Sunday, June 26, 2011

Hidden

Another google search that went off the tracks led me to one of Rocker's Random Lists. This one is called Hidden In Plain Sight.



Not Halloween or haunt related but it does remind me of that early challenge on Face Off so I thought I'd share.

Haunt on!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Fear Mart


This hit my Twitter feed several times this morning. I guess there is a new player in town, FearMart.com. Here's what they say on their Twitter bio:

Providing professional and home haunters with State of the art media for marketing purposes and video props.

I popped over to the website and was greeted by their CEO in this video:



Kind of clever there with the zombie greeting. I don't speak zombie so I was thankful for the subtitles.

Haunt on!

Usher It Right Out The Door - Trust Me On This

Friday was an ugly day. It was one of those kind of days. You know, the ones that creep up every once in a while where nothing goes well and everything you touch goes to hell in a hand-basket. Yep, one of THOSE kinds of days.

By 9:30 I had had enough of Friday, opted for a long hot bath, followed by a movie.

I went through the DVD collection and picked out three that I had purchased from a Hollywood Video that had gone out of business. Horror/scary genre, of course, and none of which I had seen before.

I decided on The House Of Usher (2006). After all, it was an adaptation of Poe's Fall Of The House Of Usher. Surely it would have some redeeming properties?



I should have cashed it all in within the first 5 minutes.

The movie began and here is our main character Jill (Izabella Miko) in what I believe to be present day. Next second the scene changes and we see Jill again in another setting. Then back to where we came from. Then again we jump somewhere else. Then I think we went back again. Within 5 minutes I wasn't sure if we had flashed forward, backward or sideways.

Then the opening credits began to roll.

Let me boil this whole thing down for you...

Jill can't get back into the dating game because she still has feelings for Rick Usher (Austin Nichols).

Rick and his twin sister Maddy (Danielle McCarthy) were best friends with Jill in college but abruptly left with no explanation.

Three years later (present day) Rick calls Jill to tell her Maddy has died and asks her to come for the funeral.

Jill goes to funeral which is held at the Usher mansion family plot.

Rick explains to Jill that Maddy died of the dreaded family disease and that he is also ill.

Scary caretaker Mrs. Thatcher (Beth Grant) expresses her dislike of Jill and tells her to leave.

Rick and Jill fall back into love. (Ahhhhhhhhh - isn't that precious?!)

They swap spit badly. (Honestly that has to be some of the worst on screen kissing that I've ever seen.)

Mrs. Thatcher oversees Ricks medication.

Jill runs around in her underwear a lot.

You catch glimpses (barely) of someone else hanging around.

Jill finally decides she should leave, for no particular reason.

Rick begs her stay. All of the sudden he is dying and he needs her. (Men!)

Jill finds herself with child. (Well surprise, surprise!)

Now this is almost the entire film. The next part I should probably list as Spoiler Alert but the only thing spoiled is my brain after watching this film.

Now, where was I? Ahhhh, yes, the last 20 minutes...

It happened in the library - because she didn't use birth control. (Apparently there is a moral here somewhere.)

Jill notices the family pictures and this tree does not fork.

The parents give birth to twins who mate and give birth to twins. (Rinse, repeat....)

Now the ending....

Mrs. Thatcher, who's been with the family 30 years, finally decides to make her move and end this abomination by attempting to kill Rick. She fails but sticks around long enough to see Jill find that Maddy is not actually dead. (Gasp!) Maddy has been sent up to the attic because she refused to play the family mating game and has gone mad.

Mrs. Thatcher throws herself out a window and dies.

Maddy and Rick die in each others arms.

Flash forward to Jill getting a sonogram and we see twin fetus' kissing in the womb.
 
Sweet Molly in a manger!
 
I've never seen so much bad acting coupled with bad editing/directing/writing. Next time my day is going to hell I will not pick out a movie without first checking the reviews.
 
BTW - does anyone want a copy of The House Of Usher? I've got one that I'm willing to part with.
 
