For Madame Jen,

since I STILL can't post comments *sigh*...

The finials were made with the hot glue- sand cast method. I sculpted the original piece in polymer clay (just couldn't find a good one to use). Then the original was pressed in a slightly damp sand filled baking dish. Since I needed a bazillion of them, I tossed the glue gun aside and melted the glue sticks in a wrecked old pot, and carefully poured into the impression in the sand. While the glue was still warm, I imbedded a nail in the bottom, about halfway sticking out. The idea is that the fence 1x1's will be predrilled, and the nails will pop in for easy assembly. Trimmed the excess glue, added a coat of primer followed by black acrylic paint, and wah-la- done!

Hope you didn't mind me creeping in your garage! ;)

2011 Fence rebuild: Phase 1 Complete

Behold,

&

heh heh :)

Haunted Barrel Works

Our family has had a tradition of visiting the Toronto Islands every summer since as far back as I can remember. It's an oasis in the city, and only an eight minute ferry boat ride from Harbourfront. The parklands are majestic, and many go for bike riding, picnics, the beach, and frisbee golf, but the main draw is Centreville; a turn-of-the-century styled theme park on Centre Island. It's definetly not Six Flags, but for young families or those who like it on the mild side, it's packed full of charm.

Naturally, I  look forward to Haunted Barrel Works the most. This dark ride was built in 1970, and few things have changed, but somehow it never gets tired. If you ever have the chance to pay a visit, it's well worth while- just avoid weekends when the crowds descend on Centreville like a plague of locusts!

Real antique barbed wire display. All date to the 1800's.

It's tricky to get any great pics or video since the stunts trigger when you are pretty much on top of them (and everything's behind plexiglass- terrible glare), but I did find a pretty good job on the youtubes;

It was even disguised for this episode of Goosebumps- A Shocker on Shock Street (late 90's):

And to make things even better, we picked a gorgeous site yesterday for our late evening picnic, just when a million bats decided to have their own dinner. We watched them fly across the night sky through the clearing in the trees until it was time to catch the ferry back. Always a beautiful trip... can't wait for next year!

view from the picnic table :)

We Have a Winner! :D

And the Pumpkin Pamper Pack goes to *drumroll*.... Creepy Glowbugg!!!

If you'd kindly shoot your addy on over to spookworks@hotmail.com, I'll be sure to get that on it's way first thing Monday morning. :) Congrats!

Really wish the lottery had one in four odds lol!

Ghoulishly Good Bath Treats GIVEAWAY!!!

First off, I'd like to give a heart-felt thanks to my loyal followers. It wasn't long ago that I jumped blindly into blogging without a clue how to get started. I'm grateful to all of you who have not only joined, but tolerated us enough to stick around. As a token of appreciation, we're hosting a giveaway- finally!

We'll draw for the spoils on Saturday, August 6. Just leave a comment to enter!  And a hint to the men- folk, this prize will score big points with the ghoul in your life... or heck, just hog it all for yourself- we don't judge! ;)

If Morticia treated herself to some decadent tubby time, I'd imagine she'd use this Pampering Pumpkin Pack... from some of the very best artisan bath and body etailers, this hand picked collection includes;

~Purple Pumpkin Shea Soap from Magic Hands Workshop. Queen of cold process soapers, and sadly, recently out of business. When the news broke, I hauled her stuff like a squirrel with ADHD preparing for a never ending winter, and saved one precious for the prize pack.  This moisturizing lavender & pumpkin scented bar is simply exquisite.

~Pumpkin Cake Lip Lust lip balm from Haunt. Her stuff is cult popular, but scarce. Try to catch when her shop opens for a fleeting moment- it happens only a couple of times a year. http://www.haunt.bigcartel.com/
(hint: she's famous for Halloween goodies!)

~Imp Pumpkin Butter from Haus of Gloi. Cute little 2oz jar- ridiculously softening and loaded with pumpkin seed oil! Scent description from the Haus; This little fellow longs to be your bath time companion! Peculiar passion fruit mingling with sun cured apricots, perfectly pink grapefruit juice and innocent whispers of wet mimosa blooms. Great stuff! Available at; http://host.pappapak12.com/~hausofgl/

~Pumpkin Bread Bath Truffle from Skindecent. NOM! Amazing shop filled with tricks and treats... and Canadian to boot! http://skindecent.com/

Good luck to all!!!!

BTW, blogger isn't letting me post comments on my site- or anyone else's. Am I the only one?! It's become a frustrating loop of endlessly signing in and getting nowhere. Blargh. Just wanted to let everyone know how much I've been enjoying all your awesome blogs and thank you for the kind and encouraging words you're left for me here. Really, THANK YOU!

First look at Witch Gartilda

Just have to glue on her wig and attach her teeth, and this old bat is done! Not sure yet if she's destined for etsy, or if I'd rather build her into a character for the haunt. I've been trying to work on her sister, but my brian brain has melted from the heat, and it's all I can do to think straight, much less work on props. On the upside, we're walking around like zombies, so it all works out.

Her core is the ever versitile wig/ hat foam form sculpted over with paperclay, and skinned with cloth mache. Brows, wart (and teeth) are polymer clay.

bare cloth mache

56 kinds of creepy :)

Hauntingly beautiful

is how I would describe this gravesite we stumbled upon in Bond Head, Ontario. The fence of harps is incerdibly ornate, and one of the most unique memorial features I've seen. Wish the epitaph was still legible though; we couldn't even make out a date due to the extreme weathering of the limestone.