Tuesday, December 18, 2018

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.

Monday, December 17, 2018

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.

Friday, December 14, 2018

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.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

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.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

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.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

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.

Monday, December 10, 2018

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.

Friday, December 7, 2018

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!

Thursday, December 6, 2018

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.