Shivers of Delight

It's been a few years since I visited the shop Remnant Black and I'm impressed. Catrin Dudfield's work has expanded beyond embroidery to include art dolls. Her macabre offerings are perfect for the discerning lover of dark decor. Dudfield has a degree in Costume for Performance and is using her talents to create mini-performances in our homes. Poppet Doll The Witching Celeste Doll Embroidered All Seeing Eye Cat Wall Hanging Embroidered Skull Pillow La Luna Cyra Cloth Doll Catacomb Saint Velvet Brooch This is only a small sample of what is available at Remnant Black. Show away!

Everyone knows that I love a nice, creepy shrine. So I can't resist showing you the lovely shrines being sold at Straight Outta Hades . I love everything in this shop. I might even be drooling. Elly, the artist, is inspired by the catacombs of northern Europe. You can almost smell the heavy incense just looking at these pieces! Have no fear- no actual saints were harmed in the making of these works of art. Skull Relic of Saint Kessog Skull Relic of Saint Thecla Doll's Head Monstrance Skull Relic of Saint Maighread Skull Vanitas Skull Relic of Saint Maura These are so beautiful I want to cry- and rob a bank.

I can remember making scratchboard art back in elementary school art class. It was hours of fun. My artistic focus at the time was on Christmas trees as I recall. I couldn't get enough of them. My taste in art has taken a darker turn over the years and I now enjoy works by artist like Gwen Tomahawk . Her scratchboard pieces are dark in content, but with an artistic wink of the eye. We're visiting her shop at Storenvy.com. Voodoo Child Wicked Monsters 5 Four Eyed Woman American Gothic Apocalypse Night Last Selfie Tomahawk offers both original works and very inexpensive prints. I warned you they're dark.

A ghoulish art doll always captures my attention and Ahania Art Dolls located in Istanbul, Turkey has just the perfect amount of ghoul in their dolls. And, how can I resist adding a doll from Turkey to my collection?! My local post office workers are starting to wonder about me. Buket, the shop owner, sculpts her dolls from felt and clay and gets a lot of inspiration from movies. Barbara Maitland Beetlejuice Sculpture Edgar Doll from Frankenweenie The Grady Twins from The Shining Nosferatu Depressed Pumpkin Guy Griselda Witch Doll There are lots more in the shop and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to purchase so, if you see one you like, move quickly.

You can't build a Halloween art collection in one month. That's why I share with you the Halloween art being made my artists year round. People like Robin Warren of The Patchwork Attic  don't let Halloween die. Warren combines paper maché and repurposed objects to create a vintage-inspired Halloween. Jack O'Lantern Sculpture Halloween Shadow Box Assemblage  Cat Witch Miniature Halloween Cabinet of Curiosities Nutmeg Jack O'Lantern Pumpkin Ornament These make me feel like Halloween was only yesterday.

We're finally here! In my book of spells, today marks the start of Halloween and I'll be celebrating the next 13 days. The blog will be a little different too as I share with you how I'm making the most of Halloween. There may be a bit less shopping, but that's because it's time to enjoy what we've been working towards. O.k, I did say there would be a bit less shopping, but not quite yet - we all need a new broom. For witches, Halloween (or Samhain) closes out the old year and ushers in the new one and I firmly believe we should all enter the new year by sweeping out the old year with a brand new broom. And not just any broom that you've purchased at the local box store; I'm talking about a handmade, sturdy, proper, witch's broom made by a crafts-person. It may cost you more than your typical plastic-y broom, but you'll treasure this one and proudly display it as part of your decor. A simple online search turned up a few broom companies. ...

Last night was so spooky! The wind howled and the rain pelted and all night long I was expecting Dracula to walk into our bedroom. I'm glad I have the work of Robin Warren to get my mind off the fact that I hardly slept a wink. Warren combines the old with the new to create vintage inspired Halloween art. Some are miniatures and some are sculptures; a little something for everyone. Warren's shop is The Patchwork Attic . Jack O Sculpture Miniature Halloween Cabinet of Curiosities Pumpkin on a Stand Black Cat Figure Halloween Owl Pumpkin Ornament These fit nicely into the whimspookal category, don't you think?

I usually don't like to show you pieces where the shop doesn't have a good supply, but the Halloween ornaments by Kayleigh Radcliffe are so beautiful I can't resist. Radcliffe's figures are a combination of spun cotton and ceramics and they're stunning. She also has some prints in her shop that I like. On your mark, get set, GO! Peter Pumpkin the Jack O'Lantern The Witches Black Cat Harold The Autumnal Owl Vincent the Wolf Mildred the Cat Witch Halloween Goth Skull, Baby & Butterfly Print Skull with Flowers and Edwardian Boy Print Radcliffe has lots of non-Halloween figures and prints in her card- especially Christmas items if you're shopping for that as well.