The Witches Gathered

In the best tradition of Morticia Addams and Samantha Stevens, Olive hosted a Halloween tea party yesterday! With plenty of cobwebs, torn drapery and apothecary nightmares, not to mention some truly terrifying treats, we think all the witches went home happy. And we hope you enjoy these pictures.

The Table is Set

A Bit of Brainy Decorating

Our friendly "pet" crow perches on a gilded mirror amongst cobwebs,
surveying the treats below.

Perhaps it's time to replace the curtains.

Let Them Eat...Halloween Cake!

With the twelve pumpkins she has to carve, the witches skirt to be made and the cupcakes to ice, Olive is thrilled to have a someone else do the blogging today, especially when it is Modern Marie! We love this modern-day Marie Antoniette's charming way of making everyday as "entertaining as possible." And how appropriate that she write today about cakes! While Olive tries to craft together a broomstick, let your taste-buds be tempted by her devilish baked delights.

I love Halloween and for the whole month of October on my blog, I make it quite obvious. I love carving pumpkins, dressing up, all the decorations, candy corn, and all the fun and freaky desserts that go along with it! Here are top 3 favorite Halloween inspired desserts that I have made:

The Spider Cake

I was inspired by the Rodarte FW08 collection. I love the vivid colors of red, black and white. Its chic and creepy. To make the spider webs, I melted chocolate, put it in a Ziploc back, snipped off the end and made spider webs onto wax paper. Before they dried, I sprinkled big clear crystals on them.

Breathe Me!

This cake was made after my spring dance concert in high school a few years ago when one of the songs was "Breathe Me" by Sia. I made this cake for the after party - because our dance to that song was VERY creepy - in an artsy kinda way. It’s disgusting yet sort of delicious looking at the same time. It could definitely attract flies. All you need to do is pour icing over cake and throw on come creepy crawler things and Oreo “dirt” and you’re good to go.

Pecan Pie Cake

For those who are too sophisticated for Halloween (you’re never too old!) and would rather just have a “fall themed” dessert, I suggest this delicious and festive cake. The recipe and instructions on how to make it can be found here.

The Ladies of Halloween

Have you enjoyed the lovely ladies who have been adding lots of vintage charm to Halloween at Olive Writes? You can see more of their spooky glamour here.

And now Olive is off to find a Betty Grable costume! Can you buy those legs?

Genuine Ghosts..

While researching today's post, Olive made the mistake of curling up by herself. On a rainy, dark night. Before bed. It has taken her five days to get up the courage to finish writing, which she has done through half-shut eyes, desperately trying not to look at the images!

So be warned! Should you care to believe, these spirits are of the genuine variety. Olive suggests you turn on all your lights and invite others near before you view...

Woman in a Graveyard

Taken at Bachelor's Grove Cemetery (so appropriate), this image shows a woman with suspiciously transparent legs and some rather outdated clothes.

The Hampton Court Ghost

Poor Jane Seymour. The third wife of King Henry VIII died in childbirth at Hampton Court, England and is said to haunt its "cobbled courtyards, carrying a candle."

The Brown Lady

This poor spirit, a Lady Townsend of Norfolk Hall, England, was supposedly locked up by her jealous husband after he suspected her of being unfaithful. The wretch even had the nerve to fake her death and funeral! Now she haunts Raynham Hall in all her unearthly glory.

Need more thrills? There are lots of spine-chilling snaps here. Olive has looked at them all, much to her regret.

Click each image for attribute.

It's Creeping Closer

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
- Macbeth

The witch's are afoot; All Hallow's Eve is drawing nigh!
And so this week we look forward to:
Genuine spooks..... Costumes to dazzle, fright and horror... A very special guest and her favourite Halloween treats...

Drop by and say 'boo'!

Image: The Retroist

To Do: Halloween Decorating

Put the duster down! This is the weekend when you need those cobwebs! Some leaves blown across the sidewalk won't hurt either. And if you want to help nature with the Halloween decorating, try...

Gholishly Gangly Silhouettes
(Olive traced the templates onto black cardboard, snipped, and taped -
so much easier, Martha dear),

Great Aunt Francis' Old Lace Curtains, Revised.
(cheesecloth, black tea, spray bottle, tear, done).

What Cabbage Should Only Be Used For
(cabbage + green food colouring = the heart of a Victorian apothecary)

All images from Martha Stewart, but don't let that scare you; Olive managed to mangle through and create them all. Indulge in more Haunted House Party perfection here.

Be Wary...

Olive does not want to scare you, but there are so many things to worry about on October 31st! Ghosts around the corner, witches in the air, a demon in the closet and werewolves at your hair!
We advise you to take these precautions...

Ghosts don't cast a shadow and leave no footprints on the ground
But throw a key at its heart and it will ne'er be found.

Did the key miss it's mark?
Look out! That candle flaming blue means a ghosty is about!

If pale, cool skin and reddish eyes are not your cup of tea,
wear garlic 'round your neck and, please, leave my Edward be!

And should a furry, growling wolf cross your path at night
Be warned! Only a bullet, silver hued, will snuff its haunted life.

Warnings found here.  Click each image for attribute.

Pass the Popcorn

Olive does not want to be pecked by The Birds, haunted by an Alien, or out-psyched by a Psycho. She desires an entirely gentler kind of scare. Yes, something with a bite of boo, but not enough to keep her out of the shower the next morning. If you want the same kind of post-treating fare, try these classics...

Don Knotts is at his rubbery, bumbling best in this sweetly Technicolor tale of a most-eerie mansion, still in good use in Desperate Housewives.

The most dapper of haunted pictures, Arsenic and Old Lace makes you look twice at that sweet old lady down the street... and at Cary Grant! The zany dialogue and the frenetic pace of its leads makes it watchable anytime of the year, too.

Now here's a ghost you hope will waft past you! Rex Harrison is a salty sea captain who turns up to lovingly haunt Gene Tierney's beautiful young widow. Palpable chemistry between the leads is all the suspense you need to keep watching.

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Boo!

Halloween is the most forgiving of the holidays, isn't it? You need not obsess over gifts; if your outfit is a little torn, a little scandalous, even downright hideous, no one will raise an eyebrow; even the house can be left a little dusty! This is Olive's kind of holiday. Such a day deserves a week of hallowed devotion. And so, let the ghosts and ghouls emerge! For darling's, it's Halloween week at Olive Writes.

At last, we launch.

Regular Readers & Various Visitors:

After a summer hiatus, Olive Writes has at last launched officially! What can you look forward to? Try...

Objects that stir and awaken inner lives... Field trips... Delights only the darker months can offer... But mostly... charm, beauty, taste and exquisiteness.

Should this be to your liking, hop aboard!

PS. This week... We haunt for hair-raising Halloween thrills!

Soon now...

... The gate will open and so will we.

Source: Rodney Smith