Thread: Sleepless in Eustis (useless) , Fl

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I am not sure if this is the proper place to post this or not. but here goes.

I was very happy in my little halloween prop world.

Then I discovered you guys. "My new home".

I must say I am starting to wonder if this place is a blessing or not!

I have had to purchase a crowbar to insert new ideas into my 2008 selection of props. I have had a brain storm of idea.

I am not an organized person by nature but this weekend I have to empty my entire work room to reorganize everything. I have "NO" room to work in it due to all the ideas you guys have given me.
I am not a patient person by nature. I want all the projects NOW!!! I can't sleep, I have lost 20 #'s since joining this forum simply from my imagination going haywire.

What do you guys do?? ...................or am I alone in this pea soup.

I agree that this place is like a complete overload of ideas, but I'm a little more patient (and broke?) than you

Really though, I think it's helped more than anything - and for me, it's really just made me start my planning/project/etc months earlier than I used to.

Before, I started coming up with things the end of August. Now... well... it's circular I suppose - no beginning and no end - lol. I'm constantly looking for 'things' throughout the year, working on projects, sketches, ideas... always brainstorming.

I'm sorry, what was the question?



What's your plan for this year anyway? You do a haunt or party or neither or both?

mwhahahaha - welcome to hell mortal....

i have the same problem - my workshop looks like berlin after the war - i have to move stuff just to stand next to the table (reminds me of a scene from Black Books - walk around the green bin bags, turn right when you get to the molded george elliott, right again, and then left at the dead bagger...).

my solution - pads of paper. 8 1/2 x 10, perforated at the top, packs of 10, pads of paper. everytime i get an idea - i sketch it out and narrate the details around the sketch - mind you, i am a terrible artist, but my drawing skills have improved since i started doing this. now my brain is free to prioritize which props and projects i need and which would be cool to have. after i build one - i sketch the final design in my journal (black leather bound - of course) with notes on construction and pros/cons.

keeps my mind less cluttered - now i just have several stacks of yellowing note pads on my desk...

Amen, TED. I use to start thinking about Halloween in .......OCTOBER.

Now, over to past year, a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about some kind of prop. Everything I look at is potentially some piece of a prop. And, if I took all of the time that I have spent on this forum, and actually worked on props, I would have recreated the Haunted Mansion by now.

Well Skullie, yes your behavior is perfectly normal in this world. Most of us bring skills with us when we join, quickly to learn how much we don't know. The creative overload here can be quite overwhelming. I had been building halloween props for many many years before discovering this forum and the brain trust of talent that resides here. In the few short years since I joined, I've learned 100 times more than I knew, but only 1/100th of where I'd like to be. Just take it in at your own pace...

Originally Posted by RookieSpooker

Amen, TED. I use to start thinking about Halloween in .......OCTOBER.

Now, over to past year, a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about some kind of prop. Everything I look at is potentially some piece of a prop. And, if I took all of the time that I have spent on this forum, and actually worked on props, I would have recreated the Haunted Mansion by now.

I have to really laugh out loud at this because it's exactly what I was thinking -- Every piece of garbage my neighbors put on the curb has me pause to make sure it's really trash and not a potential item I can use.

My biggest problem is money. I have plenty of ideas, but my wife goes nuts when I even suggest a purchase. The only way to quench my halloween thirst is to do what theVanyr does - draw (it also helps because I'm an artist by career).

Originally Posted by theVanyr

mwhahahaha - welcome to hell mortal....

i have the same problem - my workshop looks like berlin after the war - i have to move stuff just to stand next to the table (reminds me of a scene from Black Books - walk around the green bin bags, turn right when you get to the molded george elliott, right again, and then left at the dead bagger...).

my solution - pads of paper. 8 1/2 x 10, perforated at the top, packs of 10, pads of paper. everytime i get an idea - i sketch it out and narrate the details around the sketch - mind you, i am a terrible artist, but my drawing skills have improved since i started doing this. now my brain is free to prioritize which props and projects i need and which would be cool to have. after i build one - i sketch the final design in my journal (black leather bound - of course) with notes on construction and pros/cons.

keeps my mind less cluttered - now i just have several stacks of yellowing note pads on my desk...

substitute sketch pad for my project board, and paper for whatever's handy at the time, and that's what I do.

My project board has sketches for all kinds of wierd things (witches, skeletal entrances, anamatronic pumpkin patches, simple lights, fences, ghost lights, sideshow items, a snake oil salesman...) inspired by god only knows what at the time. And sketched on everything from the backs of receipts to paper, to scratch pads, to a few napkins. And general project plans for AT LEAST next year, if not 2 years out.

If it's ever emptied, I must be dead.

Thanks guys, "I am not alone". I work construction, sometimes on Disney property, After a hurricane one year all kinds of stuff blew around the job. I asked of course if I could climb into the dumpster to shop. Some of the damaged foam was bigger then me, and I am not a small person.

I got, I think four pieces into my truck. That was three years ago. I am just now getting to the bottom of it.

I am really glad they have this site. I am originally from up north and it has been hard to keep the Halloween spirit all year round when I live in Florida. It is so warm here and I am used to the cooler weather during Halloween time. Now I just have to go on to this forum and see what others are doing and it gets me into the spirit to work on props. Thanks everyone.

Originally Posted by Skullie

Thanks guys, "I am not alone". I work construction, sometimes on Disney property, After a hurricane one year all kinds of stuff blew around the job. I asked of course if I could climb into the dumpster to shop. Some of the damaged foam was bigger then me, and I am not a small person.

I got, I think four pieces into my truck. That was three years ago. I am just now getting to the bottom of it.

Now Skullie... we are only an hour and 15 minutes away from each other, so if EVER need help digging through garbage, you just let me know.

For real though... if you ever have 'extra' anything or need something in particular, buzz the locals (I know there are several Floridians on here)!

Originally Posted by FrightKnight

I am really glad they have this site. I am originally from up north and it has been hard to keep the Halloween spirit all year round when I live in Florida. It is so warm here and I am used to the cooler weather during Halloween time. Now I just have to go on to this forum and see what others are doing and it gets me into the spirit to work on props. Thanks everyone.

And FrightKnight, I feel your sentiments exactly. I'm from up north as well (though I've been here for over 18yrs now), but I grew up with the cool weather and that real atmosphere of Halloween - there's definitely a smell in the air when it comes around. And it is a bit difficult to get into the mood down here since it always feels like summer.

I love to hear people that are down here getting into it - I felt very alone before I found this site (and a FL Haunters site). If YOU need help diggin through garbage, you also let me know!!