A HUGE thank you for the trip down memory lane

It's a great feeling when someone buys your work. It's the be all and end all when they love it enough to take pictures of it and then take the time to share them with you.

I don't think I'll ever get over the rush of selling my art or hearing compliments about it.

Six years ago I had no idea I'd be doing this for a living (I know I have stated this before) but, I am thankful that my collectors care enough about my work to not only give it a great home, but they often send me an email telling me how much they like it.

It's not every day I get to meet a collector in person, but yesterday I had the pleasure of having Brenda and her husband Rob pick up the pieces Brenda had commissioned from me. She brought me a couple of lovely gifts from her vintage Halloween collection (very beautiful treats), not only that, but she took the time to take more pics of the pieces and upload them to her Flickr stream after she returned home. I am honoured, as Brenda knows that she would choose to buy my work... not every vintage Halloween collector will put "new" with the old. And trust me she's got an amazing collection (that I drool over in her pics.)

I guess what I am really trying to say here is that... I am very grateful for having supportive collectors, a very supportive family and supportive artist friends who push me to put myself and my art out there.

Please know that I don't take any of this for granted. I appreciate you, just as much... if not more than you appreciate my art. A sincere thank you, because you help make this all possible!

p.s. Thank you to Jack, Brenda, Thomas and Kevin for sharing their pics with me (I've posted a few below)... and thank you all again for your very kind words and support! ~ Lori

My devil, bottom left and oops... I forgot about the black cat's head lantern, far right (pictured with many amazing pieces by the talented Debbie Hawkins of He-Be-Je-Bes)

Four pieces (above) made by me.

All pieces by me (except for the green cat at front by Bruce Elsass.)

Pictured below ~ all made by me.

Cranky crone challenge ~ month one

How can you define a crone?

According to Wickipedia: "The crone is a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman who is usually disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing.".... "As a character type, the crone shares characteristics with the hag."

"Hag", a word I frequently use to describe the type of witches I sculpt. I've never felt that my witches and/or hags are particularly "attractive" beings. Instead, I always seem to envision them as what I refer to as "man handed" women, and by that I mean their hands... as well as their facial features are always a tad on the masculine side. It is what it is. I don't do "pretty" and I don't/won't make apologies for it... it's not my style.

Anywho, my inspiration for my yet to be sculpted "crone" could come from movies such as Snow White or The Brothers Grimm (as pictured below.)

BUT instead my inspiration will come from myself, my own previous works (as seen below) and my want to really "push" myself to make something I have never made before.

To give you some further insight into what I plan to make I wrote a poem. Keep in mind... I am by no means a poet, but this poem of sorts may help to give you an idea as to what direction this piece will take... provided I can breathe life into it of course.

Off to the woods she ran, a large silver spoon in her hand.

Gourds and pumpkins she did spy, laying on the ground nearby.

Perfectly plump and ripe, just in time for Halloween night!

She spied a stump on which to sit, under a tree with lanterns fully lit.

A large orange Jack, was glowing in the light.

She knew he would be perfect, she knew he would be right!

Trying as she may, trying as she might.

No matter how she carved, she couldn't get it right.

Growing crankier by the minute...

I guess she should have brought a knife!

PLEASE don't forget to stop by Amelia Schaefer of Sweet B Folk Art, she's my Cranky Crone Challenge partner and see where she draws her inspiration from. I know, but you don't... so check it out!

Just be sure to pop back over to our blogs again on February 24th to see how far we've progressed. ~ Lori

Quickie airbrush booth on the cheap!

Yes, that's what I said. With not much else to post because I am still busy with commissions I thought I would show you my new quickie, knock down airbrush booth.

It cost me all of a few minutes of my time to assemble (= duct tape together. ) It's made from 7 sheets of foam core, bought at the local dollar store for $8.75 + tax and will quickly set up and fold down so that I can use it again.

Guess it beats covering my work bench in plastic sheeting - I tend to spray in an area far wider than I probably should, so I am hoping that this will keep the over spray/mist somewhat confined.

And if it wasn't seamed with duct tape... I imagine it would be a good photo booth too :)

Wish me luck as I am about to tackle some of those commissions :) ~ Lori

It's a Cherry Cheesecake (kind of) Birthday for me

Today is my birthday... and just for fun I thought I would make my own cake. It's made from a recipe I received from my brother in law a few years back and have made whenever I get the craving for cream cheese. (Okay, maybe I don't make it every time I crave cream cheese) but I have made it several times in the past few years. It's easy, it's delicious and I thought I would share his recipe with you - so here goes!

Cherry Cheesecake

Filling:

3 pkgs. cream cheese (softened)

1 cup white/granulated sugar

5 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Crust:

2 cups of graham wafer crumbs or 3 cups of Oreo crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

Topping:

1 pint sour cream

1/2 cup white/granulated sugar

Crust: Combine graham cracker or Oreo crumbs with 1/2 cup melted butter and press firmly into a 10" spring form pan or a 9" x 12" oblong pan. Set aside.

With an electric mixer cream together the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg. Add vanilla.

Turn the mixture into your pan that's been lined with the crust mixture.

Bake at 325 F for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

Beat together the sour cream and 1/2 cup of sugar and spread over cheesecake.

Return to oven for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. After cooled, top with fresh fruit, cherry pie filling or pie filling of your choice and place in refrigerator. Slice, serve and enjoy! ~ Lori

Cranky, cranky... and yes it's a challenge to boot!

 

This years' Birthday has left me wondering where the years have flown
And the thought of more housework is making me moan,
I'm beginning to feel a bit like a
CRANKY CRONE.

So worn and weary - right down to the bone,
Yes, I really am becoming a
CRANKY CRONE! 

I need a new challenge to pique my interest.
Something creative - difficult to resist...

Time to create a CRONE of my own, something made.... for me alone.

A CRANKY CRONE - someone that I'd admire,
is sure to light my creative fire.

This CRONE will be three months in the making:
January's for innovation and painting.
Visit in February to measure her construction, come back in March for your introduction. 

A three month

Cranky Crone Challenge
co-hosted by
Amelia Schaefer of Sweet B Folk Art

and me, Lori Rudolph of Retro Rudolph's

Visit our blogs on the 24th of each month.
A prize will be offered with the grand reveal
on March 24th, 2011