In Cryptozoology news...

The only known specimen of the rare and once rumoured, Lepidoptera Mortem has been found and I have him preserved and ready for display.

 This month was the birthday of someone I lost and loved dearly.  The memories led me to create this miniature Momento Mori style diorama inspired by part of a poem I wrote for him and all those we lose too soon.

To get back to the more whimsical side of things here's a new jewelry box I just finished.  I love this Victorian Bat costume.  

Bringing Halloween to my summer months

It's a constant battle every year loving summer for about a week and then being over it and longing and dreaming of October and all it's wonderful Halloween/Fall goodness.  I made a few pieces to remind myself it's only 122 days until Halloween.

I found this cute Victorian looking doll house carriage and a little doll.  I decided to give them a vampire inspired make-over.  Here's what it looked like before

And here's the after.

I was contemplating possible Halloween decor themes and The Mad Scientist's Laboratory came to mind.  So I decided to do a miniature version in a shadow box.  

Humming Bird Nursery

A hummingbird decided to build a nest on a windchime we have under the patio.  Thank goodness it's so far under the patio it doesn't move. (yeah, not the best planning on my part)  It's been fascinating to watch how dedicated she is to sitting on the nest.  And once the babies were hatched she has flown back and forth almost non-stop.  Here's mama on the nest and the babies ready to bust out of the nest.  Which cool fact, the nest is built to expand as the babies grow.

Frida Kahlo, Creepy Fortune Tellers, and Lizzie Borden!!!

I was inspired by this peek into Frida's Closet, to create a new shadow box.  I chose to put her in her studio with some of her beloved pets.

There is no clear line from Frida to Lizzie, but they both happened this month.  I may have overindulged in the blood splatter but after watching the series with Christina Ricci and loving the high camp factor I was inspired.

From Frida and Lizzie, I moved to a creepy fortune teller.  I was sifting through the spare doll parts (Doesn't everybody have a drawer full of spare parts?) and I ran across a particularly lovely head.  I gave her a bandana and some silver hoop earrings and a miniature Ouija board.  And then I encased her in a "crystal" ball.

I've been doing some Spring cleaning in the workshop this week.  When it comes to items that I may use in my artwork I am a total hoarder.  I will keep the most random things because some day I may need it to fabricate something in one of my miniature dioramas or use it to decorate a box.  I bought a new storage bin with lots of small clear drawers so I can see what I have now.  So now I'm inspired to start using pieces in new creations.  Plus I found the most amazing yard sale.  The woman was a doll collector and she was selling off extra stuff.  I got a victorian reproduction doll from the 60's, a German doll with unstuffed body and porcelain arms and head from the 1800's, random doll heads and legs, and all kinds of miniature teacups and saucers.  There is definitely going to be some creepy doll projects happening.  Here's a picture of my haul.

I did get some actual work done last week.  I finished a new jewelry box with this great paper I found recently, funeral coaches and distressed lace.

I also finished a Poe shadow box I've been working on.  I found a new technique to make my clay candles look like the are bleeding but also keep that melted wax look.  

This week I'm working on a miniature cemetery for a tiny shadow box frame I found recently.  Time to bust out the clay and start making teeny tiny gravestones. 

When I first saw this jewelry box she had that faded beauty of an old carnival performer with her beautiful curved ornate legs and slightly shabby finish.  So I was inspired by that to create a freakshow themed jewelry box.  This one is dedicated to the Strange Girls everywhere.  My fellow modern day freaks who never quite fit in with the rest of the crowd.

It's pretty much like Christmas for me when I find nice wood pieces for the home in thrift stores or estate sales.  I got a hold of these two items for the kitchen and gave them a much needed gothic makeover.  

I love the retro vibe of recipe boxes and napkin holders.  I'm not sure people even use them much anymore.  I'm guessing everyone's recipes are on Pinterest or stored on a pad. But I remember what fun it was to sit in my Mom's kitchen when I was young and go through her Betty Crocker recipe box.  Everything was broken down by occasion with sections for cocktail parties and dinner parties.  It seemed so glamorous at the time.  And I've always loved the kitschiness of  napkin holders especially the ones from tourist locations.  So in my mind I see these items and can't help to start planning a gothic kitschy kitchen.

I started a new shadow box thinking I was going to do something along the lines of a Victorian parlor with a mourning skeleton.  But midway through making the skeleton's dress she decided she was a witch.  So I switched gears and went with Miss Witch's parlor.

 So here she is all ready to be a proper Victorian lady in mourning when the compulsion hits and this happens

Once she went there I had to create a creepy home for her.  

Need a love spell, your fortune told?  Step right in she's just waiting to welcome you.