Retiring and rebirth

Rest in pieces, dear Aggie...

Today I retired one of my props...Agatha, my cauldron-stirring witch.  All in all I was very happy with her but the character of the Unresting Place has been and is changing to a more lighthearted tone (as if it wasn't already).  I guess this is what I mean by haunting who you are, haunt what you are comfortable with and what feels 'right' to you.  Agatha was a severe character, like the skeletal corpse bride (who is getting retired this year also), she was less and less congruent with the rest of the graveyard.  So with strange feelings and a heavy heart, my fingers cruelly tore latex, modeling clay and hair from the skull base; all being left was a Bucky and a hinged jaw with motor.
But from the ashes, a phoenix awakens.  I am pleased to introduce the next incarnation of Aggie's head, The Hatbox Ghost...

Dental work is definitely on the way, including a gold front tooth.

Model Magic has improved their formula and is MUCH easier to work with.  This guy will be standing alone, headless while holding a hatbox.  His head is going to slowly rise out of the hatbox while jaw moves in laughter and then goes back down again.
At least that's the plan. I have an ever-so-slight idea of how to do it but nothing in stone.  I might just have his head float randomly around his body, I dunno.  I'm going to try and experiment some with him, using black lights and ultraviolet sensitive or phosphorescent materials to give him an unearthly glow.  I'm rather excited about him, he is going to feel right at home.  But don't feel bad for Aggie, she requested that her body be left to Ignatia so she can finally sit after standing for 8 years over a hot cauldron.