Tuesday, December 15, 2015

KRAMPUS is coming!

And if you've been a naughty little girl or boy, you got some 'splainin' to do!
The Dark Yule Lord, bells and all
Most Americans are completely unfamiliar with the ancient Germanic legend of Krampus. 
He was a consort of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), and the two would travel together on Christmas eve with two distinct functions: Santa would bestow gifts upon the good children, and Krampus would dole out the punishment to the bad ones. 

Punishment would consist of being beaten with a switch, then stuffed into a wicker basket, and taken away forever to parts unknown. Definitely not the kind of ending  you'd want on your holiday season!

I have long loved the character of Krampus, and this season, created two new ornaments in two different styles. The one above is the "Big Krampus," measuring a whopping 7 inches in length and 4 inches wide. Completely hand-sculpted from Sculpy and then painted over the course of two full days, with many layers and shadings to give him his scary countenance (I like to think I succeeded!). He's been mounted on a double-thick section of material (faux crocodile), and adorned with tufts of two different colors of faux fur. His big bulging eyes and pointy fangs glow in the dark! 
From a black chain dangles three bells that, as history goes, announce the arrival of the Dark Christmas One you hope never arrives at your home!
Red bow and double bells 
The next Krampus is slightly smaller, a bit less intense. He measures in at about 6 inches by 4 inches, and is adorned with a red bow and a larger pair of silvery bells. 

He too is completely hand-made and decorated, with the surprisingly bright glow in the dark eyes and fangs.


Both of these fellas are available in my Etsy store - 
with special ***FREE*** domestic shipping!
But only for this week - 
this offer ends Friday, December 18, 2015.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MacabreWebs




In Bavaria, Krampus catches the naughty. (Video from the New York Times)





Saturday, December 12, 2015

NOELsferatu ornaments are ready!

Ho ho ... HORRIBLE!
In the process of becoming fabulous!
Well, hopefully not too horrible ... I prefer to call these ornaments 'spooky kitsch' cuz I think they're rather funny, in a humorously scary manner.
Because a festive Santa hat makes everyone look good. 
Gold tinsel and a 'blood drop' bell

A twist on the classic Nosferatu, mine are keeping with the holiday spirit, hence a take on the name, NOELsferatu. Each one is hand sculpted from polymer clay, painted in a variety of colors, and gaily festooned with many different sorts of ribbons, bows, bells and tinsel. 
And, best of all, their eyes and fangs glow in the dark!
Crazy-curled green tinsel with a bell means total happiness!
Each one is unique (I made four different kinds, as pictured here), and would be the perfect addition to anyone's Christmas tree ornament collection... or, if you prefer, Halloween!
Silver and gold, silver and gold!
All are available from my Etsy store where you can see more photos and descriptions - as well as a Christmas shipping special!
In a variety of colors and styles. What more could you ask for?
More original and fun ornies are on the way in the days to come, too. I'll be posting them here as well as on Etsy. 

Happy Yule, y'all!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MacabreWebs





Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Thankful ...

... for the overwhelming abundance in my life!


The colorful autumn foliage will soon be nothing more than a fond remembrance as winter begins to take over. As much as I will miss it, I'm nonetheless happy that there will be many more days of sharing fun and laughter and food and great times with friends and family. 

Sitting around our bonfire with a hot cup of cocoa (or a nice spirited beverage!), dressed warmly, looking up at the clear cold sky at the universe, is one of my favorite things to do in the winter. I'm thankful that we live in a rural area where there are no city lights to dim the heavens! 
I am taking a break from my art studio right now, but will return with some new creations just in time for Yule.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

RIP, Leatherface ...

I am very saddened to learn of Gunnar Hanson's passing.

Gunnar played 'Leatherface' in the scariest movie of all time: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original, from 1974). This was a movie that truly frightened me out of my wits, because it did not deal with made-up monsters from outer space, or those found in the pages of comic books or pop literature. His monster was HUMAN, which to me is far more scary because we all know what humans are capable of when they allow the dark side to overtake them. 

I saw this movie when I was a young, impressionable teenager of about 15, and was utterly horrified at the thought of such a family existing. His role, as the gigantic murderous mute who wore a mask of human skin and wielded the chainsaw absolutely terrified me - including the ending, when Marilyn Burns escaped by jumping out of the second-storey window and ran for her life along the desolated road with Leatherface in pursuit. She finally flagged down a passerby and leaped into the bed of the man's pickup truck, as Hanson's maniac gave chase, shrieking and flailing in a dance of rage against the sunset, as the chainsaw roared and buzzed. If anything, this movie did more to instill a strong sense of xenophobia onto the general public (it sure did to me). And who among us who has seen this movie doesn't flinch at the sound of a chainsaw in the distance? 

