The Marmelade Gypsy: Whimsical Whittler

Showing posts with label Whimsical Whittler. Show all posts

Friday, January 9, 2015

A New Angel and a Remembrance

There's a new angel today -- and how I wish there wasn't.

I've come to not like January so well. It seems that at this time of year we say goodbye to so many. I just learned of the death of another wonderful human being today, and coming next week and two weeks after that, the anniversaries of two dear friends. And I worry every day about several others whom I hold close to my heart, dreading the phone call or email or Facebook post that shares sad news.

I didn't know Vaughn (V.J.) Rawson well. I knew his wife much better, and even she wasn't one of the "intimates" -- one of those with whom you are in contact on a regular basis. But I had been to their amazing home several times for holiday gatherings and to see their remarkable woodcarving.

If you have followed The Marmelade Gypsy for any length of time, you may remember my posts featuring their work. V.J. carved the most magnificent Santas, snow people, Halloween figures and Dickens characters; Stephanie would paint them. They were known as The Whimsical Whittler.

They had been featured in national magazines, had some of their designs marketed to Midwest for mass production and had their work included on the White House Christmas tree.

For some, cancer is in the gene pool. For others, it's one of those things we never really know. But V.J's fight was long and valiant, his creative legacy large.

His final battle is over and my heart is very sad.

Sad, too, as I remember the anniversaries of blogger Diana ("Oh") and my friend, Mike Lewis. Diana's eloquent, delightful blog posts always enchanted me and when we met in person, I was thrilled that she was everything she was on the blog -- and more.

Mike was a friend from work whose heart was enormous and his dedication to friends incomparable. I can't think of him without a smile as he enriched our hearts -- and made many a tough day far easier to bear.

Both left huge holes in my heart. I mourn for their families and hope they know that these people they knew far better and far longer than I are not forgotten.

Tonight I look for a new twinkling star -- and know that V.J. is in fine company.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Welcome to a Ghoultide Gathering!

Welcome to a town where the buildings may look intriguing.

All the more so, when you look into the window and see colorful cut outs and strange things that remind you goblins and ghosties are nearby.

This is a Ghoultide Gathering, where your hosts are large and often frightening creatures!

You will find yourself beckoned into places that may seem forbidding.

And centurians stand guard! Yes, there is a smile -- but the eyes tell another story!

The windows seem covered with dust -- and are those cobwebs? Or are the curtains tattered and worn after years of haunting?

Some of the hosts are a tad skeletal.

Others, seem a tad pale and ghoulish!

But when you enter, you may see a dancing witch kick up her heels.

Is a bit of flamenco in store?

Step over to the cemetery -- do you recognize any of its guests?

You may be asked to go on a hayride -- but be very careful. You never know when a goblin might pop out!

Set a spell. But not too long. The goblins come out at night!

(These photos are from A Ghoultide Gathering, held October 2 in Northville, MI. Some of the finest folk artists in the country descended upon this historical village, showing and selling their all-Halloween ware. No photos were allowed within, but you can see more RIGHT HERE. They were shooting official photos -- not sure if they are up there yet, but some from last year are.

And above is my purchase -- a black cat, already at the top of the Halloween tree! It's by Allen W. Cunningham and you can see more of his work here or here.

This event is organized by my friend Stephanie Rawson (our dancing witch) and she and her husband V.J. (our ghoulish greeter) are also known as The Whimsical Whittler. You can see my posts on their Christmas creatures by checking out the blog topic list at the right and clicking on Whimsical Whittler.)