tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350875432024-03-14T08:50:30.530-07:00End Of The World!A Little Bit Of Everything.
Moving Forward In Spite Of It All.Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.comBlogger480125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-60175318510882943622016-12-26T17:37:00.000-08:002016-12-26T17:37:02.136-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a challenging Christmas shopping season. Managed to get through it in a reasonable fashion.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The past two years, in particular, were tough for me........because of health issues. Hopefully this new year will be much better.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have met some very challenging requests for shells. I had a HUGE order for a convention........all of it was display boxes with lots of US flags and Maryland flags. Somehow I managed to get it all done in time......I had very short notice. There has been some requests for very challenging artwork on the shells. I was able to meet those challenges and then some.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So here we are at the end of the year........reflecting.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have plans for the new year. Different designs on the shells........new ideas......and I intend to make some even more unique than what has already been done. For those that have started a collection, this should be good news for you. For any of my competitors out there, you might want to step up your game......hehehe.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be fair and honest about it, I have seen some pretty darn good painted shells on the internet.......nice. Then again, I have seen some downright sad attempts at painting crab shells..........hey, I am positive that I have painted some shells that, after looking back on them, I am not very proud of. As time goes on, one gets better at what they do........hopefully.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I haven't been posting much here on the blog. I will try to be better about that. These days the majority of communication is via Facebook. Be sure to look for me on Facebook. Search for "hand painted crab shells" and you will find me.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope everyone had a great Christmas and here's to wishing and hoping we all have a freat and prosperous New Year!</span></b><br />
Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-11147059295094692652016-08-17T12:26:00.001-07:002016-08-17T12:26:01.341-07:00Hand Painted Crab Shells...........Really!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZ63y4F9oUAY3Stga4ewMnWOVYDhdxw4W6GwuaW5wgPth5zT_ThXDxDJ56AUxTLFJUEoZQmBDK_Uh9wFTtlzlAFlHMqh_B5kEdRv-AkuKadRX_Vx_0BQvMl8arfXMJgPxSdEzPg/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZ63y4F9oUAY3Stga4ewMnWOVYDhdxw4W6GwuaW5wgPth5zT_ThXDxDJ56AUxTLFJUEoZQmBDK_Uh9wFTtlzlAFlHMqh_B5kEdRv-AkuKadRX_Vx_0BQvMl8arfXMJgPxSdEzPg/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I get asked all the time if I really paint them. I also get asked if I do them all by myself. Another frequent question is "Did you have to eat all of these?" </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6hcE6huWsEmQsdji4ZMW1JcDJT_VxS88hY-d-oTBElkyd5SjjhlM1YW-OtLyaAzMaCUvmQauknpJQZa86j8U4rg_sjD8swufMtL5qTfQyBjM7ka0mUseA6yhHNeoidXlC1J-Mw/s1600/035+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6hcE6huWsEmQsdji4ZMW1JcDJT_VxS88hY-d-oTBElkyd5SjjhlM1YW-OtLyaAzMaCUvmQauknpJQZa86j8U4rg_sjD8swufMtL5qTfQyBjM7ka0mUseA6yhHNeoidXlC1J-Mw/s320/035+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well........I really DO paint them. And I do it all by myself.........although sometimes people stand there and watch me pai</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">nt.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you can see...........a halfway finished shell............</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.........and the final product.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are the most popular?.............the lighthouses............</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...........and the<u> </u>United States Flag. Some have tried to do this one themselves..........but fail.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Come have a look at the shells this and every weekend at Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though its been a long hot summer, it's not too early to be thinking ahead for Christmas. There is usually a high demand for my crab shells during the Christmas shopping season and I hate to disappoint anyone by not having the ones they want to buy as gifts. You should place orders sooner rather than later, It does take a bunch of time to paint them.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-38980407928953835472016-06-03T21:42:00.000-07:002016-06-03T21:42:09.392-07:00Painted Crab Shells<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNQtm5EK4DA_PhPR8oVxE5nCJqA1PC6IJeXI2Mp1ZjCOW5r6nc8qomnVprmqpgjEzYKGfz9VrpY7uooJCqQe_4785AB_yiMvSUpPZ-B4-o3ssvWjzNFF9zLnPh59bqzOTOxmXKA/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNQtm5EK4DA_PhPR8oVxE5nCJqA1PC6IJeXI2Mp1ZjCOW5r6nc8qomnVprmqpgjEzYKGfz9VrpY7uooJCqQe_4785AB_yiMvSUpPZ-B4-o3ssvWjzNFF9zLnPh59bqzOTOxmXKA/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The thought occurred to me to think outside of the box.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In other words, utilize the crab shell as the head of a character.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This doesn't work with many characters..........however.......there are a few that work rather well.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597VG8LroZqVxVMzC390jzwwPBFWuecwvNiqDQHl90F0QSQHU1BuUZNuizeKV5ZooO_ZM65jtd6wWZc7njsoX1ju8jW9EzkWCGyEYb4m3JU4mBOvY1FqiZqygaBDNM3k5B8LjZA/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597VG8LroZqVxVMzC390jzwwPBFWuecwvNiqDQHl90F0QSQHU1BuUZNuizeKV5ZooO_ZM65jtd6wWZc7njsoX1ju8jW9EzkWCGyEYb4m3JU4mBOvY1FqiZqygaBDNM3k5B8LjZA/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> How about a cartoon raven?</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5kRS1lyGRxJ7rzrW1GZTqQZE0_ENRFYD_Ul4gXHx0Ekkg4pYz-FdFucOkftM_cFAHnpqHQZUNEq4Umkkw9uaTz2H9O3Fc2wgKwdIq-TsJ1FO0QQneH-nYHLhVTJv3MZeu1qvgA/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5kRS1lyGRxJ7rzrW1GZTqQZE0_ENRFYD_Ul4gXHx0Ekkg4pYz-FdFucOkftM_cFAHnpqHQZUNEq4Umkkw9uaTz2H9O3Fc2wgKwdIq-TsJ1FO0QQneH-nYHLhVTJv3MZeu1qvgA/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Angry crab?</span></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXFvS0upZngcovl_3wtjiwgGQ8YNZCAoz_vQQTH5vS5EDXy4Zht12nXkc2rv8omy8xu9p6GpJosKoqntK95wf30L4RGgcDBZkgAnDuH2TTH42crwO_H69Nh9vSGN9W_jhCJQuSQ/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXFvS0upZngcovl_3wtjiwgGQ8YNZCAoz_vQQTH5vS5EDXy4Zht12nXkc2rv8omy8xu9p6GpJosKoqntK95wf30L4RGgcDBZkgAnDuH2TTH42crwO_H69Nh9vSGN9W_jhCJQuSQ/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Why not Garfield?</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRR0G_AJe-6jfr4yuWKPvsO4XtYwB9XzZx5kpRCJ3Bmb4buDmLNU6U5WKoXeh0TQZJAVNIBx-4GSreXMFqeotJ-XEWupXOVGFT_tvtL2sEqVWHsOzu_cLeYX55b73vwJya6IXhg/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRR0G_AJe-6jfr4yuWKPvsO4XtYwB9XzZx5kpRCJ3Bmb4buDmLNU6U5WKoXeh0TQZJAVNIBx-4GSreXMFqeotJ-XEWupXOVGFT_tvtL2sEqVWHsOzu_cLeYX55b73vwJya6IXhg/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I've never understood the fascination some folks have regarding flip-flops. People want flip-flop earrings, necklaces........t-shirts......hats........piercings.........you name it. I decided to put flip-flops on a crab shell.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEXqrqSYyymWM6MlJ7yUSBHDAHGPb1c45IAKrt8aFQu_TrfhtOriScmncpLXMicnNN7jrq3Blc1Z7IxSo1dPqSjwz_eUEfSl9dvAzQBVORE_zxQ-feuSTWrIDgBK_eIo2LhITfw/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEXqrqSYyymWM6MlJ7yUSBHDAHGPb1c45IAKrt8aFQu_TrfhtOriScmncpLXMicnNN7jrq3Blc1Z7IxSo1dPqSjwz_eUEfSl9dvAzQBVORE_zxQ-feuSTWrIDgBK_eIo2LhITfw/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> One customer requested a shell with the logo of a fire department somewhere in South Carolina.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Another request for Anne Arundel County Police Dept.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The same flip-flop shell as shown before.........except this photo shows the finished product.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hippies and Deadheads love crabs too.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> One customer asked if I had a shell with the GMC logo on it. He said you never see anything with the GMC logo.........its always Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. Ask......and ye shall receive.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2sSWOUXr5tBzBtLIlzXNYWsq3YfvyTFgWqSpEqWT7SxQAPKmUhGtHizO2cfsiL2lyw_bKR9XL1NuWx0pnincdmTa-kcS5TWH0K9MjGqrXYwUrLUJ19RlCGtjQb6-JTlYaNE8eA/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2sSWOUXr5tBzBtLIlzXNYWsq3YfvyTFgWqSpEqWT7SxQAPKmUhGtHizO2cfsiL2lyw_bKR9XL1NuWx0pnincdmTa-kcS5TWH0K9MjGqrXYwUrLUJ19RlCGtjQb6-JTlYaNE8eA/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And last, but surely not least...........ELMO!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more photos of my work, check the archives for posts about crab shells.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To see a wide assortment of painted crab shells..........uh......the largest selection of painted crab shells anywhere.......come on down to the Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD. Saturdays from 7am until 3pm. Sundays from 7am until 4pm. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can watch me work on some shells, ask me all sorts of questions, and maybe start shopping for Christmas.