It's not horrible deeds that make people distrust Hibbert.
It's his nervous laughter that makes them uneasy.
He can't help it. People make him self conscious.
They stare when he eats his fish heads, even when he's careful not to make slurping noises when he eats the eyeballs.
They whisper about him when he's pulling snails from their shells, even when he made sure the slimy creatures are unconscious.
They move away from him despite his efforts to keep his shawls and cloak clean from the guts and gore that sometimes stick to the fabric.
He doesn't mind so much. It relieves him of the pressure to make small talk. The few times people engage him in conversation, he is taken by surprise and looks at them, wide-eyed, with a twitchy smile and a shrug, and a breathy chuckle.
I'm not sure how well Monty falls under the category of Little Minions considering he's 12" tall.
And with his boisterous personality, there really is nothing small about him.
Montague, Master of the Lesser Demons, charmer of Sirens, and hero of hellions.
No one can conjure a fireball faster, a curse coarser, or a nightmare...nightmarier.
Despite being a creature of evil and all things unpleasant, Monty is oddly likeable.
Sure, he's bound to torture you without pity but yet you find yourself unable to deny part of you hope it ends in friendship.
Even as you pray the searing pain he's inflicting - so unimaginable it could only exist in a godless world - will end, you're also wondering if he'd come to the barbeque you're planning for next weekend.
And really, isn't that the Devil's true trick? He does terrible things and will ruin your life, but man he's fun to be around.
Whizzle ain't so bright. But like his Ma always told him, it ain't smarts but hearts that get you through life.
"My sweet Whizzy" she'd say, "don't you know peoples want to have a pint wit them who's makin'em happy, and not them who's showin' off all the time? Don't you worry, my luv. You show'em your winnin' smile and you'll see what I's talkin' about."
When people first meet Whizzle, and learn his neighbourhood nickname is W(h)iz Kid, they're confused, or think it's a way to make fun him. "Nah" say the locals, "Whiz kid's a wiz at figuring out how to make anybody, anywhere, feel better. He's a sorta...empathic genius".
The Soulless Nether is the newest creature in the Dark Dwellers collection.
A vacuous creature, with no understanding of love or mercy, it is one of the few figures who will step from the shadows to nab its prey.
Slow moving but relentless.
Sightless but always aware. And accurate when it strikes.
It feeds on blood, flesh and bone, but only a few bites. Rarely will it consume an entire being, being drawn more by their life force than anything else. Once that starts to fade, the Nether loses interest and simply casts away its meal.
The younger the being, the more enticing. It is likely to steal toddlers from sandboxes, or birthday girls from backyard parties while Mom is getting more punch.
No charms or potions can protect you. This Dweller of the Dark stalks us and strikes at random. Enjoy the time you have, and pray for old age.
Happy Friday the 13th, my fellow ghoulies. And what better day to introduce to you a new line of sculpted figures I'll be exploring this year.
It isn't official, but I think I will be calling them the Dwellers of the Dark. Or Dark Dwellers. Which one do you like better? Let me know.
They are a bit more...monsterish...than my usual cute creepers. Totally out of my element, and oh what fun that is!
No teeth or premade eyes. All sculpt. And more...sinister undertones.
They won't all look like these, but my intention is to give them a haunting or animalistic look.
It's a style I've always wanted to explore. I hope you like them.
With time, I should get a bit more skilled at the drawing out of the jaws and muscles. Practice, practice, practice.
For now, the first three are completed. They are similar though one of them is 14 1/2 inches high (as you can see in the photo below, he towers over the other two). He was the first, and as is the tradition, that means he stays with me.
The first completed sculpture of 2012 helps to set the mood for that far away holiday we wait for all year.
He stands at 11 inches. This year I'm going to make some of my Little Minions not so little. There will still be smaller figures but I thought it was time the Plague Doctors had some competition when it came to size.
It's been a lot of fun making various creatures in a larger scale, and I'm excited to experiment more.
