Monday, August 31, 2009

The Alien In My Garage

Friday night, the Garage of Doom, 11:30 P.M. I'm carving the epitaph for my "Beloved" tombstone. Two of the neighbors have stopped in for a glass of wine, and for a short while, my husband comes out to join us. Then a startled sound.

I turned to see what they were looking at. It was an alien, sitting on Stewie, quiet as can be.

Can you spot him?
He should be easier to see in this shot.Here's a quick vid. I love praying mantises. They are so interesting to look at and seem almost intelligent for such a tiny creature!


He really had no idea how close he was to death, though. Stewie was waiting for him to crawl into his mouth so he could have a crunchy little snack!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

If I Ever Lose My Mind, I Will Do This

Saturday, August 29, 2009

New Listings!

I have some new listings on eBay. I've added a few new pots and a skull, so take a minute to check it out!

A Blurry Yesterday

My house, the year we moved in. Move in date: October 3, 2007. Owned: one 400 watt fog machine, various cheesy (but loved) evil eyeball lights, glow in the dark plastic skeleton, one store bought flying crank ghost who was motion sensor activated.

And they thought we were the coolest house on the block back then.

Heh.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Jackos For Sale

My jackos are in their last hour to two hours on eBay, so if you want one, bid! Shipping is free in the U.S. http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/shellhawk

Thanks, all!

Haunt Cast Extension

This month's episode of my segment on Haunt Cast had a few drink recipes featured. My boss, g-host Chris Baker asked if I would mind posting these on my blog. Anything for a fellow haunter and budding alcoholic!
I'm posting my transcript of the segment, and I'm adding a few other recipes I didn't get a chance to talk about on the podcast. I'm also adding links for you to follow should you want more in-depth information. It's really amazing how quickly an eight-minute spot goes by, and how much editing is needed to fit within those parameters.


August 2009 Haunt Cast
Welcome back, boils and ghouls, to the Charmed Pot. Before I get started on this month’s topic, I need to take care of some business with the guys here at Haunt Cast. Boys, I don’t mind you leaving the seat up, but the tighty-whities lying everywhere is just disturbing. Igor wanted me to tell you that skid marks aren’t in his job description, either, and-what’s this? A thong? Monogrammed? Let me grab my tongs to turn this over to see what it says… G.O.E.? Oh, wow, guys. Too scary! Please, just pick this up before next month, o.k.?
Now for the important question: cocktails, anyone?
If you’re planning to serve drinks at Halloween, repeat after me: Life is too short to drink cheap domestic swill! It’s especially too short to serve swill to your guests. You invited them over to enjoy their company and to spend some quality time with them, so why not let them know you value them by what you serve?
You don’t have to break the bank to serve good cocktails, and you don’t need a full bar, either. Unless you’re able to hire a bartender, mixing numerous different drinks in one night is not only pricey, but it takes you away from your guests and diminishes your enjoyment of the evening. In order to stay focused and keep your costs down, decide on one or two signature drinks for the evening, and perhaps consider serving a punch or a good beer, as well.
In researching for this podcast, I ran across a concept called molecular mixology on epicurious.com. Molecular mixology takes the basic concepts of its father, molecular gastronomy (or the chemistry and physics behind food preparation), and applies it to cocktails. It explores the study of the effects of sense memory on the impact of a cocktail on its drinker, as well as the mechanics of creating a drink that is half hot and half cold, or creating the paradox of the solid drink. While you don’t have to create these drinks for Halloween, if you decide to use this concept to choose your signature drinks for the evening, it helps to understand what smells and textures people have of their childhood’s Halloween memories. Pumpkin, cinnamon and clove scents are strongly evocative of our favorite holiday. Bubble gum and chocolate are synonymous with Halloween, and both have strong smells and distinctive textures that can be translated into a bubblegum or chocolate-based cocktail. I found a great recipe for the Bazooka Bubblegum Cocktail, which uses Double Bubble bubble-gum infused vodka, on epicurious.com.
If all that seems more complicated than making a flying crank ghost, you can choose from a number of Halloween-themed drinks. Here’s a list of them, any of which can be found by a quick internet search:
The Eyeball Highball, courtesy of Martha Stewart.com. This drink is an ordinary vodka martini, but with a twist. Radishes and olives. The tops and roots are cut from the radishes. [See the above picture. Looks cool, huh?]You then peel the radishes, leaving just enough color to appear like veined eyeballs. With a melon baller, cut a ½ inch diameter hole in the center of the radish, then squeeze in a half olive, cut side facing out. After you’ve made enough of these to fill an ice cube tray, fill the tray with water and freeze. Voila! Eyeball ice cubes!
The Zombie is a late 1930s favorite named for its effect on its drinkers. There are many variations, and here’s one of them:
1 1/4 oz lemon juice




