A thank you

I just wanted to post a BIG HUGE thank you to Dani for all the support and hard work this girl does. She promotes, stays up late, talks nothing but good about everyone, thinks of others before herself. YOU are amazing Dani girl. Just know you are loved by not only me but many others who know how awesome you really are. XOXO

E-Newsletter, Kristen Beason Interview from Cloth Paper Scissors

An Interview with Artist Kristen Beason

Labor Day may have just passed, but for Kristen Beason (whose upside-down skeleton hangs out on our current cover), it's not too early to start decorating for Halloween. We profiled this contemporary folk artist who specializes in whimsical, holiday-themed art in the September/October 2009 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. In our profile, Kristen makes no bones about the fact that Halloween is her favorite holiday. With the season soon approaching, we thought we’d ask her to elaborate on how she celebrates.

Kristen Beason CPS: Halloween seems to be nearly as big as Christmas when it comes to decorating these days. And Halloween art is a big trend, too. Why do you think that is?

KB: Halloween is such a fun holiday and there's no pressure to find the perfect gift and create a 10-course holiday meal. I feel people like the fact that it's the one day a year you can dress up as something silly, scary, or both and just enjoy the day—plus free candy doesn't hurt! Through many of the popular creative home and craft magazines and television shows, people discovered that Halloween decorations, costumes, and food could be stylish and easy. I remember coming across the first Martha Stewart Halloween issue—I thought I was going to faint.

CPS: What are some of the ways you decorate?

Halloween treeKB: My husband and I made a deal very early in our marriage. I would set up my Halloween decorations in September, but they would come down on November 1. My tradition is to start on Labor Day weekend. I need to enjoy my decorations for more than a month! It usually takes me a full day to display all of my Halloween treasures. I like to keep our outdoor decorations simple: cornstalks, a fun wreath, and pumpkins. My husband carves incredible pumpkins that we set out in the grass the night before and on Halloween.

CPS: We understand you have a Halloween tree. What's that like?
KB: I have the large Dept. 56 Halloween tree that holds most of my favorite ornaments, vintage-style bubble lights, and purple rice lights. I've been lucky to collect from fellow artists and I try to add two to three new ornaments each year. I'm always so sad when I have to pack the tree away for the following year. Luckily, Thanksgiving is up to bat next, and it's my second-favorite holiday. I don't decorate for Thanksgiving because I haven't found a lot of decorations for that holiday. Hmmm, maybe I should be thinking about creating some Thanksgiving ornaments?.

CPS: Good idea! Where do you get all your ornaments? Do you have a couple of very special finds?
KB: My ornaments have come from all sorts of places. Some are from fellow artists; I find them on eBay and at local garden centers, gift shops, and art shows. Since my birthday is at the end of August, I usually get at least one Halloween decoration. My special finds have been auctions on eBay of some Glitterville ornaments. “Sweet Tooth Ruth” is one of my all-time favorites. Thermal on Formica

CPS: Do your children give you ideas for decorations and do they influence your own art?




KB: I still decorate with some of their art from elementary school. My youngest is in third grade, so he produces some cute Halloween art. I'm very fortunate to have a family who likes to laugh and has a sense of humor. I guess that comes out in my art because I like funny, whimsical artwork. In fact, my husband just gave me the idea for the “Curds & Whey” ornament that was a big hit. It's a big spider landing in a bowl of curds and whey. I really don't see what Miss Muffet got so uptight over.

CPS: Do you dress up for Halloween?
KB: I usually don't go with a full-blown costume unless we're having a party. There's an incredible Dept. 56 wicked witch's hat that I have been trying to get for years. Maybe this will be my lucky year!

CPS: What's your favorite Halloween memory?
KB: I distinctly remember one Halloween when we lived in New Jersey and I was in second grade. The air was crisp and all the neighborhood kids got into their costumes early in the afternoon. Halloween must have been on a Saturday or Sunday. I remember the leaves had turned their beautiful shades of amber and red and how much fun I was having that day. It may sound corny, but the day seemed magical. I guess that's one of the perks of being a kid!

Read more about Kristen’s artistic journey and see her boo-tiful artwork in the September/October issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

Cat & Fiddle Halloween Giveaway in September

Cat & Fiddle of Spookytimejingles is having a Halloween giveaway in the month of September and October to celebrate the Halloween Season with customers and friends.
This month's draw is for Spooky Pumpkin Jax. Please go to www.catandfiddlefolk.blogspot.com for entry information. Good Luck...

Johanna Parker and Martha Stewart!

Hi all!! Those STJ fans out there will remember that we had Johanna Parker as our Surprise Guest Seller with our July update! Well, Ms. Johanna was nominated by Martha Stewart as a doer of the week!

.

