Black Friday is BIG in the states, Canadian retailers are beginning to start their own Black Friday sales. I stay away from places when there are sales on like that...too crazy!  And there is nothing that I really need.  I've got it all.  Talking to my sister this weekend, she says the economy it is still very bad where she is.  The economy is busting.  I certainly have been doing my part to keep the economy running.  A machine, all sorts of feet, fabric ...and now Christmas is coming... I haven't got a clue as to what I can get for  "Thing One" and "Thing Two".  I know what they want, but that is pie in the sky...I want a new van, but that ain't happenin' either

Well, Thing One , Thing Two and their cousin Cindy-Lou Who had lots of fun, drawing, playing with Fimo, Sculpty, and making fancy make it yourself cards.  A huge mess was made, but all cleaned up quickly.  I actually did some sewing (hemming).   Thing Two had to leave for a birthday party.  

Sis, the mister and I had homemade pizza...Sis wanted to shop some more after the the kids all left.  So off we went.

Hopefully I can sew tonight.  Last night I did some sewing on my wall hanging..applique.. just a little and never got back to it .  I really need to get this finished.

Just too many projects and not enough time.

What a busy weekend!..My sister here ...her adult kids here, grandchildren here, hers and mine, plus my kids here ...I hardly had time to breathe.  The mister and I went out for dinner (hamburger) and a movie (3D) for our anniversary.   We enjoyed both, although it was a VERY different dinner than we had planned.
My sister promised the grandkids an art lesson..they went shopping at Curry's and Micheals on Saturday and returned here on Sunday for their art lesson.
Thing One planned on a drawing lesson and Thing Two, a sculpting lesson..don't know what my niece wanted...drawing or sculpting, or whatever.

I warned them all!!!.......don't do anything blog worthy, because I WILL add it to my blog...

me...,I just wanna sew....
I haven't been in my sewing room for a couple of days or more..I have some mending to do, but that DOES NOT count as sewing.  I have brought home more fabric that needs to be dealt with...cut up and sewn or...put away until I can get at it
I finished block #.37...It has the dreaded "Y" seam, not once but twice.  I ended up pinning the last three seams, sewing the two end seams, then the last seam in the middle.  It all turned out fine and after a good press looked great.  Here is a peek at it.

On to the next block! or at lest cleaning up the mess that I have made.

I didn't make these

  I have lots of fabric..lots of fleece.  I like to pick that up in the summer sales.  I use that for the Things' school 'mitten tree'.  Every year the grand kids school has various outreach projects..the mitten tree, a food drive, supporting a foreign village (in lieu of teachers' gifts) and donate gifts for underprivileged families.   We donate 12 to 24 scarfs and they are wrapped around a Christmas tree as garland.  I cut the fleece up for scarfs..really easy to do, just cut across the width of the fleece and fringe the ends..make them wide or narrow. quick and easy, but so warm and greatly appreciated.  You can use lighter fleece or heavier fleece..border prints are nice and so are all over prints..plain is fine too...I let the girls do some of the work and they have fun decorating their school tree with them, then pointing out to their friends which ones they donated.

One month left until Christmas..and if the climatologists are right we will have a very cold and snowy winter thanks to La Nina.  And maybe a white Christmas!

  I picked up some sweater material the other day, along with some fabric to make a      t-shirt.  The sweater material will be a challenge for me .  I have never sewn a sweater...I've knit a few.  But why not sew one.  The industry sews them. Sewing them would be faster...hope I get around to it!(haha).  I wonder if there are specific patterns for one.  Everytime I search on-line I get knitting patterns.  I have a sewing  pattern for a cardigan..I used to have some instructions for knitting machine.  I think that would be a good idea...If it doesn't turn out..then ..I've just made some garbage.

I don't know how much sewing I will be able to accomplish this week...so far I haven't even made it to my sewing room...the mister is on vacation...... Son-in- law has been here painting...so I had to clear out that room so he could paint then put everything back when he is finished....and my sister will be here today for a visit for 4 days, it's also our 45th anniversary on the weekend ..I hope I get some time for myself so that I can sew.  I have an awful lot that I want to get done.

I have been sewing some on the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt,  I have been working on a block that looks difficult, but is actually not too bad.  Then I started on the next block ..I also have my on point top that I am working on still.


not mine

  Last week at quilt guild, we had a 5" charm square exchange..and I won some, so now I have more squares for the other to the point quilt top I have going.  I may take apart the 5" blocks that I have sewn already.  I really like the block of the month slice and dice..pair it with a white and I could (haha) have it done fairly quickly.  I keep going back and looking at full quilts made with this block and it just keeps calling me.