3/4 oz white rum


3/4 oz 151 proof rum
Shake over ice in a shaker, and strain into a large highball glass over crushed ice.

For that pumpkin smell, try this recipe for pumpkin nog: [I either got this from Mr. Macabre's site or Pumpkinrot's. I don't remember which.]
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pint vanilla ice cream
2 to 3 tablespoons rum (optional)
Ground nutmeg

Directions: Place pumpkin, evaporated milk, honey and cinnamon in blender container; cover. Blend until smooth. Add ice cream and rum. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Other Halloween cocktail recipes you can search for include:
Blood and Sand, Death in the Afternoon, and The Vampire’s Kiss. You can try this website: http://www.countessbloodshalloweenhorror.com/page4/

For a good bowl of punch, try this:
1 package Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid mix
20 oz Vodka
1 Lemon, sliced
1 Lime, sliced
1 cup Sugar or more for taste
Fill with Water and ice
Mixing instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a large (1/2 gallon) pitcher. Shake and enjoy!

There’s also Beetlejuice punch:
Ingredients:
1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Melon liqueur
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
1/2 oz Raspberry schnapps
1/2 oz Cranberry juice
Sour mix
Pineapple spear
Cherry
Mixing instructions:
In a tall mixing glass with ice pour the vodka on the bottom. Then fill the glass 3/4 full with sour mix. Pour in the rest of the ingredients one at a time. Garnish with pineapple spear and cherry

To make a punch look scary, try this unique Medusa ice shape using a cheap plastic mask, latex gloves and the Haunter’s best friend, duct tape:
1. Using duct tape, tape up all of the mask's orifices, such as the nostril holes, inside and out. Place the mask face-down in a plastic container (such as a sterilite bin), stabilizing the mask in place with some packing material such as packing peanut2 or bubble wrap.
2. Using food coloring, dye about 3 cups of water light green (this should require only about one drop of the coloring). Pour the mixture into the mask, filling it about halfway.
3. Lay some gummy worms as desired around the head of the mask, creating Medusa's hair and using clothespins to hold them in place. Freeze the mask, at least overnight.
4. To create the hands, fill the latex gloves with water (one glove holds about 1 1/2 cups water, so you'll need about 3 cups for both). Using rubber bands, tie the gloves at the wrists to seal them shut. Place the hands flat on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper, to prevent them from sticking. Freeze the hands, at least overnight.
5. Remove the mask from the container, remove the face from the mask mold, and remove the hands from the gloves. (They should come out easily, but if not, place the hands and face in another container filled with room-temperature water to loosen them from the molds.) Turn the face upside-down to reveal the green face with worm hair.
6. Prepare the punch of your choice and gently slide the face into the punch. Add the hands -- one on each side, palms facing up.

A little known fact: fresh tomatoes can be frozen whole and used throughout the winter, so be sure to set aside a few for your Bloodthirsty Mary recipe for the hair of the dog cure on November 1:
Serves 4
3 cups tomato juice
3 tablespoons freshly grated or drained prepared horseradish, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup vodka
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Hot sauce, such as tabasco
Celery stalks, for garnish
Scallions, dark-green parts only, for garnish
Directions
1. In a pitcher, stir together tomato juice, horseradish, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
2. Pour into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with horseradish, celery, and scallions, as desired.

