The Scariest Christmas Monster

Lately, you've probably been reading a lot about the ancient Christmas and winter monsters of Europe. They've been gaining in popularity the last few years- much to the Halloween world's delight. But did you know that the scariest Christmas monster is often the female head of the house tasked with the duties of buying presents, wrapping them, decorating, baking delicate treats, packing for a trip, and working a full-time job? She frightens everyone with her ranting foul-mouth, erratic driving at top speed, excessive drinking, and glowing red eyes.

I'm afraid I've become her.

So, in order to take at least one task off my list,  I've decided to give myself a little vacation from the Shivers of Delight blog.  (Now I can wrap presents at 6AM!) Don't worry, I'll be back January 2nd with lots of great finds. I'll continue posting on Facebook and Instagram. Are you following me?

I'm leaving you though with a great ghost story from A. M. Burrage (one of the greatest ghost story writers) who died on December 18, 1956. This story takes place on Christmas Eve so it's perfect really. If you can carve out 20 minutes for yourself, pour a glass of wine, sit with only the glow of the Christmas tree and listen to this story of a game gone wrong called "Smee."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

P.S. I listened to "Smee" while feeding and cleaning up after five cats and still got scared! You're going to like this.

Pen & Ink Drawings

Shelby Elizabeth's drawings of horror and fairytales have caught my eye. They're incredibly detailed and I wish I had the talent to draw like that. She also has some fine nature illustrations in her shop Shelby Elizabeth Art.

Krampus Giclée Print

Skull Forest

Skull Still-Life

Bride of Frankenstein

Zombie

Screaming Skull

Did you notice the detail on Frankenstein's Bride's hair?! Amazing.

Christmas Yeti!

For the past few years I've been collecting Yeti, Abominable Snowmen, Bumbles- you know what I'm talking about. I decided that traditional Christmas decorations just didn't look right in our house, so I've gone with a theme of winter monsters which includes Krampus and the Grinch. It's a thing.

Here are a few pieces I'm looking at to enhance our holidays.

Yeti Pillow Cover from Jeff Granito Art

Yeti Monsta Pin from Susuten

Jack the Abominable Snowman from Doodle Dollies

Christmas Yeti Sculpture from Janell Berryman

Yeti Pin from Wild Whimsy Woolies

Pair of Plush Yeti Monsters from Cryptid and Creatures

Yeti Enamel Pin from Queenies Cards

The best thing about collection winter monsters is that I don't feel the need to put them away till spring.

Linocuts of Horror

I like the bold lines and monotone colors that you find with linocuts. They jump out at you by their very nature, so what better subject than horror? Enea Seregni is a master at them and you're going to want several. The fine detail he skillfully cuts into each block is awesome. His shop is EneArtworks.

The Rats in the Walls

The Thing

Krampus

Zombies

Babadook

The Black Cat

There are so many more wonderful prints in the shop. There is a lovely Sleepy Hollow print that is also available in a t-shirt. Check it out.

Whimspookal Witches!

Twins Sherri and Terri are sculpting some wonderful, whimspookal, wicked witches. They're a bit primitive and what you might call dark folk art. They bring a smile to my face when I look at them;  they could be your crazy, old aunt. They're also creating some very spooky vegetables. The shop is called Reddy Teddy Go & Co.

Witch Riding A Hornet

Creepy Santa Riding a Bat

Witch Riding An Ostrich

Halloween Mosquito

Witch Riding a Spider

Odd Lettuce People

These are odd to be sure, but that's why I'm sharing them.

Ghoulish Pop Art

You're going to like the bold, colorful prints by Kim Thompson. Her monsters don't hide under beds. These are fun, hang-on-your-bedroom-wall spooky illustrations that will take you back to 1969, and they're bad-ass. There are Christmas cards too. The shop is Kim Thompson Art.

Wednesday Addams 

Bloodbath

Witchin': Green Lady

Yuletide Blessings Card

Merry Krampus Card

Ritual Print

These are fabulous! I love this artist.

Creepiest Christmas Cards

I did a double take when I first saw the Christmas cards from Creepy Jenny Doll.  I stared, laughed, and then shivered. The photographer for these creepy cards, Debbie, says that she loves "to create art that makes people stop and stare." Mission accomplished I'd say. Her quiet photos of dolls around a Christmas tree are enough to give you nightmares. And why? They're just dolls, right? These have to be the creepiest cards I've seen.

Creepy Jenny and Her Friends Card

Fa La La Christmas Card

Creepy Christmas Card

Creepy Angel Card

Creepy Holiday Invitation

Happy Holidays Card

These dolls remind me of the zombies we can become during the holidays- going through the motions without anything even registering.  Scary.

Spookish Hand-Embroidery

Cat E. is stitching up some dark art. I love that she describes herself as a mother of twins who embroiders spooky images during nap times. I like to think she is pulling nightmares away from her children.

Seeing Cat's pieces reminds me that I want to find a wall to start collecting embroidered pieces. I love the way she adds beads, layers embroidered fabrics, and adds all sorts of interesting features. You'll find her art at Two Mushrooms.

Palm Reading

Rat King

Krampus Handkerchief

Shrunken Head

Saint Lucia Gothic Christmas

Krampus Ornament

Spider Planchette Ornament

This is now a favorite shop for me. Cat has it going on!

Creepy Christmas Decorations

Creepy Christmas is awesome. I love that it is catching on in the Halloween world. It's curing a lot of post Halloween depression. Husband and wife team Cecelia and Joss are crafting up some seasonally spooky decorations for your house that are adorable.  Their shop is Material Goods.

Horror Christmas Garland

Freddy Krueger Christmas Garland

Dr. Doom Christmas Tree Topper

Eye of Sauron Christmas Tree Topper

Cthulhu Christmas Tree Topper

Creepy Kids Christmas Garland

These warm my cold, dark heart. Tip- if you're a David Bowie or Freddy Mercury fan you definitely should check out the other tree toppers in the shop.