Shivers of Delight

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 g...

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.

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.

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.