Half term busyness

I remembered last night that today was Halloween so we hastily carved our pumpkin and put a night light in it and I hung up this cutout this morning. I think as far as celebrating halloween goes that may be it. I'm not sure but I don't think Halloween is such a big thing over here is it? But then I live in sticksville and I don't know what the townies get up to. How do you celebrate Halloween? It never was a big thing when I was a child because Bonfire night was the biggie. However, I get the impression that most children these days go trick-or-treating which I HATE. I remember opening the door to some people years ago in a big town I lived in and their masks were so scarey. Poor Amber who had come to the door with me was terrified and I never opened my door again. Sorry I can be a bit of a party pooper.

Anyway, I opened my copy of 'Festivals, Family and Food' ( great book by the way) and learned this "Corresponding to the Celtic feast of Beltaine or May day which ushered in the heat and vegetation of summer was the Eve of Samhain which marked November 1st as the first day of winter's cold and barrenness. The transition period from autumn to winter was thought in ancient times to include the return of the souls of the departed to mischief, witchcraft, magic and hobgoblins of very sort.... Interesting stuff. Maybe we'll do some applebobbing and have some pumpkin soup.

As you know it was half term last week and Tom took the week off too. I think after so much time in London he needed a break. Not that he got to rest much as he was in full demand to make up a football game kit that I had bought for Rohan. Now this chap had wanted subbuteo and I wasn't too sure about it. Luckily I found a kit to make up a subbeteo type game in the Opitec catalogue and when poor Tom read the instructions he started to sweat. However, after a whole day in the shed plus some more look what they produced. Rohan has since spent hours making up the advertising on the sides. Incase you're wondering the ball is a marble and the players are those white and red things with sticks poking out of their heads. To kick the marble you pull back a stick and the (red/white) ball which is on a rubber band kicks the football.

Apparently, it's much better than subbeteo according to Dad and the boys know no better and love it.

Saturday was my day in the shed because I realised that I could put off no longer the sorting out of the dyed fleece and fibre. So I bagged everything into different colours/dyes and I got to on my my friend's drum carder. Thank goodness I have that to work on. I've decided that I'm going to bag up a range of colours and sell them. However, I'm not too sure to try them on etsy or just wait until our christmas fair. Maybe when I discover that I have 50 bags of fibre I'll be more proactive in selling it! By the way some of it is cotswold and some of it is blue faced leicester and it's good for felting. So if you fancy a bag let me know? Actually what you could help me with is which tags to use on etsy like plant dyed, roving etc. What would you type in to get fibre to felt with?

Other than that I got Ruby and Lucy ready for selling. I made a jacket for Ruby and a bag with knitting in for Lucy:

and then I made a pumpkin child to go on the seasonal table. Our last one had been nibbled by a mouse and in a very timely way I received a pattern from Ramona in our swap last week and turkeyfeathers posted up this pattern which she made up with some dyed blanket I'd sent her. So there was no excuse. Here's the little chap - (again I've made a small waldorf head).

Finally, I'm going to leave you with a pic of some curtains that I found in the charity shop (not a cheappie bargain they were £3, but still):

Vintage Magic Roundabout would you believe. I nabbed them pretty quickly. However, I'm not totally sure what to make with them. I did think about using them as curtains but they need lining and making up and after my last bout of making curtains for the WHOLE house I CANNOT make another curtain. The fabric is cotton, thickish and you can see the weave. So come on you creative types any ideas you can give me?  I'm very happy to give some of the fabric away too if you fancy a piece?

Comments

[Ali]

Your pumpkin child is so so sweet.

