Category Archives: Halloween Artist Bazaar

Featured Artist Interview June 2016: Ghostgap

Posted on by

To find where Julia of Ghostgap sells her wares visit her on her artist page on HAB. 

Interview with Julia Chabatar of Gostgap:

At what age did you discover your love of Halloween?

I have loved Halloween my whole life.

What is your fondest Halloween memory?

I guess my childhood days would be my best Halloweens. Back in the seventies most the kids wore paper masks, but my Mom would make us elaborate costumes from old gowns and dresses she wore to wedding parties or other special events. She would ask us in September what do you want to be this year?

We would go to Linville orchards in the fall. They had hayrides, and candied apples and we would get the red kind not the caramel. In the shop she would buy some dried flowers in autumn colors to make lovely bouquets for the table. She would decorate the whole house for Halloween inside and out.

On Halloween night my sister and me would go out trick or treating and my Mom would say “I just saw a witch flying on her broom into the wood behind our house”. She made you believe it the way she said it and I would get excited. After trick or treating we would come in to a beautifully decorated table. She would buy Hallmark printed cups plates and tablecloth and add her own creations. She always had orange soda to look like Halloween; Back then purple was not a Halloween color. She always had her homemade Devil’s food cake with buttercream frosting and decorated it with some sort of Halloween theme using food dyes and her Wilton pastry bag.

We lived on a little dead end street with all seniors and woods behind and my Mom would complain no kids ever come trick or treating With us being the only ones with lights on and decorations the kids avoided our tiny dead end street. So one year we heard the doorbell ring and it was my Dad all dressed in black with a paper bag on his head and a trick or treat bag laughing. I remember Mom talking about witches and ghosts and making up stories to entertain us.

This year will be the first year I will not Have my Mom to celebrate with. She passed this year; but I think on Halloween night I will look up at the sky and imagine I see that witch on the broom and remember my mom who always made the day so much fun.

When did you start creating in your medium and what training have you had?

I been crafting my whole life and we really go through a long dry season without any fun holidays I never got excited about the Fourth of July, so I find myself thinking about Halloween all year and by crafting and creating Halloween things year round It keeps my magical time of the year alive year round.

What is Halloween in June?

Posted on by


Christmas in July, Halloween in June (Repost from 2014)
-By Angelique Duncan

Most folks have heard the expression “Christmas in July”. It usually is used to express a great and unexpected surprise. There seems to be differing opinions and documentation of when the slogan was actually was first actually used. Some historians trace the term back to the 1930’s and 1940’s to different Christian church entities and clubs in regards to annual events involving decorated trees, gift giving and all the trappings of the winter holiday in the hot summer month of July. First official use of the term “Christmas In July” was from an American movie of that title that was released in 1940. However the concept has much deeper and practical origins.

The notion finds its roots in the Victorian era of the 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Victorians, despite being quite extravagant in their winter celebrations with in decorations and gifts were also frugal and inventive people. The practice of purchased gifts at the Christmas holiday did not surface until much later in modern history. The Victorians would primarily give hand made gifts. The common practice was for each family member to make a gift for each other member of the family. For this to be pulled off in time for winter, a lot of planning and preparation was required.

Most gifts were made from what one could find in nature or in ones home. The making of gifts and holiday decorations for the home became part of the summer ritual. During the summer months, materials from nature were readily available. Starting the craft projects early in July gave a window of roughly 6 months to complete the projects of sewing, collecting and drying flowers, canning and preserving special foods from the garden, using oils to sent sachets and pomanders and to build collages or paint objects.

The Victorian practice of hand crafting ones Christmas gifts carried over into the 1930’s during the Great Depression when resources were scarce. In lieu of purchasing items, holiday gifts were from what one could make from what they had on hand. Later in 1944 during World War II, the United States Postal Service and greeting card industry promoted a postal campaign to collect letters and cards in early July for soldiers overseas to help ensure that they would be received for the holidays.

In the 1950’s with rise in incomes and commercialism advertisers for department stores caught on to the phrase to help boost retail sales during the leaner profit months of summer. The idea gained momentum for bargain hunters, who would begin their holiday shopping early in the year. This also allowed for retailers to push out old inventory to make room for the next year’s products.

In the years of the 1950’s through the 1970’s retail marketing of the Christmas holiday season began the day after Thanksgiving, on what is now known as Black Friday. Stores would set Christmas displays and begin their holiday sales for what is considered season of the greatest profits for retailers though out the months of November and December.

