He's Baaaack!

What are you doing reading this?!? Allen's back to show us more prop making gold!

Watch the video already!

Zombie Song

I am going through a little Halloween withdrawal today.

Red and Blue Effect

It just so happens we use a LOT of red and blue lighting in our haunt. Plus, I've been building computer controlled RGB lights, so this effect would be easy to pull off. Hmm...this would be a cool way to have faceless ghosts that suddenly change to have angry faces staring at you. I think I have a project for this weekend!

Ghosts?

We are flirting with doing a ghost theme this year. We have a few ideas to try, but haven't completely fleshed them out yet. Here is one of the ideas. What do you guys think?

End of April

Hi all, Dawn here.  No pictures today, I’m just writing to catching up with my friends – YOU! 

It’s time to come out of hibernation around here at Nickols Manor, and we are starting to get ready to rumble.

It’s been a roller coaster of an ‘off season’ for us, with the toughest heartbreak being the loss of respected Haunt blogger John Wolfe.  I didn’t write about it at the time, I didn’t really know what to say that so many others had not already communicated more eloquently than I could have.  That is definitely not to mean that it did not affect us.  John was an amazing artist that did so much through his blog and webcams to educate and share with our community.  Beyond that, he was a very kind individual, one of the first to welcome us as newbies, and I will never forget that kindness.  You are missed much, and often John. 

Jayson and I just got back from a weekend getaway to a small little haunted Texas town that is a particular favorite of ours, we will be telling you a bit about it in the coming days… but it really gave us a chance to slow down, have time to talk about things other than the kids and work…. and it led to more haunt planning than we have gotten done in the first 4 months of the year!  I guess I need to chill out and realize that just may be how we roll!

This should be an amazing build season, thanks to some amazing techniques that Allen Hopps has been putting out on Youtube… We have had the privilege of working with him a few times in Dallas, and he has really reminded us that we are doing this to have fun (imagine THAT?!?!), and to look at EVERTHING as a potential building material. 

So we are full of ideas and are ready to go…. now all we have to do is focus!  (insert laughter here…) 

Here’s to 2012!

Black Friday

Ever have one of those moments when you are at Home Depot buying Christmas gifts for others, and while waiting to check out you look down into your buggy and realize that 80% of what you are about to buy is killer deals on materials for the 2012 haunt?

Yeah, me too.

Nickols Manor 2011 - Continued

And we're back!
Ooooohh! Take a look at this gorgeous stone! All hand wrought by the lovely Dixie herself in tribute to Uruk-Hai's inspirational stones! She's a looker!

Well, lookie here! Buffy's done lost her head in the Candy Cauldron. That Slayer sure does love her some candy!

Well...here's Karl again. I believe Henry must have tuckered him out. Seems he's trying to slip away for a bit.

Uhoh! That pretty lady with the angry scowl and lovely blonde hair is Matilda. Karls wife. He's so busted. Man, she's pissed!

Hey! It's Karl and Matilda's daughter Petunia and her Aunt Lily! Oooooooooo Karl was supposed to take her Trick or Treating. No wonder Matilda's pissed!

 
Now Matilda's got Cousin Earl and his friend Bob looking for Karl. (Bob's the reeeaaal skinny fella on the stick. Don't mention the stick, he's sensitive.)

Poor Karl. You would think after 300 years he would know better, but truth be told he didn't have much in his head even when he was alive. Dumb as a rock became actual real rocks in the head. He never had a chance.

Here comes the local graveyard patrol. It's Jack Reaper, the local Underworld official. Rumor has it that he and his brothers starred in some big Hollywood todo about some silly ring or ankle bracelet a while back. I think it had some smelly little short Halflings with hairy feet in it. Why anyone would watch drivel like that I don't know. He don't talk much, and we don't ask.

Like I said, he don't talk much. When you are over 10ft tall, and reap souls you don't have to talk. Plus, no one want's to ask him any questions. He gives me the heebie jeebies!

Well, it's getting late and I gotta get going. It was real nice visiting with you folks. Don't be a stranger. I'm Jaybo for Nickols Manor, and we'll leave the Haunt on for you.

Nickols Manor 2011–Poltergeist

 

We decided to go with a ghostly theme this year, so first up is the star from the Poltergeist movies - Reverend Henry Kane , aka The Beast.

Say hello to the nice folks Henry. The Reverend here is a svelte 15 feet tall, the leader of a Utopian cult, and loves kids. Easy ladies, there is plenty of him to go around!

This one is a good shot of one of Dixie's new stones, plus Henry is still trying to smack the TOTs. Oops...I mean ea..whoa..uh...greet the lovely children?