Yesterday I started making  baked beans..I started off in the slow cooker, used boiling water, had the slow cooker on high.  It takes a long time to bring up the temperature of the beans.  So after a couple of hours I decided to turn off the slow cooker and use the oven.  Two smaller crocks in the oven..enough to share with my daughter IF she wants some.


blue mountain crock

It smelled fanastic after a couple of hours.  I am sure that my sister and I will enjoy

Well, I didn't have the girls for PD day, after all...Daddy was off work too and took them to the movies...Thing One got back just in time for her date with her girl friend, her sister and their daddy...they saw that new Twilight movie.  I haven't heard how she liked it, and I haven't seen or read any of the movies or books in that series.

PJ,s

I went out to  Sewing Machine Etc. and picked up some different feet and the ruffler that I ordered.  I now have three of them...one for my Kenmore and another Husqvarna ruffler that doesn't fit.  I tried them both and neither fit, I ended up marking the stitch plate on the machine trying them out.  A ruffler can do a lot of different things besides ruffling...so I don't like to not have one.  So, now I do!

I went over to the fabric store, because I was close by and like I said, I am getting the bug to sew clothes again.  Beside, I need want a new housecoat, and I don't like what I see in the stores..I also need new pajamas, and I never see any thing I like..either too warm or too summery (I don't like my shoulders bare) or too sexy.  I find the slippery fabrics cold..especially after a really good hot flash.

not mine





Sewing education classes..a waste of time?  I don't think so.  I have been going for the education classes that came with my new machine and really enjoyed it...and  I've learned a few things and passed on some tips.  I say, if I learn only one thing at a workshop, then it is worth it.

  Carrying around that big machine is hard on the back and knees, though.  I am not as strong as I once was.  And  I've noticed.   

Like I said , I am enjoying the education,  meeting some new people, seeing the other machine in practical use.  I bought the machine at a local store called 

wish it were mine





 SEWING MACHINES ETC and they actually keep the machines that I have on file..so I can make enformed purchases on  feet and other notions.  I have been getting the bug to sew more and different stuff...like clothes.  maybe some home dec.  I need some new sheers for the living room.  I made the ones that are there, and they aren't that old but, the cat has torn them.  There is another cat in the neighbourhood that likes to come and sit on the outside windowsill in the evenings, my cat MissT has a fit....snarls, hisses, throws herself at the window and a couple of times had her claws caught in the sheers..did a nice job tearing them.  Another  time I had to untangle her from them.



also not mine

 At any rate, the store runs all sorts of classes, one called The Foot of the Month, where you make a project and learn all the uses for all those fancy feet that you bought or came with the machine and all those fancy stitches.  I am thinking of taking that one in the new year..they will be making placemats.

PD day today..that means Professional Development Day for the local teachers and no school.  The grandkids will be here all day.  Thing One has a dinner and movie date with a girlfriend and her dad.  She has been taking to lying around all day, watching the boob tube.  I wonder what I will try to get them interested in?  Some modelling clay?  Sewing?  Beading?....COOKING!?  BAKING!?..weaving?  drawing?  just not shopping.   I really hate taking them out shopping..I always say "No" to stuff.."they have to ask their mom".."I can't buy that..I object to the style or how revealing it is."  Why aren't kids clothes, KIDS clothes?  Why are the designers "sexing" preteens up?  Are they all perverts?  Are the designer all perverts.  Are the buyers all preverts??? Why are we telling kids (subliminally) the girls need to be sexy? To be a sex object?  I started loudly complaining to store managers when the girls were toddlers...that it was sick..and I wasn't buying it...I still won't buy it.  I don't agree with a burka either. ..,but that is another rant.

Boy, that went off topic..lol

Well, I am sure that we will find something to fill the day, even if it is only doing some baking..maybe a nice carrot cake, or some cookies to take home to Mom.
Boy am I dumb.... Last night was quilt guild and I sat there and watched all the quilts that were made for and by Outreach and never took a picture...I sat there as all the ladies showed the projects that they had so lovingly created...and didn't take a pic..not a single one..I had my camera in my purse and a camera on my phone...silly me, because what I saw was FABULOUS! and I should have shown you.