In an effort to extend the shopping season and sell more Christmas merchandise retailers began to push the start of the holiday season earlier and earlier each year. The market for winter décor exploded. By the late 1980’s retailers would begin to play holiday music and stock Christmas items the day after Halloween. By the 1990’s and into the new millennium retailers began putting out their holiday merchandise as early as June and July and have capitalized on the “Christmas In July” slogan in hopes to capture revenue from folks doing their holiday gift and decorating shopping early.

The phenomenon of capitalizing and commercializing holidays carried over to Halloween. With the rise in popularity of Halloween in past decades, retailers have taken notice. Sales of Halloween themed items for home decorating, parties, yard decorations and costumes now follows a close second to Christmas related sales and is gaining.

During the early 1990s and 2000’s Halloween entered a surge in popularity in American culture. However availability of quality unique Halloween decorations was limited in the big retail market. Most decorations and costumes prior to the late 1980- 90’s were home made. As the desire for Halloween décor that was on par with Christmas decorating grew, so did the market for Halloween art. Small independent artist and individuals who built yard – haunting décor had found their niche. With the advent of the Internet and the growth of an online upstart auction site known as eBay, demand for handmade Halloween soared. An entire market of Halloween collectors was born. One of a kind direct from the artist creations was highly sought after.

As this national love of all things Halloween grew, national retailers took notice and followed suit. The large retail chains began to offer Halloween collectibles, home decor and elaborate yard art that hit their shelves by late August and September. Big retailers honed in on what was offered by the independent online sellers and created an entire industry of Halloween retail revenue.

Sales of Halloween themed collectibles for home decorating, parties, yard decorations and costumes now follows a close second to Christmas related sales and is gaining. With this popularity of Halloween, retailers now set out mass-produced Halloween items as early as July, often along side the Christmas wares. This has drastically hurt the profits of small independent Halloween artist and yard haunters who once enjoyed a reliable fall retail season for Halloween sales.

From this history a campaign of Halloween in June was born. Independent artist Julia Chibatar proprietor of Ghostgap had the idea in 2013 to create a month dedicated to Halloween outside of it’s traditional month of October as an answer to the commercial concept of Christmas in July. Halloween in June is a month long celebration of all things Halloween with particular emphasis on independent Halloween Artist and their handmade wares. The celebration is a combined effort of Halloween groups comprised of independent artist to raise awareness of the small retail businesses and artist who gave origin to the Halloween retail phenomenon. It is an opportunity to showcase one of a kind handcrafted works available for purchase direct from the artist before the onslaught of big retail Halloween hits the shelves.

Halloween in June is presented by Spooky Cute Etsy Team
Halloween Artist Bazaar Artist Group .

Angelique Duncan is proprietor of Twilight Faerie Nostalgic and Capricious Objects. Check out her artist page to find links to her shops and vintage inspired traditional holiday art. Visit again next month for more traditions and folklore.

Halloween in June 2016

Posted on by

  

Take the links below to find unique one of a kind handmade Halloween art, collectibles, jewelry direct from independent artist! Help keep the tradition of handmade art and the spirit of Halloween alive with your own Halloween in June celebrations!

Spooky Cute Team on Etsy:

Spooky Cute Team

HAB on Etsy:

HAB on Etsy

HAB online shopping catalog:

HAB on Etsy

Going to the Masquerade Ball

Posted on by

Going to the Masquerade Ball-By Barb Rondello-Bucher

I have been on a roll with masks lately. One of my favorite folks I made I call Going to the Masquerade Ball. Which got me curious about these balls. So I found this article by Savannah Fox.

Dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the Masquerade Ball began as part of Europe’s carnival season. Less high society and more cirque du célébration, villagers would gather in masks and costumes to take part in elaborate pageants and glamorous processions.
Quickly spreading across France like wildfire, some of the most notorious balls of the day would be held to celebrate Royal Entries: the grand occasion of welcoming kings and queens into their cities. In fact, so audacious were the masked balls that in 1393, Charles VI of France held the first ever “Bal des Ardents”. Translated as “Burning Men’s Ball”, the event transformed the more orthodoxly decadent costume ball into a night of intrigue and risk.

