Christmas Follow-Up

Addams Cartoon, Property of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation

Merry Christmas to all..... and oh.... dang I am a little late!!! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!! This is the craziest time of year for my family and I seeing as I have Christmas, my birthday and our anniversary all within 4 days of each other! Needless to say I have not been able to be at the computer for long! (Plus Christmas was at my house this year for the first time!! busy busy busy!!)

My Christmas went well, I got A LOT of things for the Addams Family!!! Which has inspired me to put some more work into the actual mansion! Things are starting to come together and I can't wait to show you some finished areas!

So there will be many posts to come on things I promised a while ago to show you and some new things! Including swaps I have received, swaps I have made, Christmas/birthday gifts, and updates on the mansion.

I apologize for not being able to comment on all of your blogs. I will be back in a few days (we have another family event coming up!) to relax and read through about a months worth of y'alls blogs and write a few posts myself!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Years Eve! See you in 2010!

Hugs, Ara and the Addams Family

Off topic: The 8 ball!!

I just got thrown the 8 ball by Tabitha of Tabitha Corsica. Please check out her blog and all the wonderful projects she has posted on there... I dare you to visit and not be inspired!! She's fabulous!

Well I am learning that the 8 ball consists of answering 8 questions and then throwing it to someone else. I like these because you get to learn a little about your fellow bloggers! So here goes:

Names that I am called: Ara, Ara D., DiAnn.... and in highschool... Pumpkinhead

Three Items I am wearing: Ballet flats, scarf, and sweater (and pants ... added that so there'd be no confusion on the fact that I am fully dressed :)

Three things I did yesterday, last night and today: Yesterday I had a fight with Target (yes the store... I am not their biggest fan at the moment). Last night I processed some photos of my new second cousin (so cute!) and Today I will be wrapping gifts at my good friends house :)

Name two things you have eaten: I ate a sandwich from Panera Bread (had a lunch meeting), and I will be eating Pizza later as I wrap gifts :)

Two people I have rung today: Target..... to tell them just what I think of their whole 'shipping and return' policies.... and my husband to tell him congrats on his finishing all his finals with good grades!

Two things I will do today: Wrap gifts, do the dishes (ick).

Three Best Loved Drinks: Diet Dr. Pepper ( I have to be careful because i get easily addicted to it!), Chocolate Milk, and Apple Juice.... yum.

Three Things I Intensely Wish:

1) I wish everyone would have a great Christmas and not get wrapped up in the gifts, stores (ahem....Target), and money and remember the real reason for this holiday.

2) I wish that everyone who is ill or have a family member who is ill or in the hospital would be better by Christmas and be able to be home and happy with their families.

3) I wish for a new job..... I pray for a new job.....

Thanks Tabitha for throwing the ball to me!

And now I am throwing it onto Kate of The Whittaker's Miniatures! Have fun!

Morticia, my first doll, is finished!

Here she is, all dressed and wigged and everything. I am pretty proud of her although there are def a few things I will do differently next time!! But I think for a first try I am pleased. Her shoulders are very broad and akward mainly because I didn't account for having to attach her arms. That's my biggest regret... so I will def pay attention to that next time. Plus her dress is a little more Edward-Scissor-hands-esque than sleek-and-chic.... but hey I'm just glad she has clothes!!! I need to get over my sewing-phobia before I start any of the other characters!! But she has some nice curves and a little sex-appeal for Gomez so I'm happy. I might try again, but I will definitely keep this Morticia around as she is my first doll and that's worth something!



Thanks so much to everyone and for your advice!!! Going into the wigging was the scariest part of the whole thing but I think it came out the best! So thank you so much!

And now that I have the Mrs. of the Mansion hopefully she'll agree to help me out with a future post.... showing you around the mansion so far (there's still not much so don't get too excited...)

The miniatures don't fall far from the tree....

Just wanted to share a cake that was made by my mom!!! This was made for a Halloween party at her job. She made mini tomb stones with the names of products they don't sell anymore. I just thought it was awesome seeing as I just made mini tombstones for a swap not too long ago! Besides making cute mini tombstones.... my mom makes one heck of a cake!! I hear it was delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving from Ara and Wednesday

Addams Family Values Film (1993) by Paramount Pictures

Thought you all would enjoy a little Thanksgiving Pageant a la the Addams Family. This is a clip from Addams Family Values. Wednesday and Pugsley have been forced to go to summer camp and also forced on to performing the Thanksgiving play. This just goes to prove..... don't make Wednesday angry and then make her the leader of other angry kids and then expect her not to form an uprising. (BTW Pugsley is the one in the giant turkey suit)

Clip uploaded by Youtuber CorkdorkDan, Addams Family Values film (1993) by Paramount Pictures

Have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! And remember, never trust Sarah Miller!

Hugs and Glares, Ara and Wednesday

Disclaimer: I do not support buning people at the stake, etc.... This is just a fun clip from a fictional movie having to do with both the Addams Family and Thanksgiving. Also I am not trying to force any views on people regarding the Pilgrims and Native Americans... please enjoy the clip in good fun :) Also please do not try this at home....or at camp!

Long time, No Post - Swap Reveal!!!

Hello to everyone! Lots of things have been going on over here ....good things! So yay! Anyway.... I am finally getting around to posting somethings that are WAY overdue! This will be the first of many update posts coming (I'm saying this so that I am commited to posting them so as to not let you guys down :)

First of all, here is a swap I was involved in through my Miniatures group, All Things Mini. The theme was Addams Family Halloween!! haha - how perfect for me right?!? So I got to work thinking about what I would make (you had to make one for each person in the swap). So my thoughts landed on the last scene of the first Addams Family movie. Its halloween night and the family wants to play a game! Of course!! Wake the Dead! So here I have created a tomb stone, rule book and dirty shovel so every one can join in.

Here is what was created by the fabulous Cate. Look at all the Things!! I think I will have him coming out of Gomez's closet (as if he's been playing dress up!!)

And lastly a man-eating plant created by Christina Pardy. It will go strait into the Addamses kitchen. There is funny story about customs you can read on Cate's blog.... but we're pretty sure this is the little guy that threw the customs guys for a loop!

Things to come (so you guys can keep me accountable):

-Awards (several)

-A dressed and wigged Morticia

-Update on status of the Mini-Mansion

-Newly aquired Addams decor

-Grandmama's BED (made for me and its absolutly stunning!)

-A bed I made for Cate (once she gets it in the mail)

-Update on Murph and Esmey's humble abode

Phew... I better get cracking... good thing I have a bit of a long weekend coming up!

Hugs, Ara and the Addamses

Need Help with Morticia...

Calling all doll makers....... I need a bit of help.... I have no idea how to give her hair!!! Ack!! Where do you guys get the hair that you use? Any good tutorial videos out there for this? I found one but it didn't quite work with the doll hair I had (it was very stiff and just bad).

Well, this is my first doll attempt... its been really hard to keep her the right size and proportion.... not quite sure how you guys do these ... and so beautifully.... and so quickly!

any advice would be great! PS. Morticia requested I add the black bar.... she's so modest :)

Thanks, Ara

Off Topic: 'Up From the Basement Swap' for Rosanna

Well, the sad news is that Rosanna has not received this yet. The Italian mail service is up to its old tricks again. I'm just praying that it gets there!!! please please please!!!!

But Rosanna has asked that I go ahead and share what I made for her since I'm supposed to post all the Swaps tomorrow on Halloween!! (which I probably will do at midnight - hehe - can't wait!!)

So without further ado, and with you seeing this for the first time along with Rosanna, here is was I made for her.......

Rosanna and I participated in the "Up from the Basement Swap" by swapping with each other. You can see what she made for the Addams Family a few posts back or see Rosannas post here :) Rosanna told me that her favorite Halloween characters were pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. So that's what I made for her... and I made it coming up from the basement.... oooOOOOoooOOOOoooo



Here you can see a back view, which I personally think looks kind of graceful and elegant ... haha. He comes complete with pumpkinhead, leaf hands and feet and completely wrapped up in his own vine :) He's made out of polymer clay with a wire armature.


Also, his head is removeable for two reasons... one reason would be if Rosanna wanted to make other heads for the body with different expressions, the other reason being if she wanted to put just the head by itself as a carved pumpkin in a scene. Also he is detachable from the stair case, which she can also use anyway she chooses.

And there you have it. Sorry it didn't get to be a surprise in the mail Rosanna but I hope he gets to you very soon as he is supposed to be around for Halloween!!! Oh well :)

To see all 6 of the Swaps together, please go to my Clue Blog. I will be posting it tonight at midnight!! Happy Halloween Rosanna and all my fellow bloggers out there!!!!!!

Jar on my shelf.....

Husband: Uhhh.... what's that?
Ara: All the dolls that died while waiting for me to build them a house.....
Husband: oh.


(I actually just bought some of those skeleton garlands everyones been talking about and dumped them all in a glass jar for storage... didn't even think it would look weird ... haha)

Up from the Basement Swap from Rosanna!!!

As you can see from the lovely goodies pictured above, have received my "And it came up from the Basement" swap from the talented Rosanna!! And I am just thrilled to pieces!!! Rosanna told me that this old chest came up from the basement and was filled with this lovely items for an Addams Family picnic!!! Just look at all that was wrapped up in there!! A hand stitched picnic blanket, 6 monogramed plates, 6 vampire napkins (or placemats which is how I think I will use them in the formal dining room - won't they look great??) and two fantsticly gothic looking serving platters!!! Of course my favorite part is the picnic blanket.... and just look at these little sequin spiders:

Rosanna, you are a genius!!! I would have never though of using sequins for the spider bodies!! They are just too adorable!! And can you believe those tiny stitches - and can you believe it - the floss glows in the dark - perfect for the moonlight!!! Rosanna, thank you so so so so much for this lovely swap. The Addams Family and I are just over the moon about everything :)

And in case you were wondering if the Addams Family would be able to put this to good use...... well of course!! Who doesn't love a midnight picnic under the moonlight:

Image from Original TV Series by MGM Home Entertainment

Yum!!!

PS. Stay tuned to my Clue Blog for the Halloween day reveal of all the Swaps. (Provided they all arrive in time!!!)

This is how I feel about work right about now.....

Image of Lurch from Original TV Series by MGM Home Entertainment

(In case you couldn't tell, this is Lurch's frustrated face... I think...)

Its LATE and I am still at work and will probably still be here for many hours to come. As of right now I have been sitting in my cubical for 12 1/2 hours strait........ four gray half walls surrounding me :(

I realized that I have not seen the sun all day.... now I see how the people in Alaska feel.... its really confusing and disheartening.

But alas it will be over 'soon'. Maybe..... they won't tell us for sure. *sigh*

Ok - that's my little sad post for todays blog... back to the drawing table... literally.....

****

And not to leave this post a total bummer.... a couple more Addams Family Fun Facts:

Fact #1 - Wednesday is named after a poem by Mother Goose (believe it or not) called "Mondays Child is Fair of Face" here is the poem in full..... you can see how 'Wednesday' fits the character well:

Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace

Wednesday's child is full of woe

Thursday's child has far to go

Friday's child is loving and giving

Saturday's child works hard for a living

But the child born on the Sabbath Day

Is fair and wise and good and gay.

What Child are you? I was born on a Sunday almost 26 years ago (and hopefully I'll be back to being 'gay' after this night is over!!).....

Fact #2 Wednesday's middle name is 'Friday'.

Have a great rest of your Tuesday!

Off Topic: Murph and his new Lady, Esmey

Just to update you on some news.... You remember my friend and hired model Murph? Well the other day he came strolling across my desk with his new WIFE!!! No wonder I hadn't seen him around lately... Though I haven't really had a ton of work for him (as you all could probably tell!!)... Anyway I figure he would have at least invited me to the wedding. Oh well. They say it was a small wedding. Anyway, his wife's name is Esmerelda (Esmey is was he calls her for short). Here is her pic:


It's a horrible picture as they wouldn't stop their evening walk to let me take a better one.

Well today Murph informs me that he thinks its rather unfit for him to bring his new bride home to live in somebody elses house while its being worked on (meaning the Addams Mansion or Bentley Manor).... So I agreed that as a bride I would have been frustrated with that situation too. SOoo I have promised to build them their own little cottage. Its in the works right now. I gave myself a time limit so I wouldn't dilly dally and actually finish something!! I will upload pics of their cute little house when I get it done!!

Hope everyone's doing well! -ara

The Addams Family Musical

Not sure if any of you have heard, but I have, seeing as I research my dear Addams Family all the time. But they are just now coming out with the ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL! on Broadway! How exciting right?

Nathan Lane will be playing Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth will be playing Morticia! I can't wait to see how they do. I know a few people have their reservations regarding Nathan Lane but I like to think the people that do casting know a little bit about what they are doing!

It seems to me like they will be basing it off some of Charles Addams original cartoons. I sadly will not be able to see it anytime soon in person but if any of you have the chance to, please let me know how it is!!! Hopefully there will be a version I can buy on DVD or something if I don't get to go :) The hubby has promised to take me if they ever bring the tour down through Texas!!! Yippeee!!

Anyhow, if you are interested in more information you can go here.

Hope everyone is doing well..... hopefully I will be able to pick back up on my blogging soon! Hugs!

100 Followers and a bit of Addams Trivia!

Well, this week I must say has been a bit crazy and emotional for me. I started a couple posts where I was going to rant (about my job) and scream but I erased them. I really would like this blog to stay uplifting and about miniatures - haha. Anyway, no worries, things are getting worked out :)

BUT all this to say what a wonderful week for me to hit 100 followers!!! You guys just made my day. I am just floored that there are even 100 people out there interested in my little project thats hardly even off the ground (or desk). haha.

Thank you all so much!!! You are a big part of my day even if you don't know it. I love reading peoples blogs and reading comments and it especially helps on the rough days at work. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!

So to celebrate (since I have no minis ready for the occasion - that I can show...) I have put together a little list of Addams Family Trivia Facts..... its not much (there is more but I am just putting a few for now... more to come later in a contest or something...)

ADDAMS FAMILY FUN FACTS:

The Addams Family was originally a one frame cartoon drawn by Charles Addams in the New Yorker.

Photo of Charles Addams

When the Addams Family was originally created, none of the characters had names.... they were given their names for the creation of the television series.

Addams Cartoon, Property of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation

Charles Addams got to name all the characters, except he wanted Pugsley's name to be Pubert, which the network found to be too sexual sounding so they changed it to Pugsley. That is why the baby in the second Addams Family movie is named Pubert.

Image from Addams Family Values by Paramount Pictures

The Addams Family TV show was the first ever to show passion in a marriage. Morticia is always talking about 'later'....

Image from Orignal TV Series my MGM Home Entertainment

Carolyn Jones, who played Morticia in the Addams Family tv show, was once married to Aaron Spelling.

Image source unknown

More trivia and fun facts to come down the road...... Thanks again everyone!! Hugs, Ara

Off Topic: Around the House Creating Contest

I am a member of All Things Mini and every quarter we have an 'Around the House" Creating Contest where you use a household item to make something. This quarters material was DRYER LINT!!!! It was no easy task to come up with an idea. But my husbands recent surprise to me of taking me to 'Ripleys Believe it or Not' gave me this idea:

Not only does Ripleys have a bunch or weird looking creatures (like a skeleton made of half monkey and half fish - The Figi mermaid), the museum displays things in a really interesting way.

So here is my version. He is the Elusive Closet Monster..... and he is really confused on why he's stuck in this display case!!

The contest has not been judged yet but all entries have been submitted so I figured it was safe to post him up! Anyone have an idea for a name?? :)

Off Topic: The Sweeney Todd Chair

I am sure many of you have already seen this chair on Kate's blog but I wanted to share it here too! It took me a little bit to get it working. And whats a Sweeney Todd chair without the ability to dump people out??

Here it is in the upright position. All you have to do to get it moving is take the 'pedal key' out.

Here you can see it going down slowly (with my help) otherwise it flips backwards rather fast.

