My Next Piece of Property-

-must be a zombie-proof house.

I hope it has a really well-stocked wine cellar.

Full article via All That Is Interesting.

Hauntcast: We're Everywhere!

Not only is Hauntcast going to be represented at the National Haunters Convention (where you can meet Johnny Thunder and Denhaunt) and the West Coast Haunters Convention, but a brand new episode of our fabulous show is up on the Hauntcast site!

From the desk of Chris "The Most Interesting Man in the World" Baker:

Hauntcast Radio for Haunters and Halloween Fanatics is available now.

– Johnny breaks Chris’ beans and bellows his review of Scream 4.
– Is scaring the crap out of people the only objective of a haunt? Revenant reports, you decide.
– The Mistress of Mayhem leads you into the dark depths of the French and Italian catacombs.
– Chris’ spider senses are tingling as he bows down and gives up props to Spider Ryder’s Giant Spider.
– The dungeons new denizens, the Hauntcast 10 Dwarfs.
– Denny straps on the latex once again to demonstrate home made corpse lids.
– Author of Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History & newly released Halloween Nation: Behind the scenes of America’s fright night Lesley Bannatyne joins Chris for a behind the scenes sneak peek at her new book.

We are offering Tees, Baby Doll Shirts and Hoodies specials with a subscription for a limited time. Don’t hesitate, get your subscription today.

For those of you rock stars who already subscribe and want to add to your collection of super cool t-shirts, Chris is taking pre-orders for t-shirts for boys, baby doll t-shirts for the girls, and hoodies for all! If you want 'em, amble over to the Hauntcast site and pre-order them now, before they disappear!

Stuff 'n' Things

Shelby and pups at one day old

Little Samhain is just over one week old, now. The final count of the litter was six males, and four females.

Shelby and her brood at one week old

Sandy over at Sprague's German Shepherds said Shelby did great and is feeling good. The pups all seem to have come through just fine, too. Here are some random puppy cuteness videos on the site, if you're interested. They will get to be more fun at about week three.

In other news, Saturday is the artist's reception for Feats of Clay. To say the least, I am very excited to be in the company of such talented artists! It still doesn't seem quite real to me that I could have a sculpture of mine chosen for a major show like this one after only having started working in clay three years ago. Wow!

I'll post pictures if I can.

Jack-o'-Lantern Patterns



Image via Hub Pages

Not that anyone who reads my blog the eleven other months of the year would need these, but I ran across the above photo and thought I would share the site. They have an article including links to some free jack-o'-lantern patterns and some suggestions for nifty tools you can use for your next pumpkin massacre.

I find it both exciting and sad that pumpkin carving needs a guide these days. I mean, half the fun of pumpkin carving with my dad when I was a kid was making up my own face. On the other hand, there are some really great patterns out there, and the actual artistry being shown on pumpkins these days is pretty amazing. I just hope that people don't get the idea that they have to be a great sculptor in order to carve a jack-o-lantern.

Find more free jack-o-lantern patterns here. There are more at Fantasy Pumpkins, too.

Vintage

One of the few things I regret about not having a real job and enduring the growing (read:economic) pains of starting my own business is not having the discretionary income to spend on what's really important: vintage Hallowe'en decoractions!

Oh, well. At least with window shopping, there's no buyer's remorse.

Image by halloween_guy

Heartland Antique Mall

Halloween Decorations Ideas Blog

For sale at iOffer dot com by donaldroszz (379)

From the Atelier Blog



Easter Flowers

Here in California, the flowers are showing the first blooms of Spring. Yes, it's been raining off and on this week, and the temperature varies from forty-five to sixty-eight degrees (so you're never really sure how to dress for the day) with sometimes gusty winds, but the flowers know what to do. Since we hosted Easter dinner, I decided to brave the rain and head out into the garden to get some color into the house.

This rose is a mutant hybrid tea-it's called "Black Magic." I bought it from Jackson and Perkins years ago, when they still had the patent. I saw this one has three buds within one bloom, and that is a first, even for my yard. I guess that was a great place to hide the bodies! 

Nearly all my orchids are in bloom, too.

Of course, the rest of the roses are starting to show their colors, too.

The iris bulbs I planted a few years ago are going gangbusters. I really should have separated them last Fall, but for some reason, I got a little bit busy!

Though he's a pretty tough guy most of the time, Ape does like to take the time to smell the roses.