I don’t need to remind haunters that presentation is everything. Since you’ve gone to all the trouble to make the world’s greatest yard haunt to impress and terrify your friends and neighbors, take the time to make your drink presentation just as impressive. Resist the temptation to use cheap plastic cups to serve your drinks. While convenient and easy to clean up, plastic cups say “Frat House” rather than “Haunted House.” Since cocktails and alcoholic punches suggest a certain level of sophistication, serve your drinks in glasses appropriate to the drink. You can purchase inexpensive barware at Target, online at a foodservice or restaurant equipment supplier, or you could even check eBay. If someone breaks it, no big deal, just throw it away.
For the guests who don’t consume alcohol, have one or two “virgin” drink options available for them. [Also have a good non-alcoholic beer such as St. Pauli Girl N.A.]
And of course, don’t forget to pick up some good beer, such as Flying Dog Old Skratch, or any of the special Autumn brews that are appearing in stores. Again, ban the cheap domestic swill from your home!
As time goes by, you’ll hear me say again and again: buy ahead of time so you spread your expenses out. If you have the space, buy a case or two of beer early and hit Costco for your larger bottles of liquor. As an aside, I’ve been told that Kirkland brand vodka is actually Grey Goose in disguise, and it’s half the price.
Remember not to store your alcohol in a hot garage, as the beer will go skunky and the temperature fluctuations will ruin your booze. Oh. And don’t drink it before Halloween. Keep your personal booze separate from your party supply.
One more thing about drinks: monitor your guests’ consumption and make certain no one walks out your door drunk. In many states, the person serving alcohol is liable for the accident their buddy causes. It’s not worth losing your house or your friend, so have a list of cab companies ready by the phone. It’s easy to do and gives you peace of mind.
That about wraps it up for the cocktail tutorial.
See you next time everyone! Until then, stay scary!


Another site you can go to is Colonel Tiki's Drinks. This post has monster-movie themed drinks that look fantastic. The Webtender has a list of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and punches for you to peruse.
Go here for a "blood rimmed" martini, to Savvy Housekeeping for yet more Halloween cocktail recipes, and Martha Stewart for a good-tasting black vodka martini.

If you don't have enough ideas for cocktails by now, I'll pray for you!

And as they say, enjoy responsibly!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Grimvisions' Mache Tutorial

Grimvisions does truly amazing paper mache work. Yes, the above pic is mache, if you can believe that! He also uses celluclay and paperclay, two products I am eager to break into. (They're currently in the Garage of Doom, awaiting their next incarnation as a witch.) And it's obvious Grimvisions knows paint.

I think this tutorial will help take my (and your) sculpting and prop-making to the next level. It seems to have a greater capacity for detail and from what I can tell by Grimvisions comments, it seems to be a harder material. Definitely worth a try. Playing in the Garage of Doom with new toys?

Sure!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Time is running out, Clarice.

Remember my current crop of jack-o-lantern pots will be going shortly. You have about a day left to bid!

Support your starving artist! Click on the jacko picture on the upper right side of this blog to see my labors of love.
Thanks, guys. They really are worth it. I promise!

More Fun With Paint and Other Things

A little update from the overwhelmed Garage of Doom. I took a couple of pics of one of those "note to self" moments.

The base of the cauldron came along pretty well. We had some scrap wood lying around from our raised garden beds, so we used it. Thick, pressure treated wood. Wood meant to be very sturdy.

A month later, I decided to add a fog machine. Problem: the motor was in the way of the hole in the back of the cauldron floor, and the front was blocked by the base. No problem. Get a hole cutter and cut through the base. Through the really thick base.

With typical, almost suicidal optimism, I had Mr. ShellHawk find me the right size hole cutting bit. Too short. Neighbor V brought a longer one over. After about an inch in, it hung up and wouldn't go anymore, flinging the drill around pretty hard. I was lucky not to have been injured. I thought, "Well, there's a woodworker lives across the street. Maybe he can help." He did. He brought over his plug in drill with special side grip and made short work of the hole, but not before commenting that you really didn't need such thick wood.

