Do you want to Journey to the Center of the Earth?

Peter Montgomery is hoping to build a "Journey to the Center of the Earth" style drill as an art installation/halloween decoration.

The problem? Lack of funds. If you'd like to support his endeavor, throw him some spare change over on Kickstarter.

For more on Peter's past Halloween displays (he's legit), check out this post.

Kickstarter works in a pretty neat way: The rules are really simple: If you make or exceed your funding goal by the specified deadline, you get the money. If you don't make the goal, you get nothing. In my case, my deadline is October 14, so there are 21 days to raise the money. Also, people get gifts to thank them for pitching in.

It's not very often you get to help out on something this cool.

Hanging On...

The post on ways to hang pictures generated a lot of comments -- many people pointed out ways to upgrade the "pants hanger" -- darker wood, painting the metal, adding metal decorations to the wood, etc. The best idea, however, came from an email from Jen, who suggested using Victorian spring clips. You can see what they are and how Jen uses them above.


You can buy them at Lee Valley Hardware, where they come in 2 different styles. The drilled hole in the back lets you hang them on a nail.


Victorian Spring Clip. 4" long overall and 2-1/2" wide at the tip, it weighs about 7 oz. They are $6.20 for one, $4.49 if you buy 6 or more.



Cast Steel Spring Clip. The cast steel is a bit bigger at 4-1/4" long overall and 2-1/2" wide at the tip, it weighs about 6 oz. $8.80 for one, $7.10 for 6 or more.

For my purposes I think two at the corners of a large print (and perhaps two more at the bottom? I think I'll have to experiment...) would be as cheap as a poster frame, and walk the casual vs Victorian style line that I want my office to have.

Waiting for the leaves to fall

It’s quite a task to prepare for Autumn in 90 degree weather.  So while I’m waiting for the leaves to fall, these inspired ideas help hold me over…

image courtesy BHG.com

I love the mixture of colors and layered textures in this votive jar.  If only it was hanging from a jute ribbon, it might even be better. 

image courtesy BHG.com

I absolutely adore this idea of a baby tree in a burlap sack.  Could it get any sweeter?  I wouldn’t change a thing. 

image courtesy here

A pumpkin vase.  Now why hadn’t I ever thought of it?  Am I the only one?

image courtesy here

And you know cooking’s not my thing, but how could I resist baking itty bitty acorn cakes?  I could not. 

image courtesy here

This is a great idea for a little snack buffet… using a  family of gourds as serving bowls.   Wouldn’t it be even cuter to fill them with different nuts? 

image courtesy here

And last but not least is my favorite of all… a simple display of pale pumpkins with brown thistles and pinecones.  The subdued always seems to win out with me.  (if you haven’t noticed;)