Halloween Jetsetting heads to the Pacific Northwest!

Woo wee...what a long time since a post. Well time to play catch up because personally I have made the Halloween Jetsetting a priority in 2010!!

In mid January, I hit the Halloween Jackpot! I was invited to visit with Janell Berryman of Pumpkinseeds Folk Art for a week in Oregon along the coast! Miss Janell was very recently hired as thee Holiday/Seasonal artist for Department 56!!

Janell and I have been friends for a few years now and I was delighted in her well deserved recognition and honored to be invited to throw around holiday ideas for her new D56 lineup.

Janell is a Halloween Queen from way back...12+ years of some creepy good Halloween designs has made her one of the most recognizable holiday collectible artist's around. Watching her work and seeing so many of her pieces in person made me foam at the mouth.

Due to her new position with D56, she will no longer be designing her Enesco pieces. If you have wanted an Enesco piece by her I suggest you make a quick dash online and search them out as what is out and about in the stores is what is left.

Here are just a few examples of the spooky spirited designs that Enesco has reproduced of Janell's work that are now in limited quantities..even Enesco does not have all of works. you will need to search online retailers. Collect away my dearies ;)

To reach Janell for possible Artist proofs or other art related goodies please visit:

http://pumpkinseedsoriginals.blogspot.com/

Great ! Ghoultide Gathering 2009

Just almost 4 weeks ago was the amazing Ghoultide Gathering. I arrived in Michigan a bit beat up after a long road trip of 10+ hours from NJ. This road trip followed a good dose of jet lag from 2 days earlier when I had departed San Francisco (Halloween & Vine 2009).
So, needless to say, I was a bit worn. Of course the car trouble along the way in Pittsburgh didn't help nor the fact that we were stuck inside a 300 acre historic cemetery when the hose decided to take its hiatus.

The good news was that I was instantly transformed into my 'ole self quickly. Our hotel was fantastic (Hampton Inn in Northville, MI) and I quickly made the room all mine (important factor in my traveling experience) and readied myself for the evenings festivities.

Dinner at the local Macaroni Grill with a group of fellow Halloween artisans and collectors from all over the US!! What a treat! The biggest treat for me was to get to meet Kristen Beason & her hubster Chris in person. A total delight these two are. Gosh, how I LOVE nice people!!!

Chris & Kristen Beason





Joyce Stahl with collector Hugh sharing artwork!

Afterward was a lil chitty chat in the lobby with the group staying at the same hotel and I got to sit and talk with with a bunch of collector-guys & girls and "peeps" from EHAG, Pfatt. One of my highlights was to talk with William Bezek. So friendly, so likeable-just an all around nice guy. And again, I love nice people. I understand not everyone is as friendly or as chatty Cathy as me but crikey, does it help if can at least fake a smile! I have actually stopped buying from a few artist's over the years because their personality ( or lack there of) is in the crapper. So, needless to say I can continue to buy from Mr. Bezek for many moons and everyone is happy except perhaps my bank account ;)

I arrived at Ghoultide, a gorgeous lil destination in itself to find oodles of rain and people. The rain most certainly did not damper anyone's mood. The excitement could be heard & felt. Scott Smith's 5 foot + Pumpkin men flanked the tented entrance and dared all to enter. I willingly obliged ;)

Two lines formed outside two quaint buildings, housing the sought after artisans. I came prepared to shop! I had my LED lighted spooky purse

and a Halloween tote to carry my soon to be scored goodies. Great to carry a tote with you because shows always have so many takeaways to snap up! The doors opened and everyone flew in like the ravenous pack that we were .

I quickly found Debra Schoch's table of OMG's! I knew I wanted one of her "Bat Girls" and was hoping to find one that spoke to me. I quickly found a tall Skeleton that sang & a SO worthy Bat Girl. As I pondered this dilemna, I looked to my hubster, Michael. What is a girl to do, you ask...BUY BOTH I replied to myself in desperation! I left Michael to abscond with my goodies while I ran to do more damage to our savings account.

Over the next 3 hours I scored:
A sa-weet witchy poo painting by Irene Gates, who had yet been on my Halloween radar but is now FIRMLY planted there;)

A swanky needlefelted pin with a big black satin ribbon bow (yummy) by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm was a must have accessory!

And the surprise buy of the day was yet another piece by William Bezek (just saw and bought from him in Cali)!! It is the coolest skelly meets ghostly like luminary character I have ever seen! It is a different style than I have seen before from William and he mentioned that it was a piece created sometime ago and that he had decided to put it up for sale. Yee ha he did!! I adore such sweet & spooky characters and this belonged in our abode.

I was able to meet so many truly wonderful people, that it is an experience I won't soon forget.

Lori Davis (Nana) & Joyce Stahl

Kristen Beason, Me (Dani Nelson) & Elaine Thomas

I look forward to 2010 with a (so far) total of 4 shows already scheduled to attend. I hope to meet many of you along the way and to share in what we love, Halloween Destinations~