Sunday, October 3, 2010

The Softer Side of Halloween!

Here it is October 3rd already!  Fall is in the air, even here in the desert Southwest!  For many people, this month means only one thing:  Halloween. 

I was surprised (no..shocked!) to learn that the most popular canvas designs in the handpainted needlepoint business are Halloween designs.  Really?!  Yes!  They outsell every other type of canvas out there, including Christmas stockings!  I learned this when I designed my first EVER Halloween design in 2008...my Witche's Chandelier.

This canvas is large..23"X25", and is part of my fantasy chandelier series.  I do want to stitch it, but have not yet found the time.  I know that there are a number of people 'out there' who have purchased this canvas, and I only hope they are stitching/have stitched it to their Halloween love'n heart's content!  That would not be a black heart, mind you, because this design is rather sweet, don't you think?

I am not a blood, guts and gore person.  I don't like horror movies or scary things.  I do like fantasy however, and the cuter, the better!  Like Mary Englebreight type Halloween things! Or Libby Sturdy's Adorable Halloween canvases!  Or like my friend Janine Holtzman's Dead Cat Quilt, based on cats she has known and loved.  Perfect for Halloween, this quilt has brightened up her kitchen wall for years.  (Janine, I've put my watermark on the photo, but I'm not claiming it as my design...just so you know!) 


The dead cats are featured in the black and gray bottom border, barely visible like ghosts.  It's a pretty clever and wonderful design, Janine, as are all of your quilts!

I'm currently working on a new Halloween canvas which I will debut in January at TNNA.  For now, though, I'm offering just a peek.  I'm enjoying working on this so much!  The colors and stitches, beads, silk ribbons, embellishments, etc that I'm using on the piece have really given my creativity a boost!  Maybe it is the cooler weather, but I could stitch for hours on this, if I could....as in, if the rest of life didn't get in the way!


Obviously, this doesn't even look like Halloween yet.  Aqua?  Yes indeedy!  Here's another glimpse that has more Fall in it:


Before I go, I'll show you a scary spook that recently 'appeared' on my studio floor!  This could have FREAKED me out, but I laughed when I saw it!


Can you guess how it got there, and what it is?

The FIRST one who submits the correct answer in the comments section of this blog will get a "Trick or Treat!" from me.

Bye for now~  Get Stitch'n!

3 comments:

  1. O.k. Barbara, I love your work, all of it !!
    The Halloween canvas is so wonderful it makes me happy. I am going to take a guess shot at your "trick or treat". I am going to say that due to the radial splat it was something viscous maybe heavy. It must be clear as it changed the surface color like a wet rock. hmmmm... Possibly in a baggie, and I think it has landed on a cement surface, a sealed cement surface. The aqueous substance is in my opinion, "all purpose acrylic sealer", delta ? Or maybe it is just plain ol' tea. Hope I am right I could use a treat.

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  2. Hi Anonymous,

    Well, my trick or treat wasn't too hard now was it! You are right enough that I have to give it to you! Actually, you were pretty smart to suggest that the splat landed on cement, because it did! And it was just plain ol' water! Spilled out of my drinking glass and yowled out in pain as it hit the floor! hahaha! Please send me your address in another comment, which I won't publish, so I can send you your treat!

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  3. Hi Barbara,
    Wow your Witche's Chandelier design is Great! I love it. Your other New design looks interesting too. Can't wait to see the whole thing. :)
    I think the Scarey Spook that appeared on your studio floor was created by a family member (your pet). He/she must have wanted to try out his or hers Picasso art work on your floor! LOL
    Hugs

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