Andrea Ferrell is a very special and spooky lady.  As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, she is one of my major Halloween-decorating inspirations.

I love how Andrea uses books with appropriately spooky titles and jacket covers.

Andrea has a way of telling a story, a spooky story, with the way she groups  ordinary and extraordinary accessories.  Notice the amber glass and architectural photos.  They only look spooky in the context of the objects that surround them.

I have this same owl.  Andrea uses these spooky birds with her cream pottery collection and lots of sticks and branches from her yard.

Here’s a huge scary spider crawling over Andrea’s vintage pottery collection.

I asked Andrea why she loves Halloween decorating so much.  She answers, “Halloween allows for the most creativity. It’s a very playful holiday. I can almost tell a story with the décor, set a scene. I like to think about my favorite scenes from horror literature and old ghost stories. Hearing a ghost story makes me feel like a kid at a slumber party!”

I asked Andrea about her use of common objects: “Limbs from the yard – the more gnarled and curly, the better. I find the best limbs under my pecan tree. Nice and splotchy. Very sculptural. And they are free!”

Even old garden statues creep up the scene in Andrea’s fireplace.

As you can tell, Andrea is partial to crows/ravens, black cats, and spooky spiders at Halloween.

Andrea says, “Cheesecloth is one of my favorite things – very inexpensive and connotes mummies.”

Last Halloween, Andrea hosted a delightfully spooky Halloween dinner for some friends.  We had a light dinner, then Death by Chocolate cake.  Look at the beautifully spooky set-up below!

According to Andrea, music is a must-have part of Halloween décor.  “The soundtrack from The Omen has hauntingly beautiful music.  Lots of creepy carnival music!”

Andrea read aloud Edgar Allan Poe’s A Tell-Tale Heart.  Check out that cool floor candelabra in the background.  I really need one of those . . .

I asked Andrea how is she going to possibly top herself next Halloween.  “Next year, I want to do a Haunted Mardi Gras theme for Halloween.  I’ve got a few pretty masks…ooh la la.  I am crazy!” Crazy like a fox, Andrea.

“And, it’s okay to be a little tacky at Halloween! Am I right???”  Yes, Andrea, when it’s this well done, it is perfectly OK

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