She was recently selected along with 10 other entrepreneurial women

on Martha Stewart's website as her Doer of the Week!

* What a thrill! *

Here is how WE CAN HELP, Johanna win! VOTE !!!

Now, it is up to you to VOTE for your favorite Doer of the Week!

Johanna says:
The winner is awarded $2,500 to put toward her business, and I must admit,

those funds would help me to fulfill my dream of enlarging my closet-sized workspace

where I paint all of my whimsical delights!

I would be honored if you would vote for me :)

Simply, click on the following link which takes you to Martha Stewart's

Dreamers into Doers website:

http://dreamers.marthastewart.com/profiles/blogs/vote-for-your-favorite-doer-of

Then, look for the "POLL" along the right side column.

Select a winner's name and press "VOTE"

Please spread the word and we'll see who won the vote on
October 2nd!

{ You can peek at my e-newsletter feature that Martha Stewart sent out last week! See below: }

Thank you for casting your vote!

~ Johanna ~


http://www.johannaparkerdesign.com/
http://www.johannaparkerdesign.blogspot.com/

Cool Items alert!

Here is a lil random list of awesomely fun Halloween Goodies discovered!
Click the pictures to link!

~Dangling Skelly's~

~As discovered by Janell Berryman of Pumpkinseeds Folk Art~




~Spooky Morphing Halloween Tree~
Discovered by Dani & used at the National Halloween Convention

It is a very cool tree in design in that you can control how the lights flow and flicker. You can also move much of the wired branches just how you want them.
I put it on a table top so that it is very tall with hanging high dangling ornies (see video a few posts down)

GREAT tree for the amazing price. Looks beautiful, I bought a second and have no quality issues with this one (see review/click pic).


Finally, want a Halloween Tree for Free??!!
Sure you do!

Created by Marie Patterson Studio!


Click the pic to go to her blog for the EASY BREEZY tutorial on how to create this tree from found goodies!

Door Prize Winners Finally Announced!

Thank you all for your patience!! Here's hoping you won!!


Winner of Lisa's Treasure it..... AMY SHARP SCHNEIDER (BUYER)



Winner of Janell's Treasure is.......... ELMAS RIDESTRA (MULTIPLE BUYER)



Winner of Kristen's Treasure is........AMANDA RATZ (BUYER & ENTRIES!)



Winner of Lisa's Treasure is...........KIM WAGNER (MULTIPLE BUYER)



Winner of Marie's Treasure is........... AMANDA WILLIAMS (BUYER)




Winner of Suz's Treasure is....... MICHELLE KELLY (STJ FAN/BADGE PROGRAM)

ALL WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE ARTIST DIRECTLY WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS!

BE SURE TRY AGAIN THIS MONTH!

Door Prize Winners will be announced late

Door prize winners will be announced later than usual. Usually the winners are posted at midnight when it turns to the 13th of the month but I ran out of time with this update.

It is almost 2 am and I am off to bed! I will announce the winners later today after sleep. So stay tuned and thank you for your patience!

The new door prize offerings for September are now up!! So, you can start registering to win for this month anytime you like!

SpookyTimeJingles at Midnight Sept. 13

The best of spooky and sweet - that's what you'll find at SpookyTimeJingles.
At the stroke of midnight (EST) be there to catch your favorites.

Here's a little teaser preview from some of the artists that you'll see.




Please be sure to check out all the artist's pages as you never know what you'll find there.....just click the "next" button at the bottom of every page.

TWO new artists to meet...

2 new artists have joined SpookyTime Jingles this month and we are ecstatic about them both! please join us in welcoming ...

Elaine Thomas

of Alphabet Studios

Elaine is a delightful and very talented artist specializing in paper clay and paper mache creations. Elaine is a licensed designer with DEMDACO and her ornaments can be found in the upcoming issue of Celebrate 365! Congrats Elaine!!

and...
Susie Pastor

of Susie Pastor Art!!

Susie is an accomplished muralist and paints incredibly realistic landscapes and more. Lucky for us and all of you...she paints fabulous Halloween and Christmas art too:-) just look at this darling table top...and then on to her lamps and clocks! swoon!

so, let's give them a big spooky and sweet WELCOME! and join us for our update on September 13th at 12:00 a.m. (that's tomorrow night!!!) and take a peek at what Elaine and Susie have in store for us!

see you then!

Let the Spooky Season Decorating Begin!!

How do you decorate for the spooky season? Here is how I have started decorating this week. This is a silly lil video of my 2009 Halloween Tree with many, one of a kind ornaments from the famous SpookyTime Jingles artisans!! So much fun to decorate and celebrate the Halloween season!
Enjoy! ~Dani STJ founder/owner~

September Guest Artist

HINT #1

This Buckeye artist is simply enchanting!