Halloween Inspiration

As an admitted Halloween Fanatic, I spend a good deal of time perusing magazines, books, on-line sources, and the homes of other Halloween Obsessed Folks for inspiration of my own. I have yet to ever duplicate the crafts or displays exactly; instead they always serve as a jumping off point for my own projects.

Here are a few more to share...

BLACK CAT TRICK OR TREAT BAG

SUPPLIES: Felt, decorative ribbon, Stitch Witchery, craft knife.
HOW-TO: Place two sheets of felt on top of each other. With a craft knife, cut slits the width of the ribbon around three sides. Starting at the top left corner, weave the ribbon through the slits, and tie ends together to make a strap. Decorate the tote with a Halloween image, such as a black cat, that you've cut from felt, and attach it with Stitch Witchery.

Courtesy of Country Living Magazine 10/09

HOMEMADE HALLOWEEN TRUFFLES

Give your guests a sweet send-off. Nestle homemade truffles decorated with sprinkles in little wooden boxes. These are lined with glassine -- trimmed with scallop scissors -- then wrapped in narrow ribbon and sealed with pumpkin stickers. Forming truffles is easiest with a 1-inch ice cream scoop; two teaspoons will also work.

Ingredients:
Makes about 4 dozen
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1 pound semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup orange and black sprinkles, for decorating
1/2 cup orange and black sanding sugar, for decorating

Directions:
Bring cream, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate, and gently swirl pan to cover chocolate with cream.
Slowly whisk until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover, and refrigerate. Stir mixture every 15 minutes. After 45 minutes, mixture will thicken quickly, so stir every 3 to 5 minutes until set but still pliable, 10 to 20 minutes more (total chilling time is 55 to 65 minutes.)
Refrigerate until firm but not hard, about 10 minutes. Remove from refrigerator, and roll balls in palms to smooth. Refrigerate, in an airtight container, layered between pieces of parchment or waxed paper, until ready to decorate.
Remove balls from refrigerator. Place sprinkles and sanding sugar in separate small bowls. Dip balls into sprinkles or sanding sugar to coat, pressing sprinkles to adhere. Truffles can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
From Martha Stewart Living, October 2007

A Crafty Witch Halloween & Spiced Pumpkin Marmalade

As the days grow shorter and the weather gets cooler, we naturally turn inward towards hearth & home. Crafting, Cooking & Baking seem to go hand in hand with the Autumn Season. It is also a season that is highly infused with magick. As a Crafty Witch, I take advantage of these natural energies and oppourtunities to blend my many crafts, hobbies and talents with my Craft.

Over the years I have gathered an assortment of recipes, crafts and spells that help my Family & Me celebrate this Season of Change to the fullest. Many of these are tried & true; and others I am adding this year for the first time. And still others, I may not get to for years to come.

Many of these recipes & crafts also lend themselves well to being 'charmed', or otherwise incorporated into Magickal Spells and Rituals. It is quite easy to infuse the ingredients of a recipe or craft project with the qualities needed to produce any desired outcome.

The materials used to craft a wreath for the front door can be charged for protection, the seeds from a carved pumpkin can be used for divination, and candles can be dressed and blessed to add focused intent to the already pleasant atmosphere they provide.

As a Crafty Witch, I use all of my senses and creativity to get the most out of what I have. I try to look at ordinary things with a Magickal Eye. What may look to others like a cute Halloween arrangement, may actually be a spell in progress. And what may seem like a simple Pumpkin Pie may in fact be a Prosperity Blessing for my Family and Friends (with their consent of course!) The happy Scarecrow that stands sentinel over my home & garden is a powerful ward & protector.

The possibilities are endless and the results are extraordinary. In fact, when you begin to look at household and seasonal items as Magickal Components a whole new world opens up; and the mundane becomes magickal. No longer are Rituals & Spells something that you make time to do- magick becomes something that you weave throughout your every day life. It is just one more way of creating a living spirituality and honing your Craft.

I share these with you all here in the Spirit of Samhain (or Summer's End). As always, Enjoy!

Spiced Pumpkin Marmalade

from BH&G
Prep: 15 minutes

Cool: 1 hour

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked fresh pumpkin puree or one 15-oz. can pumpkin
1 cup orange marmalade
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
English cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, or Parmesan cheese (buy about 2 oz. for each person you'll be serving)
Assorted hearty breads

Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan combine cooked fresh pumpkin puree, marmalade, and ginger. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Transfer to a serving bowl. Cover and cool. Serve as a spread with cheese and bread. Makes about 3 cups or 24 (2-tablespoon) servings. Spread will keep in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Makes about 3 cups spread (24, 2 tablespoon servings)

'Tis The Season Of The Witch

I don't know about any of you, as I can only speak for myself. But there is such an aura of mysterious majesty that I feel come Autumn. It is almost like I can taste the parting of the veil between the worlds that marks this time of Hallow'een.

