Black Market 2012

I wish I could say, "I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I was here!" but I've been well aware of my lack of blogging.  I don't know about you but I tend to start avoiding something like crazy when I feel guilty about not doing it.  And even though I've wanted to blog and had things to write about, I still avoided because so much time had already passed.  But I'm working on that and just jumping in pretty much where I left off; Black Market wrap up.

The event was last weekend and if you aren't familiar with Bats Days and the events that occur you have to check out their page: Bats Day  I'm usually so busy getting ready for the Black Market that I don't get a chance to enjoy the other activities planned over the weekend but I've seen the pictures and heard all about the good times had from other people.

Here's my table set up and my two assistants, my parents sporting their skull shirts. 

I'm going to get a new sign before the next show I realize that one is not easy to read.

This table of stunning hats was right across from me.  I wanted each and every one of them.  You can check out the full collection here: The House Of Wormwood

Directly across from me was a table that brought out the full fan girl mode in me.  It was the Monster Man table with Clive and Constance Hall!  I love that show on SyFy.  And I think she pretty much has one of the coolest jobs ever.

I did a bit of shopping too it wasn't all work. ;)  I bought an adorable spider hair clip from La Vie Macabre  She also does some gorgeous resin skull jewelry.

I also bought some adorable hair bow clips one with a skull cameo and one with a small coffin from LaDanseMacabre  They also have beautiful velvet caplets and all kinds of jewelry and other goodies.

This is a booth that I need to buy something from, they have the most adorably creepy stuffed creations at My Vicious Boutique

Foul Bitten has amazing art work it's etched copper the process is done with salt water and a battery on her kitchen counter it's just incredible.

I just love MaS Design Ceramic Oddities  All her ceramics are hand poured, sculpted, fired and glazed by her in her home studio

And if you love all that's odd and strange than you have to check out The Curio Emporium  This will take you to their Facebook page their website will be up and running at the end of this month.  It's definitely worth checking out.

I could go on and on there were so many amazing vendors there.  Plus I enjoy getting to sit back and watch all the gorgeous people in their finery.  Although no one quite stood out as much as this guy who was kind enough to stop and pose for this picture. :)

It really was an amazing day.  I love getting to meet the other vendors and sharing stories and the best part is getting to meet people who buy my work or seeing how people react to pieces as they walk by.  I love to see the surprise on their face as they see a small unexpected detail in a shadow box.  I work at home and I don't do any other shows but this one so I don't get to see a lot of public reactions or feedback which just makes this show extra special to me.

    

Bats Day Black Market 2011 Wrap Up

Since I last checked in here I have been working like a mad woman (some will say, "and that is different how?") getting ready for the Bats Day Black Market this year.  I made about 20 new items that I didn't even list in my shop.  The event was last weekend I had an amazing time and I sold better than last year! WOO HOO!!!  It's only my second time vending there but I ran into a people that I remember from last year and who remembered me which made it feel very much like hanging out with extended family.  I only got to walk around a little but the in that brief time I saw some incredible work and some stunning outfits.  I had a tiara custom made for me by the wonderfully gifted EJPcreations who designed and created it .  It is truly a work of art.

Here's a few pictures of my table.  And one of me and my Dad who has more fun at this event than anyone.

The table to the left of me was http://www.thecurioemporium.com/.  They had the most amazing jewelry, vintage photos and wonderfully odd trinkets.  I had my eye on a necklace with an old fashioned bicycle pendent.  But sadly I had to refrain from any purchases.  Which was absolute torture for me!  Not only did they have great items their outfits were just gorgeous.  Here is a picture of her she made this dress herself from curtains.  Check out their website they are going to be opening a shop in Pasadena this year.

One of the vendors that I ran into from last year was Skele Clips.  She has some of the most gorgeous taxidermy jewelry and fasicnators.  I've been lusting after her jewelry since I saw it there last year.

I also ran into a two husband wife teams that I met last year.  Pill box designs make vinyl wall art.  They have great coffins, bats, zombies and spiders.  They also have lap top designs and dry erase boards.  I pretty  much want something for every wall. 

The other couple have their own shops.  Lunakitten who makes wonderful hair falls.  Here's a friend of a friend, who bought two Saturday, modeling one pair.

And her husband Millinginline makes the most incredible hand made storage boxes for small bottles of perfume like you would get from Black Phoenix Alchemy.  He was selling one that looked like a doll house that was just gorgeous. 

I also really wanted a zombie bunny being sold by My Vicious Boutique.  They had so many adorable stuffed creations I had to fight to resist.

And I was really impressed with MaS Design.  She creates ceramics that are all hand poured, fired and glazed by her.  They are just dark, odd and beautiful.

It's a good thing I didn't walk around more or this post would be twice as long!  If you are in the Southern California area next May you should definitely check the event out.

Some of the new items I made that didn't sell at the event are being listed on my shop.  And I've already started on some new creations. :)

Skulls and Castles

I've finished two new projects since I last posted.  The first is a wood box purse.  I've made a lot of these for myself and as gifts through the years but I haven't made any for my shop yet.  I love them but there is the drawback of every time I open one to get something out I have to make sure it's lying flat and I don't lose anything.  So I wanted to make one that was fully lined and opened like a traditional purse.  It took me more than a few days (read a week) and two trips to the fabric store before I figured it out.  But now that's it's done I love it!  I will be making some more if not to sell in my shop than definitely to sell at the Bats Day Black Market event.  If you want more information about this event here's a link to their website: Bats Day.  Enough of the chatty chatty, here's some pictures:

My other project is a new shadow box called The Vampire's Castle.  The idea started with a great castle graphic that I got from Altered Artifacts.  I used images from the 1931 Dracula for the vampire and his brides.  I also used a quote from Bram Stoker's Dracula on the back of the shadow box: "...the walls of my castle are broken.  The shadows are many, and the wind breaths through the broken battlements and casements."  This was a fun project and I'm trying to think of some other themes that I can use the castle front with.  I'm thinking dark fairy tale like maybe a gothic sleeping beauty.

This week I'm working on a carnival freak show shadow box.  Stay tuned for the research pictures for that project!