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay Tuned! </span></b>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-66712864792371232632016-03-30T10:11:00.001-07:002016-04-24T20:16:22.514-07:00The Presidential Election - My Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last year,while renewing my driver's license, I was asked by the clerk if I wanted to make any changes to my voter registration. I said "YES". I had been a registered Democrat for decades. On that day I became a registered Republican in the State of Maryland. As to why I made the change.........there are many reasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would like to think that I am a moderate but I cannot register as such. When it is primary election time I would not get to vote except for in your own party. The problem with that is you only get to choose from those candidates that the respective political powers that be decide that you can choose from. I never liked that. There has been way too many elections where I could only vote for whoever I thought would be the lesser of two evils. This year is a game changer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am a news junkie. I stay tuned and pay attention to the news. I have observed much over the years and I have learned to take notice of what is NOT being reported. Yes, the news outlets are very much propagandists that are instructed to "report" what they "report". Just as the political machines decide which candidates you can choose from.......so too the media decides what "news" you get to hear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe I had not paid close enough attention in the past...........but this year the propaganda and shenanigans are over the top..........way out of hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is maybe the most important election of all time. I am really concerned about the future of this country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A long desire of mine has been that somebody would step up to the plate.......a non-politician........a businessman.......a "make it happen" guy...........and finally......it has happened. Donald Trump is that guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now consider the options that are presented to me.......and you. Without writing thousands of words explaining all of this, I will put it all in the simplest way that I can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the Democrat side........the machine wants you to vote for Hillary Clinton. Really?...........do I really need to explain why she should not be elected?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNrDVeIthq6nk3ysv4OH5BRsWXsOBGxhLpXLwXRg_gaGcm2UA_YzsAgJ0zBRraATA-azRvfZFIyAvWpAlFML3IERJlnk84Yl7mq9Ql_EzQCvCm6nbIindhWGZ0bbF9nqPoXp4g/s1600/2016-02-22-1456172662-1597066-BernieSanders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNrDVeIthq6nk3ysv4OH5BRsWXsOBGxhLpXLwXRg_gaGcm2UA_YzsAgJ0zBRraATA-azRvfZFIyAvWpAlFML3IERJlnk84Yl7mq9Ql_EzQCvCm6nbIindhWGZ0bbF9nqPoXp4g/s320/2016-02-22-1456172662-1597066-BernieSanders.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other choice for democrats is Bernie Sanders........I think he was put in the race to make Hillary look like the better choice. But really?..........Bolshevik Bernie? Oh the young crowd is liking him and he has been making waves........but NOBODY will like the value added tax of over 20% that will "Bern" your pockets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bernie looks like after the election is over, somebody will put him back into the nursing h</span>ome.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No longer in the race, Martin O'Malley...............They had to be kidding everybody.....right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those three Democrats are the cream of the crop to choose from?........seriously?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And now to the Republican choices............</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John Kasich.......I don't think so........the machine wants him to win over the two other candidates that remain. He is losing in the polls so badly that the machine is resorting to rigging the convention to get the results they want. Kasich always looks like he is about to vomit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ted Cruz................they say that nobody in Washington likes him..........imagine that. Cruz is getting in the way of the machine and is "taking votes away from the establishment choice". Let's face it, Cruz has some good positions........but the reality is..........people won't gather up and champion a guy who looks like Grandpa Munster. Okay, okay.........that is a bit over the top.........but...........Cruz looks exactly like a young Al Lewis when he wasn't a Munster but was on "Car 54 Where Are You?".</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uVINAWIGIXmhqh9OA1Ppq6P_gDfSoyVw6UlByl5auIAvsGIBiJdZjFVt-GnxMgUXy2Zut7ZkXEl_lWJg2ySNhjg3FMdUmmiIrrwLpwufW3HomSb4Sr1cv0pKdVuV79-uo4rO4w/s1600/al_lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uVINAWIGIXmhqh9OA1Ppq6P_gDfSoyVw6UlByl5auIAvsGIBiJdZjFVt-GnxMgUXy2Zut7ZkXEl_lWJg2ySNhjg3FMdUmmiIrrwLpwufW3HomSb4Sr1cv0pKdVuV79-uo4rO4w/s1600/al_lewis.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See what I mean? Seriously........NOBODY elects Al Lewis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The machine..............the establishment.............all one entity.......the "party" stuff is theater. Consider what Henry Kissinger said:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah......you remember Henry Kissinger, don't you?...........maybe try Googling ole Henry and refresh your memory. Here's another classic Kissinger quote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kissinger also happens to be involved in the Bilderberger Group..........yes.........the "powers that be".......the "machine"........the entity of the "establishment". His "influence" permeates most every candidate past and present. Doubt me? Here.........have a look:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He really gets around, doesn't he?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But wait.......there's more:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He is at it again...........this time with Cruz.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Considering what I have just shown you, what choices for President do you really have?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bernie or Donald...........since it appears that Kissinger hasn't "met" with them...........yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My choice is <b>Donald Trump</b>.</span><br />
<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-58598809206480319742016-03-09T12:25:00.000-08:002016-03-09T12:25:28.531-08:00Painted Crab Shells - Back to Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJpTTv1EfSV7H7718hKVAgRh8fGOHRL-Zh5nqRikm642b2V8BhQyoU-6WuYyW-qYV9HOE8DMb6kcdPfYD-WU4wAgIlja4c8C3cWY6KywPOC_fjZJlWCmcKRUOnqiCLv2be6o21g/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJpTTv1EfSV7H7718hKVAgRh8fGOHRL-Zh5nqRikm642b2V8BhQyoU-6WuYyW-qYV9HOE8DMb6kcdPfYD-WU4wAgIlja4c8C3cWY6KywPOC_fjZJlWCmcKRUOnqiCLv2be6o21g/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It has been a rough several months. The problem is health issues. I took a hiatus from painting shells back in January after a successful holiday season. I was not feeling well and was getting progressively worse. The problem this time was essentially a repeat of June of last year..........clogged arteries. After several testing procedures I went in for another catheterization/angioplasty. This time I had not reached the point of a heart attack but I knew it was coming. The end result is that I have two new stents...........which brings my total to seven. I am doing okay at this point............I resist.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I have a whole lot of catching up to do. Slowly but surely I get it all done. This stuff takes a lot of time and the only physical aspect is the scrubbing and disinfecting of the crab shells........and the packing and unpacking of the large number of finished shells to be put on display at the flea market. I do occasionally have some help with that. These days I take my time.........I'm in no hurry. My life does not depend on painting and selling crab shells.........but my life does depend on me trying to keep the arteries functioning.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> After years and years of sitting there at the flea market painting the crab shells I still get asked if I really paint them. Yes........indeed I do. It's not like there is a machine that can spit this stuff out.........if there were I would use it.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I get requests for all sorts of things put on a crab shell. Some are very challenging and some are very simple. It amazes me sometimes because I cannot see the correlation of some of the art and the crab shell. That's okay though..........if that's what the customer wants then that's what the customer will get.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Business owners love getting their logos put on a crab shell. This one was a challenge but it worked out well.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Dogs on a crab shell are requested often. Favorite breeds, living pets and memorial images of long lost companions. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Favorite cartoon and movie characters.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68YWhyphenhyphenWxCMWF4XBIyt2uI-c7ZeGvVT7iQQwKn6OQaCvRde9eDt7WsNfD8gp56Rcil-VZRH2-24ia6sXdcyzkicVi3Hg1AXp3i9HxhIYx2EoNYCbVw48tJafzfTlUyVVmhprKqzg/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68YWhyphenhyphenWxCMWF4XBIyt2uI-c7ZeGvVT7iQQwKn6OQaCvRde9eDt7WsNfD8gp56Rcil-VZRH2-24ia6sXdcyzkicVi3Hg1AXp3i9HxhIYx2EoNYCbVw48tJafzfTlUyVVmhprKqzg/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one has a school mascot with the student's name and graduation year.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0nDctbKels866-u_6HE4oPtx4ImVo3D-hZpImGLCs6S2FCHIvcc45w34bRK-JuP_sOM7XNi3eavccoXc031cpPhOtUoLEkkvN499gh5kzXlQ5jRpa-x8KsBDgbBf6_E99OBRBg/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0nDctbKels866-u_6HE4oPtx4ImVo3D-hZpImGLCs6S2FCHIvcc45w34bRK-JuP_sOM7XNi3eavccoXc031cpPhOtUoLEkkvN499gh5kzXlQ5jRpa-x8KsBDgbBf6_E99OBRBg/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's another business logo on a shell. I imagine it now hangs in someone's office.