Greeter and Guardian: How freaks carve pumpkins.

Image by Strublay

The Greeter before the sun went down fully, you can see the paper bag luminaries with LED candles, I wanted to do more, but I didn't want the risk of them getting stolen.

Image by Strublay

The Guardian at his post on the table of food.

Image by Strublay

Greeter as one would have seen him walking up the steps.

Silly boys, and thier silly pumpkins.

Image by Strublay

The one who couldn't take it. "Phoenix Wright" Tried to carve a template pumpkin but unfortunately failed when his dragon popped out with the rest of the pieces he was trying to remove. When Perfect Timing and Phoenix went to Cici's to pick up Pizza, Batboy and I "fixed" PW's pumpkin by turning him over and carving 'xX' for eyes.The mouth just worked. We then took a pizza box (after we ate) set our victim on it, grabbed some pumpkin guts, the Bottle of Jack, Some candy Wrappers and a pizza crust and placed it all together as you see above. I decided to light him, which seems an unusual choice considering the abundance of vomiting pumpkins out there. This image is very very nice, the lighting of which aided by the neon bat behind "the one who couldn't take it". I'm glad we averted another soulless pumpkin.

Image by Strublay

Retro Gamers pumpkin, a soulless one. A template by pumpkin masters was used here, and the lighting was augmented by our Neon cat in the background.

Image by Strublay

Perfect Timing's pumpkin, a soulless one. Another pumpkin masters template.

A Haunting In Las Vegas

Image by Strublay

My mother did her house up this year, and this was an off year! all the images in this post is of my mothers work, and the heritage passed down from mother to daughter as years go by.

Above is one of the candelabras my mother purchased years ago. Don't be fooled by the lack of a scale, they are about 6 foot tall and 5 feet wide. Yes, those are REAL candles.

Image by Strublay

My mother didn't carve a Pumpkin this year, these were her substitutes.

Image by Strublay.

This is a wreath made by my grandmother, who has passed on. We display halloween items of our passed family every year, and this year Nana's wreath went up in moms house, Papa's Phantom Hat went up in mine.

Image by Strublay

I love this picture. Just had to share it.

Image by Strublay.

The gemmy ripoff of the Flying Crank ghost. The Lighting in this picture is perfect I think. 

Image by Strublay

Here is a neighbors house, I loved the little stakes.

Of the Halloween Sunrise

Image by Strublay

The Halloween sunrise. I've never experienced it before but since I was up so late, I figured no time Like the present. This was the state of my cobwebs BEFORE they tried to blow down. they were so pretty in the first rays of dawn.

Image by Strublay

The bats and my cheesecloth and sheet curtains. One can also see the faint outline of my neon bat in the window on the right.

Image by Strublay

That's one fearless little bat.

I would suggest enjoying the Halloween sunrie with a cup of vanilla caramel tea or a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Pre Halloween Photos

Image by Strublay

I wanted to get some photos of my pre Halloween prep, and here are some of my favorites, above is the view from my kitchen looking at the orange haunted house night light and the purple glow of the LED lights we picked up this year in the other room. I love the contrast of the orange and purple lights with the darkness of my condo.

Image by Strublay

My decrepit wreath. Looks like it was attacked by spiders and moths. this entire thing was made in around 30 minutes using a 3.00 bare branches wreath, a bit of bag webs, a sign which was 50% off, and a strip of shredded cheese cloth stained with a combination of tea and supremely watered down craft paint.

Just the way I like it.

Image by Strublay.

Our pumpkins. The light one (second in line) is the Greeter, and the far one (bulge at the end) is the Guardian the other two became the soulless (template carved) ones.

Pumpkins grinning in ghastly delight.

Image By Strublay

 The greeter.

As the few T.O.T's walked up the stairs, the light of a strand of purple lights and apparently only four luminaries illuminated their way. As they made their ascent the wicked grin and insane eyes of the greeter became apparent, flanked by two more luminaries.They hesitated a moment before knocking on the door.

Image By Strublay

The guardian.

The guests took their food under the stare of this toothy beast, who guarded the food. Keeping the devil at bay, while making sure that one did not gorge them selves to bloatation.

Image by Strublay

 The grim gourds.

Greeter and Guardian, Sitting side by side after a long night, laughing at the two soul-less ones and the one who couldn't take it. They reminisce at the tiny bit of fun they had, and wonder if their kind will ever get their moment of glory. The creator reassures them: Next year will be the year of the pumpkin.

The list of pictures to be taken:
HF comrades displays here in town;
My Skeleton,
my spiderwebs,
my future curtians.
Pumpkins, pumpkins pumpkins
My pumpkin spice latte I get as I go home
my labcoat
my countdown sign
my mothers house and her sundries
the candy
the food from the party
I cant believe its almost here!

Of lights, graves and a major spider infestation.

Image by Strublay; Northwest Las Vegas

This was the first one I saw, A cute little house that was obvious it was trying to pull off something nice they did a good job I think.

Image by Strublay; Northwest Las Vegas

Here is its  little grave area.

Image by Strublay; Northwest Las Vegas

Spider infestation!

Image by Strublay; Northwest Las Vegas

Heh, VERY las vegas.

Memories of blacklight bulbs, bats, and poseable Skeletons made of paper.

Found on Flickr; Image by: Hey Paul

My Halloweens of memory, they consisted of white sheets over furniture, and bare black light bulbs, of carved pumpkins and paper decorations.

Found on Flickr; Image by: Whimsy Studios

Paper bats fluttered about the house, paper spiders crawled down the hall, there was a ghost made of starched cheese cloth, and a lilliputian grave yard, complete with tiny bats, small flying witch and a grim reaper lined the windows;

Found on Flicker; Image by: Riptheskull

 But the most vivid memory of all was the paper skeleton, an creation of western origin, with rotting skin falling off old bones. My mother put one of my Halloween shirts on him, to hide his gruesome insect infested torso.

