Farewell, Sam...

Until we meet again next year at this time...

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love pumpkins. 

Grins & grimaces a-plenty!

All kinds, shapes, colors, sizes. Green, grey, blue, orange, yellow, tan, red. Every species, no matter how fat, squat, knobby, pitted, warted, gnarled, you name it. 

A curious fella atop a plump one

To me, they signify a very special magic that lies in the spirit that is summoned into full being at the onset of autumn, which culminates in Samhain/Halloween, and with it, the legendary Jack O'Lantern.

Vintage 'Bogie Books' pumpkin house - love it!

Near our home is an annual set up of pumpkins for sale. It's situated at a small park near a shopping center, and the folks who run it take great care to create a fun atmosphere. Scarecrows gathered 'round stacks of hay bales, corn stalks, and funny scenes all welcome the buyer, with hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins and gourds all abounding. 

I could live here!
(NOTE: Image taken from Internet - not the place I'm describing above)

Did I neglect to mention all pumpkins and gourds? It's a veritable carnival of pumpkins - stocked with more varieties than you've likely ever seen!  

Like a kid in a candy store!

That certainly goes for me as well - the first time we stopped to have a walk-through, both Mark and I were blown away by them. And it was the first time I'd seen a magnificent Fairy Tale pumpkin (also called a Cinderella pumpkin, for the shape of which is like the one that her fairy godmother transformed into a carriage), which of course I had to have! We ended up buying many of them, and after Halloween had ended, saved some of the seeds and grew a small one of our own this summer.

Me in our yard, among the very spectacular (and huge!) pumpkin vines

Taken in 2011 during an autumn jaunt in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery
with my friend, artist Ethan Black

Here's hoping that everyone has a very special, happy Halloween season! 

A favorite activity: creating Jack O'Lanterns!
(being sure to save at least some of the seeds to roast) 

My funny creation, "Fenwick P. Mossbottom, Guardian of the Pumpkin Patch"

The Spook Factory in full bloom!!!

Our party is but a few weeks away, and I've been busy at work in my studio (right now dubbed the "Spook Factory") turning out as many creepy, eerie bits of 3D fright that I can.

Sometimes you need to reach deep down inside and pull out the horrifying stuff that has been buried.... you know what I mean, the stuff of nightmares and shadows that your normal waking mind cannot (and should not) deal with.

I scare my own self at times.

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***SOLD!*** Bobby, the Hopeless Romantic, ships off to his new home...

I admit, I was quite enamored with the fella, all snaggle-toothy and one-eyed, long sinewy legs locked in a forever Watusi jig from hell. 

A nice lady in Texas bought him today as a surprise for her husband's birthday, so off he was bubble-wrapped and shipped to the Lone Star state. I'm such a sucker for all things romantical and soppy - I'm much like Bobby in that way. Sigh... 

Farewell, dear Bobby!

But seriously, I'm all agog at the fact that I've sold two orders from my humble little Etsy shop in the span of less than two weeks. Wowza! I thank you all for taking the time to look at this page, at my Etsy page, and for making actual monetary transactions. Never did I imagine I'd be selling my weird, creepy little pieces of art. I'm thrilled and humbled at the same time. 

This calls for a celebration... get the Jack Daniels and Guinness ready, Mama's ready to party! 

WIP: ZomBabies

Take a store-bought doll. Add ghoulish green mottled paint to properly zombify it. VOILA!

Just one of many zom-babies to decorate the yard during this year's Halloween party. Can't wait to scare our guests in every way imaginable!

Works in progress and other eerie images on a rainy Labor Day weekend...

Found some amazingly cool children's clothing at an old second-hand store yesterday. This red velvet girl's dress works quite well to instill the creepiness, doncha think?

Dim lighting does wonders to set a mood!

There is an old dead tree in a nearby neighborhood that I see every so often from the road as I pass through. Generally, I'm driving too fast to take a photo of it, and every time I go past it, I marvel at its eeriness with regret that I didn't get a picture of it. In the summertime, its long dead trunk and branches reach up as the bottom half is choked with the green tangle of vines the south is known for. In the autumn, the vines and surrounding foliage turn brilliant colors, giving the ashen deadness of this tree a more surreal look. And, as you can imagine, in the wintertime, it is ultimately colorless and unadorned, a start upward jagged bunch of fingers pointing skyward, bare of grass and foliage.  

I vow to get some more photos of this magnificent tree in every season. My fear is that, one day, as I drive past, it will be gone, having either finally fallen over in death or removed artificially via chainsaw by the resident land owner. I'm hoping that won't be the case. Regardless, I'm so glad I got some pics of it yesterday. I made Mark pull over and stop by the side of the road as I leaned across him and snapped a few quick shots out the window with my mobile phone. The first one above is this tree (perhaps an oak?) au natural, and the second one below, with a few flicks of my magic buttons to scarify it up nicely. 

Have a nice weekend. Happy Hauntings! 

UPDATE! - Old Janky One-eyed Tom cat (a soft material sculpture with acrylic paint details) ***SOLD!***

Old Janky One-eyed Tom cat has been sold via my Etsy store, to a nice lady in Arizona! Very happy he's going to a good home. I'll miss him!



Introducing -

Old Janky One-eyed Tom ain't what he used to be back in the days of struttin' his stuff for all the girl kitties to see.

He's grown quite ripe in his old age and lordy, does it show!
Been in way too many alley fights.
Has lost an eye (but the remaining good one is wandering and all googly! Pick him up and it will wobble around a bit), and his old backbones are all bunched and hunched permanently now.