Mr. Hanson was a friend in a group of mutual friends here in Nashville. We're all separated by only a few degrees. I met him in 2007 at the Full Moon horror convention here in Nashville, and might I say, you could not meet a nicer man. Just a big ol' sweetheart all around. Funny thing is, I'd attended in full monster regalia, clad in full-cover latex prosthetic facial pieces and pointy gremlin ears, which rendered me quite ghoulish. Nobody knew I was even a woman until I spoke, and when I said hello to him and shook his hand, he broke out into a good-natured grin and hugged me, telling me that I scared him.

I. SCARED. HIM. 
Now that indeed was funny! RIP, good Sir. Thank you for the nightmares! 

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

We'll be back ...


Halloween may be over, it's true, but our last few remaining Jack O'Lanterns are taking their sweet time, returning to earth once more.



Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween ...

Or in Gaelic, the tongue of my ancient ancestors -OICHE SHAMHNA!
Honor thy ancestors, those who lived and laid the way for you but have since passed to the next realm.

Married on this day, in 1901, were my ancestors: My great-grandmother, Margaret "Maggie" Ferguson Lawson (daughter of David Lawson and Mary Greig McGregor, both from Kerrie Muir, Scotland), to my great-grandfather, Joseph Ribeau (the son of Frank Ribeau of Prussia-Ribeauville, France, and Catherine Redmond, of Dublin, Ireland). I am named after great-grandpa Joe! How I wish I could have met him. My father told me that he was the most amazing, kind, funny, loving man ever. 

My favorite sculpture that recently sold to a nice lady in Baltimore, Maryland. I hope that the loving spirit of Halloween brightens her home as much as it does for mine!


We had a traditional Ofrenda (a  la Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead), an altar commemorating our ancestors at our Halloween party. This year, we included two tables to place photos and candy, cookies, flowers, toys, and lighted candles for our loved ones who have passed on.

There we so many candles lit that night, our entire patio was illuminated in a most beautiful way. We also had many carved pumpkins and plastic Jack O'Lanterns with battery-operated tea light candles, which made the whole are glow.
So much love was given and remembered! Special times with our friends and family.
Everyone take care, and share the love! I'm going Green this Halloween!















Monday, October 26, 2015

Announcing - Halloween Etsy art sale!!!

It's the reason for the season, kiddies!

Time for my annual Halloween sale! Everything in my Etsy shop is 10% off listed price - but only on Friday, October 30 through Saturday, October 31. I will have a few more items I will be listing in the next day or so, as well.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Little Tibia & the Fibians (1967) It's The Mummy

Let's rock!!!

Our property is currently undergoing further HAUNT renovations for our upcoming Halloween party, co-hosted by our dear friend John (also known as "Doc Satan") who will also be our Master of ceremonies, and will be on hand to ignite the bonfire.

My favorite movie from childhood time was "Mad Monster Party." Me and my little brother used to wait all year long till Halloween time to see it broadcast on local TV, and danced and sang all through it.

We were sad when it ended because that meant we had to wait a full year again to see it. But now, with the magic of Youtube, I can easily summon it up to play in the background - Little Tibia and the Fibians rock to 'It's the Mummy!'

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Getting ready to rock and revel!


Getting our home & property ready for our big Halloween party!!!

Not too much to add to, as most of our place is ALWAYS decorated for Halloween on a year-round basis!

Tiki torches and abundant strings of orange/green/black lights are being placed about. Extra skeletons and animatronics and tons of pumpkins and Jack O'Lanterns too.

The only thing I don't like about it is, it always ends far too quickly! 


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Works in progress...

In fact, I have several things in the works. Just never enough time to do all the things we need and want to do, is there?

This Jack O'Lantern is sculpted from black polymer clay. I have not yet decided what or where he will go - perhaps part of a bigger diorama, maybe as a pendant on a chain.... 

I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely Autumn weather! Halloween is only about three weeks away. Yay!

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Spotlight Artist of the Month....

I am - as the colloquial parlance goes in England - GOBSMACKED to have been chosen as the Spotlight Artist for the month of October at Robin's Gallery in Nashville.

http://www.robinsgallery.com/

What an honor it truly is to become a part of the gallery family at the place where MONSTERS & MERRIMENT was held last weekend.