Here is the view the TOTs have while walking up our sidewalk. Henry really likes TOTS! (usuallywithlotsofcheese)

Here we have a picture of Henry's wingman Karl. These two just love raising cane. Did you see what I did there? I crack me up!

Stay tuned folks! The party just getting started. We'll be back in another post soon!

Sharing Halloween with the World

Truck Pop-up Vid video by indianaholmes - Photobucket

Ok, this just cracks me up! Now I HAVE to build on of these for my truck!

Hmmm....maybe switch out the character to reflect each holiday?

Nothing like an Easter Bunny lunging at unsuspecting motorist on Good Friday!

Cool Makeup Tip...

First, let me clarify this is Dawn talking, so that no one will accuse Jayson of embedding make up videos.  Then let me say that, as someone who spray painted her body Krylon white last October 31st, so that I wouldn't have to worry about makeup rubbing off my bare shoulders, the following technique doesn't bother me in the least.

It uses fabric paint on the body as a relief stencil, and I think its a BRILLIANT idea.  I am already cooking up interesting wounds or swirls, or... or... or.... just let your imagination run wild.

 

And yes, I will still be Krylon-ing myself again this Halloween.  It  worked like a charm, my skin stayed perfectly clown white all night, with no irritation, and.... well, I already took the next day off work, just for scrubbing.  :D

Glow Stick Smoke... Don't Breathe This

Who knew the Blendtech "Will It Blend" guy could be a haunter?!?!  Haha, I love this one!

Dreaming of October

Is it because I want it to be Halloween? (For obvious reasons)

Is it because I want it to NOT read 111 degrees in my car?  (Like it does right now)

Is it because The Walking Dead Season 2 finally begins on October 16?  (Damn that new 4 minute preview for ComicCon, making me drool)

Yeah.... all those.

Annie Stone - WIP

Not many words today, just pictures. (Click to enlarge) The stone I have been working on for roughly 2 weeks (on and off).  Starting with the inspiration shot:

Enlarged this picture onto twenty 8 1/2 x 11" sheets of paper via Blockposters.com.  (It's free)

That's a yard stick leaning on it above.

A grave that I have been to many times, I felt it proper that her true name finally be "carved in stone", not just the Diamond Bessie name she was known as.  Her story can be found here.

I plan on the stone standing about 5.5 to 6 feet tall - it is about 4' now without a base.  I will update with pictures as I obsess progress.

An Amazing Day for Jaybo and I...

No pictures here guys, but I promise, the story is worth it.  I'm kinda gushing a little, but it's truly warranted.

As most of you know, Jaybo and I are home haunters.  We put on a show in our yard - a mainly static display that is up for the month of October.   Then on the 31st, we dress up and scare a bunch of kids.  That's our hobby, and with the exception of our kids - our whole world.

On Thursday night, one of our online hero's in the haunt community, Allen Hopps of Stiltbeaststudios.com contacted us and invited us to a workshop that he was putting on yesterday.  That gave us Friday to prepare.  I quickly cleared our schedule, and made plans to bask in his knowledge.  (If you are on some of the forums, you may already know him - if not, check out his webpage, or his Youtube.)

So, yesterday morning, we get to the gathering place at 11am, for a jam packed schedule of events that would go on until 7pm that night.  The schedule looked like a College course guide, only instead of Government and Literature, it was Corpsing, Audio, Molds, etc.  The two of us were so excited we couldn't stop smiling.

We pull into the parking lot, and start seeing vehicles with the names of haunts on them.  Only instead of yard haunts, they were all Haunted Houses.  Very BIG haunted houses in the DFW metroplex, and beyond.

My mouth hung open like a little girl.  I had to stop myself from taking pictures like a tourist.

We walk in to a small room, and there they all were, the big dogs.  I suddenly felt like a tiny puppy.  LOL!  Most of them all knew each other, because this was not their first workshop by any means, they do this twice a year - come together to share ideas, tips, how to's, etc.  Oh my stars, I have died and gone to heaven.

But there were a few newbies to the group, so they did the standard, round the room introduction.  Haunted house after haunted house stood up, named their business, the members of their team that were with them, etc.  I'm not hearing any home haunters.  No one is not with a HOUSE.  I'm starting to panic - how do I stand up to THESE guys?!?

We were last, and by the time they said our names, I was intimidated SPEECHLESS.  Yeah, most of you wouldn't have recognized me, haha.  Luckily Jaybo still had the ability to form coherent words.  (err, I don't think he was as intimidated as I was, hehe)

But I cannot emphasize enough - after 8 hours of hands on demos, a structured class schedule, an evacuation by the fire department after the most amazing fog chiller I have ever seen, and a lot of laughs later - I felt like these guys were friends of mine. 

