All Hallows' Eve

Annie's special pumpkin has been fired up every evening in October. A gift from a much loved grandmother, it has been part of our Halloween decor for over twenty years. Ging Ging's pumpkin will be glowing all day at our house. 

Hoping you will be sharing fun traditions with your family on this All Hallows' Eve...and making lots of memories.

I am not a big baseball fan, but I found myself riveted to the screen as the Red Sox closed in to win the pennant last night. The city...the people of Boston...they deserve a victory to help soothe their hurt.

BOSTON STRONG! 

Enjoy this Halloween day,

Robyn

Warty Witch by Rebecca Linquist

The boys are back!

Today...we played...with a bunch of turkeys.

Don't know why the pics are so grainy...but the boys, the boys are as handsome as ever. 

Enjoy the evening,

Robyn

...confusion

Bulah Higgs by Tammy Speicher/By Thy Hands Tinkering

Bulah Higgs is confused. She's been holding tight to her pumpkin in anticipation of the coming  autumnal holidays like All Hallows Eve and Thanksgiving...but...

...bits of Christmas

are popping up here and there...

and they had her wondering, "What day is it?", "Did I miss the turkey and dressing?".

Just as quickly as they appeared, they were gone. Gone to Dade City for the Christmas Open House at Antiques on Main Street on November 2nd.

Leaving Bulah content in her chair in the kitchen...anticipating the wonderful smell of roasting turkey, on what is her very favorite day...Thanksgiving. She is much relieved.

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A question for the many talented needlewomen out there.

This sampler made the trip across the pond to our house recently and she arrived folded...complete with crease down the middle.

She is dated 1849 so she is delicate...but not as fragile as some samplers this age. My question...how do I get the fold line out without damaging the linen? Warm iron with a cloth over the sampler? I'd appreciate any ideas or personal experience suggestions. Thanks.

Margaret's sampler is a beauty. The colors are my favorite...khaki, black, red and brown. My favorite motif...two red lions.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week. How fast this time of year flies!!!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Bulah Higgs is the work of Tammy Speicher...By Thy Hands Tinkering

Look at the pics of Santa closely...you can see spiders on the wall!!!! Yikes!!!!

...less is more

October is moving right along and...I have a confession to make. I have not pulled any boxes from the attic...a lot of the usual Halloween goodies have not made an appearance this year.

Of course, Mrs. Begg is here...she lives in the hall closet, so it was easy enough to convince her to come sit for a spell in the living room.

The other Mrs. Begg is visiting as well. 

And the newly acquired witch noisemaker is quite comfortable nestled in the bittersweet on the bookcase.

A big road trip, holiday sewing and hooking goods for my friend's shop, life in general...I turned around and October was nearly spent.

My confession...I don't miss all the "stuff".. Of course, the pieces that are stored in the nooks and crannies of the house are out, and we have been enjoying them all month. The ceramic pumpkin that Annie's grandmother bought her when she was four...out and lit every evening. My favorites from some very talented folk artists...out and making us smile every day. What on earth is in all those boxes in the attic?

Less than usual...but more than enough.

Annie and I put up our spiders yesterday.

These rubbery lovelies stick to the glass. At night, when the porch light is on, their silhouettes are reflected on the walls in the entry way and it looks like spiders are crawling the walls. Very fun!

Yikes!

And we found some witches flying past the bathroom window!

... a pumpkin here and there

...a few favorites

Less is more...wise words, indeed.

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Dad is on the job! Filling the feeder for our many feathered friends.  

Do you like his outfit? On the days he does not run...Monday, Wednesday and Friday...he lifts weights...in the backyard. Yes, I have a weight bench in my backyard! It's situated so it's out of view from the house. What can I say? It keeps him happy and healthy! I think he's in pretty good shape for a guy in his mid fifties. The outfit is mosquito defense...he wears it Summer, Winter, Spring or Fall. Look how nicely he goes with the chairs and pillows!

Hope you are having a wonderful October week!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Norma Schneeman cat (Norma directed me to the wonderful antique store American Harvest in Paducah...thanks, Norma!)

Mrs. Begg ... Kim Bour & Mona Holland

American Harvest

There is a store in Paducah, Kentucky called American Harvest Antiques.

On the way home from Chicago last Saturday, my sweet fellow made sure I got to see this gem of a shop.

Full of treasures from early days in New England,

it was hard to take it all in. 

Beautifully displayed, in charming vignettes, it was pure eye candy for a primitive lover. 

My time was limited. I could easily have spent many more hours...and lots more money.

Meet Lisha and Shirley...the proprietors. They graciously allowed me to take these photos and could not have been nicer.

They helped me pack up my choices and I am happy to say my goods look every bit as wonderful in their new home as I had hoped.

And here they are...

...a wooden compote in dry, black paint

...a table rug...

...a black slide box...

...another black slide box...

...a tiny leather book..

Wow...did I have a good time at American Harvest!

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Our grande finale in Chicago was an architectural tour down the river on Friday night.

Chicago is a beautiful city and I highly recommend seeing it at night, from the river.

Standing on the deck, turning back toward the city, it was surreal and haunting in the mist.

Adieu, Chicago...you are a beauty.

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I did manage to do a bit of sewing in the car. 

The first of the season, he is all hand sewn from early fabric. I finished him on the trip, but only got his clothing made yesterday. I am pleased.

We are glad to be back home, safe and sound.

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay safe.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Folk Art

The Art Institute of Chicago has a small gallery dedicated to American Folk Art. I was thrilled to see this unexpected bevy of fine examples of my favorite things.

This chair made my heart go pitter patter! 

Wonderful patina on this sweet, diminutive chest!

An eagle by Wilhem Schimmel, the itinerant wood carver from Pennsylvania, whose pieces are sought after by collectors. The addition of polychrome paint gives this guy an extra bit of pizzaz. 

This lady was, by far, my favorite. She is a maidenhead from the bow of a ship. Love the hair!

This is a group of portraits of one family. It was difficult to capture them...they are unlike any portraits of this era I have seen.

They have big eyes...

and their bodies are out of proportion with their heads...

bu there is something very charming, very naive about them, The original frames are gorgeous.

This is a small collection of American folk art, but I am always happy to feast my eyes, and nourish my soul with even a small selection of this primitive art form.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn