Eerie Lamp Shades

If you really want to set the tone of a room this Halloween (or all year long), you need to get a lamp shade by Spooky Shades. These shades are the best I've seen. They bring to my mind a sense of dark dealings in dark rooms from times long gone past. Many of the lamps use old photographs. If you're decorating in the gothic style, you're going to want several.

Obscure Fate

Vintage Tattoos

Asylum

Anatomy

Circus Freaks

Frankenstein

You should head over to the shop to see all the options. I had a really hard time choosing which to show you because I loved them all. The images change as you go around each lamp, as well. You could adjust the position of the shade for a new look.

As always, "like" the Spooky Shades Facebook page to keep track of the the latest designs.

Alexandria Noël: Shamanic, Dark & Intricate

It must be hard growing up with the last name of Noël; especially if your temperament leans more Halloween than Christmas. Can you just imagine the gifts from well-meaning but clueless family? I shudder.

Alexandria Noël seems to have channeled this into designing images that she calls "vivid, shamanic, dark and intricate." I applaud. Noël has a selection of lovely Krampus items that you know you need to think about now. If you're like me, after Halloween is finished, you're too exhausted to plan for the winter holidays. Bookmark them to save yourself the last-minute scurry.

Skull and Filagree T-shirt with Bats

Skull with Antlers Tank

Turntable Felt Skull and Bats Slipmat
(now, that is awesome)

Skull with Crown Tote Bag

Krampus Christmas Card Box Set

Gruss vom Krampus T-shirt

Keep track of Noël's latest projects on Facebook. I can't wait to see what her next design will be.

The Itinerant Bizarrium

We might all aspire to live in a "realm of dark fancies" and that's what the Itinerant Bizarrium promises. The Brit artist, known to us only as Penelope, gave up a career as a costume designer in Los Angeles and returned home to create dolls on the "friendly edge of Goth." And, while Los Angeles is it's own kind of dark realm, I think she made the right move.

The Intinerant Bizarrium sells dolls through an Etsy shop. They belong in a dark circus.

Horatio a Pumpkin-Headed Clown Doll

Myrtle: A Woodland Doll

Frida Kahlo Art Doll No. 1

Dia de los Muertos Doll

Baron Samedi Voodoo Doll

The Bearded Lady

The shop also carries fanciful, articulated paper dolls. Look at The Itinerant Bizarrium webpage for a gallery of all the dolls Penelope has created. And, while you're looking around, head to the Facebook page for the latest work.

Halloween Wardrobe Rule Breaker

So, yesterday I said that my number one rule about a Halloween wardrobe was that it needed to be subtle. I don't want to look like I'm wearing a costume every day. But then I found Raw Bone Studio and realized rules are meant to be broken. The proprietor of this lovely shop is Robin Romain. Besides fantastic clothing from photo-realistic fabric, she also creates umbrellas, pillows, shower curtains and felt hand-embroidered sugar skull ornaments.

Sugar Skull Skater Dress

Vintage Halloween Masks Skater Dress

Doll Head Leggings

Robots Umbrella

Halloween Garland

Plush Felt Sugar Skull Garland

Black Cheshire Cat Felt Patch

Hand Embroidered Sugar Skull Ornament

I want everything in this shop! I can just imagine myself wearing that vintage Halloween mask skater dress with a sweater or sewing one of her patches on my sweater- or both. Go ahead, break my rules. I do it all the time.

Spoonflower Fabrics for Halloween

I'm doing things differently for Halloween this year. First, I'm not throwing a huge Halloween party so, this means I don't have to put together an elaborate costume. I do, however, plan on celebrating Halloween every day in October. I've decided this means that I need a Halloween wardrobe.

My Halloween wardrobe goal is to be able to wear something that evokes the spirit without screaming "I'm in a costume!" everyday.  I want my wicked wardrobe to be more subtle than that. I hope to have skirts with a skull at the hem or sweaters with an evil looking patch or an embroidered spider. I realize I'll be doing some sewing in the very near future.

Now, I'm on the lookout for some good Halloween fabrics. I don't want anything too cute or childish. I plan on sewing some detachable cuffs, collars, and peeking slips to supplement the clothes I already own. Good idea, right?

Spoonflower is a shop that sells custom designed fabrics.  (Finally she gets to the point of her post) You can choose to design your own fabric or purchase one already designed by someone better at these things. There are thousands of designs and you can choose to have them printed on a variety of different fabric types.

I searched on "Halloween."

Haunted House Damask by Sarah Walden

Halloween Witch Damask by Angela Stevens

Godzilla and Friends Toile by Christina Taylor

Black Cat Damask by Jenimp

Sugar Skulls by BohemianGypsyJane

Half a Brain by Janiece Senn

Skullflower Damask by Jeremiah Witting

Night Hunter Border by Jeremiah Witting

These are just a few of the more elegant designs, but there are hundreds of Halloween-themed designs.  You can even find cut-and-sew pillows, placemats, and plush toys. I'm getting excited about my Halloween wardrobe!

Spooky Stash

It's time for another cleaning out of my Etsy favorites. These are items I adore by spooky artists, but their spooky stash just isn't large enough to feature as a solo post. Enjoy!

Miniature Hand Pendant: Dovile B Jewelry

Medusa Corbel: Cast Shadows

Troll Skin Monster Bag: Wayward Leather Designs

Mummie Antidote: Martinefa

Drawing Down the Moon Pendant: Project Om

Pumpkin Queen: Artfully Handcrafted

Blind Horned Mask: Hysteria Machine

Crocheted Skull Mask: Dewey Decimal Crafts

That feels better. My favorites bin is nice and tidy now. There are other items you'd probably like in these artists' shops as well, so explore. And, don't buy the things I was going to get.

Ghostly Lights

I'm starting to notice the days getting shorter. It's dark when I get up in the morning and it's dark when I go to bed. At the height of summer, I never even see the dark! That got me thinking that it would be nice to have a ghost nightlight in the hall. I was surprised to find out there aren't that many available unless you consider the pac-man ghost. I'll be just as happy with a small ghost lamp.

Casper the Friendly Ghost (Ebay)

SPOKA Night Light (IKEA)

Smiski Glow in the Dark Figures (Urban Outfitters)

Vintage Ghost Light (Etsy)

Ready-to-Paint Ceramic Ghost (Etsy)

Hanging Ghost Lamp (Etsy)

And, in case the electricity goes out...

Tiny Ghost Candles (Etsy)

Now, there is no reason to be afraid of the dark.

Spooky Art Dolls from Myriam Powell

It's late August and it's high time we added some new pieces to our Halloween collections if we want them to arrive in time.  The art dolls from Myriam Powell caught my eye right away; they're whimsical and quirky and just right spooky. If you're a fan of Tim Burton, I think you'll appreciate Powell's sense Halloween. Her shop is called Myriam Powell Designs and you can find her on Facebook too.

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead Cat

Steampunk

Goth Girl

Gothic Art Dolls

Steampunk

Halloween Skelly

There are hundreds of sculptures in Powell's Etsy shop. I especially like the Day of the Dead dolls. I have a feeling one will be joining my collection in the near future.