I've been away for a long time, but after seeing the Halloween merch in Michael's today, the mood to come back and spook it up seized me. Halloween happiness starts for me around this time of year anyway, even if it is only August. . .
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Answer - Tell - Pray
It's fitting Harry Houdini died on Halloween. In 1926, after a student tested Houdini's abs of steel with repeated blows, Houdini wound up in the hospital with what looked like a ruptured appendix. Many believe Houdini had appendicitis before the student punched him in the gut, but was too stubborn to seek medical attention.
Before his death, Houdini asked to be buried in a bronze casket along with letters written from his mother. He also left a secret code with his beloved wife, Bess, and said if she ever held a seance that he would make his presence known with the code, which was later revealed to be:
Rosabelle- answer- tell- pray, answer- look- tell- answer, answer- tell.
The name Rosabelle came from a song that Bess sang when she and Houdini first met. The other words related to secret messages used between a magician and assistant during an act. Apparently each word corresponds to a letter, which ultimately spells out the word "believe".
Every Halloween, Bess would try to contact her famous husband, but to no avail. Finally, after ten years, she threw in the towel, announcing: "My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone...The Houdini Shrine has burned for ten years. I now, reverently... turn out the light. It is finished. Good night, Harry!"
Even so, every Halloween there have been seances to try and contact the escape artist. As part of their "31 Days of Halloween", Atlas Obscura has some nice photos of Houdini's gravesite here.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Gwar Goes Trick or Treating
Like last year, I got very busy and have been crappy about updating this blog.
So how about some Gwar trick or treating?
So how about some Gwar trick or treating?
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Creepy Costumes of Yesteryear
Flavorwire has published 20 Incredibly Bizarre Vintage Halloween Costumes, which begs the question: Why were Halloween costumes so creepy back then? Is it because they were photographed in black and white? Is it because they didn't manufacture slutty costumes for eight-year-old-girls in the old days? Whatever the reason, these inventive and creepy costumes are worth a gander. . .
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Cheesecloth Ghosts
I found this easy project over at Martha Stewart. It requires styrofoam heads (they've freaked me out since I was a kid and my father had one to support his hair piece), cheesecloth, glue, and screws. The result is cool and creepy. Seeing these guys floating between the backyard trees is going to be a treat, not to mention it will spook the kids at my Halloween party this year. . .
Monday, September 23, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Halloween Creeps into the Craft Stores
Every August the Halloween stuff starts to materialize in the craft stores. I was in Michael's today and saw signs of October 31 looming in a middle aisle.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Back in Black
I'm Baaaaack! (Don't I say that every year when I return to this blog?) Anyway, that time of year is springing into the air, and while I live in the desert and no longer see the leaves starting to change, I always know it's here when JoAnn Fabrics gets their Halloween goodies in the store. This year, I noticed them about two weeks ago. Lots of good stuff in Michaels too, including big, lifelike crows that vanished when I went back to pick a couple up!
Anyway, if you are reading this, welcome back to my blog. It's time to get spooked. . .
Anyway, if you are reading this, welcome back to my blog. It's time to get spooked. . .
Adrian says, "Ride your broom, Mom."
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
To celebrate, take a look at some creepy vintage Halloween costumes from The Huffington Post over here.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
How to Hit the Bottle This Halloween
Check out these creepy cocktails. My favorite is this rendition of Martha Stewart's bleeding heart, beet concoction.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
A Haunting We Will Go
Monday, October 3, 2011
Boo! It's Your TV Set.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Rabid Bat Found Dead in Halloween Aisle at Jo-Ann Fabrics
Need some ribbon or a couple yards of fabric for a Halloween costume? How about a dead, rabid bat instead?
In Olympia, WA, a dead bat was found in the Halloween section of Jo-Ann Fabrics. How appropriate. The bat was found on a shelf in the Halloween aisle and later tested positive for rabies. Local health officials are concerned people may have handled it, thinking it was one of the Halloween items. "Oh look! Such a life-like bat decoration!. . . Oh, wait it's . . ."
Gross.
The two people in the store who found the bat and reported it were given a rabies vaccine, Local health county officials are asking anyone who may have come in contact with the bat to contact authorities.
In Olympia, WA, a dead bat was found in the Halloween section of Jo-Ann Fabrics. How appropriate. The bat was found on a shelf in the Halloween aisle and later tested positive for rabies. Local health officials are concerned people may have handled it, thinking it was one of the Halloween items. "Oh look! Such a life-like bat decoration!. . . Oh, wait it's . . ."
Gross.
The two people in the store who found the bat and reported it were given a rabies vaccine, Local health county officials are asking anyone who may have come in contact with the bat to contact authorities.
Jo-Ann Fabrics: where crafters go batshit-crazy
Monday, September 19, 2011
House of Restless Spirits
I found this webpage for a place in Santa Montica called House of Restless Spirits. It looks like some sort of Halloween attraction. It's "history" sounds fabricated, but the place sounds fun for a night out. According to the site, you can pretty much just wander around the place for free in small groups.
Upon further research, I've found this snippit from a place that reviews Halloween attractions:
"While you take a tour around the old house not too far from the Pacific Ocean, a series of incredible ghostly manifestations tingle your senses, some in the yard and some in the windows. The effects are subtle but spooky, emphasizing imagination and atmosphere instead of shock. This is definitely a haunt that demands a careful gaze and patient appreciation, so that the phantoms may appear at their leisure."
