Hand Painted Crab Shells Part 3

Ho!.....Ho!......Ho!
As I write this it is after midnight......uh.......gee it's Tuesday already.........arrrggghhhh.......so much to do and such little time. My plate is full this week.......crabs.....crabs.....and more crabs........all of the prep work on the latest batch of crab shells..........it has been seemingly endless. I started cleaning up the shells Monday morning and while about fifty or so were left to dry, I headed off to deal with the grandchildren. I started cleaning up another batch of shells when I got home around 7:30 pm. Let's see......I lost count.......that was another good 40 to 50 more shells now set out to dry. I still have another large bag of shells to be cleaned sitting in the fridge.....my guess is there is another 60 or so to go. If only I had ten hands........oh well.

The crab shells have been a hit. I figured that I would show some pictures of some that have been going fast.......as soon as I make them.......they sell and I find myself making more of them.
Personally, I prefer doing each crab shell as one of a kind. That way, it doesn't become boring or laborious for me. The idea was not to "work hard"........and yet, at least for the Christmas holiday shopping period.........it has become quite difficult to keep up with the demands. The Steelers crab shell is very popular.......apparently there are alot of Steelers fans in Baltimore.

Of course the Redskins are popular too.........after all, the Redskins play in Maryland!........this painted crab shell stuff IS a Maryland thing you know.

I do not have all of the teams, but I do take requests......if you want one, I will probably make one for you..........note: I do need some time though. Usually a one week wait.

Yep, I sold out of the Utz girl.............but hopefully I will have time to make a few more before the week ends.

Here is something you won't see just anywhere......needless to say......it sold right away.

I do special requests like this one.......the Greek flag with the family surname in Greek.


I simply don't quite get it but there are some folks that wanted Boston Red Sox crab shells.

I can understand putting things related to Maryland on a crab shell. This one is also very popular.

And no......it is not a sticker........hon.

I only made one of these and I sold it this past weekend. The "golden eggs" of Dundalk!

Well.......that's about it for now........time for some shut-eye and then back at it again tomorrow.

Please note: If you are interested in purchasing some of the hand painted crab shells be sure to come see me at the North Point Plaza Flea Market every Saturday and Sunday with the exception being THIS WEEKEND, the flea market will be open on Friday, DEC 23rd and Saturday DEC 24th and closed on Sunday. Christmas Day.

Hmmmmm.......so I have three and a half days to paint about 100 crab shells..........hmmmmm..............I must be crazy.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hand Painted Crab Shells Part Two

Are you ready for Christmas? Not me.........I have been extremely busy...........alot of stuff happening and has happened since the last post.

First off, the entire family converged upon Tennessee for Thanksgiving with my Mom and my sisters and their offspring. It just so happened that my birthday was the day before Thanksgiving and we celebrated that as well. Everything was wonderful and good and just cannot express how important for me that we were all together for those all too brief few days. Considering that Noodle and her husband brought my grandson with them........driving all the way from Leander, Texas......and my other daughter Mrs Moneypenny brought her entourage from Maryland...........and both of my boys rode with me and the wife from Maryland to Tennessee.......well.......let's just say that I am not only grateful, but thankful that everyone arrived safely and unscathed.....hehehe........seriously........

The Friday after Thanksgiving, me and Supernurse took a flight from Nashville to Mexico.
That's right.......Mexico.........third year in a row.........Grand Palladium Riviera Maya again.........absolutely wonderful place.........and we stayed for 12 days before returning home to Baltimore.............Whew!...........yeah, I am tired.............so bear with me on posting about the trip as I usually have in the past. Hopefully I will get to that very soon.

Upon our return home, the proverbial shit has hit the fan regarding the crab shells at the flea market. Christmas shopping has kicked in and shoppers have practically wiped out my supply of hand painted crab shells. This is a good thing and I am not complaining.........but this has also meant that I have been in a mad scramble to replace the sold shells with more shells.......which also means that I have been very busy........painting......painting......and painting crab shells. I do not want to disappoint any customers. Somehow, I have managed to keep going at it.

In regards to the crab shells. there are those that I make that I consider "must have"......and the rest are those that are specially made either from requests, pre-orders, or simply because someone challenged me or dared me to make one or two.

One of those "challenges" was the Harley-Davidson logo. There are many bikers and other assorted Harley lovers that roam the flea market. More than once, someone would approach my table and say "You don't have one with Harley on it?"......"I would buy one if you did."........well...........yes.........I DO have them now and that particular challenge has been met.

One of the "must haves" incorporates Natty Boh with the Maryland flag......very popular.

Another special request was this one. A couple wanted it for their little daughter's bedroom.

In addition to hand painted crab shells, I also make Redneck Wine Glasses. These are selling fast and I had to make 40 of them this week alone.

Football fans are not left out............even Packers fans roam around the flea market. Packers, Steelers, Redskins, Eagles, Seahawks........Giants.......even da Bears!

A really nice dude from West Virginia came by and asked me if I could paint a trout on a crab shell for him...........he was very happy.

Another request was from a firefighter from Baltimore City............he was also very happy with his crab shell.

Oh yeah........did I mention football fans?............Patriots!

Another variation of the Natty Boh/Maryland Flag crab shell.

This is yet another request........"I want one with the Colts on it".......well........to me, there is only ONE Colts that is worthy of my bother.......and that is the BALTIMORE Colts.....hehehe.


Crab shells.......it's a Maryland thing...........of course........Maryland Terps!

Lighthouses are also popular.

Believe it or not, the Orioles are a winner here.

But the most popular hand painted crab shell is this one.

I will put up some more pictures when I get.....uh....."IF" I get some spare time again before Christmas......hehehe........until then..........feel free to email me with any questions or you can post your questions here on the blog.

If you happen to like what you see and want to see more and perhaps purchase some for Christmas gifts.......or you want a Redneck Wine Glass...........come on down to the North Point Plaza Flea Market and say hello.........or even "Merry Christmas!".

If you are not local to the Baltimore area.......hmmm........I still have yet to do that Paypal thing and it is not likely that I will get to that this year. Look for it after the new year.

Ho.....Ho.....Ho!