In celebration of the marriage of the queen’s lady in waiting, King Charles and five of his bravest courtiers dressed in masks and flax costumes and danced the night away as wildsmen of the woods. The only catch was that if your sashaying edged you too close to one of the many flaming torches that lined the dance floor, your look would be smoking–and not for the right reasons.

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t until much later in the 16th century Renaissance period that masquerade balls became associated with Italy, but that never deterred masked members of the Venetian aristocracy from taking full advantage of a scandalous night of anonymity as if it were their own creation. Tied with the Venetian Carnival celebrations, the balls were rife with decadence, gluttony and a large amount of lust. Sadly their reign was rather short-lived, and after the fall of the Venetian Republic in the 18th Century, the masquerade balls began to shrink from the ballrooms of Venice until they were nothing more than a sequined memory.

See the full article by Savannah Fox here.

Barb Rondello-Bucher is proprietor of PunkinPrims. Check out her artist page to find links to her shops and her whimsical kinfolk assemblage. Visit again next month for more from HAB members contributing to the Spooks Gazette.

The Curse of the Mummy

Posted on by

The Curse of the Mummy-By Angelique Duncan

When one thinks of classic Halloween monsters, and costumes the mummy will certainly come to mind; gauze wrappings on decayed skin representing the preservation of the physical body, acting as a vessel holding the deceased until their passage to the afterlife. Petrified and mummified human bodies have been unearthed on nearly every continent. Often associated with Egypt, numerous mummies have been found in Asia, the Americas and even Europe. Mummies have always had a mystique surrounding them and evoke the fear of ancient curses, or the notion that the preserved corpse still holds life that once disturbed will return.

During the Middle Ages mummies were highly sought after for varied and unusual purposes. Many mummies were taken from tombs in Egypt and Africa for the pharmaceutical trade. Until the 16th century it was believed that ingesting powder made from mummies had grand healing powers. People believed that the rituals and rites of the Egyptian burial practices endowed the mummies with immortality that would transfer to the living when ingested. Another popular belief was that powdered mummy would stop bleeding and heal wounds. Some unscrupulous “Medicine Men” would sell the ground up corpses of suicides and criminals that were stolen from graves and sell the remains passing them off as authentic Egyptian mummy powder.

After the medicinal demand for mummies ended and despite early Arabic translations of warnings of curses surrounding disturbed mummies, the powder made from the bodies remained in demand until the early 19th century for paint pigment. The paints that were made from the remains created a brown tint that was called “mummia” or “deaths head”. Many of the great masterpieces that hang in museums today were painted using paints made from mummies. The practice was eventually ended and the color “mummia” was made from ground frankincense mixed with other elements.

Thousands of mummified cats were found throughout Egypt. It was common for these cat corpses to be taken and used for all kinds of purposes, one common use was as fertilizer. Rumors and myths exist that mummies were also used as fuel and the wrappings as paper, however these claims have never been substantiated. During the 19th century the practice of desecrating tombs for profit became frowned upon, as archaeology and the study of civilizations became a prominent science. This however, did not detour wealthy Victorians in England from purchasing mummies illegally for entertainment. The Victorians were fascinated by the romanticism of the occult and magic. Egyptology had become the rave and the stories of ancient curses had made their way into the mainstream. The wealthy would hold parties to observe the unwrapping of the mummies and hold séances with mediums in attempts to awaken the deceased they believed incased in the mummy corpses.

Curses were written or depicted on the walls of tombs in Egypt and were originally interpreted by the Arabs who seldom risked tampering with Egyptian magic. As archeologist studied the Egyptian language and imagery the warnings left in tombs were substantiated. A new study emerged from Egyptology, the history of the curses and their validity through documentation of those associated with the digs and their artifacts suffering from strange illnesses and even unexplained deaths.

Later the widespread belief in the reality of the curses was perpetuated as several famous instances of them coming to fruition were spread through news media. The most famous curse being the deaths surrounding the disruption of King Tut’s tomb when it was excavated. Six people died who were on location at the tombs opening. It was reported by the New York Times that the lead of the project, Howard Carter’s pet canary was found eaten by a cobra. This was pertinent in that it is the imagery of the crest of the Egyptian monarchy. Later six of the team all died from mysterious causes. Rumors at the time stated that the number of deaths was much greater, up to twenty-six deaths, which helped fuel the hysteria and fear surrounding mummy curses. When objects from King Tut’s tomb, including his coffin where exhibited around the world in the 1970’s, many refused to go see the exhibit for fear of the curse and deaths surrounding the discovery.