Guild tonight..gotta send the grandkids and their mother home early tonight as we start our meeting earlier....   I made a carrot cake with cream cheese icing..Old Duncan Hines and I are getting to know one another   Hubby gets leftovers for dinner.  I will be hitting some rush hour traffic.  It will be a busy evening.
Last weekend when I went to the UFO workshop, Elizabeth gave me a really good tip.


clover thread cutter



We all know about clotheslining blocks,  that's when you just keep sewing and don't clip threads in between blocks.  It makes sewing faster, but then eventually you have to cut those blocks apart...time consuming if they are all tangled like mine were.  She said "You have a thread cutter on the machine ...use that!" Great idea!..but wait, I have one at the needle and one at the thread winder....threader winder cutter was easier to use .  Then later that evening after sewing more blocks together, I needed to cut threads again....I thought..wait ..I have a thread cutter!!  I wear it as a necklace!...much easier to use..I can clip at the ironing board!

Available almost anywhere..I got mine at a department store..made by Clover.  It has a small rotary blade in it, if it becomes dull, the blade can be rotated or replaced. It comes without the chain,  I added that.   If I needed to, I could take the chain off and push the stem of the cutter into an empty thread spool and have my hands free.
Yesterday I went for my sewing ed class at Sewing Machines ETC.  I wore mine and Elsa wore hers..no we didn't co-ordinate before hand...she sold a lot of cutters today.

Guild is tomorrow and since we don't have a December meeting, this is our Christmas meeting....so we eat...lol and maybe play little games..generally socialize.  I plan on bringing 3 boxes of Lois' (the other guild) books. 

Seems too early for a Christmas party!

I also have to decide what I will make to eat for the evening...hmmm ..dessert or appetizer?  We always have so much delicious food, so many different things to chose from.  Quilters love to cook  eat.

After next week, I hope to really get in the Christmas mood.  I have to start thinking of the tree and what I want to decorate it with.  I will need to get some different decorations for the tree. The last 12 years I have had my tree covered in toys...little toys from McDonald's, beanie babies and small dolls and tiny teddybears.  Thing One and Thing Two have had lots of fun going through the toys every year and putting them on the tree.  Sometimes they don't make it to the tree or disappear for a little while so they can play with them.

When they were young it was almost every toy, rules were, some had to stay on the tree. 

  I got my flu shot the other day....I went to pick up my prescription and they were having a clinic in a couple of days, so I signed up.  I've had the flu and been hospitalized because of it when I was young, I don't want a repeat.  So hopefully I won't catch anything this year.  There doesn't seem to be any really bad bugs in the news so far this year. Hopefully we can all stay well and enjoy our sewing.

I finished Flower Basket, this one wasn't paper pieced...EQ didn't have this as a pp pattern, although it could be .  I machine appliqued the handle.
The next block looks complicated. I have all the colours picked out and ready to go..I am hesitating because it looks complicated...lol.
So I am still working on the stuff I took to the workshop.  That is working up fast..straight sewing ...no thinking..
I have to cut some 5 inch squares for guild!!  I haven't done that yet!
I've got pea soup cooking in the crockpot with a ham bone from my daughter...glad she likes to buy the large hams with the bone in.  Then I need to make some more brown beans, Maggie will be here for  American Thanksgivng and we will have some home made beans.  Don't know what it is about them, but my siblings all love homemade beans.....and fresh bread...it's a comfort food for all of us.

blocks all in a bunch

I went to a UFO workshop this weekend,  I took a couple of projects with me.  A Jacobean wall hanging that I am appliqueing..haven't worked on that since I got my new machine..and a patchwork project called  'to the point'...you sew squares then after the top is completed to the size you want, you cut off the corners of the whole top, resew them to the side and it turns the quilt on point.  A really neat trick..I've done a workshop on that and I hope I can repeat it..I can always ask Bev for help...seeing that she has done a few..lol

We had a lot of fun, food and chatting...lots of idea exchange!  Some ladies got a lot done.

Susan made a delicious squash soup (secret ingredient was PEARS!)..there were some delicious biscuits and some cheese.  I brought a salad so I had plenty to eat. Tea and coffee were served and Bev made a scrumptious carrot cake with cream cheese icing

 I got quite a bit done. I worked on my applique and when my eyes started to get sore, I worked on my 'to the point'.  I had to cut apart all the squares and press them, then started sewing the next group together.  All in all in was a pretty good day .  Later that night I worked on the blocks again, sewing them together.  I have been using squares that I have accumulated over the years from other projects,  they are 3 inches  ... I wonder how difficult it will be to do 'THP" trick with that?  Only one way to find out is to read the instructions.  I know that I will have a challenge with it because the pattern calls for 5" and I am using 3".