Since I had done most of the prep for dinner on Saturday, I had some time to take some wanna-be artsy shots of the flowers and the rabbit skull sculpture I made. 

 We went through almost ten pounds of lamb and ten pounds of tri-tip roast (it's usually a California cut of meat, East Coasters, and it is fantastic!), a bottle of champagne, seven or eight bottles of very good white and red wines, a mess of salad, baby potatoes, and green beans. For dessert, there was home made creme brulee and fresh-baked cupcakes.

Needless to say, today I am back on my diet!

Halloween Nation

If you've been under a rock or lost on a desert island, you might not be aware that Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America's Fright Night came out this week. I finally had a chance to start reading it yesterday, and let me tell you, it's more than worth every penny you spend on it. There are quotes from folks in the community (big shout out to BFF Chad Savage for a very articulate quote and a great piece of spooky artwork-Chad, you actually made us sound somewhat intelligent!), Hallowe'en history, ghost and paranormal talk, and yummy pictures galore! You simply must purchase this book!

If you'd like to hear from the author, Lesley Bannatyne, she'll be on Hauntcast come the end of the week. I talked to Chris and he told me it was a great interview; I can't wait to hear it! You could, too, if you subscribed to the most awesome Haunter's podcast, in, like, um-ever!

BTW, did you know that Hauntcast is running a contest right now? If you subscribe and get others to subscribe, you could win a copy of the Home Haunters DVD Set. Listen to our March episode for details.

O.K. Back out to the Garage of Doom!

ShellHawk's Nest Easter Tradition: Bunny Gone Wild

I share this every year. Happy Easter, everyone!

Haunted Goodness

I could never be put in the classification of "scapbooking enthusiast." Although I might want to get a couple of scrapbooks together and have held onto some personal mementoes for the purpose, somehow, I just never get around to it. But maybe now, that will change.

Alpha Stamps has just what I'd need for a very cool and vintage-looking Halloween scrapbook. Or letter. Or envelope. Or ransom note. From Dia de las Muertos stamps to vintage-look matchbook cover stamps, Alpha seems to have just what one would want for your stamping needs.  Someone with a knack for stamping could put a couple of these together and come up with a unique Hallowe'en party invitation.

Hmm. Maybe I should get started now...

The Home Haunters Video Awards Ceremony!

In the event you were unaware, The Bloodshed Brothers have announced the winners of the Home Haunters Video Awards! (Great job guys, and your sister is an awesome zombie!)Click on the pic to watch!

A heartfelt congratulations to everyone who won, and a big thanks to those who took the time to submit their videos for us to see!

An especially huge thanks to Chris and Jeff Davis for their hard work in compiling the videos, putting everything together and just making it go! They are very busy people in their private lives, and for them to take on this herculean task and donate their time and money to this venture is just a small indication of their quality and generosity. (I'm not worthy!)

The Trailer

On the Twenty-FIRST of APRIL

Uncredited Director, Chris "Christmas Ape" Aype, on the set of
"John Carpenter's The Fog."

Midnight 'til One...

The Posters

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay. From the top of the world, KAB radio.

Happy Birthday and Happy Birth Day

Can you say, "Happy Birthday" to a spirit? I guess so, 'cause fellow Scream Team member Revenant's birthday is today! (He doesn't look a day over 250, does he?) So Happy Birthday, dear friend! Try not to get mugged while you're staggering back home from getting lit! ;o)

In other news, German Shepherd mom, Shelby, began to have her pups last night. At last count, there were no less than five males in the litter, though she was still giving birth when the breeder sent me the e-mail. So, a big welcome to the world to the newest member of our Hell Hound pack, Samhain! (I'm sure Mr. ShellHawk will be giving out cigars at work today, right?)

I know Rev will be so honored that he shares a birthday with my dog. (Ha! Ha!)

GRINNING!

Kind of like "WINNING!" but without meth mouth.

Image by sth.

Easter Schmeaster

Via Pumpkinrot, the man who knows absolutely everyone worth knowing in the Hallowe'en community!

BTW, check out Rot's new header. Those evil guys with their eyes all aglow? Just a little Hallowe'en love for ya! (Excellent photography, again, Ms. Bean!)

This Is Hallowe'en (2011 in the Making)

With the rain temporarily gone (more expected this week), my work is actually drying enough so that I can carve a few faces to my new lidded jackos! Some unfinished friends have also been floating around the shop and should go into the next glaze firing.

A sharp-eyed person might notice the tombstone salt and pepper shakers I plan to put on Etsy soon...

