So this year marks my fifth time doing Horrorfest. Since it is such a huge marker I wanted to do something different.
Do tell…
The past four years I have started off Horrorfest with a classic Horror film, working from the 1960s, Carnival of Souls,to the 1930s, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I thought about doing something from the 1920s, or 70s, or starting back in the 1960s; but none of those seemed right.
I want this year’s Horrorfest to be different. Unexpected. Unusual.
But full of:
So what will we cover?
Hmm…
Let’s see we have Alfred Hitchcock, ghosts, kids with powers beyond their control, murderers, psychopaths, radioactive creatures, robots, serial killers, and more.
So I love horror films and every October I try and do 31 posts on films, TV shows, songs, ideas, that all revolve around:
As I am gearing up for Horrorfest V, I may be posting a little haphazardly the rest of of September. Just wanted to warn you guys as I try my best to make this year’s Horrorfest: unusual, different, and unpredictable.
I’m so excited! I just can’t wait!
So stay tuned! So far I have ghosts, psycho killers, mutated creatures, comedy, noir, science fiction; and who knows what else is next to come!
He was such a big part of my childhood. I mean…how do I explain?
I mean Matilda was the anthem for kids everywhere who loved to read a lot, and were misunderstood by others
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Then there was the wonderful magic and adventure of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. I mean who didn’t want to visit Wonka’s and get a glimpse at all the wonder inside?
And you might think it weird that I did a pic from the film, but Roald Dahl actually wrote the script for most of it. The parts were rewritten later as the director thought that it was too much like the book, but the heart of the piece is him.
The sequel, Charlie & the Great Glass Elevator wasn’t as good as The Chocolate Factory, but still extremely fun. They go into outer space, save astronauts, and have to fight Vermicious Knids.
The B.F.G. was such a great book about finding a family, as orphan and outcast Sophie finds a kindred soul in the runt of the litter and always picked on, B.F.G. (Big Friendly Giant).
In James & the Giant Peach; dreamer James finds himself the owner of a gigantic peach and sets off to New York City with a crew of insects that range from a spider, to a grasshopper, to a centipede, and more. They have to fight countless obstacles and outwit his cruel aunts.
In Fantastic Mr. Fox, a hardworking father tries to care for his family and the forest creatures; all the while trying to outwit the farmers of their wares.
Sometimes he’s “got this” and other times he really doesn’t.
In George’s Marvelous Medicine, George is constantly tired of his grandmother’s abusive remarks. So he cooks her up a “special medicine” to release his anger, one that she actually drinks! It causes her to grow 20 times her size! Will George be able to change her back? And will he be able to remake the recipe to be sold?
Boy: Tales of Childhood is a memoir and a great read. Dahl sure was a little scallion when he was growing up. These tales are extremely entertaining, especially the rat story.
Happy Birthday Dahl and thank you for all the wonderful memories and moments you gave me.
Such an amazing imagination was an inspiration to us all.
So a while back we had a tea party at our church for an event.
Different people were given a table, in which we could make our theme whatever we wanted. I was given a table and my theme was books! After all:
Anyways, I just realized I forgot to post the pics from it. So I thought I would now.
My centerpiece was a collection of nice hardcover classics stacked on top of each other, with a hollowed book on top that a tree branch came out of. Clipped to the tree was tea bags for each person to choose from.
I then chose six of my favorite classic books in which the characters have tea time or talk about tea. With each table setting I tried to embody the book.
Setting 1: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, 1814
So for the first setting I made sure to pair it with a very simple cup, as Fanny is not only a poorer relation, but she is a girl who likes simple things over the grandiose and showy. I laid out a copy of the book cover in front of the table setting, and then had this quote on the table.
Then the cutlery:
I put a white bow because Fanny would be the type to have a simple adornment like that, instead of extensive work on her dress.
I also added the gold cross as that is a huge part of the scheming by Maria Crawford to get Henry and Fanny matched up. When Fanny asks to borrow a chain for the gold cross her brother gave her, Maria sneakily gives her one that Henry gave her; so when Henry sees it he thinks that Fanny has decided to embrace his attentions, (i.e. gave him the green light).
The second setting I choose Emma. For this I had a gold and cream cup and saucer; the fanciest one I could find as Emma was rich and from an old family. She would have the finer things.
I laid out the book cover and this quote from the novel:
For Emma’s cutlery I wanted something a bit showier and fancier. I made a hair clip out of a red flower and gold fan charm. I thought this would encompass the character of Emma.
Setting 3: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, 1859
This was the table setting I choose for myself as I figured I would probably be the only one at the tea party who has read this book. And I was right. I don’t know why people don’t read Wilkie Collins anymore. This one of my favorite mysteries, as our main character comes upon a woman in white who holds a warning, leading him down a very twisted path. As the story continues, different characters become the voice of the book, until we reach the conclusion and discover who this woman in white is and what she is trying to stop.
I set up a copy of the book cover, and in front of it had my absolute favorite tea quote:
Seriously, if you aren’t here I am starting without you.
Anyways, the silverware:
This was the first one I put together going with a magnifying glass as this was a mystery, and adding a cameo afterwards. I thought it would be a great symbol of the time, along with the white silhouette of a women being reminiscent of the woman in white.
Setting 4: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, 1865
The fourth setting was an Alice in Wonderland theme. The cup I choose for this was one designed to be a rose, while the saucer a leaf. This was to symbolize the Garden that Alice has a not so fun time in.
I set up a copy of the book cover, and in front of it had this quote:
Then I designed the napkins thusly:
The watch of course for the White Rabbit who is always running late, and the creamer for the Mad Hatter and March Hare’s obsession with tea and their endless tea party.
For more on Alice in Wonderland, go to Disney Lesson
Second to last we had Peter Pan. The cup I choose for this one had strawberries on it, and I choose it because I thought it was something that Wendy would have liked.
I laid out the book cover and this quote:
For the setting I went with something a little more basic, a red feather. This feather was supposed to be the feather Peter wears in his hat.
Setting 6: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, 1950
For the last setting I went a little more modern than the others. This one’s tea cup had a winter scene as the world of Narnia is stuck in a cycle of :
“Always winter but never Christmas”
I laid the book cover and this quote:
This quote is from Mrs. Beaver, but for cutlery design I went with Mr. Tumnus and Lucy’s tea time. I had two tiny tea cups tied to symbolize their tea for two.
For more on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, go to Simply Fantastic
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