Two Sides of October....

 

Hi Everyone!

 

This is a pretty long post, but stay with me...it's worth it! :)

 

When October rolls around, two things quickly come to mind.

The seriousness a pretty pink ribbon represents,

...and then all the fun that comes along with Halloween.

 

First a little bit about a project connected to that little pink ribbon ...

 

My friend Vicki creates the most exquisite bird nests.

 

All of her nests are carefully thought out and knitted, using the most beautiful yarns, threads, laces and ribbons that she's collected over the years.  They are truly beautiful and you can just see all the love that's woven into each and every one. :) 

 

 She embellishes them with an assortment of charming goodies, hand made by some of her many friends.

 

   Her nests are knitted from the heart, and always for a special cause.

 

Sometime last year, Vicki asked me if I'd like to be part of a very special project she had just started to think about.  Of course it sounded wonderful, and I was so flattered to be asked. :)

 As you can see, it was a project to help bring awareness to a disease that's touched us all in one way or another ... a project that grew and grew!

 Vicki asked me to create a little pin that she would attach to each of the nests she planned on making, and all the money she made from these nests she was going to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

 

 

I could never write a post as lovely as the one Vicki's already written, so I'm going to steer you over to her lovely blog now, 2 Bags Full, where you can read the wonderful story of Vicki's Breast Cancer Awareness nests, and her Pink Scarf Project!

 

Big hugs to Vicki for such a great idea, the endless hours she put into this special project, her seemingly never ending energy...and all of her contagious enthusiasm! 

xoxoxoxoxoxo

 

 ****

 And now for some Halloween fun!

In my last post I hinted at some batty Halloween decorations.

 

Halloween is such a fun holiday, and because one of my sons was born on Halloween, it's always been a favorite.  It's a great day to have a birthday!

 

 

This year I decided I wanted a flurry of bats hanging over the front door, so I drew up a bat that I liked, then went to Michaels to buy some black craft foam.  Twenty sheets to be exact.  At a dollar a piece, the foam was much cheaper than some of the Halloween decorations I've seen, and the end result is super cool!

 

Using the bat I drew as a template, but varying my cuts just a little each time so they wouldn't all look exactly alike, I cut them out ... about 50 of the little fliers!

 

 

Next I threaded a needle with about a yard of clear nylon beading thread, then secured either one, two or three bats from each piece of nylon thread, grabbing each one at the top part of his body, behind his head,  and going through twice.

 

 

The ceiling of my front porch is vinyl, so I knew I could use strong, clear packing tape to hang the bats without it causing any damage to the ceiling's finish.  If you do this and you have a painted ceiling, be careful because when you remove the bats you may also remove the paint! :(

 

After my bats were all securely strung on their strings, I hopped up on my step ladder, deciding just how long each strand should hang as I went along, and snipping off any extra nylon thread.   Before taping each strand on, I tied a little double knot at the end just so there would be something to "catch" in case the thread decided to slip out from the tape.  Using about an inch of tape for each, I hung them up.  Lots and lots of dangling bats!

 

 

I love the way it turned out!  When the breeze blows the bats flutter around all nilly willy, just the way a real bat flies.

 

 

This was easy, fun, and something you don't see everyday!

 

Here's a short video I took so you can see how the bats move in just the slightest breeze.

 

 

 

This is real batty Halloween love!!! :D

 

As always, thank you for your visits and sweet comments.  Try to be good and not eat all that Halloween candy you've got stashed around the house before those little trick-or-treaters have a chance to come knocking!

 

See you soon,

xo Paulette