The Great Puppy Saga of 2011 Continues... PUPPY WATCH!

"Hello out there! Can anyone hear me?"

The Great Puppy Saga of 2011 was not forgotten by yours truly. I've been lying in wait for news. Is Shelby pregnant, or must I wait for my little Sam longer? The scoop is, in the belly of Shelby, pictured above, there are an estimated eight pups, and hopefully, my Sam is among them. (That girl wouldn't dare have an all-female litter, would she???)

The other news is that the litter may be whelped this weekend! I am so excited! The down side is that in order to protect their health, we can't go see the puppies until they're four weeks old.

It is going to be a loooooooonnnng four weeks!

Click here for video of Shelby, the mom of my little guy. Hopefully, you'll be able to view it even if you're not on Facebook.

Hey, are they born, yet? ;oD

Darkwing Manor 2010

Click on the pic to watch.

What a classy haunt!

Casa Fear 2010

At long last, I have the opportunity to start going through my Home Haunter DVD collection! It seems that every time I try to sit down in any empty living room with a tv and a dvd player, someone else suddenly wants to come in and ask, "What the Hell is this you're watching?" (Thanks, Mom. You've only been in your room all day, waiting for this opportunity to annoy me, haven't you?)

I got to watch one of my favorite haunts, Casa Fear. I wish I had the budget and the knowledge to add a few more pneumatics and animatronics!

Click on the pic to watch

Just wonderful! *happy sigh*

The Dead Hour

I was contacted recently by Daniel Iske, director and executive producer of a new web-based horror series called The Dead Hour. Intrigued, I tootled over to the site to see what the story was.

From the desk of Mr. Iske:

Creators of the award-winning indie horror film, The Wretched, have just completed season one of their new thriller web series, The Dead Hour. The Dead Hour is a unique anthology series that will bring new and original webisodes to http://www.thedeadhour.com/ each season in the genres of horror, science fiction, thriller, slasher and fantasy. All webisodes remain online so fans can watch their favorites at any time, and as often as they like. Viewers also get an inside look at innovative low-budget indie filmmaking as thedeadhour.com takes you on set with behind-the-scenes photos, journals, tips and tricks, behind the scenes videos, and interviews with the creators and cast members as they bring the show to life. Production on season 2 begins next month!

I took the time to watch the episodes, "Donor" "Alcoholic Vampire," and "Cannibal Girls." (I'm working on the others, too. I'm afraid I might be hooked...) The acting was better than I had expected from a web-based series, and I liked the nostalgia the intro with D.J. "R" invoked in me. (Kind of like Rod Serling or Alfred Hitchcock, but with a hot chick.) The production value was impressive, as well.

While a bit on the predictable side, "Donor" played nicely on today's economic themes and imagined how far a man would go to provide for his family. It reminded me of the true definition of horror: an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by something frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting; a shuddering fear. [From Dictionary.com.] You do feel horror as this poor sod literally donates until it hurts for his self-absorbed wife. Not to slight the other episodes I watched-those were good, dark fun!


Of course, there are gallows and grim humor galore in this series, which is a must for me when I watch any horror series. I love wit and little hidden subtleties mixed with my murder and mayhem!

The Cast:
"DJ Raven" is played by Melissa Holder
Webisode 1 "DONOR":


"Seth" - Mark Booker


"Amy" - Cheri Bloomingdale


"Dr. Hermann" - Aleksey Solodov
Webisode 2 "ALCOHOLIC VAMPIRE":


"Vic" - Nic Roewert
Webisode 3 "COUGAR":


"Ms. Juniper" - Michelle Schrage
Webisode 4 "THE HOLE":


"Arthur" - Bill Wassem


"Betty" - Diane Watson Kolvek
Webisode 5 "CANNIBAL GIRLS":


"Kylie" - Melanie Gillis


"Wynne" - Stephanie Finklea

I'm sure the infamous and always-on Johnny Thunder will have something interesting to say about this series-if he hasn't already, that is! (He's kind of a big deal, you know.)

Head over to The Dead Hour's website and decide for yourself. Tell them ShellHawk sent you!

More Monsterpalooza

James Hong, stretching after a marathon of
autograph signings

 

Ape felt pretty safe, since Quasimodo was chained up.



These next few masks were from Rubber Gorilla, in the U.K.





Crazy mask at the Girls and Corpses booth

This clown at the Chaney Family booth really creeped me out.

More Soon!