Peanut & Purl: Completed baby sophisticate sweaters

I finished both of the baby sophisticate sweaters. Just in time too...

Halloween Mixtape: Instrumental Ills

Well, Halloween is upon us. I hope you've amassed an incredible playlist of spooky, creepy, unsettling, downright terrifying music--I certainly have. Now, if only I knew someone who was interested in a 14 hour Halloween party, my mixtapes could achieve their destinies. Who knows? A Halloween miracle might just happen...

Make: Fantastic MRS. Fox

So this Halloween I finally got Ben to do a couples costume, how exciting (for me). I am certain he agreed based on two things; first he could just wear his own clothes, and second he saw how much time I had already put in to the  fox masks. Now that I know the recipe, I will take laziness and guilt, throw it into a bucket of festivities and bake a cake of awesome couples Halloween costumes every year!

Allow me to introduce to you our Fantastic Mr. (and Mrs.) Fox, costumes...

Halloween Mixtape: Vintage Villains

Yes, finally. A Halloween mixtape that features not only Monster Mash but also I Put a Spell on You. Jeez, take forever! Well, we're here now, and isn't it just dandy? Now, let's all get together and watch Hocus Pocus. Deal? Deal. 

Book Report: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Truth time. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow isn't a book, it's a short story. Book report fail on my part...or is it? LoSH seems like a pretty fitting end for the Halloween edition of Book Reports. A tale of terror--the bits about the headless Hessian horseman are rather chilling--as well as humor--the bits about poor Ichabod are mostly silly. And I must say that I have a soft spot in my strange heart for Ichabod Crane. He's a super-gawky outsider bookworm nerd, always geared up for delicious free food, totally interested in the occult, perpetually freaking himself out about ghosts, and looking for a lovely heiress to take him away from the dull and penurious life of a school master...

Insta-sista

It's been a cold and murky week here in Spokane. This was my morning commute to the air force base. My, what lovely gloom. It won't be long before the snow arrives and I'm subjected to my yearly tumble down the cement stairs out front. Well, I can't wait. Until then, here's a spooky sampling of my Halloween-ish instagrams...

Malibu Merit Badge

Sometimes you need to give something special to someone special. For Catherine's (very late) birthday present I made her a Malibu, CA merit badge; because when she visits she's so good at Malibu-ing...

Away: Book Club (KITTENS!)

On Sunday, I ventured north to Tacoma for a monthly book club meeting. That's fine and whatnot, but the main point of this is that the host had recently acquired a kitten. A. Kitten. Be still my beating-kitten-loving heart...

Halloween Mixtape: Country Killers

Country Killers by Christine from onmyhonor on 8tracks Radio.

We all know there's a lot of fighting, drinking, and heartache in country music, but there's also a whole lot of murder and devilish doings. So, I've compiled a collection of troubled songs in the country & blues vein. Why not round out your Halloween party playlist with some unexpected gems?

Pumpkin inspiration!

Pumpkin City by Country Living

Every year I consider carving or painting a pumpkin and creating a little Halloween vignette on my tiny porch, and every year I reject the idea because without trick-or-treaters, what's the point? Usually, I satisfy my craving for Halloween decor by tricking out my mantel with creepiness, but if I had a yard or a bigger porch or any trick-or-treaters at all, I'd be making these pumpkins like crazy.

Peanut & Purl: A sophisticated baby sweater

 

My best childhood friend recently gave birth to twin boys! You know what that means, I needed to get knitting like you wouldn't believe...

Make: Halloween Banner

Like my sisters I enjoy going to the dollar store to find goodies, this trip not only did I pick up some little cardboard letters, but I also grabbed some creepy crawlies (as seen on a spooky wreath or scary garland), and I rushed home to make a Halloween banner...