Another famous curse was documented when Walter Byran Emery took a small statue of Osiris from a tomb dig site. When Emery returned to his room his assistant found him paralyzed on the right side of his body, he was taken to the hospital and by the next day Emery was dead.

In another case when two mummies were removed from their resting place and transported over seas the ship encountered an unpredicted bad storm that tossed them over board. A year later on the anniversary of the excavation 3 family members of the head archeologist all died from mysterious causes.

A recent incident documenting an ancient curse involves an artifact of a ten-inch statue that has been housed in a glass case in Manchester England. It began gradually turning on its pedestal by itself in June of 2013. After staff realized that piece had been shifting direction significantly in a 180-degree turn without any visible assistance, the museum ordered that the case not be touched, the room closed and a camera set up to observe the piece. The footage proved that the piece was indeed moving. Some believe it was the spirit of the deceased whose tomb it was taken from living through the statue. Experts who were brought in to study the artifact say that the phenomenon was caused by vibrations of heavy foot traffic and vehicles on the road outside pivoting the statue on a bump found on the bottom. Some still do not believe the explanation is that simple and hold that the artifact is haunted and cursed.

Science offers that many of the deaths that have surrounded mummies and their artifacts can be explained. It is believed that those who have fallen ill or died were exposed to toxins commonly found in the caves and tunnels where the tombs were housed. Modern science can now identify the dangers of molds, bacteria’s and toxins that early archeologists were not aware of and claim exposure to these things is what caused the mysterious illness and deaths, not the curses left on walls by ancient relatives protecting their dead.

It may be true that there is a reasonable explanation for why so many who disturbed a mummies grave have died or how an artifact pivots on it’s own. However when one is dealing with the dead and curses from antiquity, it’s always best to err to the side of caution
and leave a resting mummy alone. If one shows up at your door on Halloween night be sure to throw in an extra piece of candy, lest you will suffer the curse of a mummy!

Angelique Duncan is proprietor of Twilight Faerie Nostalgic and Capricious Objects. Check out her artist page to find links to her shops and vintage inspired traditional holiday art. Visit again next month for more traditions and folklore.

Halloween Mandala Color Activity

Posted on by

Halloween Mandala Color Activity-By Katrina Sosnowski

Hi everyone and Happy Spring!
Halloween is still a few months away but in the meantime we can have some fun. I’m sure everyone has seen all the amazing adult coloring books that are popular right now, I know I have a few of them in my collection. I thought it would be fun to have something with a taste of Halloween to color so I created this fun Halloween Mandala. A Mandala is a piece of artwork made up of intricately drawn patterns contained in a circle or square shape. The word Mandala is a Sanskrit term for circle or discoid object. Have fun with this and be creative! Use anything you want to add color to the Mandala, we would love to see your finished artwork!
-Katrina from Gothbunny

Instructions:
Right Click on the image below and save to download.
Print and color the Halloween Mandala in any medium you wish, either by hand or digital.
HAB would love for you to share your Halloween Mandala with us!
If coloring by hand scan or take a clear photo and send us a jpeg of your finished Halloween Mandala.
Post it to our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/HalloweenArtistBazaar/
We’ll post the finished Halloween Mandalas in a special gallery for all to see.

Katrina Sosnowski is proprietor of Gothbunny Gifts that scare and sparkle. Check out her artist page to find links to her shops and her fine sculpted jewelry and gifts. Visit again next month for more from HAB members contributing to the Spooks Gazette.

Featured Artist Interview May 2016: Wicked Alterations

Posted on by

To find where Denise of Wicked Alterations sells her wares visit her on her artist page on HAB. 

Interview with Denise Mattox of Wicked Alterations:

At what age did you discover your love of Halloween?

I guess like most it was in grade school, dressing up and going out after dark. Walking house to house getting candy. Being chased by older kids in plastic masks.

What is your fondest Halloween memory?

Being out way past bedtime because it fell on a Saturday. My folks let me spend the night with a friend and we were out way late, walking and giggling like grade school girls do. Until my friends’ mom noticed we weren’t home yet. Oh boy, trouble! But it was worth it.

