A Halloween Shoot in Bedford

As a magazine editor, knowing people with great houses to use as locations makes life a whole lot easier. Back at Martha, I used to love shooting at my friends Hannah and Michael's farmhouse in Bedford, New York, where charming details, like this side dutch door, make for beautiful backdrops. Hannah I met when I was fifteen working as a dishwasher for Watson's Catering in Greenwich. Nowadays, she's got a catering company of her own called Dinner Thyme. Both, I must say, turn out amazing food! Here's Mom-model Hannah and her ghoulish goblins, Whip and Kineo, on a shoot I did about a year ago, photographed by Allison Gootee and published in this month's Halloween issue of Martha.

Those spider balloons that craft editor Laura Tyszka dreamt up were held in place by fishing line—a lot of fishing line—while the leaves I gathered from Hannah's yard, then scattered around the door. Inside the house, I did a sweet setup with doughnuts from Salinger's (a favorite of mine since childhood), hot mulled cider, and cute trick-or-treat bags with magic marker balloon faces that Laura came up with. Buffets are always better at different heights; here, I stacked the doughnuts on a cake pedestal, cider in an ironstone punch bowl and black enamel cups to prevent breakage, all from Martha's prop house. I did this buffet in a hallway at Hannah's house because I thought the antique wainscoting and stair treads made for a more interesting picture. A foyer table under a mirror, perhaps even with a fiendish feather wreath, would be pretty too.

At a Good Things meeting before the shoot, Garden editor Stacey Hirvela brought up the idea of using end of the season plantings to make an outdoor bouquet. So before heading out to Bedford that day, I found a great urn at Planter Resource, then painted it black for a more ghoulish effect. From Hannah's garden, I gathered what appeared to be dead cuttings but when mixed with orange rose hips and artfully arranged evoke a beauty of a different kind.  

In fact, I liked Stacey's idea so much that this year, on a recent walk Jaithan and I took here in the country... 

...I decided to scour the fields around our house to make a similar arrangement of my own. The Queen Anne's Lace and thistle, darkly beautiful in a palette of blacks and browns, evoke a spooky kind of pretty, perfect for our Halloween mantle. The gothic urn I found years ago at an estate sale in Greenwich for 5 dollars, while its pair I found just last week at Hyde Park Antiques for 45.

What can I say? I can't resist a pair. Now if only everthing in my life felt as balanced as my mantle...

Comments

[Michelle]

OMG! I love those spider balloons, is this something easy enough to do without the assistance of a balloon artist? Any suggestions on how to or do you have a close up picture that I could see to "figure it out"
thx

[Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS]

Love the pics, especially the mantle arrangement. I was in a Halloween mood, too, and posted on 13 Scary-Cool decorations, including a few that can stay out all year round. Thought you might enjoy them, too:

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-special-13-scary-cool-home.html

[Vickie H.]

Simply gorgeous arrangements! And what a steal on BOTH your urns, at those UNBELIEVABLE prices, years apart! I love pairs, too! Thanks for sharing!

[Dee]

I loved this urn idea so much I copied it and put it on my blog last month! http://septemberthemarch.blogspot.com/2009/09/fall-project-from-martha-stewart-living.html It turned out great and It still looks beautiful. I love your blog and use it for inspiration. Thanks for all of the beautiful ideas!

[Shandell's]

The photo of the countryside is beautiful. That is why we live here.

XOXOX

[Mary]

Hi Eddie--glorious post! I'm loving your urn displays! But it's your reference to Salingers that has me smiling from ear to ear!
My Dad and I went every year. He was fascinated by all of the apple varieties and he'd quiz the farmers as we strolled the orchards! But we'd never leave before donuts and cider! Xo

[Evelyn Weiss]

Isn't it fun seeing your work a (very quick) year later? And those fields -- beautiful Hudson Valley! I love gathering and pressing freshly fallen leaves now for use at Thanksgiving time.