Remembering

 

Today is Remembrence Day.. All the fallen soldiers and veterans are honoured today.  To all of them, to those that serve..I say Thank You. Thank You ...Thank You!!  on this 11th hour of the 11th day , of the 11th month, of the 11th year.

Several years ago I decided to try playing around with my machine.. I had a block of the month pattern of poppies in 2 sizes.  I taped 4 pages together and traced poppies all over the paper until it was full...transferred my design to red hand-dyed fabric.then layered batting, black, then red fabric .  I sewed around the poppies the cut away the red to reveal the black background fabric...then just played with the machine.  and this is what I came up with.  It isn't finished..I haven't decided what more it needs..besides more black in the middle of each flower. and then black binding.
It's also the back ground I have been using for my blog  this month.  So far I have been calling it "Too Many"

too many

I have it hanging in my front entrance even though it is unfinished.

   Block 34 is done!  "Flock"  It just needs a little trim and a good press.  I stuck with a blue I have used before, I think I might have used the WOW (white on white) before, but the first time for that red.  It has a little gold vein in it and is a Christmas fabric.

At Oakville quilt guild, a dear friend showed a applique` quilt she had been working on for the last few years.  She got her focus fabric from a friend who didn`t really like it, and She didn`t really like it either.  I don`t know why... I loved it.  Purples and deep pinks, dark blues..She likes soft colours like peach and seafoam green.  So this fabric wasn`t her at all.  But the applique` is her, the pattern is her...I think it is beautiful!  Hand appliqued and hand quilted...queen sized.


Jackie s quilt

 Don't you agree?
Hmmm...don't know what happened there, but my keyboard went to french canadian..
I kept telling her I would gladly take it off her hands..she just giggled.  She says she will put it in our upcoming quilt show in May, then hopes to sell the quilt!
http://www.oakvillequiltersguild2012.blogspot.com/
Jackie does mostly hand applique, she has made a few pieced quilts for her grandsons. She has even hand pieced one or two of her quilts...and of course they are all large quilts...all her quilts are hand quilted..she has won ribbons for her hand quilting..she spends her evening quilting while her hubby watches sports tv. 

Guild

Here are some pics of how I adapted my new quilting table.

where the feet snap on

I didn't snap on the feet, that would add 3 inches in height to the table on top of my desk.

adds 3 inches

suction cup  beside the foot knob

The suction cup would sit inside the knob..but added height.. so I added the suction cup stuck to the underside of the table to prevent sliding.  Seems to work with only adding 3/4 inch overall height. I like the added support to the front of the machine. 

Novemeber  Guild meeting for Halton Quilt Guild was last Thursday and we had the most fabulous speaker that night.....   Martha Schellingerhoud... She has some of the most beautiful quilts that I have ever seen that were done a a domestic machine...large quilts...she uses a quilt as you go method. She showed us how she did it, she has tweeked the method she learned to come up with 3 different methods, even had samples of 2 of the 3 methods she uses.  She said we could take pics of her quilts, but please not show them on-line.  Being that I didn't bring a camera AND my phone was dead ...I have none to show you..BUT..you can see some examples of her work here..
http://www.marthaschellingerhoudquilts.com/
The pics on her website do not do justice to her quilting.  Some of her large quilts, she also duplicated in minature..
We hope to have a workshop in the spring and man, I want to be there then.

Also on Thursday, we has our annual book auction,we cull books from the library, invite members to bring in books, magazines or small kits to be included in the sale.
This year we had over 200 books.  Most of these books this time were from our long time member, Lois.  We had so many that we ended up just selling books for a $1 and magazines for a $.25.  I don't know how much we took in, we lost count.  AND we had bags of books left over... we donated some of those  to various groups.
Our library may be in trouble this winter.   This month the head librarian heads off to Texas for her vacation.  That leaves me and one other lady to run the library..and I plan on being away myself.  If no-one steps forward to help, the library will not be open.  I just will only accept returns.  If there is only me, I will not open the library at all.  I certainly hope that someone steps forward.

