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Terra's Lair

What makes me tick?

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13 Comments
by
Terra
, 07-18-2009 at 05:10 AM (2173 Views)
I have a strange quirk. My dad calls me a 'Jack of all Trades...Master at none' and doesn't mean that as a compliment. He gets frustrated with me because I will pick up a hobby ... get pretty good at it and then drop it and go for something else. These were my past hobbies: auto mechanics, auto racing, painting, sewing, home decor, gardening, jewelry making, cooking and a multitude of other minor crafts. Plus, I'm an avid reader. To be honest, I myself have been frustrated because none of these hobbies really fired up enough passion in me to keep any of them going. Cooking would be the closest because I'm a chef by trade.

Then I went to Halloween Horror Nights and noticed a prop they had that looked like something I could do. When I got home, I rushed out to Home Depot to get supplies and made this:




I was hooked. It was a huge hit with the kids that year and I got a thrill of accomplishment every time I looked at it. The thing was huge(!) and so easy to make. I thought I could whip up props like this like crazy. So, next year I made some more...and then more. Then got out a legal pad and organized a walk-thru. Halloween night and 250 ToTs came and I had a terrific time.

So, the next year I told myself I would plan better and so I hunted around for How-to's. I stumbled across this site and WOW tons of help and fellow travelers. That is how I learned DMX. I questioned and questioned on different threads about DMX trying to wrap my head around it. Guitarist151 and Phoenix_UK were so patient with me

Also, while I was at the forum, I kept reading about how easy it was to make foam tombstones. So, I thought that would be an easier project to tackle while I was still trying to understand DMX. Well, building tombstones just rocked for me. Here I could use my artistic skills. I also started to realize I was totally hooked on Halloween as a hobby. It's the perfect hobby for 'Jack of all Trades' person like me. You use so many hobby skills to make just one prop. I mean, how can you get bored doing this? I am building one prop right now that uses sculpting, painting, sewing and jewelry-making.

So anyways, I think I'm pretty good at this because it's the perfect outlet for my particular way of hobby-making. Plus, it is so darn fun. If you could see me while I'm building props, I have the biggest smile on my face. I am having a blast

Because of how this forum helped me I want to keep this going. Payback, if you will. Plus, if I make easy-to-understand tutorials then some people may have an easier time building a prop. They could skip some of the trial and error thing I went through.

So, anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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Updated 05-02-2010 at 12:21 PM by Terra

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Comments

  1. Baron Samedi's Avatar
    Jack of all trades...maybe.
    But you certainly seem pretty darn masterful of everything I've seen you do!!

    Kind regards.

    Baron S.
  2. 's Avatar
    ditto what Baron said. and i truly appreciate all your tutorials. I am the kind of person that will read numerous/ various tutorials for one prop. I probably over-read it. But, more times than not, i wind up using your tutorial. It's simple to understand and you cover all the problems that may arise. And I THANK YOU!! following your tutorials have never caused me to pause and go 'WTF!" Cathy
    p.s.- I made your PVC candles, too!
  3. 13mummy's Avatar
    I'm glad you found halloween and this forum. We definitly benifited from it.
  4. Skulkin's Avatar
    You should add photography to your list, Terra. That's an awesome picture with the moon in the background. You can tell that you love prop-building by the quality of your work. My Dad used to say the same thing about me, now I just introduce myself as "A Jill of All Trades, Mistress of None!" Keep up the good work and keep sharing it with us.
  5. halloween71's Avatar
    agree with all above.
  6. bethene's Avatar
    Terra, I would say you are a Halloween master!!!(or mistress, if you will!) But I do understand, I am not up with you making props, but I do love it, a creative outlet for me!! My daughter asked me what I would do if I didn't do halloween, and I couldn't answer, except to say, I don't plan on stopping the halloween anytime soon! I too used to bounce between things, loved creating. but exactly like you said, I can do so many types of things with halloween, sculpt, tombstones(no where near your level-- and also thank you for the tutorials!!) Just the set up taps in to creativity!well. i seem to be writing a novel so will stop now!
  7. rpv805's Avatar
    just joined today! reading what you wrote is very encouraging - we are having our 4th annual adult Halloween party and I am in the market for ideas - seems like i found the right place!
  8. Slightly Twisted's Avatar
    Your tutorials are great. I am working on "Bloved" now. so far so good. I checked out your youtube videos too ~ all I can say is wow . Great work
  9. BackYardHaunter's Avatar
    auto racing! like what types? oval/road crourse?
  10. ithurt's Avatar
    It appears that you are in good company!

    Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney... to name a few.

    Have you ever been tested for ADD/ADHD/aspergers?
    I have fought this all my life and 2 of my three kids have Aspergers. The people who tell you these lame things are secretly envious (or scared) of the non stop knowledge/creativity that your mind is capable of taking in.

    So I lack some practical thinking that is what the rest of the boring world is there for
  11. ithurt's Avatar
    The thing I love about this hobby/lifestyle is that it seems to encompass every skill I have ever learned.

    the bad part: PACK RATTING!
  12. Its the Great Pumpkin's Avatar
    Just an Awesome artist in my book! Keep it up girl! BOO!!!
  13. GiggleFairy's Avatar
    You're my idol Terra! I, too, have very little success staying fixated on one craft-style. I want to be like you when I grow up.