Skull and Vine

Fiestaware has done it again!

Introducing their Skull and Vine dishes! What a beautiful pattern.

And in case you were wondering, they have continued to make their Halloween line, as well!

I've always loved Fiestaware's quality and bright colors, and these new patterns are just so fun and filled with whimsy! They're perfect for your Hallowe'en entertaining!

El Día De Los Muertos

I received a catalog in the mail from USPS yesterday and was delighted to be reminded they released these Day of the Dead stamps in September of last year. (It's been crazy here, so perhaps I can be forgiven for my lapse!)

In perusing the catalog, I discovered the USPS isn't offering their 2019 issued Spooky Silhouettes stamps any longer. (A bummer, certainly, but maybe your local post office still has a few left?) Even so, adding Day of the Dead stamps to your outgoing Halloween cards this year could be just the thing to brighten someone's day. 

Out of curiosity, I did a search for other skeleton-themed stamps and came up with these two beauties from the long-ago.

The last one is from an art display in Wales from a few years back. Artist unknown. Pretty creepy, eh? I love the way they used the blue palette.

OMG, They're SOOO CUTE!

I did a low-fire glaze firing the other day and have been too busy here to post these guys but aren't they the most creepy/adorable things you've ever seen?! 

I had such fun with their gestures and expressions, and I really can't wait to make more!

I've been puttering with different kinds of goody bags for the little pumpkin people, as well. Below are the before and after pics of this little charmer as a completely creepy-cute trick-or-treater!

Remember, if you're buying tickets for Midsummer Scream so you can acquire one of these beauties, use code SHEMSS22 for a little discount!

Random L.A. Moment-Downtown

The day I saw the Batmobile, I picked up my friend to go to lunch. It's hard to get good Mexican food in Folsom (think chain restaurant hell), so whenever I'm in L.A., it's on my to-do list.

L.A. has somewhat gotten with the public transportation thing. For those of you who have never visited, traffic in L.A. is a freaking nightmare. There are only four or five routes from the San Fernando Valley into "the City," and they're nearly always jammed. For example, returning to the Valley from Downtown (and yes, on that map you can find Skid Row), you might want to take the freeway. Well, the stupid 101 freeway goes from three lanes down to one, and good flippin' luck getting into it, 'cause most people won't let you in! Hence, I take the subway from the Valley into Union Station. Cheap, easy, and I don't have to pay the inflated parking fees Downtown.
Like many parts of Los Angeles, Union Station has seen growth, decay, and a facelift. Above is a glass ceiling that I marvel at every time I see it.

Sadly L.A. is on severe water restriction, so the fountains around town have been shut off to conserve water. (I have to laugh when people say "When the drought is over," since L.A. was built in the middle of a desert...) Be that as it may, when the facelift came, local artists were hired to pretty up the area.


A two-block walk from Union Station brings you to Olvera Street. We hit La Golondria restaurant first for a lunch of carnitas. Home made flour tortillas are absolutely the bomb at this place, so ask for them! We were also serenaded by these singers (sorry for the poor videography. Steven Spielberg I am not!)

After, we browsed the shops. Most shops have a "NO PICTURES" sign hanging in the front. But... I'm a rebel and had to take a pic of these items. I'd never seen these in a shop before and would have bought one if I thought I could get it on the plane!
Aerosol Para Todo, meaning, literally, "For Everything." Domination, conquering, money, protection. You know: everything! And it's 100% legitimate! How could you go wrong?!
I didn't see any signs forbidding photography at this shop, so I took a couple pics of their Dia De Los Muertos figures.
I just laughed my ass off at this guy!

All in all, it was a great day, and I came out of it with a number of new ideas to be applied in the Garage of Doom.

Blue Skull

I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd gotten some project out of the kiln at school. Here's the last one, the first of a series of Day of the Dead-themed skulls I plan to create and sell.
He looks charming on Mr. ShellHawk's bookshelf in his office. Neighbor V still says she doesn't find skulls festive. Oh, well!