16 years ago, these same ornaments went on a rather pathetic tree purchased to have something in festive in an apartment….
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| From Christmas |
More interesting research was unexpectedly found from a coffee table book at my mother in law’s
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| From 2011 buildup |
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| From 2011 buildup |
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| From 2011 buildup |
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| From 2011 buildup |
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| From 2011 buildup |
You have to look for inspiration in unorthodox places.
We’ve been deep into research mode. I’ve made no secret I was unhappy with the scarecrows this year. I mean they turned out ok, and how I expected, and all. They were just too ORDINARY. What’s more, they really did not have any way to tie in with the eventual planned move to Spider Woman.
So, how does one come up with UNORTHODOX scarecrows? And, what’s more how does one tie scarecrows into Spider Woman?
First up, finding some scarecrows. I’ve been running random searches for some time. Found plenty of scarecrows, scary and cute. Virtually all the standard humanoid being on a cross. None of it was catching my attention.
I forget what the specific search term was that brought up THIS image.
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| From 2011 buildup |
Now, that is something I can work with. It’s spidery as it is, and bears a striking resemblence to Charr as well.
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| From Year of the Charr |
I started seeing friends for Charr…but I can’t possibly store all that…so, lets see where that pic came from, maybe they have some more sources…
Did they ever.
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| From 2011 buildup |
Magic the Gathering, of all things. Not only was it dishing up unique art in spades, it was dishing out a story to go with it.
“Most of the scarecrows of Shadowmoor were built by kithkin cobblesmiths to perform basic farming tasks. Even on that dimly lit plane, kithkin have to raise springjacks and care for their sickly, nettle-infested crops, so enterprising hedge-mages of the douns (the Shadowmoor term for kithkin villages) built creatures to help with the chores. The cobblesmiths could only spare a few tools, bones, or scraps of wood to create the things, which caused the scarecrows to move in an unsettling, herky-jerky way. Some say the first scarecrow-makers used the enchanted wood of dead treefolk, and their movements are indicative of the wood’s intrinsic rage. Whatever the cause of their strange movements, they didn’t do their jobs very well, but at least when dark things in the night snatched them away, the farmers hadn’t lost much.
Over time, as farmers moved or passed away, some of the scarecrows remained. Most of them continue to try to perform their intended actions, but removed of their context, their actions seem bizarre and inappropriate. A scarecrow designed for scything grain, for example, can seem menacing when it comes at you in the dark, its sickle-arm raised high and its empty eyes trying to decide whether you are ripe for mowing. Other scarecrows are more innocuous in purpose, but can still be strange and scary.”
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| From 2011 buildup |
It’s looking like The Harvest might just have another year of life left in it as we prepare to transition…
I’ve decided to start logging one of the side effects of having so many people over here on Halloween night.
I’m open for advice on how to actually prevent and/or battle this in the future.
2010 was actually a ‘light’ year where the front yard is concerned. The weather kept some folks away, so fewer numbers and multiple paths helped the front yard damage some. Still, there is a clear depression where the path went, and it will be there in the spring, maybe into the summer.
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| From 2011 buildup |
The back yard wasn’t so lucky. The rain was unfortunate, as the path went around the side of the house, where there is a downspout.
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| From 2011 buildup |
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| From 2011 buildup |
So, first step in preparing for 2011 is reparing the 2010 damage…
Oh, and this is what results when I get bored…
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| From 2011 buildup |
What is it? Why? I don’t know. Just decided to play with the clay. I need LOTS more of this clay…
As I put away the last of the items, it’s time to reflect on the year that was 2010.
The year began with a massive plan to build a temple. Not in the traditional sense you may think of, but in a very Mayan sense. I envisioned the side of the house as a cave, a mural on one side, Tzompantli in the center, and mummies on the other. Eventually, the idea to light everything with blacklights formed, and there was a great push to blacklight everything…
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| From 2010 Buildup |
About 50 such skulls were made, eventually designing a means to do it so they can be used in regular lighting or blacklight with equal effectiveness.
At the same time, Steve was formed to fill in the role of the mummies.
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| From 2010 Buildup |
At the end of the day, 2 and a half Steves were created, and about 50 skulls. A ton of lessons learned in the mixing of fluorescing paint, and a decent amount of fun had. Ultimately, these set unused as it first became unrealistic to create the cave/temple, and then the backup plan of lighting the back yard with blacklight fell through. But they stand at the ready…
The failures shortly followed.
First, “Them”. An unorthodox experiment in animation. They wound up being abandoned as the weather continued to pound rain early in the spring. A little tricky with the counter-weighting, but they looked promising what little time the prototype actually worked. (not long enough to get video, unfortunately)
Next on the list of failures came more in an act of nature.
Both the Stele and the Witches fell victim to weather when our gazebo took a tumble in a storm.
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| From 2010 Buildup |
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| From 2010 Buildup |
This was the final nail in the coffin for trying to switch to a Spider Woman theme. Thus, we stood back and began formulating other plans whilst finishing up some items on the Laboratory.
With the Laboratory completed, the Harvest was born.
The Harvest had a LOT of good points. It felt good being out in a field again, even if it was only collecting the decor. A reflection on some of my childhood in and of itself.
For, perhaps only the second time since I have started this, the front yard came out pretty much EXACTLY as I wanted it to.
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| From The Harvest |
I couldn’t be happier with that. The rest of it…well, was last minute, and shows.
And, there was some negatives as well.
Primarily…I can’t say how many asked where the heck was Charr?
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| From Year of the Charr |
Well, Charr was at rest in the shed, as I wanted the fog machine to be used more traditionally for The Harvest… A part of the aftermath of the weather that night is that I lost all 3 fog machines. Well, at least the timers. Hard to tell if the machines work or not without a switch.
And, the lighting I was hoping would help out the video camera…well, didn’t much.
With the weather wiping out everything early as well, we’re left with needing to procure new bamboo for this next year, no matter what we do.
So, what does that all mean?
I don’t know. The Harvest, in the form of the front yard, will likely be returning in some form at some point. Charr needs to make a come back, and I need to but new fog and bamboo, and still want to be heading towards the Spider Woman changeover. Beyond that, I’m taking a little break from building things till January. Maybe make some sketches, and do some research. (yes, research is vital to theme building) See what I dream up next, and how to pull it together.
You may have noticed it’s time for the Christmas makeover again.
I’m not entirely sure just how much we’re going to be doing at the house this year, however.
No Jack to put up this year, not sure I want to go about sculpting a 4th one, either. And, if I DO decide to make one, we’re going to be smart about it this year and get a mold, so I can just cast a new one as needed.
The original plan was for us to be going Gremlins this year…but, as with the plans for Spider Woman at Halloween, those plans have been washed away with the events overtaking us this year.
Much as The Harvest was a venture into introspection and a return to the natural, perhaps it’s time to explore those possibilities this Christmas as well. Just what that means right now, I’m not entirely sure…never been much of a Christmas fan.
For now, it’s time to reflect on the year, and decide what direction we’ll be going in the kitchen this Yule…