Haunt on!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Mostly Ghostly

My family was always big on board games. Several times a month one of us would choose a game and the entire family would sit down and play. Oh, there were the usual selections; Life, Monopoly, Cootie, Candy Land, etc. (depending on that age of the players).

On a shopping trip I noticed a game with skeletons on the box and, of course, I just had to have it. Mom caved in and I was the proud new owner of a game called Mostly Ghostly. I'll admit that at the point of purchase I had no idea how it was played. Nor did I care.



Distributed in 1975 (ugggggg - dating myself...again!) by Cadaco, it was similar to Cootie. The Skeleton consisted of five pieces - the head and torso, two arms and two legs. You would spin the spinner to determine which part of your skeleton you would receive. The first to assemble a complete skeleton won. Oh, and the best part? The skeleton and spinner would glow in the dark so it was lights out to play!

It was a simple concept and the rest of my family grew bored with the game. The moans and groans when it was my turn to choose a game could rival any haunt. No big deal as I would often get it out and play against myself.

Despite my best attempts to take care of the game it got pretty beat up. As I recall, an entire skellie went MIA, likely used as a Halloween decoration by yours truly.

I'm not certain whatever became of it. At one point it was just gone.To this day I honestly believe that there was a family conspiracy brewing and the game was quietly sent to the burn pile while I was occupied with other interests.

Recently I got my hands on a replacement Mostly Ghostly. Absolutely vintage, complete and ready for play. I still love it.

When the family gathers for the holidays we still play board games. The next time we meet I'll be sure to bring this along. I can hear the moans and groans already.

Haunt on!

Ghoulie Tunes


Since Friday typically kicks off the prop building weekend - I thought it to be the best day to run some haunted music through the blogosphere. Maybe it will give you a little boost while you're building or inspire your imagination for a new creepy creation.

So, the plan is to feature 3-5 pieces of haunted, goth, spooky or other appropriate Ghoulie Tunes every Friday. My tastes in music run all over the place so hopefully I'll hit something you like. I'll be posting this in YouTube form but not all have an actual official video.

Keep in mind this was an idea we conjured up some time ago and, as you can see, I'm just now getting around to it. So - we'll just see how it goes.

In consideration of my other blog post today we'll kick things off with The Ballad of Frankenstein's Monster by the 12 Step Rebels:



Twisting things up a bit with Dee Snyder's Tubular Hell from Oculus Infernum:


What's not to love about a band that calls itself Squirrel Nut Zippers?  Here they are with Hell:







Here's something with a mix of industrial, metal and goth. Angels On Acid - Haunt Me:


Dark metal anyone? Skeletons by Wednesday 13:



Haunt on!

The Diary of Mary Shelley


My favorite classic horror monster of all time is Frankenstein's monster. Which would explain why I'm obsessed with keeping up with Frankensteinia: The Frankenstein Blog. This is an amazing blog loaded with...well...



Everything Frankenstein! It is divine!

I think we all know the story behind the conception of Frankenstein...Mary Shelley and friends write ghosts stories, etc. What I didn't know was that Shelley first made mention of Frankenstein in her diary on June 24, 1831. One hundred and eighty years ago today. [Credit to Frankensteinia: Genesis of Frankenstein]

I'm also currently reading Mary Shelley a biography by Muriel Spark. Actually I've been reading it for some time and I keep getting interrupted. If you are interested in the author I highly recommend it.



And I can't leave this post without at least one movie reference. This was a tough one but I've chosen to take this opportunity to defend Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994). I realize that this may make me unpopular as it seems you either love it or hate it - and it does take some cinematic liberties with the original story.


Personally I found that I could really feel the passion of Victor's character (masterfully portrayed by Kenneth Branagh). His obsession to create life, be damned his moral responsibilities, and his desperate attempt to stop the inevitable destruction of everything that he loved, kept me glued to the screen. While all along you know how the story will end, one gets emotionally involved. First in the hopes of a successful regeneration and then praying that he will stop before it's too late.