If you live in the Nashville area, please stop by and meet the Gallery's wonderful owners, David and Jessica McCullars. The gallery has been in their family for over 35 years, and they do amazing things there - not only by supporting the local art community, but also offering a fantastic array of gifts, decor, and of course, fine art of all kinds.

Robin's Gallery also hosts the super-fun "Create It" painting classes each week, which are open to adults and children alike. The class is led by resident artist, my personal friend and partner of MONSTERS & MERRIMENT, Ethan Black. Log onto their website to see the listings of cool October/Halloween themed classes, and come down to join in the revelry!





Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Happy October Eve, everyone ...



I will be spending it tonight at the First Church of Halloween.



Sunday, September 27, 2015

Thank you for making Monsters & Merriment a success!

I am still recovering... whew!

We had over 300 people attend. It blew me away!

Thank you to the vendors for bringing on the goodies that our faithful collectors of ooky-spooky art love. Thank you to everyone who was instrumental in bringing the MONSTER to life!

We even got a shout-out on local radio. That really blew me away. How cool is that!

Already have plans in the works for next year's event, which promises to be even bigger and badder. Yeah!!!!!

I'll be back this week to post more but in the meantime, must recuperate. After all, Halloween is just a little over a month away, and we gotta get busy!

I love you all!




Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Got Monsters?


We do.



Saturday - September 26th at Robin's Gallery - Nashville


Saturday, September 19, 2015

One week from today!!!



See you next Saturday! 
The best in Halloween art! Music! Jewelry! Clothes! Concessions! Films!
Don't forget to come in costume!

And cheers to all the cool, creative Creepy Girls like us who *love* to make everyone smile (whilst sending a shiver down the spine, of course)!






Friday, September 18, 2015

Meet Sporkle!


He is rarin' to go! 
You can meet Sporkle and all of his Halloween friends next weekend at MONSTERS & MERRIMENT Halloween and Horror Art Show at Robin's Gallery in Nashville, TN.

In the meantime, Sporkle promises to be a good... err, uh, fellow, and won't fly off until you get there. See you at the show!


Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Lots of media promos for MONSTERS & MERRIMENT!

WOWZA! is all I can say.
A super cool promotional video was created by my very talented friend, actress/director Abigail Yates, and has been making the rounds online (mostly on Facebook).

I updated the MONSTERS & MERRIMENT website, where you can see this video on the front page. Be sure to have your sound turned up!

http://geeethel.wix.com/monsters-n-merriment





Monsters & Merriment traveling billboard! Have you seen it?

HONK if you love Halloween and Horror!!!





Friday, September 11, 2015

WIP: Sporkle and his winning smile!

I'll admit that, for as much as I love horror and macabre/wacky horror, it's been a while since I've indulged in it. As I continue to create Sporkle, I am really having fun and look forward to his completion. Using a lot of really vivid, far-out comic book colors and textures are making this piece a real hoot!

I really don't want to post too much WIP photography but will let go with this little one, of his gaping snaggletoothed grin.

Ain't he cute?
Sporkle will make his debut at MONSTERS & MERRIMENT later this month.



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Have you heard the news?

Mark your calendars! September 26th, 2015!
Yard haunt art by Ethan Black


Friday, September 4, 2015

SEE you there!

It's only three weeks away!!!
Art by Ethan Black 


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

WIP: Sporkle!

No, that's not a sound I make when I sneeze (though it's close).
I drew this little fella on the edge of an old envelope a couple years ago as an idea. It sat on my work table but only recently have I decided to bring him to life.

Kinda reminds me of a Big Daddy Ed Roth sort of styled creature. I used to draw stuff like this all the time as a kid, so making one with a mix of Sculpey, paper clay, sticks, wires, and whatnot, is proving to be a total blast! I am loving him. 

This will most surely bring on the laughs at the MONSTERS & MERRIMENT show. Oh, I continue to crack my own self up, I do.

I'll post a few pics of my progress in the next few days. 

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

I scream ... you scream ...

... we all scream for ....
BATTY SKULLS!

A few of the pins & pendants I'm working on for the MONSTERS & MERRIMENT show later this month. I have a lot on my art table at the moment but these beauties are ready to fly!

As always, they have glow in the dark teeth and eyes - all the better so you can keep a watch on them, as they attempt to crawl off of your lapel toward that jugular vein!


Monday, August 31, 2015

*** UPDATE: August 31

*** UPDATE: August 31 -

Very pleased to announce the addition of more amazing artists to the Monsters & Merriment event:

Olivia Frankenstein
Travis Bibb
Keely Jane


And a few more surprises that will be made known in the days to come!


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

So much to do, so little time! ...

