A little bit more....

Here's another picture of the big belsnickle project. It doesn't look like we have done much but trust me we have! Early this morning we decided we needed to be able to see this thing in 3D to get some perspective on the shape. The white foam board running lengthwise will be cut to resemble the side view of the belsnickle pictured. This will enable us to attach the wire mesh and shape it  for a rough form of the Santa...Oh hell this all sounds to technical...let's say this,  We are just wrestling with this damn thing and hope the hell it turns out looking like a belsnickle! Much better!

Waiting in the wings.....

This week has brought the wrapping up of  unfinished loose ends. A few stray jack o lanterns, witch lanterns and belsnickles finally were finished and put into the store hopefully to find new homes soon! We have started on the six foot belsnickle and oh, what a project we have embarked on! This guy isn't to easy. Right now we are stuck on how to proceed on filling out his torso area. Guy and I both have different ideas about the construction so we are battling it out right now between us. I've come up with a new idea which is more labor intensive but may have a better outcome. I'll run this by Guy in the morning after his first few cups of coffee! More caffeine equals more agreeable! I'm posting a picture which isn't much to look at right now but hey, you can at least get an idea of our craziness!

Cool and Crisp!

This morning brought a cool crisp fall like feeling. It was so nice to turn off the air conditioners last night and actually use a blanket while sleeping. I always love this time of year. After the long hot days of summer when fall arrives my thoughts turn to natures bounty. I love passing the farm stands in my Mennonite valley. I always smile at the mountains of pumpkins, squash, corn and gourds piled on flatbed wagons along the side of the road. It reminds me that there really is a simpler life if only we would choose to stop long enough and look.As for work this week I am looking towards the Christmas season. With my schedule full of shows and commitments through next Feb. it's time to get moving. This week we molded a new German Belsnickle which I will have pictures of posted in a day or two. The picture that I am posting today is one of my most favorite candy containers. We have produced this Belsnickle for many years...enjoy!

The watch!

I just wanted to post a quick picture of an old friend I found today..the watch. Years ago my husband gave me this watch for some special occasion.Honestly after 30 years of marriage I have no idea what the special occasion was or when. Could this watch be any more perfect! It says..Get in your studio and make stuff!

One elephant and three crazy pigs!

Today was a catch up and finish projects day in the studio. Late last night I spent a few hours moving work benches and paint tables just to "fluff" up the work space.I like a nice clean working environment so every now and then I go through this moving and cleaning phase.For those of you who don't know, I live in a funeral home. Our house and store was the Strunk Funeral Home for over 100 years in the same family.Our studio is where the bodies were processed and yes, we do have an embalming room which is where all the molding and sculpting is done. My store to the front was the casket show room and our home was where the funerals were held in the front parlor. Ok , yes we have spirits.Harmless ones.We have a ghost cat who made itself known the first time we were ever in the store. He comes and goes from time to time, walking into the walls. This is a cool old place and someday I'll post some pictures of it when I have the time. Here's the result of today's "catch up"..An elephant lantern and two more different pigs to go with the first pig I did. These are for you Jen!
Sweet Dreams!

It's turkey time!

I'm posting a picture of the largest turkey candy container we make. We only make a  couple of these every few years because of their difficulty, he's a real challenge! Today was a very fragmented day. It started early this morning with my granddaughter Lily standing beside my bed and scaring the life out of me! I wasn't expecting her quite so early but at only four years old she thought it was funny to see "grammie" jump awake.The morning continued on with me trying to have my cup of coffee in peace and quiet and Lily wanting me to play even when I couldn't focus yet. After breakfast, play dough, Don't Spill The Beans, glue crafts, squirt guns, Shrek2, and Scobbie Doo we ate lunch and mommy came to pick her up! By this time grammie was pooped and needed a nap. Tonight I finished this candy container..his head pulls off the front. Tomorrow will be another early day with Lily. Thankfully she loves crafts so just maybe I'll have someone to take over by business someday if we can just get past the glue craft stage!

I'm going bananas!

This week has brought a welcomed departure from so much Halloween work. I was in the studio burnt out on pumpkins, cats, witches and the likes of the Halloween season when my box of paper mache forms fell open and out popped a banana! This gave me the excuse I was looking for, to do something different! I had picked up quiet a few of these fruit forms on a clearance  months ago and thought someday I could do something creative with them. This was the day..something said..  GO BANANAS! After a few hours of  "banana play", I ended up with a pile of these guys not quite knowing what to do with them.  Here's the picture of the end result..the banana tree. The sly Zebra keeps getting in my pictures, he's a sneaky guy you cannot trust! If I'm missing some bananas, I know who ate them!