I have to admit that when I heard that the Monster would be played by Robert DeNiro I just couldn't imagine that it would work. I was wrong. DeNiro's portrayal was one of the best screen representations I've seen that shows the complexity of the character. I really felt that he was the victim. Shunned by society and abandoned by his own "father", I felt sorry for him. So much so that I could even rationalize his violence.

I could go on and on about this particular film but I'll leave it here and just wrap up with this...For 180 years this story of man's struggle with his own mortality has withstood the test of time and, actually, seems a possible reality by today's standards. The irony is that Mary Shelley's creation has taken on a life of it's own. I like to think she would be pleased.

Haunt on!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Zombie Preparedness

I take emergencies seriously. For example, I live in tornado alley. When the sirens go off and I'm in the checkout line at the grocery store, and everyone starts heading for cover, I demand they finish processing my purchase.

If I'm at home and the sirens go off I promptly send kiddos and dogs to the basement, turn on the radio and step outside to see if I can spot the tornado. I learned this from my parents who didn't bother sending us to the basement. We all traipsed outside to see what was going on with the weather.

I was spending a little down time on Zombie Research Society's Blog and I took heed of their advice to get prepared for a zombie attack. They linked me up to the CDC who provided a number of steps I should take in the event of just such an outbreak.



Having nothing more pressing on my plate I figured I should arm myself for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse and proceeded to follow the steps. I gathered all the materials they suggested, understanding that most of these would also be beneficial should we be struck by a tornado, earthquake or hurricane. The latter two are unlikely as I'm in Kansas.

Then I moved on to the Emergency Plan. First the CDC recommends that I identify the types of potential emergencies that could be possible for my area. They instructed me that if I had any questions regarding local emergencies that I should contact my Red Cross chapter. Hmmm, okay.

I called the Red Cross and asked for their Zombie Outbreak division. The nice lady on the phone seemed a bit baffled by my request. I explained that I was simply trying to prepare for any and all disasters that could potentially affect me and my family. She asked me to spell my request (Z-O-M-B-I-E-S), promptly put me on hold and left me there for 20 minutes. Eventually a gentleman came on the line and gave me another number to call. Great! We're making progress.

I dialed the number and got a recorded message for the Suicide Prevention Hotline asking me to please hold and someone would be with me right away. After 45 minutes I hung up as I was getting the urge to slit my wrists.

Having no luck with the Red Cross I skipped a couple of steps ahead and started on my Emergency Contact list. They suggested that I list the Police and Fire Departments as well as my local Zombie Response Team.

I wasn't quite sure where to locate my local Zombie Response Team so I pulled out the phone book and flipped to the Yellow Pages. W, X, Y ahhhhhh Z! Zip codes, zoos...wait....that's it?! No zombies? Perhaps it's under city departments? County? Government? I finally decided that City Hall could hook me up so I gave them a quick call.

After speaking with several people, and repeating my request more times than I can count, I'm finally getting somewhere. They seem to know something about zombies that I don't as they mentioned straight jacket and shackles - but they are dispatching an officer out to my location right away. Good. It's about damn time! I hope he can point me in the right direction.

Haunt on!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Something Is Going On...

Something is going on. Something wicked.

It's very quiet, but if you listen closely you can hear him. He whispers to himself now and then and sometimes something other-worldly offers a reply.

If you watch you will see that he's up to something. He leaves behind tiny clues showing only a puzzle piece of the whole picture. He calls them teasers. I call it torture.

Yes, something is definitely going on.


Haunt on!

Treats That Trick

Trick or treat
Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat



I miss trick or treating. I so loved dressing up and going door to door. Leaves rustling under my feet as I wrestled with a costume that was often ill fitting. Navigating porch steps as I struggled to keep from tripping on over-sized shoes or dragging hemlines. Peering through masks with eye holes that never stayed in the sight line.

