All Hallows Eve

Riding Around I saw a few places with decor. Some find it offensive and some don't. There's always something that offends someone. You can't please everybody and you can go crazy trying.
Just a few pictures taken from the car.

See, nothing really scary.

COLLARD GREEN COOK OFF

This was my first time attending the collard green cook off. This is its eighth year of having this community event. 

"Urban Ministry is the inner city ministry of the United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Our mission is to serve poor and low-income persons in the Birmingham area with programs of compassion and wholeness."

Getting the preliminaries out of the way. House rules, restroom, registering, local neighborhood president.

It was an enjoyable event with vendors, AARP, children's activities, and a blues band that was fabulous.

Some of the vendors tents

Sassy Brown Band

I was under the impression that we would be voting on greens cooked by various cooks. Instead we were treated to a meal of cornbread, collards, a navy bean type soup, baked sweet potato, marinated cucumbers and fruit drink.  I only had greens and cucumbers and both were good. I could taste the freshness in both.

The weather cooperated with intermittent sweeps of sun and breezes.
THAT'S IT***

More Adult Coloring

Weather changes always do something to/for my psyche. After two weeks of decaf, I splurged and had a cup of Mickey D's coffee. I suppose the vacay from caffeine gave me a boost when I reentered it into my body. 

I took care of some errands and made my way back to the library in time for Adult Coloring which is one of the new stress relievers. They have a Keuring coffee machine along with snacks for participants. Two people were there when I arrived. One left, leaving just two of us. It was pleasant and of course I did avail myself of another cup of coffee. It would have been impolite not to accept. The remaining person said that she floats from library to library participating in the crafts that each has to offer. I may look into doing something like that during those weeks I have fewer plans.

Shortly after I began.

The end product.

That's It *  *  *

Seasonal decorative hanging pillows

I've done the decorative hanging  pillows before. I once had them in my now defunct Etsy shop.They can be hung on a knob, bed post, anywhere.

 

Having an inspirational or humorous reminder here and there can sometimes get me through the day.

I'm doing these for a charity that asked its volunteers to donate handmade items to go in their booth at the Christmas Village exhibit held here each year.

This also gives me the chance to use the fabric remnants I have that are to large to discard yet too small for larger projects.  Each of these pillows is about 8" x 8" (inches)

Off white broadcloth, gloves, water foam brush,  laser printed graphics mirror image, Mod Podge transfer medium. NOTE: The images must be mirrored and laser printed. Otherwise your text will be backwards. Non laser print and the colors will bleed.

I applied the transfer medium to the laser printed graphic, then turned it face down on the fabric and smoothed out any lumps. Though the medium  washes off with soap and water, I prefer not to have to scrub so I wear gloves. The hard part is waiting 24 hours for the process to dry and cure. If you remove it before that time your colors won't be as vivid.

These are the fabrics I plan to use. The back of each pillow will have a fabric that coordinates with the front. Not shown is the fiberfill used to stuff the pillows.

I used warm water in a spray bottle, spraying the square and wiping the paper from middle to edges. That's the discarded paper you see on the sides. NOTE:  I have found that it is better to use a clean soft cloth to wipe away the paper, using a clean section of cloth each time you go to a different area. Otherwise when you piece is dry it'll still look as if it needs to be wiped more.

The finished product
I did eight in all , two of each. No two are exactly alike.               

 

"I'll be as naughty as I want. I have my own credit cards."

 

"Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day."

"Many people look forward to the New Year to renew old habits."

Making charms for pillows.

"Many people look forward to the New Year to renew old habits."

"Love the giver more than the gift."

That's It ***