This past weekend we had the GrandDaughters stay overnight while Mom & Dad went to a show in Orillia.
I warned Thing One and Thing Two NOT to do anything that I could/would blog about.  Thing Two giggled all afternoon......enjoyed acting silly, and worked on a Christmas craft I bought for a PD day.

Poppa and Thing One worked on some number puzzles in the newspaper, she also had fun going through a Learn to Draw book, drawing some of the pictures, learning some new techniques.
For dinner, Poppa took us all for Chinese food at the Red Maple.  Then we went over to Walmart and killed a hour or so there.  After that the girls went back to drawing and some homework.  No one went to bed early, but Thing Two got up really early the next day,the rest of us sleep in just a little. When Poppa and I got up we had french toast with apples and maple syrup.

I worked on the Farmers Wife Sampler and got a couple of blocks done.  Farmer's daughter turned out really nice.   I really like that block. 

farmer's daughter

The next block was Farmer`s puzzle

farmer`s puzzle

.  Sort of reminds me of a ribbon bow.
Since I am writing this in the afternoon, I still hope to get into my sewing room tonight and maybe get some more blocks done.  I haven`t really been sewing this week.  I FINALLY got my quilt kit with my new sewing machine and I had to finangle the new acrylic quilt table.  My machine sits in a desk, not on..the table is meant for on the desk.  I had to raise the machine a little , not use the legs (or feet).  The feet just snap onto a small knob on the underside.  I need to substitute 4 large suction cups  instead of the feet so that it doesn`t slide.  Hmmm..I bought some suction cups with the idea of replacing the existing feet on the table.  I couldn't loosen the screw and nut....so..I tried placing the suction cups in the foot knob ..it fit!  But it raises the table, then I would have to raise the machine..If I raise the machine I have to raise my chair, then I have to raise the foot pedal..(short legs)...Nothing is easy!! Sooo.. I just placed the suction cups under the table and beside the knobs, just to stop the table from moving around. I tried sewing like this and it is fine.   This new acrylic table is slightly smaller than the old one, so easier on my short arms.
Wednesday I go for one my machine education class....to show me what this new machine can really do!

In October we had a rummage sale at Halton Quilt Guild.  We did not know of this sale until we got our newsletters...It was the lifetime accumulation of Lois, a fellow member's stash.  And what a stash she had.  She is now in a nursing home and her family offered her stuff to another guild member, Jane.  Remember that joke we all say..."the one with the most stuff wins"?   I think she won.  Four rooms and a basement full of books, pamphlets,  knitting, sewing patterns, home dec, crocheting, quilting, cross stitch, wooden stuff, garment sewing notions, beading, kits of all kinds, you name it , she had it.  She must have dabbled in everything, or at lest wanted to.  You can imagine the room full of stuff our "receiving " member Jane brought for us to peruse and purchase..she brought bins and bins and bins overflowing with Lois' crafting stuff..and she sold a lot,  but still took back bins and bins of stuff.  And she donated all the money  to help fund our 35th anniversary dinner.

I bought a little bit of stuff.... not much...I am running out of room myself and I don't want to start on another room.  Nor do I want to leave a whole bunch of stuff that I didn't get around to.  I too, have dabbled in different types of crafts, plus I keep kid friendly crafts on hands for the GD's,  plus  paint and inks, paper and books..I am a sucker for books.  Craft, sewing and novels.   I haven't bought any fabric in quite a while,  I am trying to use it up, and pass it on.  Don't worry though, I am still helping to keep the economy  going ..I did buy that new machine and that, of course means, new feet, and/or other  'stuff".   I bought myself one of those new fangled walking feet with the detachable sole.  I haven't tried it yet, I've been spending my time on the FWS quilt.

November

Fall is definitely here,  most of the neighbour trees have dropped their leaves.  Our 2 trees out the front  have just all turned....almost overnight..Monday they were still green!   As soon as they fall I want rake and pick them up, I want those leaves for the compost box!  I still have some flowers blooming, although we had a frost the other day and it knocked out all the impatience, the alysium is still going strong and smelling FABULOUS!  I have a miniature red rose just outside the back door and it is still full of buds and blooms.  If I try to bring any in , they just wilt. The grass is so green, it's luscious, best it's looked since spring.  These last few days have been fabulous...warm, 50's plus and mostly sunny.  There have been some cloudy periods, but it has been mostly glorious.  As far as I am concerned, we could have weather like this for a few more months...then just have maybe just a little snow for Christmas.  The weatherman says this fabulous warm weather will end soon.

