It's almost Halloween!!!

Happy Monday morn to ya!! OK...I've been a listening to my Celtic music, can ya tell?  ^_^

It's hard to believe that Friday will be October 31st. Time truly is acting like a witch right now....it's FLYING!! Ok ok perhaps I've also had WAY too much caffeine this morning whilst listening to my Celtic music. What can I say, I'm a real WITCH if I don't get my coffee. BAHAHAHAHAHA.

Do you do anything special on the 31st as far as dinner goes? The Chazman loves for us to have Halloween themed food that night. It's something I started with him when he was about 4. He was very, VERY scared of anything Halloween until then so we kinda played it down. That was HARD peoples as much as you know I love this time of year. I love my Chazman man sooo much more though so it had to be done. (sigh)
He was asking me this morning what I had planned for this year's dinner so I guess I had better come up with a few things. Yes??

How about some Twice baked mummies?

Perhaps some Tarantula tacos??

Or one of our favorites...mummy dogs!!

Here's three easy and yummy ideas from the Betty Crocker website. I have done all three of these in the past and let me tell you....they were a hit. Pssst....they are easy and fast to fix too which I'm sure YOU will need if you have little ones begging to get out and start Trick or Treating. We don't want them going out with grumbling, empty tummies though......for two reasons....one being that it's not healthy and two hopefully, fingers crossed, they won't eat so much junk ummm I mean candy if they are full. Yeah, I know...RIIIGHT!!


Until next time.............Hugs,
Regi

A beautiful Fall Sunday morning!!

It is indeed a beautiful Fall feeling Sunday morning. What I want to know is......WHO moved me during the night to a different location? Bahahahaha!! Not complaining and I have the windows open so I can enjoy the crisp, coolness for however long it's last. That should be until around 11ish and then......Welcome back to the South!!

I'm feeling a tad bit better today so I'm hoping that I'm FINALLY on my way to recovery. Thank goodness!! I do believe I look much better than yesterday. What do YOU think? Be honest now...hehe

I love the AMC Walking Dead Dead yourself app...bet ya hadn't figured that out yet....had ya?  Here's the link if anyone else would like to play with it. Click Here!! Ohhh, go ahead...ya know ya want to and no one will know...unless you share yourself. Don't go yet though, ppplease, wait until you have finished visiting. YOU know I love your visits!!

I was able to work on Sabrina some yesterday and early this morning. She has her beautiful dreadlocks (really they are pretty wool yarn) and is attached to the wooden block. She has her earrings on and all she is lacking is her unique witches hat. I mean she can't be a part of "The Black Hat Sisterhood" without her black hat now can she?

Such a pretty little witch, ri iight?  If ya don't agree then remember the saying "If ya don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all". I mean I can take the criticism but not so sure Sabrina could and she is a witch. Bahahaha

I told ya'll yesterday that I was redoing the goggles and not going to be doing the spyglass but replacing it with a monocle. Well......I have the monocle completed and I really like how it turned out. See.....when some of our projects don't turn out the way we thought the new ones can turn out to be even better.

 Steampunk spy spider

Love...love....LOVE steampunk!! There is an actual piece of clear plastic in the center of the monocle. The focal point is the spy steampunk spider. I will go more in detail about it with Sabrina's story so make sure you come back to visit. (yeah yeah.....I'm tempting you so that you will come back. I'm badddd!!!) I'm going to attach this to the chain that is already attached to the moon on her hat. Ohhhh, wait......I haven't shown you that yet. Guess you will just have to come back to see THAT too...hehe!!

Today, I'm hoping to work on the goggles. I have my pattern (as I showed in yesterday's post) done and just need to cut the pieces of the leather out and start assembling it. Fingers crossed these goggles turn out steampunkish!! I'm hoping that the pattern works out with this one too because I already have that other Sister ooaks bouncing around in my head and she is going to be wearing goggles too. It's the steampunk witch coven....bahahaha!!

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi

Decorations going up...slowly!!

Good Morning Peoples!! Welcome to the old Southern Ooaks tree. So happy you took some TIME to come and sit for a spell.