I carried my orange jack o'lantern pail carefully so as not to accidentally drop a single treasure. The treats were the spoils of victory - the evidence of a successful night of begging.

When we got home my two sisters and I would survey the goods and trade treats, after my parents each helped themselves to a piece or two of course.

Cracker Jacks were a fave. Two treats in one box - first the popcorn and peanuts and then a small toy. Nirvana!



I would say that overall the treats in my bucket were wanted and appreciated, but there were a few things I could have lived without:

Popcorn balls



I don't care how tasty the recipe presents itself - popcorn balls are awful (and never taste like Cracker Jacks). I like my popcorn with butter and salt... and not in ball form.

Raisins



Oh I like raisins just fine but they should be banned from Halloween treat pails. Seriously if you want to give me fruit just throw in a caramel apple for heaven's sake.

Rolls of Pennies



Nothing says "I forgot/don't care/drat it's those stupid kids" more than pennies. Plus they made the buckets heavier.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least I never received a religious brochure or a toothbrush like my own kids have.

As All Hallow's Eve came to a close, I feel into bed dreaming of the next Halloween. Planning my costume and looking forward to next year's frightful fun and trick or treating.

Oh how I miss being a kid on Halloween.

Haunt on!

Screamin' Little Demons

This is your Wednesday WAKE UP call!!!!!!

Little Demon free wallpaper found here

Time to get the blood pulsating through those veins. Don't make me hook you up to the Mad Doctor's electrodes. Try this instead:


Haunt on!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Shop And Then Drop Dead

Shopping is such a chore! Just today I was at the Coffin Shoppe to commission my funeral digs. I've been measured and weighed (oye vey!). I've been asked probing personal questions such as my hobbies, favorite colors, music, flowers and budget. Ack!

Oh, don't write me off just yet. This shopping excursion is (fictional) only taking place because I lack the faith in my mother, hubby or kids to choose appropriately. After all we're talking about my final home sweet home of where I will spend eternity. Or... at least until the coffin caves in and the worms play pinochle on my snout.

So, I'm pondering, what would be the most appropriate final resting receptacle? Too many choices. Too many decisions. This is worse than shopping for swim wear.

Crazy Coffins are making a difficult decision even harder. Coffins shaped like guitars, cars, boats and more. I myself am leaning towards the basket weave.


But, ya know, I really should be more environmentally responsible. Perhaps something green? Creative Coffins specializes in non-toxic, cardboard coffins with a wide selection of designs to fit my personality. (See the chocolate box one.)


Decisions, decisions!

Ah, to hell with it! I'm renting a permanent room at the Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin. I'll be in the Coffin Room.


This one is mine but you can book one of their other over-the-top rooms.

P.S. Did you know that I actually used to work for a funeral home/cemetery. Yep. It's true.


Haunt on!

What I Found On The Road To Nowhere

Sometimes I get where I'm going despite the fact that I don't know where I'm going or how I got there. This is an example of what I'm talking about.


It was another of my google searches. I first started out searching for retro Halloween, then I veered off to old fashioned Halloween, then somehow I changed course again to Halloween art. Not finding what I wanted (which is odd to say considering I didn't even know what it was I wanted) I came across a craft list that led me to this blog called Tatertots & Jello. First off - tatertots and jello?? Love it! If you've ever had little ones you know what I'm talking about.

Anywho I thought this was a great little project that even the artfully challenged could handle. The Halloween Speciman Art is just fun and crazy simple requiring only a few supplies.

I also found this simple fix for the dull door during Halloween on Creative Mom's blog.



This Halloween Wreath features a skull with light up eyes. All easily done with inexpensive supplies, this the perfect Halloween greeting for those who come knocking.

Last but not least, Ameroonie Designs, can show you how to take felt and craft it into a really cool Batty Pillow.


Alas, I still don't know exactly where I was going in my search but at least I have a few fun things for the project files.

Haunt on!