Most of his teeth have fallen out, with the exception of a few snaggly ones, but dear me, his tongue seems to want to loll out and drool all over himself.
As if that's all not enough, he's also become a rather ghastly green around the gills to boot! 

Old Tom was fun to create: muslin linen fabric was sewn together, and stuffed with a pillow type of fiber filling, then sewn shut and painted to come alive with a slew of acrylic paints. His lone eyeball is a plastic doll's eye that will move back and forth.
He's about 14 inches wide, by 9 inches high and weighs perhaps one pound. 

Add him to your weird doll and sculpture collection. There's surely a small warm spot on your living room sofa for Old Tom to adorn!

Please visit my Etsy page for price and ordering information!

www.etsy.com/shop/MacabreWebs

Autumn approaches! ... and new goodies as well

I've posted a few new things on my Etsy shop, including my vibrant orange & black Halloween Greeting Cackling Coffin.

I'm really feeling the holidays approaching quickly. Or perhaps I mean to say, I'm *wanting* them to get here as soon as possible! Either way, I've combed through photos of autumn scenery, vintage Halloween images, and all manner of related things to perpetrate this ongoing desire inside my soul.

Spooky and creepy but somehow, quite silly, fun, safe... let's go exploring, shall we?

This speaks to my heart and soul in so many ways! Oh the wonders of childhood, and the magic we conjure in our minds...

***New!*** 'The Guardian' Gargoyle Shelf

The Guardian is the protector of the realm! 

This a plaster-cast shelf that has been painted with many layers of acrylics to give it an ominous and surreal look as he gazes down upon you. 

His intimidating eyes even glow in the dark! Very spooky indeed.

The Guardian can be securely placed on any wall, and used to hold books, candles, why, even the skull of your enemy. Oh the possibilities are endless indeed.

Please visit my Etsy page for ordering information!
http://www.Etsy.com/shop/Macabrewebs

Dimensions: 11.5" wide X 6.5" length; approx. weight is 2 pounds

***New! - Mildred Girdlestone - now available!***

Introducing -

Mildred Girdlestone discovers she can fly!

 "Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one!"

Mildred Girdlestone, with the help of her beloved black cats and ravens, discovered that her inner child never left her... 

 ...so she kicked up her heels and flew!

One of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes!

I found this once drab and dull resin/wood sculpture at a local yard sale. It had been left outside in the harsh elements for a long time, and was in very sad, dreary shape. I looked beyond that and knew the whimsical potential in it.

A nice coating of acrylic paints in a very dazzling array of beautiful autumny Halloween colors brought it back to life in a spectacular way. I even painted each side slightly different, so when you turn it you get a completely different feel for it. And to me, that's more fun!

Mildred Girdlestone is now available at my Esty store!
www.Etsy.com/shop/Macabrewebs


Dimensions:
11" wide X 8.5" height
base pedestal approx. 7" wide
weight approx. 2 pounds

*** Winifred, in her Finery, presents a Pumpkin! ***

I am very pleased to introduce my latest creation, ready for sale!

Meet Winifred!

Winifred, in her finery, presents a Pumpkin on All Hallow's Eve

There are those most special of times when a gal needs to get all decked out in her satin and lace frippery. 

And as any self-respecting witch like Winifred knows, All Hallow’s Eve is the most special of occasions to dress up for. It’s the gathering for friends and family to honor those here and in the great beyond, with familiars and frivolity abounding. 

The vineyard’s first sweet wine will certainly flow in an unending stream, as all convene together with the wise ladies of the land to celebrate the great harvest and welcome in those visiting from beyond the veil. The merriment shall ensue! Songs and dancing ‘round the bonfire and good cheer and feasting are in order! Just the sort of things Winifred looks forward to – and breaking out her best evening attire is what the old girl lives for. 

Close-up to show details of her emotive face

Timeworn though she may be, her heart and happy spirit are ageless, as evidenced by her jolly (if toothless!) grin.

Glimmering Jack O'Lantern with vine tendril

Winifred’spumpkin patch has produced some remarkably hearty specimens this season, too.She has picked a plump beauty as the prized Jack O’Lantern, and happily presentsit here to help illuminate the night. 

Raised skirt to show shoes and base pedestal

Look at those fancy striped stockings and pointy witchy boots!

Winifred is *NOT A TOY*

She is a hand-made, one of a kind original collectible doll sculpture.

Catching the last rays of sun as dusk approaches

Her head, arms, hands, legs and shoes are all created with polymer clay, acrylic paints, and sealed in matte polyurethane to preserve her good looks for a very long time.

Her long hair is synthetic material, fastened with heavy-grade adhesive.

Her body is fashioned from a Styrofoam base for sturdiness, covered in papier mache, and also painted and sealed.

Winifred’s clothing is completely hand-sewn – not a thing was created with the help of a machine! She wears a skirt of black lace over a slip of black satin, a blouse of shimmery spider web fabric, and a fabulous billowing shiny black satin duster (her long cape coat).

Left-side view

Back view of her hat

Her pointy witch’s hat is also black satin with black lace and embellishments.

Her long cape and dress, side view

She is mounted securely on a colorful hand-painted plank of wood with scrolly laser cut wood base for beauty and ease of display in your home.

Approximate dimensions:

12” H x 6” W; weight approx. 2 pounds

Frankie wanted to help during the photo shoot!

If you are interested in purchasing Winifred, you can go to my Etsy page for ordering information!

www.Etsy.com/shop/MacabreWebs