Mystical Figures & Sculptures

Noemi Smith's sculptures and dolls are delightful.  The mystical beings she creates with her meticulous attention to detail showcase beauty along with an otherworldly nature. Made with polymer clay, paint, fabric, and odds and ends, Smith brings each sculpture to life- right out of a fairytale. Her shop is called Angels by Noemi and you'll find original pieces as well as high-quality resin copies and doll making supplies.

Ball-jointed Catrina Day of the Dead Doll

Ball-jointed Ghost Catrina

Jersey Devil Resin Sculpture

Mandrake Resin Sculpture (Harry Potter Character)

Wendigo Demon Resin Figure

Moon Rider: Polar Bear with Faun

I definitely want to go where that polar bear is going. If you've even thought of making your own doll, Smith offers online classes in doll making in her shop as well.

Graveface Records & Curiosities

If you happen to be near Savannah, GA in the near future, you may want to check out Graveface Records & Curiosities. The shop leans toward horror and the supernatural, but carries new and used vinyl records, taxidermy, cocktail supplies, and odd little curiosities.

Graveface is also a record label that carries bands like the Casket Girls, Dreamend, Night School and many more. The Graveface catalog has digital downloads of some really cool music.

But there's more! Graveface has recently started putting out a zine called Corpse Reviver. Issue No. 1 came out last October and is still available. The zine is described as "a celebration of everything paranormal, strange and spooky with a curious and nostalgic 80's Halloween aesthetic." The first issue also comes with tunes from The Marshmallow Ghosts and Miss Pussycat. Fabulous!

Here are some of the items available in the online shop.

Graveface Reaper Enamel Pin

Glow-in-the-Dark Planchette Hands

Graveface Records Adam Bomb Pin

The Marshmallow Ghosts "The Haunted and the Haunters" 10' LP

Deadtime Stories OST by Larry Juris

Graveface also has an Etsy shop where you can purchase some spooky embroidery. t-shirts, and screenprints.

Hands & Spider Webs

Graveface T-shirt

Graveface Turntable Slip-Mat

Casket Girls Screen Print Poster

There is so much to look at and listen to on the Gravesite website that you're going to need at least an hour. Next time I'm in Savannah, I'll definitely be checking this place out.

Oddities, Curiosities & Unusual Miniature Domes

LaBrulee and LeChantilly are two of an odd kind. They describe their childhoods as one where they would take their select macabre friends on tours of mummies at local churches. Friends indeed.

Their macabre sense of curiosity led them to start creating miniature relics under glass domes. Also known as Damn French Desserts, their Etsy shop is called Artificialia Room and you can find a variety of unusual pieces there.

Skulls and Dried Flowers

Food for Thought: Brain Under Glass

Conquered Heart

Terrarium Skulls with Moss

We Should Hang Out Sometime

Lady Vanitree Skull Notecards

It's good to have a sense of humor in a dark world.

Spooky Kickstarter Projects!

I checked in to Kickstarter a few days ago and saw that there are a bunch of spooky projects happening right now. I'm going to show you a few of my favorites today, but if you see something you like you'll have to act fast because some of them are ending shortly- like within hours.

Built On Strange Ground by Sarah Benkin

Benkin is offering a graphic novel of true, personal experiences of strange places, haunted sites, mysteries neighbors and true lore from a variety of talented and diverse artists.  Pledges start at $10 for a digital copy of the book. The project has already reached its goal and ends in 5 days.

Sweet Dreams Cthulhu: A Lovecraftian Bedtime Board Book by Jason Ciaramella & Greg Murphy

This children's book is a follow-up to C is for Cthulhu: The Lovecraft Alphabet Book. How did we miss that one?! Ciaramella explains "For me there is a certain satisfaction in taking HP's nightmarish creatures and turning them into something sweet that might help kids at bedtime." I love this project. A $10 pledge gets you an e-book. The project is fully funded and ends in just 17 hours. Don't delay.

A Dance With Death by Crystal Yates

"A Dance With Death is a modern fable about the end of the world told in comic format." Yates has already published an online version of the tale and now wants to publish a print edition. A pledge of just $5 (Canadian) get you the digital version, but for $20 (Canadian) you get the print edition, a mini print, and an enamel pin. That's the deal my friends. This project ends in 11 days and I think we all want to know how the world is going to end. Personally, I think it might be sooner rather than later.

Spooky Things by Chris Raimo

Spooky Things is a collection of paranormal, spooky and weird illustrations by graphic designer Chris Raimo. The illustrations are fabulous and project rewards include the book, a calendar, prints, and t-shirt among other things. The project is fully awarded and has 3 days to go. Definitely check this one out.