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Now, in my 60th year, everyday is Halloween. I wear skulls on my clothes. I paint and create things that I use to see only in October. I watch horror movies when I can find them on Netflix. Tim Burton is my modern favorite and any classic old horror movie is romantic to me.

When did you start creating in your medium and what training have you had?

The little shadow boxes I started doing a few years ago. I started collecting doll parts, charms, really anything that creeps people out, and putting them together. I’ve been painting for years. For a long time I was a closet painter, not very many people knew. No training unless you count a few art classes in high school.

What was the inspiration to create what you create and when did you know you wanted to create Halloween?

My inspiration, I guess is Tim burton; it’s ok to be dark, funny, and loving all at one time.

Rituals and Superstitions in the Garden

Posted on by

Rituals and Superstitions in the Garden-By Angelique Duncan

With the coming of Spring the time has come to tend to the garden. There are a lot of things to consider when gardening, soil types, compost and mulch, how much sun do you have in your garden area and what to plant in your planting zone. However there are some other things to consider when planting your garden. The old folklores and practices that often in our modern world are forgotten. For instance resist the temptation to say thank you if one is given cuttings, seeds or the gift of a plant; it is said that it will kill the plant. It is also said to bring good fortune if one steals herbs. The following is only a few words of advice of good practices to take into account when planning your garden.

The first step is deciding what to plant. Most plants have ancient meanings and symbolism that are brought into the garden with their plantings. Colors can be of importance too. Some plants are luckier than others and some could bring on out right death if one is not careful.

Some plants that bring good fortune are shamrocks and clovers, mistletoe, fennel, black-eyed peas and bamboo. Parsley can be a good luck plant if planted on a Good Friday however it is considered bad luck to bring parsley into the house. Wild garlic planted in a row is said to ward off hares and rabbits. Some say because the smell is offensive to them, others say the garlic will lessen their magical powers and there for they will not go near it. The same is said to be true of warding off revenants and vampires from ones garden. To attract faeries to the garden plant thyme and rosemary and scented herbs, they enjoy the scents and the plants offer shelter to the magical folk.

Plants of ill fortune if brought into ones home as cuttings are said to be primrose, lilacs, and daffodils. Folklore has it that if one passes the drooping head of a daffodil some one will die. To safeguard against daisies one must step on the first blooms of the daisy otherwise a family member will pass that year. Rosemary, if planted by ones entrance will ward off evil spirits, as will ivy growing on a wall. Snapdragons, chamomile and Angelica planted will give protection from curses and evil spells.

When, where and how to plant holds a great deal of importance too. It is widely believed that crops that grow above ground should be planted during the phase of the moon that creates light, new moon to the full moon. Crops that grow under the ground should be planted during moon darkness, from full moon to new moon. It is also considered back luck to plant anything on the 31st of any month. Some gardeners swear that plants and flowers planted at night during a full moon yield larger more abundant flowers and fruit.

It is said that all crops that are planted on the first day of spring will survive. Crops such as potatoes and beans should be planted on Good Friday. Many other plants are said to do well for the season if planted on the Friday before Easter. Spring bulbs that are planted in fall bring affirmation that tomorrow will come again and winter will have an end. Wildflower seeds should be sowed before Halloween to ensure an early spring. To gain fruit from tomato plants, only plant them on Memorial Day. Take heed as well that flowers and grass will not grow in dirt where human blood has been shed.

The method of planting can be key for garden success. Peppers will produce fruit with greater intensity of heat if planted while one is angry. Herbs like Parsley and Basil grow better if one curses them while planting. Folklore states that parsley seeds have to travel to Hell and back up seven times before taking in the garden. If it does produce then it is proof of ones honesty.

Quite the opposite, some plants must be spoken to softly to coax them into blooming. Many religions practice the rite of prayer or blessings given to plants and the gardens as part of ones gardening ritual. Catholics, Buddhist, Celts, Druids and Wiccans all have some form of planting incantation that gives blessing to the garden. In the Jewish faith a tree is planted at the time of a child’s birth and a prayer is said to give the tree and the child strength. Some believe that singing to ones plants will stimulate blooms. Others believe in stomping and dancing wildly on freshly planted trees to ensure growth. Others practice a single deliberate stomp or press with ones shoe after panting for good luck.

