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Welcome Foolish Mortals

My name is Carrie Vines and I'm a little obsessed with Disney's Haunted Mansion. I'm blessed with a husband who supports my obsession and even encourages it. My kids, well...they barely tolerate it. But they're young and resilient. They'll recover. 

My husband, Sam, and I have always celebrated Halloween with a little more enthusiasm than anyone else on the block. When we decided to start an annual haunt, we both looked to the Haunted Mansion for inspiration. It was then we discovered the collector's circuit and our calling. While searching the web for Haunted Mansion decorating ideas, I stumbled across Doombuggies.com and found my refuge on the internet.  I've met some of my closest friends on doombuggies, and spend my time there hearing other collector's stories, seeing their collections and the creative ways in which they displayed their pieces, sharing our defeats and celebrating our victories on ebay when we finally procured that one 'must-have' piece. If you haven't checked out doombuggies, go check it out. NOW. And then come back here and share your favorite Haunted Mansion collectible or tattoo or shrine to Master Gracey. You're among friends here. 

Thanks for stopping by and just as in the ride, I will conclude here with Little Leota's haunting words:

"Hurry back… Hurry back! Be sure to bring your death certificate, if you decide to join us. Make final arrangements now. We've been  'dying’ to have you…”

Sally the Seamstress Lamp

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 8:16pm

Well, the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland closed last week to prepare for the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.  I’ve read enough commentary on the various message boards to know that you either love the Nightmare Before Christmas addition, or you hate it.  

I happen to be one who loves it.  

I know I’m going to get slammed for this, but when the Nightmare Before Christmas movie first came out, I was NOT a fan.  It took several viewings of the DVD to finally get it.  I loved the music from the start, but I just had a hard time with the weird creatures and the interchanging of the holidays… From an avid holiday decorator’s point of view, I was a purist. Christmas and Halloween did not belong together. Not no way. Not no how!  But slowly over time, due to my husband’s incessant viewing habits and Danny Elfman’s incredible soundtrack, it finally started to sink in my dense brain that this was imagination at its finest!   And I relaxed a bit on my puritanical point of view.

In 2001, Disney introduced the Haunted Mansion Holiday to the Mansion, and there it was…in my face, neon colors blazing and glowing, flickering pumpkins and candles everywhere, and these quirky characters with which I had developed an affectionate understanding, right there so close and so real.  I was instantly in awe and in love.  

Fast forward a few years later and in 2003 Nightmare Before Christmas celebrated 10 years of frightful fun, Haunted Mansion Holiday is well established in the park and Walt Disney Collectibles released some great goodies to celebrate!  Jody Daily, Disney artist extraordinaire, designed Sally the Seamstress Lamp and when I saw it in the Disney Catalog, now Disneyshopping.com, my knees buckled a bit.  I just adore this lamp.  And I couldn’t think of a better piece to introduce the Haunted Mansion Holiday Collectibles section to my blog.  Ok, this lamp doesn’t really have anything to do with HMH.  But I don’t care, its my blog and I can cry if I want to… I mean, do what I want to!  

Enough talk.. let’s start ogling, shall we?

 

Sally LampSee the basket in her hand? It dangles and moves and melts my heart.

 Sally the Seamstress Lampback of Sally the Seamstress LampSally the Seamstress LampSally the Seamstress LampSally the Seamstress Lamp Tulip Glass ShadeSally the Seamstress Lamp Leaf detail

Sally the Seamstress Lamp

Thank you, Jody, for creating this piece.  It is solid and weighty (thanks to all the metal) and yet delicate and whimsical.  Perfection! 

I plan on sharing my experiences from the Haunted Mansion Event, but it took awhile for me to digest everything in that whirlwind week.  So look for the post soon and thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Haunted Mansion Holiday Collectibles | Tags: , , , , , , ,

by Carrie

4 comments

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September 21, 2009 - 9:10 pm Jonathan - That lamp would go well in the Mansion anyway. It's definitely creepy yet beautiful enough to fit in.

September 16, 2009 - 6:38 am charlotte - OK, I mix my Haunted Mansion and Nightmare decor. I didn't know it was acceptable. Thanks for being open and honest about these things,so the rest of us feel free to love ALL our collectables evenly! Your Sally lamp is just lovely,thanks for sharing her.

September 16, 2009 - 5:06 am Mandy - Oh...I may have to ask for that ;-) My hubby is all about 'Nightmare'. Anything he can get his hands on, we would have it. I'm still kicking myself for not buying him the Jack Mickey Ears when we went last year, they didn't have them this year!

September 15, 2009 - 9:22 pm Marie - Very awesome lamp! And bravo in standing up for how you feel about HMH. While I too love the classic mansion, HMH has it's beauty as well!

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