A Hallowe'en Tree-t.

NO, not 'treaty', but treat!

And an incredible tree-t it is.

Now I've mentioned more than a few times over the years that I am an ardent admirer of Ray Bradbury, and of the work of his longest/greatest illustrating collaborator, Joseph Mugnaini. Surely anyone who has been around here for any decent length of time should know this.

Another name I've mentioned more than a few times is Shellhawk.

Beyond being 'one of us'-- a truly insane Hallowe'en Kid -- Shell is a fine potter, sculptor, painter, a real artisan, and she fills you in on her work and her life over at one the S&P's longest friend-blogs, Shellhawk's Nest, as well as proudly plies and trades in her craft at her Etsy store, Shellhawk's Creations. 

I have enjoyed her work and her friendship for years, being the proud owner of one of her famous Mini-boo figures, as well as one of her even more famous Jack O'Lanterns of unique, one of a kind designs.

I was also quite proud to be asked to contribute to one of her blog's wonderful themed guest-blogger series in 2012. You can read my entry as well as find the rest of the series here.

Well...

I have just been the recipient of a beautiful, serendipitous melding of Bradbury, Mugnaini, and Shellhawk, in one incredible labor of love that found its way to the ol' S&P, to take its place among the spooky detritus adorning the place...

What is it? Are you actually asking that?

It is a hand-painted, glazed, fired platter from the skilled hand and temperamental kiln of Shellhawk herself, depicting the perfect Joseph Mugnaini illustration of Ray Bradbury's beloved, enduring literary invention, The Hallowe'en Tree.

See for yourself -- the vintage Mugnaini original:

... and Shellhawk's beautiful tribute work:

Not that even Mugnaini himself could reproduce it stroke-for-stroke. For one thing, like an improvising jazz musician, you can't play the same genius solo twice.

For another thing, he's dead. Just sayin'.

Of course, being from Shellhawk, no one piece is ever delivered to its recipient all by its lonesome-if-gorgeous self...

Yes -- a black spiderweb with a rubber spider, two Hallowe'en pencils

(bats and pumpkins!) and a little jar of green slime! Bravo!

But this...

... is an orange and black dream on a plate.

I am just so very, very proud to be the keeper of this incredible piece of artistic Hallowe'en love. It will forever grace the S&P, reminding those whose eyes it catches to read more Bradbury, love more Hallowe'en, and keep and enjoy good friends.

A toast, to Shellhawk, to Mugnaini, and to Ray Bradbury...

DUMDUMSHREKPOP!

My deepest thanks, Shell.

Everyone else... GO to her blog and her store, will ya?

DDSpookyPlate!

The Hallowe'en Tree, pt.6

Good day to you, loyal S&P-brains!

I imagine you are all quite full of Hallowe'en and are ready for a brief stretch of holiday-free weeks before the end of the year madness overtakes us all.

I certainly could use it.

But I did want to show off some of our fantastic fright night scenes from last week.

It was a beautiful night, the weather was perfectly Hallowe'en. Not too cold, not too warm, no rain, slight breeze, cloudy skies with a nearly full moon. Just beautiful.

First to enjoy the weather and the night's festivities, our animatronic graveyard group.

Capt. Lantern, Ficketts, Nevermore the Raven, and

the Lean Bros. & Ghoul swing quartet.

Some tombstone detail. We sure lost some greats this past year.

Our kid-friendly Boo Corner, showing Mad Monster Party (along

with The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Legend of Sleepy

Hollow, It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and other

Hallowe'en specials all night long).

But the real attraction for just about everyone who visited that night had to be our amazing

Hallowe'en Tree.

It really turned out to be something special...

Almost 100 pumpkins, carved and sent from family and friends all over the country, to honor the passing of Ray Bradbury, and celebrate our love for All Hallow's Eve.

Just stunning.

At the base of the Tree was our longtime 'host' of the haunt, the Great Pumpkin.

And just around the tree trunk from him stood the brooding, ancient and wickedly wise ol' being, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.

I'd like to think ol' Ray would've loved it.

Just above and beyond our Tree, in a dormer window, floated one of many wandering revenants...

... and in the same window, not long after, could be found our little black kitty, Hallowe'en herself, watching our goofy goings-on in the yard below.