In my sister's area in New England they got slammed with snow this past weekend.  Two feet of snow and the snowbanks were 6 feet high.  Good thing she has a neighbour with a tractor to move some of the really deep snow for them.  At lest they never lost power.  no power..no heat.. I was able to talk to her and they are fine.  She was telling me that one of her co-workers had lost power and was using a generator....and as you  can imagine...Carbon monoxide started to build up in her home.  If it wasn't for people phoning her, she would have succumbed to it..911 was called!

  I love the snow when it is clean and new fallen. But not 2 feet at a time.  In this area the snow gets dirty and yucky really fast.  I love to see the big fluffy flakes falling and me all cozy and warm with the fire blazing in the fireplace and a hot cuppa tea, ....and maybe some of my friend Margaret's gingersnap cookies.  And the silence that a blanket of snow brings.  Just makes me want to cocoon.

I hate ice storms, or even winter rain..that cold goes right through you..

It seems like we don't have moderation in the weather anymore. they are calling it......Snotober

Last weekend my hubby and I helped  dear friends celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  We had a whole roasted pig, homemade baked beans (fabulous) and lots of different sandwiches, sausages, appetizers of every kind...a chocolate fountain and 2 huge cakes..chips and lots of candy. There was no reason for anyone to leave hungry and we ate far too much and had lots of fun and laughs.

Hard to imagine most of my friends are all coming up to the same milestone.  I remember when my parents celebrated their 50th, Mom was in good health, but Dad wasn't ...Alzheimer's was taking it's toll and he was in a nursing home...he only lasted 6 more months.  My in-laws just celebrated theirs and 6 months later Dad passed.  I guess our generation is lucky to enjoy good health.
Mom really got into quilting then..I wish she had taken pics of the quilts she made, but she didn't. She gave them all away.  I don't even know if she labeled her quilts.  I have the last bedquilt that she made and it has no label..I think I should make one for it.....

cold toes

covers the AC unit in winter

My sewing room is quite cool, my toes are getting cold..I sew upstairs in a spare room that is heated by electric baseboard heater and cooled by a small AC window unit so, it isn't very warm.  I keep the AC unit covered in winter with bubblewrap and window wrap and then cover it all with a quilt to keep out the cold.  I usually find all the lights and iron warm up the room enough, but when my toes get cold my feet will hurt, so I heat up my micro wave heating bag...you know, those bags filled with wheat berries or rice.  I warm that up and keep it near my feet so that I can warm up my toes when they get cold.  Or my shoulders if they are tense.  I try not to sit too long at the machine,  to get up to cut and press.

 I  find I am using different fabric for every block in Famer's Wife Sampler, so I am constantly having to clean up my mess.  I have my vacumn cleaner nearby to suck up all the little trimmings..there are lots of those.  I keep a clothes brush handy to wipe off the cutting board....all those little fabric crumbs sometimes end up on the floor.
Years ago I started cutting up my scraps into squares...I am using a lot of them now..

I HAVE to remember to turn OFF my little iron.  It doesn't have a automatic shut off.  I don't really worry about my big iron, I have it plugged into a switched extension cord, then plug that into another switched surge protected extension cord the same one my radio is plugged into. I use that to turn on the radio.  So, I know that if the radio is on the iron could be too. To turn them both off I just turn off the extension cord.  I think I am going to run another extension from that,  just for the mini iron.. I left it on all night one night...I was lucky I didn't set the curtains on fire.  See that little scorch?   It took seconds to scorch that fabric.

hallowe'en



Peg with her brew

 It was a blast around here...the grandkids had fun setting up everything and the neighbourhood boys thought it was the coolest house on the street.

The witch was stirring up her eye-ball brew.  She had a light inside her mask to give her  scary eyes.  I put 2 flashing lights in the pot for effect, along with the eyeballs.  Underneath was foil 'flames', also lit with flashing lights for effect. 

The grand-daughters arranged the table with jars of bloody severed fingers, eyeballs..bats, mice and candles all dripping with blood.

Severed heads were hung from the tree with glee, later I put lights on them, so they could be seen.  I put a tealight(battery operated) in front of each 'tombstone'.  The girls littered the yard with bones..

All in all, the girls did a really great job...one of the people on the next street came over to have a look...he had seen the girls decorating the yard and was intrigued, he commented on how good a job they did. .                                                                                                            

As you can see....my trees are still green!!!  Haven't dropped any of their leaves yet!