Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Seth Grahame-Smith (of Pride and Predjudice and Zombies fame) released a new book this past March; Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.  While I have not read it yet - I have bought it and it's on my "to do" list - the premise alone is fantastic!  The movie adaptation, said to be produced by Tim Burton, is set to come out in 2011 and is listed as "pre-production" on IMDB.com.  I'm so enamoured with the possible plot lines this book brings to my mind that I created an Etsy Treasury all about it!  Please click the link and view each item to read more about them.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4be8307db3dd6d91260c653f/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter

Monday, May 24, 2010

Q&A With AbyssalGems

You can find something for nearly anyone in AbyssalGems’ Etsy shop! Gothic designs for the darklings, Steampunk styles for the cosplayers, and wedding sets for even the most finicky brides. Don’t wear jewelry? She even has crocheted scarves!




CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
AG: I’m a creative self taught jewelry designer and have been selling on Etsy for nearly three years. My inspirations come from just about any place or anything. Sometimes, i even get an idea on a design for a piece of jewelry and i create from that design in my head, that’s the reason I don’t sketch lol.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
AG: Gothic, Steampunk, vampire, Victorian, earrings, bracelets, weddings

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop?
AG: The original name for my business (before Etsy) was Darkrealm jewelry. There was a magazine out with the name of Darkrealm so i asked my boyfriend to help come up with a name and the name AbyssalGems came to his mind so I ran with it.

CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
AG: A guy actually tipped me $5 one time at a show because he absolutely LOVED my jewelry! lolol

CZ: When did you first realize that you weren’t “like the other kids”?
AG: Other kids were boring to me and on the conservative side.

CZ: What’s a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
AG: Fun and tranquil and chaotic! I wouldn’t trade it for anything else!

CZ: Zombies or Vampires?
AG: Vampires to the end!

CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most?
AG: Louie from Interview With a Vampire
CZ: What scares you?
AG: People sneaking up on me! lol

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
AG: With you!

Want to know more about AbyssalGems? You can keep up with her products and projects here:

http://www.abyssalgems.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackrosebath
http://creatureofthenight1313.blogspot.com




Thursday, May 20, 2010

Costuming Alice

Being that we are already half way to Halloween, I think it’s time to start deciding on a costume.  I will be doing several of these types of posts between now and October - hope you enjoy them!

Now typically I don’t like to dress as a character from a recently released movie (especially a popular one) but Alice in Wonderland is such a classic that I think it would be acceptable this year. :)

I loved Tim Burton’s vision for Alice but it’s a little more Victorian than I want to go with so I took some inspiration from him but put a different twist on her. I started with this pendulum necklace I made and worked from there.
This fabulous halter dress from elishasewell makes for one sexy Alice!
Victorian goes punk with these arm ruffles from OpalMoonDesigns and leather and lace ruffled shoe cuffs from jdotdesigns.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/38645615/victoria-wrap-around-leather-lace-and
Throw in some stripes for a fun spin! The stockings are from poppyswickedgarden and the shoulder bag from dot24.
I think a throwback to one of the most underrated characters is in order so we’ll go with a March Hare ring from grigio.
Of course, my Alice has already been to see the Mad Hatter (aka BubblesAndFrown), who has generously fitted her with this outstanding little number!


Monday, May 17, 2010

Q&A with Artist Heather Lynn!

Heather Lynn’s unique art first caught my eye when she applied to be a member of Etsy’s Dark Side Street Team. Her Coffin Critters are irresistibly, morbidly, cute and she is talented with more than just clay, as her original illustrations and graphic design work will show! Here she gives us a little insight into her world:



CZ: Tell us a little about yourself!
HL: Well if a vampire seduced a faery and spawned a child...that would be me. :) I appreciate the light and dark in everything (sometimes with too much emphasis on "dark"), and try to bring it to life with my creations.

CZ: What type of items do you sell?
HL: I get bored easily, so I have a lot of different styles and media that I play with. Everything is in the fantasy/gothic genre, but pieces range from shadow boxes and shrines to paintings to jewelry to sculpture...and anything in between. I go through phases with materials, techniques and media.