Yes, she's wearing a little orange/black jester's collar.

No, she's not summoning Satan.

As far as I know.

The next day, I had to get a good sunshine shot of our Hallowe'en Tree.

Just beautiful.

Hallowe'en 2012 is in the history books, and I had a fabulous week.

I hope each of you enjoyed your Hallowe'en.

Still cleaning up...

DDSP!

New-vintage brilliance.

Good evening S&P-brains!

It's been a long stretch of days and nights since I last visited -- I hate when I can't get in here and recharge with some Hallowe'en libation -- but I finally have a moment to sit and relax...

... and tell you about some incredibly spookylicious art being whipped up by an incredibly spookylicious artist.

I know, right?

Oh my good S&Pers, you must go to Halloween Treasure Studio right now, and peruse the All Hallow's eye candy that is the work of artist Cali Lee.

What time is it? 

Time to set sail to retro-Hallowe'en goodness, of course.

Cali's usual medium is 'acrylic on found object' -- she finds old knick-knacks headed for the dump heap, and with her paintbox and the occasional application of papier mache and other materials, turns them into things of beauty any collector would love to own, and many do -- her pieces reside in many collections!

Given her modus operandi and singular vision, each is a one of a kind piece sure to bring smiles of delight to vintage Hallowe'en lovers for many, many years to come.

One I'd love to have here at the ol' S&P:

Talk about a Hallowe'en Radio! Just incredible!

Each of the pieces you see here came from the Gallery on her website, and all have long been sold to lucky Hallowe'en collectors all over Hallowe'endom.

But Cali keeps on keepin' on with the spooky wonderfulness that is Hallowe'en Treasures Studio, and is always on the lookout for new-old treats for all of us.

Pure magic.

I have added her amazing site to our 'Rest of the Neighborhood' over there to the right, because I plan on visiting all the time.

I urge all of you to do the same because HOLY PUMPKINS it is so very, very awesome.

Thank you for your amazing talent and love for Hallowe'en, Cali Lee! 

DUMDUMSHREKPOP!

Afterglow.

 Ah!

Welcome, welcome.

I hope you are all enjoying your respective Christmas gatherings and goings-on, and I am happy to see you visiting this humble place during the holidays. It's why we're here, you know -- a gathering place to share and enjoy the company of like-minded, good-hearted Autumn Folk at all times of the year.

My family has been sharing a wonderful few days of holiday cheer, and I can tell you we now are all a little looney from a long weekend full of sugary treats and drinks and indulgent dishes and salty snacks and naps and late nights full of laughter and remembrance of Christmases gone by.

Just as it ought to be.

I want to share just a few more bits of Christmas, S&P-style.

Here is our very orange Hallowe'en treetopper, a gift to the lovely V and me from my dear mother.

It actually resides year-round on our mantle, but I am always so happy to see it on our little black tree where it truly belongs for a few weeks a year. Thanks again, Mama.

Now, any Autumn Person worth the epithet expects their holiday gifts to be a little horrific or Hallowe'enly, right? I know you all get it.

So...

 A first class skull. Who doesn't wish for at least one skull for Christmas?

 And so, I got two!

 And three!

 Not Hallowe'enly, but definitely horrific. 

My oldest crush and favorite hero on Blu-ray -- along with my very first Blu-ray DVD player!

Not even remotely scary or Hallowe'enly, but another gift of Sigourney Weaver 

is always worth bragging over.

Besides, it's a great film you should all see.

I hope you all gave and got at least one great, fine, heartfelt gift, whatever it may be.

You are each a fine gift to me.

Merriest of Christmases to you all. 

DDSigourneyPower!

Nativity.

A Very Merry Christmas

to

All of You.

With much love,

(...the Skull & Pumpkin!)

DUMDUMSHREKPRESENTS!!!

Making Christmas.

Hello again, loyal S&P-brains!

I hope you've all been enjoying your own Week Leading Up To That Other Holiday... we sure have.

Here at the Skull & Pumpkin, we do things a little differently for Christmas. Oh, we have a tree and lights and presents and all -- we're not completely crazy -- but there's always a bit of a Hallowe'en touch, of course.

For example, as you approach this old homely house, you can't help but notice our unique holiday spirit...

 I made this Burton-esque wreath years ago, and hang it up every year.