Getting things finished and prepared for the upcoming MONSTERS & MERRIMENT art show.

I have a few larger-sized pieces that are still being worked on, but a few of the smaller ones are ready right now to add to the show's display/sale.

"Jolly King of the Pumpkins" is a handmade sculpture of polymer clay/wire/material/acrylic paint, with moss for his collar and hands. It is more along the lines of vintage Halloween, which I absolutely love.

Jolly King of the Pumpkins!
Gate Keeper candy jar
The "Gate Keeper" candy jar is an old recycled resin jar, painted and distressed to look antique-y, with a rubber baby doll head that too has been painted and aged with many layers of paint and crackle glaze. The doll's eyes glow in the dark. A satin ribbon around its neck anchors it to the top of the jar, which is fully functional for storage (of wrapped candies, not loose ones).

I've had a lot of inquiries about my Etsy shop, which I've got on temporary hold status as I prepare for the M&M art show next month. Rest assured, I am planning on reopening my shop once the show is over, and anything that has not sold at the show, will again be listed for sale there. 

Can you imagine how EXCITED I am about the show!!!!! So very much to prepare for, it's like my list never ends, it just keeps growing. Which means, I gotta stop lollygagging here and get myself back into the studio to create!






Thursday, August 13, 2015

*UPDATE: Another artist has been added!* - MONSTERS & MERRIMENT: A Spooktacular Halloween & Horror Art Show


*** UPDATE: August 31 -

Very pleased to announce the addition of more amazing artists:

Olivia Frankenstein
Travis Bibb
Keely Jane


And a few more surprises that will be made known in the days to come!



Among the amazing artists scheduled to appear with their original art:

Ethan Black Arts (my dear friend and cohort in making this happen)
Uncanny Valley Productions
Melissa Gay
Abigail Yates (director/actress, who will show her supernatural documentary, The Windigo)
Troy Guinn (of The Secret Commonwealth & The Exotic Ones)
Kiki Dombrowski (who will be doing Tarot card readings)
MacabreWebs (little ol' me!)

It's been a lot a of work getting this organized and off the ground but it's finally going to happen. Oh am I ever excited! Ethan and I have done a lot of running around town, a lot of digital work on the computer in building ads, websites and whatnot, a lot of emails, a whole lot of searching for artists who share our love of the darker side of Halloween.


UPDATE!
Great news! Monster Mountain - a super-scary but mega-FUN local haunted house here in Nashville, is providing a pair of free tickets for someone at the event to win. As mentioned, we are having a raffle and will be giving away some really nice stuff. 
More updates as they come rolling in....


Monday, August 10, 2015

Announcements!!!

It's official. I OWN myself!
That is to say, I am now a 'dot com,' on the world wide web.


Launched just today, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time now. Just makes me feel all the more legit as a real artist. It's still in the process of being tweaked here and there for optimum usage, but it is a live website nevertheless. Yay!!!

http://www.macabrewebs.com

Another fantastic announcement that I am so thrilled to share here is the creation of my very own art show. I'm sharing the spotlight with a group of very talented artist friends, and hope it to be from here on the official kick off the Halloween season! 
Why did I create one, when there are plenty of arts & crafts shows, you ask? It is true, there certainly are many amazing autumn/Halloween art shows all over the country, including many notable ones here in the middle Tennessee area. The only thing missing was a key element that my friends and I all felt deeply and agreed upon: they were for the most part very mainstream, very 'tame,' and generally all lacking a certain key ingredient that so many of us love about Halloween, and that is the horror element, mixed in with the party.

Therefore, it is my pleasure to introduce to everybody, the first-ever debut of Monsters & Merriment! 

An art show for those who love the darker, spookier side of Halloween!
You will find all the information about it our upcoming show on the 'News/Calendar of Events' section on my new website.


Saturday, August 8, 2015

Obsession of the day

Anyone ever get completely fixated with a particular color?

Mine of late is Oxblood. A rich, deep, burgundy red.

Just can't seem to get enough of it!


Thursday, July 30, 2015

92 days till Halloween!!!

Of course you'll find me in my studio, working on the latest ghoulish offering!

Which brings back fond memories of the Halloween season of 2008, when I worked weekends at Death Row Sanitarium of Slaughter in Nashville! I was the ravenously raving 'Nurse Valium,' in the spooky Medical Atrocities laboratory. 

Chasing people down with a large live power drill, howling like a maniac and spewing blood and making full-grown men cry and scream in mortal fear and run from me ... 
Ah, yes, I'll admit, it was the most fun I'd had in years...
MUA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Open Hearted Offerings (an original sculpture) plus some great news!

