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It was a challenging Christmas shopping season. Managed to get through it in a reasonable fashion.
The past two years, in particular, were tough for me........because of health issues. Hopefully this new year will be much better.
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.
So here we are at the end of the year........reflecting.
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.
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.
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.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and here's to wishing and hoping we all have a freat and prosperous New Year!
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?"
Well........I really DO paint them. And I do it all by myself.........although sometimes people stand there and watch me paint.
As you can see...........a halfway finished shell............
.........and the final product.
What are the most popular?.............the lighthouses............
...........and the United States Flag. Some have tried to do this one themselves..........but fail.
Come have a look at the shells this and every weekend at Northpoint Plaza Flea Market in Dundalk, MD.
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.
The thought occurred to me to think outside of the box.
In other words, utilize the crab shell as the head of a character.
This doesn't work with many characters..........however.......there are a few that work rather well.
How about a cartoon raven?
Angry crab?
Why not Garfield?
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.
One customer requested a shell with the logo of a fire department somewhere in South Carolina.
Another request for Anne Arundel County Police Dept.
The same flip-flop shell as shown before.........except this photo shows the finished product.
Hippies and Deadheads love crabs too.
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.
And last, but surely not least...........ELMO!
For more photos of my work, check the archives for posts about crab shells.
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.
You can watch me work on some shells, ask me all sorts of questions, and maybe start shopping for Christmas.
Stay Tuned!
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is maybe the most important election of all time. I am really concerned about the future of this country.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Bernie looks like after the election is over, somebody will put him back into the nursing home.
No longer in the race, Martin O'Malley...............They had to be kidding everybody.....right?
Those three Democrats are the cream of the crop to choose from?........seriously?
And now to the Republican choices............
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.
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?".
See what I mean? Seriously........NOBODY elects Al Lewis.
The machine..............the establishment.............all one entity.......the "party" stuff is theater. Consider what Henry Kissinger said:
Yeah......you remember Henry Kissinger, don't you?...........maybe try Googling ole Henry and refresh your memory. Here's another classic Kissinger quote:
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:
He really gets around, doesn't he?
But wait.......there's more:
He is at it again...........this time with Cruz.
Considering what I have just shown you, what choices for President do you really have?
Bernie or Donald...........since it appears that Kissinger hasn't "met" with them...........yet.
My choice is Donald Trump.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Business owners love getting their logos put on a crab shell. This one was a challenge but it worked out well.
Dogs on a crab shell are requested often. Favorite breeds, living pets and memorial images of long lost companions.
Favorite cartoon and movie characters.
This one has a school mascot with the student's name and graduation year.
Here's another business logo on a shell. I imagine it now hangs in someone's office.
The shells in display boxes are very popular and they make great gifts. Any combination of shells.
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.
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.
Stay tuned..........
