DIY Witches Brew Laboratory

Every year I spend about $50 on new halloween decorations, so in about 20 years my house should look really awesome! This year I really wanted to make a little witches brewing laboratory. It was easy to do and not too expensive. If you like this look and want to recreate it, then read on. It's a fun way to liven up any room without scaring the pants off of the little ones:) The nice thing is it's now added to my collection and can be used forever! 

This book shelf is in a little nook in my front entry way, but you could really do it anywhere. I started with my own collection of vases and candlesticks from around the house. The black spider web candles were from my purchases last year and the picture of the skull was one that I drew back in high school. There are a lot of pictures of skulls on the internet that you could print out to get the same affect. The yellow cake plate was given to me, but was made from a soup bowl and plate glued together. So easy! 

This year I purchased the black shredded curtain from Walmart for $2.97 and simply pinned it to the wall. The two crows and the sticky witches brew labels came from JoAnn's. Large crow $6, small crow $4, labels $6. I bought the clear glass jars from various places ranging $1.97 - $3. I filled them with water and food coloring for effect and they can be re-used in the spring and summer for fresh cut flowers. 

All of the pictures in the frame are downloaded from the internet. I just googled vintage halloween pictures and tons of cool stuff came up! I used my frames that I already had around the room. The little black glitter spiders were from Walmart $2 and the eyeball gum balls and cute tiny owl were from Michaels $3 each. The total was under $40! Now I did splurge a little because I had a coupon and bought that darling trick or treat banner, but a similar one can easily be made with some craft paper, cupcake wrappers, and ribbon. Here is a tutorial I found on how to do it: 

The biggest thing is to use what you have and then add to it. Have fun and Happy Halloween!

Acclimatising....

Oh My! I can't believe it has been over a month since I have posted. I have to say, I really miss blogging. Facebook and Instagram make everything so easy, but I think blogs are so much more intimate. I'm going to try and do better. Still you should follow me in my other social networks. I update more there because...It's easy! Here is a recent pic from my instagram page...

I was showing off fabrics from a new pattern I just finished. 

See Below. I also started twittering! I know, crazy. 

I must be crazy.  

Besides all of my social networking, you may or may not have been wondering what I am up to this last few months. Well...the truth is, not much! Haha! I am still trying to settle in to my new home and environment in the Southern Utah desert. I really didn't like it at first, but that was probably because we moved here when it was 110 degrees last July. This summer was even hotter, but I think I have acclimatized. We swam a lot at the club pool, took a trip to Northern California (my old home), and went to Zion's and Lake Powell! It's been a lot of fun. Plus it's finally starting to cool down and Fall and Winter here are paradise. 

One of my biggest fears in moving here (other than the heat) was that I wouldn't be able to find any good spots to take pictures for my pattern covers. Turns out I was wrong. Here is a little peek at something new I just finished...

St. George has a lot of history. I knew that before moving here, but I had never really been out exploring in my drive throughs on our way to Vegas for tennis tournaments as a child. We always just stopped for gas and then we were on our way. Now that I live here, I never cease to be amazed at what secrets and treasures this town holds. 

This photo session was done at a little grouping of houses from the 1800's that have been turned into a bed and breakfast. It is darling and so quant. I felt like I was in another time. The dress is a pattern, but it's an exclusive for a magazine. So you'll have to order the mag to get it. 
I'll let you know which one as soon as it's all approved and ready to go. 

This picture is a little blurry, but I love that car!

I'm A LOT in love with this dress. I went back to my good "old ways" of mixing fabrics from several designers. You may see a few of my own in their too! Designing my own fabric has really been a highlight for me over the past 2 years. I haven't always wanted to do it, mostly out of fear, but once I got going I can't stop the ideas from flowing. Right now I'm working on something new, but I'm really trying to find myself with this one. I feel like the first two were kind of experimental. 

Miss Modd was my first fabric line and it was so much fun designing it. I went a little crazy with my colors and it turned out really bright and colorful, just how I like. But I was also just learning how to design art on a computer and learning the odds and ends of fabric design. I don't feel like I was fully able to express myself artistically. Besides that, designing fabric was not as easy as I thought I would be! There is a lot of going back and forth with the company that produces it and the mill that prints it.  So needless to say it took me a year to get that line out. Probably more because I am slow than anything and  I started going to bed on time...mostly. My creativity use to come out at 3am. I'm not sure where it's coming from these days, but it's still there. Just in different forms. I'll talk more on that another day.

Amelie, my second line also took a year and was much sweeter and softer than Miss Modd. I had a better feel for what I was doing, but it still had to go through several makeovers. I loved trying out new colors and a damask! I had so much fun sewing with it and making my new Gaucho's pattern too. Still, I'm not sure it's totally me. 

The one I am currently working on is turning out to be my favorite. I'm taking it slow and really working on details this time. We'll see how it goes.  I'll let you know in a year:)

Oh, we wanted to go inside so bad, but it was closed.

As for pattern design, I have slowed down quite a bit. There is so much out in the market these days and a lot to compete with. I tried to stay ahead of the game, but just couldn't keep up. My family started to wonder if I would ever do anything fun with them again and my brain and body were wondering what a full 8 hours of sleep might feel like. So I have kind of taken a back seat and a nap this last year.  I have really enjoyed watching the trends change and seeing all of the fun new patterns that have come out from fellow designers.  Wow! The talent out there is incredible.

 So for my own sanity, I decided to take this Fall off for anything new.  I have some solid ideas for Spring that I think will be fresh and new for the industry and hopefully something you haven't seen before. I'll keep you posted!


Last pic from the photo shoot...



Why can't our gas pumps still look like this? It's so colorful and full of personality! I think cars back then were a lot cooler too. Now they're just, economical.  

Well, hows that for an update? Hopefully it will satisfy for a little bit while I finish up some random projects that have been nagging at me.

Let's talk again soon!

xo-Chelsea