The images forever defined my holiday.

I hate how its been commercialized. You cant buy memories as vivid as that.

Of Spiders, Steiner's, and web's aplenty.

Image by Strublay.

Went to Steiner's this evening, before my partner and I went out to take photographs of some of the decorated homes in NW Las Vegas, and, much to my surprise I was greeted by the green "glowing" work of radioactive orange spiders. As I walked inside, spider webs were everywhere and lights were all over the bar. It was a fantastic surprise and I turned around and grabbed my camera, with the complete intention of writing this post.  Above you see my view of the bar and the kitchen area, donned in Halloween display. How lovely.

Image by Strublay

Those are some damned industrious spiders. I mean, woah.

Image by Strublay

And then there was this guy, his eyes faded in and out, which was a nice effect.

I don't typically go for adverts, but I love the few occasions I can go to this place, so I'm plugging them.

If you want to go see this finery for your self, Go visit Steinerspub.com or go to Steiner's Pub at 8410 W. Cheyenne Ave. (And if anyone of the staff come here, Hi! ^_^)

Of candle holders, count down signs, and a Urban Vegas Halloween

Image By: Strublay

...and so it begins, my Halloween decorating has started in earnest, and the first feeble beginnings come out in the form of candles. Pulled out in September, I have reserved the pictures of them for this first, of many, posts of Halloween images taken by yours truly.

Image by Strublay

The sign. It counts down the inevitability of the dark night coming. I made it from foam core, velcro, a blacklight and a reversible hot orange/green card stock.  Total cost of the sign, with out the black light $2.00, with the blacklight $12.00. The entire project was inspired by several posts on HalloweenForum.com, and the font used was Green Fuz from 1001fonts.com.

Image by Strublay

My second story window, pumpkins, sign, and all.

I'm glad it started.

Of blacklights, jacklights, and creepy creatures of fear.

Found on Flickr; Image by DevilsChariot

Devils Chariot is back on my blog, with this creepy little dude with glowing green eyes. *Shutter*

Found on Flickr; Image by Slworking2

Black lights give everything that un-earthly glow, even foam tombstones with plastic skeleton hands. Yesterday I learned the actual atom level workings of the black light effect from some MIT OCW Vids I was watching, so the florecent glow of objects under blacklight holds a whole new meaning.

Found on Flickr; Image by FranieK

First some black light, and now some Jack Light. Orange and black, how charming.

Of spirits, brains, and the allure of green glass.

Found on Flickr; Image by nushuz

Spirits, no the liquid kind. a blood red drink an a skeleton hand glass. How appropriate.

Found on Flickr; Image by tangopango

The Brain Hemorrhage. Shot of choice for Zombies world wide.

Found on Flickr; Image by Macaw-frey

An inviting green bottle, or is it? Oh the allure of green glass.

Of Black Cats, Brooms and being Bee Witched.

Found on Flickr; Image by Cobalt123

He's so handsome! All he needs is an old lady in a funny hat, a broom, and a cauldron and he'd be set!

 

Found on Flickr; Image by Jim Murrell IV

Kitty and broom, wheres the old lady now?

Found on Flickr; Image by Boopsie.daisy

Oh the visual puns. Bee Witched... LOL.

Of Pumpkins, glowing gourds, and the simple pleasure of the pumpkin grin.

Found on Flickr; Image by Jim Murphy

Theres nothing like the smell of burning pumpkin flesh. I love all of the pumpkins in this image.

Found on Flickr; Image by Brother Grimm

  The guy closest to us is what caught my eye, his pointy grin and section of missing teeth make me smile.

Found on Flickr; Image by Seymour Digital Consulting

I used to be a fan of intricate pieces of art such as this. I've started to lean closer and closer to the traditional Jack for my favorites.

Of laboratories, potion bottles and the aesthetic of collections of glass bottles stoppered with cork.

Found on Flickr; Image by Vissago

Erlenmeyer Flasks with dry ice and colored water. I love chemistry laboratories. It's the look really, all the scientific complexity and carefulness, the controlled chaos. Flasks, vials and measuring instruments sitting in such a cleanly cluttered environment. I know its what you do with them that one should respect, but one cannot help but enjoy the aesthetic of a labratory.

Found on Flickr; Image by TW Collins

Potions. Oh what a beautiful sight, hundreds of bottles carefully labeled, all topped with cork stoppers. I would love to have a wall filled with oil and herb bottles for every whim. but for now the small herb cabinet handed down from my grandmother will have to do.

Found on Flickr; Image by Ovendelon

More Potion bottles. It'll never end.

On Zombies Friends, Zombie distant acquaintances and some decently hot zombie chick.

Normally, when dealing with Halloween images, I avoid posting pictures of humans for the obvious complication of identifying who they are. But in this case, I could not help it, seeing that I ran across the image below and an idea was born.

Found on Flickr; Image by Dawn Geary

You ever have those moments of "Hey I know that Zombie?" No? Well I guess I'm a freak then.

This is Joey, I know him because he is the son of my brother in laws girlfriend. He is creepy as HELL as a zombie Clown. So if your in Louisville, give Joey and his mother some love for the awesomeness that is this CRAZY SCARY zombie.

Found on Facebook; Image by Julez Rodionova

Behold, another "Hey! I know that zombie!" moment. One of my fabulous, and very few and far in between friends from high school, Justin, downing a blood spiked blue ribbon and giving us a bloody thumbs up.

(Justin, I could not help it. When one does posts on Zombies, one has to include ones friends.)

Found on Flickr; Image by Ally Baux

Finally for your enjoyment, what a hot chick would look like given an inhuman thirst for brains.