To Absent Friends...

I miss you, my friend. Hope you're well. 

More Hallowe'en goodness from Pumpkinrot here.

Stuff and Things

It's been quite the week here at the nest! I started my new job last week, but Mr. ShellHawk brought a plague home from his work and I was home sick with it the first few days of this week. Not the first impression I wanted to make, that's for sure. Even so, my new boss was very understanding and grateful I didn't infect her during her busy season. I went in Thursday and Friday, partially because I was feeling marginally better, partially because I just couldn't be away from a brand new job, and partly because I couldn't stand one more day of sitting on the couch, watching TV!

Scare LA just announced pre-event ticket sales start Monday, with the first hour of sales to be marked down up to 75%! So if you're interested in going, you might want to look into that right away. Click here for details and to be added to their mailing list to be notified of when the sale starts.

In the studio, I just opened the kiln today to discover---everything was perfect! No shivering, no unwanted crackling, no bubbles! Since a few of the pieces are gifts to be given tonight, I won't post pics right now, but I will be, soon. Nothing like seeing gifts turn out exactly the way you wanted them!

If things go as planned, this could be a new product line I can make for "the rest of the year," i.e., not Halloween. My new job is going to allow me to pay someone to help with doing some of the tasks which are time-consuming and take me away from the "making" part. The more time I can spend in the studio, getting that done, the better. Ultimately, I would like to make enough through my sales to quit the job, but that's a ways off, yet. In the meantime, I'm grateful to have it, and to work with some very nice people!

And if you missed it, Hauntcast has a new episode out, and all past episodes are free for download. But be cool, and see if you can throw a few bones our way, even if it's only $5. 

After all, even the great Pumpkinrot listens to Hauntcast! :D

The Haunted Hallway

I caught this over on 'Rot's site. The Haunted Hallway.

How it trips off the tongue: "The Haunted Hallway."

I am so envious of those kids, getting treated to 'Rot's efforts! And a school getting to do an old-school Hallowe'en? Not a "Harvest Festival?" Priceless!

 I love living in California, but the "P.C."-ness of it all sometimes drives me batty. Like banishing Hallowe'en and not letting kids wear costumes.

I find myself yearning for someone to tell "them" all to "go pound sand! We're doing this Hallowe'en thing!"

The Dark Hallowe'en Art of Pumpkinrot

It's funny how, for hard-core haunters and Hallowe'en people, the beginning of summer is the beginning of the Hallowe'en season. There are only so many weekends and evenings before The Show (as my friend, Revenant, calls it), and those minutes and days are precious to us.

Planning is key, but before planning comes an even more important factor: inspiration.

I can't think, off the top of my head, of anyone more inspiring in the Halloween art genre than my brother from another mother, Pumpkinrot.

I know anyone reading this post in June already knows all about Rot and his constant inspiration and contributions to the Hallowe'en afflicted. I know this comment may come off as fawning, but it's truly the respect of one artist for another's work, techniques, and imagination.

Since I had a little time to putter around on the net while away on my anniversary trip, I put together a board on my Pinterest page, dedicated solely to Rot's creations. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you, Rot, for the inspiration you give me and for making me push to do more with my art.

Just for Grins

Rot's new and creepy header...

...I did a quick search on Pinterest for "Pumpkinrot."

It's great to see such a talented haunter and artist be recognized for his fiendish genius. Way to go, my brother from another mother!

Pumpkinrot blog.

A Little Frustrated, and "Famous" Again!

Confession time: it's the eighteenth of October, and I'm not done setting up the yard, yet.

Stewie isn't in his usual place in the window. Mr. Chicken's new haunted tombstone isn't started or placed, yet, though I did get the projector for it. The caged skeleton isn't hanging.

Zombie Fred isn't happy
about still being in the
attic, either...

The list goes on. Why? Mr. ShellHawk and I are being "adults," and are taking care of some much-needed home maintenance. We're doing roof repair and adding some gutters and down spouts, in addition to replacing dry-rotted fascia boards and having them painted with a new color. (Mr. ShellHawk was a doll and is paying someone to insulate my studio/garage bay, too, and put some kind of stripping around the edges to cut the draft! Yay!)

Stewie would just have far too much fun tormenting the workmen, and his idea of "fun," would probably include removing ladders and possibly eating one of the painters. *Shudder* Then how would I get the fascia painted? It's just too awful to contemplate.

