Miss Ya Marley

Sometimes I work on a piece and when I'm done...and it's gone...I go through a little bit of a mourning period. I think what makes this mask special and different from other masks is that it represents an actual living dog named Marley. Being a dog lover myself I know how these furry souls can hold a special place in our hearts.

I had the pleasure of meeting Marley's owner, Joe, at last June's Gourd Festival. He was looking at a Tiger Mask and asked if I could make a Bulldog. Sounded like a fun challenge and sure enough about a month later I received two pages of images of Marley the Bulldog. Joe even brought Marley to my house so I could meet him...nice doggie...a curious and easy going guy.

I will miss Marley but I know he is going to a great home!

(By the way, I did a little bit of research on Bulldogs and learned quite a bit of their history. At one time they were bred specifically for Bull Baiting. I'm glad all of that aggressiveness was bred out of them and they are the sweet, lovable creatures that they are today.)

"Chuck" Joins the Clan

Most of the time I go along making things and I'll find inspiration from all sorts of things, usually something from nature. As I'm in the process I'm enjoying myself but I never know if anyone else will appreciate what I'm doing (and for some pieces it seems I can't even give them away!). Sometimes it's a one-sided dialogue.

Then someone comes along, like my friend Helen, and challenges me to create something new. When two like intentions come together, special things happen! First she wanted a Moose...then a Giraffe...a Monkey...Tiger...and now a Turkey.

As I was working on Chuck and trying to figure out how to put this guy together, I was suddenly grateful to Helen for giving me this challenge. I guess I sort of felt like a surrogate mother; Helen's idea and my "body," so to speak, and it probably did take about nine months from finding the right gourds to putting on the last coat of varnish.

Chuck posed some interesting challenges and at times was a real turkey. He will be safely hanging around her son's room just in time for Thanksgiving.