October 31st~Happy Halloween!

On Hallowe'en the thing you must do

Is pretend that nothing can frighten you

And if somethin' scares you and you want to run

Just let on like it's Hallowe'en fun.

~19th Century Halloween postcard

When witches go riding,

and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers,

‘tis near Halloween.

~Author Unknown

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Cookies

Looking for a quick treat this Halloween weekend that will give you a little more time to go haunting with your favorite goblins and ghouls? It doesn't get much more simple...or delicious...than these chocolate pumpkin cookies.

1 spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin

1 bag chocolate chips

Mix well. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.

Best enjoyed with a glass of ghost white milk.

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment we want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by soulemama

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Loving: The Secret Sisters

Isn't it wonderful to listen to new music and know as the first few lines make you smile, that you've found a whole new performer to love? Here at Hidden Sisters, we are loving The Secret Sisters. The first song from their new album, Tennessee Me is beautiful, and you can download a free mp3 here if you sign up for their newsletter.

More about these sisters:

Devouring: Orange and Balsamic Chicken

Finding delectable dinners that are easy, healthy and loved by little goblins as well as their grown-up ghouls can be as challenging as a corn maze some evenings. Here at Hidden Sisters, we were so delighted to come across this recipe that was promptly devoured.


Orange and Balsamic Chicken

6 organic chicken drumsticks
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3 Clementines, unpeeled and sliced
1 tbsp. butter

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet, add chicken and cook over medium high heat 8-10 minutes, turning twice. Drain fat from skillet and place in the oven to cook for about 30 minutes, or to 165 degrees with a meat thermometer. Remove from the oven.

Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Add vinegar and clementines to the pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 2-3 minutes. Add butter. When melted, add chicken and stir to coat.

(Adapted from Everyday Food, November, 2010, p. 19)

Fall Banner

What better way to celebrate fall than with a colorful banner that won't fade away like the autumn leaves?

We might just keep this banner up to make a simple transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving.

Supplies
raffia
fall scrapbook paper
craft store bird cutouts
letter print outs
black paint
scissors
glue

First, we printed out each letter from our computer using our favorite large font.
This could also be done using adhesive letters from the craft store.
Other sayings we can't wait to make include trick-or-treat, happy haunting, give thanks...the list is endless.

Next, we trimmed 4 pieces of scrapbook paper into triangles. 
Colorful fabric or even burlap could be used too.

After cutting out the letters we glued them onto each triangle.
We also used a hole punch to create 2 small holes at the top of each triangle.
Then we threaded the raffia through.

For a finishing touch we used these bird cutouts, purchased from the craft store, and painted them black.

 Happy fall.

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble

Here at Hidden Sisters when we stumbled upon Matthew Mead's free Halloween templates...we just couldn't resist mixing up a few potions of our own.

We cooked up plenty of night shade and dragon bone.

And we've been diligent about storing these as directed.

What potions have you mixed up this fall?

Hoo Goes There?

Fall is the perfect time for reflection.

The Hidden Sisters found this wise old owl gave us plenty to ponder.

owl cake ingredients

chocolate cake mix

chocolate icing

vanilla icing

Oreo cookies

shaved almonds

orange candies

First, start with a chocolate cake base. Coat in chocolate icing.

 


Next, create the basic shape of an owl with white icing in the center.

 


Then, begin adding the shaved almonds. Start from the outside and work your way in.

 


Finally, add the finishing details. We loved Oreo cookie and orange candy eyes and an almond nose.

 

What does fall have you reflecting upon?

Loving: All of My Days...

As we slowly relax into the cooler months, it's such a wonderful time to nurture ourselves, to love the things around us, and to realize all the immense beauty in the world...

Right now, at Hidden Sisters, we are loving...


All of My Days from Kate Swoboda on Vimeo.

A Little Inspiration

Maybe it's the change in season...the crisp fall air...the crunch of the leaves beneath our boots {sigh. fall boots...don't you just love fall boots?}. Whatever it is... something has stirred us. Something has left the Hidden Sisters feeling inspired.

Creating an inspiration board for our studio to harness this creativity seemed a natural next step.

First, we started with a fantastic 40% off frame from our local craft store.

Next, after a little sanding and priming, we smoothed over a few layers of thick white paint.

Finally, we replaced the glass with a sheet of magnetic galvanized steel purchased at our neighborhood hardware store.





At last, a place to house what inspires us... moves us and stirs us to create.
What inspires you?

October Eves

“Listen! The wind is rising,

and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,

now for October eves!”

~Humbert Wolfe

The Hidden Sisters sure love these crisp fall evenings.

What's your ideal October eve?

Pumpkin Pumpkin

Here at Hidden Sisters the sweaters have been pulled out, the fall boots pulled on...why not dress up your pumpkins for fall too?

These decoupaged pumpkins are simple and sweet to make.

 

Here's how:

1. At your nearest craft store pick up your favorite variety of faux pumpkins...be sure to mix it up with white, beige, and classic orange

2. Remember that great fabric you found last year that you've been saving for...you don't know quite what? Now's the time to pull it out.

3. Cut your fabric into leaf shaped pieces. We fancied 15-20 leaves per pumpkin

4. Apply decoupage glue over a medium sized surface of the pumpkin.

5. Press each leaf against the glued surface. Then apply another layer on top of the fabric. Have no fear, it will dry clear.

6. Continue to apply glue and leaves around the surface of the pumpkin. Add embelishments (faux leaves, ribbon, etc.) if you like...we did.

7. Dry overnight...and enjoy.



Pretty pumpkin.

What's your favorite way to dress up your pumpkins?

Trick or Treat

It's hard to resist indulging in the sweet treats of the season.

These carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting seem to do the trick.




 



Yum. What's your favorite fall treat?
Find this recipe here.