A perched raven on spooky branches is an iconic Gothic and Halloween symbol, representing everything from death, a bad omen, or a complete void, to being as fulfilling as defining solar elements and used as prophetic messengers.
Ravens are a magnificently curious and mischievous creature that boasts rich, dark plumage and black eyes that plunge through the deepest layer of your soul to easily capture true intentions…
Over the past several years, I have scribbled out/shredded/deleted hundreds of handcrafted raven reflections, attempting not to incorporate these dark feathered shadowy images in the traditional “birds perched on branches” or “stuck in a cage” style, while instead trying to devise an additional tier of emotional perceptions complicating where they are located, and why they exist there. These raven silhouette forms are enhanced with gradual depth and textures in the background to offer an eerie appearance at night, yet shifts through moods depending on the time of day, lighting involved, and additional visual surroundings.
They are meant to be included as part of my Gothic Haunted Forest Bedroom Theme, however, we placed them in the living room in frames first, and now no one wants to take them down… So here’s one of my natural spooky Halloween displays this year with ravens, black floral features, pumpkins, branches, feathers, and potions, on an amber and golden leaves setting:
The raven art is completely reversible, and one forward and one reversed image must be purchased to get the same look as featured above: Raven Posters.
Of course, there was a little additional WebSpinstress Halloween humor hiding in that display, just in case you happened to miss it…
Here’s a very close look at my dancing skull specimen creature – who is handcrafted with love from the finest materials available – the skull shifter knob from my dearly missed 3000 GT, a small driftwood piece from one of our many visits to various Boston coastline hideouts this Summer, and one of the very few leaves we collected that is fully preserved from the nasty Fall fungus this year.
What a special little guy he is! 
The mini wrought iron tree I mentioned in an earlier post was highly regarded as a unique and functional display for the holidays. I was finally able to display some of my most treasured wine Christmas ornaments this year, as they were safely guarded upon a tabletop (both high enough above the reach of wee little grabby hands, and sturdy enough to withstand the impact of kitty claws).
My tree arrived quickly from CSN with reasonable processing time, was neatly packaged as individually wrapped sections divided by “branch” size, and I easily had it standing tall in all of about 10 minutes. The one-page printed instructions had little to be desired, however I’ll take a good product that’s self-explanatory and properly designed over a manual that requires a cipher and key, any day.
Immediately after initial set-up, I couldn’t resist hanging a few decorations on the swirled branches. Most of my ornaments are rather heavy and awkwardly shaped, but there was never a question as to whether the iron would hold them securely.
I would say this tree’s best assets are the strength of the branches, especially compared to a normal tabletop fake evergreen tree, and the numerous places to hang ornaments. Not only were there too many branches for me to fill, there were also openings along the stem that allow for the placement of floral picks as additional decorations if you prefer a more plentiful tree. As also a modern design, the less is more approach can also be easily fulfilled.
In this alternative theme, I layered bird ornaments, berry picks, and various glass balls in light olive, lilac, and vintage champagne hues to give you an idea of how elegant this tree can look, no matter how you choose to complete it. This wrought iron tree will definitely be a main feature in my home – soon to showcase my Halloween tree ornaments.
In the meantime, I just can’t seem to pull it apart and pack it away. What a great place to store mini photos and cards throughout the year, hang cookies during the next event, or maybe even a very functional help-yourself display for serving party favors.
Sadly, CSN no longer has the black 3.5 ft version available (since recommending it as an intriguing option for holiday tabletop displays in my previous post), however there’s still time to pick up this silver tree or a full black iron 7-footer if you are daring enough…
Orchestrating an enchanting merry display with small children in the home can be challenging, especially when the holidays are plated with breakable glassware, massive poofs of glitter specks, and served with delicate ornaments that adorn a tree full of prickly pine or plastic inedibles.
