This Sunday is Misgivings Day, and that means it's time to start some serious Halloween fun.
This year I have big plans to kick off the season starting Friday, and if you want to follow along, be sure to take a peek at my Instagram feed that evening. Otherwise, I'll be posting pictures later this month.
There will be jack O'lanterns, candy, pumpkin flavoured treats, monsters and even trick or treating. I am very, very excited (sore eyes or no sore eyes).
So what will YOU be doing this Misgivings Day Weekend? Might I suggest horror movie marathons and pumpkin beer? Or perhaps some prop building is in order. I know many of you are already doing some Halloween activities.
I've fallen behind on everything since the accident, and am trying desperately to get figures ready for the Bazaar of the Bizarre on Oct 12th in Toronto. Once that is done, I can focus on my own Halloween theme for this year's gathering.
Friday the 13th has brought a fall morning to Toronto. Crisp, clean air welcomed me as I opened the door. Welcome Fall. We've all been waiting patiently for your arrival.
What better way to celebrate the holiday than with a scary story. It just so happens I have one. A true one.
With his charming grin, it's almost hard to get mad at him.
Unless of course he's just eaten your favourite feathered friend.
Still, you can't blame him for following his instinct. He is an Avieater, after all, and it's in his nature.
He uses his teeth and feet to pry open the strongest cages to get at his next meal.
He is able to unhinge his jaw and open his mouth extremely wide, often swallowing his prey whole, leaving behind only a few feathers.
Despite his somewhat unnerving hunting practice of wild fowl and beloved winged pets, he's generally a harmless little critter who seeks to satisfy his gluttonous desires.
This fella is my first venture into the world of faux fur and creating a fluffy bit of monster fun. His face, feet and horns are paperclay painted with acrylics. And if you count the cage he's in, he's probably the tallest piece too at over 2 feet tall.
He's already been adopted and has found a new home on the west coast. There are reports they may name him "Smug", which I think fits him fine.
I've included a few more images below for your viewing pleasure.
I've been a little busy the last few weeks. FanExpo 2013 has come and gone. I was so pleased to see many familiar faces coming to the table to say hello and add to their collection of ghoulish goodies. I thank you, and my car thanks you since it was in the shop at the start of the convention and I was allowed to get it back because I could pay the mechanic. Just another example of the good your money does when you buy from artists instead of big box stores. I'd mentioned on Facebook that many people don't even break even in Artist Alley, and how your patronage can mean the difference for them to pay their rent or buy their groceries, or make more of the art you love to see. Thank you.
I wanted to share with you the art of Sean Chappell. That's his piece Things That Should Not Be Inside Eggs: The Evolution of Manmade Plantlife.
He's one of the people you'll find in artist alley, and if every cent of mine wasn't earmarked for car repairs, I would have picked up something from his table. His work is detailed, textured and surreal (does that creature have a pumpkin centipede for a head?).
Plus, both he and his wife are lovely, friendly people.
There were many dark art and horror gems hidden in Artist Alley this year. Shame the organizers didn't spend the time to put all of us in the same row. In theory we are sorted by genre. In practice, not so much.
Last year I took a break from making the eyeball plants, This year I've made both the Carnivorous Plants and the Peek-A-Boo eyeball plants.
They are a bit bigger than usual.
But you should know I've only made a dozen of each plant type.
For the 12 eyeball plants, you'll find red, purple, blue and green/hazel eyes (only 1 of those) on my table.
And when those run out, that's it for the show (and maybe for the year).
The plants are the number one item I hear people lament missing out on because they didn't pick one up early over the weekend. By the time they come back, I'm sold out (and that's when I make closer to 30 plants). These same people head straight for my table the following year so they get first pick and don't miss out.
So please, if you are looking to get an eyeball plant this year, be sure to get one early. If you wait until Saturday afternoon, they might be all gone.
My summer (and spring) has been dominated by the task of getting ready for FanExpo and this Thursday, Aug 22, the fun finally begins.
You will find me in Artist Alley at table A62. You need to head to the far left corner of the South Building to find me. I've posted a small image of the area, but you can check out the entire floor plan on the FanExpo website.
I've been trying to snap photos of figures, add final touches to Bad JuJu dolls, and get that final "to do" list done.
I'll be posting some pictures of figures here very soon, though I can't promise full stories for each.
I've added a larger floorplan below. I hope to see you at FanExpo!