As you can most likely see- I am always proud to be a Witch. But never more so than in this season. It is almost like I know a special secret about the universe, that most others think is just a silly joke.

Our culture seems to accept and allude to the magick inherent in us and the natural world...yet not fully embrace it. We can talk openly about the prescence of atomic energy, UFO's, and many other things that the lay person cannot quantify...

But real magick? And Witches?

Those are either designated for the realm of a good movie, the imagination, or the looney bin. (Present company excluded!) That is not the stuff of your average dinnertime conversation- or workplace banter.

But something magickal happens sometime around October 1st. Where suddenly the cauldron and athame in my home go from being items of my eclectic unusualess, and come into decorating chic. My year-long displays of Witchy stuff go from something strange, to an awesome 'Halloween' collection.

He, he. I love it. I think its great.

I revel in this, the Season of the Witch.

And even more magickal than before...now that I have found the Wonderfull World of Blogging...now I get to share all of my joy, and love, and Seasonal Goodness (or Wickedness!) with all of you! (and vice versa.)

Yay!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

"There'll be leaves that are blowin', and pumpkins a glowin'; we'll be in good cheeeeer....It's the most wonderful time- of the year!"

Like so many of us, Halloween is my very favorite time of year; followed closely by Christmas. For me, Halloween is not just one day, but is celebrated as an entire season. The sensory explosion that accompanies the Autumn Season excite my inner child; and the colors, textures, sights, tastes and smells are an inspiration that carry me right through the Winter Holidays and into the New Year.

The preparations begin in late August, just as we are wrapping up the Summer and getting ready to head Back 2 School. That is when I reluctantly change gears from the Summer into Fall. I start making my plans for that year's Halloween projects, decorations, costumes and our Annual Pumpkin Pot Luck Party. One Saturday in October, we invite out family, friends, neighbors and school mates to my home for a Halloween Party. We decorate pumpkins, create chocolate haunted houses, play games and eat creepy food. It is something that I look forward to as much (if not more!) than the kids.

I am gathering my ideas all year long- but I kick things into production mode in early September. Then, by October 1st I am well on my way. By the time the party is over, and the Big Night Arrives...I am more than happy to pack up Halloween and begin the Christmas preparations, (which also include several family birthdays as well.)

This year will be a bit different because I cannot do as much with my leg in a cast; but I know we will still have plenty of fun. Instead of our usual big Halloween Party; we will be having a much smaller (and less ambitious!) get together and I surely wont be doing the major crafting, cooking and baking routine. Most of my ideas for this year's celebration will be postponed until next year- and Christmas will probably follow suit. But regardless, I will be thankful and appreciative of everything that we do get to do.

I also have a slew of great Halloween ideas, crafts, pictures and posts to share with all of you. I will post them when I can and save the rest for next year. I hope you all are doing well, and I am looking forward to seeing all of your fun Halloween Posts and projects as well.

A MOST HAPPY HAUNTING SEASON TO YOU & YOURS!

~Danae, the Crafty Chick

A Crafty Chick Update~ Life On One Limb...

I have been busy adjusting to 'Life on One Limb'...or maybe I should even say 'Out On A Limb' as the case may be! It has been 4 weeks since I broke my knee, and 1 week since my knee surgery to repair it. The last month has been one unexpected turn of events, after another; and I have been confronted with a number of new obstacles, as well as plenty of life lessons to be learned. Besides how much resilience and strength that I can muster, or pain I can endure...I have also seen how my true friends and family have pulled together to help me and my kids during this rough time for us.

Now that the surgery is over, I am on the road to recovery. I have a full cast from my toes to my thigh on for 6 weeks, and no driving; so our usual Fall Activities and Halloween Party are gonna be scaled down. But I know that we will still have plenty of fun anyways; and since Halloween comes every year- missing out on something is not too tragic. Lol.

I hope that all of you have had a much better September than me! And are enjoying a healthy and fun filled Fall. I also thank you guys, and appreciate all of the kind thoughts and healing energy that has been sent to me and my family.

Much Love,

~Danae, The Crafty Chick

Hey Guys...Guess What I Did This Weekend?...otherwise known as "Witch Heal Thyself"...