Wish I'd thought of that.

On a brighter front, I got this little garden statue from Big Lots for half off.
Hate the paint job. You really can't see any details, and the paint they chose really washes her out. Not to worry!Black spray paint to the rescue!Then a nice dry brush of gray paint over the top.I think she looks much better! I can't wait to have her in the cemetery!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Monster Guts Nerve Center

Some of you are ready for this. You've haunted awhile, and you need to take the next step.

You need to make it "one louder."

Enter Monster Guts Nerve Center. Far better than the sledge-o-matic, this here new-fangled thing from Monster Guts is a pretty sexy prop controller. But don't ask me how it works, 'cause the prop controller is a new concept to me.

Ask the experts. When you can't get ahold of them, ask Steve-O and Geoff from the Garage of Evil. Just remember, these guys are somewhat colorful in their language. (Read: don't show this to your kids or play at work.)

I have gotta get me one of those things!

Monday, August 24, 2009

My Stirring Witch, or Pimp Your Cauldron

A few videos on my progress on the stirring witch project.








I am a little bummed that my power supply for the wiper motor (2nd one) had died, too. I have to call over to Monster Guts and find out what I'm doing wrong! The chances of two bad power supplies in a row are pretty slim, so it must be me.

We also determined that Stewie needs to get strapped to gavanized pipe, which we already have sticking out of his concrete-filled tub. I don't mind mache repairs, but re-doing his stand every year doesn't appeal to me!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

News from the Garage of Doom

Yesterday was a pretty productive day in the Garage of Doom. Since my hubby was helping neighbor V's hubby with replacing a bathroom floor (cutting an laying tile-fun!), neighbor V came over to help me in the Garage. We got a plaster cast of her hands done, which I needed for my stirring witch. Since we used vaseline for the release, her hands were silky soft when we got done. She said she felt like she was having a spa treatment! (Plus, of course, she had an hour of legitimately not being able to do anything for the kids, and actually was forced to sit down and relax for awhile...) I love my neighbor, I gotta say.

She had to take a quick break to go see what the boys were up to, so I put the first layer of paint on the new angel garden statue I got at Big Lots. Their garden statuary is on sale for half price right now, so you should think about heading over if you need more for your cemetery.

From there, we moved on to the problem of repairing Stewie. For those of you who don't know who Stewie is, he's the scarecrow I made last year who is serving as the header for my blog. Stewie was in great shape last year, until the torrential rain we had on Halloween soaked his already forward-heavy head and bent his schedule 40 pvc right at a point where we had drilled holes to run zip ties through for chicken wire support. Several ideas were tossed back and forth after I made a slit up the back of his main support pipe. Re-bar up the middle of the pipe? Couldn't do it, because of all the other zip ties in the pipe. (Best Neighbor V quote of the day: "Stewie, you are such a man." Couldn't stop laughing...) Re-bar through the pvc in his shouolders? Same problem. After much thinking and a couple of Blue Moon wheat beers, we determined tht we'd have to build an additional set of supports along the lines of what the symbol for pi looks like, strap him to that, and set him back in his stand. His trenchcoat will cover it up, and no one will be the wiser. Bummer about the re-bar, though. It was a good thought.

We moved on to the start of the Beloved tombstone. Measured and the basic body of the tombstone before we had to stop for the night and start dinner. I used the cheap white 1 1/2" insulating foam you can pick up at Home Depot here in California, and I'll glue the body together today and then add the more expensive pink foam to the front of the tombstone. It's hard to find the pink foam here, as 99% of stores don't carry it because it's considered a cold-weather product and it just doesn't get that cold here. I had to drive for 2 1/2 hours one way to pick the stuff up, but I know it'll be worth it.

