Happy New Year to all!

May the coming year of 2018 be happy, healthy, fun, prosperous, productive, and ultimately nourishing to your heart and soul.

... AND SCARY, TOO!!! (in a really good way, of course) 

Merry Creepmas to all!

Joyous and with Love ...

Wishing much peace and love to all!

***SOLD!*** Put a little Halloween in your Ho-ho-ho!

*SOLD!*

Thank you!

Feeling those post-Halloween blues? 

Your Christmas tree will dazzle all who see this pair of NOELsferatu ornaments dangling from it!

Completely hand-made and decorated with bows, tinsels, and wee bells that will ring-a-ling all the Yuletide long!

Original, one of a kind.

Now available from the awesome PFATT Marketplace!

***FREE SHIPPING ***

For the month of December!

http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/macabrewebs.html

Thankfulness ...

True joy of life and thankfulness cannot be found in empty things. 
Please be good and kind to all who you encounter.

Happy Halloween ...

Jack Scarecrow and his gourd minions 

brightly illuminate our 2017  

All Hallows Eve

Our annual gathering of dear Friends

Songs

Stories

Laughter

Food and drink

Around the campfire

Underneath the stars

Remembrances of loved ones 

and ancestors

Gone and departed from our realm

Offerings of candles, flowers, food and beer

With much love in our hearts

Always and forever...

"Benjamin" - sold!

Off he goes to his new home in Memphis, Tennessee...

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

PFATT Marketplace offerings for October 2017 -

I'd scarcely had time to post about my offerings for this month's (October 2017) Prominent Folk Artists Trinkets and Treasures (PFATT) when boom! - one of them already sold! Farewell to "Sweet as Candy Halloween Baby" to Joan in Pennsylvania. Your package is on the way!

I do still have one remaining item, a fun drawing/assemblage I've called "If You Got It, Haunt It!" A framed delight featuring a happy-go-lucky witch and her equally-jolly Jack O'lantern. It's colorful, sparkly, and guaranteed to instill the magical spirit of Halloween in your home.

You can find it by clicking on the PFATT Marketplace link below!

http://www.pfattmarketplace.com

Ok, back to the studio - got lots to do, and Halloween is just over two weeks away! 

Happy!

My husband, Mark, and me. Enjoying yet another silly, fun moment during the Monsters & Merriment show. Would it be too soon to say ... CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW?

This truly was a DREAM ... pulling up to the venue the night before to begin our set-up, and seeing my show on the marquee of such a world-renown place as Fontanel  ... a dream come true, and I'm still pinching myself! So many years of dreaming and planning such an event, at last coming to fruition. My cup runneth over!

Thank you so much ...

To everyone who came out to the show and enjoyed a full day of Halloween fun, music, art, and laughter. You are all wonderful and amazing! Thank you for making the show the biggest and best one yet - a smashing success!

I have so many photos to go through, download and post, many people and all the artists to acknowledge... but I am beyond pooped. Whew!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go close the coffin lid and get some rest. But don't worry, I'll be back soon.

Nighty-night..... 

See you at the show on Saturday! ...

Bat O'Lanterns are flying into town!

That rare breed of bat - the Bat O'lantern, together with its cousin, the Bat Skelly - will be descending en flock upon MONSTERS & MERRIMENT next weekend at Fontanel!

These original vintage-inspired ornies would zest up your Halloween tree but can also be worn as a pin or necklace if you prefer. 

They're completely hand-made (by a super-secret process in the MacabreWebs laboratory by Yours Truly, the maddest of scientists... mua-hahahahaha!) and are durable, colorful, and guaranteed to fly off to the belfry once the show is over.

The Bat Skellies have faux jewels for eyes, in a variety of dazzling colors!

Bat O'Lanterns were inspired by early 20th century Halloween colors

Each one measures approximately 4" wide by 2" high

I'll have a limited number of these delightful goodies at my booth (MacabreWebs) so come on down, say hello, and capture one before they're all gone!

RIP, Basil Gogos ...

So sad to learn that one of the most well-known and prolific "monster" artists has passed away.

Basil Gogos was best known for having created many of the amazing covers for FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILM LAND, a favorite of mine as a young monster kid, growing up in the 1960s and throughout the '70s onward. 
There are even one or two vintage late '60s copies of the magazine somewhere in my collection, including this one below featuring Lon Chaney as The Phantom of the Opera. 

FMOFL magazine in my private collection

I loved Gogos' style - vivid, brightly defined, creepy, funny yet scary, all wrapped in one beautiful package.

