Welcome Muggles, Part II

Welcome! Welcome to my Harry Potter Shrine! (Yeah... I'm cool like that. He he. Hey- please just let me indulge in my Harry Potter nerdiness, okay?) You may remember my shrine from last year... well, it's out of control this year. Halloween is the perfect time of the year to indulge in a bit of Harry Potter goodness. I'm not one to leave this collection out all year, but I do love it at Halloween time. I guess it's my version of "grown up" Halloween decor... not too scary, too gory, or too juvenile. Yeah, yeah... I know these decorations are based off of a book series written for children, but it's such a wonderful, imaginative world.

This shrine is situated near the entry of my house. I've got a lot going on here, so how about a little tour? (Warning: Lots of photos and hyperlinks for your viewing pleasure.)

J.K. Rowling's books are so descriptive, imaginative, and amazing that it wasn't difficult to gather ideas and inspiration. In the above photo is the Sorting Hat that is introduced in the first novel when the children are being sorted into their houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The sorting hat in the book speaks, and so does this one! If you come by to visit me in October, you can count on being sorted as soon as you walk in the door.

These are some of my favorite props... The Marauder's Map, Hermione's wand, and Harry's iconic spectacles. I have to admit, I got goosebumps the first time I opened the Marauder's Map. It's folded, and opens up just like the one in the film... minus the magic. (Bummer!) I would have tinkled my panties if there were footprints on it that appeared and moved, like the "real" map. The wand is hand carved mahogany. Isn't it beautiful? I purchased it from a "wand shop" at the Renaissance Faire that I went to recently. The wand vendor was fun... he really played up the part and presented the wand just as spectacularly as Ollivander himself would have...well, almost.

Here, we have Hagrid's lantern, Professor Dumbledore's phoenix named Fawkes (a fabulous gift from my fellow Potter-lovin' friend Lisa), and a beautiful gold foiled ticket for the Hogwarts Express... departing at Platform 9-3/4, of course!

Here, we have a ticket for the Knight Bus. Hmmmm... I guess I need a shrunken head to go with this, like the one hanging near the driver of the bus. Maybe next year...

This is the flying winged key with the broken wing, as written about in the first book. Actually, I've changed this to a silver key since this photo was taken. It's actually supposed to be a silver key with bright blue wings. (That's if you're die-hard-into-details. I'm sure I don't have all the details perfect, so please go easy on me.) Anyway...I was so excited to find skeleton keys at Michael's. All I had to do was create a pattern for the wings, trace them onto vellum paper, cut them out, fold them, and glue them to the key. How's that for a tutorial?

This is just another gratuitous shot of the flying keys over my dining room table, because... well, I just can't get over myself. He he. I really, really love how these turned out.

These lovely spectacles are Luna Lovegood's "spectrespecs"...they allegedly allow her to see wrackspurts.

... and this is Luna! She's one of my favorite characters in the books. She's sort of a kindred spirit. She's also the best dressed character, in my humble opinion. She knows how to accessorize, that's for sure. She created her own dirigible plum (radish) earrings and her butterbeer cork necklace. (She claims that her butterbeer cork necklace repels nargles.) I love her quirkiness!

And last, but not least... you can see Hedwig (Harry's owl) in his cage and Harry's "beginner broom". (Better view of the broom in photo #2.) It looks just like the one in the first film, when the first year students are learning how to fly their brooms for the first time. According to the lady I bought it from, this broom came from England. Hmmm... could it be? Oh, and no-- I didn't buy it in a back alley or an old, spooky pub. I bought it at a vintage fair a couple of years ago.

Oh, and how could I forget my favorite? Hagrid felt that it was only proper that he was included in the photo. Dang, that's a cute dog.

Well, thank you for touring my Harry Potter Shrine. I hope you enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to having a few close friends over this weekend. After all-- having gone to all the effort to display all these Harry Potter Halloween decorations, I might as well celebrate the magic!

Hugs,

PS: I'm partying with Tatertots & Jello, Fairly Fabulous Blog!, The Girl Creative, Get Your Craft On

Welcome Muggles, Part I

Welcome! Welcome! I've been as busy as a house elf, preparing for Halloween~ Harry Potter Style! You may remember my Harry Potter Shrine from last year. Well, it's official... it's become out of control this year. I've always loved the magical details of the Harry Potter Series of books and films. I just can't help myself. Sooooo... now that I've worked my magic, I thought I'd show you my Harry Potter Inspired Halloween Decorations! I've split these posts so that it's not so overwhelming. Beware: lots of photos!

Yes, those are floating jack o' lanterns-- inspired by the floating pumpkin lanterns in the Hogwart's Grand Hall. I've dreamt of replicating them for several years, so I decided that this is the year to conjure up the spell. These are floating over my dining room table. Yes, they are floating. Those are not strings you see.

