Thread: Been stagnant, going new direction

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Hey gang, long time no see. Just wanted to share with you, and maybe you can share your stories too, if you've ever experienced this. Well, for years I've been doing Halloween parties, and I hated admitting it to myself, but I always felt afterward that it wasn't what I had anticipated. Nothing wrong, per se', with the parties, but after so many years, I really started to feel stagnant. Using lots of the same props, same decor, etc etc., and honestly, I don't feel like I'm the best hostess. Too reserved, you could say, and playing hostess always made me uncomfortable. So, on the day before Halloween last year, I decided to do my first garage walk-through, despite my husband's protests of "liability, insurance, blah blah blah". And you know what? I LOVED it. It wasn't anything fantastic, kinda simple really, but the responses I got from the few TOTs we had was so positive, I really want to do it again this year. Who knows, maybe they spread the word, and we'll have more peeps this year.

Then I looked around at all the stuff I've accumulated throughout the years, took a deep breath, and dumped or donated everything Halloween-related that I didn't love. Now I have room in my garage, and my imagination, to kind of start with a fresh slate, and lemme tell you, it is SO liberating!

Has this ever happened to you, where you just needed to scrap everything, wipe the slate clean, and start over? Would love to hear your stories, thanks!

"Scrap or be scrapped?" (Get scrapped?)
I think maybe you got weary of your collection is because maybe they were all bought items?
Items we invest our energy into , as We make them, might be more valuable to us.
Of course (unfortunately) most of us express our own efforts dissappointing results by diching the items we made. Maybe if only a few genuine compliments were forthcoming it could change our own low opinoins of our own works?

I'd say the items were 1/2 bought, 1/2 made. I donated a lot of things that I made for the October craft fair, and a pair of sideshow banners I painted years ago, along with extra Target serving platters, plastic wine glasses, fabrics, stuff like that. It wasn't that I didn't like the stuff I made, I just decided to choose which ones I really loved and which ones I didn't. Also, it was partly a matter of VERY limited space, and just realizing I wanted to start fresh. I really enjoy the whole creative process, so it's not so much a low opinion of my work. Know what I mean?

I think you are off to a great start. Ditching the things you don't like and adding to the stuff you love will help keep the spirit. Change refreshes things for everyone. Whether it is a new paint for the kitchen or a new scene in your haunt. Getting to design something new is fun and keeps the enthusiasm going. I would be bored to death if all I did was reassemble the previous years props. It doesn't have to be a major change every year. Some simple tweaking from year to year and a few new props, new lighting or new sound will help keep things fresh and exciting. Every few years look to redo something completely and you'll always be fresh and excited. Enjoy expanding your garage haunt this year. Enjoy and do it over time, try not to rush everything so the stress level stays low and you'll enjoy it even more.

Good to hear from you again!

I too have felt the same way. I have changed themes using all the stuff I have aquired over the years and found that it really keeps things in perspective! I too get rid of items that are not of use or I don't need any longer.

Glad to hear yours was a success! Any pics to share?

Originally Posted by BadTableManor

Also, it was partly a matter of VERY limited space

Space...That's usually the reason folks scrap stuff. I've got plenty of storage space but imagine that at some point I may "scrap" my funeral carriage since it's stored in the garage. I'll probably throw a tarp over it and store it outside next year to how it handles the elements

Well, we've been having parties since shortly after we bought our house, probably 15 years going. Although I'm not a prop maker myself, I've accumulated a lot of neat vintage items through the years, including nearly all the Halloween blowmolds. Once in a while something breaks, and I buy stuff that is only really neat anymore. But I never get tired of what we have. We're moving now, and our house has been the perfect one for the Halloween season. Wooded mountain, several acres of land, very dark at night. I've come to realize though that I have more fun with it than some of the guests over the years. A few comments about it being too dark (it's a Halloween party, hello!) I run the Ghoul Log on TV, and others wanted a game or something. Nope. My party, throw your own. If I'm lucky enough to be invited somewhere, I always play the perfect guest, and would never complain to someone, especially in their own home. These were minor remarks over the years, mostly close family anyway, and they know I wouldn't budge. But I hope people realize how much fun they were, because now they''re done for our home, we've tried our best to invite people in and have fun wtih us, and no one else in our family and immediate group of closer friends has a Halloween party. We were it...And now we're moving soon, to a much smaller place at the shore on the water. I'll make plenty of new friends and still have Halloween parties every year, even if it's only a handful of people. It doesn't really matter. If you enjoy the holiday enough, it should be to make yourself happy first. Otherwise, lacking that spark might be coming from inside. You will never please everyone, but make sure you're working on keeping the spirit going within yourself.

All I can say is I've never been more satisfied with Halloween then when I'm building my own props. I think you will find you get a lot out of it.

Originally Posted by MrNightmare

Good to hear from you again!

I too have felt the same way. I have changed themes using all the stuff I have aquired over the years and found that it really keeps things in perspective! I too get rid of items that are not of use or I don't need any longer.

Glad to hear yours was a success! Any pics to share?

Thanks, Mr.Nightmare, good to see you here, too.

Here are just a few pics. They came out fuzzy cuz of the low light. Like I said, a simple ordeal, but I loved it more than the most outrageously-decorated party I've ever done.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=44d63ead7a

I think I have thrown in the towel on parties too. I enjoyed the TOT's on Halloween night MUCH more than out party.. but... scrap stuff????!!! Oh noooooo... I may need it for something.. lol I have decided that I am putting my money and time into a haunted cul-de-sac this year and scraping the party..