Monday, September 27, 2010

Q&A with Raven Young

“Dreadful Things by Raven”….I could not disagree more! Her shop is full of wonderful, beautiful things! You can find jewelry, paintings, spooky home décor, Christmas cards, and taxidermy art amongst other things. It’s definitely worth your time to peruse her wares!

CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
RY: I have been creating art as long as I can remember but was formally schooled in Anthropology. You can sometimes spot my cultural interests in my pieces. I am a Gemini and with that said am very much into both rural and city life. Weekends I could be dancing like the dead in NYC or hiking along a river, you just never know!

I love snakes, cats, dead things, religious art, horror films, and the occult.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
RY: I sell everything! Real bone jewelry, creepy home décor, original paintings, Goth Greeting cards, Gothic Christmas decorations, and even handmade corsets from vintage spats.

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop and what keeps you motivated?
RY: Much of my artwork is a gothic twist on folk art that I have seen growing up in this area of Pa. I live in Amish country and Hex signs are everywhere on barns. As a kid I was influenced also by Tim Burton, Keith Herring, and Clive Barker.

I never lose my motivation. Creating is something I have to do. It can be a curse at time because I am like a factory of ideas. I can become frustrated because I cannot create my pieces as fast as I envision them in my head.

CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
RY: A few people have said they could never spend the night in my house because my creations scare them. I guess that made me pretty happy..haha.

CZ: When did you first realize that you weren’t “like the other kids”?
RY: My parents really nurtured my creativity and let my interests develop naturally so by the time I was in grade school I noticed other kids say me as “weird”. I had pet reptiles starting at age 6 and would pick up anything creepy crawly. This was not so popular with the girls so I ended up making a lot of male friends early on. This made the girls really hate me later…haha.

CZ: What’s a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
RY: I wake up very early, 530 am and work on art and orders before heading to my mundane day job. After work I am back at the art while taking care of my pet snakes, three cats, and gardens. I try to keep a busy social life as well and head to several goth clubs and events a month in the tri-state area.

CZ: Do you prefer zombies or vampires? RY: Overall … Vampires. They have something to say. Artistically I prefer the zombies though. Painting rotting flesh never gets boring!

CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most and why?
RY: None. Although I do identify with/am influenced by fictional characters such as Dr. Frankenfurter, Jessica Rabbit, and Morticia.

CZ: Which elusive creature do you believe is more likely to be real: El Chupacabra or Sasquatch?
RY: El Chupacabra I suppose could exist. I definitely do not believe that a Sasquatch could exist. It would just be impossible from an evolutionary standpoint.

CZ: Who is more likely to enslave the human race - aliens or robots?
RY: Robots would happen sooner but if there is life from another planet capable of visiting earth we would likely be doomed as well.

CZ: What scares you?
RY: George Bush and hairy centipedes. Everything else is game!

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
RY: I am always on the side of fellow Dark Siders! haha

CZ: Any links you’d like included?
RY: My shop: http://www.ravenofskys.etsy.com/
http://twitter.com/ravenofskys
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dreadful-Things-by-Raven/169069259362?v=wall&ref=ts

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Last Minute Costume

I thought it would be good to include a costume that was easy to throw together and even easier to get into. So it’s not flashy, awe-inspiring, or a show stopper – but it is EFFECTIVE!

Several years ago I got invited to a very last minute Halloween party. My costume for that year was a rather elaborate one that I didn’t feel like putting on so I started digging through my closet. What I came up with is something very similar to what I’m presenting to you below. I walked into this party (where I only knew the two people I came with, the hostess, and a couple of others) and never took my mask off. It took the hostess a while to figure out who I was but she never let on to the other guests. It freaked people out! I had a blast being that mysterious, creepy person in the room, leering at people from behind my black hockey mask and wielding my plastic machete. :D

The mask is what the entire costume revolves around. Sure, you could throw on any old rubber mask but I want one that makes an impression! This one from nightmaresdream takes my black hockey mask to the next level.


Now the rest of your outfit sets the mood. Put this mask on with a pink ruffled shirt and no one is going to be frightened (except for me….of the shirt though, not the mask!). A skeleton torso tee by PoisonAppleShirts fits the bill.


What psycho killer doesn’t love sharp objects? Especially stabby ones! A butcher knife necklace/earring combo, found in treasuredcharms’ shop, is perfect!


I fell in love with these when I saw them and just HAD to include them in this costume! Nevertoomuchglitter has Texas Chainsaw Manicure nails!

Top the whole thing off with a pair of dark denim distressed jeans, some beat up leather boots, an awesome leather jacket, and a fake stabbing implement and you’ll be ready to scare the crap out of all the trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood!



