New in the Shop--Mostly Gone!

Sold!

Before I went in for surgery, I took some time to take some pics of the things that had just come out of the last firing (the ones that survived, anyway!), because I knew I'd be stuck on the couch and have plenty of time to post them to the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store. I even re-took some pics of a few things from late last year, as the pics I had weren't up to par.

I've been playing with new handle shapes and designs.
I kind of like this one, because it has a natural thumb rest.

Apparently, it's tough to find one-fingered mugs, for those who like them...

Manly mug, in a manly color, to drink coffee in a manly way.

I like how the red and ice blue flowed on this mug...

I'm starting to freehand designs, too.

So for the past couple of days, I've been posting the new pics to Etsy. I also sent out one of my rare newsletters (rare, because I hate to bombard people's email with yet another piece of senseless mail for them to open--I like to have something new to say and show before I send one!) to let folks on my mailing list know there were new things to be found in the shop.

I like how the black and the blues flowed and overlapped on this serving dish. I hope to make some more of these as time goes by.

Also playing around with new "Pint-ish" glasses. This one sold right
away, so maybe I'm going in the right direction? :)

I was happy I sent it out, as one particular person got excited and bought a mess of things from me, including the "pint-ish glass" pictured above, and the bowl at the very top of this post! Hooray! I'll be putting those funds into building a new portable Raku kiln, as mine is on its last legs!

I truly love how well this plate turned out! The colors were exactly what
I was hoping for!

"Conundrum." I'm thinking of doing a series with this theme.

Of course, now I'm out of good pics to post in the shop, so I'm back to watching my teaching videos and wishing I could get out into the studio and get my hands muddy, again! (I'm also binge-watching "Breaking Bad," which I never saw while it was on, but we'll let that go, for now...)

If you're part of Etsy, please take some time to head over to my Etsy store and "Favorite" my shop. (To favorite, got to the left sidebar, scroll down, and click on the little heart and phrase "Add to Favorites.") You can also "like" my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. I've got a few fun Hallowe'en and ceramics boards on Pinterest, and of course one of "My Stuff."

O.K.! Time to get back to seeing how Heisenberg is doing... ;)

And a Couple More...

A couple of new additions to the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store!

I thought I'd try my hand at cake stands, and I got a very good response about them from the folks at Halloween and Vine! I think these will be back next year!

New in the Shop! Hallowe'en is Here!

Just for Universal Monster fans!

All available in the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store!

At Last, the 260th Follower Giveaway!

I was rolling around the whole giveaway thing in my mind and thought a combination giveaway would be a fun idea. That means there are three prizes, not just one, to have the chance to win!

First prize will be my choice of one my jack-o'-lanterns, second prize will be a $15 gift card for Crazy Dog T-shirts (though you can't have won anything from them in the past 90 days, or own a review/giveaway blog of your own), third prize will be a 25% discount coupon for anything in my ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store for a specific window of time to be decided later. (I NEVER give that kind of discount! EVER!)
UPDATE: I decided to add a candle pack collection from Dark Candles-either the Halloween limited edition or the Halloween pack. I'll figure it out later... But that will be the fourth prize.

So here's how to join in the fun:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a new follower and let me know you became one. Since a few folks did join specifically to get this giveaway going, I'll include folks who have become followers since July 1 if they'll leave me a comment on this post letting me know they're interested and the approximate date they joined.

3. Follow me on Twitter. (Leave a comment to tell me.)

4. "Like" my ShellHawk's Nest page on Facebook. (Leave a comment to tell me.)

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave me a link so I can check it out.

6. Tweet about this giveaway and let me know you did.

7. Do a status update on Facebook and leave me a link.

8. Two entries for a vlog post! Send me the link...

Please be sure to leave your comments on the original blog post here on Blogspot, not on Facebook or anywhere else.

If you have any other ways of spreading the word about this giveaway that I have not covered (within reason, of course!), you may earn yourself another entry. Even if you've won something from me in the past, please enter! You've supported this blog for a long time and deserve a chance to win something fun!

I'll announce the winners on Friday, August 10th. Good luck!

New in the Shop

New copper jack-o'-lantern in my ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store. More will be added in weeks to come, so keep an eye out!


And remember, if you're a Hauntcast subscriber, you get a special 15% discount!

A Quick Request--

--for those of you who have purchased a jack-o'-lantern from me in the past few years. When you get a minute, please email me photos of your jack in his new home, like these nice folks have:

I'm trying to build a small portfolio of customer pictures for my Facebook page! Any help you can give will be much appreciated! shell hawks nest at yahoo dawt calm.

New ShellHawk's Creations Discount

I've decided to throw in my lot with the other vendors who are giving special discounts to the hard-core fans who are stepping up and purchasing their subscriptions in order to resurrect Hauntcast. Sign up, and you will receive a special coupon code to the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store for 15% off everything in the shop and free shipping on everything but my matted prints. That coupon will be valid through the end of August.