Well Friends...If I ever said my life is boring...I wouldn't be telling the truth. (But that's not my style! I like to keep truth on tap around here.)
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Okay, okay- what is the Crazy Lady talking about now? Does she have some interesting new information packed blog post- OR WHAT?
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What.
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No my Friends. Instead I have a bit of a story to tell. It's a story about a Girl who tries to do too much. A story about a Girl who doesn't do enough. And a story about the Universe doing its thing, making its powerful checks & balances- teaching us important lessons; the way it tends to do when us Humans won't do it for ourselves.
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It's a story about me...
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So here goes. It is Saturday night, about 2 am. I was just finishing up some work on my lap top, sitting in my little Art Room/Office. I heard this WHOOSH! come from the pool in the back yard. So...I realize that our pool was overflowing so I ran outside to fix it.
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Now normally,during the day- I would've just held it up, and called for one of my Kids to grab the pump & I would've just fixed the situation. But alas...it was 2 am, and I was all by myself.
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So I ran inside to grab the pump from right behind the door. I took one step inside of my back door - and WHOOSH....
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I slipped and fell *SMACK* onto my right knee!
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OH THE PAIN!!!
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After taking an excruciating breath, and assessing the situation; realized that the bone was sticking straight out of the other side of my leg! I took another shaky breath, pulled myself up into a chair, and tried to think clearly about what to do next.
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And that was when I realized just how serious the situation was quickly becoming.
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You see, earlier that day I had taken the kids to the Lagoon to swim; and somehow, my cell phone had gotten wet- and broke. I hadn't thought it was too big of a deal. I have a fresh new cell phone that the company had sent me a couple of months ago when my other phone broke (that time was their fault). So anyways, I had figured that on the 1st, when I get paid, that I would just go have that one turned on- No worries.
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Untill I need my phone to call for help in the middle of the night, that is! So. there i was, hurt badly, with no phone to call anyone, and my two Kids sleeping peacefully and unaware.
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I tried to contact my Best Friend Will through my text to cell phone codes on the computer...and to keep myself from passing out from the pain. Unfortunately, Will had already gone to sleep, and didn't hear the phone. So by then I was starting to get really worried- and the gravity of the moment was rapidly sinking in.
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I called for my little Son, Jeremiah to wake up- which he miraculously did...and he went to go get his big Sister, Makayla up. Thankfully I have spent alot of time preparing my Kids for various emergency situations, since they were about 3 or 4 years old- and they followed my directions PERFECTLY!
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Long story short...my Kids got treated to an ambulance ride- and I got treated to
x-rays & a soft cast! It turns out that I have broken & dislocated my Patella (Knee Cap)-(which thankfully my quick thinking and massage therapy training helped me to pop it back into the socket before I even got to the hospital!) Go Nae Nae! :)

So, now I am laid up for awhile with a broken knee. In a couple of weeks when the swelling goes down, I am supposed to have orthopedic surgery, and have steel rod put in. (Which I REALLY don't want to have to happen!)

I have been really blessed- which I always recognize, but never more so than when the chips are down and those who actually love me for who I am are still around.
You see, I am usually the one who takes care of everyone else.
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I am Mama Nae. I not only take care of My Kids single handedly- but I do my best to take care of all of the people I love (& even a few I don't. LOL) I am the one who is the hostess with the mostess, the Lady who's house all the neighborhood Kids come hang out at, who rescues all the stray animals and Humans alike. I am the one who juggles whatever needs to be done- usually without a hitch.
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But, it seems that at least for the moment- the tables are turned. Feeling helpless is not my strong points...so it is a lesson I am adjusting to slowly.
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Actually, I'm doing everything slowly these days! LOL

So- now...what are the lessons that I was referring to? I mean- an accident is just that, right? Well...

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I have this belief that EVERYTHING happens for a reason (actually many reasons); and that even illnesses and accidents are part of lager schemes. There are several lessons I am learning here- a few I can and will share, a few are more intimate- and a few I am still unravelling and figuring out.

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The first lesson is that I nee to be ALOT more careful! I may think that am Superwoman & can handle everything single handedly..but maybe I shouldn't always try to. I forget that I am a Single Mama here with 2 Kidlets and am all by myself. If I get hurt...that's it. Game over. There IS NO ONE but me to run the show.

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I am super grateful that I got off so easy...things could have been MUCH WORSE. There are so many, "I could ofs..." that have run thru my head. So I am just lucky I got off with just this.

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I am also learning to listen to my inner voices and trust them more. Don't get me wrong...I always pay attention- but sometimes I doubt that I may be right. But there have been SO MANY times now that I have had premonitions, thoughts, dreams, and vibes about things, and then later been shown that I was right on the money.