NOSFERATU by Basil Gogos

I never got to meet him, though I'd always hoped for the chance.
RIP, dear Sir....  thank you for the memories and nightmares! 
 1949-2017

My favorite Vamp ...

Maila Nurmi, best known as TV's "Vampira." 

This framed mixed media collage is my loving homage to her, and will be available at this month's MONSTERS & MERRIMENT show.

Nurmi horror-hosted the Vampira show in the mid-1950s in my hometown of Hollywood, setting the stage for sexy vamp horror hostesses long before anyone else. She was quite a sensation in the ultra-conservative '50s, with her smoldering sensuality, tiny wasp-waist, and super villain eyebrows. LOVED her!!!

 (The Munsters and the Addams Family shows were not to be for nearly a full decade; the Elvira show did not become a reality until almost 30 years later)

I do not own this photo

In the late '80s and early '90s, I used to see her occasionally walking around in Hollywood. She was tall, very thin, and had a determined, regal sort of strut, very purposeful. I always wanted to approach her and find a reason - ANY reason! - to speak with her ... but was far too shy to do so. How I wish I had! 

I do not own this photo

There was one time in particular in 2004, when me and my Dad were having lunch at a fancy restaurant in the Burbank/North Hollywood area. About halfway through our meal, in walked Ms. Nurmi, followed by three or four men who were less than half her age. She sat directly behind me, and proceeded to give the young gentlemen an interview. My mouth went dry... I couldn't speak, couldn't eat! I kept trying to "casually" turn my head to look around to see her... OMG! I could have reached over and tapped her on the shoulder, she was that close to me. My Dad thought it was hilarious and just laughed at me, but I squeaked to him that "Vampira's butt is right next to mine!"  

RIP, you wonderful Glamour Ghoul... 1921-2008

My PFATT Marketplace offering for September, 2017!

"Halloween is Bursting Out All Over!"

As we move closer to the glorious Autumn season, along comes the first happy Jack O'lantern, whose top is literally bursting up with Halloween joy.
I share his joy! Counting down the days until it's Halloween night... it'll be here soon!

This offering of mine is posted for this month's Prominent Folk Artists and Trinkets, or PFATT as it's also known (link at bottom of page).

Created with paper clay, and painted with autumn colors in acrylics with a triple layer of bows in three different fun fall fabrics, including a tiny black satin bow with miniature pearl in the center.

From his crown, there's straw, a festive garland of black stars, and a sculpted and painted Halloween heart bursting upwards, framed by a black bat on one side, and a black spider on the other.

This jaunty little fellow is mounted on a plank of wood that's been painted in pretty shades of purples, and lined around the outer edge with lovely traditional black & orange Halloween stripy material. 

Measuring 5" L x 2" W x 7" H, he's the perfect size, and would look fabulous on your desk or shelf, where he's guaranteed to bring out a grin to all who see him... because his elation is contagious!

$25 plus $5 shipping in the continental USA 
(email me for shipping rates outside of US)

Please visit the PFATT Marketplace website for complete purchase information. 
Thank you for stopping by today!

http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/macabrewebs.html 

Presenting: NOSFERATU - The Blood is the Life (Sanguis enim eorum pro anima)

After nearly 3 full months of work, NOSFERATU emerges.

Nosferatu is completely hand-made, sculpted from paper clay over a foil/wire armature. His hands are wire with Sculpy (polymer clay), and he is painted in many layers of acrylics with medium glaze. His bushy eyebrows are faux hair from an old Halloween wig. Because he is a vampire, I wanted to emphasize on the obvious: his eerie, hypnotic eyes and pointy fangs, both of which glow in the dark from several layers of glow paint.

He stands before his ornately-decorated coffin on a painted wooden plaque that is both darkly elegant yet creepy, with a flow of blood emanating from under the bottom of the coffin toward where he stands, dripping off the edge of the plaque's front.

I affixed tiny black roses and vines as a sort of frame along the perimeter of the plaque. Subtitled "The Blood is the Life" which I painted in Latin ("Sanguis enim eorum pro anima") on a strip of tattered ribbon, and affixed like a scroll at the front base.

This labor of love will be displayed and available for sale at Monsters & Merriment later this month at Fontanel. 

(This show's theme is about vampires, Nosferatu in particular, as we celebrate the 95th anniversary of the release of the 1922 German cinema classic, NOSFERATU. Many of our participating artists are creating their own amazing versions of the vampire legend, and this one is mine.) 