And here you can see Murph helping me out with the photos. He didn't have a problem helping since the actual 12th scale Mr. Todd was across an ocean with Kate. So he had no worries :)

Hopefully I will figure out how to upload a video of it working soon. I just didn't have time last night. Oh well.

Just want to say thanks again to Kate for this wonderful swap!! I had sooooo much fun!

Hugs!!! -ara

Apologies - Yay for Fall!!

Hey guys, so sorry I haven't been posting lately. I have lots of mini-projects going on but many of them are swaps or contest entries and I can't post them quite yet! You'll probably have a rush of posts from me in a few days or so - haha!

I am really getting excited for fall.... its starting to rain a lot down here in Texas which means the holidays are right around the corner! I feel like carving a pumpkin!!! Anyone elses favorite part taking out the squishy guts???

I got it!!! My swap items from Kate!

If you missed Kate's post about a week ago, I will fill you in.... she and I are doing a swap and I just got my items from her!!!! They are all for Grandmama's basement are they are more perfect than I could ever imagine!!

She made me this lovely cabinet of items that will be one of the centerpieces for the basement! Its got potions, scrolls, toadstools, (and my favorite) the most perfectly worn stack of books on the bottom shelf! I ALWAYS see Grandmama with her nose in a book. She just loves these! Below you can see Thing checking out the cabinet.... I think he likes the Bat details on the top!! :)

She also sent me these lovely objects to work into other cabinets and parts of the basement. Wednesday has claimed the wooden box of spiders (but being a good sister she shared the rats that were also in there with Pugsley! Also Grandmama has been practicing her curses with the skulls Kate sent. She's been chasing around Murph trying to curse him into a pile of firewood for her cauldron!!

And here are the other lovely bottles she sent. I am trying to think if I have time this week to mess with some Michael's hutches so I can get these guys a home!! They're just too cute not to be on display somewhere!! Look at the little skull top on that bottle!

And last but not least Kate sent me a Halloween issue of American Miniaturist with this article in it! It - is - so - incredibly - perfect!!! for the Addams house. It has this wonderful how-to article for making old distressed siding for houses. I will be studying it like crazy and trying to replicate it on the Mini-Mansion!

Thank you soooooo much Kate!!! You are so amazing and the whole Addams Family thanks you (and me too of course) for helping me on my poor neglected project - haha! You are inspiring me to get a few more things done on it this week! My pretty things need a home!!

Off topic: here's a pic of me from this weekend. My hubs took me on a surprise date....

Don't be too jealous....... he took me to the wax museum here in DFW.... haha so this is not the real Mr. Depp :) But they do a pretty good job huh? Thought you would like this Kate, haha!

Even the Addams Family plays with Dollhouses

Everynow and then at lunch at work I watch an episode of the Addams Family on Hulu.com. If you don't know about that website yet you are missing out!! They have episodes from almost every tv show you could ever think of.

Anyhow today I was watching this episode and to my surprise the opening scene was of Gomez finishing building a dollhouse.... complete with King Kong on the chimney. But as you know the Addams Family 'plays' in a different way than we would. If you have a week stomach beware of the pictures below.... yes ... that's a wrecking ball!!!



And here was the closing scene, Gomez and Pugsley added a bit of pyrotechnics to their play time :)

All images from Origianl TV Series by MGM Home Entertainment

Happy lunch time everyone! -Ara

Something's moved in!!! Also: 50th Post!

Well, the other day while I was busy with real-life chores and everything that has been keeping me from my minis and beloved blogland, Murph caught my attention and called me over....

Remember that hole in the back of the organ and we were all wondering what made it? Well I don't know what made it but something has certaintly made itself at home there.... just look:

Do you see him? Look closer:

Do you know who that is??? Its Aristotle!!! Pugsleys Octopus!!! I didn't realize how impatient these Octopus fellows can be and he just moved himself right in. I guess he doesn't care that I haven't had time to build the house or even a nice aquarium for him. He's just gonna live in the organ until I get the house done I suppose.

If you haven't heard of Aristotle its because he is rarely seen (but he is mentioned a few times). But here you can see him in a Charles Addams drawing with the Family at the beach (he does look pretty impatient there too - I should've known).