I’ve devised a plan this year to attack with as many maniacal measures as necessary to define separate spaces – luring my little monsters into tightly-packed corners of whimsical Christmas pleasures stacked high with snowman, cookies, gumdrops, and sugar plum fairies for their devious eyes to plunder. While diverted, my own fragile reserve of locked-up wondrous treasures will safely parade around the tabletops and adorn the lonely walls who have been longing to be decked for many cold and snowy seasons past.
Incredibly, CSN joined in my quest, bestowing upon me a gift in return for a review of a product from one of their 200+ stores (where you can find everything from a new stool for your kitchen to a bar with built-in wine cabinet to hold your Christmas wine collection). Without hesitation, I returned a link to a wrought iron tree with solid lines and intricate swirls (just like so many of my secret wrought iron-filled desires). Perfect for a tabletop themed Christmas tree, my miniature wine ornaments have been corked up for too long, ready to spill over…and what used to be grape clusters have probably fermented.
This 3.5′ wrought iron tree will complement a warm wine-themed Christmas tree perfectly, without the ornaments having to overpower branches full of needles and twinkling lights. It can be placed on a covered side table for added height, or used as a main feature for a centerpiece on the dining room table with candles and garland as accents. Simple, elegant trees like this one are useful for hanging ornaments, but also family photos, Christmas cards, favor boxes, and even ribbon-strung gingerbread cookies.
I will be using this as a Halloween tree indefinitely, just as soon as it is shipped and I test it out with the Christmas ornament collection first. I’ll be updating with a review of this product in a few weeks, but don’t hold off too long on this one! The full-size 7′ versions are already sold out for the season…and of course, here’s a little inspiration for a wine-themed Christmas tree, while we’re all waiting: Elegant Wine Christmas Tree Theme
My masquerade pumpkin invitation cards have been popular on Zazzle for a little while, most appropriately used for Gothic weddings and Halloween parties. This year, I decided to make the real-life versions by hand-stitching them in Venetian style with elegant black cording and beautiful rich textured fabrics. I’m holding one in my avatar…after almost 15 hours of hand-stitching and yelling obscenities at these things in standard New England tradition. lol
My piratey renaissance neighbor and friend, Faustus, from FriedMush received his skull pumpkin version today and loved it. You can order them directly on my website here: Gothic Masquerade Pumpkins or on my WebSpinstress Etsy Store. I decided to give Etsy a try for quick listings for my blog – we’ll see how it goes. Grab them quick if you’re interested – I only have a few days to ship them in time for Halloween. I’ll have them listed all year round though for Gothic and masquerade themed wedding decorations. These are the darkest, most elegant pumpkins available and you won’t be disappointed!
A Dark and Dreary Halloween Arrangement
Midnight Dreary is the first Gothic Halloween arrangement I have created this year, to begin my soon to be over-crowding series of spooky adornments.
Ravens and silk black roses surround an elegant “Boo” word statue with silver skulls, LED pillar candles, and a tall candelabra. This arrangement is set up alter-style, to be placed on top of a bookcase or on a thin side table.
At night, the LED candles flicker in dark orange hues, dancing around the figures and casting shadows on the wall. For added ambiance, I have an additional set of orange Halloween lights set in front of the arrangement.
Black LED pillars are available HERE for only $5.99 to $9.99 and are definitely my favorite find so far…
Fall is creeping closer!
Several of our leaves in New England are turning their fiery shades of orange and red, to welcome the cooler days and prepare for the night of the dead…
It’s almost time to decorate your table with festive Fall and Halloween centerpieces. Will you go traditional or spooky it up a little this year?
Here’s 2024 possible centerpiece ideas and a few tutorials to get you started:
These apothecary jars filled with black and white Halloween candy create a very unique and elegant display. The full Halloween display is very simple, elegant, and inspiring:
The photos are from last year’s Pottery Barn Halloween selection, but there are apothecary jars available at many retailers online. I have several listed here for specimen jars, candy displays, and centerpieces along with other glass bottle uses for Halloween: Apothecary Jars