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The shells in display boxes are very popular and they make great gifts. Any combination of shells. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now that I am back at it again, come on down to the Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD. I am here on Saturdays from 7am until 3 pm and Sundays from 7am until 4 pm. Even if you have no intention of making a purchase or ordering a crab shell, come visit us and have a look.........there is no other purveyor of painted crab shells that offers such a wide selection. We are the largest and best anywhere. It costs nothing to look and say hello.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also, If you have nothing to do on a Monday, come and see me in Cecil County at Hunter's Sale Barn & Flea Market on Jacob Tome Hwy. from 3 pm until 8 pm.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay tuned..........</span></b><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-69303902174922747282015-09-28T11:32:00.001-07:002015-09-28T11:33:22.811-07:00Ouch!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwaBkHpz_5258Cg66vfvXQ_yk-eMH6xA2a8TGT9EvfAiTZl817hMDYzk0uMzKC2EbbNXz8oe1K3py6ioBtcqFj2_BfS0K6_wCgJJsgPvhV0BLdcZA7KAS_ROsKgaaB_F1Bp9Gug/s1600/100_6479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwaBkHpz_5258Cg66vfvXQ_yk-eMH6xA2a8TGT9EvfAiTZl817hMDYzk0uMzKC2EbbNXz8oe1K3py6ioBtcqFj2_BfS0K6_wCgJJsgPvhV0BLdcZA7KAS_ROsKgaaB_F1Bp9Gug/s320/100_6479.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ouch!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That word pretty much sums everything up for the past few months. For those people that have been waiting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for their custom crab shell orders to be completed, rest assured that I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Your orders will be completed very soon. "Fallen" may well be the second word that best describes the predicament that I have found myself in. What is that old saying?.........."the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Yep......that's it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Actually, there has been a series of events this past summer.............beginning with the passing of my little buddy Chico. Chico, our chihuahua gave us eleven loving years of companionship. Always knowing that day would eventually come, it still hurt the family so very bad. Bad enough that I cannot write more about it at this time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeEQ8XSgKuwj5WS6qvYnoqTyQHzn4mFu0uqNdI0Rt0Qv_4kvMrlyxP8_l5coPpW2Y4ItYo0H_p8nCoTqvo9EClsa_eFwdfz4arY18pVShFbhLfJ-QzytE36a73b7pJopAKO4TJA/s1600/chico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeEQ8XSgKuwj5WS6qvYnoqTyQHzn4mFu0uqNdI0Rt0Qv_4kvMrlyxP8_l5coPpW2Y4ItYo0H_p8nCoTqvo9EClsa_eFwdfz4arY18pVShFbhLfJ-QzytE36a73b7pJopAKO4TJA/s320/chico.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had been gradually feeling bad for a few months and found myself struggling to keep going, I knew that something was coming upon me and yet I fought it off and kept on plugging away.....determined to get through two major events in June........my grandson's graduation from high school and my wife Supernurse completing her Doctorate for which we were to celebrate with a large party for her. I was in bad shape and I hung in there.......barely.........I refused to mess up and spoil the festivities. It was a very big deal for our family. Well, I managed to get through it and the night of the party, I went home and proceeded to begin having another heart attack. Went to the hospital and had yet another stent implanted. As far as the heart is concerned I am okay.......so far so good.........time will tell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I wasted no time getting back in the groove and painted away on crab shells. I was back on track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another curve was thrown my way when my uncle, who is 87 yrs old, called and informed me that he could not walk. We got him to the hospital and was found to be dehydrated and depeleted of potassium, After two days in the hospital, he was back at home feeling better but in need of more of my attention and assistance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well enough. No problem. Family takes care of family, right? A week later, I took him to his follow up appointment with his doctor........and to the bank, and to get a haircut. So far, so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we returned to his house we could not get the front door to unlock......the key would not work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead of busting the door open we decided to go around to the back of the house and try the back door.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As luck would have it, we could not get the gate to his yard to open........it was rusted. I decided to get myself over the cement block wall that surrounds the yard........so I entered the neighbor's yard.....went up onto the porch........and got onto the top of the 5 1/2 foot wall. What began as a good idea.......a solution to thr problem.......turned out to be a HUGE mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I jumped down from the top of the wall and landed hard.............."CRACK!!!!!!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could not get up from the ground. To make a long story short........went to the hospital.............diagnosis: shattered right heel, broken coccyx and broken sacrum. In other words, a world of hurt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The result of my good intentions is that for the past two months I have been unable to walk......cannot put any weight on my foot.........and I have been unable to be in a sitting position. All of this has made it impossible to paint crab shells not to mention a whole host of normal activities. The pain has been excruciating, At this point, I am recovering well.......I suppose. This week I have been able to sit on my butt for short periods with only discomfort. I still cannot stand up without assistance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I see the orthopedist again next week.......more x-rays. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This week I have every intention of beginning to paint shells again...........albeit a little at a time. Christmas is coming and I do not want to disappoint anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bear with me folks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">P.S one of my sons has been tending to my tables at the Northpoint Plaza flea market. Stop by and see what shells are left.........hehehe........but there's always more.......soon.</span><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-15174262018887377012015-05-30T22:46:00.001-07:002015-05-30T22:46:27.923-07:00A Day In The Life Of A Crab Shell Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPtkStKWl3Q3iXmKJpByW6G0cC0wLGnbPcUqoEe2mQ8lVKMhkvYm2YPYicnaYJsgd-8eDfU8TR7ugCEzvVrFGDGlukUzCHC9VMeKRicep3O_BPc7skcux38JwNdZRWQiUjBwC4w/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPtkStKWl3Q3iXmKJpByW6G0cC0wLGnbPcUqoEe2mQ8lVKMhkvYm2YPYicnaYJsgd-8eDfU8TR7ugCEzvVrFGDGlukUzCHC9VMeKRicep3O_BPc7skcux38JwNdZRWQiUjBwC4w/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It boggles my mind that I get asked the same questions over and over on a daily basis at the flea market.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most people have been very nice and offer up some great comments and praise in regards to my efforts of painting crab shells. It is very nice to hear kind words and praise. On the other hand.......it does get a bit irritating to get the same, often silly, and ridiculous questions and comments from some people. Over the past four years I have learned to stay focused on my mission and not get too distracted. Most of the pictures of my crab shell artwork here on the blog are of the finished product along with some gratuitous selfies.......hehehe and never of me as I work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it happens, on a recent Monday at Hunter's Sale Barn in Cecil County, MD., a guy enters my booth with a very nice camera with an insanely huge telephoto lens. He asked if he could take some pictures of the shells.........and I was okay with that as I get asked that frequently. We talked for a while........chitter chatter....and he then asked if he could take my picture as I was painting a shell. Now this was something I haven't been able to do myself........so I agreed to let him snap some pictures of me. The one stipulation being that he would email me some of the pictures. The photo shown above is one that he emailed me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really like the picture.........it speaks volumes..........what is that saying?........"a thousand words"?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am at peace while I paint and apparently it shows. I go into a zone........where it is just me there.......and.......as shown in the picture, I make effort to address some questions via small plastic frames placed here and there on the tables in front of me. Personally, I have never seen "fake" crab shells........but for some reason the are alot of folks that ask if the shells are "real". Sadly, I can say, without a doubt, that there are people that never read any signs.........and even with these signs placed between me and the people, they still ask the questions. Go figure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So here are some of the questions and comments I get often..........too often........and sometimes from the same people week to week!:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are these real crab shells?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is that real paint?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How long does it take you to paint one?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you do tattoos?