We’re closing out Halloween this week, but there’s still time to add a little spooky to your space! The DIY’s simple, the makers are great, and the lineup has a little bit of everything—art, lights, wood, and even honey. I bet you weren’t expecting honey in October!
Penny Thomson Works
Penny Thomson Works is a small family business run by a mother and her two daughters. They make moving miniatures by hand that are tiny mechanical scenes built from recycled materials. Each piece has its own story. It makes for a very collectible piece!
Penny has been an artist for over 40 years, and it shows in the detail. Everything is made in their workshop with care and a bit of magic. These just happen to be their Halloween spooky seasonal pieces but they do more than just spook.
Machine Age Lamps
Shawn Carling makes steampunk lamps out of old machinery. They’re real industrial parts from another time. It started with a Christmas gift for his dad, built from tractor pieces he found on the farm. That one project changed everything.
Now he spends his days turning nostalgia into working lamps. If you have any steampunk fans in your life or someone who loves vintage Americana, this maker is for you.
The Maker’s Manual
Still haven’t decorated? You’ve got time! This is a quick upgrade to the usual tomato cage ghost. You only need to add a pool noodle for arms and you’re all set.
Wrap the cage in lights, toss a white sheet on it, and stick on a felt face. Done. It’s simple, cheap, and looks way better than it should for how fast it comes together!
@macy.blackwell DIY Lit Ghost w/ arms! 👻 An easy upgrade to the tomato cage ghost to add some variation to your ghosties! 1. Tie loose ends of tomato c... See more
If you make this, tag us @themakersdispatch on Instagram!
Dusty’s Bees
We’re featuring our first food maker this week - Dusty’s Bees. They’re a family-run beekeeping business based in the mountains of California, with 24 small yards spread across Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties. What started with just three hives at home has grown into a full operation built on care and patience.
Every hive is tended by hand, and the honey comes straight from the source. The best part is that these yards are their friends, family, and neighbors. They’re truly a community-focused business. They make great honey to boot!
That’s it for this week’s dispatch. Thanks for reading and for supporting the makers we feature each week. If you end up grabbing something or trying the DIY, tag us @themakersdispatch — we always love seeing it.