The coffin itself (hand-made by Mark, my husband, to my specifications) took quite a long while to transform, too, as I didn't want merely a plain, unadorned wooden coffin behind him, but something that was both old yet pretty in a decrepit way, and of course, rather scary, while echoing a bit of his aristocratic past in its lavish embellishment. The back wall has a subtle spider web papering. I utilized lots of black roses (both single material ones and rose ribbon styles), including a large one at the top of the coffin with a hand-sculpted skull in the center, satin ribbons, and an elegant glittery garland of dangly balls, all in black of course. Topping it all, a line of tiny purple bat lights wrapping all around (which lends a rather eerie vibe when lit up, illuminating both the inside of the coffin and over Nosferatu as well). 

At the inside base are three red roses, fronted by a single black satin one: the red insinuating the last vestiges of his former life as a human being, long, long ago, and the black as a denizen of the undead.

I will freely admit, I am not a seamstress in any way. I can mend a torn seam and sew a hole if needed, but designing clothing and putting them together so they look "GOOD" is not my thing! I dream of being a costume designer but fall so short from that ability, and fretted over his outfit on a daily basis, as I knew he had to have a sort of royal costume to wear...but how was I going to do it? Did not want to merely purchase doll clothes for him; as everything on this was hand made, I knew I had to figure out the solution. Holy smokes, this was by far the most difficult aspect for me. After spending many a long afternoon at JoAnn's fabrics, poring over the different varieties of materials, I finally settled on a beautiful black damask velvet. Cutting the tiny pattern to fit (which threatened to send me into apoplexy) was quite challenging, but don't they say you're supposed to step outside of your comfort zone to learn and grow? 

Ha, yeah, remind me again why I took on the challenge of this piece?

I took cues from the 1922 movie of same title, studying the coat and suit that actor Max Shreck wore, and tried my best to do it justice. My aim was not to copy it, but create my own that held an essence of the old overcoat he wore.

Max Shreck as NOSFERATU
(I do not own this photo)

And I hope I succeeded, after several weeks of agonizing and hand-stitching, glueing, adjusting, resewing ..... EEEEEK. Just about made me tear my hair out - plus the fact that he is extremely DELICATE, with his long spidery fingers and nails that I tried desperately to not break but ended up snapping a finger off (later glued back on). Attempting to hold him in place, tailor his coat, and trying desperately to not break or drop him was a challenge of challenges and it stressed me out!

  

Anyhoodles... once I had finally hand sewn the coat and trousers, I was faced with the next challenge - that being, of hems. Can't have a plain ragged hemline, can we! What to do? The answer was in the form of a tiny black woven ribbon that I put along the edges of his cuffs and lapels. It added depth and more character in a regal way, and boy oh boy, I was relieved how it nicely he turned out.

I know that many artists will admit to this: after spending so much time creating a detailed, intricate piece, you become rather attached to it, and though the aim is to send it to be a much-loved work of art in someone else's home collection, you kind of wish you could keep it for yourself. I do fervently hope that one of the fans who visits my art show takes him home, but I know I'll grieve at his going away. Funny, isn't it?

And now, I must give sincere, heart-felt thanks to several of the well-established artists I have loved and greatly admired for years, who have befriended me on Facebook, and generously given me scores of free advice, much praise and encouragement for my own creations. You have helped this self-taught artist to become better in so many ways! My most sincere and loving thanks to you all...

LeeAnn Kress of Charmed Confections 
Amber Leilani Middleton
Pam Gracia of Soft in the Head & PFATT Marketplace
Michelle Sweatt of Inclined to Improvise
Brandi McKenna
Candace Navarrate of Howling Moon Designs

If I have left anyone out - please forgive me! I love you all and appreciate your time more than I can ever hope to express. And, in turn, by my doing this art show, I hope to help other artists not only gain a public forum for their works, but grow as much as they can, too...

http://www.monstersandmerriment.com

Monsters & Merriment plus Fontanel's Fall Festival equals FUN FUN FUN!

(Click on the above photo to enlarge)

Greetings, Halloween fiends and fans. Happy September to you! The weather is getting a bit cooler, the leaves are just beginning to change color, and Monsters & Merriment is just a few weeks away on September 30th... are you ready?

Wowza - from the looks of it, I can pretty much guarantee that this year's show will be anything but typical or boring... don your costumes and come on over! 

