Shivers of Delight

The first figure I ever bought from Vintage by Crystal was a bat with outstretched wings. That was soon followed by a black cat and an octopus. I wanted to create a sort of Halloween rock band. I still treasure them and was recently re-inspired to look to see what was in the shop. I wasn't disappointed! Since I first purchased my spun cotton figures, there is a new website  (where you can find events, a blog, and special sales) and Crystal and Ben Sloane are working full-time making these wonderful figures. Each figures in unique, and they're simply charming. I think the Sloanes might need to write a storybook to go along with them. Siamese Bat Children Halloween Skeleton Black Standing Cat Halloween Spider She-Devil Pumpkin Boy Riding Black Cat If you're a fan of Bethany Lowe then you really need to check out the entire collection. I love these little figures and need to create an entire Halloween parade across the fireplace mantel. Wouldn't ...

I find that people who gravitate toward the macabre have the best sense of humor. In order to not go off the deep end, you have to find humor in the tragic. Woe and Shucks is a shop that captures this philosophy and then sells it to you. You should buy it. The Antisocial Home Museum: Curiosities and My Cat  (Brilliant!) Spirit Bored and Dead on the Inside Pin Black Phillip Is My President Skeptic Scully Nesting Doll House of Usher Enamel Pin Black Phillip vs Krampus There are so many good t-shirts here. I don't even wear t-shirts that often and I want about six of them. The Antisocial Home Museum t-shirt? That is one of my life goals!

The car I drive is the first one I ever bought entirely myself. It has been awesome and now has over 272,000 miles on it and I'm not giving it up till it hits at least 300,000 miles. Not long after I purchased it (2002?) my sister gifted me a set of Powerpuff Girls floor mats that are still in it. I can't imagine parting with them, but if I did, I might consider a set of car floor mats from Ink and Rags . Sugar Skull Sexy Red Skull Octopus Tentacle Cameo Rose Skulls Black & Tan Skulls Pirate Skull and Swords If you like what you see there are additional car mat designs as well as comforters, curtains, shower curtains, neckties and more in the shop. It's lots of fun.

As soon as this snow is gone, I'm going to want a few new Spring items to wear. I'm enchanted with the skirts and dresses from Rooby Lane . The shop owner (Rooby?) designs her own fabrics and has a small army of what she called "mature" women sewing the items in their homes. She also uses a factory that is a small London business to make the dresses. It all sounds so wonderful and happy that I'm going to need a dark and gloomy skirt just to balance it all out. Spells on Parchment Paper Skirt Classic Horror Stories Infinity Scarf Dracula Literature Skirt Hamlet's Soliloquy Dress Geeky Drone Dress Lady MacBeth Skirt I love that Rooby Lane will create a custom skirt for you using your favorite piece of literature. I wouldn't even know where to begin. Bridesmaids skirts, anyone?? Rooby Lane also has an  Etsy shop  if you're more comfortable ordering there. 

Elisha Morton was a tattoo artist who gave it up because of the odd hours and time away from her family. At her sister's suggestion, she took up ceramics and using her artistic talent and skills as a tattoo artist she has opened a shop called Weird and Wonderful Ceramics . Her pieces are uniquely handpainted and capture her interest in gothic and macabre design. You'll like it. Large Bug Bowl Skull Jug Skull Tea Set Four Piece Bug Dinner Set Skull Olive Oil Bottle Bug Tea Cup Any of these pieces would make a nice housewarming gift for the right person. I'm sure you know one.

I need some good old divination to know if we're going to lose power in today's snowstorm. If it does go out, maybe a spirit board can tell me when it will come back on. The first priority in any snow storm is, of course, to get the blog post out (after a good cup of coffee.) The handy thing about spirit boards is they don't use any electricity. Pandora Witch Shop is located in the Ukraine, which I think, makes it all the more magical. The shop owners are Balaur and Vendana. All items are handmade of etched and painted wood. All Seeing Eye Ouija Board Baphomet Ouija Board Wheel of the Year Divination Pendulum Board Altar Shelf Tarot Box Elder Futhark Runes Aren't these pieces lovely? Even if you're not a practicing witch, these are nice display pieces. It doesn't hurt to surround yourself with a little magic now and then.

I have no idea why I started looking for blood jewelry. I think it had to do something with being a "B" word. Much to my surprise, I found the vials of blood both disgusting and amusing. I kept thinking about a friendly vampire who didn't want to hurt his non-vampire friends so he kept a vial of emergency blood around his neck. Something like vegetarians might do with carrot sticks when they go to a bbq. Tooth Shaped Blood Vial from IntheWitchwood Steampunk Blood Vial by AuntMatildasJewelry Lovers Blood Vial Kit from ArtemMortis Bloody Scissors from FantasiaTrinkets Gothic Skull Poison Bottle from 13thPysche Bullet Blood Vial from WanderlustHeartShop The faux blood in the vials (except for the lovers kit where you add your own blood- yikes) varies in authenticity, but I think the sentiment comes across just fine. Not a bad idea to have a spare around I suppose.