[Harriett]

Hi Simmy - Yes, Halloween is HUGE here. Luckily, we have always stayed pretty tame in our celebrations but still, fudge brownies were made last night to send to Madison's class party today and Cullen's little preschool has a party this morning. Costumes can run to the very elaborate or, in our case, quite simple. I have always made all of my kids costumes. But every year huge, supersized halloween shops open just for the season to sell $100 costumes for both kids and adults. We have friends who live in one of the "nicer" areas of town and they estimate they get around 300 kids at their door every year. Anyway, we'll go to some of the friends in the neighborhood and call it good.
Love the pumpkin child. You are so creative.
Certainly sell some of the fiber on Etsy or somewhere. You do too good of a job not to share.
The football game is wonderful. But, hey, that doesn't look like the football we were talking about earlier this week?? Just kidding.

[Cathy]

Halloween is a big deal here, and it seems to be getting bigger every year. I never think of it associated with bad things but with fall harvest and souls. I loved making a costume for my son but I won't make him a scary one.

I bet you could easily sell some of your dyed wool. I wouldn't limit the tags to felting, I'm pretty sure some people might be willing to spin those types of wool. Tags: wool, spinning, felt, felting, natural, vegetable dye, carded... I can probably give you more if you need. I would definitely be interested but may be limited by funds.

That cloth is cool too! How big are the patterns? If it is small enough, it would look great a dress on one of your dolls. How about children's pillowcases? Or a backing for a patchwork blanket? There are so many things you can do with it.

[~Vicki]

Halloween is not my favorite holiday either, and sadly it seems to me it's become a lot more like Christmas with the amount of preparation, decoration, and candy one must invest in and dole out. I'm not a party pooper, far from it, and I do participate, but I still feel a little overwhelmed by it all sometimes.

The pumpkin child is adorable! Now you've inspired me to make one as well. The pattern does seem perfect for it.

Happy apple-bobbing today!

[Angie]

Hi Simmy, Happy Halloween!! I would love to buy some roving from you for felting. Prices? Shipping? etc. And your dolls are beautiful! But that little pumpkin child is absolutely adorable!! I want one too! LOL

[ramona]

your waldorf heads are just perfect!!! it's so lovely to see you making all those lovely things. i am happy the package got there, especially that quick! happy halloween

[Erin]

The fabric... I picture it lining some clothing, and happily surprising you when it peeks out. Like inside a jacket, or the cuff on a pair of pants. I had an awsome vest as a child that my kids wear now, and that fabric could line the inside of the vest... the outside of the vest had pockets for crayons...

[littlejennywren]

I love the pumpkin child, such wonderful soft colours.Your dolls look spruced up and ready for adventure.I must say your shed and stash of dyed fleece look a bit scarey, I think I would close the door and quietly walk away.

[Jo]

Love the fabric! It has reminded me of a Magic Roundabout quilt that I used to have when I was little, exactly the same cute print!

[Selena]

When we lived in Swindon, Halloween was not very pleasant. Our little neighborhood was full of kids throwing eggs. We did have some lovely children come around for sweets which was fun. I love Halloween, the dressing up, the games, the poems, the historic nature of Samhain. I love that you mentioned Beltaine. Keiran was born on May 1st and I refer to him as my Beltain baby. Dave loved the Subbuteo you made. I loved seeing the familiar names for the advertising. Does your family follow a team? I would love some of the fleece. Do you know how much you will ask? I think the thrifted material would make cute little note boards for the children to hang on their door or in their room or maybe even the kitchen.

[The Shopping Sherpa]

That Magic Roundabout fabric is to die for - I'd make bags out of it.

Are you serious about sharing it? If so please please please can I have some???

[Rowan]

Your Halloween cut-out is fantastic - did you make it yourself? The football game looks excellent, my boys were big Subutteo fans in their teens, after school the back door opened and about 7 or 8 lads arrived to play it with them, they had some sort of league worked out I think. Once they all did a 24 hour sponsored game to raise money for a local cancer charity and two of the players from Sheffield Wednesday came to do the 'kick off' which was really exciting for them (the boys not the players:) ). There were pictures in the local paper etc.
Seems like a lifetime ago now.

[Angela]

Your lil pumpkin doll is just too precious! And your wool fluff is super.

[Soren]

oh my gosh - we have a pile of (no longer in use) curtains in that same fabric but on a pink background!