Harry - I Mean Happy Halloween!

Greetings Wizards & Witches and Muggles and Squibs!

Halloween, it's finally here! Too bad it's on a Monday, but I digress... So! I'm excited to show you guys my final Halloween post, I think I've saved the best for last and I hope you like it too.

What I wanted to share with you guys today is a little interior Halloween decor, more specifically, the way I decorated the mantle above our fireplace. After seeing Jill's Harry Potter shrine last year (and this year too, look here!) I knew that this was something that I would love, love, love to do! I'm also a huge Harry Potter fan (to the point of obsession!) but I've already told you that. And although Harry Potter isn't necessarily tied with Halloween, when else could you decorate like this? Never. I'd probably leave my mantle like this year round if I thought I would get away with it. Ready?

I wanted my shrine to look realistic, items pulled right out of Hogwarts. My friend told me she thinks it looks like a movie prop, that made me really happy, that's exactly what I was going for! Ready?

Here is the first shot of the mantle, we'll go through it from right to left. I've packed in lots of little details, so we'll take a look at all of them. Get ready for lots of pictures! You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them for more detail.

The Sorting Hat! I've been sorted into Gryffindor. Yup~yup!

Someone's been into Professor Snape's stores! Boomslang Skin... Lacewing Flies? Could somebody be brewing Polyjuice Potion?

Harry's glasses, and a few of his galleons. Also, what's this?

Felix Felicis! Liquid luck! 

The star of the show, the jewel in my crown, my personalized, hand stitched Letter of Acceptance! You might remember that this was made for me by Gemma, Ms. Crafty & Devious, as part of the Phat Quarter Books Swap.

Harry's things, his books, his wand, the Golden Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch Match, and of course some goodies, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, and of course some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

This is the symbol of The Deathly Hallows. I couldn't *not* stitch something myself to add to this Harry Potter shrine.

 Is is Scabbers? Is it Peter Pettigrew? Is it Wormtail? This wretched traitor is one in the same!

Scabbers was known to have a raggedy left ear...

 And he was missing a toe on his left foot... that was all that was ever found of Peter Pettigrew.

Sirius Black, have you seen him? He might be in the form of a great, black dog.

Also pictured are Hagrid's keys, he was Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, we can't forget about our half-giant friend.

And Fawkes, Dumbledore's highly intelligent companion and defender, a Phoenix. An amazing creature.

Fawkes has extraordinary plumage, his feathers are hot to the touch, and he gave two of them to Mr. Ollivander who fashioned them into cores for two wands. Two very famous wands.

I love Fawkes's eyes, they're pitch black.

And of course, who could forget Aragog, the great Acromantula? This must be one of his children, for we all know that Aragog, was a great, great hugely scary spider!

Here we are looking back from left to right...

Oh, and did I forget to mention, floating candles! Just like in the Great Hall.

And in the evening...

That's it my friends! What do you think? I've enjoyed "lighting" the candles every evening, and I've been watching all of the movies, and re-reading sections of the books again throughout the course of the month. It's like visiting old friends. I'll always love Harry and his magical world. There's so much to love Rowling's world, it's a rich tapestry. It's not just for kids either, if you haven't read it I encourage you to give it a go, it is a wonderful literary work.

Now don't think that I'm done here, oh no, I have plans! I'm looking forward to next year, there other things swimming in my mind to incorporate, more characters, more magical items, more fun! This might take over my house, y'all! You can't collect everything at once after all, where would the fun be in that? I'm looking forward to re-imagining this Harry Potter Shrine for years to come.

I hope you've enjoyed my little tour, please let me know what you think, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Wishing you all a very happy, spooky, silly, magical, wonderful Halloween!

oxo,

Lisa