C'mon In!

Meagan from Plus Size Barbie was asking me when I would be decorating for Halloween. I told her I'd post some photos when I got it all done. (The card with the witch, below, is from Joanne!)

It all begins looking something like this -- only the pile is much bigger.

I start with the china cabinet. That's where one of the trees goes and a few of my favorite things. (If you make the photo bigger, you'll see postcards by Joanne and Beth and an ATC by Linda on the cabinet.)

Then there's the entertainment center. I hate my entertainment center -- circa 1990, probably from Target or someplace like that. Ugly. So I cover it as much as possible.

In this case, I decided to use a base that could stay through Thanksgiving -- leaves and my copper teakettles -- so when I took down the other Halloween tree, I was still decorated. That little black feather tree came from TJ Maxx last weekend. I think it was about $8.

Next come the book cases. If I have an open shelf, it gets pumpkins. Most of these can stay up through November. The Halloweenies will go.

I love this gourd -- he can stay up through Thanksgiving, too.

Some of the cat collection comes down so I can add this guy in the middle.

And then come the stuffies, like my fun black cat...

...and happy pumpkin head.

And flowers atop the telly.

And here on the other book case. (Check out the placemat from K-Mart. Very spider-webby and only $2.50.)

I'm not doing so much in the family room this year -- the hearth gets a pumpkin... (TJ Maxx, with real gourds and crystal).

The mantle continues the copper theme, but the garland is ATCs from various swaps.

This little vase belongs on the dining table.

And here is my favorite easy decoration of the year.

Tons of mini-pumpkins (a big bag of 10 was about $5), a big column vase and a ribbon. The cat-head-on-a-stick I already had!

On November 1, I'll take down the most Halloweenish and add a few turkeys and we're good to go for November!

(Don't forget, I am now posting public television picks of the week on my other blog, Chopsticks and String. This is partly because I haven't had time to read! Check 'em out!)