Christmas

My house a week back or so during a late night snow dusting. Always wondered what other fall haunts look like at Christmas.

Family and I attended the Winter Wonderlights display at Sunnyside last night. Based upon the Washington Irving tale Rip Van Winkle...

A disappointment....

It was rather sparse and short and I really can't recommend. It lacked the atmosphere & overall fun when compared to The Blaze held in the fall at Van Cortlandt Manor.

At times somewhat amateurish and limited(prop /decor wise).

On the plus side ..walking through the woods at night is cool! Ha! I'll be fair..there's more than that...many if not all the items used were recyclables (water bottles and other plastics). Not sure if this is what hindered the appearance of things but it came across at times as "cheap looking".

Anyway a few pics....

This I liked a lot. Rip's 20 years sleep.

The Witch of the Western Woods (The Crone) Prop

Even today the Western Woods is a haunted place....where brave men will not venture.

My off season plan. Always wanted to do a witch prop. Something about witches with me....anyway a take on the classic witch stirring cauldron props that use wiper motors that I think are soooo cool. I would replace the stirring motion with that of a throat slash /off with your head sort of hand gesture. After all ...it is Sleepy Hollow.


I've already started accumulating some pieces here and there. The most important right now for me are the hands. I purchased a pair from http://www.ghostride.com/. I'll alter the pose of them. Not sure how right now (probably cut some fingers off here and there! - and reposition and glue). Going for the look of the top picture.


I think I can use a simple motor to move her right arm. Saw a place online that separately sells motors ($9) used by those Christmas deer that turn their heads back and forth.

Purchased a colonial ball gown pattern for the dress similar in structure to that of the last picture. Sewing is not my thing. I'll have to put a serious bribe package together for my wife to whip up a 18th century gown that I will basically destroy and weather. It has a filthy, creep cloth look to it that I hope I can replicate.


Well I'm off to hang the Christmas wreath on the house, grapevine deer the lawn and string some lights in the holly bushes. Sadly the wife has killed my plans on doing a Ebenezer Scrooge life size prop for A Christmas Carol themed yard display. Maybe next year.
Just kidding. It would be kind of cool though...have to go with the George C. Scott version.

WallPaper

Some rare wallpaper backrounds - love the colors. By the way... Happy Thanksgiving.

http://www.etapet.net/en/gallery-687-0-wallpapers-Sleepy-Hollow.html

I Want That!

While roaming the Internet for ideas or out of plain boredom I come across some pretty amazing Sleepy Hollow items.

Ray Park's stunt costume.

http://www.wintnerartist.com/props43.html

Very cool.... can't play a lick though.

http://www.steinbergerworld.com/special/horseman.htm

Sleepy Hollow shadow lantern prototype from Factory X. I guess it never made it to production.

http://www.scifidiva.com/palisades_toys__factory_x_shoot

A fellow SH fan sent me these pics of her scarcrow a few years back. Great idea to do the "other" scarecrow and do it perfectly as well. Last I heard she was working on a covered bridge for her display.

~ Stephanie, Indiana

I'll try not to let the blog go stale in the offseason. Picked up a few items online to tinker with here and there for next years display. Had another life size figure in mind.

Had such a great time at the Great Jack O Lantern Blaze I had to buy tickets for the Washington Irving - Rip Van Winkle inspired Winter Wonderlights show. Its first season -

"Inspired by Irving's famous tale of Rip Van Winkle, the same creative team that dazzles you with the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is creating an artistic, larger-than-life dreamscape of Rip's visions during his 20 winters of sleep. Wander through an illuminated, mysterious landscape filled with peaks, valleys, and towering ancient trees. You'll discover sculptures of light; life-size, eco-sculpted animals and mythical creatures; plus flowers, plants, magical candy pieces, and much more. You'll even experience a snowstorm as you follow the river of light to th event's climactic moment! An original soundtrack scored just for the event guides the way. This festive, family-friendly experience captures the holiday mood of celebration and excitement. "

http://www.hudsonvalley.org/content/view/346/305/

Day After Halloween Video

November 1st

Some video stills taken on the saddest day of the year. It was sunny and warm too. Yuck.

Halloween Night Videos, Stills and Pictures

Slowly making my way over here from the live.spaces site. I was limited with what I could do there. This place is more like it.

A somewhat decent video and video still of the witch projected onto the house using a Holiday Motion Projector below. Made a custom slide using a transparency sheet and printed the image with a laser jet printer. Wanted the look of the shadow lantern scene from the movie as the Killian family met their demise.

Crisp Fall Day

Sleepy Hollow Props (The Hessian)

Above are a few photos of the Horseman modified for 2008.

A longer cape replaces the short one in last years initial version.

A new removable base cover made of weed block paper, Spanish moss and leaves spray glued in place gives his black plywood stand a more finished look.

Sleepy Hollow Props (Headstones)

Masbath & Dirk Van Garrett unfinished at the time. I used Great Stuff to seal the foam tombstone to the tight fitting, chiseled out wood landscape block.