As an aside, I have to look into my home office every time I head out to the Garage of Doom. It sits as an accusation; I've been working on it off and on (mostly off) for over a year and still haven't finished it. Maybe I'll get to it. *sigh*

It's mimosa Sunday today. We feel it's important to get your vitamin C, and champagne is a great delivery system. Our extended family is coming over from across the street to share in this healthy tradition.


Wow! Helpful AND health-concious. What great neighbors!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Death at the Vatican

Here are a couple of pics for you from our trip to Rome a few years ago. It occurred to me that there was a great skeleton over the old exit door in the Vatican, placed there to remind parishioners that their time would come and to remember the Church and the state of their souls. I thought they would make great reference photos.
Photos are courtesy of Mr. ShellHawk. Good shots, hon!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Jackos for Sale

Hi, All! My hanging pumpkins are up on eBay, now. I'm adding more as we speak!

Small Sewer, Isn't It?

It's really interesting how things work. I recently took a page from the Frog Queen's book and gave it a slight twist... I've decide to raise funds for the local high school art department. Due to budget cuts, they're suffering, too. I thought, "Why not pass the hat and see what comes out? Haunters can raise money, too. Look at the Garage of Evil's 'Save the Boobies' campaign!" And they weren't talking about birds, either.

Last week, I called the high school and left a message for the vice principal, who apparently then passed it on to the art department. A lovely lady called back today and talked to me about it. There were a couple of kids in the classroom, too. Guess whose kids they were? Spider Rider's! How freaking cool is that?! A neighbor, and I didn't even know it! Neat-O! To the third degree!

Anyhow, the teacher who contacted me was really floored by the idea that I'd arrange this, and kept telling me how generous I was, etc. Now, honestly, I didn't make the call to be a hero, but it really made me feel good that I got a call back, and that I really can help, even a little bit. I'm under no illusions that I can solve their budget problems, but if I can help to raise awareness and take a little of the edge off, I'm really happy.

And the first thing she did was ask if I needed help. Wow! How great, huh? Of course, I'll accept help, and if it works out o.k., timewise, I might be able to add a couple more effects to the haunt and flesh out my story more.

The story of... Dah dah DAAAAAAHHH! The Witch of Rose Hill! Ta-da! (Insert big fanfare here.)

Lots of roses in the front yard, now, and they'll be far more established next year. I'm creating a back story for the Witch, and it's starting to shape everything beautifully. I think it actually works! What's really a kick is that my honey and I were talking about the giant dead patch of grass in the front yard, how it makes us both nuts, and what to do about it. He suggested ripping out the dead sod and putting in some plants, and I mentioned, gently, that as long as it doesn't disturb the graveyard... Well. I suppose it would be alright. He looked stricken and immediately suggested just replacing all the sod out front next Spring. Sounded good to me. (Do I have the world's greatest husband, or what?)

Back to our art teacher. She says she's a Halloween enthusiast, too, and wants to learn. So I may actually have help on my "Beloved" tombstone, which is starting to tie in with my story in a big way. Thank goodness! That task was beginning to look daunting this late in the Season. An extra pair or two of competent hands will be most welcome. Hopefully, we won't have the Frog Queen's "Banana" Syndrome! :o) Honestly, I'm sure I won't. This lady sounds super-competent and in the right frame of mind. I'm downright honored to have her along on this crazy ride!

Also, note To Self: Start building in November this year! Dang it!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

...And the Winners Are

The drawing has been done! The winners of the jacko pots are:

#1 Raculfright_13
#2 The Captain

Hooray for you both! Raculfright, please let me know your choice and your mailing address offline to shellhawksnest@yahoo.com. Captain, please send me your address so I can mail the new denizen of your home to you!

Congratulations, guys, and thanks to everyone for participating. More giveaways are in the offing, so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday, Cthulu!

Yes, today is H.P. Lovecraft's birthday. This is one of the very few authors who wrote stories so frightening that I slept with the lights on. He died at age 46, probably from performing the odd rite that went horribly wrong. Those multi-tentacled entities are not noted for their sense of fun and jolly sense of humor.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Last day to Enter!