CZ: What is the inspiration behind your shop?
HL: I have 3 shops:
Gossamer Hollow (faerydustpixy) http://www.faerydustpixy.etsy.com
Coffin Critters http://www.coffincritters.etsy.com
Gossamer Graphics http://www.gossamergraphics.etsy.com

I'll try to keep my answer here short, but inspiration comes from so many places! In regards to Gossamer Hollow, it is fancy and light beauty, Witchery and dreams. I made my first Coffin Critter one Christmas day...not really sure what inspired them. I was just playing with new clay I had gotten, and they brought themselves to life! My ex was a bit disturbed that they surfaced on Christmas. I always chuckle about that. Gossamer Graphics is my design shop. It is unlike any other graphics shop you will find on Etsy. A designer by trade, that shop is heavily influenced by fantasy art and the tattoo culture (big fan!).


CZ: What is the greatest compliment you have received about your work?
HL: "It is the stuff of my nightmares", told to me by a very happy customer. I love that one. :)


CZ: When did you first realize that you weren’t “like the other kids”?
HL: I lived in a haunted house (yes, a for real one!) until I was 8, and I knew even back then. Kids in the neighborhood knew about the hauntings, as my home was featured on TV and in newspapers. Not to mention being the "talk of the town". So I remember feeling different then. I think the experience of that house also influenced my life heavily in many ways, separating me from your average childhood and adolescent normalcy. I learned to accept, love, and nurture it. :)

CZ: What’s a typical day in the life of this Dark Sider like?
HL: It really depends on the day! Typically it involves everyday stuff...eating, sleeping, cleaning (yuck, only when I HAVE to), socializing. It is just done with a darker flair, and with some arts and crafts thrown in here and there. When not creating or working or doing mundane tasks, much of my time is spent researching the internet, nature, and my own brain to try to conjure ideas for my next artistic challenge. I am also a singer and enjoy a good horror movie. Hell, I enjoy a bad horror movie too.

CZ: Zombies or Vampires?

HL: Although I really LOVE both of them, I would have to choose vampires. BUT NOT SPARKLY TEENAGERS! *I have to admit I do like "True Blood" though.* Mostly I like old-fashioned Dracula, Nosferatu. I'm completed fascinated by Elizabeth Bathory. I also enjoy a romantic Bram Stoker and Ann Rice read. Zombies rock hardcore, but I feel a stronger connection with vampires. I think I like the dark beauty and romance often associated with them. And am envious because I would love to be young and beautiful forever!


CZ: Which horror character do you identify with most?
HL: I love May [Lucky McKee's "May", 2002]. Not that I plan on killing people and sewing them together, but deep down she has a good heart. She's just different and misunderstood, desperate for someone who could understand her and give her love unconditionally. Don't we all want that, really?

CZ: What scares you?
HL: Time. Trends. Animal cruelty. Heights. Beauty ads. Germs. Mirrors. Hot pink. Creatures that have more than 4 legs. Plastic surgery. The dude in the Burger King costume.

CZ: When my undead masses take over will you be with us or against us?
HL: Count me IN! Can I be in command of something? I want to feel important.




Thursday, May 13, 2010

Lucky Number 13!

On the 13th of every month I will be offering a Buy One Get One Free deal on my Original Art Prints from now on!  And if it happens to be Friday the 13th, you'll get a free gift too!  Please put the name of the print you'd like for free in the Message to Seller box.




Monday, May 10, 2010

Dark Side of Sophistication

I love things that are both dark and elegant at the same time and Etsy's Dark Side Street Team has an abundance of items that fit the bill!  This collection features some of my favorites.  Follow the link and click on each item to see more information about them.  Also, clicks and comments help the treasury to gain exposure, so please help out if you can!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/c324b47bc67fcf4b552cef00/dark-side-of-sophistication

Friday, May 7, 2010

The Dark Side Loves Zombies



I figured this would make a great opener for my new blog. ;)

If you know me, you know that I LOVE making treasuries on Etsy. And now, with the opening of Treasury East, it's so easy to make them! So of course my first collection on East had to be about my favorite subject - the Undead! Take a look at these awesome finds and visit the link to help it gain exposure. :)



First Time For Everything

Okay, so I thought that maybe it was time to start a blog. This one has been setting here empty all this time because I just didn't know what in the world I could post about that would interest other people. But the time has come!

I'll be posting cool collections of things from Etsy, featuring purveyors of creepy goodness, and occasionally showcasing some of my own items. I'll probably throw in the random thought every once in a while too.

I'm going to try and keep this updated with fresh content - don't expect new stuff every day though! I hope I can entertain everyone, expose you guys to new things, and maybe even find new recruits for my undead army (or, at the very least, some braaaaaaaaaaaiiiiins)! ;)

Rikki