Sweet and Sinister delights....

I'm excited to share with you my wonderful gifts from my Sweet and Sinister partner, Candice Carpenter! She was so fun to shop for...and of course receive from. Check out all these goodies. So many of the items I had been eyeing in her shop, like the giant black feathers, black and orange glass glitter, trims, candies...and so much more!
Love this crow on a white pumpkin. Perfect with my decor.
I was thrilled to recieve one of her famous handmade banner. So much attention to detail here. Everything just pops. I LOVE this!!!

Here is the package I mailed to Candice. I pretty much stuck to completely black and white besides the scarecrow image in the shadow box.She loves vintage. I found this amazing black vintage hat with loads of huge black velvet bows. Also this box of vintage straws with a black and white circus image just screamed Candice. She was over the moon about the black and cream striped box. That was really hard to give away, but I knew she'd adore it!
I've been doing lots of old school scrapbooking lately. I'm really excited to update my books with pages telling the story through images of the magnificent fall we are having here.

If you're looking for some neat Halloween craft projects, Jennifer Pebbles posted a free online class over here at 2Peas to make some wickedly wonderful wall art.

Also, crafzine has a fabulous Halloween mask tutorial here.

Be sure and visit here as well for wonderful inspiration from the Sweet and Sinister group.

Happy Crafting!

A walk in the woods....

The weather continues to be absolutely phenomenal, and the colors are peak. In just a week or so the leaves will all be on the ground and we will have bare branches for the next 6 months. So folks, we're livin' it up! Enjoy the stroll....

A self portrait. Emily challenges us all to take...and keep... a self portrait. This one certainly captures my feelings about the season.

Have a marvelous weekend!

Filling the well...

Ok, I am obsessed with photographing pumpkins. I can't get over the colors and shapes and sizes. Those with "warts" and those perfectly smooth. They bring me pure joy!

After visiting the pumpkin vendor above, we took a walk through my parents neighborhood. Can't get much better than this, in my book. I reminded myself that is ok to feel that the major accomplishment of the day was delightfully taking in all that nature has to offer this time of year. This fall I am filling my well.

Extra! Extra!

For those of you that attended Silver Bella last year, we were all delightfully aware that Country Living magazine was in the house. Editors Monica Michael Willis and Frances Bailey were on hand soaking up all the glittery Bella vibes. We all knew that an article was going to be written sometime in fall of 2008 and it has all come to fuition. I opened up my mail box today to find the Nov. issue and tore through it looking for the article. It begins on page 80 and is called Sisterhood of Crafts. It's a fun article with several pictures of our fellow Bellas including Megan and Jennifer. Go online HERE to see them and more!! How exciting for Teresa and all the Bellas!!
Speaking of a sisterhood of crafty ladies. I invited some girlfriends over this weekend to sit down to warm wild rice soup, chit chat and making some Katie Runnels inspired yarn wreaths of our own.

A fun way to spend a cozy, rainy Sunday afternoon.

Pick of the patch...

In keeping with the tradition of our Fall Friday's, my parents and I took the kids to a nearby pumpkin patch this morning. The weather was perfect. I did nothing to enhance these photos. The dry vines really were that grey and the orange pumpkins just popped!

Hope you have a fabulous fall weekend!

**Swap deadline** and projects...

The Sweet and Sinister swap mailing date has passed. I hope all of those that are in the swap have mailed, or if you haven't MAKE SURE you get a hold of your partner. I have a few people MIA that we are trying to find. The packages that are arriving are amazing. Check out all the fun on the flickr group here.

Not only is the swap in full swing but the Sweet and Sinister blog has been going strong for over 2 months! I am adding people daily and it's not too late to still sign up. I know some people are just getting into their Halloween crafting. Access to the blog can be purchased here. Above you can see the over a dozen projects that are included on the blog with step-by-step tutorials. Every single guest designer created a project just for the Sweet and Sinister group. They are each amazing and unique. It's all on the blog and there's still lots more inspiration and projects to share before the big day! Each week there is also a giveaway with some amazing goodies from our guest designers. Come on over, you're sure to have some fun!
My partner for the swap is the ever so sweet Candice Carpenter. Here is a peek at just a few of the goodies that are on their way to her doorstep:)