Children: The Horror Game by Quirky Engine Entertainment and Craig Nybo

I'm usually not that interested in games, but this one looks like something I'd love to play. The premise of the game is that an old house becomes an orphanage and catches on fire killing 13 children. The house is restored and is now the home to 13 malevolent children ghosts. Players are ghost hunters trying to put the children to rest. Unfortunately, the ghosts are not cooperative. A pledge of $25 gets you a copy of the game. The project has 6 days to go and stretch goals have already been unlocked. I'm in.

If you've never been on Kickstarter, I highly encourage you to explore. I've only scratched the surface of the spooky projects taking place right now and you may find something that suits you perfectly.

Eye-Catching Jewelry & Art

Hungarian artist Szilvia Boda is one of us. She writes "I believe that our mystical, darker side is very important, and we need to embrace it, and make it beautiful and exciting." Boda is a self-taught jewelry maker who began her career in graphic arts and interior design, but working with her hands seems to have been more suited to her.  Her jewelry is available at Boda Szilvia Jewelry & Art.

Hand-painted Ghost Lover's Eye Necklace

Hand-painted Lover's Eye Pendant

Wire-wrapped Cobweb Necklace

Copper Wire-wrapped Dragon Eye Ring

Original Painting Witch Portrait

Original Oil Painting Noctuidae Moth Goddess

Original Acrylic Painting, Iris

I can't decide whether I like Boda's jewelry or painting more. I'm glad she doesn't just focus on one of them.

In a Dark Forest

I'm always looking for ways to bring a bit of a haunting atmosphere to our house.  I hadn't really considered a wall mural before, but technology has brought the price down and the options are so much more interesting now. I happened upon a few forest scenes that for some reason give me the chills. I think they are meant to be relaxing, but my mind shows me images of a werewolf jumping out from behind a tree. Horror movies have taught me that when something looks that peaceful you know trouble is just around the corner.

Gloomy Forest Mural from KidsColoray
(I would not let my child play in that forest)

Forest Wall Mural from KidsColoray
(Nope. Babies shouldn't be in this forest either)

Winter Landscape Wall Mural from KidsColoray

Fantasy Forest Wall Mural from DreamyWall

Dark Forest Wallpaper from VGWallArt

Mystic Forest Wall Mural from 4KdesignWall

Now, where did I put my large empty wall?

Lovecraftian Oddities

H. P. Lovecraft is known for his stories that contain also sorts of oddities. When I think of Lovecraft the Cthulhu immediately comes to mind along with the words "dark" and "murky." Orion Oddities captures Lovecraft's atmosphere and offers it to you in their own collection of oddities.

Cthulhu Lovecraftian Poison Bottle

Monster Cup with Fangs

Lovecraftian 3D Painting

Devil Imp Sculpture

R'lyeh Coin

Monster Beer Mug

Father's Day is right around the corner. What dad wouldn't love a Monster Beer Mug?

World Goth Day

Today, May 22nd is World Goth Day! Begun in 2009 in the UK, World Goth Day has its own website to share events happening around the world. My first experience with the Goth culture took place in 1985 when I was enrolled in a study abroad program in London.

Let me set the scene: I was a fairly sheltered student from a catholic woman's college ready to explore the world. I read in NME (I was a big fan of New Wave music then) that there was a newish club for Goths in London so I decided to drag a couple of my catholic-woman's-college friends to go check it out. Long story short we arrived way too early in the night and were dressed like a cross between the Madonna and that Madonna. Because of our early arrival and possibly because they didn't know what to do with us, we were allowed in the club and got a prime seat at a large table in a cave- yes, a cave. As we sat there gawking, the drinks started coming and our table became crowded with real Goths(!) and they were friendly(!). I don't remember much about the evening except that when we finally decided to go home we had to stand on the table and walk our way to the door because it was so crowded. I call that evening one of the successes in my education.

Of course, any Goth worth their weight in gold (blood?) knows that you need a good pair of black boots. Doc Martens were always the favorite back in the old days, but now there are plenty of opportunities to explore. If you don't have a solid pair of boots to wear on Wold Goth Day, let me suggest a few. What better way to celebrate than buying a new pair?

Fetal Skeleton Dripping Blood Boots from moovmint

Vintage Doc Marten Chunky Boots from KingsleyClassics

Vintage Spider Web Muro Boots from AtomicFireball

Vintage "The Craft" Boots from katherineviolette

Skull Boots from  RockYourSole

REACTOR Platform Boots from VintagePlatformDeal

Wear black today (with a pair of boots) and let your inner Goth shine.