Musician/composer Andy Rehfeldt likes to keep his creative skills sharp by mixing “classic” with “metal.” Sometimes he turns metal songs into smooth jazz, and sometimes he does stuff like this:
Edit: YouTube, with its usual goose stampede-like elegance, yanked the original video due to a claimed copyright infrigement. It looks like it’s been mirrored, though:
I posted about Yankee Candle’s “Boney Bunch” collection when they were released a couple of years ago, and since then one of my commenters has faithfully kept us updated on the status of the collection. wildeprose has come through again, recently leaving this comment:
Hey guys!
Its that time of year again!
Boney Bunch is coming back for 1 last year! The company has stated that this will be “Part 3” and that they will end it at that….not because the demand is not there, but because they are happy to see it go on as a collectors item!
This year…again as an insider…I believe they are doing the next step after marriage which is CHILDREN!
The company is being very secretive about the collection this year…so I cant give you much info….all I can say at this point is that yes indeed it it coming out again, this will more than likely be the last year, and more than likely it will be related to boney bunch children….
The preview party will be between Aug 7th and 9th….BE PREPARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay tuned….I will give info the moment I get it!!!!
:)
If things work out as they have in past years, these suckers will be snapped up almost as soon as they hit the shelves. If you’re in the market for wedding cake toppers, party favors, or (if wildeprose is correct about the new addition) a very unique baby shower gift, you’re definitely going to need to act fast.
I’ve had this gallery of masks knocking around in my Drafts folder for so long that I’ve forgotten where it came from originally. There aren’t any descriptions or design information, but a bit of googling seems to confirm that they’re all the work of Linda Bergkvist, who has a blog/portfolio here (some of her paintings are NSFW).
The masks are simply lovely, and are a wonderful source of inspiration. There are a wide range of styles, using everything from feathers and jewels to what appears to be filigree made with hot glue. If you’re looking for a mask to complete a costume–or even to build a costume around–there are some fantastic ideas here.
Kabbalah Vodka – Russian vodka that riffs on the old belief that Jewish religious rites required the blood of infants…by including a hand-blown glass baby in the bottle. (Hat tip to Empress Pam)
Funeral Gathering – I have no idea where this artwork came from, but I like it.
Mela Design – Goth and medieval wedding invitations.
Skull Book – A few nice face-paint skulls. I especially like the first one.
Three book suggestions from Kitten Herder: The Undertaking – Meditations of a funeral director in a small town. Bodies in Motion and at Rest – A collection of essays by the same author. The Dead Beat – A look at obituaries and their writers.
I’ve had this lurking in my Drafts folder for so long that I’ve forgotten the original intent of the post. I think it was going to be part of a “themed party” idea, where the invitation text would tie into the overall party motif: A party with an Old World theme might use a relevant poem or superstition, and so on. However, that post apparently is never going to get off the ground, so here’s a bunch of poetry and folk sayings that might be useful for prettying up a party invitation.
If you hear footsteps following you on Halloween,
you must not look round,
for it is the dead who are following,
and you should not meet their glance.
— Old Irish Superstition
Go to the crossroads at Hallowe’en and listen
to hear the future whispered in the wind.
— Old Welsh Saying
Halloween will come, will come,
Witchcraft will be set agoing,
Fairies will be at full speed,
Running in every pass.
Avoid the road children, children.
— Old Scottish Saying
Last night was Hallowe’en, you know;
The cowbells rang, the horns did blow,
The goblins stalked o’er stones and planks
And small boys played their annual pranks.
— Hallowe’en, Charles Frederick White
For on Hallow-Mass Eve the Night-Hag will ride,
And all her nine-fold sweeping on by her side,
Whether the wind sing lowly or loud,
Sailing through moonshine or swathed in the cloud.
— Sir Walter Scott
“In order on the clean hearthstane,
The luggies three are ranged;
And ev’ry time great care is ta’en,
To see them duly changed…”
— Robert Burns
An’ all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
— James Whitcomb Riley
deviantART user AngelDemonn made an interesting voodoo top hat that might serve as inspiration for a similar project. She doesn’t provide a lot of detail about construction other than to note that boiling your own chicken feet isn’t such a hot idea, but the pictures should provide a general idea of how to get started.
