Okay, so at some point the “big reveal” has got to happen! And production has been coming along nicely… so here we go! The first “glimpse” at this year’s addition to The Ghouls Collection! Every year I add a new character to the collection of Halloween favorites… just in time for ART IN THE BARN!!! Sure, they still have a ways to go… more details, colors & glaze… but I think I’m on track to get them done in time. Sure, they might still be warm out of the kiln… but as long as they make it there, right??? HA!!

Why do I do this to myself??? Okay, so I got a little “distracted” and then THIS happened!!! I thought that since so many people have been collecting my Halloween Ghouls for years… they might need some “scenery” to go with their ghoulish groups! So I made a quick batch of tombstones… because I apparently just can’t stop myself??? And now back to reality… back to the Ghouls…

So now I’m “juggling” ghouls & pumpkins in the studio. Now that I’ve started them both, I gotta get them all finished… DEADLINES!!! So here I’m adding feet & warts to the pumpkins… as I’m a firm believer that all pumpkins should have fun warts on them!!!

So I’m back on “Ghoul production”… and I’ve decided they could use some fun “accessories”! So I think half of them will get hats… and the other half?… something else??? Gotta keep making…

Sometimes a blue vase just makes the blue hydrangeas even prettier! A stamped & soda-fired oval vase helps spread out the flowers so you can see more hydrangeas side-to-side!

You know I like to make my life “harder” than it needs to be… so why not make MORE?!!! Sure, I “should” be focused on making & finishing all of the new Ghouls for next weekend’s ART IN THE BARN. So then why did I decide to make a dozen new pumpkins as well… throwing more than ten before 10:00am??? Ummm… because I’m an over-achiever… and ever so slightly CRAZY?!!! What was I thinking…

After a fun birthday dinner for my Dad last night, with far too much pizza & ooey-gooey-fudgey-marshmallowey-birthday cake… I was looking forward to a nice morning ride to compensate for last night’s festivities! I was a couple miles in when the rain started… although nothing was listed on my weather app?! So I aborted that plan & started to head home in the rain. But then the rain stopped… so I continued north instead. We never got a real sunrise to speak of… but the clouds were nice. And I still managed to get in some good mileage!!!

Building a prototype. A little piece here, a little chunk there. A rippled squiggle here, a concave dent there. All trying to figure out the best production process & plan for building this year’s new addition to The Ghouls Collection!!!

We’re just about a week away… and I still have a lot of work to get done, glazed & fired before ART IN THE BARN in Barrington. Sure, I have some new platters & bowls ready to go… but I’m still working on my newest Halloween Ghouls!!! Racing towards the deadline as usual.

Never fear, Cory did an amazing job pulling together a fine “Plan B” after her kiln challenges this week. We may have lost a few bugs along the way… a few we’re resurrected… and she might have added in a couple retro TVs with bugs. I put them all together with my tiles last night… and we still ended up with ten amazing collaboration pieces for this weekend’s ART IN THE GARDEN show. … whew! There’s only ten of these collabs… and they might go fast?!!!

Now don’t get too excited… this “LOST” retro television is MINE!!!
A special custom piece just for me & my addiction to the best TV show ever!
I just love having talented friends!