Monday, September 20, 2010

Q&A with Wings of Sin

“Wings of Sin is a combination of a mad artist named Noah and a dancing seamstress named Melaney. We combine our mediums to create unique wearable art.”


This is how the profile on their shop reads but “unique wearable art” is such an understatement! How about exotic, inspiring, and beautiful to add to that line? I think so. ;)

CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
WOS: I live deep in the woods. That is a huge part of me. I spend all the time that is not Wings of Sin fire dancing and belly dancing. This is what influences a lot of my clothing designs. If I could exist looking like a post apocalyptic tribal dancer all the time I would be very happy.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
WOS: In two words, dark and sexy. In more words then that, we focus mainly on clothing for the darker side of belly dance, fire dance, hoopers and all sorts of other performers. We have what we would call day to day wear as well, but most wouldn't think everyday wear when they see it. We do performances at fetish shows as well so we dance a fine line between gothic/industrial and bondage attire.

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop and what keeps you motivated?
WOS: I worked at a really bad, corporate, "punk" chain store that will remain nameless, ahem. I always worked with my friend Noah and we would just get disgusted by the crap that people would buy. I was already designing my own clothing and he started painting directly on the fabric. From here we began our career together as Wings of Sin. He now DJ's all our fashion shows and I write all the stories.

As for what keeps me motivated, it's almost entirely selfish. Being a post apocalyptic Elvin princess (that's my husband's nickname for me.) I know it's very difficult to find the kind of clothes that go with that feeling. I started making the clothes for myself and then realized there was actually a demand from others for this kind of look.

CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
WOS: After my first fashion show someone said about my models and clothing, "Well aren't you a bunch of She-Wolves of the Wasteland." That is now what my models are called.

CZ: When did you first realize that you weren’t “like the other kids”?
WOS: I remember the exact moment like it was yesterday. My favorite movie when I was a little girl was Legend. Everyone else liked Tom Cruise and all the little faeries. Yeah, they were nice, but I always sighed when Darkness came in the picture. I wanted Lily to stay with him and wear that dress and live in that castle forever.

CZ: What’s a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
WOS: Well, I live in the middle of nowhere and it's called Hanksville. I have quite the menagerie of animals living with me, the most high maintenance one would be a 140lb mastiff named Lady. So I spend a good portion of my day cleaning up spit. When I'm not doing that or locked up in my leopard print dungeon of a sewing room I spend a lot of time running through the forest with my elven husband, Faeryl. I spend my nights with fine friends around my fire pit dancing with my fire fans.

CZ: Do you prefer zombies or vampires?
WOS: Well that's a difficult question. If I had to be one or make out with one I suppose I would choose vampire. However, I've always had a secret desire to be a necromancer so, zombies? Or, you could just be asking me which kind of movie I like best so, um, zombies. But, if I'm going to be completely honest here, I'm a werewolf girl to the core. It's my goal in life, to be turned.

CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most and why?
WOS: Okay, okay, this is sort of cheesy, but here it goes. I like to watch series a lot when I'm sewing. This way I can go on five to eight hour sewing marathons and just have something going on in the background. My current series I'm blowing through is Buffy. I just have to say, I relate to Drusilla way too much. I desperately love to dance in the moonlight, I'm a little on the looney side and I'm a huge fan of Billy Idol. Spike, come on.

CZ: Which elusive creature do you believe is more likely to be real: El Chupacabra or Sasquatch?
WOS: Absolutely, without a doubt, both of them exist. I know it.

CZ: Who is more likely to enslave the human race - aliens or robots?
WOS: I just know it will be aliens because I am way more afraid of them.

CZ: What scares you?
WOS: The feeling of being trapped.

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
WOS: It all depends. When civilization has ended and we live a vast desert wasteland can I run Bartertown?

CZ: Any links you’d like included?
http://www.wingsofsin.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wings-of-Sin/44953223902
www.modelmayhem.com/wingsofsin

Monday, September 13, 2010

I was on Etsy's Front Page today! :D

akaCINDERS made this wonderful treasury yesterday (you can see the full treasury here - please go click and comment!) and Etsy saw fit to feature it on their front page this evening!

Q&A with ParadiseLost

All I’m going to say about Paradise Lost is “WOW!” You must see this art for yourself and don’t let the few pictures you’ll see here keep you from checking out the rest of the shop!

CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
PL: Well, I’m an artist living in the SF Bay Area. I have sort of a no rules attitude about art. Sometimes I am a painter, sometimes an illustrator, and currently I am working on a series of large public murals. I’m really dyslexic too.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
PL: I mostly sell prints of images that I have tampered with in one way or another. Usually with acrylic paint or graphite. They are called Kirstograph prints, which is a word that I made up for what I am making.

