Shivers of Delight

Sometimes I try to bring up my earliest memory of Halloween. I really do have a horrible memory, and all I get are flashes of being with my cousins on a dark street and a grocery bag full of candy. The next memory I have is of building a giant top hat out of cardboard (I was the rabbit underneath the walking top hat.) I can't help feeling nostalgic about Halloween as fewer and fewer children go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood each year. There is something in Carol Roll's mixed-media pieces that bring back those memories for me. Created by hand with paper maché and bits of this and that her sculptures make me laugh and yearn for days gone by. Roll is having a sale in her shop, Nostalgic Folk Art, this month. Pick up a memory while you can. Halloween Ghoul Scarecrow Witch with Scaredy Cat Halloween Scarecrow A Witch and Her Pet Krampus Hex Witch Little Spooky Scarecrow These are so precious. I think I could create a bunch of new Halloween memorie...

Sure you could carve a pumpkin, but why not turn it into a miniature scene? Anna Fultz is making the most delightful pumpkin dioramas (Fultz calls them die-oramas). The pumpkins themselves are handmade from paper maché and then tiny, spooky scenes are set inside. These are pieces that harken from a Halloween long ago. Buy one now to pass down later. Fultz's shop is called Warts n' All Studio . 624 Maple Ave. Mossy Tree Cemetery Forget Me Not Rockin' Witch Jagged Grin Jack Pumpkin Witch Cottage I don't know about you, but I'm inspired. These miniature rooms are adorable. I want to climb right in.

I've been keeping my eye out for a sure-thing Kickstarter project to recommend to you and I found it! MUERTOS: 66 Stories About Death is an art book coming from Mexico. Muertoscroz, the artist, has created deceptively simple drawings that show the juxtaposition of living and dying. "They are the reflection of that which we all have: on one hand, a side which is alive and always learning, transforming and regenerating. On the other, we have a side which is in perpetual deterioration, no matter what we do, and is in constant play with the side which is alive." Rewards for backing this project start at $11 and you can get a copy of the book for around $28.  The project rewards are expected to be shipped in October- perfect. Other cool rewards include t-shirts, stickers, a purse, posters, and original artwork. This project has already reached its goal and there are still over 30 days left to make a pledge. Jump on the bandwagon, my friends. You'll...

Take me down little Susie, take me down I know that you think you're the queen of the underground And you can send me dead flowers every morning Send me dead flowers by the mail Send me dead flowers to my wedding And I won't forget to put roses on your grave Dead Flowers- The  Rolling Stones When I saw the rotten roses made by Alana Rose Schiro I couldn't stop humming the chorus to Dead Flowers. Damn, it's going to be in my head all day now. Schiro's roses would be perfect for the grave of your enemies. They're pure evil. Wear one in your hair and let it me a warning to creepy bar guys. Shiro's is a special effects make-up artist who has been on a few seasons of SyFy's Face Off! You can find her roses at Rotten Rose FX . Nieley the Rotten Rose Randy March Mellow Becka Sin Mena Gerry Squanch Schiro can do custom colors for you- just ask. Your entire wedding party could wear these! Please invite me to that ...

Zoowie! Tom Taggart is a talented artist with a love for monsters. If you are a reader of comics, you might know Taggart from some of the covers he has done for DC Comics. Besides being a painter and illustrator, he is also known for his sculpture- some of which have even been displayed in the windows at Tiffany's. I'd say he is at the top of his game and that's why I'm so excited that he is selling monster sculptures on Etsy. You don't need to go to an art gallery to see Taggart's work, you can view one in your very own home for a modest fee. Crab-Alien Mix & Match Stands Ornaments Enchantress Maleficent Pendent Necklace Obsidian Mermaid Ornament Grinning Devil Ornament Martian Ornament Sugar Skull Ornament Taggart also makes some really cool monster clocks that you can see on his website. I'm not sure where you can purchase one, but I'm on the lookout.

I love a tag line that is succinct. "Stained Glass for Nocturnal Creatures." Edward Nichols doesn't lie. The objects he is creating are elegantly eerie and will look lovely whether you live in a castle or a mausoleum. I would love to see the moonlight flowing through these pieces. His shop is called Riven Barrow Glass. Mütter Bat Natural Spider's Web Glass Planchette Glass Swords Memento Mori Skull Alessandra Serpent Nichols has several pieces that use clear, patterned glass that I just love. It's a good things we have a lot of windows in our house.

I happened upon some ceramic mugs yesterday that will remind you that life is short, so you probably should have another cup of coffee. They're made by Korchev Design Studio and if you take one to work I'm pretty sure you'll be able to drink your coffee in silence because no one is going to want to disturb you. Skull Mug Zombie Mug Cthulhu Mug Zombie Mug Tiki Zombie Mug Buy one of these for a grumpy, non-morning person. It will serve as a warning to everyone to leave them alone.

It's been a while since we visited the the jewelry shop of Francine and Pete Yorko called Martha Rotten . Francine designs statement jewelry for people who know who they are and aren't afraid to flaunt it. Each piece is handcrafted of lead-free pewter. I love pewter as a jewelry metal because you know it's going to have some weight to it. You'll find jewelry and home accessories at Martha Rotten. Witch Doctor Necklace Doll Eye Earrings Our Darling Child Casket Plaque Bracelet Monkey Skull Belt Buckle Skull Toothpick Holder Doll Arm Spreader Dead Sea King Ring This shop is full of amazing pieces. Don't you think it's time to start thinking about your October wardrobe?

The first characters you think of that are in fairy tales are often princesses and princes and then an evil witch. But there are so many more characters living in these fantasy worlds. Doll maker, Lina, imagines them all and brings them to life. She calls her shop Lina's 4 O'Clock Friends because she imagines herself being able to sit down and have a cup of tea with all of them. Lina's characters are hardworking, quirky, country folk and they have a certain charm. I think I'd like to have a cup of tea with them as well. Hulda  Halloween Night Faith & Grace Petronella Jack The Little Elinor Lina makes the spooky, adorable.