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And this time is no different. (Of course hindsight is 20/20!) Now that I look back throughout the day...there were maybe 5 or more weird thoughts, feelings and actions that now make sense...but didn't before. And of course I don't think I ever would have been able to pinpoint exactly what "it" was before hand. (It isn't like there is a flashing neon sign that says, "Be careful of slipping on the floor at 2 am tonite! LOL)

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But all that day I felt like there was SOMETHING that I was forgetting. I kept trying to think if I had paid all my bills, etc. I couldn't figure it out- but it did cross my mind to drive very carefully that day, in case it was a car accident that I was sensing. - I even did a Tarot reading- but I was not asking the right question to have gotten a warning from that.

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Then, I was given this floor mat, and I first put it in front of the door (where I fell) so that when the Kids came back & forth from swimming,that the floor wouldn't be all slippery. But then, at the last minute I put it in front of my kitchen sink instead. When I did that, the thought crossed my mind that I should be leaving it in its first spot- but I didn't want the Kids to get it all dirty & ruined. I figured the towels that I usually lay down could at least be washed easier.

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The weirdest thing was probably when I heard an ambulance coming. I was sitting here on the computer, and herd the sirens getting closer- nothing out of the ordinary there. Out of nowhere I got the strangest feeling like I KNEW that it was going to come straight to our house & stop. I thought it was just a strange thought, and no biggie.....Then the ambulance got super close, came to our corner- and the sirens stopped; but not in their normal way, where you can hear them shut it off and arrive. It was like it just vanished.

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I came in and saw my Kids looking out the window saying, "That was weird Mom- where did it go?" I told them that I didn't know, but that it as funny because I had a strong feeling that it was gonna stop here. Makayla & I thought it was funny...and it made me take a minute to re-strengthen my protective thought/energy shield around my Kids- but I didn't think to re-strengthen my own!*

But I think one of the biggest lessons that I am learning- besides patience!- is one of healing- and attitude. Or maybe I should say re-learning.

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You see, at first I was PISSED! I was pissed at myself for being such a Klutz. I was pissed at myself for no picking up on all of the signals. I was/am pissed at myself for getting laid up during the last week of summer- right when I want to wrap up the summer in a fun way for my Kids...and I have a gazillion things to do to get ready for them to go back to school. I was pissed about all of the things that I had put off doing- thinking that I would have time either this week, or when the Kids were back in school (and NOW I can't!) I was pissed because I DON'T WANT to have knee surgery, or knee injuries- I don't have time for this shit! But I was mostly pissed that now I am stuck, and now I have to ask for help...for things that I normally would NEVER ask help for.

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So, after a few hours of feeling REALLY bad, it dawned on me...I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE NEXT HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS FEELING BAD! It's just not my style!

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So, I did a quick attitude adjustment; and reassessed the situation...gave thanks & praises for my blessings...and started sending healing thoughts & energy to my knee. I got all of my healing crystals out, and put happy stuff around me, and spent alot of time meditating on the healing of all of the bones & tendons. I am hoping that there may be a chance that I can heal enough, that when the doctors look at it again, that they may decide it wasn't as bad as they thought, and that I DO NOT need surgery, a hard cast or the steel rod in my knee.

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I have been visualizing light mending the knee and activating all of the blood & energy to heal. I have been packing my knee with ice, and crystals & gemstones- which actually feels really good!

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But most of all- I have been flooding my mind with acceptance and positive attitude about my situation. No- it is not what I had in mind; but I guess I just have to make the best of it.

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The phrase, "Witch- Heal Thyself" is one that has played over & over in my mind. It is one that I have always taken to heart & tried to live by throughout my life- and never more has it applied.

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At the very least I will have a lot to time to meditate, do my art & do the research, learning & writing that I love so much! (I haven't felt like it so much yet...but I know in a day or two I will be more in the mood for it.)

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I am sure that with all of this time on my hands, that I will have many more mini epiphanies to share with you all, as well.

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I also wanted to ask any of you Folks who may be so inclined- to send me some light & love & healing energy. I would very much appreciate it- and will certainly return the favor when & if I am asked. (Especially all of you Reiki trained Folks!)

Okay Guys...take care- and watch out for slippery situations! LOL. Thanks 4 all of your good thoughts and well wishes

~Danae

* PS- Somehow this got posted this am with just the photos -before all of the words were finshed getting typed- sorry if anyone was confused, it was just a mistake. Sorry, my bad.