Halloween 2026

Since this blog is for documenting life- 

a  snapshot of family Halloween across the miles.

Straight out of Harry Potter is the Wilson family this year.

                       For the Meirs we have some Packer fans,

 a Twins guy and all guarded by Spiderman.

                                    Some fun decorations 

and a very sick pumpkin for the Michigan crew.

A taco guy and a hamburger guy.

A bat girl and a cowgirl round out 

the bunch in Minnesota.

                               Looks like they had fun raiding 

the dressup bins in the basement!

Always thankful for fun and safe night

 of trick or treating in the neighborhood.

Vintage postcards are a favorite 

and little cute spoolies.

Some vintage images from 80 year old Ideals magazine.

Some bat things finish the canvas for the Schu family.

More vintage Halloween  on this canvas for the Meiers.

The pumpkin families out trick and treating for the evening.

Spiderweb old paper with spiderweb rosette-

 with BIG spiders for the Wilsons.

Just a bit of fun creating with love 

for some special families.

A Mighty Fortress- Vintage Paper Punch

 

Strolling through a vintage market in 

Simpsonville, South Carolina 

catnip antiques

this week I came across an unexpected find.

Hung high up on a wall with so many things in front,

 I could hardly get a close up look.

A helper pulled it down off the wall.

Stitching on punched paper.

This paper was an affordable "fabric" option for Victorian times.

In mid to late 1800's these projects were

 very popular in England, Europe and the United States.

Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott

eine gute Wehr und Wassen.

German for the opening line of Martin Luther's hymn-

 A Mighty Fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon.

And three days until Reformation 2026.

A celluloid image of Martin Luther in the center.

Celluloid was used in decorative sewing crafts 

as it could be created to look like ivory,

 tortoiseshell or mother-of-pearl.

It was a popular mixed media element from 

Victorian times to the early 1900's.

The fern and small flower are disintegrating with age,

 but very typical of German religious art.

Probably to remove the ferns 

changes the value of the work.

Words are outlined and highlighted with gold thread.

The stitching used fine silk, wool, (called Berlin Work)

or metallic gold or silver threads 

for highlights, borders and script.

That is evident on this piece.

The frame is 16 by 20 inches 

and a bit brighter gold than my usual preference.

But the leaf relief is pretty on the frame.

So on Reformation Day- a place of honor in our house.

Pretty cool for a piece of late nineteenth century art.

Always fun to find the unusual on the vintage trail.

Late October Musings

 Love the hydrangea in late fall.

Little pumpkins and blue vases.

Torn edge velvet ribbon.

Pumpkin heads.

Silly grins.

Brown bottles.

Funky bird.

Feathers.

Little cutie spoolies.

Vintage postcard images.

Count your blessings.

Riding old crow.

Cement pumpkin.

Jar of felted acorns.

Grain scoop with candle.

Vintage leaf hankerchief.

A bit of October musings.

Worship into the Week- Reformation 2026

 

Revelation 14:6-7

To the glory of God we come 

to the Sunday of the Five Solas.

Scripture Alone.

Faith Alone.

Grace Alone.

Christ Alone.

To the Glory of God Alone.

That takes me out of the equation to bring anything

 to the table for my own salvation.

What a huge releif that Christ took it all, paid it all

 and extends that to me in His great invitation.

Every nation is invited.

Every tribe is included.

Every person is extended the gift.

We must simply clasp the hand reached out 

to us and abide in His Word.

Jesus is the center of Reformation.

Jesus is the truth and sets me free.

I am thankful for a rich heritage that sees 

this laid out as a gift that I don't deserve,

but blessed to participate in each day.

Lord, help me to ABIDE in you and your Word.

Supplies:

Visual Faith printable

worship-into-the-week-october-2026

Magazine cutouts

Colored pencils

Distress ink

Worship into the Week- There is No Other

Worship into the Week

Isaiah 45:1-7

In this passage God chooses an unlikely leader to help 

the exiled Israelites in Babylon. 

Cyrus the Great, is the pagan king of Persia.

 and a part of God's plan. 

He does not know or worship the God of Israel.

But, God can use anyone to accomplish His plan. 

God states here multiple times,

 "I am the LORD, 

there is no other God."

God raises up this leader, Cyrus, 

because the whole world will see He

 is the mighty one who reigns over everything. 

He is the God who created light

 and makes darkness.

The LORD sends good times and bad times.

He is the one who controls all history,

the whole universe and everything that happens in it.

Cyrus would be the deliverer 

and this points us to Jesus Christ.

 As the ultimate Anointed One,

He came to free the people, 

to break the chains of the yoke of sin.

The Lord that makes this master plan, 

calls you by name. 

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

worship-into-the-week-october-2026

Magazine cutouts 

Tag with ribbon

Colored pencils

Postage stamp

 

 

Worship into the Week- Be Glad and Rejoice

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 25:6-9  Be Glad and Rejoice

There is a lavish banquet of rich food and 

aged wine that has been prepared 

by the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

The setting is Mount Zion and it is for

"all peoples." This is a joyous event and symbolizes 

covenant relationship and restoration.

God will destroy the "cloud of gloom" and

"shadow of death" as He "swallows up death forever."

God comforts the people and removes

 the disgrace of insults and mocking.

The response is overwhelming as the people

 trust God and their salvation.

Their waiting on God through suffering is finally

revised with the promise that God will permanently

undo their sorrow.

We see this passage as a prophecy

 of the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

and the final defeat of death.

So, let us be glad and rejoice!

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

worship-into-the-week-october-2026

Magazine Cutouts

Distress Ink

Colored Pencils

Gold pen

Worship into the Week- The LORD's Vineyard

 

Worship into the Week-

 Isaiah 5:1-7- 

A song about the LORD's vineyard.

This parable is a love song where God is the landowner and 

the people of Israel- Judah are the vineyard.

Preparations are made and tending is done by God 

who takes care of things with love and care.

Rocks are dug up, planting happens with the best vines.

 There is even a watchtower and winepress built.

Even with all of this care and the best of everything,

the vineyard fails.  

There are stinking grapes and not a sweet harvest.

God asks- "What more could I have done?"

He proclaims that He has done it all 

and now will remove hedges,

trample down walls and let it be overgrown.

 He will let the divine protection go away.

God expected to see justice and found oppresion.

God expected to find righteousness and got violence.

Certainly harsh judgment here,

 but God has the best intent for His people.

There is the good news promised 

in His Word of restoration coming.

We must always look to the light and hope

 even on really hard days.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

worship-into-the-week-october-2026

Magazine cutouts

Gel pens

Business envelope doodad

Vintage stamp

Colored pencils