I spent yesterday putting up some of our Halloween decor. Normally by now I have all of them up but since this mummy (yeppers, spelled correctly because with the way this kidney infection is effecting me I feel like one) is having to move slowly and rest a good bit then it might take until the weekend to get them all up. I thought I might share what I do have so far though....since you did come to visit. ^_^

Love my "Happy Hauntings" banner. I made this one last year and I'm hoping it will last for a long time. If I can keep Piwacket from trying to attack it perhaps I can. Bahaha!! It's printed on cardstock and was so simple to make. If you would like to make one for yourself  here's the link I found it at.  Have FUN!!    The bow in the middle I made from ribbon from the Dollar Tree (gotta luv Dollar Tree) and a piece of orange burlap I already had. There's a pesty old crow in the middle and thankfully he can't yell CAW CAW CAW either. I'm sure Piwacket would enjoy it though...and eating him. Ewwww!!!  Can ya imagine the mess and all the feathers. Hmmm, I could use some feathers. Nahhh...glad it's not real. The skull was one my sister left when she moved and I'm sure it was totally by accident that it did get left behind and being the good sister that I am AND if she ask for it back then I will take it to her.........on my next visit which will be AFTER Halloween which means I can and am gonna use it this year. BAHAHAHA!!!  You can put a candle on the inside and I plan on doing just that and lighting him up at night and turning all the lights out and just staring at him. Yeah, yeah...I'm weird like that.  Like I stated earlier, I haven't finished yet and that's why the three candle holders are empty. I need to make a Dollar Tree run and by some black and orange votive candles to go in them. (along with a few other items. Rubbing hands together and doing an evil laugh)

I love using my ooaks in my decorating so when something doesn't sell it so doesn't break my heart at all. Although, my witch with her skellie candelabra has been spoken for but not going out until closer to Christmas so she is very happy to join her other quirky characters this year as part of the decorations. I plan on removing the items on the very top and having an assortment of crows sitting up there and I want to move all my teapot collection and put different glass containers there with all the creepily, spooktacular items there that we all love at Halloween. Like perhaps Fur of werewolf or Arsenic-Poison or Bat droppings (everyone needs some good tasty bat droppings) and even some dried bat ears (YUM). The crystal decatur is going to have red juice in it and a tag that states "Vampire Blood". Again....still decorating!! Come back to visit and I'll share some of the labels with you and a great recipe for Transylvania Dirt". Don't know what that is? It's ok....just come back to visit and find out. ^_^

Love Halloween cause you can just let the cobwebs run WILD. hehe 

This lil guy has a very special place in my heart. He's dressed in the very first Trick or Treat costume the Chazman wore. I so enjoyed making it and still love to see it. So can't believe he was ever this small though. 

Had to show a close up of this part of the phone table. I keep my cat teapot out all year but love adding it in with the Halloween decorations. (it's circa 1920)

The corner on the other side of the sideboard. I plan on putting another huge web ummm I mean I plan on not clearing the cobwebs away here either. Bahaha!! One of my witches along with some Halloween signs I have made over the years. Still decorating and I know I have a few more signs to hang. If I can just remember where I put them. 

Well...that's all I have so far and probably not going to do anything today as I kinda over did it yesterday. I am planning on starting the steampunk witch bust though as I'm sitting here in my work area enjoying the nice Fall like weather we are having. It won't last long but HEY...here in the South when the humidity is low...we enjoy for as long as we can.  

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

Whoodoing the voodooing on this old gal??

Morning peoples!! I have a question and someone had better answer it....ummm ppplease ^_^   Whoodoing the voodoing on this old gal? Can ya ppplease stop? I promise to not do what ever it was that I did do that caused you to do that voodoo. HEHE  I feel as though someone has a poppet of me and has lit a fire in my kidneys. Not fun....not fun at all BUT.......it will NOT stop me from starting my next Southern ooaks. No indeed!!!

I really don't think any of YOU have a poppet of me....well....perhaps one someone but she would be making me feel warm fuzzies not warm kidneys. (Ri iiight Dragonlady?) I'm not one to lay around and it is best to keep busy, yes? My grandmomma always said that keeping ones mind on other things could help keep any pain at bay ya might be a feelin. It works....most the time!!

I love this time of year and carousing all the sites to see just what other folks have come up with to celebrate Halloween. I never copy anyone else but ya have to admit, you sure can find some awesome inspiration out there. I found one site that had painted signs and fell in love with this one in particular. I've seen it a good bit over the years but it really grabbed my attention this time.