The chicken bones used to decorate the sides of the hat are fairly easy to obtain as a by-product of chicken stock: After simmering for several hours the bones come out almost completely clean, and any lingering shreds are easy to remove with an old toothbrush. I’ve seen instructions for removing the last bits of meat by immersing the bones in a lye solution overnight (which will also whiten them), but I don’t know if messing with caustic chemicals is really worth it in this particular instance.*
Feathers are available at craft stores, as are embellishments like glass beads and metal charms; you might also be able to find animal teeth, claws, skulls, or other bits that add to the hat’s potential “magic.” Instead of the moss used here, some wide ribbon, tulle, or a bit of tattered velvet might add visual appeal whilst looking less…um…mossy.
This would be a great finishing detail for a Loa or calavera costume,** or simply to wear out clubbing.
*I use lye when making soap, so if you plan to try this method, a couple of suggestions: 1) Do it outside or in a well-ventilated area, because the fumes are nasty. 2) Mix it in something that’s both nonreactive (stainless steel or enamelware is good) and heatproof, because the chemical reaction causes the stuff to become insanely hot. 3) Add the lye to the water, not the reverse; the lye can splatter when water is poured on, and you really truly don’t want to be splashed with lye. Also using protective eyewear is a really good idea.
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, but Hell’s patio is resurfaced with a nice textured concrete. Contractor did a great job.
— adamisacson
If homosexuality is a disease, I am calling in lesbian tomorrow.
— iMelbel
There’s nothing more spooky than a man pushing an empty stroller.
— AinsleyofAttack
Went with some girlfriends to the junk yard. Sadly it wasn’t what we were hoping for.
— blondediva11
Accidentally listened to a Justin Bieber song. Not sure if this is how the suicide note should begin or end.
— thedayhascome
EIZO is a German company which manufactures medical imaging displays for examining radiographs. They were looking for a memorable advertising campaign and hit upon a handout “pinup” calendar featuring X-rayed girls. This is Miss March; you can see the whole series at Advertolog (sort of NSFW, if your boss objects to skeletal nudity).
It’s kind of a pity that this was a one-off advertising gimmick instead of a commercially available calendar. It would make a great gift for a lot of skeletally-minded people I know.
DIY Cake Topper Kit – Cute paint-it-yourself kit; this is a great solution if you want a topper that’s a little out-of-the-ordinary. The Etsy seller also does custom toppers to spec.
Fragrant Fields – Snowdrift Farm’s blog devoted to recipes for soap, lotion, perfume, and similar products.
Matryoshka Madness – A roundup of unusual nesting dolls. There’s some great inspiration for DIYing a set.
Better Off Dead Embroidery – Embroidered version of the “chalkboard picture” from the best John Cusack movie of all time.
Scent Stories – Neat concept design for a line of perfumes, including scents inspired by Poe and deSade.
Z is for Zelda – Gaming meets the Gashleycrumb Tinies. We need to convince the artist to do a whole set of these.
p.s. – I’m going to be dragged, kicking and shrieking, away from the computer for a week. Due to the magic of advance scheduling posting will continue as usual, but if you email and I don’t respond I’m not ignoring you. (Or…am I? Muwahahahaha.)
The Second City has done a series of videos imagining what would have happened if various tragic heroines from Shakespeare had had a sassy gay friend helping them out. Here’s Hamlet, and they’ve also done Romeo and Juliet and Othello.
It’s a pity that ol’ Will didn’t think of this himself. It would have certainly enlivened 10th grade English class.
I 
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deviantART user AngelDemonn made an interesting 
EIZO is a German company which manufactures medical imaging displays for examining radiographs. They were looking for a memorable advertising campaign and hit upon a handout “pinup” calendar featuring X-rayed girls. This is Miss March; you can see the whole series at 