Local Hub Article

Are there times when you want to pinch yourself?....I think so! Not only did I have the good fortune to be interviewed by KHAS-TV that aired this week, but I have all but one column on the front of the Life section of the Kearney Hub today. Sarah Mulder was the Hub writer and she did a wonderful job mentioning Halloween and Vine and SpookyTime Jingles and I am just thrilled!!! Plus it is Halloween!!! Now that is what I call a wonderful day!

Thank you to all of you that have put up with me through all of this and my fall madness. I wish everyone the same good fortune!
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Happy Halloween to you all!!

Spooky Salutations,
Laurie

Halloween and Vine and Ghoultide Gathering

First I want to report that Halloween and Vine is one of the most exciting and dynamic Halloween shows I have ever attended, but then again those of you that have attended before or know the work of the artists participating in the show already knew that!! The show gave me the opportunity to actually see the work of Scott Smith, Johanna Parker, Lori Ann Corelis, Nicol Sayre, William Bezek, Christy Silacci, Kerry Howard-Schmidt, Vergie Lightfoot, Ginny Betourne, Jorge de Rojas, Katherine Webber, Susie Scott and the list goes on and on...all a visual feast for the eyes and senses!! I don't know how to explain to you how much more impressive the work is to actually see it in person, hold and turn in your hand to see all of the detail and nuances of the surface, and to see it's actual size...especially when the artists' work already looks great in a photograph. The other thing is that every artists I met was just the nicest person...really, really friendly and encouraging and it just made for such a great experience. Equally wonderful were the collectors that came to the show and were so generous with their comments and purchases. Everyone was smiling in the building and that makes for such a great atmosphere that you are just happy to be exposed to such positive energy from people that share a love for Halloween just like you do! (Plus I got to meet Dani, Leah and Melissa!!)

If you ever get the chance to go to Petaluma, I highly recommend the event and the wine...oops, did I say wine?!! We stayed within walking distance of the old downtown and the restaurants and shops were wonderful and the citizen's really love their community, and like to share that with you. It made for that "icing on the cake" you always hope to experience when you are traveling. Of course, good food and drink tend to be a priority for some of us and after seeing myself in the photographs this year I really need to do a little less of the food!! Yikes!

I've included some shots of my table from last Saturday before the show opened.


Poor Scott, I was like a groupie you always hear about meeting someone they admire for the first time!! He was a trooper and posed for a photograph with me. His work is inspiring and if you can attend Ghoultide Gathering this Saturday, October 3, in Mill Race Village, Northville, MI, Scott will be there along with another great group of Halloween artists I so admire! Fellow EHAG artists Carolee Clark, Kristen Beason, Pam Gracia and Lori Brechlin will also be there. It would be so worth the trip, trust me!

There will be other artists posting about both events in the coming days so keep an eye out for some great displays!!

Have a great day!
Laurie

Rupert the Devil Pumpkin and Lothar His Skelly Scepter

I told you that Hephaestus had a Devil Pumpkin brother...his name is Rupert. Rupert is a bit less innocent than his sweet brother and chose as his companion the skelly scepter, Lothar. Lothar is a terrible influence on Rupert and constantly inspires him to do such things as letting the air out of bike tires, stealing children's' homework, letting dogs off of their leashes and then he lurks in corners to hear adults scold the young children accused of his doings. On Halloween night he has even been known to steal candy, scaring children and adults alike, and ringing doorbells and quickly hiding from the homeowner. He is just naughty!!!!!


This little fellow also has a pumpkin body as well as a pumpkin head. Don't let his smile fool you...he is pure mischief!!

Setting up this afternoon for Halloween and Vine...it all happens tomorrow!!!

Have a great weekend all!!
Laurie

Hephaestus the Devil Pumpkin With Horace

Tick, tick, tick....time is quickly approaching for the 14th annual Halloween and Vine this Saturday, September 26, at Hermann Sons Hall in Petaluma, CA. This little guy, "Hephaestus the Devil Pumpkin with Horace" will be one of 58 original works available for purchase at the Monkey-Cats Studio table. Hephaestus is one of two Devil Pumpkin brothers that will be making the journey to California...he is definitely the "cutey" of the two and adores his flaming pattern design on his base as well as across the bottom of his cape that covers his back. You might also notice he has a little devil tail...something this little guy was born with along with the horns sprouting from his forehead.

Not to fear, Hephaestus is a LITTLE devil and he only does small devilish deeds. (Okay, he has been know to fling a jack-o'-lantern or two, but only if they were already rotting and begging to be put out of their shriveling misery.) He is also shown with Horace, his Bat out of He-- (I didn't name him!!). It is actually Horace that you might have to watch...he has been known to fly off with a shiny thing or two, so if you adopt him and you can't locate one of your earrings, pretty pins or car keys (so naughty), you might want to check his favorite hiding spot, which is usually right over the top of your drapes. Of course when you go to look over the drapes he will have moved them and then put the object in plain site to make you feel pretty silly for not seeing them when you looked in the same spot the first time. Maybe you have already experienced the mischief of Horace!!

Well it is off to last minute details for me and maybe a margarita. Hope to see you Saturday!
Laurie

Bowl for Halloween and Vine

Well, Halloween and Vine is this Saturday and one of the items I will have on my table is a first for me. I created a painted a 14.5" paper mache lined bowl with Monkey-Cat figures filling the landscape. It is perfect for displaying in any Halloween collection and has lots of little details to amuse any Halloween collector.

It is much better in person and will be available on Saturday at the show in Petaluma, CA. If you aren't familiar with the show just click on Halloween and Vine and it will take you to the site for you to gather more information on the event, location and artists taking part in the show. Hope to see you there!!

Laurie