Grim Reaper Diorama

Grim Reaper Diorama:

Back view. Hand Painted X-large bushel gourd that has been cleaned, carved and painted with a grim reaper, gravestone and watchful eyes. A hand sculpted clay leaf is affixed to the natural stem.

Interior view. Clay sculpted Grim Reaper has been dressed in a black fabric rope and points to a tombstone below. A white birch tree is in the background with a foggy mist creeps up from the black glittered background. One Of A Kind.

To order, please contact me for pricing and traveling expenses.

Scarecrow Sam

Scarecrow Sam: A true staple of autumn in the Midwest. Sam is created from a canteen gourd and sits upon a wooden candlestick. He has a sculpted nose, paper mache party hat, and raffia hair. He is perched upon an 8" handcrafted, wooden candlestick pedestal. He comes with a handmade tag and is signed and dated by theartist. One of a Kind.

To order, please contact me for pricing and traveling expenses.

Mortimer -Tthe Evil Eye

Mortimer The Evil Eye: Mortimer is a handpainted and sculpted canteen gourd. He comes with a vintage monical and chain, creepy spiders and a poem at his base. He is mounted on a 8" handcrafted wooden candlestick pedestal. One of a kind.

To order, please contact me for pricing and traveling expenses.

Vintage Stack

Vintage Stack: This gourd sculpture has been created from three dried canteen and bushel gourds. a contented Halloween Witch with a hand sculpted nose sits upon an autumn staple. Scarecrow Sam is hand painted and has natural raffia hair. He is sitting upon a vintage style, grinning pumpkin. It comes complete with paper mache witches hat and tissue festooning. One of a Kind.

To order, please contact me for pricing and traveling expenses.

Halloween Scene Decorative Gourd

It's Halloween! Acrylic on large dried bushel gourd. 360° Silhouetted Halloween scene complete with scarecrow, harvest moon, bats, owls, jack o’ lanterns and witch. It is accensted with a hand scultped stem and hand made tag. It is signed and dated by the artist. Aprox 8" tall x 12" wide. To order, please contact me for pricing and traveling expenses.

(Note: due to the natural growth process, a gourds size, shape and densisty will vary which contributes to their uniqueness. Be assured that I choose only art-quality gourds for my products).

Hazel Witchenstein

Hazel Witchenstein is a perfectly pleasant halloween witch. This x-large kettle gourd is created with a clay sculpted nose, hand painted features and tissue festooning. She is approx. 16" tall and would make a fine addition to any halloween collection. One of A Kind. If you are interested in adopting her, please contact me for price and traveling expenses.

Winkin' Moon

Winkin' Harvest Moon and a little special magic...This x-large bushel gourd is an autumn favorite that spans the fall months. He is handpainted and generously glittered with real german glass glitter. A rusted strand of stars adron his stem. He comes complet with a handmade tag and is signed and dated by the artist. (Note: due to the natural growth process each gourd is slightly different in shape, size and density. However, I do my best to hand pick every one to ensure the best art-quality gourds in my products.)

To order one to be custom made for you, please contact me for pricing and shipping.

Jack Collection

Jack's of all Trades:

Add one of these whimsey characters to your halloween collection. All are one-of-a-kind, but can be reproduced by me. Hand sculpted airdry porcelain over dried gourds, each is attached to a spring and mounted in a paper mache, hand painted and decorated box. Eached is detailed with glittered garland, tissue festooning and hand made elements to coordinate each design. Approx 8" tall. Currently available are : Masquerade Rabbit, Harry the Skeleton, Witch in a Box, Vintage stack, and Watermelon babies. (The Pumpkin Wizard and be custome ordered). If interested in any of these, please e-mail me for price and shipping.

