Perennial Harvest: Felt and Fabric Decorations for Fall

Despite the fact that, technically, I don't know how to sew, I'm fascinated by the colors and patterns of thread and fabric. Just looking at them is a pleasure in itself. However, with a little hand stitching, these lovely fall colors make for a more permanent collection of decorative gourds (and maybe a critter or two):

The usual suspects.

Felt and Fabric Decorations

Materials:
Colored craft felt
Solid or patterned fabrics (remnants/fat quarters)
Embroidery flosses or No. 5 mercerized cotton threads
Doll needles
Straight pins
Poly-fil/stuffing
Templates or cookie cutters in desired shapes
Ballpoint pen
Sharp scissors (regular or pinked)
Embellishments (buttons, beads, etc.)

Trace template on backside of fabric; turn template over and trace again on a coordinating piece of felt. Cut out and match insides together, smoothing and securing with straight pins. Leaving a small border, stitch along the outside edge, leaving an opening at a larger end. Remove pins and stuff gently until pleasantly plump, but not so full that you can't close the opening. Finish stitching to close and tie off thread (hide the "tail" between the two layers, if possible).

Notes: Doll needles work well here, as the point is much sharper and the needle much longer than a regular embroidery needle. When using floss, I use all six strands together so the stitching stands out nicely. For the owl above, appliques and embellishments were added to the front side prior to attaching it to the back. Colors and fabrics can be chosen according to the season, making it easy to be creative any time of year!

>o<

And Your Little Dog, Too! Wicked Witch of the West Hat Cookies

Just in case there's not enough sugar around today, here's an easy, sweet treat for your Munchkins when they're ready to click their heels and come home!

Black hat required—ruby slippers optional.

Wicked Witch of the West Hat Cookies

Ingredients:
One bag (12 oz.) dark chocolate kisses
One box chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup neutral-tasting oil (such as grapeseed oil)
2 large eggs

Unwrap kisses and set aside in a bowl (try not to eat too many, you'll need them later). Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, stir together cake mix, oil and eggs until fully combined. Roll 1/2 Tablespoons of dough into balls and place about 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets (you will have about 60 cookies total). Bake until set, about 10-12 minutes. As soon as cookies come out of the oven, place a kiss firmly on top of each. Let cookies cool completely before storing (kisses will stay soft for quite a while...they're melting, after all!). For the full Wicked Witch effect, place a "hat" on top of a scoop of your favorite green-colored ice cream, using small candies or mini chocolate chips for eyes, nose and mouth.

Notes: Roll balls of dough in colored sugar, sprinkles or jimmies before baking. Any flavor cake mix and kiss combination can be used—mix and match your favorites. Got leftover bite-sized chocolate candies? Try using in place of kisses.

Happy Halloween!

>o<

THM Picks: Spooky Film Classics

We all have our favorite scary (or not so scary) movies this time of year, and there's certainly no shortage from which to choose. This includes classic films—even ones without Boris Karloff or Vincent Price. So if you're looking for something different, or haven't seen these classics in a while, they're sure to hit the spot this Halloween season:

• The Uninvited (1944)—A ghost story with great 40's style.
• Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)—Murder most silly in this screwball comedy.
• Rebecca (1940)—Because Mrs. Danvers is just that creepy.
• I Married a Witch (1942)—A long-term Salem resident has her eye on Fredric March.
• Gaslight (1944)—There's nothing like being terrorized by a man with a French accent.
• The Lodger (1944)—Long before they had background checks.

Don't forget to turn off the lights :-)

Happy viewing!

>o<