Book Report: Frankenstein

I'm a first time Frankenstein reader. I know the basics of the story...although, much of the novel has been overtaken by the various film renditions. No lightening storm provides the animating spark for Frankenstein's creature; no maniacal cackles ring through the laboratory; no mention of bolts in the creature's neck. And the creature itself isn't a stiff-legged, dull killing machine, but rather a strong, nimble, and highly intelligent being. Victor Frankenstein does not try to bring his beloved Elizabeth back from the dead (spoiler!). And finally the creature is never referred to as Frankenstein.  The creature is the creature or the monster or the demon or fifty other wretched titles as Frankenstein sees fit to bestow upon his creation...

Insta-sista

Last weekend we went to Pismo Beach to have some fun in the sun with the Gillespies (and Ottos)

DIY: Skeleton garlands!

This fancy pants skeleton garland was very easy to make; it cost next to nothing, and is really quite creepy. You can make one too--check out how...

Halloween Mixtape: Old School Ghouls

Old School Ghouls | by Christine of On My Honor from onmyhonor on 8tracks Radio.

This mixtape includes some of my favorite Halloween music from the '80s and '90s (well, the '60s too, because hello, The Rolling Stones). I should probably mention that I listen to this business all year long.  And let me tell you, business is good. Really, you knew that was coming. Get ready for a spooky blast from the not so distant past...

Home & Away: Browne's Addition

I think it's generally agreed that we Nicolai sisters like autumn best. Admittedly, it can be tough to stay true to this brisk, colorful season...especially when you're caught in the melancholy grip of winter and all you do is pine and wish for spring. Sigh. But we try to keep faithful with thoughts of leaves crunching beneath our boots and pumpkins and fires and lightweight jackets against crisp breezes. And oh! Oh, it's time for knitted hats and scarves and fingerless gloves and cowls! Yes, this is the time of year when we gather all the lovely bits of fall in order that we keep the autumnal fires burning bright in our hearts all year long. Here are some of my neighborhood's seasonal treasures...

Halloween gilded bug wreath

Halloween is only 2 weeks away! You know what that means? You better get to getting on your golden bug door wreath...

Make: Me Feel Like Fall

Rusty Foks by Celapiu

It's always a nice change of pace when one season starts to falter and let another in to give us some relief. I am so excited for autumn. It makes me think of bright red and yellow leaves, and the smell of dirt and earthen decay. I am ready. You can be too-- make sure you wear your scarf and put on some flannel, drop the temperature, bundle up, enter fall... 

Book Report: The Haunting of Hill House

Like any good ghost tale, the story is not so much about the house being haunted as it is the people. Eleanor, the protagonist of The Haunting of Hill House, much like Jack Torrence in The Shining, has come unmoored from her life. Lonely, insecure, and looking for a place to belong, she's primed for getting caught up in the shenanigans of Hill House. Boy, those haunted mansions really know their business, am I right? Both The Haunting and The Shining explore similar territory: isolation, suspicion, self-loathing, and obsession, and in a way, Jack and Eleanor both share the same fate...

Halloween Mixtape: Creepy Sleepies

Creepy Sleepies by Christine from onmyhonor on 8tracks Radio.

I like to listen to my Halloween music all in a jumble--dark and bluesy, old school punk, vintage jams, instrumental, and the category I call creepy sleepies. This is the area of my Halloween collection that makes me want to dance less and die more. That's not weird, right? By die more, I mean I just want to lie down and listen to this music and get creeped out and drift away. Die more: it encompasses all those elements. I bestow upon you my lucky 13...

Insta-sista!

DIY: Skeletor Skin!!

  

So yes, if you can't tell already, we are excited about Halloween. When Christine and Catherine visited  Burbank a couple weeks ago, the task we were charged with was a tutorial on creating a skeleton face. We soon realized this was easier than we made it...

Halloween Mixtape: Dark & Deep

For the past several years, I've exchanged Halloween mixtapes with my friend Dan. I don't know if I've assembled enough new Halloween-ish songs to send him a full cd this year, so I might end up quitting the tradition. Terrible! But that doesn't mean I can't share some of my favorites with you. Maybe you have a big party coming up and your playlist is lacking songs which feature gravelly-voiced outcasts singing about murder, mayhem, and general bad behavior. Well, fear no more. Here are some suggestions for deep, dark audio gems to set the Halloween mood.

