In my new home of Georgia, this Halloween is like being a kid again! The last time I was in the East Coast for the season, I was 14 years old! Even though it's still green and wet, hot and muggy, I know that we are sliding into September and my mind begins to wander. If you're having autumnitis now, let's get you into the Halloween season mood with a few simple ideas -
Every fall in Phoenix, my body anticipated the season and the dark and chill, distant woodsmoke, changing leaves... but they never arrived. This year, I am taking the blog on a wild ride through September and October with daily posts that cover amazing and creepy, as well as colorul and beautiful subject that fit this happy season!
In fact, I have plans for updating my tattoo as autumn has always been my favorite, but I want to include other things I love like Halloween, the ocean, dragonflies, sunflowers....
Here's the tatt now -
New design
How it will look -
Now, the how-to of getting your Halloween excitement rolling now in August -
TV
A free and easy way to get into the Halloween mood is to head out to the stores to see the seasonal items on display already or peruse them online to avoid the heat.
Here's some stores to check out -
Another great way to spark your mood for Halloween is to pull out the movie lineup. There are some great free horror movies on free channels. Look up -
OUTDOORS
*Consider going to a cemetery near sunset and taking some moody photographs. The headstones can be moss and lichen-covered and the statues are amazing. Look for historic and older cemeteries, as they allowed headstones. Bring a trash bag to pick up litter, take flowers and leave one on each grave that is so old that everyone they knew are gone too. Be respectful. Stop and study the wording. Appreciate the family groupings.
*If you have a firepit in your backyard, consider a hot dog cooking, scary story telling evening.
*Look into local events and do some outdoors seasonal events like apple festivals and farm pick-your-own locations, farmer's markets, and sit outdoors at night and study the stars.
INDOORS
If you can't go outdoors without being assaulted by mosquitos and soupy hot air, consider creating a feeling inside of being in the darker months.
Some more ideas -
*Close the blinds, utilize candlelight.
*Cool the house off more than usual.
*Change your home scents. Pumpkin and spices are a bit overpowering so early in the season. Transition to something that brings on autumn tones without screaming Halloween. Try using
Consider forest, sandalwood, masculine, musk, hints of spice for less obnoxious fall scents.
*Play spooky instrumental music, like Nox Arcana.
*Pull out Halloween decor and mend any that is broke.
*Start clustering gourds and candles on the kitchen counter.
*If you are crafty, consider creating some Halloween items now while you have time to do them without urgency.
(above) my "Croweater" scarecrow head made with a styrofoam head from Michaels, burlap, glue and water mix, some paints, and a fake bird.
(above) put partially blown up balloons atop of vases or drinking glasses. Dip cheesecloth into a mix of water and glue and form over it. Let it dry and then remove from the balloon and glass beneath. Paint a face.
*If you sketch, take out the sketch book. I used watercolor pastels to make these (below). I sketched then took a wet brush and melted the colors and spread. I used markers to sharpen any areas I wanted to be hard edged. I used a watercolor tablet as the paper held up great.
These were done on a chalkboard -
Keep it coming all month and way into October - get your Halloween vibe strengthening each day!