It felt so good to be back home again, working in my studio! 
While it was nice having a two-week break as we were on our little road trip, I missed being creative, and once home, finished up this latest  delight, ha ha. 
I call it, "Open-Hearted Offerings." The heart is an original polymer clay sculpture, sutured with heavy nylon thread. An old baby doll head was painted and crackled, with lacy collar and tiny bow tie with a polymer clay micro-skull at its center.
 
The doll's eyes feature one of my fun trademarks - they glow in the dark! My husband says this is a very creepy piece. I think it's rather cute myself, in a sort of horrorific way.

Okay. So my good news spilleth over: I'm going to be part of a big, first-of-its-kind art show here in Nashville! It is the brainchild of myself and a good friend, another artist who also creates horror-themed pieces. I'll post fully about it in the weeks to come. I am so excited about it! 




Monday, July 27, 2015

Our Wild West tour grinds to a halt...

What a long strange trip it was!

Two full weeks of driving with my dear Hubby across the country, visiting seven states (fell in love with New Mexico!), staying at a famous haunted hotel (the Jerome Grand Hotel in Arizona!), spending time with family (his Mom's 80th birthday party!), and then turning around to come back home to Tennessee. Over 4000+ miles in all!
The breathtaking view from 5400 feet up the mountain
at the Asylum restaurant, located in the Jerome Grand Hotel
The scenery was breathtaking all over. Last time I drove that particular route (the old Route 66 and I-40) was quite some time ago, when I was a wee girlie of eight years of age. Of course, you realize I took a few photos - a little more than 1,000 photos on both my camera and cell phone. 

Now the real work begins, downloading and re-sizing them in order to post a few, then to my long-neglected other blog (The Quirk Shop) to write about this marvelous journey back out to my homeland of the wild west.

But first, of course, here are a few that are too good not to share!

The haunted Jerome Grand Hotel, where we stayed the night (and lived to tell!)
Nighttime view of the front entrance of the hotel
The Jerome Grand Hotel, located in the old 1800s-era copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona, has a very interesting background. Originally built as a hospital/asylum for the miners, it closed in the 1950s and remained that way for almost sixty years until being bought and renovated as a hotel. The elevator is only the second one ever made by the Otis Elevator company that is still in operation! It is creepy, ancient, and a bit rickety, with two doors you have to open and close manually. Learning that a maintenance man died in it gave me butterflies in my stomach.

The entire property has been kept at a 'period' motif, a kind of early 1900s post-Victorian decor. The resident restaurant, called 'The Asylum' (originally the hospital's actual infirmary) had a very glamorous, 'elegant 30s feel to it. We had cocktails and a world-class meal at a window table, where we could lean on the vintage wrought iron rail and gaze across the entire Verdant Valley below us. It was heavenly!

Doorway entrance to the Asylum restaurant
Just inside the doorway to the restaurant. Loved this old sofa!
As for the hallways... well, they reminded me of "The Shining," painted a sort of soft yet eerie green that gave off a very odd feeling. There was one door in particular, up on the 3rd floor, that had a large chunk taken out of it, as if someone had once tried to open it with a hatchet. Okay, visions of Jack Nicholson busting through, screaming "Here's Johnny!" did cross my mind!
But, to be honest, overall, I found the whole place quite charming... though a bit unnerving.
The 3rd floor hallway

The side entrance, featuring the Asylum restaurant, where we had a fantastic dinner
And yes, the place is haunted! It has been featured on several paranormal shows including 'Ghost Adventures.' However, I did not see a thing or feel much other than a slight case of dizziness as I walked down the hallway to our room (and my husband Mark felt the same thing too). Only questionable photo I took was of the vintage 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom housed in the garage: a slight "mist" of sorts is visible. The former owner? Hmm, perhaps! But Mark and I slept quite well that night, and were actually very sad to have to leave the following morning. 

We did get a chance to eat lunch at a place we'd heard a lot about: the Haunted Hamburger, just down the bend from the hotel. Yummy! And yes, we brought along a plastic 'roaming skull' (his name is Bertram Oswald Ness) and posed him in many different places and situations along our trip. He absolutely loved Haunted Hamburger!
"I'll have the deviled eggs, please"
I will say that it was wonderful to be back in the West again, and we will absolutely return to Jerome one day. We explored the whole town below, which has retained its old wild west look and feel. 

A full write up with tons of photos to be posted on The Quirk Shop in the days to come, so be looking for it! 
See, not so scary in the bright daylight, is it?
Bertram (our skull friend, in front of the door) loved this place!