 Sign can be found HERE if interested ^_^

I do like the whole sign but it was some of the words that JUMPED out at me. "The Black Hat Sisterhood  Est. 1692". You do know the importance of the year, yes? In February of that year is when the famous witch trials in Massachusetts began. Sad....so so sad that so many were accused that truly had no idea just why they were thought of as witches. Really sad that folks did not realize that like everything in this world there can be good and not just evil. OK....I'm getting of on a tangent....sorry!!

Seeing those words jump out at me was what truly inspired me for my next ooak piece. That along with the fact that I just finished the Glenda piece and her hat was the last piece I worked on and I LOVE making witches hats. Oh yes I do. This is not going to be a full witch sculpt since to me the important focal point here is....of course.....THE HAT!! It's going to be a witch's head with her hat. A pretty witch....a steampunk witch.Which means steampunk hat!!! Yeppers....that's what I'm seeing in my imagination at this point. I've started on the base already. Amazing what a plain old 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 block of wood can be turned into. Not finished with it just yet but thought I would show what I have so far. Love sharing ya know. ^_^

 Some orange acrylic paint rubbed into block and then wiped down. Added some black acrylic paint to detail and wiped down most of it.

Wanted a primitive look so I got brave and used my wood burner again. Didn't burn myself THIS time.

Today, if I can sit long enough then I'm going to start on the witch head. I do hope my muse and clay will cooperate and decide to be the pretty witch I see in my head. 

Until next time..........Hugs,

Regi, the Poppet ^_^

Ohhh and of course my newest side kick is right by my side today...as I believe she always will be. Life without a cat is not much of a life.....well....for me anyways!!!

Glenda Glitch....Tooth Faerie??

Tooth faeries.....we all believe(d) in them at one time, yes? Those sweet little faeries that come to retrieve the lost baby teeth of the little children. Each child has their own tooth faerie as they lose their baby teeth. A token of coin is given to the child that leaves the tooth under their pillow. Coins have no value to the faeries but the teeth...ohhh the teeth, those were very valuable indeed. Baby teeth were the way the faeries could insure that their charge's (child) soul would receive safe passage in the afterlife. Teeth mean strength and power. The faeries also guided the children to keep their baby teeth protected....stay away from sweets so the baby teeth would be strong for the faeries and be replaced with healthy teeth in their place to last them through their adulthood. The faerie motto strongly engrained as the children slept.....Stay away from sweets!!

Faeries such sweet, sweet creatures and one of the sweetest was Glenda. Oh how she loved her job. Loved all her little children. She took pride in all the teeth that she had collected over the years....keeping the souls in perfect harmony until their time on earth was complete. She had the largest collection of teeth and she knew and protected them all.....remembering who each tooth belonged to.

One day a peddler man came to the area that Glenda was in charge of to sale his tonics and wares. As they gathered around to see what he had to offer he told the folkes of the village about what he had learned in his travels about some other cultures regarding baby teeth and their importance. He told them that some believed that there was power in the baby teeth and would make sure as each one was lost that it was either burned or buried. The folke of the village were shocked. How could anyone do such a thing? The tooth faeries needed the teeth to protect the children. The peddler man explained that these others believed that if a witch got hold of those teeth that she would have the ultimate power over the child.....she could make them do her bidding without any fuss.

Now Glenda, being one that kept in contact with her area, heard of these tales and became very concerned when the old peddler brought doubt to some of the villagers. Enough doubt that they began to believe the tales of the witch and what she would do if she claimed their children's baby teeth. So some began to burn or bury the teeth. In doing this, Glenda became furious....so furious that she went to the elders of the village to warn them that believing in the peddler man's tales would cause great harm. She had always protected them and would not stand for such beliefs in her area. They all agreed that she was right and the burning and burials would cease. However, some were so afraid that they continued the new practices.......in secret. A secret they should have known could not be kept from Glenda....a tooth faerie. A tooth faerie with the power to change.....change into the very witch which the village had created with their doubtful behavior. They themselves had thrown a glitch into their peaceful lives and now.....they would pay....and pay dearly.