If you're interested, check the Hauntcast blog for the new incentive discounts that are being posted, it seems, almost daily as vendors are finding out about the fan-drive to bring back the show and are stepping forward to help. (Last I saw, Dark Imaginings and Mini Spot Light were offering some nifty discounts.)


Regardless of the results of this "Jerry's Kids Telethon," ;o) I appreciate the support from the die-hard fans of the show. Thanks, guys!

My Jacks in Their New Home

I have to admit, there are times when I wonder at the wisdom of making jack-o'-lanterns as an avenue of income. I mean, really, how logical is that?


Then, someone sends me a picture like this one, and makes my whole day!

I'd love to see more pictures like this one. If any of you have some pics of pumpkins I've made in your home, please email them to me at shellhawksnest {at} yahoo daht calm. You know the misspelling is to save me from spambots, right? O.k.


I'm feeling so very good about this, that I'm going to offer a 10% coupon in the ShellHawk's Creations Etsy Store. Enter coupon code JANJACKS2012 at checkout to get your discount on anything in my store.

New in the Shop!

 New in the ShellHawk's Creations Shop, along with a few other things! Get 'em now in time for Christmas. 
Seriously! I'm putting the shop on vacation tomorrow night and won't be back until after New Year's!

New Tombstones for Your Table

 ShellHawk's Creations on Etsy.

New Photos in the Shop!

 Available in 5 x 7 matted or 8 x 10 matted.


ShellHawk's Creations Etsy store.

New Jacks in ShellHawk's Creations Etsy Store!

Don't let the warts fool you. He's a great guy!

 ShellHawk's Creations on Etsy.

News From the Nest

As with all of you at this time of year, the Nest is in a bit of disarray as the Hallowe'en stuff prepares to make its yearly appearance, school is in (which means learning and teaching for me), my booth opens, and any manner of chaos that can come a-visitin', will!


The open house I had a week ago Sunday went very well, especially considering I don't yet have a mailing list. (Note to self: build mailing list!)


As you can see from the pictures, the house looked like a Hallowe'en tornado had blown through and deposited Hallowe'en-y things everywhere. These pics were taken at about 1:00a.m., as I was finishing up entering my stock into my inventory sheet.


Of course, I don't have an "after" shot, where everything was beautifully displayed. I was just too busy to snap any pics the next morning! A final vacuum was done to pick up the German Shepherd dust rhinoceri that were galloping madly around the house, kitchen clean-up and hors d'oeuvres made and set out, bathroom cleaned, and all the last-second minutiae taken care of, with some help from Mr. ShellHawk. (He made a wonderful plate of caprese salad that was beautiful and as yummy as only home-grown tomatoes can be!)


The neighbors I invited who hadn't seen me making things in my garage were, I think, pretty surprised at not only the volume of work I had on display, but I think at the quality, too. I think some of them were expecting to have to make polite noises at some fairly cruddy and amateurish pottery, but instead, there were some honestly impressed looks on some of their faces. 
One friend didn't buy any of the Hallowe'en ware, but did purchase five of my Raku pieces, and five of my favorites, at that. 
Someone else bought several of the pre-matted photos I started offering this year, so I have hopes that they'll be a popular item at my booth on Apple Hill this season. All in all, we had a great time!


In other news, Jack Skelington was shipped off to his new home.

My friend Dean's three-year-old absolutely loves Jack Skelington, so when Dean asked me to make one for her, I was delighted to do so.
From Dean's email:

My daughter Olivia (3 yrs old) was so excited when she saw the box with a Jack Skellington face on the front.

I'm attaching 2 photos and a video when she opened it up. She carried it around the rest of the night and I had to put it on her nightstand

when she went to bed. She wanted a candle in it but I couldn't find one. She told me to get one today at Walmart for her.

Thank you so much! I'm going to put a flicker LED candle for it and display it in the window the entire month of October.

 Can I express how great it is to be a part of her Hallowe'en tradition? How cool is that?


Makes the late nights worth it, that's for sure!


Oh, and? I was listed on "Etsy Finds" the other day. Woo-hoo! (Look in the section that says "plan menu.")


Great things come with Hallowe'en!

New at ShellHawk's Creations

Mother wants you to buy this plate for her...

Headless Horseman bowl, Haunted House Plate, and Bates Motel Plate are all available at ShellHawk's Creations on Etsy.

Please note that since I am opening up my booth at Jack Russell Farm Brewery this weekend, I'll be pulling all items out of the Etsy store on weekends to avoid potentially selling the exact same item twice. Available items will be posted on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings until further notice. That means you should do your shopping on weekdays, if you can, because when people see my things in person, they sell!)