Bones!

It just been that sort of day. So here is a collection of pretty bones I've found in my strolls on the internet today.

Alice!!!

LookiE at the new Alice video game. Soooo Pretty!

EA Alice 'The Madness Returns' Trilogy from Strange Beast on Vimeo.

Distressing Paper

Here are a couple of really good tutorials on distressing paper. Don't forget to use the stipple brush to complete the ages look.

Donnie Darko

I don't know why, but everything lastly has been Donnie Darko. Either someone will bring it up in conversation, or someone will pass by me wearing a tee shirt, or out of nowhere I'll see a terrifying bunny thing down the street. So in an effort to purge this demon from my life here are some of my favorite Donnie Darko things.

Blood Rorschach

My boyfriends and my anniversary was this last Sunday. We are both artists so we usually make things for one another for such occasions. This year I wanted his gift to be very special, and personal. So what did I do? I made a Blood Rorschach!!! You know ink blot tests, but instead of ink... you guessed it my blood. Alright don't freak out I know it's weird, ( you have seen my other artwork right?). Don't worry I'm too much of a chicken to cut myself for it. A couple of weeks ago I cut myself with an exacto like I always do. Usually I wear leather gardening gloves whenever I even think of holding an exacto knife, but this night I was sleepy and forgot. Also, that day I had taken a lot of sinus medication so once the wound opened it didn't clot right away and I had enough time to grab some paper, and play with it. I realize that this isn't the first thing people think of when one cuts themselves, but you didn't grow up in my family. My oldest sister who is a sculptress did an entire series of blood Rorschachs for a gallery show a few years ago, ( She had the blood taken from her by a nurse ). I was VERY please with the end result. The variation in quality of line, and shading made me very proud. The I accented the piece and give it definition with a brown micron pigment pen. The only thing that irritates me that I only had crappy computer paper to put it on. It was the only thing I had within reach. I will know better for next time.

Good Little Monkeys

Good Little Monkeys 1935- Happy Harmonies Theatrical Directed By Hugh Harman

Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Part 4 of Disney's banned Legend of Sleepy Hollow 1958

Vincent (1982)

Vincent (1982)- TIm Burton

Bewitched Bunny- 1954

Bewitched Bunny (1954)- Chuck Jones director

Great Pumpkin!

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Part 4

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Part 5

The Easter Bunny Is Eating My Candy- 2009

The Easter Bunny Is Eating My Candy

Tales From the Darkside Intro

Tales From the Darkside Intro!!! This has always creeped me out. I love it!!!

Boys and girls of every age...

Just a few of my favorite Halloween pictures of this year.

Diableries Series

About six months ago a ran across this picture, and simply fell in love with it. It looked Victorian, and it looked like a series but other than that I had no idea what it was or how to find more information about it. Just now I was searching Victorian Memento Mori Tableaux... like you do... and it popped up. So thanks to Morbidanatomy blog not only do I know what they are, but now I have a new blog to follow. YAY! Here is a quote form their post on a lecture series of which these here a part of. "macabre 3D spectacles of the Victorian age, the infamous Diableries series–masterfully designed 3D stereo ’tissues’ created in France in the 19th century, backlit and featuring ornate scenes depicting the daily life of Satan in Hell. Tongue in cheek and often controversial, these macabre spectacles give us a very interesting look at the 19th century’s lighthearted obsession with death and the macabre, serving as a wonderful demonstration of the Victorian fascination with themes such as the afterlife, heaven, hell and death."

Mumbly-Jumbly Mumblety-Peg

On an otherwise dull day of mulling through my Facebook stream an amazing photo caught my eye. Upon further investigation of Mumbly-Jumbly Mumblety-Peg profile I found to my delight that this was not just a rare gem of a picture, but an entire collection of stunning photographs. All taken by an amazing artist traveling the globe and shooting mostly skulls and skeletons in different churches, religious rituals, museums, and burial spots. Basically wherever he might find them. His profile doesn't give a lot of information, but from what I have seen of his posts I believe a book of his photos is on the horizon. If so I will be the first one to purchase because his work just makes my heart sing.

Memento Mori Clock

Add to the list yet another thing I have to make. I just love the little grim reaper with the scythe.
Nosferatu: The Vampyre/Phantom Der Nacht

This is Halloween, This is Halloween!

It's October 1st YAYYYYYYY!!!! (dancing around the room) So now I'm really getting into the Halloween spirit. I just found this great video on making Halloween decorations, and another one on sugar skulls. Also, here is a great on-line retailer for sugar skull supplies http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/ I can't wait to try them out.

