It's getting spooky in here!

[GreyDrakkon]

I'm originally from New England so Halloween is a big thing for me, I'm absolutely baffled by the lack of engagement in the Midwest about it, except that autumn here is absolutely pathetic. (If you're lucky you get a week of somewhat nice leaves, then a wind storm comes along and rips them all off and then it's dreary until spring) Still, I can't help myself, so I decorate the shop's windows with Halloween stuff. I've found some antique prints that are pretty fun, the first one is from some kind of short story about children chasing a bagpiper Scot with turnip jack o' lanterns (they were what was used before pumpkins) which I just find hysterical. The second piece is a musical booklet from some show, unfortunately the music itself is for a song called "When the Cows Come Home" but the cover art is wonderful.

 

[Ylva]

They're both awesome!
I didn't realize that the Midwest wasn't so much into it. It is such a big thing here indeed. We loved when the kids were little and usually went somewhere where whole streest were decorated. There is one particular street in a city nearby that is known for Halloween (and no, it is not Salem) and the whole neighborhood plans a year in advance. It is absolutely wonderful and magical and creepy

 

[GreyDrakkon]

Kinda excited about the next one. Despite being a framer for years and years, I have very little actually hanging in my home. I decided to change that! Starting with this piece that caught my eye...
(I'll update when it's done)

 

[Nikodeumus]

....children chasing a bagpiper Scot with turnip jack o' lanterns (they were what was used before pumpkins) which I just find hysterical.

He must have tried to play them a tune on his pipes.
https://i.gifer.com/6qfo.gif

 

[Nikodeumus]

Kinda excited about the next one. Despite being a framer for years and years, I have very little actually hanging in my home. I decided to change that! Starting with this piece that caught my eye... View attachment 35575
(I'll update when it's done)

creepy

 

[Larry Peterson]

When I was a wee young lad, we did Halloween big in the Chicago Burbs. A company I worked for exiled me from their corporate headquarters in Chicago to Fort Dodge Iowa for 3 years. I seem to recall both the kiddies and the alcohol fueled adults having a good time. Of course in Fort Dodge Iowa any excuse for a good time is a good excuse for good time.

 

[artfolio]

Here in Australia it is pretty well ignored, mainly, I suspect, because the times when kids could safely go out doorknocking strangers ended a long time ago.

 

[alacrity8]

In the states, now, the kids are usually accompanied by an adult on their rounds in the daylight.
I do not understand.

 

[Nikodeumus]

Oh, boy I grew up in a pretty safe place.
A gang of 6+ kids ages from 5 to young teens would scour the neighborhood as far as we could walk in every direction.
There were kids EVERYWHERE in costumes.
If the weather was bad, then Mom would drive us to a more populated area so we could fill our bags and she could take us home when we got soaked by rain or snow.
NOTHING gets in my way when CANDY is involved!

The grade school was decorated and there were games and costumes.
Giant pumpkins and hay bale or corn mazes at the local farms.
It was so much fun!

Where I live now, there are barely a handful of kids showing up on Halloween night.

I don't have goblins er..children of my own, so don't know what it's like nowadays.

For a while about 10 years ago and more, I was really into carving pumpkins.
I got pretty good at it.
If I can dig up some old photos I'll post them.

 

[GreyDrakkon]

Going to see if this works, I made a gif of the different layers going onto the piece, thought it turned out pretty good. I'm leaving it attached since the animation can be irritating to see constantly going.

So many layers! I'm really pleased that I found a mat that matches the inside of the diner so well, and the pinstripe running along the ceiling is matched perfectly by a few strands of brassy looking thread sewn onto it (I can't believe I hadn't thought of doing that ages ago instead of painting a line, but it took seeing it in a framing magazine to get me to realize it could be done). Then a fillet on the inside of an oil rubbed bronze mat, a small pewter/silver frame on the inside of a Larson-Juhl we had left over from a customer's order, there were some flaws in it which I happily incorporated into the piece.

 

[Nikodeumus]

That looks fantastic!

The thread technique is interesting. How do you keep it in place?
It's hard to see but looks like small holes in the corners where the threads meet.

I really like the frame styling, works well with the 1950's diner theme of the artwork.

That gif is cool too.

 

[GreyDrakkon]

The thread technique is interesting. How do you keep it in place?
It's hard to see but looks like small holes in the corners where the threads meet.

Yep, the thread is kept in place with four small holes, and you basically sew them into place by going over/under until you've gone all the way around, then tie it off in the back. If it's a giant piece, I'd do one loop per a side just to keep the thread from tangling. Once it's in place, I go on the back side and shove the punctured mat with a bone folder to press it back out which minimizes the holes. I really love this technique because the thread lays on top of the mat, which means the texture of the mat doesn't matter nearly as much as when you're attempting to get a straight looking line on a lumpy surface. Plus there's no worry about spattering the mat!

 

[Ylva]

That looks awesome! I did read about the thread technique, will have to try that for myself some day.