She's Off Her Rocker

Fall Shows and Rush,..Part One!

From about August through then end of October I was without a computer except for my cell, hence the late postings here. During that time, I was in a mad rush to make pieces for Halloween and Vine in California in September, and for the September SpookyTime Jingles Soiree in N.J.

During those final summer days, I could be found sanding, carving, and dremmeling up a storm, and I lived in my dust mask and apron! I worked around the clock except for sleep, and my hands had the small cuts, occasional burns, and calluses on top of callusses to prove it! I worked every waking hour on multiple large pieces. I made mostly moons, devils, and cats, turning them into lamps, and lived on my big back deck, happily trashing it in the sun with music blaring!

At night I would bring all the pieces inside, and this is what a small section of my studio area looked like,...
And on the deck, here is where I sit and dremmel and carve, small table was covered in mache slop, dust, and trashed and discarded parts from cutting up plastic and metal pieces and cobbling things together,...

My sister Dusti helped me in so many ways, many a day, and we would laugh so hard and have so much fun working together. We have our own language and sayings, and can crack each other up with the mention of one phrase. How lucky am I to have a sister and best friend rolled up in one? I would never have made it all without her! And, it wouldn't have been half as fun. She would run out and get things I needed, sand, sand, and sand some more, and together we would cobble together lamps faster than you can say "Shazam!!"

Here Dusti is on task,..

Sisters,..here Dusti had just arrived unexpectedly in the heat of the last week before the show,...

Here is my hand, mere days before time to ship, painting a large moon,..

My good friend, work out partner, and neighbor Teresa helped us pack and ship the 9 large boxes going to California! I never would have gotten in packed in time without her! (Which was literally by the skin of my teeth!)

When my flight landed in California, Dani Nelson, Wendy Leaumont, and Pat Dean picked me up in the rental and we crossed the Golden Gate and headed to the sweet little town of Petaluma. I met Pat for the first time,...and just adored her right away! The four of us had a whirliwind few days where we only stopped it seems, to crash and crash hard! I kept waking up everyday at 4am, as I was still on EST time. Somehow, shame on me, I hardly took any pictures except with my phone, and most weren't so great.

Below, one of my two tables,...

I could not send any large and heavy props, so I sent a light weight urn and we picked a craggy branch and plastered it in there to hang ornaments,...it was hilarious as Wendy Pat and I drove through the country jumping out to break branches off,..then racing with GPS to a Home Depot for plaster that was no longer there,....madness! Somehow we pulled it all off. I believe Wendy and Danny actually anchored the branch in the plaster while I had run back to the cottage to do some quick repairs. In the end it all panned out,...see pics below,...

Here I am with Wendy, who was the best chauffer ever, and kept us all in Starbucks and laughs,..

Thanks Wendy for all your help and moral support! Isn't she adorable in her Halloween ensemble? I love this Louisiana girl!

Here is a detailed shot of one of the many lamps I sold.....

Moons peeking out,..

One of my Warty Jacks,..I sold each lantern with a light strand and flicker bulb and a crow perched on top!
Lots of color and various sizes,...

Dani was a genius in helping me set up and she even brought flowers to dress up the big moon table,..

I was next to Sweet B's incredible table, see one of her lolli's poking out....

I never even had time to look around before the people swarmed us,...

Three lovely ladies who are all friends together and are Halloween folk art lovers and collectors came to the show and are seen below! Celeste and I, and further down, Janean and Ramona,...

All fabulous gals who it was great to finally meet in person!
With Dani and Wendy,...

See Sweet B's table beyond mine!

I sold almost every single lamp I took, so I know what to make more of for next year, now!

We had a fantastic time, the show was a huge success, I got to meet so many artists and collectors! We had a fantastic after party at the local pumpkin farm, where we had dinner, and got a tour of the awesome haunt after! Wendy, William Bezek, and myself below all aglow in the blacklight!

More blacklight fun!!

and the next day we hit the antique outdoor event in Petaluma, and then still fit in a trip to the Redwoods! The hike through the redwoods was the most amazing part of the whole trip. I hope to return to this amazing forest again,...

I wish I had taken more photos of the show itself,... looking back now it all went by in a crazed flash! A trip I will never forget!