New for 2009 - Witchpoo Diorama: Created from a dried bushel gourd that has been hand chosen, cleaned, carved and painted inside and out. The witch diorama contains both hand sculpted airdry porcelain figures of balck cats, and small pumpkin. The witch has been created from a dried gourd with a hand sculpted head. She carries a poison apple and a gourd stem cane. On her head is perched a proper a paper mache witches hat and natural black sheep wool hair. The JOL is a hand painted dried gourd with a sculpted scaredy cat. They are nestled in a bed of natural dried moss. The interior is painted black with a glittered field, and the exterior is painted white with black silhouette of a halloween witch on a gourd vine. It has been antiqued and preserved in a coat of poly sealant. the completed pieces sits upon a 6" wooden candlestick pedestal. Accented with tissue festooning, custom tag and is signed by the artist.
One-of-A-Kind, it will go fast. Accepting orders.
Please contact me for price and shipping.

Magicial Owl Diorama

New for 2009 - Magical Owl Diorama: Created from a dried bushel gourd that has been hand chosen, cleaned, carved and painted inside and out. The Owl Diorama contains hand sculpted airdry porcelain over dried egg gourd owl. He featured a magic wand and a paper mache wizards hat. He is perched upon a hand sculpted gourd vine. In the rear is a hand sculpted winking harvest moon. The interior is painted black with a glittered field, and the exterior is painted white with black silhouette of an owl on a gourd vine. It has been antiqued and preserved in a coat of poly sealant. The completed piece sits upon a hand crafted 6" wooden candlestick pedestal. Accented with tissue festooning, custom tag and is signed by the artist.
One-of-A-Kind, SOLD. Accepting orders!
Please contact me for price and shipping.

Harry Booze Diorama

SOLD! New for 2009 - Harry Booze Diorama: Created from a dried bushel gourd that has been hand chosen, cleaned, carved and painted inside and out. This whimsey Skeleton Diorama contains hand sculpted airdry porcelain figures of a tombstone, flying bats, buzard and a whimsey drunken skeleton with his favorite bottle of halloween spirits. They are nestled in a bed of natural dried moss. The interior is painted black with a glittered field, and the exterior is painted white with black silhouette of a skeleton on a gourd vine. It has been antiqued and preserved in a coat of poly sealant. the completed pieces sits upon a 8" wooden candlestick pedestal. Accented with tissue festooning, custom tag and is signed by the artist.
One-of-A-Kind, it will go fast. Accepting orders.
Please contact me for price and shipping.

Skeleton R.I.P. Diorama

New for 2009 - Skeleton Diorama: Created from a dried bushel gourd that has been hand chosen, cleaned, carved and painted inside and out. The Skeleton R.I.P. Diorama contains hand sculpted airdry porcelain figures of a tombstone, flying bats, and rat and skeleton hand. They are nestled in a bed of natural dried moss. The interior is painted black with a glittered field, and the exterior is painted white with black silhouette of a skeleton on a gourd vine. It has been antiqued and preserved in a coat of poly sealant. the completed pieces sits upon a 8" wooden candlestick pedestal. Accented with tissue festooning, custom tag and is signed by the artist.

One-of-A-Kind, it will go fast. Accepting orders.

Please contact me for price and shipping.

Kindred Spirit

Kindred Spirit. Created from an x-large dried bushel gourd. This winking, friendly spirit is hand painted and has a hand-sculpted clay nose. A vintage monocle is affixed to its face. On top of his head he sports a paper mache top hat that has been adorned with tissue festooning, a paper tag and perched on the very top is a hand-sculpted purple clay spider with chenille legs. He is approx. 11" tall. $65.00 plus shipping

Boo!

Boo! This whimsical treasure has been created from two dried gourds. Hand painted and crafted for your Halloween pleasure. What screams Halloween more than your neighborhood friendly witch and JOL? The witch is topped with a paper mache party hat and tissue festooning. A hand crafted tag and ribbon adorns the hat. The sculpture is mounted on a 5" wooden base. It is approx 20" tall. $65.00 + shipping

Yeah for Fall!!!

