4th annual Halloween Gathering

My 4th annual Halloween Gathering took place Saturday night at the Studio. This Gathering is not your traditional party, it's more of a low-key gathering of friends to celebrate what Halloween truly represents: ghosts, monsters, creeps, jack-o-lanterns, demons, spine-tingling chills, & the dinginess of a damp crypt in the midst of a neglected cemetary. We decorate the place up quite scarily, my wife, Cindy, makes dinner for all, we read selections from classic & modern-day horror literature, tell personal ghost stories, take part in a mock seance, listen to selections of some of the creepiest music from movie scores and the classical repertoire, and finally cap the evening off with viewing of scenes from some of our favorite horror films. This is all enjoyed in a non-alcoholic environment where our imaginations can roam the deeps of the underworld as words and music mingle to pull us into the darkness of our own minds. In attendance this year were myself, Cindy, my cousin Travis Morton and his girlfriend Carrie, my mother Peggy, my sister Melissa, Anna & David Frazier, Sam & Jennifer Batman, & Nora Frazier. Our medium for the seance was performed by the wonderful Jennifer Smith who pulled much information from the depths of the magical and electrical plasma ball! Scroll down for more on The Gathering. If this looks interesting to anyone viewing this blog and they are within driving distance and would like to attend next year, then provide me with your name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address and I will be happy to send you an invitation in '07.

Halloween Gathering 2

Here are some more shots from this year's Halloween Gathering: illuminated skulls on a shelf; Sam Batman dressed as the Grim Reaper ("Mr. Death is a reaper!"); a very interesting wax formation spilling from the mouth of a pumpkin candle holder (it looked like it was vomiting ectoplasm or something equally disgusting. The wax stalactite got progressively longer as the night wore on); Sam & Jennifer Batman as the Grim Reaper and Egyptian Queen. Finally, me in my costume of black cloak, armored "Ringwraith-like" hands, and wooden serpent staff.

New costumes

Because John Wallaby asked, here are a few of the recent costumes that have issued forth from my modest studio: The first two shots are front & back images of SUPER SQUARE, made for Center in the Square, an arts center in Roanoke, Virginia. This costume was very elaborate, especially the cape; The second is a child's PICKLE costume; A WHOOPIE CUSHION and TOILET BRUSH made for Careerbuilder.com as part of a five-city street advertising campaign (note the blue & brown stains on the top of the brush); and CHARLIE the CRIME STOPPER, a character for a "get tough on crime" campaign down in lovely Barbados.

A cock & bull...er, I mean, balls..story

After we made a hasty departure from NerdCon...er, I mean CharCon, we opted to cruise over to Bennigan's at the Town Center for a late lunch. Now, I hadn't been to the Town Center in quite a long while and in my absence a restaurant has gone in there called The Chop House, which is located directly beside Bennigan's. I looked up at the awning and did quite the double take. Uh, was that what I thought it was on that stylishly-drawn bull??? Holy shit, they had put a dick and balls hanging off that bull!!! This is at a public restaurant! At least that's what I think it is, I'm still not sure if it's a eatery or some well-disguised joint where you can take your bull for circumcision or neutering. I couldn't believe they were getting away with that. Anyway, I had to stop and take a shot of it. I got laughed at by some youngs girls sitting nearby: "Are you takin' a pitcher o'that cow's penis?"

Other Costumes from DragonCon

Strange & unusual

Here are some very unusual costumes. The first is an EXCELLENT rendition of the Witch King of Angmar from LOTR: The Return of the King; #2 is WAAAAAY out there, I have no idea what inspired it but it's damn creepy (Note the vein makeup on their arms and legs); #3 is Red Death from The Phantom of the Opera; #4 didn't load properly; #5 is just really disturbing; I'm not sure who #6 is supposed to be but it's pretty neat.

Beautiful dresses

God, I love costumes! A well-crafted dress transcends mere patterned and sewn fabric when draped elegantly upon the form of a stunningly gorgeous woman. I'm not sure what the first dress is from but it's extremely regal. Dress #2 is just a fantasy creation, I think. The dresses in #3 are the various ones that Padme wore in Attack of the Clones. #4 is Jadis, the White Witch, from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have no idea what #5 is but it's very impressive nonetheless. #6 & 7 are opposing views of Eowyn's white dress from LOTR: The Two Towers. #8 is an other Padme dress (and Lord knows there were many to choose from!).

Awesome Armor!

From DragonCon '06, some of the most incredible armor imaginable. Some of it is re-creations from specific films, some of it's strictly fantasy, but ALL of it is beautiful. I have no idea what #1 & #2 are but they are absolutely smashing, especially #1's use of the decorative fabric and tassles; #3 is a re-creation of Boromir's armor from Fellowship of the Ring; #4 is the Elvish armor, also from Fellowship; I have no clue what the rest of them are from but they absolutely knocked me out. #5's armor looks great but it does look a bit like she has hubcaps on her breasts. I LOVE the Celtic knot design on the chestplate of #6; #7 is very impressive, and #8 is just kick-ass. I mean, how can you go wrong when you decorate your armor with skulls??? The costumes in #9 are obviously from Spawn and probably something else as well; The armor AND the babe in #10 are both simply drop-dead gorgeous.