Sunday, August 30, 2009
















It seems to be becoming a 'thing' with me that the end of the SALA festival signals rising excitement (on my part) about the approach of 'Gothtober' and the unbridled glee (again, on my part) that is Halloween. Yes, I live in the wrong hemisphere for this celebration, yes the seasonal colors are completely reversed (halfway through spring) and yes most people in Australia not only don't celebrate Halloween but see it as yet another Americanism and can be quite hostile to it. A great pity.....personally, I've loved it since I was a child and wanted so badly to be able to go trick-or-treating, bob for apples and dress up in scary costumes. I love the carved pumpkins, the candy corn and the fun of decorating the house and yard with ever more elaborate props. My kids have now grown up with it and the party that we have each year is probably their favorite family event. So, each August I look back through the photos of the previous years Halloween and start planning. The photos above are all things that I made last year....the dollies were ordinary children's dolls found at my local op-shop, which I attacked with paint, scissors and matches (deeply satisfying in a twisted kind of way).....the kitchen props were all made by me and my daughter Taylor.....also, Dr. Death and the corpse in the coffin and the cupcakes (which everyone felt bad about eating because they took such a long time to make). Here in Australia, each year there is more Halloween stuff available in the shops but you really can't beat the props that you make yourself. At this stage I have no idea what I'll come up with this October, but the seeds have been planted....
Till next time.

8 comments:

  1. Hey thanks for stopping by my blog. Your Halloween decorations and props are awesome. I think that many creative people love this holiday. I do and many og my friends do too. I usually decorate my studio with props as our next open studio tour is the first weekend of October. Great ideas on reworking those children's dolls.

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  2. Hmmm. I am sensing a theme...j/k. Thanks for sharing your pix!

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  3. Love it all!!! Especially those little cupcakes with teeth!! Send me a bag and I'll drop some Treats in there for you!!!!

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  4. I love Halloween also Loreil...
    Just the darkness seems so right....at that time of the year.

    I wish you could come to this side of the world for Halloween.

    The spiders are weaving their webs to catch the last remaining flies and hornets. In the morning the dew that collects on the webs is almost mysterious to me, it's so beautiful. The crispness in the air, you can smell it. Leaves start to change from green to red, yellow and orange. Crows caw caw saying "Autumn" is coming. Pumpkins and "Indian" colored corn are in the grocery stores and farms. Little kids get the jitters they are so excited to dress up in something scary or sweet.
    Ohhh Halloween or All Hallows Eve.

    If you would send me your address I'll send you a little Halloween prize... : )

    dancingbuffalo@earthlink. net

    Pattee

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  5. Hey Lorell, I second the sen dme your snail mail and I will send you a Halloween treat too. codyart@fuse.net.

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  6. Lorell~
    If you want and only if you want you can see a sneak peak at what I'm going to send you on my blog....
    www.odd-dolls.blogspot.com

    : )
    Pattee

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  7. Do you think so??? I'm always bee intimated by wonderful artists like you... but I'm going ahead and send he anyway... : ) she'll be on a vintage weaving spool ~ plus all the cool stuff we have here on Halloween~
    Love~Pattee

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  8. Thanks Lorell,
    I hope you like her in person!

    I've had fun collecting this and that to put in your box!
    Pattee

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