Don't you just love this time of the year? Especially if you live the midwest or upper north east; autumn is my all-time favorite time of the year. The studio is crazy busy with dozens of different ideas beginning to take form. Keep checking back for new products will be be added soon!

il Gatto "the cat" Venetian Masks

Authentic:
One-of-a-kind, hand-made Venetian Cat Masks

Celebrate the festivities of the Carnival with one of these hand-painted, hand-made paper
mache and plastered Venetian masks. Similar to Italian masks from Venice called "Gattina".
There are 4 styles in all, however, each mask is as individual as actual cats themselves.
They are available as Jinx -black cats, Jasper - black and white, Trixie - grey cats or
Jezebel - copper tabby/calico cats.

This country folk version can be displayed and enjoyed for their authenticity and beauty, or can be worn for parties or celebrations! They also made wonderful party decorations. The masks are individually hand painted with glittered accents and decorative gold or silver ornate piping a along border; durable but light plaster of Paris masks. Each comes with an elastic cord for hanging or wear. Each has been signed and dated by the artist. $24.00 ea. + tax

Pumpkin Graveyard: Handsculpted graveyard scene of Harry Scary, tombstone and bats. Hand sculpted from airdry clay and hand painted. The scene is nestled on top of a dried and hand painted canteen gourd. the entire piece has been polysealed and glittered. Gourd measures approx. 10" wide by approx. 8" tall. $85.00

Pumpkin Graveyard: Close-up view Handsculpted graveyard scene of Harry Scary, tombstone and bats. Hand sculpted from airdry clay and hand painted. the scene is nestled on top of a dried and hand painted canteen gourd.

Devilish Delight: This grouping of dried gourds depicts the spooky side of Halloween with a sculpted devil, JOL and hairy spider. All hand painted and decorated for your Halloween delight.
Accented with tissue festooning and chenille legs. Approx. 18" tall $125.00

Bubble, Bubble... A fine traditional Halloween witch created from a bushel gourd. She has been hand sculpted from airdry clay and hand painted. Her hair is created from authentic black sheep wool. She carries a poison apple and candle for light. Approx. 8" $45.00

Apple Annie: Has been crafted from dried apple gourd and small coyote ball gourd. Her face and upper torso is hand sculpted from airdry clay. She comes complete with vellum butterfly wings in traditional fall colors, a loaded paint brush, paper mache hat and nylon netting wrap. She can with sit or be hung from ribbon hanger found on her back. Approx. 9" tall. $45.00

Spider! New for 2009 this hairy fellow is sculpted from several dried gourds, hand painted and perches on top of a wooden candle stick. A baby sculpted spider is trying to climb its way to the top. It is adorned with festive trimmings, paper mache party hat and chenille legs. Approx 18" tall. $35.00

Halloween Favorites: This is a dried gourd sculpture of a traditional halloween witch, vintage style watermelon and grinning pumpkin. Created from assorted canteen and bushel gourds it has been hand sculpted, painted and embellished with a paper mache witches hat and tissue festooning. Approx. 20" tall. $125.00

Halloween Collection 2009

Halloween Trio: Gourd sculpture from dried cannonball gourds, this happy trio is hand painted and sculpted with airdry clay and accented with tissue festooning. It has been crackled for a vintage look and coated with poly-seal. Approx. 18" tall $125.00

Rumblings and groans of a middle-aged woman.

I recently read an article in an arts & crafts magazine that boasted there is a new attitude about crafting. In reference to the article, it was noted that a young woman had completed an embroidery project that she proudly showed her grandmother and was disappointed when the matronly women criticized the work. Upon review of the artwork, grandma noted to the sloppy craftsmanship. To quote this article, "This new attitude values the process of crafting and the freedom to express individual style and personality rather than striving for absolute perfection and duplication."

I don't know about you, but this rather put my panties in a bunch. Since when does comprising quality and craftsmanship mean stifling ones expression of style and personality? What is wrong with taking pride and achieving perfection in ones work? I am my worst critic. I welcome criticism from others as a means to improve upon my abilities. How can one grow and improve if never challenged?