Home and Away: Bronson Caves

One definite perk of living just over the hills from Hollywood is that there are really neat landmarks everywhere you look! One of my favorites is Griffith Park. When you visit the park there are so many different areas to explore--it's home to the Hollywood sign, the inspiration for Disneyland, the Griffith Observatory, the old LA Zoo, and the Bronson Caves, just to name a few. So, in honor of the month that channels all thing spooky I think it's a great time to visit the caves... 

Autumn bookshelf...

The leaves have started turning fiery shades and falling to the ground. I thought it appropriate to mimic the changing seasons in my living room. Specifically on my bookcase. I didn't use any template for these little leaves. They're pretty easy to make. All you have to do is grab some autumn leaf-colored card stock and a pair of scissors, and start cutting out all the little leaf-shapes you can think of. It doesn't have to be perfect because there are all different kinds of leaves...

Secret knits...ssshhh

Since I finished my Vogue wrap a couple of weeks ago, I decided to start a new project. It's a bit of a secret right now, so you'll just have to wait for the big unveiling...

Make: Jon Snow and Ghost Costumes

Halloween is quickly approaching and year after year I ask Ben if we can do a couples costume, and year after year we throw something together at the last minute. Usually it turns out really amazing, but never has it been a good couples costume. So this year I find myself, yet again, in the same dilemma...but I thought of a way to get some mileage out of him yet: force him to dress up with me for a blog post! And even though it's not Halloween, this weekend, for a little while at least, he was the Jon Snow to my Ghost. Anyway, here's how this easy DIY costume was done...

Book Report: The Shining

Is there anything more terrifying than being trapped in a ghost hotel during the winter with an insane alcoholic author? Hmm, probably not. And before any Stephen King aficionados notify me that Jack Torrence did not wield an ax in the novel, let me say that I know. I know, I know. The ax is from the Kubrick movie. I know this. But it's pretty difficult to
find menacing pictures of roque mallets. Just saying...

Insta-sista

Joy of joys! It's my beloved Cascades! Aren't they stellar and dreamy? Of course I'm still in California vacation love mode, so you're getting subjected to yet another round. Are you as excited as I am? Probably not. Sorry. Just look away...

DIY: Spirit Animal Masks

While visiting Monika in Burbank, we decided that some serious sister crafting was in order. And since it's Halloween time, what better project than spirit animal masks constructed from paper? So, dear intrepid crafters, collect your supplies: cardstock, glue sticks, scissors, and writing implements.  Pssst! Don't forget your creativity...

Home and away: California

While California is home for Monika, it's certainly away from home for me. I saw lots of amazing things during my minibreak there last weekend--including dolphins! Take a peek...

Peanut and Purls: Bad Peanut the tetralogy!

There's no surprise here, Peanut continues to be a little tank that destroys everything. In the last week she's uprooted and tipped over a succulent and knocked makeup powder all over the bathroom. After a recent trip to the Puyallup Fair with Christine, I began researching potential pet upgrades...

Make: fleur-de-lis skirt

Wondering what to do when it's 100 degrees out? Well, that's an easy one!
Coop yourself up in the only air conditioned room in the house and sew a fun skirt...

Book Report: Dracula

Confession: I was one of those teenagers who loved vampires. I went through Salem's Lot and the whole Interview With the Vampire series, in addition to every young adult vampire novel out there (anything Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, or L.J. Smith). This was in the nineties, mind you, so pre-Twilight. But before all that, there was Dracula. Really, Bram Stoker was the reason I always ended up in the occult section of Waldenbooks at the South Hill Mall (much to my mother's quite vocal dismay), as well as the reason why I know so much about vampire mythology and also so much about being buried alive. Information about being buried alive just goes hand in hand with vampires...