Scarecrow Lanterns

 by Dustin Drerup of Beast Craft Props

Images and video taken from his Instagram: @beastcraftprops

Mini Dried Gourds

 by Dilly Bug Decor

Photos from their Instagram @dillybugdecor

Click here for their Etsy shop

Spooky Jack's Skull Replicas

 Hard to believe these are replicas (aside from the horns obviously)

More photos on Instagram @skeleton_spooky_jack

Primitive Pumpkins

New releases by Meg at Primitive Pig Folk Art.

Follow her Instagram and visit her Etsy to be informed of product releases and restocks.  I've purchased items from her before; I highly recommend her work.

Grayhouse Studios

Handcrafted props and display collectibles by Michael Perry

Many more product photos and videos on his Instagram @grayhouse_studios.  Also make sure to visit his website TheGrayhouseStudio.com to view available products and purchase one of these insane pieces.

Coffin Corpse

Currently obsessed with this prop from the Grim Hollow 2008 haunt.

Photos by Grim Graham.  Click here for the album.  

The Beast Peddler: Handmade Familiars

Adorably spooky plushies by Cait (@thebeastpeddler).  Click here for her shop

Now Watching (Double Feature): Resolution (2012) & The Endless (2017)

Two films by my favorite horror directing duo: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead.  

I watched The Endless years ago and loved it.  Only recently did I learn that it was a sequel (of sorts) to the duo's earlier film, Resolution.  So I decided to watch the two films back to back (in order of release).

The two films work very well together.  Resolution is a fantastic horror mystery/thriller that explains almost nothing and left me with more questions than answers (and a burning desire to understand what the heck was happening!).  The Endless then does a great job of answering some of those unanswered questions and gives the viewer a glimpse into something unknowable.  It still leaves plenty of mystery while delivering a very satisfying ending.

If you love slow-reveal mysteries and Lovecraftian cosmic horror, then definitely watch Resolution followed by The Endless. Both movies are available to stream for FREE on multiple sites (like Peacock, Tubi, Vudu, Crackle, etc)

Watch the trailers below:

Clove Gum

The other day at work, a customer came up to my register and purchased a 5-pack of clove gum for 99¢.

Now, I love clove, both as a scent and a flavor.  It's pretty much the spice of Halloween (alongside anise).  I had seen the gum in our queue line before, and had wondered whether or not it actually tasted like cloves or if "Clove Gum" was only a brand name.  

I asked the customer if they had ever tried it before, explaining that I had never tasted the stuff myself.  Without a word, the customer pulled a single piece of gum out of the pack and held it up for me.  

I told her she was too generous, and at first tried to refuse their donation (refusing gifts is inexplicably customary for me), but upon her insistence, I graciously accepted the solitary stick.

I chewed it on my break.  It does, in fact, taste like cloves.

The flavor wasn't super strong, which was almost disappointing, but the flavor had a lingering mellow spice that tickled my tongue.  

Yet another product to fuel my clove obsession.

Click Here for OldTimeCandy.com's clove gum page 

Now Watching: HallowJean on Twitch

HallowJean, creator of some of the most realistic prop corpses I've ever seen, occasionally livestreams while working on her latest creation. I was lucky enough to catch the tail-end of her stream yesterday.  Very informative, entertaining, and engaging.  

Click below to see HallowJean's Twitch channel, and subscribe to get notified about her future livestreams.

Corpse Conglomerate

From Pumpkinrot's 2008 display, The Hollowmen

Amazing corpses by HallowJean

Check out these incredibly lifelike props.  Really awesome work.  

"Beatrice has the brown hair, AJ is the bald one and Charlie is the one with black hair. Beatrice is our newest member being made 2 years ago, Charlie is our eldest being made 6-8 years ago (I forget!)"

Put on some Al Bowlly and snuggle up

Check out @hallow_jean on Instagram for more great prop work.

Halloween 2022 Update: Stick collection has begun

Money has been pretty tight these past two months, which has so far hindered my ability to continue work on this year's haunt.  I'm doing what I can (gathering free materials) but suddenly, this year seems up in the air.  Hopefully, things will all fall in to place like they did last year, despite my minimal budget and zero free time.

I also need to find someone in my area willing "adopt" my display (aka, donate their yard for the Halloween season).  

The stress is beginning to build and I felt I had to get it off of my chest. So, there you all have it.  *confetti*

I'll keep everyone posted in the coming weeks.

Spooky little drawings

 

Art by Gabby M. (@art.g0th)

Skeleton Trash Art by Carl

Carl (@carlneedsajob) makes incredible art by applying paint to bits of trash and using those bits like stamps.  Here is a video showcasing his process for the above piece.

Click here for more incredible "trash art"

The Witching Hour

 Andrew Wyeth, tempura on panel, 1977

There is a sense of dark apprehension in this otherwise unassuming setting.

The candles' flames are blown by a draft, threatening extinguishment, yet the windows are shut.  The floor (perhaps even the entire room) appears aslant... crooked.  The chairs are placed unevenly around the table. 

And perhaps most curious: an almost imperceptible hexafoil is carved on the far wall, behind/above the only chair that faces the viewer.

I wonder if they're expecting company.

Skull Specter

Photo by @lilibat_xgau

Athame

An athame or athamé is a ceremonial blade, generally with a black handle. It is the main ritual implement or magical tool among several used in ceremonial magic traditions, and by other neopagans, witchcraft, as well as satanic traditions. [Wikipedia]

Photo by @gugumuk

Smiling in the Shadows

Jack o'lanterns from The Great Pumpkin Project 2017