I do wish I was a better seamstress. While I did sew his trick or treat bag, I'd like to get more inventive with their outfits. Sewing skill would help a lot, though I know I can find ways around my lack of talent with a thread and needle. I just need to be more creative.
Hopefully you folks are finding some time this spring to bring a little Halloween into your hearts.
Spring has sprung, but instead of flowers, it brings with it some monsters in the making.
In between puppy chaos, I've managed to experiment with some new figures, changing up my style a bit which has been fun. I'm excited to see how they come together, and trying to think outside the coffin...er...box...a bit when it comes to my designs. Now, none of these are revolutionary, but I think taking a step to the right of my usual style is a good thing.
And it's about time I was hit with inspiration. Show season is sneaking up quickly and like old Mother Hubbard, my cupboards are bare.
It's my birthday today. I almost forgot about that too. When you're spinning wildly, time has a way of being elusive.
Today I am off to lunch with a friend (and perhaps a stop for a pint or two) while Yetch babysits Monkey Boo. He's been away to Denver all week, leaving the pup and I on our own. I took the opportunity to do some crash course puppy self-control lessons by staying with my mom and her pack of dogs. Monkey is pretty good around the older dog but wants to wrestle full throttle with Padfoot the Irish Wolfhound. Paddy can fit her whole head in his mouth (even though they are the same age). She doesn't even blink at his size. Even Paddy recognizes she's a wild pup (as you can see from the picture below).
Having a puppy with the giardia parasite has convinced me that man will be wiped out by parasites, who are secretly the ultimate evil. The last week has been like zombie outbreak training. Everything must be sanitized in order to prevent spread of infection. Even if the antibiotics kill off the parasite in her system, she is at risk for reinfection (and infecting us) each time she goes outside in the backyard where she's gone to the bathroom. The only thing that kills these buggers is bleach. The protocol is a protective sheet at the back door. Shoes stay here. She's picked up off the ground and we clean her paws with baby wipes before being allowed back into the kitchen. Bedding is covered in towels which are washed daily (along with toys, bowls, and anything else she comes into contact with). Hands are washed so often, both Yetch and I have scaly hands (I had a rash for a while). When she goes to the bathroom, we pick it up immediately and pour a bleach mixture on the spot.
Needless to say, it's exhausting and time-consuming.
I've been able to find time to start some bodies for new creations and hope to get at more creating now that I have a system down. I'm hoping to make some more today.
I'm also waiting to hear from the vet regarding Monkey Boo's latest stool test. We're hoping for good news of no traces of the parasite. Of course, it doesn't guarantee she's clear...and I need to treat parts of the backyard with lime sulphur (which apparently changes the pH levels of the ground enough to become an inhospitable place for any parasite cysts in the soil). But that's tomorrow's plan.
I'm not sure how well Monty falls under the category of Little Minions considering he's 12" tall.
Happy Friday the 13th, my fellow ghoulies. And what better day to introduce to you a new line of sculpted figures I'll be exploring this year.
The first completed sculpture of 2012 helps to set the mood for that far away holiday we wait for all year.
Spring has sprung, but instead of flowers, it brings with it some monsters in the making.
Having a puppy with the giardia parasite has convinced me that man will be wiped out by parasites, who are secretly the ultimate evil. The last week has been like zombie outbreak training. Everything must be sanitized in order to prevent spread of infection. Even if the antibiotics kill off the parasite in her system, she is at risk for reinfection (and infecting us) each time she goes outside in the backyard where she's gone to the bathroom. The only thing that kills these buggers is bleach. The protocol is a protective sheet at the back door. Shoes stay here. She's picked up off the ground and we clean her paws with baby wipes before being allowed back into the kitchen. Bedding is covered in towels which are washed daily (along with toys, bowls, and anything else she comes into contact with). Hands are washed so often, both Yetch and I have scaly hands (I had a rash for a while). When she goes to the bathroom, we pick it up immediately and pour a bleach mixture on the spot. 
