Shivers of Delight

Carmen Ellis at Spooky Hollow makes clay Halloween characters that have the cutest faces. Her collection is definitely whimspookal. She likes to feature the Grim Reaper in a variety of costumes that makes him absolutely lovable. Ellis calls him Grimmy Reaper. Who knew you could fall in love with the Grim Reaper!  Bedtime Grimmy Reaper Halloween Black Cat Classic Devil Halloween Grimmy Reaper Grimmy Reaper Block Head Ornament Skeleton Figure Many of these figures are made to order so order now. Can you believe October starts tomorrow!!

  I just remembered that in my excitement to attend the Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show I forgot to do a Spooky Agenda last week!  I told you: I have a terrible memory. Don't fret, there is still lots to do. Wednesday the 29th (1988) Charles Addams Death Anniversary (cartoonist) Thursday the 30th Sharon Bloom Designs Halloween ceramics shop update, 9PM EDT Friday the 1st Halloween U.K. Online Market Night , 2PM - 5:30PM, EDT DarklingWoods shop update, 3PM EDT The Pickety Witch Shop update, 5PM EDT Tracing Edgard Allan Poe's Footsteps Through the Bronx , online lecture, 5:30PM EDT Saturday the 2nd International Edgar Allan Poe Festival (online tours available) through the 3rd Monday the 4th Forever Fall , Halloween collection release, 8PM EDT  Chasing Ghosts lecture with Morbid Anatomy, free admission, 7PM EDT Wednesday the 6th (1962) Tod Browning Death Anniversary (Film Director of 1931 Dracula, 1932 Freaks)

Are you wondering what I purchased at the Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show this past weekend? Well, I purchased seven pieces of art and would have loved to have been able to purchase many, many more. It can be a bit overwhelming -like a kid in a gigantic candy store.  With a limited budget, I high-tailed it over to the booths of two artists I already have in my collection as soon as the doors opened. I knew something would speak to me there. That's how I choose my pieces. I kind of go silent in my head and just look at each piece until one keeps pulling me back again. Sometimes I think "Really?? That's the one that wants to go home with me?"  But I don't second guess it, I just pick it up and pull out my credit card. So, this is what called to me. Stacey Bear: Mementos Count Skelly and His Minions (Spun Cotton) Stacey Bear Black Cat with Flowers (Spun Cotton) This is where these two pieces ended up in our house. I had to put all my spun cotton figures in ...

I just came back from this year's Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show in Marshall, MI and it was spectacular! I swear this show never disappoints. I first visited the show in 2015 when it was called Ghoutlide Gathering and run by Rucus Studio artist Scott Smith. Back then it was located in Chelsea, MI. I was blown away by the experience and vowed to return, but it took me four years to get back and by then artist Jennie Hepler Takens of My Dearest Witch was running the show and the name became Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween. The show had also moved to Marshall, Michigan's Calhoun County Fairgrounds.  Quite frankly, I think Bewitching Peddlers has a majority of the best Halloween artists in the country. Artists are invited to the show by Hepler Takens and I believe I get just as excited as the chosen artists when I see through social media posts that they have received their beautifully packaged invitations that are handed out each spring. This year was my third visit t...

There is a place in my heart for Halloween parties that were celebrated in the early 1900s. I think it's the homemade look of the items that I love. I don't collect vintage Halloween items though because I just don't know enough about the history to make sure I'm buying an antique and not a well-done replica. I feel absolutely comfortable buying a replica though! I've never been a purist when it comes to Halloween decorations and you'll see works from Halloween artists next to Target Halloween decorations at our house.  Leah Maes creates beautiful vintage-style Halloween decorations in her shop Paper and Mache . I love Maes' tussie mussies and have one in our collection. You'll also find tags and boxes decorated for that special Halloween gift that you're giving. This year Maes' collection seems even bigger! Altered Art Halloween Ornament Halloween Witch Photo Ornament Halloween Tussie Mussie Candy Container Halloween Candy Bucket Halloween Pumpk...

Elaine Stewart calls her shop Hippiehollar and hails from the Appalachia region. Her petite paper máchê and clay Halloween figures are comically quirky and her dried up jack-o'-lanterns are going to make you grin. Plus the price on these are so good you won't want to wait. Skeleton Scarecrow Ornament Pauly Witch Ornament Bucky Jack-o'-lantern Jubel Pumpkin Figure Mad Max Pumpkin Luna Pumpkin Figure All of these figures and ornaments are under 5 inches which means you really do have room for one more piece of Halloween art.

I think I might be on a ceramics kick lately. I'm not sure why because my cupboards don't even have enough room for a nut cup they're so full. But, hey, you can't stop an obsession when it starts so I'm just going to go with the flow.  Shanta Ambady grew up in Spain and now lives in Detroit, MI. She sells her dark and spooky ceramics on her website Shanta Ambady Studio.  What's not to love? From the pumpkin tea infusers to the brain bowl (perfect for cranberry relish) there's a little something for everyone. Child Skull Mug Wheel Thrown Cauldron Bowl Jack-O'-Lantern Tea Infuser/Necklace Ghost with LOL on Tombstone Goth Honeypot Ceramic Pumpkin Ornament Brain Bowl The ceramic ghosts really made me grin. I'm always trying to think of something to put on my tombstone that will make people stop- maybe it just needs to say LOL!

Kelli Elizabeth is creating some beautiful wood-burned pieces that will fit in nicely with your Halloween decorations and you can keep them on display all year long. Her shop is From The Pyre . Floral Wood Burned Coffin Box Wood Burned Rib Cage Skeleton Hand Coffin Box Skeleton Finger Bracelet Wood Burned Demon Honey Bee Coffin I've never used a wood burner before, but I can't imagine it is easy to get such delicate lines. 

I happened upon the tiny ceramic figures from Little Mystic Life and fell in love instantly- that often happens between me and Halloween stuff. But really, these are just ADORABLE! Some can be hung from a chain and some are just miniature pieces of pure Halloween joy. See for yourself. King Ghost Ceramic Figure Pumpkin with Bat Wings Tiny Bat Pendant Ceramic Skull Pendant Deaths Head Moth Pendant Ghost Pendant Each piece is unique and hand painted. I don't know how I would even begin to choose my favorite!