FYI, don't miss walking across the new Poughkeepsie railroad bridge for some spectacular views and great photo ops...in your spare time, of course....

xoxo
Evy

[ralphie]

Hi Eddie,

I joined Twitter today! Don't know too much about it yet however. I love dried floral arrangements and wreaths. The ones on your blog are beautiful! Black and white is a classic combination, always chic; your mantel picture is very attractive. Thanks for the post Eddie. Ciao.

[mary]

Love the black and white transferware on the mantel.

[Laura Casey]

Great work!! It all looks super.

[Karena]

Loved that first urn with the arrangement. Perfect for right outside my door.......

[Jillian]

I recently discovered you watching the Halloween special on HGTV (your house was by far the best!) and cannot get enough of your fabulous ideas now. You need your own show or magazine immediately. It is refreshing to see someone who is making beautiful design accesible to the average American rather than telling you a $500.00 lamp is a bargain. You are incredibly talented and such an inspiration. I am so excited to see how your career flourishes. I am going to a Halloween party on Friday and bringing your cabbage crudite. Hopefully it is a hit. Best of luck to you and Jaithan!

[beachbungalow8]

I'm always going on and on about your creations. so, I'll save it today. That shot of the countryside and the storm rolling in with the golden light? Mesmerizes me. It's gorgeous. Something you don't see here in L.A.

[Lindsey]

Oh love all the spooky details. The punch set up and (dead) flower arrangements are great. Of course I'd expect nothing less from you. ;-)

{ Lindsey }
http://greatfullday.blogspot.com

[seleta]

Can't wait to show the offspring this post. You're already their hero, but this will put you over the top. Who knew that even Halloween can be beautiful???

[Bette]

Wow now that's the spirit of Halloween, harvest time, parties, food and lots of laughter. Lots of effort guarantees a great time for all. Great post!

Bette

[Jennifer]

I loved the 'dead' arrangement in the magazine -- my favorite shot in the issue! yours is great too!

[LindsB]

When I saw the spread in Martha last month I was wondering if you had something to do with that shoot :) Everything was just lovely, I LOVE the arrangement you did for your own home, just lovely!

[debra phillips]

eddie, you constantly inspire. crazy for the two urn arrangements and the small foyer vignette of cider and coffee. your knack for taking simple elements and making us all smack our heads saying "of course, why didn't i think of that", is endless.

being crazy busy is a double edged sword, enjoy the ride!
xxo
debra

[Layla]

Congrats on finding the matching urn! I bet your heart skipped a beat right when you saw it. :-) FANTASTIC arrangement...perfect for Halloween!

Layla
The Lettered Cottage

[La Maison Fou blog]

There is a lot to be said of a little country.At our family farm, there are wonderful fids just waiting to be broughtin and discovered in city living. Just beware of the "critters" living inside of some of the flowers & drieds. They will vacate if left out for a while and will move on to another bush or planting.
L

Great arrangement!
Leslie

[Design Esquire]

I love the photo shoot, and the "flower" arrangments. What a great idea! I have past their prime flowers in my backyard, and may just steal your idea. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Karen Evans]

I adore the urn with items from the garden. I wish I had seen this before cutting back my garden.

[c'estsuzanne]

Love Bedford! My brother lives by the pretty village there. We always look forward to visiting him. Your mantle in black and white is gorgeous and fun. Thanks.

[Kathy]

Gorgeous Halloween decorations...love you picture from your walk.

[Keri]

Wow, there's so much to take from the Halloween shoot you did while stile at Martha. And the bouquet you did for your own mantle is gorgeous and ghoulish all at the same time. But what's really getting me right now is your country view (It just looks heavenly! I bet your blood pressure drops whenever you have a chance to be home)

[Sharon in Chicago]

Balance in life? HA! highly over-rated! Hope you two have a great week.

[Jennifer @ Fiddle Dee Dee]

Look at you! I popped over to read one post and you have added another! Such a fabulous shoot you organized. I love autumn decorating and really like the fact you share such simple ideas.

Keep the inspiration coming!

Jennifer