Monday, June 29, 2015

What Time Is It?

I happened to run across this image while browsing Pinterest yesterday. I have now found a new "must-have" for my office. 

After all, I don't have a proper clock in there, yet.

Oswald Rotating Eye Skull Clock from the 1920s, made in West Germany. The eyes rotate to tell the time. Also known as a "time of death" clock, the eye on the left tells the hour, and the eye on the right tells the minutes. They're quite rare, apparently, and quite spendy, if you can find them in good condition.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

The Big Day!


Amazing birthday cake by Sweet Lady Jane.
Part of the reason I've been so scarce around here is because of the ginormous task of planning a surprise party for my dad. I have to say, this is the best party I've thrown since my wedding!

But I didn't do it without help, that's for sure. I had co-conspirators. Really, really good ones! 

My brother and his family had the honor of hosting my dad for a visit a week before the grand celebration, and can I share something? I was really sweating the kids blowing the surprise! But they didn't blow it. High five, kids!

Nobody did, and there were roughly fifty people at the party.

The first string was a lady whom I've known for a number of years, who connected me with some of my dad's former colleagues from his Encyclopedia Britannica days. One of them owns a home--and what an astounding home it is! It even got a write-up in Architectural Digest! After the first house fell through, these folks stepped up and volunteered to host. Can I just tell you what an amazing property it was to hold a party? (Click on the bold type, and you'll see what I mean!)
Waiting for the guest of honor...
My brother and sister-in-law flew down from Washington to join in the festivities, and my father-in-law and brother-in-law came, too.
Mr. ShellHawk, laying out the appetizers in the big, gorgeous kitchen!
He even made the side salad for everyone!
The garden, before everyone showed up...
The smile on his face is what made my whole day!
Paella for dinner! Noms!
During the celebration.
Several people spontaneously stood up and spoke about him and what he means to them, which got me a bit misty, I admit. It really let me see may dad through other people's eyes.

Dad called me on Monday to tell me thanks again for a wonderful surprise. He was genuinely touched that everyone would show up for him, something he never expected. He's a humble guy, my dad.

The party finally wound down around 10:00. It was wonderful.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

One by the Master

More jack-o'-lanterns by carve-master Ray Villafane here.

Photo copyright Ray Villafane and Barcroft Media.

Correction: this jack is the work of sculptor Andy Bergholtz.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

25% Off ScareLA, But Only---

Until Wednesday!
Use code SCARESHELL to get 25% off your ScareLA tickets

Do it. You know you want to. :D

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Sawtooth Jack

There are things living in this field that will, by rights, be dead by tomorrow morning. One of them hangs on a splintery pole, its roots burrowing deep in rich black soil. Green vines climb through tattered clothes nailed to the pole and its crosspiece. They twist through the legs of the worn jeans like tendons, twine like a cripple's spine through a tattered denim jacket. Rounded leaves take succor from those vines like organs fed by blood vessels, and from the hearts of those leaves green tendrils sprout and the leaves and the vines and the tendrils fill up that coat and the arms that come with it.
A thicker vine creeps through the neck of that jacket, following that last few inches of splintery pole like a backbone, widening into a rough stem that roots in the thing balanced on the pole's flat crown.
That thing is heavy, and orange, and ripe.
That thing is a pumpkin.
 Text from Norman Partridge's book, Dark Harvest.

Image from Spooky Blue. Make your own pumpkin-headed scarecrow here.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Opening---

Image source here.

the kiln this morning, to grab some last-minute things for glazing and firing this week before an event.

It ain't ceramics unless you're standing in front of your kiln and wishing it would cool down faster!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Random Ideas...

They pop up in my mind at the strangest times. Random ideas. Things which are hilarious to me, but undoubtedly offensive to someone else.

Like making a yard haunt based on this song, but replacing the people with skeletons with three-axis skull routines to really make it--um--sing! 

Oh, yeah. Definitely a winner!
Click on the pic to see what I mean!

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Sneak Peek

 From this weekend's Obvara and Raku firings...

Friday, June 5, 2015

Vintage Skelly

Something about the sweetness of the clown next to the roughness of the skeleton makes this shot eye-catching. I can't stop looking at it!

Via bits and bites (billyjane) on Tumblr.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Watch My Plant For Me, Will You?

Someone asked a co-worker to watch her plant while she was away. 

The plant will never be the same.

More pics of the plant's adventures here.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Great News, Gomez! ScareLA Discount Code!

We're gearing up for L. A.'s premier Halloween show and convention, so have a 25% discount on your tickets, on me!

For a limited time, use code SCARESHELL at www.scarela.com for 25% off select tickets, discount courtesy ShellHawk's Creations!

What's ScareLA, you ask?
ScareLA premiered in 2013 as the first Los Angeles convention dedicated to celebrating Halloween. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world it combines the city’s top talent and unique cultural setting with a twist! Drawing fans and haunt entertainment professionals, the event features top attraction designers and operators, manufacturers, artists, filmmakers and more. The weekend-long Halloween season teaser celebrates California’s hottest scary faire with attraction unveils, workshops and classes, top industry panels, haunt tours, screenings and activities. Share, inspire, play – ScareLA.

What you can expect:
  • Curated collection of exhibitors showcasing scary goods, services & job opportunities
  • Expert and celebrity panels on the haunt business, horror entertainment and more
  • Presentations of top and upcoming local haunts with sneak peaks and unveils
  • Performances by local horror themed theatre companies and musicians
  • Professional demos of makeup, set building, costume creation, animatronics and more
  • Hands-on workshops taught by top haunt industry professionals for all skill levels and ages
  • Screening room showing premiere attraction walk-throughs and local horror filmmakers
  • Interactive experiences, games, roaming monsters and more!
Last year, in honor of the Haunted Mansion's anniversary, Rolly Crump made an appearance and answered questions about the creation of the Haunted Mansion. Who knows who will show up this year?

And? The show floor has expanded! Yup. We're now going to be haunting the 100,000+ square feet of the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California!

Seriously, you really must make every effort to come out to ScareLA this year. Its location means tons of people from all avenues of the movie industry will come out (as they did last year) to play at this truly unique event.


Come out and play with us on August 8th & 9th. We're just dying to have you!