Glenda Glitch was born and she was seeking revenge and REVENGE was exactly what she was going to have. She had in her possession the baby teeth of the children that she had guarded until the village betrayed her and she was going to use that against them. She planned and sent whispers on the wind to the little ones of the promise of lollipops if they only came to visit and on Halloween night she extracted her revenge. Calling all the little children to her and giving them what they had begun to crave.....a delicious huge lollipop. So sad the little ones forgot about the tooth faerie motto....Beware of sweets!! The villagers laughed at her and let the children trick or treat even at her doorstep, completely unaware that these were not the sweets for children to enjoy but lollipops that would so enjoy the children and because Glenda held their baby teeth they lost all reason and gladly became.......the TREAT.  Bahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

Glenda and little LuLu (poor dear...has no clue what she is about to truly receive) are one of my Southern ooaks. A true one of a kind sculpt, completely done by hand. Glenda and LuLu both shaped by hand and then detailed using acrylic paints, vintage fabrics, wool and love. They are permanently attached to a hand painted wooden base. The words Trick or Treat were burned into wood. (that was an Ouchie experience) They stand at 10 1/2 inches and are 6 inches in length. A great collectable for any Halloween collection. If not contacted by anyone through my blog or Facebook posting I will list this piece in my Etsy shop next week. This piece sales for $125.....remember it's a true one of a kind collectable and not a toy.

Until next time...............Hugs,
Regi

Wood Burning can cause OUCHIES peoples!!!!

Happy FRIDAY.....it FINALLY got here....YEAH!! It is Friday, ri iight?? Ohh, I know it is cause I marked my calendar off this morning. At least it should be, as long as no one else marked it off..bahahahaha!!! ^_^

The base for Glenda and LuLu is complete. I know that not much of the top shows due to the ooaks themselves but I know what's there. Are you like that when you work on something? Hope it's not just quirky me. Please say it's not...ppplease!!!

I really like how the words "Trick or Treat" turned out. I used my wood burner which I haven't used in over a year. I forgot that even close to the end gets rather HOT HOT HOT. So of course I just had to touch it and yeppers....wood burners can cause OUCHIES peoples AND blisters. I'll live...thank goodness and will remember not to touch so far down the next time. Well....hopefully, I'll remember that the next time anyways. ^_^

Glenda's hat is complete as well and she decided that she did NOT want that big old flower on it. Not a problem though because I have several other witch sculpt ideas flying around in my head. OMGOSH, I made a funny. Did ya get it? Witch.....flying!! BAHAHAHAHA

The whole piece is complete and I will post images of them along with their story in tomorrows post so I hope that you will come back to visit so that you can learn all about Glenda and the.........Oops...almost told the dark twist on this one. Just come back peoples, okay??

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Dreadlocks....love making them!!!

Happy October 1st and Happy Wednesday peoples!! Wednesday really is the day to be HAPPY cause as a friend reminded me, it means we are going over the hump and downsliding to the weekend...WOO HOO!!! This is also the first day of Breast Cancer awareness month so let's put our pink on peoples (yes that mean ladies AND gentlemen. Like my Daddy use to say "Real men wear pink....proudly") and make sure to get those tata's taken care of. It's important because YOU are important!!!

I'm slowly working still on the old hag Glenda....hehe  Not so sure what's going on with this old hag either, still having some serious stomach issues and I've decided I don't like it. Not one little bit....nah ah...not at all. Enough whining though....thank you for listening. (like ya had a choice) I added another ruffle at the bottom of Glenda's skirt and got to work on her dreadlocks yesterday too. I LOVE making dreadlocks. I would probably make some for me to wear if I knew the old man wouldn't leave me. Hummm, there's a thought for later thinking. BAHAHA!! She also now has eyebrows and hairs coming out of her moles. She is looking rather "witchy" now. Here's Glenda and LuLu together.

Isn't she just BOOtiful? BAHAHAHA  HEY, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, yes? I'm going to work on her big witchy hat today. I like making witch hats for some reason. This one will even have a big flower on it.....with perhaps something hiding in it. ^_^

Before I start on the hat though, I'm going to work on painting their base. I'm thinking a faux stone path perhaps. I mean little Miss LuLu is totally and completely at that "Ohhhh sooo trusting stage" and isn't even giving it a second thought to walk up a stone path to what looks to her just an old house and a sweet little old lady dressed up for Halloween giving out candy. Poor dear!!!!

