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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!
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!
Ouch!
That word pretty much sums everything up for the past few months. For those people that have been waiting
for their custom crab shell orders to be completed, rest assured that I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth.
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.
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.
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.
So I wasted no time getting back in the groove and painted away on crab shells. I was back on track.
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.
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.
When we returned to his house we could not get the front door to unlock......the key would not work.
Instead of busting the door open we decided to go around to the back of the house and try the back door.
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.
I jumped down from the top of the wall and landed hard.............."CRACK!!!!!!"
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.
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.
I see the orthopedist again next week.......more x-rays.
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.
Bear with me folks.
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.
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!
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".
Here are a few more pictures of my work:
And if that's not enough......here's some more:
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!
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. :)
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.............
.......indeed I am.
Are you ready for Christmas? Not me.........I have been extremely busy...........alot of stuff happening and has happened since the last post. First off, the entire family converged upon Tennessee for Thanksgiving with my Mom and my sisters and their offspring. It just so happened that my birthday was the day before Thanksgiving and we celebrated that as well. Everything was wonderful and good and just cannot express how important for me that we were all together for those all too brief few days. Considering that Noodle and her husband brought my grandson with them........driving all the way from Leander, Texas......and my other daughter Mrs Moneypenny brought her entourage from Maryland...........and both of my boys rode with me and the wife from Maryland to Tennessee.......well.......let's just say that I am not only grateful, but thankful that everyone arrived safely and unscathed.....hehehe........seriously........The Friday after Thanksgiving, me and Supernurse took a flight from Nashville to Mexico.That's right.......Mexico.........third year in a row.........Grand Palladium Riviera Maya again.........absolutely wonderful place.........and we stayed for 12 days before returning home to Baltimore.............Whew!...........yeah, I am tired.............so bear with me on posting about the trip as I usually have in the past. Hopefully I will get to that very soon.Upon our return home, the proverbial shit has hit the fan regarding the crab shells at the flea market. Christmas shopping has kicked in and shoppers have practically wiped out my supply of hand painted crab shells. This is a good thing and I am not complaining.........but this has also meant that I have been in a mad scramble to replace the sold shells with more shells.......which also means that I have been very busy........painting......painting......and painting crab shells. I do not want to disappoint any customers. Somehow, I have managed to keep going at it.In regards to the crab shells. there are those that I make that I consider "must have"......and the rest are those that are specially made either from requests, pre-orders, or simply because someone challenged me or dared me to make one or two.
One of those "challenges" was the Harley-Davidson logo. There are many bikers and other assorted Harley lovers that roam the flea market. More than once, someone would approach my table and say "You don't have one with Harley on it?"......"I would buy one if you did."........well...........yes.........I DO have them now and that particular challenge has been met.
One of the "must haves" incorporates Natty Boh with the Maryland flag......very popular.
Another special request was this one. A couple wanted it for their little daughter's bedroom.
In addition to hand painted crab shells, I also make Redneck Wine Glasses. These are selling fast and I had to make 40 of them this week alone.
Football fans are not left out............even Packers fans roam around the flea market. Packers, Steelers, Redskins, Eagles, Seahawks........Giants.......even da Bears!
A really nice dude from West Virginia came by and asked me if I could paint a trout on a crab shell for him...........he was very happy.
Another request was from a firefighter from Baltimore City............he was also very happy with his crab shell.
Oh yeah........did I mention football fans?............Patriots!
Another variation of the Natty Boh/Maryland Flag crab shell.
This is yet another request........"I want one with the Colts on it".......well........to me, there is only ONE Colts that is worthy of my bother.......and that is the BALTIMORE Colts.....hehehe.
Crab shells.......it's a Maryland thing...........of course........Maryland Terps!
Lighthouses are also popular.
Believe it or not, the Orioles are a winner here.
But the most popular hand painted crab shell is this one.I will put up some more pictures when I get.....uh....."IF" I get some spare time again before Christmas......hehehe........until then..........feel free to email me with any questions or you can post your questions here on the blog.If you happen to like what you see and want to see more and perhaps purchase some for Christmas gifts.......or you want a Redneck Wine Glass...........come on down to the North Point Plaza Flea Market and say hello.........or even "Merry Christmas!".If you are not local to the Baltimore area.......hmmm........I still have yet to do that Paypal thing and it is not likely that I will get to that this year. Look for it after the new year.Ho.....Ho.....Ho!