M&M is thrilled to announce our very special musical guests, The Secret Commonwealth, Tennessee's #1 most popular and enduring Celto-Eclectic band, who sing songs of love, war and drinking - plus add to that mix a healthy dose of magical Halloween tales as well! TSC will be performing live on stage from noon to 1pm, and will stick around afterward with a monstrously delightful table full of all kinds of band swag, with CDs of their entire music library (including their 'Halloween album' the iconic hit "Uninvited Guest") tee shirts, pint glasses, and more.

TSC is sponsored by Hick Chick Tours, Nashville's original and by far the most hilarious walking tour/pub crawl (starring the amazing standup comedy of Nashville's top comedian, Christy Eidson). This tour has been voted #1 by Travel Advisor and Yelp for several years in a row, and one lucky attendee to Monsters & Merriment will win a pair of tickets (must be 21 or over).

Another special treat we have in store for you this year is the revival of Fezziwig's Holiday Shoppe, a gorgeous seasonal store chock full of the most stunning array of Halloween goods, both new and vintage. Come and be dazzled by this fabulous shop, which has something for everyone.  

Fontanel's amazing Fall Festival runs concurrently with Monsters & Merriment, so those who are tired of the long hot summer, and in desperate need of some good autumn fun will not be disappointed in the least. It features awesome foods, carnival rides and games, craft beers, a petting zoo and farmer's market, and much more, all wrapped up in one fantastic location. 
And get this - it's free admission and free parking for both events! 

Come on out and join us in the festivities!

http://fontanel.com

monstersandmerriment.com

Soon to rise from the dead ....

Just a pre-sneak peek, you could say. This major piece I've been working on for over two full months is finally nearing completion. Actual photos forthcoming!

NOSFERATU: The Blood is the Life (Sanguis enim corum pro anima) 

He will make his spooky premiere at MONSTERS & MERRIMENT next month.

I must say, I am amazed and thrilled that so many of our participating artists for this year's show will be presenting their own version of the legendary Vampire. I am so looking forward to seeing their creativity!

And we're also screening the classic that started it all: as it is the 95th anniversary of the original release of F.W. Murnau's immortal NOSFERATU, we invite you to come sit in the dark with us and the bewitching Countess Moira and view it for yourself. This 1922 silent epic still scares audiences to this day, mostly due to the creepy presence of actor Max Shreck.

 

Max Shreck as the terrifying NOSFERATU
(I do not own this photo)

Come dressed as a Vampire and you may win one of several prizes, including your very own copy of NOSFERATU.

http://www.monstersandmerriment.com

Get ready to have some MONSTROUSLY good fun!

https://www.facebook.com/MonstersandMerriment/

Join us for a day of monstrously good Halloween fun!

Featuring incredible, original hand-made artistry of all varieties from many of Nashville's top artists, including:

OLIVIA FRANKENSTEIN

SKELLEY McCRAFTY

JACKIE CHEUVRONT ART

INCLINED TO IMPROVISE

ETHAN BLACK ARTS

IRON HAG STUDIOS

AMBER BLACK

HALLOWED DESIGNS

ANDREA LUTTRELL

MICHAEL HRABA 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID McCULLARS

MACABREWEBS STUDIOS

TRAVIS BIBB

FEZZIWIG'S HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY SHOPPE

JERRY WINNETTE

...and more!

- Live music from The Secret Commonwealth, who will have plenty of merchandise and CDs for sale after the show, including their Halloween monster-mega-hit 

'The Uninvited Guest'

- Cool prizes and giveaways, including a $50 gift certificate from Performance Studios

- Free pair of tickets to the hilarious Hick Chick Tour (Voted #1 in Nashville and winner of the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award for 2016 and 2017!)

... and more!

- Tarot Card readings

- "The Strange Story of Hazel Farris, the American Mummy" - a tale too strange to not be true!

Presented by Vance Nichols (come see her actual coffin on display, if you dare!)

- "Countess Moira's Movie Dungeon" will present a very special screening of NOSFERATU, in honor of the 95th anniversary of the original 1922 F.W. Murnau silent film Vampire classic

... and MUCH  more!

* As always, FREE admission *

And FREE Halloween candy - while supplies last!

*** COSTUMES ENCOURAGED! ***

Prizes for the BEST Vampire costume!

All this and more - contained under one roof - inside the beautiful Natchez Hills Winery building on the fabulous Fontanel complex in Nashville, TN

Saturday, September 30, 2017 - 11am till 7pm

See you there!

http://www.monstersandmerriment.com/welcome.html

http://www.hickchicktours.com

http://www.performancestudiosinc.com

Art by Ethan Black

http://monstermountain.net