I love love love these flying keys!!! Those of you who are familiar with Harry Potter, can you spot the key with the broken wing?

These keys are flying around above some jars of candy, inspired by the Halloween Feast...

Here's another snap of the table.... do you notice anything special there from the first film? (No, there are no Bertie Botts All-Flavor Beans. I'm saving that for next year... I couldn't buy the whole lot...this time.)

Yes, it's a Chocolate Frog, like the one that Harry purchased from the trolley on the Hogwart's Express~ complete with trading card! Every chocolate frog contains a trading card with various Hogwart's professors on them. In the book, the subject in the photo moves. This one did too. (Read: holographic.) The card that I received was of Salazar Slytherin. On the back of the card it states, "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded Parselmouths, an accomplished Legilimens, and a notorious champion of pureblood supremacy." (Now is the time to boo and hiss.) In other words, he's not the nicest guy. Do you notice that little white note? It's from the person that I purchased this from. Notice, the note is sealed with "The Dark Mark" wax seal. I should have known. (Actually, it's very cool!)

Oh, and yes~ there really is a chocolate frog in that box! I heeded Ron Weesley's warning and held on to him so he wouldn't escape and jump out the window. Ahem.

Ooooh! It's starting to get dark...

Wooooooo! Look at those lanterns glow! Look at those keys fly!!

*SQUEEEEE* I can't even explain how excited I was to see these guys lit up!

I love how these floating jack o' lanterns turned out. I studied the lanterns in the film and duplicated the original spooky faces as closely as I could... but I did break down and add a smiley face in there.

Oh, and this guy showed up! (Hey Jack!) I guess everyone is welcome here, correct movie or not. Thank you, sweet muggle friends, for coming by to visit. I've been so excited to share all this Harry Potter goodness with you!

Next up: Welcome Muggles, Part II. Stay tuned!

Hugs,

PS: I'm sharing this with: Today's Creative Blog, Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors.

Halloween Under Construction

Busy as a house elf over here... stay tuned!

Hugs,

Halloween Yummy Time

I always get into the baking mood around Halloween. I have my favorite things that I like to bake for Halloween, but this year I went a different direction after seeing these adorable candy corn cupcakes on a few blogs. This is my version~

I decided to bake these to bring along to a Halloween party tonight. I don't like to show up for a Halloween party empty handed. Besides, I needed to make up for the fact that my costume was, uhm... just a hat.

This is a better snap of the actual cupcake. It was difficult to get a really good shot that showed the colors of the cupcake. I just tweeked a box mix to make it yummier (add sour cream), and then split the batter. I mixed in orange coloring to one bowl, and yellow to the other. Next, you fill the bottom of the white paper cupcake cup with about a tablespoon of yellow batter. Add about a tablespoon of orange batter on top. Bake and cool. I frosted the cupcakes with a mock whip cream frosting, but you can use whatever white frosting you prefer. It just needs to be white, to carry on the yellow-orange-white look of a candy corn. Garnish cupcake frosting with a candy corn and... viola! You've got a cute, simple Harvest/Halloween cupcake! (I have fallen in love with these gummy candy corns from Target, so that's what I used.)

Last weekend I brought these simple, yummy oatmeal cookies to a Halloween party. The recipe is no big secret~ it's printed on the inside of the lid on the Quaker Oats box. They're called "Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies". They are soft and chewy, just the way I like them. I added craisins, raisins, and golden raisins to this batch. I love walnuts in them also, but left them out for this party batch.

Just a little show n' tell here... no photo styling here folks. I've totally enjoyed having these pumpkin trees in my kitchen window. I found them at Trader Joe's and I love, love, love them! I sorted through all the bouquets in the store to find the perfect batch. I like when they have a few green "pumpkins" on them.

Well, I've got to get going. I hope that you have a wonderful Halloween weekend~ stay safe and have fun!!

Hugs,

Fall Nesting...

I don't know about you, but fall has always been my favorite season. I love how the light changes, the air is crisp, and I start feeling the anticipation of all the upcoming holidays. I also love the nesting. My mom has always loved decorating for fall and the holidays-- and I think she passed that love onto me. So, this past week I've been doing some fall nesting... both inside and outside my home. In this post I'll be showing you what I've done inside...

Do you love this combination of flowers, or what?? I love love love Trader Joe's for flowers. They always have fun, interesting combinations. This combo just makes me warm and happy inside.

This is my little dining room. My little nest is... little. But it's mine, and I have learned that whether you have a little 200 square foot studio apartment (my first place) or a grand mansion (no thank you- too much for one person) you can make it home. My home was built in the 1980's and it has some quirky architecture- hence the double-sided fireplace. One side is in the dining room, the other is in the living room (that's "lounge" for you friends across the pond).

