Happy Halloween!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Just in Time for the Holidays!

It's almost November and I've been working on some new woolen holiday decorations and some ideas for a few Felt Sew Good blog giveaways! Here's a peak at some work in progress:

Starting Monday, November 2, I'll have some Christmas stockings and some new ornaments in the shop.

Then later in the week I'll announce the details of my first Felt Sew Good blog giveaway!

Spectacular Fall Foliage!

Mother Nature has put on quite a show for us this year! Since I live in Indiana, I'm used to seeing pretty fall color in our trees and shrubs before the leaves begin to fall. This year we must have had just the perfect combination of rainfall and temperatures because the fall foliage is prettier than I remember seeing for the past several years. Over the past week, I've been taking photos around the neighborhood when I go for a walk and thought I'd share with you.

Color in the park adjacent to my neighborhood.

Golden park path.

The little Japanese maple next to our screened porch.

A neighbor's front yard is full of these red maple trees.

Golden fan shaped leaves on my gingko tree. This is the first year the leaves turned yellow - we usually have a freeze before now and that makes the leaves fall off overnight!

The forecast is for rain and wind on Friday, so by the weekend most of the leaves will be on the ground. The trick or treaters will be hearing the crunch of leaves underfoot while on their search for treats.

Wicked Fun

How do you decorate for Halloween?

Is yours the family on your block that turns your front yard into a graveyard for Halloween?

Do you have wispy ghosts floating outside your house to haunt trick or treaters?

Is there a witch, with her feline friends, that roam your neighborhood?

These pictures are a few of my favorite outdoor decorating ideas from the October issue of Martha Stewart Living. We don't have a lot of trick or treaters at my house. Probably because my neighborhood/comunity has a great Halloween party in the park for all the kids in the area. The spooktacular festival includes costume contests, hayrides and a "trick or treat trail" where local business sponsors hand out candy.

We don't go all out decorating at my house, but we do have a stack of carved funkins jack-o-lanterns to greet any October guests.

Leave me a comment about, or link to photos of, your favorite Halloween decorations!

DIY Best of Show!

Have a look at the Winter 2009 issue of Do It Yourself magazine! They've profiled over 50 arts and crafters in the best of handmade feature, many of them Etsy shopkeepers, including me! Felt Sew Good!

It's always exciting to see my work pictured in a magazine and I was honored to be included in this feature.

Even this "Best of Show" ribbon on the cover page was created by a fellow Etsian, Handmadepretties!

Here's a peak inside at some of the one-of-a-kind finds.

And that's my blue patchwork handbag, hanging next to the crocheted flower scarf.

Also inside is a list of some of the best indie craft shows across the country and other crafty websites. It's a great way to get ideas to get started on your holiday shopping. Buy Handmade!