Never ever have I been more stupefied by the class, the generosity, and the fellowship of haunters.  I just never knew that the Pro Haunters (aka The big boys) were just like us home haunters in that respect.  I understand that it might not be that way in every market - but I can testify that it certainly is that way in Dallas.

Allen, you and your wife Shannon just blew me away with your kindness and hospitality.  Jaybo and I were so honored to get to visit with your group, learn from such talented individuals, and make such wonderful friends.

God bless the haunting community.  We are truly honored to be a part of it.

Like A Grown Up Lab Partner

Only better.  There is nothing better than prop building with your best friend.

We have these huge metal work benches, and set them up facing each other.  So while I am busy carving tiny intricate details on a tombstone, he is usually doing who knows what. 

But he almost always has that smile on his face, and I'm just grateful to share this awesome hobby with him.  Even when we butt heads and argue, its still the greatest time in my life.

Thanks Jaybo, you make this whole thing so worth it.

Dirty Girl

Another Inspiration Searching Funny Find

Hilarious.  Found here.

2011: Dixie's Year of the Tombstone

So last year I watched so many people cranking out some amazing tombstones.  2010 was the year of the "Structure" so I called it, adding 4 new columns, about a million more miles of fencing, etc.  I only got to make ONE all year!!

So last year, I watched and watched, all these kickass tombstones showing up on the forums one by one. 

Here are some of the ones from last year that I drooled over, that have now become my inspiration for this year:

My Make N Take buddy, Dark Lore had some awesome carving on this one.  I personally think that thing in the center at the top is the Tudor Rose.

Haunt Forum's SKAustin, this one just made my fingers itch to grab the Xacto blade!   

Kevin242 (aka Brewster Yard Haunt) has several from last year that I really liked, no surprise there, though.  Brewster Yard Haunt is probably the one haunt that truly got the obsession pumping in my veins.  I think his was the first one that I found years ago, then Davis, and between the two, I was sunk ;)

There is a lot of inspiration in this ONE thread from Halloween Forum, a place for everyone to show off their stones.

Fellow Texan StevesHauntedYard always has something interesting going on in the tombstone department...   

Terra is an amazing tombstone artist, and has tons of stuff to see.  This is one of my all time favorites of hers:  (and yes, that's a Barbie doll.  genius!)

And no picture gallery from 2010 would be complete without the HP Lovecraft stone from Urak-Hai, aka HectorTurner.com.  I would have to say he is one of my topmost tombstone makers.  I absolutely love his pieces.Cheerios, I'm tellin ya.  He NEVER fails to amaze me.   Here's another favorite, look at his take on this one...

Then there was Spooky Sam's popular weathering technique... My friend, JohnnyAppleseed kicked out some really good stones last year, THEN RoxyBlue did a post about her trip to Gettysburg along with amazing pictures, then after finding out what a huge Civil War buff I am, sent me a CD in the mail with ALL of the pictures! (Thank you again Roxy and Spooky1, that was the thrill of my YEAR!), and last but certainly not least, Davis Graveyard.  When you actually asked to teach your own class on Making Tombstones at Hauntcon, I don't think you need much else by way of introduction.

But in case you missed some of the vacation/UK graveyard pictures, start here, and just spend all day perusing.  Go to here to see the Davis stones.

A lot of inspiration.  I have been chomping at the bit for over one year now.  So, let the pink snowstorm begin, this will be my year of the tombstone!

While Searching for Tombstone Inspiration...

Normally I go to my huge folder of stolen internet pictures of tombstones.... I have them categorized by shape size, there's a special folder just for interesting textures and weathering differences.  Some are from forums, some are from blog posts, some are from all of Chris Davis' holidays to the most exciting hauntish type places I could imagine....  but no matter how big the folder is, sometimes I need new meat to chew on.

I have tried every Google Image search term I can think of to get new and interesting results.  Old tombstone, crumbling gravestone, churchyard markers, old obelisks, tombstone carvings, etc.

But today I came across something I had not seen before, and after a good chuckle, knew I had to share it.

From the Sears and Roebuck catalog - I don't see a date.  But after about 5 minutes of squinting to read all that I could - I can tell ya that at $46.78 for the large column style up there, I would say that back then, they could build them out of "The World's Best Royal Blue Vermont Marble" for only slightly more than I can build them out of "Home Depot's Best Pinkish/Purple Foam" now-a-days.

Love it.

Skeleton Study

Just came across something from Google that I am no doubt in love with...

It's kind of like Google Maps, only instead of interactively moving around city streets, It's called Google Body and you are interactively looking at bones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the picture to go to Google Body, play with the sliders and have a blast.  This will come in handy when making bones, yanno?!

Sorry, I just realized I posted boy bits up there.  Interestingly enough, Google chose to put little daisies over the girl bits, but not the boys.  Hmm.  I don't know what I think that means!

Happy Building, folks!