ARRRGGGHHHHH! Since I’m going to paint my ACE Tourer with a night-time ocean and slightly pirate theme, I decided to create a Halloween pirate outfit that could also be used in photos with the customized motorcycle… 

I learned how to “felt” a hat, which was a fun and slightly messy experience, since I used a mixture of white glue and water to stiffen the hat felt. It took days for the “bowl” of the hat to dry, but once it was dry, I was excited to sew the brim on the hat and finish shaping my tricorn hat.

I think it turned out pretty cool, especially after I added one of my great-grandmother’s ostrich plumes. I handpainted a plastic mug and mache’ treasure chest to look like wooden items. A little ebay shopping provided the sexy boots and ruffled blouse, and the longish gold brocade jacket was a Goodwill find (I turned in the lapels on the coat, and cut up the skirt to use for hat trim).

If you want to learn more about creating costumes, felting a hat, or read some pirate history, then check out Barnes and Noble for the 411!

Have a safe and fun Halloween! And don’t forget those who have passed on All Saint’s Day.

Until next time, stay creative!
Eclectic Dawn

One of the things I love about living at the edge of the woods is the abundance of wildlife. There is always something GOING ON out there!!

A few weeks ago, we had a praying mantis set up housekeeping at the peak of our screenhouse on the deck. It was a bit disconcerting to watch her head swivel around to follow my every move. I kept waiting for her to pounce on me. She certainly was an interesting creature to observe - perhaps she felt the same way about us.

Recently, when I let the dog out in the chilly night air for her last potty-break of the evening, I heard the squeal of a rabbit, followed shortly after by the hooting of the Great Horned Owl that lives in our woods. I’ve never seen him, but I hear him occasionally.

Imagine my surprise when I was heading out the driveway the next morning on my ACE Tourer, and the shadow of large wings overhead caught my attention. I glanced up to see the wings and tail of the the Great Horned landing in a tree overhead! I was grinning about my first sighting of the neighborhood owl, even if I didn’t get to see his face…

The deer are hanging around a lot, and last Tuesday afternoon there were 10 just outside our backyard fence. They went bounding into the woods when our dog ran down to the fenceline to bark at them. It is such a joy to see them when I’m on the deck…but not such a joy to see them on the road when I’m riding the motorcycle. Keep your eyes open, riders, for this is the season that they are EVERYWHERE!

It rained buckets most of last week, and it was pretty dismal, but we surely needed the rain. One cold and rainy day, Bella (our Min Pin), cornered something near the fenceline. I ran down to her, and was praying that she wasn’t arguing with a poisonous snake (yes, we’ve got Copperheads and Cottonmouths and Rattlers near the creek). I laughed when I saw that she was all excited about an Eastern Box Turtle. I got some neat photos and video of the turtle as she was making her way back to the woods. Enjoy!

There are more videos at http://www.eclecticdawnarts as well as lots of nature art. Till next time…peaceful journeys.
Eclectic Dawn