Victorian Halloween Terror-iums- Re-blog from DIY Craft

This post is a re-blog from Diy Craft . I just love this idea so so much, and exactly what I was looking for, for my next project.

Large glass terrariums were a part of many Victorian homes. The glass around the plants allowed them to flourish even in cold fall and winter months, and they were quite the curiosity when they first became popular. Brilliant San Francisco-based floral design company Studio Choo created aptly-named terror-iums for popular blog Design Sponge.

This spooky version of the terrarium is perfect decor for a Victorian Gothic Halloween party since it imparts that subtly eerie vibe youll want to achieve. Plus, you have the option of keeping your terrarium after the party, replanting the plants outside, or giving away the terrariums to party guests as prizes or favors, depending on how many you create.

We suggest taking this idea and simplifying it by choosing locally available plants that can be repotted in your yard, since the carnivorous plants they used require special environments and treatment to continue growing.

Heres our take on the terror-ium:


Supplies
large glass cloches or round bowls
easy to care for plants - mini ferns, grasses and mosses
dirt
Victorian-era embellishments like old lockets


Directions
Step 1: Purchase a mix of large glass cloches and round bowls to use for housing and displaying the plants.

Step 2: Visit a local nursery or greenhouse and ask which kind of easy to care for plants will survive well in a terrarium, and can be replanted outdoors in the spring.

Step 3: Purchase a mix of interesting looking plants for the terrariums, including mini ferns, grasses, and any unique mosses.

Step 4: Be creative in building your terrariums, and finish off the look with gray or black reindeer moss (can be purchased at Save-On-Crafts.com) over the dirt. For the Halloween party, add in extra Victorian-era touches like old faux lockets, ajar pocket watches, and cleaned chicken bones (be sure to boil the cleaned bones for a long time to avoid any rotting or smell).

*photo credit to Studio Choo via Design Sponge

How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing

Temple or gravestone rubbing is believed to have originated with the Chinese, around 30 0 B.C. Originally, it was used as a method of communicating governmental decrees, a forerunner to the printing press. The government’s laws and messages were carved in stone then transformed to parchment by rubbing with colored wax or other permanent dye material. More recently gravestone and momument rubbings were once very popular, and a common field trip activity for schoolchildren. For me they are just really, really cool to frame and put in your living room, especially for Halloween. There are much more complex methods for achieveing a proper gravestone rubbing, but this one makes a great image and easy to do.

Things You'll Need:
• Conte crayon, or pastel
• Drawing Pencils
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Tracing Paper
• Crayons
• Masking or Painters Tape

- Remember to always be respectful in a cemetery. Always check with the proper authorities before attempting any type of rubbing activity, regardless of whether the object is on private, or public properity. If you are going to do rubbings on actual headstones or monuments, be sure to check the laws in your state before you start. In many states, like New England, it is against the law to make rubbings on gravestones. In the UK, there are centres set up specifically for making rubbings, using replicas of the original monuments and plaques. Always best to do a little research before you start to avoid getting anyone upset.

- This method will work only on gravestones that have raised or sunken letters. If you can't feel anything when you rub your fingers across them, they won't show up on a tracing.

-Hold the tracing paper over the front of the stone or marker. You may want to use masking tape to prevent your paper from moving.

- The trick to this is finding the right drawing implement that woks best for you. Try out your technique at home first, and practice a little bit. If you're using a pencil of any kind, hold it almost horizontal against the paper as you rub. If you're using a conte crayon or pastel, rest it flat against the paper. Pressing gently, rub over the image until an outline starts to appear.

-Usually, the image will not turn out completely crisp. You might want to go back in and alter it a little bit. If you're using a pencil, you can use your kneaded rubber eraser to remove shading in small areas, and create a more distinct image. Also you can move the rubbing while you’re working on it slightly to create a 3D effect. Complete the rubbing in the basic color then move the paper slightly to one side. The next step is to go over the highlights with a contrasting color giving the image a highlight or 3-D effect.

- Roll up your rubbing carefully, and when you get home spray it with a spray fixative to make sure it is protected ( make sure to do any alteration to the image before using the fixative). And there you have it a perfectly spooky image for framing.

The Sedlec Ossuary

I want to visit The Sedlec Ossuary so bad! My sister went there a few years ago, and was just amazed by the artistry of the bones arrangements. Here is a little of the history from the website, "In 1870, a local woodcarver, Frantisek Rindt was given the task to decorate the chapel with the bones. And the amazing result speak for itself. 40,000 human bodies are now arranged and the place is now popularly known as the Church of Bones."

Resources:
The Sedlec Ossuary
Sacred Destinations