Ramblings from the Terra Queen.
What makes me tick?
Posted 07-18-2009 at 05:10 AM by Terra
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.
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.
Total Comments 9
Comments
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Jack of all trades...maybe.
But you certainly seem pretty darn masterful of everything I've seen you do!!
Kind regards.
Baron S.Posted 07-18-2009 at 11:58 AM by Baron Samedi 
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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!Posted 07-18-2009 at 05:41 PM by -
I'm glad you found halloween and this forum. We definitly benifited from it.Posted 07-19-2009 at 07:13 PM by 13mummy
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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.Posted 07-21-2009 at 06:27 AM by Skulkin
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agree with all above.Posted 07-29-2009 at 04:40 PM by halloween71
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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!Posted 09-03-2009 at 03:21 AM by bethene
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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!Posted 10-01-2009 at 09:28 PM by rpv805
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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
Posted 10-07-2009 at 06:34 AM by Slightly Twisted
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auto racing! like what types? oval/road crourse?Posted 10-23-2009 at 06:46 PM by BackYardHaunter