Sounds like my kind of place. It makes me think of the haunted house at Disney World that my sister and I visited when we were kids. While it was nothing as special or arty as this place sounds, I remember it had that same type of spooky, organic feel, like if you looked in a mirror, you might see a face behind you. At one point I remember knocking on the wall three times and receiving three knocks back in return. It was one of those kid Halloween moments I'll never forget.
Anyway, the site for House of Restless Spirits features cool little videos that are supposed to give a taste of what visiting the place is like. Check it out.
Upon further research, I've found this snippit from a place that reviews Halloween attractions:
"While you take a tour around the old house not too far from the Pacific Ocean, a series of incredible ghostly manifestations tingle your senses, some in the yard and some in the windows. The effects are subtle but spooky, emphasizing imagination and atmosphere instead of shock. This is definitely a haunt that demands a careful gaze and patient appreciation, so that the phantoms may appear at their leisure."
Sounds like my kind of place. It makes me think of the haunted house at Disney World that my sister and I visited when we were kids. While it was nothing as special or arty as this place sounds, I remember it had that same type of spooky, organic feel, like if you looked in a mirror, you might see a face behind you. At one point I remember knocking on the wall three times and receiving three knocks back in return. It was one of those kid Halloween moments I'll never forget.
Anyway, the site for House of Restless Spirits features cool little videos that are supposed to give a taste of what visiting the place is like. Check it out.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Bitch Craft
"God, I love that bitch," one of my friends once said about Martha Stewart. I couldn't agree more. Shes 'the queen of craft, and when it comes to Halloween, the bitch has some fantastic ideas. Her yearly Halloween magazine recently came out and I snatched up a copy faster than you can say "tablescape".
Her costume ideas this year revolve around B movies. When I saw the Space Girl costume, I knew I had to make it. It's a pretty involved project, but it looks like something I've dreamt of since I was little. (I've always been as space case in more ways than one.) If you're near a copy, check it out. The costume even has a drink recipe that accompanies it and the drink glows.
Her costume ideas this year revolve around B movies. When I saw the Space Girl costume, I knew I had to make it. It's a pretty involved project, but it looks like something I've dreamt of since I was little. (I've always been as space case in more ways than one.) If you're near a copy, check it out. The costume even has a drink recipe that accompanies it and the drink glows.
The queen B of craft
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Zombies, The New Vampires?
The article mentions a poison used in Haiti that is derived from the puffer fish, called tetrodotoxin. The drug apparently puts people into a state where their vitals are so low, they can be pronounced dead. Usually when the person comes out of the state, they find themselves working as a slave. Such was the case of Clairvius Narcisse whose story was the inspiration for The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Brad Steiger, one of the most well-known writers dealing with paranormal phenomena, recently wrote a book called Real Zombies, the Living Dead and Creatures of the Apocalypse. In it, he writes about the history and reported cases of zombies in the real world.
Steiger recently told AOL News: "I have an account of a man from Miami who went to Haiti and was dancing with a very lovely Haitian lady, and he felt a little prick on his arm and didn't think anything of it. Next thing he knew, he woke up, was still in his suit and tie, but he was soiled and dirty and was holding a hoe in somebody's field."
Also on the zombie horizon? AMC's upcoming series called The Walking Dead, which will premier on Halloween night.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween!
In honor of Halloween, I'm posting some photos I've taken over the years of the Halloween variety -- i.e. houses, cemeteries, abandoned buildings, Halloween costumes, etc.
Happy Halloween!
My sister standing in front of our favorite local haunted house on Elm Street (yes, that was the name).
Me, circa 1990 with my crazy black Halloween cat, Murphy.
I took this photo of my friend Jim on Halloween 1992. There was a double exposure that made it look like his chest was on fire.
Me as the Morton Salt Girl, Halloween 1993.
Halloween gang, Halloween 1997. I was supposed to be the wicked queen from Snow White (left).
Halloween at The Black Cat in DC, 2004.
crows, 2007.
CVH Mental Hospital in CT, 2004.
My friend Cat in an abandoned house in Ellicot City, 2008.
Cat and my sister Lynn on the stairs leading up to the late, great Hell House in Ellicott City, 2004.
Hell House, 2004.
My sister visits an Etruscan tomb, 2005.
Abandoned farm house in Tuscany, 2005.
Witch in the tree.
Adrian and me, 2007.
Adrian, 2008.
Graveyard in CT
Edgar Allen Poe's grave site
Happy Halloween!
My sister standing in front of our favorite local haunted house on Elm Street (yes, that was the name).
Me, circa 1990 with my crazy black Halloween cat, Murphy.
I took this photo of my friend Jim on Halloween 1992. There was a double exposure that made it look like his chest was on fire. 
Me as the Morton Salt Girl, Halloween 1993.
Halloween gang, Halloween 1997. I was supposed to be the wicked queen from Snow White (left).
Halloween at The Black Cat in DC, 2004.
crows, 2007.
CVH Mental Hospital in CT, 2004.
My friend Cat in an abandoned house in Ellicot City, 2008.
Cat and my sister Lynn on the stairs leading up to the late, great Hell House in Ellicott City, 2004.
Hell House, 2004.
My sister visits an Etruscan tomb, 2005. 
Abandoned farm house in Tuscany, 2005.
Witch in the tree.
Adrian and me, 2007.
Adrian, 2008.
Graveyard in CT
Edgar Allen Poe's grave siteSaturday, October 24, 2009
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
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