Between that and being at Abel's three days a week, plus  finishing projects in-between, plus domestic chores like laundry (and what the hell happened to party planning?! It's next Saturday, for cryin' out loud!), etc., it's been non stop. Oh, and then there's school, which I have not been attending with regularity because of various obstacles.

Have I mentioned that I haven't been sleeping well, either? I'm pretty sure I'm starting with those rotten night sweats. Waking up covered in sweat and the sheets soaked with it is. Just. Gross!

O.k., ShellHawk. Quit whining! They get the point.

The good news is that the tombstones are in place and I'm continuing Beloved's repair from last year's puppy attack. And for those of you who have followed me, that is, in fact, the second time I've had to replace the entire skirt. At least this time, there was no dead rat to contend with. While I did make the monster mud too thick, it will do for now. I Drylok-ed it Tuesday and have been letting it dry. Hopefully, I'll get to the tea-staining after work over the weekend.

I have never needed minions more than I need them now, but the folks who normally help are either out of town or really need to focus on getting a job, and I can't, in good conscience, ask them to drop everything and come help. *sigh* Oh, well. Whatever doesn't get done, just doesn't get done.

In better news: Hey! I'm famous! Again! ;o)

I made it on the cover of the local paper, and apparently, there was an even better spread in the neighboring town's paper. I guess I need to get some more candy for the ToTs this year! YAY! I'm really hoping it will improve the turnout this year, as it's been pretty thin around here. The decorating has been dismal, so far, too. What's up with that? I mean, when even Pumpkinrot's neighborhood is sparse, you know it's bad...

Maybe we should decorate our neighbor's houses, like Noah Fentz did? Hmm.

Thoughts? Anyone else have a sparse neighborhood?

Swamp Foetus

If you haven't had a chance to get over to Pumpkinrot's blog, now is absolutely the time!


Each year, Rot and his lovely bride, Bean, create Hallowe'en in their own unique style. Both are artists in their own rights, with the artist's attention to detail and the moods they wish to evoke in their viewers. Rot usually has a video of the year's special project, and the video always wows. This year is no exception.


Swamp Foetus. It even made it onto the Dread Central website.


Congrats, Rot. You and Bean really outdid yourselves this time!

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!)

Hallowe'en at the Gallows & Rot's Offerings

Looking over my blog list this morning, I found that Drop at The Gallows has posted a few pics and some nice notes about his Hallowe'en night.

By this time, I'm sure all of you have popped by Pumpkinrot's blog to see what he was up to, but here's a neat collection of shots from him. LOVE the new Jenny Greenteeth prop.

Halloween Memory-Pumpkinrot: The Green Skull

My grandparents lived in a tiny neighborhood of tiny row homes. It seemed every house had a tiny elderly couple in it. When they decorated for any holiday, it seemed they all used decorations that hadn't been manufactured in decades. They were now worn and pale. Strings of giant pastel light bulbs for Christmas, the kind that'd fit in the palm of your hand. Strange shiny foil foldout decorations hanging from window locks and doorknobs. Paper decorations with images of happy Pilgrims and smiling Indians sitting at the same table.


Halloween. Everyone seemed to have a ceramic pumpkin happily facing out into the street. A bright white bulb making sure neighbors across the street could feel the joy from triangular features. But up at the corner. A tiny creepy skull, smiling green. The house was always dark. No porch light that I can remember. Leaves always on the sidewalk. No lights on inside the house. But there it was - a tiny white skull with a green bulb inside. Always on. All Halloween season long. And we obsessed about it. And we still do. Remember the skull? we've asked for years. And, of course, we do.

So a few months ago, I saw it. Someone offering a small white skull for sale. Unlike any ceramic skull I've seen. In my mind, it's THE skull. From that house. The ceramic bone is incredibly thin. Delicate. But perfect. And there was no doubt about it; he'd have a green bulb for a brain. And he'd go in the window.

And I'll make sure to turn the rest of the lights out.

Corrupted Light

Large Witch Jar by Pumpkinrot. Thanks, man! I love it!

Rot's Crows Redux

Strublay was kind enough to send be the URLs for a couple of Pumpkinrot's works that were made into Demotivational posters. Thank you, Strublay!