Hurricanes and Holidays

I guess you could say that my ambitious Halloween crafting plans were rained out. With subways underwater and buses out of commission, I had plenty of time to craft, but I didn't. The whipping winds really rattled me in a way I hadn't expected; the experience left me exhausted, and I spent most of the hurricane napping, when I thought I'd be whipped into a creative frenzy.

I did manage a few simple projects, like this drip pumpkin:

Just water down acrylic paint and pour over the stem. It leaves pretty streaks that remind me of abstract expressionist paintings. (Go ahead and channel your inner Pollock--it's not too late to decorate your gourds. These guys make great Thanksgiving centerpieces, too.)

I'd also hoped to take a class at St. Mark's in the Bowery to learn how to make calaveras de azucar, the sugar skulls that are ubiquitous around Day of the Dead. Since the Lower East Side is still in the dark, the events were cancelled, but I found this charmer in a bodega in my 'hood. Wishing you all a happy and safe beginning of November.