And Now...A Word From Our Sponsors


As usual Ghoulie Girls has no sponsors but I won't let that stand in the way of showcasing some commercials from the way back machine.


McDonald's 1980s


Woolworth/Woolco 1979



Magic Manor - 1970s



General Mills Monster Cereals - 1970s



Vincent Price for Poloroid - 1985

Haunt on!

Monday, June 20, 2011

A Boobalicious Halloween

Well, I got your attention didn't I? Don't worry, this is not a bait and switch. We are going to talk about boobs today. Well...at least in relation to Halloween costumes.

It's no secret that the sexy costume is the hottest thing on the rack (no pun intended). Sex sells cars, beer, magazines, etc. so it's no surprise that sex also sells Halloween.


Fox by Leg Avenue

This is not a new trend, but as the manufacturer catalogs start to roll in every year I notice that the sexy sections get longer while the skirts and shorts get shorter. I'm really not sure how much shorter things can go. Perhaps the vendors will issue an invisible costume. All you will get is a hanger.



And then there's the boob issue. Ladies, do yourself a favor and invest in some boob tape, duct tape, double stick or whatever you can. Some of these tops just aren't going to stay where they're put! Do a little Monster Mash on the dance floor or reach across a table for a jello shot and you might be showing more than you had intended.


Vice Girl by DreamGirl

Halloween costume manufacturers are good at doing the sexy look. Lingerie makers won't be left out of this money machine and they hopped on the band wagon years ago. The most prolific maker of sexy Halloween is Leg Avenue. And the holy of all that is holy in sexy, Playboy, has gotten in on the act as well. DreamGirl is
another one to watch for - they understand that not everyone is a size 2 and carry up to 3X-4X.


Police Patrol by DreamGirl

There's not a ghoul of any size or age that I know that doesn't want to look sexy. The fine line is between sexy, sleezy and - just naked! I can't count the number of times I've assisted a customer who wants one of these little numbers. They call me freaking out wondering what tricks I can help them with to make sure the "girls" stay put and the butt stays covered. (Bike shorts, petticoats, boob tape, leggings and tank tops make the short list.)

French Maid by Coquette

Certainly you can avoid the whole over-the-top sexy thing as there are plenty of other costumes to choose from. But for those of you that want the look I say - go for it. Right after you arm yourself with boob tape.

Haunt on!

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Ok Ghoulies - take that ice pack off your head and have a little hair of the dog that bit ya!

I don't care if you've spent yesterday hugging the porcelain throne swearing that you'll never spend another weekend drunk off your ass. I have cocktail recipes to share and I expect you to try them out!

Bartender Confessions posted the Mali-boo Brew a couple of years ago and it looks totally gummy, I mean yummy!


You gotta love a drink that's named for the way you feel after you've consumed one too many. Tango Pango's Flicker page tells you how to have your very own Brain Hemorrhage.



Also be sure to check out Food2s 8 Sexy Halloween Cocktails. For you cannibals out there, they offer the Blood-Red Lime Rickey. Complete with severed fingers.


Haunt on!

Horrific Hair

Costume? Check!
Footwear? Check!
Accessories? Check!
Hair style? Oh crap. What should I do with my hair?!



No Ghoulie Girl should ever have to suffer through bad Halloween hair. Wigs are great but if you can't find the perfect one, or if you are a do-it-yourself kind of ghoul, you can finish off your costume with perfectly haunting hair.

I doubt your local salon has a Halloween hair style book so here are a few ideas to get you started:

1700's French Inspired. Perfect for a miriad of characters.


This video features five hairstyle ideas including some for the kiddos.



I also found this great clip from CBS that features three different hair style how-to's for your viewing pleasure.

Haunt on!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

To all the Ghoulie Guy Dads out there, Happy Father's Day!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Fun With Monsters

From the project files.

This has been stashed on my to-do list for a while now. I thought these monster masks would be fun to print out, mount on mat board and frame. Lighthearted and fun with a touch of retro thrown in. Hey, not everything has to be dark and scary.