 This be-capped beauty was originally part of a set piece from the

Haunted Mansion movie that came out some years back. 

(Minus the Santa cap, of course.)

 Our driveway skeleton gets into the cap action too. Just to offset

the rotting pumpkins, you understand.

Our gargoyle guards received a bit of garland flair from the lovely V.

Of course, our decorating is not limited to the outdoors, but it's essentially identical to the decor found all year 'round -- we just add a tree and some lights and garland.

But I do want to show off these way excellent construction paper ornaments that were handmade by my nephew, known to you S&Pers as Mr. Jack, when he was just a little guy...

 That's right -- Drac, Frank and Wolfy in their Christmas best!

 Are those some awesome monster Santas or what?

This year they reside in my paper Hallowe'en lantern just above our little tree.

Of course, we still have the amazing monsters handmade by my nieces and nephew in L.A. ...

OH yeah... baked Frankensteiny goodness!

A few shots of our Haunted Mansion corner...

Skull hand-markered and hung by the great Kiara.

So, that's a taste of the Autumn People-influenced Christmas decor at the Skull & Pumpkin.

I can only imagine that you each have your own spooky spin on That Other Holiday... care to send some pics so we can all admire them over a few drinks by the fireplace here at the ol' S&P?

Send them to your humble pubkeep:  --*skellington*35*@*aol.com*-- (remove the *'s) -- and let's have some fun comparing and sharing our creepy yuletide customs!

Here's to everyone having a wonderful, wonder-filled Other Holiday!

DDSPresentsneedwrapping!

Before we get to November...

Well, November's already here, yes.

But before I get to any new jukebox tunage or waxing poetic about the end of Autumn and all that, I wanted to pass around a few pics of our 2011 yardhaunt, the 'Greatest Hits' display I was able to put together.

Yes, I was going to do a big tribute to the anti-genius of Edward D. Wood, Jr. But time... time not only slipped away, it was fairly torn from my daily schedule with alarming regularity all through September and October.

No complaints. I love working.

But I decided I had backlogged so many great props, figures, routines, music and decor that a greatest hits display would be perfect -- a kind of Hallowe'en version of a cheap TV clip show.

It worked just fine.

Now don't get up, I'll just pass a few around:

 Our 'graveyard' just before adding the animatronic characters.

 The lovely 'V' helping set up 'Boo Corner' (for littler spooks and scared grown-ups!).

 'Uncle Bill' setting up the stupendous 'De Witch Woman' display he built 

last year in honor of the family-favorite James Lewicki illustration 

(story and pictures from this post and this post, remember?)

Our cat Hallowe'en ('Halli') always helps us move the leaves around.

 She also spent a lot of time hanging out with Cap'n Lantern an Ficketts.

 The graveyard ready to go, seen through the web of a spider

that decided she had to set up shop here. 

(Sorry Frog Queen!)

 An angle I only get to see once a year: the business end of my

graveyard attraction.

 Cap'n Lantern, First Mate Ficketts, a tombstone-perched raven named Nevermore...

 ... and the Lean Bros & Ghoul, ready for spooky swingin' songs!

My one and only Ed Wood tribute piece.

 The completed Boo Corner...

... and guests.

'De Witch Woman' took the place of the usual Treat Room we have on

that side of the porch. That foot pumped, that spindle spun, and de ol' witch woman

sang  (in my Aunt Gail's voice) 'Turn an' spin, come off skin!' all night long.

The decade-old Great Pumpkin animatronic character, in his perfectly

glowy, perfectly plasticky pumpkin patch!

A blurry but colorful shot of the display from across the street. 

Of course, the Skull & Pumpkin has always been a Post-Hallowe'en Blues-Free Zone, as you well know. There is nothing about cleanup that saddens me -- not really -- and in fact it has grown to become a rather Zen-like ritual, at once cleansing and inspiring.

Besides, there simply isn't a reason for sadness.

For one, we had a grand time.

For another, it's still Autumn. I mean, look at the view I get to and from work every day...

Still very, very Fall.

I'll be back soon with new musical diversions for a new month.

In the meantime, I'll gather up the pictures and let you all get back to whatever you were doing. I hope you're all discussing your own amazing Hallowe'en 2011 stories!

Until next time!

DDSP!