Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Frank and Stirha's Holiday Home

Frank and Stirha have taken up residence for the Halloween season on my living room mantle. While their larger Haunted House is being stitched, they are quite happy with the ceramic haunted house that I brought home from Bath and Body Works. I had seen this house when Anna, my daughter-in-law, and I had shopped at B and BW over Labor Day weekend. I resisted buying it then but have been thinking about it ever since. I caved, what can I say!


Inside the Haunted House I am burning the Slatkin & Co. Autumn 3 wick candle from B and BW. It really sets the mood for the season - a little apple, a little spice, and a tiny touch of wood smoke. I highly recommend it - it scents most of the house. There's plenty of room for more Halloweenie characters on the mantle. But, for now, Frank and Stirha each have a buddy. Check out these cuties!

     

The foliage across the back of the mantle is a glittered black pine bough with shiny purple and orange balls attached to it. I found them at a cute shop in Augusta called Cudos. The little resin figures came from there as well. I have a few more things to add but just have to find them.  Now that I have downsized my home, I find myself putting things away in odd places (wherever there's room) and then can't find them when the season rolls around again. I have some Jim Shore Halloween pieces that are hiding from me but there are only a few closets in this house so I know I'll find them!

Dr. Acula is feeling a little neglected and I have promised to work on his cape tonight. Last night I was good for nothing but sitting in front of the television all evening. Some evenings are like that -

Have you decorated for fall or Halloween yet? Martha Stewart's latest issue of Living inspired me to get started. I can't help but believe Martha would be jealous of our Halloweenie characters!

6 comments:

  1. Awesome! Melinda... can I share these photos with Amy's readers in her October e-newsletter? Please let me know. Great job, indeed. And yes, I agree... Martha Stewart would be proud.

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  2. Hi Melinda,

    Your mantel is just perfect! You made the perfect backdrop for Frank and Stirha. I love the Haunted House and the black pine bough. It is just perfect. Cannot wait until next year when we have more characters. Congratulations, on being in Amy's October e-newsletter!!!
    Linda

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  3. Hi, Robin and Linda! I'm happy you like Stirha and Frank's holiday home. I would be honored if you used a photo of my mantle in the newlsetter, Robin. I'll see if I can take a better photo for you. Just let me know where to send it and when you need it. Thanks!!

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  4. Melinda

    WOW!!!! I love your mantle...it is perfect. The ceramic house and figures look wonderful with Stirha and Frank. I think Martha would be so impressed.

    Sue VanderNoor

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  5. Hello to you Melinda and all your readers...

    Did you know that Canadians do not really decorate for Halloween in a BIG way? Yes, a pumpkin outside on the night, perhaps a few corn stalks around the fall mums, but that is it.

    We do a little decorating for our Thanksgiving, the first Monday in October, and then nothing until Christmas. I have always used the US Thanksgiving as the starting date to begin decorating our home for Christmas!

    DH wondered why Lisa and I were stitching the Halloweenie Series.

    Now he understands! It is the joy of stitching these amazing characters and the advanced course in needlepoint that we are taking thanks to Amy.

    Next year, our homes will be decorated to the 'nines' with our completed figures. In the meantime, I had better get out my Thanksgiving foliage.

    Susan

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  6. Susan, thanks for stopping by and letting us know about autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving decorating up your way. I had no idea that Canadians don't go in for a lot of Halloween decor. I guess that's fairly provincial of me! Obviously for those of us in the US it is a major holiday. Isn't it strange that while I love to decorate for Halloween that I don't open the door to trick-or-treaters on the big night? I got really put out with some older kids a few years ago and decided that I wasn't going to participate in the candy giveaway any more. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying my Halloween decorations inside! Maybe you will be a trendsetter next year with all of your Halloweenie characters!

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