I got a little crafty with my white pumpkins that are shown on the left side of the mantle. It was a really easy project. So easy, that a tutorial isn't really necessary. All you need is some white faux pumpkins (if you can't find white, paint an orange one white), glue, black glitter, and some bling (I used Designer Jewels by Stampin' Up). Paint and glitter the stem of the pumpkin, and adhere the jewels (instructions included) and viola!

... a little gothic glam! I'm sorry this isn't a great photo. It really does look better in person, as does everything in the post. I just don't have the lighting and the photography skills to get a better photo. The architecture of my funky little house does not lend itself to good photostyling. It seemed like every angle had too many distractions in the background. Oh well, this ain't a magazine shoot. Fifi, where are you?

This is the other side of my funky mantle. I kept the slightly gothic glam look going... and yes, that is a shrine to the Twilight Series there.

I do love me some Twilight... and mercury glass. The silver mercury glass is there year-round. I just change out color accessories throughout the year. I add red mercury glass at Christmas, turqoise/aqua in the spring/summer. It's kind of a strange area to decorate. If my style was mediterranean, I could through some large scale pottery up there, but that's not my style.

This is my tiny entry-- which is actually in the dining room. (Did I mention that my house is little?) Oops. I should have tucked that lamp cord in. Oh well. Okay, back to the photo-- this is my Harry Potter shrine. I needed some kind of dresser scarf/runner so I just bought some burlap, cut it to size, and unravelled the ends to make a more interesting edge.

Yes, this is a Sorting Hat. You can really see the face of the hat in this photo--- you've just gotta' love it! I have friends who have actually sat the hat on their head to "get sorted". (Hello, Lisa!) The hat actually talks. I'm not joking! It talks and moves it's mouth, just like the one in the movie.

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this little peak into my little nest. I also hope that you've had a chance to do some fall nesting of your own. Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Happy Halloween!

I'm ready for my little trick or treaters... are you? I've hung my "I've got flying monkeys, don't make me use them" sign.

Since the removal of the tree in the front yard there's been no landscaping... so I decided to work with what I have and dig a graveyard! I'm not really a morbid person, but my humor can be a little twisted at times.

Apparently, my neighbor's humor can be twisted too! His graveyard puts mine to shame. He's got a body bag, tombstones, "fire" that lights up, and even music with sound effects!

Here's a close-up of what he has going on above his garage. He built it himself-- it has a windshield wiper motor in it to make it move! Brilliant!

Well, I've got some last minute things to do before the little goblins start coming by-- have a safe and fun Halloween!

Show and Tell Tuesday

Happy Fall, my sweet friends! Meg has been waiting for me to get back from the Showcase of Miniatures show in San Jose. I think she knew that I'd be bringing her some fall decorations for the Little Pink House. I brought her some pumpkins and a jack o' lantern for the porch. She immediately went to arranging them at the entry to the house. Looks like she got her packages from her recent eBay purchase. She and I are both a little addicted to eBay these days!

This a plastic jack o' lantern and some skulls that I received in a $2 grab bag. There were more things in the grab bag, but these were my favorite. They seem kind of vintage-- and I love the party hats on the skulls! Meg would like some Halloween candy for this jack o' lantern so she can sit out on the porch Halloween night and pass candy out to the little goblins that may come by.

On the way back from the show, my friend Kim and I stopped by Bearly Big Enough to take a look at minis. I can never leave without finding something that I just must have! I found this wonderful glass cake stand and glass dome-- and of course needed something for the inside, so I found this yummy looking cake to put in it.

A few weeks ago I purchased this little bed and chenille bed cover and pillows. I was able to find a rug, a garden hat, and the orange kitty playing in the fishbowl at the show. Meg now has a dog (Hagrid), a cat (Bojangles) and a goldfish (Sushi). I think that pets really make a house feel like a home, even a little home.

While at the show, Kim and I met up with our friend Lynne from Club Little House. She was so sweet to give each of us this wonderful little table with flamingos painted on it, a tea cozy that she made at her mini club (that I forgot to photograph) and a mini copy of Through the Looking Glass (on the nightstand shelf). Thanks so much, Lynne! She is so thoughtful- and talented too. I love everything she does! She made the wonderful kitchen table and tablecloth in the kitchen for our last Club Little House swap. Lynne, when will we ever talk you into starting a blog?!

These are some hankies that I found at The Shabby Shack, one of my favorite quirky antique shops. Each hankie was priced at $2, but when I got to the register the man gave them to me at two for $3! I didn't even ask! I love the hankie with the embroidered floral wreaths. I may make a bed skirt for the bed, or maybe some curtains for the bedroom.

Well, I hope you enjoyed "Show and Tell Tuesday"-- it was fun to show you a little bit more of the Little Pink House. I promise that I will start showing more. The bathroom is wallpapered now, but the room still needs some work. I purchased some wallpaper for the living room, so I'll post that when it's completed also.

I hope you are all enjoying the change in the season-- have a wonderful day!

Hugs,