Addams Cartoon, Property of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation

Also, as you can see from the title - this is my 50th post!! Yay! Thank you all for following along all this time!!

Also, also, remember about the Circle Swap I am hosting on my Clue blog if you are still interested. We are now up to 4 people, so its on for sure! It'll be a blast and you'll get a fun mini in the mail right before Halloween!

Off Topic: Circle Swap

I am hostessing a Circle Swap on my Clue Blog.

Head on over if you'd like to sign up!! -Ara

Off Topic: Now a chair for Piglet

Some of you may remember that towards the beginning of this blog I made a chair for Pooh for Tara who owns The Dollhouse at Pooh Corner. Well now I have made a chair for Piglet! Here it is with Murph trying it out :)Some of you may be wondering about the watermark across the photo.... I am thinking about selling some of my furniture on etsy under Bentley House Productions. Once I get everything set up I will let y'all know! But until then I am just trying out the copyright bar!!

Off Topic: Photo Challenge

I got the photo challenge from Kate from the Whittakers Miniatures and also Debie from Piskies and Poppets. Thanks for passing it on - I love this one!

The challenge is to go to where your photos are and to open the forth folder and find the forth photo and post it to your blog and explain a little bit.

So here goes:
This is one of the photos I took of our puppy Audrey while trying to come up with a Christmas card. In the photo my husband is tapping on the background to make her look behind her and up (like Santa is coming)! I got a lot of fun ones... maybe I'll show those around Christmas time :)

I pass this on to anyone reading this that wants to do it!! I was just itching to do this one because I loved seeing what everyone came up with! So please except the challenge and show us a piece of your photo collection!!!

Off Topic: DH's for awesome prices on Craigslist...

Anyone in Texas, in the DFW area that has a bit of room and about a hundred dollars.... take a gander at these:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/art/1277113272.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/tag/1266120054.html (new in box!!)

I emailed these to my hubby and got back "One project at a time please". Hmmmm... guess he doesn't remember I have TWO giant houses going on right now :D

Anyhow... just thought I'd post for anyone with a little more room (and more time) than me!!

Morticia had to have one too....

Hi everyone.... phew.... the Garage sale is over and I couldn't be more happy!!! We have just enough to buy a new kitchen table set!!! yay! and I am getting a big one to lay out all my lovely mini projects :)

Speaking of... now that things are getting back to normal I just had to jump on the bandwagon and make one of these wonderful cans that Marlies has a tutorial for on her blog. Morticia needed one for the conservatory.....


It's a lovely tutorial that I was able to play with in between the craziness of the weekend! It was too much fun... you have to try it :)

Off Topic: Alice in Wonderland: More images and Trailer

Just saw this link to new images and the short trailer for the movie!!! It's gonna be good!!!!

Click here.

I'm a lucky blogger!!! Gifts!!

Whoo hoo!!! Thank you Kate and Tabitha!!! Kate was so gracious to send me a copy of the ever so popular magazine that so many of our blog friends are in, along with several mirrors and frames for my dollhouses!! There is even one to match the frame I used for Gomez's bedside table... so now morticia will have a matching one on her side! And I just love the big lumpy gold framed mirror too - that will have a center place at Bentley Manor :)

Tabitha sent me some of her skull beads to try out her wonderful cadelabra idea! Don't you think it will look perfect in the Mini-Mansion?? I hope I can do the idea justice!!

Thank you both for the wonderful gifts. Now continuing on with chores.... and pricing garage sale stuff.... gosh I have a lot of junk!!!

Anyone else having a busy few weeks?

Just wanted to say sorry for being so quiet lately! Things have been crazy around here and the Mini-mansion has taken a back burner!


I am hoping after this weekend to get back into gear! We're having a garage sale this weekend and the whole house has been turned upside down!

Set 0f Origianl TV series by MGM Home Entertainment

But the amazing thing is that the room where the dollhouses are is shiny and clean!!! Just waiting to be messed up by a good days work!


I also plan to get some plans down on paper for Bentley Manor... its been soooo neglected.


Anyway... off to get my thoughts/plans in order!