Looks like I might have some help painting, eh? Piwacket really is learning to be such a good girl when I'm working. I'm learning if I let her check things out first (and she decides she can't eat it or play with it) then I can work and she will lay to the side or curl up in my lap or push me forward in my chair and lay curled up behind me. Yes, those claws will make a woman move FAST!! So love this little purrrr monster ummm I mean kitty...hehehe!!!

Until next time..........Hugs,
Regi

Oak Trees and Witches....what a combination!! ^_^

Good, Happy Saturday morning peoples!! I hope today is going to be a good one for YOU. I'm helping out at Beach Reflections today. Love being there, meeting so many wonderful folks with a few funny and hilarious characters thrown in...hehe!! HEY...I'm one of those too so I can call others that......it's a compliment....most the time. ^_^

I was able to get some work done on Glenda Glitch yesterday and also on one of the (looking around) secret props that I haven't shown ya'll just yet. (and not going to show you now either...snicker snicker) Her pantaloons, peasant top and necklace are complete and she's one happy witch. I hope this afternoon when I get home that I can get her petticoat made and perhaps even her poofy skirt. Stop laughing....yes....the evil witch likes poofy skirts. She wants a poofy skirt.....she gets a poofy skirt. I don't want her to be turning me into a frog now. (Hmmm....there are a few others that I might like her to do that too though..HAHA)

It's hard to see in the photo but the bead on her necklace matches her shoes. Bahaha!!

Remember the oak tree medallions I made a while back? Well....they have been added to my Etsy shop. Look over on the right sidebar, yeppers over there and you'll see a link you can click on to get there. I'm going to be adding more new things in the next few weeks so visit there often. It's getting close to time to start buying those Christmas gifts ya know. All of my jewelry comes in one of my little paper gift boxes. Ready to give. (or keep..hehe)

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

BAHAHA...ever made bra and panties for an ooaks?

Good Morning Peoples!! Well, well, well.....it seems my muse talked me into doing something I don't think I have even done before. Yeppers, she talked me into making Glenda some unmentionables...hehe!! I guess even witchie poos like to know they are dressed pretty underneath their clothing even when no one else gets to see. Of course, YOU get to see...bahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Black is definitely her color. 

She even wanted her matching black socks on. 

In showing you these you can see how I do any joints that I leave non clayed. I needed to be able to bend her elbows so that she can be holding her props. I wrapped them in thin yarn so that it gives the joints a bit more strength. 

I LOVE how her eyes POP out at you. Green is such a good eye color for that. (secretly wish I had green eyes) Is she giving her crooked smile look or grimace look or is she talking outa the side of her mouth? Hmm, talking to someone or something? We shall see......we shall see.

I'm going to work on her pantaloons and peasant top this morning and hopefully get to her skirt and under skirt this afternoon. (maybe even get to adding her dreadlocks too) More WIP images to come so plan on coming back to visit under the old Southern ooak tree, please. 

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

Ahhh....story is a changing!!!

Good Sunday morning peoples!! I hope today is filled with sunshine, cool breezes, some sand between your toes and a treasure trove of Mother Nature's bounty. That means get out and enjoy the outdoors today. Vitamin D and vitamin Sea are good for a soul.

As ya'll know I helped out at Beach Reflections yesterday and I must say...I'm so enjoying meeting all the interesting folks coming in. (waving at my new friends from Mobile) I'm going to be helping out again tomorrow too so come on in and visit and SHOP...make me look like a good luck charm peoples. ^_^

While sitting in the shop yesterday my mind kept going to my newest sculpt and I must admit that I do believe this witch is more on the dark side than just a sweet little old hag giving away candy. I don't want to give to much away at this point but let's just say.....there is a twist to this piece and I don't just mean the twisted lollipop I'm using as one of the props. Bahahahaha!!! Once I got home I did a bit of tweaking on her face. A new snarl smile, a bigger nose (all the better to smell little children with my dearie), a pointed chin and of course a mole or two that will have a few hairs that need trimming.

Now....is that a snarl or is she speaking out of the side of her mouth at someone.....or something??

I'm going to get her hands done today and hopefully start on the trick or treater this afternoon. I want to get them baked so that I can get them detailed and their costuming started. Oh what a great day it's going to be and before you say "Regi....ya need to follow your earlier advice" be assured that I will at least enjoy some vitamin D throughout the day. Ya'll know I have to get up outa dis old chair and dance every now and then. 

Until next time.........Hugs,

Regi