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did you have to eat all of them?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You paint these yourself?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"These are ashtrays"<br />Are you the guy in Hampden?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Stencils?"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Decals?"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Stickers?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"How do you make them so shiny?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are you an artist?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did you have to catch all of them?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where can I get the stickers?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sorry, I didn't see the price.....I have an earache."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you eat them?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sorry, I didn't see the sign.......I had to drive all night."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where do you get them from?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"Look Harry......he's really painting the painted shells right now!" </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh well...........there are more..........but I will save those for another day.........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To view more pictures of my work, browse through the archives of posts. The archives are in the column on the right hand side of this page.</span><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-12587024879421612792015-05-06T19:23:00.001-07:002015-05-06T19:26:36.326-07:00Mother's Day by Dorota Osinska<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3l__wig83TM" width="480"></iframe>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-39966374902303102732015-04-30T13:10:00.001-07:002015-04-30T13:11:27.248-07:00Shame on Baltimore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WcvHfTnGZruTfvZ-vl6HwWm3KzaFwT46jynycAIAb9EyKnAS3EG-Nhkvh1TW1SD7C3Fmqewsmmw32J1A-of9wRoKjGvvYrlKXW6eLBK8m19iXkhxWF_7l9yGWR5c75szbQ21gg/s1600/Harlem+Park4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WcvHfTnGZruTfvZ-vl6HwWm3KzaFwT46jynycAIAb9EyKnAS3EG-Nhkvh1TW1SD7C3Fmqewsmmw32J1A-of9wRoKjGvvYrlKXW6eLBK8m19iXkhxWF_7l9yGWR5c75szbQ21gg/s1600/Harlem+Park4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For many years now, there has been the repetitive mantra "that's not the real Baltimore" in regards to any reviews or discussions about the very popular HBO television series "The Wire" and "Homicide" and even "The Corner". The reality is..........it's worse than is portrayed on those shows. The powers that be.....well.....they have a way of offering up obfuscation and misdirection to keep any focus away from the reality. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I felt the need to write about this today after recent events here in Baltimore...........rioting......"protesting"......chaos......looting........and now the National Guard being deployed. I have watched the tv reports......mostly the national news stations.......and payed attention to the tv camera shots.....the background imagery when a reporter goes live on camera.........and you will not see images like the one shown in the above photo. The photo above shows some of the Fulton Avenue neighborhood which is the very same neighborhood considered ground zero this past week. There is no pride shown here. The picture above shows what it looks like on a "normal" day. I recommend that if you truly want to see what neighborhoods such as west Baltimore looks like, get on your Google Maps application and get the street view and virtually drive through these streets. See it for yourself.....with no editing or carefully selected camera angles. This is Baltimore.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is all of Baltimore so terrible?...........of course not. But a huge chunk of it is. And this chunk has not been decreasing over the past 30 or 40 years.........in fact, it has been spreading from the west side to the east side. That's the reality. Likewise, aside from how things look, there's the crime and safety issues along for the ride. The solutions are not simple, the solutions require tough actions. Ever hear of the phrase "suffer for good"? The kind of suffering now in Baltimore is NOT good in any way shape or form. Misdirected anger, senseless destruction of businesses and home....cars.....etc.....makes me believe that a ridiculous proportion of the population have no good sense or focus. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I realize that most of the problems cannot be fixed by legislation or money. I am sure that both can contribute to the cause........but.......the biggest fix would be if people would stop making excuses and targeting their anger on things and people that have nothing to do with the problems in this city. So where is the blame? Who is responsible?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It makes no sense to me that this recent chaos all started simply because a man named Freddie Gray ends up dead while in the custody of the police. Nonsense. How is it that there is no outrage....no large scale protests.......no nothing about the daily murders in these neighborhoods throughout the city. Oh......its okay as long as it wasn't the police that shot someone.........yeah, right. So this is not about just that Freddie Gray died one day in Baltimore.........nobody has asked how many murders occurred that week.....no outrage.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Its hard to wrap your head around this bullcrap. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While watching the news reports, politician after politician came before the cameras.......some that represent that very district and born and raised in that neighborhood. As if all of a sudden, out of the blue, there is a problem............some even claiming to explain their presence there to get things back to "normal"........imagine that! "NORMAL"!!!!!!........just like the normal as shown in the photo above!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The politicians........hmmmmm........these career politicians.......elected and re-elected year after year........."representing the people from their districts" .......their communities...........seems to me that they need to own up to being part of the problem.......what good have they done? They are all players in the game.....as much as the gangs and drug dealers. The politicians need to be the enemies of the bad not the enemies of the good. Throw these bums out! What have they done for Baltimore? This?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back to the "pride" thing. People that live is these neighborhoods would obviously have difficulty having any pride in anything. Look at the picture. There is an old saying......."I may have holes in my pants, but they are at least clean holes." That would be a good start...... a place to begin...........get these neighborhoods cleaned up. And for those that intend to dirty it up.......well........fine them heavily........make people accountable.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shame on these politicians.....shame on the Mayor and the city council........shame on Elijah Cummings......shame on Carl Stokes........shame on the President and the senators of Maryland.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shame on the pastors of the communities........shame on the media...........shame on the "protestors".</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can this be fixed?.........yes it can.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could go on and on about this. I love Baltimore and I hate to see this.</span></b><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-41909048423788918062015-02-20T11:35:00.002-08:002015-02-20T12:08:29.464-08:00Painted Crab Shell (Update)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Frozen?............Damn its cold! I just got back from a trip to Tennessee, which went very well, and returned home to an assortment of chaos, mayhem, and aggravation. All in all, things could be worse........let's hope not. Heating issues, minor health issues, ice, a dead refrigerator......of all things.......and an assortment of discombobulation..............let's put it this way..............I just need to step back, take a few breaths, and get my shit in order. I could use Spring right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before I took the trip to Tennessee, getting some decent crab shells was a bit of a problem as it always has been in recent years during January and February. Couple that with a decent barrage of customers during the Christmas shopping season and I find myself with a depleted stock of painted crab shells. No.......its not like I don't have anything to sell.........it's just that I really need to get cranking and paint the more popular ones that people have come to expect that I will have. That....of course......takes time.........and crab shells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The good news is that I just got a good bunch of shells this week and have anticipation of getting more this weekend. Ahhhhhhh.......progress. But since things are a bit awry, as described above, a wrench is thrown into any possibillity of setting up at the flea market this weekend...........oh.........and to add insult to injury, another blast of snow on Saturday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, If you want to purchase or order a painted crab shell, come see me at the Northpoint Plaza Flea Market next Saturday February 28th or Sunday, March 1st. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those who had requested some shells prior to my vacation, you can pick up your shells next weekend or thereafter. Thanks for your patience.