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop and what keeps you motivated?
PL: There is so much material out there for me. Typically I use tintype images or old art books. French art almost exclusively, but I will paint over anything that sparks an idea. Once that happens I have to do it, and can’t focus on anything else until it’s done.

CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
PL: The other day I was showing a friend some of my work online and he said, “Wow, Seth learned to use Photoshop.” All of my paintings and drawings are done but hand, and the way you see it online is the way it looks in person. Photoshop can be a great tool, but I am a traditionalist down to my core.

CZ: When did you first realize that you weren’t “like the other kids”?
PL: I grew up in a community of people who shared money, cars, or whatever they had. There were five families and a couple of single people off and on. In school they wanted to put me in the slow class because I am dyslexic, so my mom pulled me out and taught me at home. About twenty of the kids in the community decided to do it too. Honestly, I have never felt like a 100% normal kid.

CZ: What’s a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
PL: No two days are the same, which I really like. I’m painting a lot of murals right now, but really prefer to work on my own stuff. If I go too long without painting and drawing my own stuff I get really depressed.

CZ: Do you prefer zombies or vampires?
PL: Vampires. It’s not even close. I am a fan of Ann Rice and Bram Stoker and True Blood.
But I do secretly fantasize about being the only human in a world full of zombies that are really easy to kill as I make my way to the safe zone.

CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most and why?
PL: Any character with a head that spins all the way around.

CZ: Which elusive creature do you believe is more likely to be real: El Chupacabra or Sasquatch?
PL: My great grandpa claimed to have seen Bigfoot on a hike in Oregon. So between the two choices I’ll take the Sasquatch. But to be honest, I really think there is something to the Chupacabra.

CZ: Who is more likely to enslave the human race - aliens or robots?
PL: I think robots and machines already have us over a barrel, but don’t know it. God help us if they ever become self aware like in Terminator. My friends think it is strange that I don’t have a cell phone, or credit card, and have never used an ATM.
But don’t think I’m not keeping one eye one the sky incase of an alien invasion.

CZ: What scares you?
PL: That’s easy. Myself. I have a wild imagination and it’s really hard for me to get disturbing things out of my head. It often gets to the point where I have to imagine the image burning down to ashes and the wind carrying them away. That usually does it, but not always.

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
PL: Depends on what the undead masses have to offer me. Dental insurance would be great.

CZ: Any links you’d like included?
PL: http://www.paradiselost.etsy.com/


Saturday, September 11, 2010

Pssst....In case you forgot....

It's almost time for my Lucky Number 13 Sale!

On the 13th of every month I offer a Buy One Get One Free deal on my Original Art Prints! And if it happens to be Friday the 13th, you get a free gift too (though that won't happen again until May)! Please put the name of the print you'd like for free in the Message to Seller box.


You can see the options here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CustomZombie?section_id=6065168
 
Oh, and I've got some new prints in the shop too!  Check 'em out!
 

Monday, September 6, 2010

Q&A with Cutter TwoWheels of FeralWares

FeralWares is Cutter TwoWheels' very unique Etsy shop. Animal bones, steampunk, and mixed-media collages are mostly what you’ll find there and I strongly encourage you to check it out!
P.S. Until further notice all profits from her shop are funding the special needs of her arthritic dog – so if you see something you like please help them out!


CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
CTW: My name is Cutter, and my Etsy shop is Feral Wares. I currently live in central Florida, but I bounce around a lot. I'm from a small town near Buffalo, New York, and I find myself back there every so often. In the process of moving to Massachusetts, but begrudgingly. I may be one of the few Dark Siders that prefers the heat and sunshine to the cold and gloomy northeast.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
CTW: My shop is mostly made up of various types of jewelry and accessories. I also am a photographer and sometimes list mixed media abstracts featuring my photos. I'm an all around artist and have a broad range of skills, so you can expect just about anything in my shop, including crocheted and knitted things, sewn accessories, housewares, vintage things reclaimed and reworked... My brain has creative ADD and there's no end to the things I can dream up.

I'd like to take this moment to discuss what sets me apart from a lot of artists and crafters. The materials I use in my work are not typical crafters' supplies. I use animal bones in nearly all of my work. The bones are mostly collected from road kill, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to just happen upon them. I personally am vegan, and an animal rights activist, and personally feel that my creative work complements, rather than contradicts, my lifestyle. Making a presentation of animals (that were NOT harmed specifically for my means), and displaying them in a beautiful and thought-provoking manner, draws attention to the typical disregard of humans for other species of animals. It seems to me, the more disgusted and appalled people are when they see my work, the more they themselves engage in the abuse of animals - eating meat, using cosmetics and products tested on animals, and live lifestyles that otherwise leave a sasquatch-sized footprint on our planet. I find this fact to be particularly interesting.