Today is the last day you can enter to win some of my hand made jack-o-lanterns. Go to this post for details!
And just to let you know that I've been busy, I'll include pics of my hanging jackos. I think they''ll make a nice addition to any Halloween Tree, don't you?

Again-pics are copyrighted, so please ask permission before you use them!

"They rounded the far side of the house and stopped. For there was the Tree. And it was such a tree as they had never seen in all their lives. It stood in the middle of a vast yard behind the terribly strange house. And this tree rose up some one hundred feet in the air, taller than the high roofs and full and round and well branched, and covered all over with rich assortments of red and brown and yellow autumn leaves."

"But," whispered Tom, "oh, look. What's up in that tree!"

For the Tree was hung with a variety of pumpkins of every size and shape and a number of tints and hues of smoky yellow or bright orange.

"A pumpkin tree," someone said. "No," said Tom. The wind blew among the high branches amd tossed their bright burdens, softly.

"A Halloween Tree," said Tom.

And he was right.

I wanted to give my contest winner the chance to have one of the very first jacko pots I've made, before I start to sell the rest of them. They'll be posted to eBay on Friday. I've also decided to have two winners, with the first name drawn out of the hat getting first pick, and the second name out receives the second jacko.

Good luck, all!

While We're Talking About Inspiration

What could be more inspirational than watching Bram Stoker's Dracula? Yes, we all know that Mr. Monotone (a.k.a. Keanu Reeves) should have never been allowed within 20 miles of the sets of this film, but, be that as it may...
The sets, the costuming, Gary Oldman's and Anthony Hopkins' performances, the atmosphere, man! Beautiful! (As an aside, and very strangely, both an ex-boyfriend and an ex-husband worked on this film, in two different departments. Truly chilling!) If you haven't seen this, you should. Here's the trailer:



What woman wouldn't want to be told that a man "crossed oceans of time to find you?" Especially one who looks as hot as Gary Oldman did in that amazing gray suit, top hat and Pince Nez glasses. (And the "I am your servant," comment didn't hurt, either.)I have to add that the score of the movie itself was a pulse, another character in the movie. One of the interesting things about Dracula, the book, versus Dracula, the movie, is the fact that, in the book, Dracula was only a presence throughout the bulk of the book. As has been noted before, a movie about Dracula without seeing Dracula is... Freaking boring.Thus, the love story. It's interesting that Mina chooses Jonathan Harker, rather than Dracula, as her husband. Jonathan seems to me to be a not-so-bright replacement. Perhaps this was the seed of the sexy vampire idea. The idea of the vamire as the seductor is a will-o-the-wisp in the book. It is merely a suggestion, something easily missed in the rest of the story.As he seduces and finally takes Lucy, Mina's friend since childhood, he says, "I condemn you to living death. To eternal hunger for living blood." At last, his teeth fasten on Lucy's throat, and we know the throat he's really craving is Mina's. Next we see Lucy, she's in a glass coffin, like Snow White. And at the very end, Mina defends her master, her eternal lover. In the snow, Quincey's blood is a red gibbering grin. And Van Helsing says, "We've all become God's madmen. All of us."

How could a haunter be uninspired by this?

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Floating Candelabra

Anyone who has been to the Haunted Mansion will remember the floating candelabra in the long hallway. I look at that and am really impressed with the simplicity and the flow of the motion, as well as the "ooh-ahh" effect it has on people. You can just vaguely see the Haunted Mansion illusion at around the 2:58 mark, as well as a very young Donny Osmond and Kurt Russell.


There's a better view of it here, at the very beginning:

I was running through the Garage of Evil and ran across Ghost Songs' tutorial on the floating candelabra illusion. It has been updated for this year to make it easier to build. (I love folks who keep thinking of how to make things better, even after the project is finished.) While I'm out of time for that prop this year, I think that will be a good one for next year's theme!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Bell, Book and Candle

This time of year, we haunters are busy. Up early on weekends to beat the heat for awhile and to get in the maximum amount of build time. At the end of the day, we're tired, but the mind still craves Halloween. Through the DVD collection we pore, until we come up with a favorite we want to see right now. This is one of mine. Enjoy!

