Ghosts Are For Life, Not Just For Hallowe'en

When she saw that I was working on a ghostie chain my mum replied "I see you're getting ready for Hallowe'en early...". There are several reasons for this. Firstly, since doing this blog I've realised that I have rather neglected the 'witchier kitschier' side of my creations. Secondly, it is my firm belief that ghosts are not just for Hallowe'en!
Every autumn when those crisp October evenings are drawing in, and I'm pulling out the skeletons from the Hallowe'en drawer, I think to myself that I should not neglect such a fun holiday all the other eleven months of the year.
There is something about Hallowe'en which lends itself to the ghoulish, yes, but those characters are mischievous and as we all know, the mysterious and the mischievous are what make life fun! That is why you will often see my spooky designs with chirpy faces, or in bright and bold colours, because this is a time of year when our homes and clothes should reflect the childish joy that exists in all of us (even if we haven't seen it for a while)!
I've taken to making 'chains' lately because they are simple to do and can spruce up a bland wall or make a room look inviting. This ghostie chain probably only took me about 10 hours in total and as you can see I've used many of my favourite materials! That is: felt, star sequins and metallic thread. I don't often use white or pale colours so it's refreshing to have this hanging up in my room at present as it brings its own character and enables the other colours which I have used to come into their own. You can see if you look closely that I have used different coloured stars for each ghost and matched it up with the same colour thread, which lends itself to the simply stitched smiles and each ghost's outline. I have also created two stars on the end, using yellow and purple felt, which is in part due to an oversight during the finishing off period, but that in hindsight gives the chain that extra bit of uniqueness. Into the stars I've fixed some pink, gold and purple metallic cord from which the ghosts hang and which I feel helps to emphasise the colours of the faces amidst the pale, white bulk of the item.
Adding some sparkle and colour gives this decoration a childish loveliness which is what the holiday is all about. However, I think it's this touch of mystery which makes us so much more able to appreciate the finer things in life and deal with the negative when it crosses our path. Therefore, I hope to make more of these over the coming months and hope they will find a place in your home or heart and enable you to celebrate ghosts all year round!