Halloween 1938

Photographer unknown.

Les Morts Gothique

If you want a bit of dark music to play while building props, you should consider Halloween at High Noon. I've mentioned them in past posts, generally around this time of year, which is when they release their new tunes. 

Halloween at High Noon is a sort of dark musician's collective. Each album features several different artists, playing in their own distinctive styles. (It's kind of Halloween house music, if you're curious about the sound.)

This year, their new release is Les Morts Gothique, available on both iTunes and Amazon. I listened to it at work the other day and it's wonderful! I'll definitely be adding it to my "Spooky Music" playlist in the studio!

Past years' albums include Way of the Wicked, Dead Beats and Head Treats, and Corpus Vile, and they're all downloadable. Enjoy!

Great Pumpkin Project Update

Yesterday, I boosted the signal on The Great Pumpkin Project, and promised I'd get you the print art. If you click here, you can follow the thread until you find the download. Meanwhile, I'll quote Adam's words, so you get an idea of what the feeling is behind this project.

Hello Everyone,
My name is Adam. i am the one behind this project. I rarely ever post on here but lurk quite often. I'd like to offer some insight on how I am going about the project. First off, I'd like to say I am ecstatic with the amount of people who love the idea. The more this spreads, the better. So here is how I'm going about the project, and if you would like to get on board, there are a few guidelines I respectfully ask you follow. My mission is 1 jack o lantern everyday/night of October, in a location that looks as if it needs to be graced with a grinning pumpkin. Im sure all of you on this forum can relate to the feeling of joy you feel when you see a lit pumpkin sitting on a nice porch during a cool fall evening. Now how great would it feel to see one placed in a randomly spooky graveyard, old train station or just on a highway overpass. PURE HALLOWEEN BLISS! This is a feeling i wanted to spread locally, and hopefully others would like to do as well.

If you are in fact onboard, and would like to participate there are a few guidelines that would be hugely appreciated if followed:
1. If you have the time and ability, try and put out one jack for every remaining night of the month. I know this is tough to do, lots of carving and time to do so. Trust me, I know, but I'm doing 31. But if you can only do one, just make sure its placed in a spot that is worth it. Or at least close to your heart haha. This is not just for Halloween night. As a matter of fact, its even cooler that it's any random night in October.
2. PLEASE DO NOT USE ACTUAL FIRE! I know this is very tempting, but please do not leave a pumpkin with actual flame sitting out. I am using LED tea lights from walmart to ensure there are no accidents. If you take pics and need more light, use what is needed, but please don't use actual flame. Last thing we want is to burn down the awesome places.
3. If you would be so kind as to tag the pumpkins with the Great Pumpkin Project tags, that would be great. There is a logo made, and I will post it shortly. This helps make sure that this is all done under one banner. Create your tags however you like, I used wooden tags and created a rubber stamp. But use the logo.
4. If you decide to take pictures, please send them to greatpumpkinproject@gmail.com This is brand new to me, and didn't expect this much of a response, so please bear with me as I work out the details. But I'd like to collect pictures taken, and display them somehow. I will learn as I go.
5. SPEARD THE SPIRIT! PRESERVE THE EVE OF ALL HALLOWS! HAIL THE HARVEST!!!
Thanks so much for the support.
Adam

Happy Hallowe'en, kiddies! 

TCM Does it Again!

Have you ever seen the original Dracula on the big screen? Well, now's your chance! 

Thanks to Turner Classic Movies, you can click on the pic and buy your tickets to see the 1931 classic in the theater on October 25th and 28th! They're also playing the Spanish language version as part of the double feature.

Oh, and? You can catch this guy on October 29th. Click on his pic, if you dare!

Boosting the Signal: The Great Pumpkin Project

I found this on Pumpkinrot's page, and I need to join in the fun:

The Great Pumpkin Project: Jack O'Lanterns left anonymously in lonely places, near abandoned buildings, alongside roads... anywhere that'll give the passerby a burst of Halloween, and some questions.

Click here for Rot's post. It seems that Adam, the originator of the project, is going to get him a jpg of the designs you see above, to be left with the jacks in their places.

Oh, I do so love the month of October!

Samhain

Art by T-Rex Tristan Jones on Deviant Art.

Children of the Night! What Music They Make!

Click on the pic for a Hallowe'en playlist on YouTube. Then click, "Play All."

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Possibly the best Halloween story of all time.

This Halloween season, at the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, New York, Jonathan Kruk, master storyteller, will be telling the tale every weekend thru the first weekend of November. Click on the pic for details.

I will, one day, travel to see this marvellous place. It's a bucket list thing!

Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized? A ShellHawk's Nest Tradition

Click on the pic to start off the Halloween Season right!

Halloween and Vine: The AFTERMATH!

Ok, not much of an "aftermath," but it sounded so dramatic, I couldn't resist!

Prepping for Halloween and Vine was the usual chaos and long days. Neighbors stepped up to help me with my inventory process and to help pack my things away in bins. I managed to get a sign painted--mostly.

 In the end, I didn't have the time to put the thorns in, but that'll get done soon.

After setting up on Friday, Mr. ShellHawk and I went to the artists dinner. This year, we were lucky enough to have Sonoma Tintype there to take our pictures if we wanted!

He brought costumes along, or you could wear your own. Below, Annie Libertini wears a mask of her own making.

The tintype turned out really creepy! 

 Her husband, Michael, sat for a portrait, too!

 I can't recommend Sonoma Tintype enough! Just beautiful work!

Meanwhile, there was schmoozing and dinner to be had!

 

 And we got to see each others' booths set up before they were emptied out by avid collectors!

Chicken Lips had a big, beautiful display this year. I really wanted the little ghost twins, but unfortunately, they were gone by the time I had a chance to look up from my own booth!

I sold a bunch of jacks this time. And I had a couple of people tell me they specifically came to the show to see me! Wow! Some folks came out who have been collecting my things since the old Apple Hill days, if you can believe it! 

During a lull, I got out of the booth to walk around and see a few other people's displays, including this one, by Zombie Nose. Such a talent!

Time for a quick selfie...

 Artist Jorge de Rojas of Hohohalloween made the Halloween lantern to hang from the chandelier. It was beautiful! And he is just a spectacular human, too, by the way.

I wish I had gotten more pictures of the different artists and their wares, but I just didn't get the time.

Then it was time to pack up and say goodbye until next year, except for a small after party, at which I saw this amazing find:

So jealous to see one of these with all of the cups and the original cork!

Well, Halloween and Vine never ceases to exceed my expectations, I must say. The show coordinators are wonderful, passionate about Halloween and keeping the show filled with nice people who are the most talented artists they can find. No drama, just great fun and great art!

On to the next show, at Oak Park Brewing Company in Sacramento, for Second Saturday!