</span>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-78530237646046693922014-12-09T22:30:00.002-08:002014-12-09T22:34:59.770-08:00Merry Crabmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Holey Moley! Where has the time gone? It seems like time has been flying by at an unprecedented pace.......at least for me it has. I really need time to slow down a bit. Nonetheless, here we are with the Christmas shopping season upon us and never enough time to prepare for it. Needless to say, I have been pretty much spending every waking moment scrubbing shells and painting them. As I try my best to have the shells that most people want to buy, it is never enough........I simply cannot mass produce them. Some people will be disappointed, and some will be very happy. I cannot please everyone........although I try to do so. Often, it is difficult to anticipate what people will want to buy. As an example.........do I spend the time making six Steelers shells and then find out I should have spent the time making six Redskins shells? It's all about time........isn't it? </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of my customers have played it smart and planned ahead by ordering their shells ahead of time........(there's that TIME thing again).........good for them. And I know there will be some who are waiting until the last minute and will expect me to knock out some custom shells for them in record time............aaarrggghh!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lack of planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Once again it is all about TIME. And time is running out.........at least for Christmas orders.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are reading this blog for the first time.......welcome!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are local to the Baltimore area........come see us at the flea market!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have the need for something special to give as a gift..........I have what you need.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Single crab shells with rope.........only $10.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diorama shells...........................only $15.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crab shell in 5x7 display box.....only $25.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two shells in 8x10 display box...only $45.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Larger display boxes with three shells or combo with mallets........prices vary.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Time is running out..........first come, first served. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturdays and Sundays at Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7am until 4pm</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Monday at Hunter's Sale Barn in Cecil County MD 3pm until 8pm.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sorry......no online purchasing available at this time. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Feel free to contact me via email: signtopia@aol.com</span></b>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-45089514210353364912014-10-28T21:00:00.001-07:002014-10-28T21:00:49.819-07:00Vacation Is Over.......More Crab Shells.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really wished I could have spent more time in the Riviera Maya. Although this was a brief trip for us this time, the time spent on the beach and in the water was therapeutic. I really needed it. Each day was as perfect as it could be and the beauty of this place has a place in my heart.............and we try to come back each year. I didn't think of crab shells, flea markets, or any of the things that consume my days at home. Nice!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh.......but good things must come to an end, for the time being, and there is much work to do. Since my return home, I have been busy filling custom orders and trying to get ahead of the game in preparation for the onslaught of Christmas shoppers. Everybody wants an egg from the golden goose............in my case, insert "crab shell".</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few more pictures of my work:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And if that's not enough......here's some more:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I have mentioned before on this blog, I set up at Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD. on Saturdays and Sundays. On Mondays you can find me at Hunter's Sale Barn near Rising Sun in Cecil County, MD. If you live in the area, stop on by and say hello!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am usually busy painting away on a dozen of so crab shells, which you can watch me paint if you care to do so............... but if you have children with you, be sure to read the riot act to them or at least duct tape their hands together.......hehehe.......this stuff is fragile and nobody likes paying for a broken crab shell. :)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's more to come................meanwhile, as I paint the crab shells, I'll be thinking about the days I spent on vacation...........and I will still have to say that I am the luckiest man on the planet.............</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.......indeed I am.</span></b><br />
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Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-3404380380931564342014-10-12T02:29:00.001-07:002014-10-12T02:31:17.563-07:00Quick Trip To Austin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I am constantly reminded as to how I am the luckiest guy and how truly blessed I am. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My daughter, Noodle decided to give me a special birthday present........albeit a month early........in the form of a paid trip to Austin to attend a Ringo Starr and the All Stars concert at the Moody Theater! Imagine that!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I got to see a Beatle!......and as a special bonus, my favorite musician Todd Rundgren was performing with him! This was really awesome. Not to mention that I got to visit with my daughter and two of my grandchildren. Can't you tell by the picture that happiness abounds?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was one hell of a show! Totally awesome. Perhaps I will write some more about this but I am pressed for time, as always. I flew to Austin on Tuesday, returned home Friday night, stayed up all night painting crab shells, worked the flea market on Saturday, came home and agonized over the Orioles game and painted more shells and put together some display boxes.........oh yeah........I did manage to get an hour or two of sleep in between all of that. As I write this, me and Supernurse are just about to leave for the airport..........hehehehe..........oh yeah.........we are off to Mexico again for some rest and relaxation........same place as usual. I shall return to Baltimore on the 19th. Not bad eh?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those readers who ain't particularly interested in such goings on.....and only here to find out about some painted crab shells, feel free to search around the older posts. My sons will be handling the flea market biz for me until I get back.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See you soon! </span></b><br />
<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-33213881329422701842014-08-27T15:01:00.000-07:002014-08-27T15:01:19.142-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recently attended an Aberdeen Ironbirds game...........and yes......I sat there eating steamed crabs!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me and Supernurse and a contingency of the Emergency Nurses Association.........and uh.......Mr Boh, of course. It was a great evening..........capped off with a fabulous display of fireworks. Cal Ripken built quite a complex and I recommend that you at least take one day and take in a game. You will not be disappointed.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All work and no play is never a good thing. As it happens though, I seem to get busier and busier with painting crab shells and it is a challenge to squeeze in some time away from that. The good news is that I have two trips coming up in October......one to Texas and one to the Riviera Maya.........and then back to Baltimore for the mayhem that is the Christmas shopping season.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, I figured I would post some photos of some of the custom orders that I made for people. Special requests sometimes are challenging........but I actually enjoy the challenge. As usual, the customers were very happy with the end results</span></b>. <br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many people like to have a shell personalized</span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one was to be a gift for the owners of a cafe in Bethany Beach, Delaware.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This one is self explanatory</b></span>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there's more.............</span></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one was challenging. A drummer for the prog-rock band Sonus Umbra asked if I could somehow do the cover of their album on a crab shell...........arrrrggghhhh..........I had to really think this one out.........but after scratching my head for a few hours, I managed to git 'r done.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes the requests are for display cases with shells. This six shell and two mallet custom box was put together in honor of the career of Zach Clark, pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles farm system. Each shell had each farm team logo and the dates Clark was with them. The center shell included his photo and date that he played his first game in the Majors as a big league Oriole reliever.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Another request was for a woman who is crazy about the Orioles center fielder Adam Jones.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it for now..........I have shells to paint.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time..............by the way, if you want to see more photos, simply search the archives, there's tons of pictures.</span></b><br />
Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-20052818375362232112014-07-17T23:40:00.000-07:002014-07-17T23:40:37.690-07:00Another Milestone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>You just never know what the future holds. In early 1979, the last thing on my mind was to get involved in another somewhat lengthy relationship. One might could say that I wasted a lot of time twice with two different relationships that each lasted at least 2 1/2 years each.........infatuation.......companionship.......lack of focus and vision.......priorities awack............what was I ever thinking? I was a temp and didn't know it each time.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>But then I met this one. My first thoughts were.........here I go again.......I do NOT need this........not so soon........I need to think about this................but this time it was different. Something deep inside told me that this was the one and that I cannot walk away from her. This was a special one. Meant to be. Something told me that she was meant for me. I remember thinking.........nope.......ain't gonna happen......no way......no how.........don't bother with her...........go away.........my life at that time was a shambles for many various reasons. I had no money, wrecked my car, earned minimum wage, and had to live in my sister's attic for a while. My future was not bright at all. It was a rough time for me.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>On July 18th, 1979 I found myself in the chapel at Baltimore's City Hall marrying the love of my life.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It was meant to be.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Four children and four grandchildren later.......here I am telling everyone how I am the "luckiest man alive".</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I honestly could never have imagined how things turned out. I seriously do not think I would have made it this far without her.......in fact, I know I wouldn't have. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Thank God for 35 years!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Happy 35th Anniversary Supernurse!</b></span><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-59213912125479337902014-07-08T21:24:00.000-07:002014-07-08T21:24:33.256-07:00Painted Crab Shells and Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Yeah..........I know.........it has been a while since my last entry here on the ole blogosphere. Needless to say, putting stuff on the blog has not been a priority of mine. I suppose I will have to get around to making a more concerted effort at keeping pace here. I have been busy and time...... as time goes by........goes by quickly..........sometimes too quick.......the days blur together.......no real</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>differentiation of days. Lately, I seem to get into a funk easily......perhaps I am burning out......tired.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Having said all of that, I certainly have not given up the ship yet.....there is a long way to go hopefully. Many things have changed in my world recently.......things that occur that shut you down mentally and spiritually. Sometimes it is hard to focus and some of those things that you ordinarily think have importance and relevance in your world .....become just trivial and pointless.........at least in those moments.....ugh......even days or weeks where reality enters your world. Pretty deep eh?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>My guess is that I do not need to elaborate on the above commentary........you can imagine and you will be correct at least on half of whatever you might be thinking I meant. Time marches on......precious as it is......and I need more time. There is never enough time. There are things to do.......lots of things.....and it requires time. Nobody ever told me about the frustration I would eventually have over time. Hah.....even that frustrates me.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>There is much going on in the world around us and for the most part those things need our attention. It is also very frustrating knowing that your attention to such things may well never make any difference. We have to try. Nothing ventured...nothing gained.....right?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>For the past several weeks, I have been hearing "You haven't updated your blog in a long time."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>For the record. it has not been because there was nothing to say or share with everyone or anyone..</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>For the folks who come visit to look at the pictures of crab shells........all of the pictures are still here. You can just check all of the posts that pertain to crab shells. I promise to put up some photos of some of my recent work very soon........once again..........its a "time" issue.</b></span><br />
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-52881391096487624332013-12-26T00:11:00.000-08:002013-12-26T00:13:14.164-08:00Merry Crabmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ho Ho Ho! Merry Crabmas Everyone!</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let me fill you in about some things..........uh..........those crabby things............</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lots of people visited the "crabby Santa" to purchase some painted crab shells for their Crabmas trees and to give as gifts. I cannot even describe how exhausted I am. Needless to say, as tiring as it was, I enjoyed painting the shells for people. I had more custom orders this year and most folks did not wait until the last minute to request stuff. Oh there were a few though.......and I did my darndest to get the work done for them. To know that one's work and efforts are appreciated is very gratifying, The people who come and look at the shells always have great things to say about my work...........well........of course there are those few who, for some reason, have the word "stencil" embedded in their brains. And no.....I do not use any "stencils". Anywho.......the shells make perfect gifts and most of the shells are one of a kind and not done anywhere else on the planet as far as I know. So if you didn't come down to the Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD., or find your way to Hunter's Sale Barn out in Cecil County, MD........you are gonna have to plan ahead for next year so you can decorate your crabmas tree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few of the special crab shells that sold for Christmas.......er uh.......Crabmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, and I forgot to mention my right-hand man..........crabby Santa's super-elf........my eldest son.........he helps me do what I do.......he makes just about all of this possible........and yes, he sometimes paints them too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little brushes......little paint.......a little talent......and lots of happiness:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At this point I am taking a small break.......uh.........oh well.........a day or two.......from painting shells. Beginning Friday I am at it again.........did I mention that these shells are not just for Christmas?.......that's right..........year 'round baby! Hang them everywhere........well........just about anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time.......stay tuned........I put up some more pictures soon.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Merry Christmas Everybody and God Bless !</span></span></b><br />
<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-50025433794808976302013-11-13T23:57:00.000-08:002013-11-13T23:59:12.640-08:00Painted Crab Shells in Display Boxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I have so much to say that I will just have to store it all under my hat for a while. If you happened to have browsed through this blog's older entries, you surely know that I can be very opinionated..........and that has not changed. The reason that I spout off less these days is that I have been extremely busy painting..........YES!..........PAINTING.......crab shells.............and YES!..........WITH MY HANDS! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I get asked the question "Do you paint these by hand?"..........and the other gem of a question "You do these by yourself?"............needless to say, my response has been to simply say "I tried using my feet byt they won't cooperate." and after I look around under my table "Yep,.........there are no midgets or little Mexicans under the table painting away."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes........I paint on crab shells........and I use real paint and real brushes, too :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh yeah.......another big question I get is "How long does it take you to paint one?" Well, I suppose this is a fair question to ask and I think it is a fair response to say "As long as it takes." You see, not all shells have the same thing painted on them. Some are simple and some are complex. Some are downright difficult and some I tend to take longer to do because I might not enjoy doing that particular one. Actually, it is rare that I ever just sit down and paint just one at a time. I work in batches and paint them according to the method to my madness. If I am using red paint.......then I line up all of the various assorted shells that needs red paint. Then I move on to the next color, and so on. If I have music in my ears, I work faster and can pump out about 100 shells in a weeks time if I push myself. But normally I average about 35 to 40 shells per week. So there you have it..........its a huge amount of work and yes, I get tired of it and need to take breaks here and then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lately, I have been taking lots of special requests for custom painted shells and shells in display boxed. It is the start of that time of year when smart people plan ahead and place orders now for Christmas. Of course, some people place orders for birthday gifts, etc. Recently as last week, one repeat customer of mine requested a display box with two crab shells inside. They wanted one shell to have the Baltimore City flag and the other shell to have the Maryland flag, They told me that it was a gift for the Mayor of Baltimore.