Recently, while visiting with family in Hoboken, NJ , we attended an illuminated, carved pumpkin festival. Located in the lower Hudson Valley, near Sleepy Hollow of headless horseman fame, The Great Jack o’ Lantern Blaze is a magical, immersive experience.
Since 2005, the walk-through experience has drawn more than 2 million visitors. Lighting up the night are thousands of ornately-carved, glowing pumpkins, in elaborate displays and massive light sculptures.
Today, the spooktacular event is held at two different location; both National Historic Landmarks. We visited the site at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, north of NYC. A second site is at Old Bethpage Restoration Village on Long Island.
Featured in the fun fall festival are larger-than-life installations, synchronized lighting, and an original soundtrack of appropriately spooky music. It’s a family-friendly experience for kids of all ages, and is both stroller and handicap accessible.
Join me on a virtual walk through. Think of it as a Halloween card from me to you — boo!
I’ve conjured up a Halloween centerpiece replicating a witch’s collection of oddities for casting spells, hexes and curses.
It’s one of 21 seasonal settings included in this year’s Halloween Tablescape Hop hosted by my blogger friend, Rita of Panoply.
To set the tablescape scene, I’ve styled four theme elements; a spellbound Halloween centerpiece, place settings with holiday tableware, black napkins folded into the shape of a witch’s hat, and the chandelier decorated as an enchanted owl nest.
Most of the Halloween decor pieces — and all of the tableware —came out of attic, basement and kitchen cabinet storage. Additionally, I spent under $16 in total at Michaels and Dollar Tree for a few items to fill in the Halloween centerpiece and embellish the light fixture.
Creating the witch’s vignette was lots of fun, but time consuming! It took awhile (and many trips up and down the stairs) to gather everything together. Then I arranged and rearranged until styling the centerpiece into the finished look I envisioned. Join me for a spell!
Welcome my pretties to the annual Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop. This year I’ve gone completely batty, with a playful purple Halloween table, centerpiece and decorated chandelier overhead!
Hosted by my blogger buddy Rita of Panoply, 19 table stylists have conjured up lots of fun to frightening settings to inspire and delight. See links to each at the end of this post.
Because I already have two sets of Halloween plates, I’m loath to purchase and then find space to store new tableware. What to do?
Last year’s Gothic Glam Table & Skeleton Napkin Fold is one of my all-time favorite tablescapes — regardless of holiday, season or occasion. For that elegant setting, I didn’t use any Halloween tableware. Instead, I pulled out my best china, crystal and sterling. A Silly Skeleton — resplendent in pearls and rhinestones — sat in my ornate silver punchbowl, right in the middle of the table!
How do I top that?
Let’s see, I’ve already done a witch, ghost, mummy, and two skeleton tables. Hmmm! In the end, a bat-shape napkin fold provided the spark I needed to style this year’s Halloween scene.
To welcome the spooky season, I’m sharing how I made a set of painted Halloween glasses over the weekend. They’ll serve as guest favors for an upcoming dinner party on the Gone Batty: Black, White & Purple Halloween Table.
And, they’ll be featured in the annual Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop. It’s my fifth year participating. So, styling a table that wasn’t repetitive of what I’ve already done was challenging.
Usually, I alternate between two different sets of Halloween theme plates. Last year, however, my wedding china, and heirloom crystal and sterling were used for the Halloween Gothic Glam Table & Skeleton Napkin Fold. It’s one of my all-time favorite tablescapes!
This year, I’ll be pulling the Wiccan Lace plates once again. But, to mix things up a bit, I’ve decided to incorporate purple into a Halloween table setting and created a marbled pumpkin centerpiece.
Since I don’t own any Halloween specific stemware, I’ve also transformed smoky black, Dollar Tree stems into painted Halloween glasses. Come see how!
It was part of the Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop, an annual spooktacular event.
As I was styling and photographing the table setting over several days, Stella continued her antics! It was like a skeleton version of Elf on a Shelf lol.
Every time I returned to the dining room, the silly skeleton had struck a new pose! She’s such a diva! So, I thought I’d tickle your funny bone by sharing the photos I captured.
Think of it as a Happy Halloween card from me to you — boo!
For Halloween this year, I’ve created a gothic glam table full of posh and otherworldly details.
Styled as an elegant dinner party for six, the dramatic black and white tablescape is set with fine china, crystal and silver.
But, it’s the table length centerpiece that creates the spine-tingling atmosphere. Meet a diva skeleton who literally crashed the Halloween party, landing in my punchbowl!
To tie in with the skeleton soiree theme, I’ve also adapted an easy napkin fold to resemble a skeleton-mummy.
I always look forward to participating in the annual Halloween Tablescape Hop! Hosted by Chloe of Celebrate & Decorate, 14 blogger stylists have conjured up seasonal settings. If you’ve just come from Rita’s wonderous Hallows Evening, pull up a chair and have a seat at my gothic glam table!
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Hi! I'm Debbee, a maker of all manner of things, who likes to incorporate themes into craft projects, holiday and seasonal decor, table settings, and parties. My friends call me, the Queen of Theme lol!
Home is the suburbs of Pittsburgh, but I also enjoy exploring the world with my husband. We raised two wonderful sons and are now early retirees.
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