Here's a clip:

Kim Novak was so very elegant! Jimmy Stewart was his very best in this film, in my opinion.

If you haven't had a chance to pick up this movie, do. It's family-friendly, though nothing explodes in it and your kids may be bored as a result. Elsa Lanchester of Bride of Frankenstein fame has a fun part as the ditsy, witchy aunt with a fuzzy idea of personal property ownership. Jack Lemmon was fun to watch as the bongo-playing brother.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Pumpkin Army

A sampling of my jacko pots I'll be selling on eBay shortly. I also fooled around a little with a skull and ghost design, so let me know what you think!

Remember, two pumpkins not pictured are part of my giveaway on the day of the new moon, and time is running short if you want to enter and haven't gotten around to it, yet.
And, a friendly reminder that all these images are copyrighted by yours truly. If you want to use them, please ask!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Betcha Haven't Seen This in Awhile!



I'm off to my CalHaunts NorCal meet today for the "Bride of Articulation" build. I'm really looking forward to it. I missed last month's make and take because of Grandma's 100th birthday, so I'm jonesing for a meeting.

Hope your weekend is full of prop-building!

Friday, August 14, 2009

I Finally Figured Out

what "64 bit" means! I am so excited I figured it out on my very ownsome!

It means I can't effing get 75% of the programs I love/need to run on my new computer!

Wow. I am so relieved and proud I translated that without any help from anybody.

Is it October yet? Can I get my bloody Windows 7 upgrade that had better freaking work with what I need before I scrap everything and go Apple?

Gnng.

By the way, if you need motors, etc. for any of your props, seriously consider using Monster Guts. I had a little problem with one of their products, and they were kind enough to do some over-the-phone troubleshooting. No hassle, just a great attitude!

I wish they would take over Microsoft.

Tombstones in Winter

Beautiful photography, and great studies of tombstones.
Source.
Source.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Tell-Tale Heart

I had a record-an actual LP, no less- as a child. Vincent Price reading ghost stories. Gave me nightmares, and I loved every minute of it. He's the one who introduced me to this story.






I would love to find that album now!

As an aside, a couple of weeks ago I was at the gym. Since we just signed up, we get three training sessions "free," and the guy training me was a Halloween enthusiast. We were talking about the whole Michael Jackson silliness going on when "Thriller" came on the gym's stereo system. I commented that the best thing was that Vincent Price did the voice-over work.

Blank stare.

He looked at me like I had randomly introduced a different topic.

I stared back.

"Vincent Price. You know who Vincent Price is, don't you?"

"No."

"How old are you?" He told me. I considered dropping a weight on his foot for making me feel so damn old.

Then I explained who Vincent Price was and told him to go home and do his homework. Imagine: a Halloween enthusiast who doesn't know who Vincent Price is.

If you are one of these poor unfortunates please don't tell me. I don't want to know. Just go here or here and find out, o.k.? Must I educate everyone?

Sheesh!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Yard Stuff

We've been going through another hot spell here-100+ degrees-so I've been paying attention to the watering schedule a little more than usual. The pumpkins were planted at the end of May, since last year they weren't ready at Halloween. I saved the seeds from some pumpkins I bought at the store, so though I have six different varieties, I can only tell you the names of two or three of them. I bought some seeds, too: Wyatt's Wonder, Jack, and Howden. I have mini pumpkins, a tall, oblong varitey, and a medium-sized round type. Here they are, in progress!
A side-trip to the front yard to prune roses gave me a bit of a start. I caught a glimpse of color in the tree, and took a closer look:
Yup. Fall is absolutely on its way.
I feel like I have to apologize for the posts being so short lately. Every day, I've been out in the studio, working on projects, and the days zip by like a streaker on a football field. I'm not a fast builder, so everything seems to take more time than I think it will. School starts for me on the 22nd, so even less time will be available. I have an actual academic class added to my art class, so there will actually be some serious study going on! I need to keep my "A" average up!