With my trusty camera in tow, and a friend at my side, I enjoyed a short road trip to a small art gallery showcasing Canadian talent. And that included a few pieces from yours truly.
There is something very strange about walking into a building and finding your art there. And something comforting about it. It was like having a group of friends waiting for me.
I do love that Pilch - second figure from the left in the banner - is a big toothy ham in a group of some more serious looking faces.
I never know what to do in these sorts of situations. It's one thing to stand behind a table of your work and talk to people. It's another to mill about a crowded space where people might make conversation with you about the work on the wall.
It feels a lot like being at a party where you don't really know anyone. Since I am an introvert, that can be mildly uncomfortable. I was blessed to have so many things to preoccupy my attention or else I might have gotten twitchy...or in trouble.
At one point a couple were leaned in close to my figures, examining them, discussing them at length. It took all my willpower not to step beside them, my shoulder to theirs, and just start nodding thoughtfully.
I was a good ghoul.
In fact, I even made myself leave the room. When I came back, two of my pieces had sold (apparently to an owner of a Tattoo shop which will be their new home).
If you happen to be in the London, Ontario area, be sure to stop by Dollirium Art Doll Emporium from May 26th to July 5th, 2013.
The gallery is hosting a "Home Grown Doll Show" of artists from Ontario, and yours truly is part of it.
Opening reception is this evening from 7 pm to 10 pm and I'm so excited to be part of it, I'm actually going to be making the drive out from Toronto this evening to make a brief appearance.
I've had a sneak peek at the other artist's work, and am thrilled to be in such good company.
If you do make it tonight, I'll be the exhausted, disheveled woman. Nudge me awake and say hi.
Otherwise, you have more than a month to enjoy the show at your leisure.
The gallery is located at 1 Cliftonvale Ave.
If you don't see me, say hi to my figures. It's the first time they've been away from home besides going to new owners, and I'm concerned they might get upset one dark night...and possibly eat the other figures on display. I won't get charged for that, right?
Ah Georgina (or Georgie, as she's known to her friends).
All my other witches and hags have taught me that appearances can be deceiving, and labels are misleading. A witch isn't what you think she is, or expect her to be.
This is not the case with Georgina.
Georgina is the textbook witch. Open her cupboards and you will find eye of newt.
Cackle? Check.
Animal familiar (in this case, a bird)? Check.
Green, wrinkled skin? Check.
Pointy hat? Check.
The only thing missing is her broom, recently taken from her by the members of her coven for flying while inebriated. She'd misjudged her landing and collided with the community cauldron just as her sister witches were putting the last touches on a spell they'd been simmering for 3 days.
And I should mention that throwing water on her will not make her melt. It will only make her very, very angry.
Tomas was born a demon, but I sense he's more naughty than nefarious.
Sure, he isn't planting flowers and raising bunnies, but he isn't burning down churches or enslaving souls either.
On the contrary, such acts are a lot of work, and Tomas isn't a fan of exerting effort. He'd rather stick out his tongue than hex you. He figures both actions get his displeasure across, and why waste energy on that when you can spend it on...well...he's not sure what to spend it on since he doesn't like to do anything, really. But that's not the point, is it?
It's that time again!
Friday the 13th has brought a fall morning to Toronto. Crisp, clean air welcomed me as I opened the door. Welcome Fall. We've all been waiting patiently for your arrival.
With his charming grin, it's almost hard to get mad at him. 
I've been a little busy the last few weeks. FanExpo 2013 has come and gone. I was so pleased to see many familiar faces coming to the table to say hello and add to their collection of ghoulish goodies. I thank you, and my car thanks you since it was in the shop at the start of the convention and I was allowed to get it back because I could pay the mechanic. Just another example of the good your money does when you buy from artists instead of big box stores. I'd mentioned on Facebook that many people don't even break even in Artist Alley, and how your patronage can mean the difference for them to pay their rent or buy their groceries, or make more of the art you love to see. Thank you. 
Last year I took a break from making the eyeball plants, This year I've made both the Carnivorous Plants and the Peek-A-Boo eyeball plants. 
My summer (and spring) has been dominated by the task of getting ready for 
This past Sunday I hopped in my car and headed out to London, Ontario, for the opening of 
I never know what to do in these sorts of situations. It's one thing to stand behind a table of your work and talk to people. It's another to mill about a crowded space where people might make conversation with you about the work on the wall. 
If you happen to be in the London, Ontario area, be sure to stop by 
Ah Georgina (or Georgie, as she's known to her friends). 
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