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Baltimore Flag shell.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Maryland Flag shell.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkQ_4qoWHF1tUIfnJRfsxf31TiFF0nQhw3q8ISySKHJYj9_DULwOUYJPnKj4wfcIXP7ET0wiCAuFs5OTPKXlTjhu0QFTwTypo7di35mGfr9njAs3IVCf99WJsp76iYqCpTpBFVw/s1600/414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkQ_4qoWHF1tUIfnJRfsxf31TiFF0nQhw3q8ISySKHJYj9_DULwOUYJPnKj4wfcIXP7ET0wiCAuFs5OTPKXlTjhu0QFTwTypo7di35mGfr9njAs3IVCf99WJsp76iYqCpTpBFVw/s320/414.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another customer had ordered a display box with his family name on a Scotland flag on a crab shell. Two weeks later he came back and requested another display box with five crab shells inside. This time I had to paint each crab with the first names of each member of his family.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you would like a painted crab shell, or a painted crab shell in a display box.......or would like to order one for a gift this Christmas...........time is of the essence..........get on down to the North Point Plaza Flea Market and look over my wide selection of crab shells on display and put in your request for custom orders. You can even watch me paint :) Without a doubt, Signtopia's Painted Crab Shells has the largest amount of painted shells available on any given day..........anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also.....come see us at Hunter's Sale Barn on Mondays in Port Deposit, MD</span>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triple shell box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFklYua9Ai_6OQu6MZmgIFNk2P38DTmAswTwXzQCT4PfRaOAIymnVLsKonZb7elWcMCGv89pzWnA7jgzRTQIrXMPl4UE7fqCyqMohQ7YlhHpEXAuJEXIWtARYvwgNU1JKBR8HjUA/s1600/404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFklYua9Ai_6OQu6MZmgIFNk2P38DTmAswTwXzQCT4PfRaOAIymnVLsKonZb7elWcMCGv89pzWnA7jgzRTQIrXMPl4UE7fqCyqMohQ7YlhHpEXAuJEXIWtARYvwgNU1JKBR8HjUA/s320/404.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Maryland Flag display box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjC8RvAIkICd4fm0AteQnUTpMZVCLqX0mjyMtAluUiX_9xjwaQiayBdNARkmXrWcYhmcfn-0Q2iZo_wbmmXcYSlmHho3uJZC3Q8wUodDoBFvRgFbdBdKqGo1VraOTSfQdyXAHwA/s1600/405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjC8RvAIkICd4fm0AteQnUTpMZVCLqX0mjyMtAluUiX_9xjwaQiayBdNARkmXrWcYhmcfn-0Q2iZo_wbmmXcYSlmHho3uJZC3Q8wUodDoBFvRgFbdBdKqGo1VraOTSfQdyXAHwA/s320/405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a kind and only one available,</td></tr>
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<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-84147827137433508412013-10-29T22:40:00.000-07:002013-10-29T22:43:31.265-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOsSHM9azbg29eMQZE5gVSPjsXumojZm81hrIpekQ1DOkGePKObfOLdIQXwFPsHuGU3ZqUNWOMGyM6nWbMtDSYp5ahsx4lA6s0FoHSXNUuDWGKel9H5HmI2z6ZKjO8zqxxTZ0XA/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOsSHM9azbg29eMQZE5gVSPjsXumojZm81hrIpekQ1DOkGePKObfOLdIQXwFPsHuGU3ZqUNWOMGyM6nWbMtDSYp5ahsx4lA6s0FoHSXNUuDWGKel9H5HmI2z6ZKjO8zqxxTZ0XA/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's getting to be that time of year again................oh yeah.........as if I hadn't already had enough to do regarding the crab shells. Yep, time passes by quickly.........maybe too quickly. Every waking moment of my time has been consumed with painting and crafting the crab shell ornaments. I always try to create and add new artwork on the shells and so far, the reaction and responses have been positive. It is a great honor for me that there are people that like my work enough that they are willing to part with their hard earned money in order to take it home with them or give as a gift to someone. It is very gratifying for me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7s5hHgF0H0Po1999qtu4OuQ6ZB5pDyKeFxxComZa7cxFJCd8LbL_u2y3n699abBS4M7chRJFoxXZ-OZ7DjRhcOQHtIaO54a_DJwWhUZJlkZ6CWbCUJoRl9nR1en5viZly2CrYw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7s5hHgF0H0Po1999qtu4OuQ6ZB5pDyKeFxxComZa7cxFJCd8LbL_u2y3n699abBS4M7chRJFoxXZ-OZ7DjRhcOQHtIaO54a_DJwWhUZJlkZ6CWbCUJoRl9nR1en5viZly2CrYw/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lately, I have been adding some Christmas crab shell dioramas to the mix. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can also report that special requests and custom orders have increased. I love challenges and some folks have asked for some unusual things on their shells. Needless to say, I give them what they want and they have been happy with the results. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since we are approaching the Christmas shopping season, I recommend that folks that come to see me for some painted crab shells and request custom shells or boxes, do so sooner rather than wait until the last minute. I am not planning on staying awake all night on any given date in the two weeks before Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Order ahead!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the most part, I have encountered many very nice and wonderful people. Some have been customers and some simply like to stop by at the flea market and have a chat. On the other hand, I have also encountered critics of my work. I do not mind constructive criticism or suggestions........however, I get a bit irritated by some people who try to somehow attempt to negate or devalue my efforts. I can handle insults and the like.........but I haven't very much tolerance for total idiots with no appreciation or comprehension of the amount of work it takes to create these crab shell ornaments. For those people, all I can say is that if they can make these themselves.............."go do it!". There may be some that can and don't...........and some that should and won't.........and still some that did and nobody wanted them.............and then there is Signtopia :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So stay tuned folks, I have more pictures coming and lots more to say. I promise not to take so long to put in on the blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh.........and by the way...........if you are in the Baltimore area and want a crab shell or two........stop on in at the Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk. If you have special requests, please contact me via this blog by commenting, or contact me via email : signtopia@aol.com. Be sure to type "crab shells" in the subject line.</span>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-70035979971968246842013-07-18T11:46:00.000-07:002013-07-18T11:46:27.564-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEu5PmwKufWaMMRZsdnsCq3f9llFxfut4D6IUBMm6ZJ7E1rQNeps3itOeoFSpCrZJMN0wzDUEyC_X4nRAcCZuX4TxA1oZTesNqzv4zpcEc6NiRWPL0l55kwKHdMzCOxtL8RQNsw/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEu5PmwKufWaMMRZsdnsCq3f9llFxfut4D6IUBMm6ZJ7E1rQNeps3itOeoFSpCrZJMN0wzDUEyC_X4nRAcCZuX4TxA1oZTesNqzv4zpcEc6NiRWPL0l55kwKHdMzCOxtL8RQNsw/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Busy.......busy.......busy. The crab shells have been taking up most of my time. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Here are a few of the latest painted crab shells. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Even number one son has taken up grabbing a brush and helping Ole Signtopia.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Display cases. If you can find a better price and better quality........go for it.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Baltimore, hon!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was another special request.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If you like what you see here on the blog, come on down to the Northpoint Plaza Flea Market on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, come see us at Hunter's Sale Barn in Cecil County on Mondays from 3pm until dark.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> A small girl and her mother needed a gift for her schoolteacher........and here it is.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This shell on a plaque was made at the request of another girl and her mom. It was a Father's Day gift.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More photos and videos to come, so stay tuned!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Often copied......never equalled.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Signtopia</span></b>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-347268070724392332013-04-18T21:34:00.000-07:002013-04-18T21:34:24.294-07:00Hand Painted Crab Shells - Maryland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the latest group of photographs of my crab shells. Each week I am asked to paint something new on a shell..........and nothing amazes me anymore........people ask for just about anything! </span>Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-64909618839736022392013-03-12T13:01:00.001-07:002013-03-12T13:01:19.139-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know.......I know.......I have been so wrapped up with the crab shells that I have been slacking on writing about other things............yes......I do actually have a life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For quite some time I have been very busy with all sorts of things.........and in my busy times I have to squeeze in some very necessary stuff such as hitting the road and making my presence known in Tennessee.......and flying to Texas to be introduced to Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.2.