What is put in your garden can also have an affect on your yield and offer protection to ones flowers. One should be aware that gardens are not just vulnerable to insects’ critters and disease, but also to the supernatural and evil. A gnome statue should be present to stand watch over your garden to fight off pest and invaders. Gazing balls are also a good deterrent to evil spirits, as it will reflect the sun into their eyes as they approach, thus keeping them away. If some one is openly jealous of ones blooms it can put a hex upon the garden. Gazing balls can deflect the evil eye from envious passersby’s. Hanging colorful glass balls known as witches or faerie balls from trees is another way to keep evil spirits under control as they can be trapped inside them. Wind chimes and bells hung from trees are effective in keeping away critters and wandering sprits. However wind chimes and faerie balls have been known to attract faeries to the garden so one should be prepared. Offer plates of sweet bread or cakes and thimbles of milk to keep the faeries content and they will aid your garden, if offerings are not left they can reek havoc on a garden they pass. Place shiny objects around the garden offered as gifts to the Fae folk and a good relationship will be maintained.

Hanging a Green Man face can help your garden grow in that the carving or statue will channel the ancient spirit of the forest and nature to watch over your plants. As well, any sort of statue or plaque that has a face placed at the entry of a garden will help protect the garden from sprits. Equally so a face placed near the entry of the house acts as a guardian and will prevent any evil from coming in with the crops and cuttings. A scarecrow can offer superior protection to your garden from birds and predators if it is treated well and given respect. Folklore states that a scarecrow should not be put out before Easter and should be removed and burned before midnight on Halloween. The scarecrow always should be offered a hat to keep him cool and brought into the shade on the first day of Summer and should stand near a water source so he may drink if he gets parched. Once clothing has been given to a scarecrow they belong to the scarecrow, it would bring bad fortune if a human wears those clothes again.

If one is diligent and mindful their garden will bloom and crops will be bountiful. Remember to respect your plants and give them the support and attention they need to be healthy. If you find that your garden is in distress and you’ve followed all the proper growing techniques, it may be something other than bugs affecting your plants. It could be spirits or jealousy or even discontent faeries. Implement a few of the above mentioned practices and you will not only add a lovely aesthetic to your garden you’ll be offering your plants much needed protection.

Angelique Duncan is proprietor of Twilight Faerie Nostalgic and Capricious Objects. Check out her artist page to find links to her shops and vintage inspired traditional holiday art. Visit again next month for more traditions and folklore.

Featured Artist Interview April 2016: Plum Batty

Posted on by

To find where Plum Batty sells their wares visit them on their artist page on HAB. 

Interview with Carole Eggum of Plum Batty:

At what age did you discover your love of Halloween?

I was quite small when I got very excited about Halloween. Probably because first, I loved candy ( and still do), nut mostly because it was an exciting night when we could dress up and run around our little town of 400 residents and Trick or Treat. At school we were allowed to wear our costumes and out parents didn’t have to worry about taking us out because every one knew everyone else and if you were misbehaving, you could bet your parents would hear about it immediately.

What is your fondest Halloween memory?

I don’t know if I have one in particular, probably the Halloweens when I was older and knew what it was all about. I loved the decorations and the stories. I was brought up in the 50’s and 60’s, along with my sister, Sheila and the Halloweens weren’t as involved then as they are now. I don’t remember our house being decorated; just that we got to wear costumes and run around like crazy people. A bunch of us would get together and go to tall the houses and maybe, play a few tricks. We were all good kids and did;t get into too much trouble.

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Now I go all all out, I love to decorate the house and the yard. Unfortunately where I live there aren;t many kids that come to the house but that doesn’t stop me from decorating the place up. My grandson does come trick or treating and of course gets the whole bowl of candy with his parents anticipating going through the his bag later. I’m not into horror movies but I love to watch all the Food Network shows about Halloween and anything that has to do with the holiday.

When did you start creating in your medium and what training have you had?

I really didn’t get into creating Halloween/Spooky art until just a couple of years ago when I retired. I have a degree in Art so wanted to put that degree to good use, so my creations tend to involve watercolors and sculpting. I like to try my hand at different things and Sheila is particularly good at sculpting and is trying her hand at sugar skull sculptures. My sister never really got involved in Halloween, she does the more contemporary and whimsical art.

What was the inspiration to create what you create and when did you know you wanted to create Halloween?

Anything that involves Halloween is an inspiration; I love old graveyards, the sugar skulls and Day of the Dead. Nothing too scary but that has and edge to it or that spookiness that could give someone the shivers.