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop and what keeps you motivated?
CTW: As far as the jewelry goes, I love the way the organic bones mix with beads and old shiny costume jewelry. the dichotomy of something usually viewed as scary and repulsive (bones) put together with something flashy and bright and pretty (beads and costume jewelry and other found objects) creates a contrast that I find particularly magnetic. As for my larger artwork, I find inspiration in a photograph, whether found or taken by myself, and I build a story around it. I like to look at a weathered old photograph and dream up a story about a person, all of their dreams, fears, and secrets. Who knows? Maybe I guessed one or two of them right.

CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
CTW: I took a metal-working jewelry class with this really awesome, supportive woman (who on a side note was the mother of my co-worker at the time), and she was an executive at a local cutlery company. Apparently, her cat brought home an owl and she asked if I could do something with the skull. I made her an absolutely stunning necklace, showcasing the skull embedded in some Victorian-era lace. Seeing the impressed look on her face (not to mention the hefty tip on top of my set commission price) was compliment enough, but when I found out she traveled to Germany and Japan for executive board meetings and WORE THAT NECKLACE, I was floored!

CZ: When did you first realize that you weren't "like the other kids"?
CTW: HA. As long as I can remember. In catholic school (which may have been the first 'mistake'), the nuns took me out of kindergarten and had me sit in on third grade classes. Most kids made fun of me and I had nicknames like "brain baby" and that sort of thing. Needless to say, I didn't have any friends. I lived on a big (40+) acre farm, and I’d hang out in the woods all day and talk to trees and I had a pet hunk of moss who I would read stories too. I still believe gnomes are real. As a kid, I'd make the mistake of mentioning things like that to "the other kids", and they'd look at me like I had six arms and from then on I was a sort of leper. I don't mind, I rather enjoy not being "normal".

CZ: What's a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
CTW: My days are anything BUT "typical". I don't have any sort of set schedule, and trying to hold onto a job is like trying to hold onto a hot potato for me. I can go for weeks without working on a piece, and then I can have a streak where I lock myself in my workshop for 20 hours a day and can't sleep because I'm working on 6 different things. I guess I'm pretty sporadic. But it works for me. Sometimes I wish I could be creative all the time, then I'd have a lot more to show and a lot fewer piles of pack-ratted junk and -in-progresses laying around, but I suppose I'd probably burn out pretty fast.

CZ: Do you prefer zombies or vampires?
CTW: Hmmm... Is it sacrilege to say "neither"?
In all seriousness, the entire horror genre terrifies me. I'm more of a sci-fi nerd. Zombies scare me because they are very gory and aggressive and holy cow.... THEY EAT YOU! Vampires might even be scarier because they seem to be every day, romantic sweet-talkers, and then all of a sudden BAM! They get you in the end. I think they're pretty sleazy. Gives me the shivers.

CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most and why?
CTW: I suppose probably Frankenstein. I think I appear rather repulsive (more by choice than by birth), and I'm rather misunderstood. 

CZ: Which elusive creature do you believe is more likely to be real: El Chupacabra or Sasquatch?
CTW: Sasquatch. Totally. I'm wicked tall and umm 'sturdy', and that was my nickname in high school. If people thought I resembled him, he must for sure exist.

CZ: Who is more likely to enslave the human race - aliens or robots?
CTW: This question is a little dated, I think. The machines we've created have already enslaved us.

CZ: What scares you?
CTW: My own squandered potential. That, and slugs.

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
CTW: But wait, I AM one of the undead.....

CZ: Any links you'd like included?
CTW: My Etsy store: http://feralwares.etsy.com/
My personal Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cuttertwowheels has some pictures of completed works and also has a tab for my Etsy shop. you can friend me and be notified when I've listed new work.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my interview! And if it leads you to my shop, then thanks for checking that out too! :-) -Cutter Two Wheels

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Halloween Wish List

Every year I have a wish list for Halloween and it's normally made up of high priced items that I will probably never have! I try to buy one thing from that list each year, along with all of my not-so-high priced purchases. Since I've been spending the whole morning drooling over and day dreaming about said list I thought I'd share it with you guys so you could do the same! ;)


Grandin Road
Every year Grandin Road carries a large selection of sophisticated, creepy Halloween offerings. This year is no exception:







Pottery Barn
While Pottery Barn doesn't have a huge Halloween section, they do carry some very cool (and very pricey) things!




Etsy
Etsy offers scads of fantastic Halloween items.  There is so much available from a myriad of sellers - it's almost enough to make your head spin!  Be sure to check out the other items these shops have for sale and to see what other sellers are offering just put "Halloween" in Etsy's search box (pssst...add "etsydarkteam" to check out the macabre offerings from my favorite team)!