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The trip to Tennessee was to visit with my mom........the Queen of England. It was wonderful to spend some time with her while she still knows who I am. Let me explain.........she is getting a bit forgetful in her young age and this concerns the family. For now, its an occasional short term memory loss thing..........ultimately we know where this is heading. My sisters all have been taking good care of her...........for example, keeping her from physical altercations at bowling alleys where other bowlers might "invade her space"........hehehe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And of course, my three sisters.........lots of laughs, fun, horsing around..........I love my sisters. They treat me like a king when I am there..............did I ever mention how I am the luckiest man on the planet?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I saw this sign in a shop in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.9291666667,-86.8575&spn=0.1,0.1&q=35.9291666667,-86.8575%20(Franklin%2C%20Tennessee)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Franklin, Tennessee">Franklin, TN</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway..........let's be brief here and move on to Texas...........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me and Supernurse did our share of expanding the surface population...........and now our expansion keeps continuing on..........our youngest daughter, Signtopia Expansion Pack 2, has released yet another rugrat into our existence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We all had a plan to help her out when the baby was due........family would stagger visits to Texas and help her recouperate.................well...........a wrench was tossed into the fray and the baby came about a month early. The most important thing was that my daughter and granddaughter are fine as can be.....and they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There she is.........Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.2!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Went to Picture People at the mall........</span>...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.......and I painted the Daytona race track for Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was very happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He loves Nascar...............</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfJKB1Sl2ZSYc0Bvn7Bc9rlA1lf9r4_Uu9FzARYVTeb0ot5l5v_Be5pm-Ud3ZkG9NWeak6YN_AOLffGb4UX7W336L9ouo8N0Q501YkyPx71HeyI7UqmNRwVB5bZAI92d0cRws9Q/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfJKB1Sl2ZSYc0Bvn7Bc9rlA1lf9r4_Uu9FzARYVTeb0ot5l5v_Be5pm-Ud3ZkG9NWeak6YN_AOLffGb4UX7W336L9ouo8N0Q501YkyPx71HeyI7UqmNRwVB5bZAI92d0cRws9Q/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it for now............</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay Tuned!</span><br />
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Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-5282521324892975552012-12-26T15:24:00.000-08:002012-12-26T15:24:15.374-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV_e_nL40OTxdJ1M4l_hH_RjmZ-SDkh7NsZ9VSYqunsmF6oiROjqYV9A9C3k6_IFQKs7MEws7YuVTX5PsLEusgIpM3jmBapqP7ZUenJJH3nH3MHHoE88SS89NC6X7Fs42mwAtOw/s1600/542578915_dsc06271+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV_e_nL40OTxdJ1M4l_hH_RjmZ-SDkh7NsZ9VSYqunsmF6oiROjqYV9A9C3k6_IFQKs7MEws7YuVTX5PsLEusgIpM3jmBapqP7ZUenJJH3nH3MHHoE88SS89NC6X7Fs42mwAtOw/s320/542578915_dsc06271+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's time to reflect........it has been a very long and busy year for me.......so much to do, not enough time and yet as I look back I probably wouldn't change very much.............well.......except for maybe eliminating some of the stresses that I encountered. Time to relax........uh.........yeah right........but I have taken a couple of days off of the radar to simply chill out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The painted crab shell business has far exceeded my expectations and the Christmas shopping rush is finally over. I could have sold double what I did if I had more time to paint more. As it was, the month of December was a marathon for me and has left me exhausted both physically and mentally. My desire to please the customers and give them what they want ......no matter how ridiculous.......kept me awake many nights painting away on the shells. Two weeks in a row, I had stayed awake with no sleep, working on shells from Friday mornings all the way through until the following Sunday nights. Entire weekends with no sleep.......not a wise thing to do for anyone and I hopefully will be able to make some adjustments and not need to do that again next year. All in all, I hope that all of my customers were satisfied and appreciated my efforts. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to some happiness this Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also want to take this opportunity to thank those who have come back again and again to purchase shells from me. It truly has been a pleasure to serve them. I am grateful not only for those customers but that many of them have become friends. I enjoy chatting with them when they come to the flea market. I have learned much along the way as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for me......I am tired........but.........a new day has begun and there is more work to do. Therefore, I am back at it again..........shells are on my dining room table.......my paints and brushes are ready for action......and I have some special orders waiting for my attention. I also have many shells to replace that were sold out. It's a nice problem to have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the while my mind is somewhere else..........on the water.......the beach.....the Caribbean.........as you see in the picture at the top of this blog entry. My favorite place to be..........and with Supernurse.......who I wouldn't want to be anywhere without. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So stay tuned folks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is more to come.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!</span></span><br />
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Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-88890018938500174402012-11-20T23:26:00.000-08:002012-11-20T23:26:49.033-08:00Latest Crab Shell Ornaments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sQ1yXa88b7MrsH6sXghx-thg1sQEYvhaKRxUO2Qp6nEM6AeLcwFVoJObpGlWwhlZRB7p7iLH-Gz7RXCumtIOmFgpoFB1t1Sd5JDf5W1lN-J80lHOqKg82I80g23l64XzRCdQFg/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sQ1yXa88b7MrsH6sXghx-thg1sQEYvhaKRxUO2Qp6nEM6AeLcwFVoJObpGlWwhlZRB7p7iLH-Gz7RXCumtIOmFgpoFB1t1Sd5JDf5W1lN-J80lHOqKg82I80g23l64XzRCdQFg/s320/063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To say that I am tired.........very tired...........would be an understatement. The aches and pains......muscles......bones......joints......back.....hands........oh the pain and suffering.......however........whatever........I suppose it goes with the territory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That territory happens to be a zone that is all mine and mine alone. As it is, if you have read anything previously on this blog, I happen to be a "crab artist".........it was supposed to be a "hobby".....to make myself useful and have a feeling of contribution to the family cause. I should have known that it would become somewhat of a monster. From cleaning up the crab shells.....scrubbing.......disinfecting......priming.......attaching rope to each one....then painting them and then finally putting a clear coat sealer on each one...........well........it is a bit much on my plate. I should not complain, there are far worse things to groan about. Needless to say, there are weeks where I get a bit behind and end up staying up too late at night working on the shells. One has to do what one has to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here I find myself at a point where November is practically gone already and I am trying to prepare for the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_and_holiday_season" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Christmas and holiday season">Christmas shopping</a> madness that is about to occur. I suppose you could imagine where my brain is at about now, not to mention my tired fingers. Busy.......busy........busy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnnfny5m7xfDnVd5ggB1IieSIi9l3uBK0OSaMafgiHpFgzbyAhQLO1LOgXaaWyE3FHkVfDOh_ITRqp6FuspT5jJQ8TzZv3Kw2qj7wLy8jRJtYYydBDhDmeqrezG_ExwMyR6D4mg/s1600/054+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnnfny5m7xfDnVd5ggB1IieSIi9l3uBK0OSaMafgiHpFgzbyAhQLO1LOgXaaWyE3FHkVfDOh_ITRqp6FuspT5jJQ8TzZv3Kw2qj7wLy8jRJtYYydBDhDmeqrezG_ExwMyR6D4mg/s320/054+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That back row of stacked crab shells are the unfinished ones that I sit and work on at the flea market.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbH8PGrKKp9_fCW0sgoP5Db8ls_Hk9tkZZyZWakHNFzYvm8oPWN856mymJh0ZhCl3rGCjobYNzd5-o8xAbOxcfgTXtYcA0sQFKW1h9WgWZr64mM3FCAy1NXlmuHxPIEFx8ZDGkA/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbH8PGrKKp9_fCW0sgoP5Db8ls_Hk9tkZZyZWakHNFzYvm8oPWN856mymJh0ZhCl3rGCjobYNzd5-o8xAbOxcfgTXtYcA0sQFKW1h9WgWZr64mM3FCAy1NXlmuHxPIEFx8ZDGkA/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I mount some on plaques and in display cases..............more work.....hehehe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are some photos of some of the latest crab shells that I have made:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it for now........sorry about taking so long to post lately. Hopefully another crab video is in the offing soon........stay tuned.</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!</span></span></b></span><br />
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Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35087543.post-70772613093025986142012-08-13T20:52:00.000-07:002012-08-13T20:55:09.869-07:00Another Hand Painted Crab Shell video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/c0D2L0cesUk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />Signtopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340903513009304087noreply@blogger.com0