wreath was hanging from the skylight with cookies dangling down.

A little gingerbread leaf is tucked in a tree. 

Watch a video on the gingerbread display...

Jumped the gun...

I wasn't supposed to decorate for Halloween until October 1st (so says husband).
Well, I jumped the gun today. I don't have as many decorations as I would like but it's a work in progress. I'm going to make a spooky tree this week by taking an old branch, spray painting it black, hanging ornaments off it and stick it in a cauldron.
Should be fun!
So here are a few of my decorations...


I collect these old paper cut outs. I just prop them up infront of my exsisting photos. Someday we're doing this whole wall in built in shelves, until now it's just a cheap dvd shelf.


I collect these guys too.


Black ivy garland with purple glitter looks great above the curtain. I've added 2 ravens and my favorite Jim Shore Headless Horseman.


The colors in this Klimt painting ("Goldfish") look great with Halloween decorations!


The center channel self above hubby's giant TV gets covered in spooky chachkis whether he likes it or not!


He's not a balck cat but his name is Pumpkin!

Halloween 2008

Halloween is almost a memory and we had a wonderful day. Thought I would post a few photos. This was the first year my daughter really understood what was going on. We went over to my Father in Law's house for trick or treating since he goes all out on the yard decorations as you can see.

Finally able to paint something...

With the husband back at his teaching job it's been hard to get anything painted. I spent part of Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday getting a few things done for Ebay while he watched our daughter. I'm really happy with the way my witch sign turned out. I usually do the lettering at the top but the other day while I was trying to fall asleep, I had the idea to use the top of the sign for the moon and put the lettering on the bottom. I'm working on another piece like this one but with a raven in place of the witch. I think I will write something like "Raven's Caw Cafe" at the bottom. I also would like to work on some black cat pieces this week too and I have a few requests to get to as well. Not sure how much time I will get to paint during the week.
Okay, here are the new pieces, just added to Ebay. Three day auctions so act fast:)
Now off to make some yummy turkey chili for dinner!

Mini Halloween

For all my miniature horse lovers out there I have finally completed the sign I had mentioned in my last post. I think it turned out really well. I especially like the pumkin scarecrow on the horizon.
Mini Horse Halloween Auction

I'm getting more and more excited for Halloween. I bought several cool decorations at TJ Maxx this morning. I was in there looking for shoes for Zoe and found a ton of neat things. Have to go back when they go on sale! Also found out that the Halloween Spirit shop has opened. You know the place, there is one in every town in the fall, they sell mostly sexy witch costumes and such. This one must be run by some real Halloween lovers because they had several large animatronic displays set up. Zoe really liked the haunted hillbilly skeletons for some strange reason. I was impressed!
Now I just need to make a bunch of money so I can get that spooky lifesize witch stirring a cauldron and cackling!
Jen