Get your own at Disney's Family Fun.


Haunt on!

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Midnight Meat Train

I don't know what's going on in this area but whatever is blowing around has my allergies all riled up. For the better part of the day my right eye has felt like it's going to pop out of my head.

Finally giving up on doing anything constructive, I settled into my beloved recliner for some TV time. I caught a couple of hours of Criminal Minds but I've seen them all a hundred times so I surfed for something good to watch. Obviously TV execs think everyone is out on Friday nights as there was nothing of interest on. Off to FearNet!

After checking out the synopsis on the movie offerings I decided on The Midnight Meat Train. Based on the short story by Clive Barker the movie centers around Leon (Bradley Cooper), a photographer looking to make his way into the big time.



During his late night photo shoots, Leon begins photographing and following a rather ominous and suspicious character who turns out to be a butcher. The butcher (Vinnie Jones) doesn't limit his craft to beef and as Leon unravels the mystery he finds himself and his girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) on a subway train ride to hell.

As one would expect by the title this one is pretty bloody and graphic. I don't care much for gore so I had the fast forward button handy. It was quite suspenseful even though it didn't take me long to figure out where it was going to end.

All in all I'd give it about 3 out of 5 stars. Your mileage may vary.

Oh No They Didn't!

Last night our friend the Frog Queen posted breaking news on her blog. Our on-scene reporter, Morticia, has been following the story.

Ghoulie Girls: Morticia, can you tell us what's been happening there?
Morticia: All I can say is this is absolutely devastating.
Ghoulie Girls: How bad is it?
Morticia: Well, it's hard to say just how extensive the damage is.
Ghoulie Girls: Tell us what you see Morticia.
Morticia: Well, there's no delicate way to put this. It's...well...there are body parts everywhere...there's lots of blood...glitter and Swarovski crystals. It's...
Ghoulie Girls: Wait. Did you say glitter? Did we hear correctly? Swarovski crystals?
Morticia: Yes. It's a nightmare. Absolutely horrifying! Halloween will never be the same....
Ghoulie Girls: What the hell is happening?!
Morticia: It's the Hello Kitty Chainsaw Massacre!!



Well there you have it Ghoulies. Hello Kitty is edging in on our holiday. Watch for Bucky bling and pink blood coming next season...to a store near you!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

I Love Zombies Too

I realize that my last post revolved around my beloved vampires but I love zombies too. Honest!

To prove it I'm hooking you up with what's currently spinning here in Ghoulie Land. I first came across this song while watching an episode of SyFy's Face Off.

I still don't know what to make of that show. They could have done so much more with it. And, why oh why does everything have to include personal dramas these days?!

Ok, I'll save my Face Off issues for another time. But now I present to you Natalia Kills I'm In Love With A Zombie:


Haunt on!

Romancing The Vampire

Father's Day is on the horizon and the hubby is taken care of. His poor PC is painfully slow and has developed an attitude so I decided it was time to get him all techno-geeked out with a new laptop. All done and crossed off the to-do list. Yeah!

Oh, but wait... Now I have to figure out what to get my dad. This is a bit more challenging and even though he loves gift cards I always feel like a loser when I give him one as they don't take much thought. So, as I'm pondering this dilemma the dear hubby calls. He's needing assistance on what to get his mom for her birthday which happens this year to fall on - yep - you guessed it...Father's Day! Yeah.

The MIL is impossibly hard to buy for and never remotely excited about any gift she receives. I inform said spouse that I have enough problems to solve and am on the hunt for a gift for my dad. Big mistake! He feels it would be so very easy for me to kill two birds with one stone and shop for her at the same time. Yeah me.

So here, in the middle of my work day, I'm standing in the book store considering the ideal dad gift. (The MIL doesn't read so I was going to have to throw more than one stone.) I wander the aisles and something catches my eye. Romancing The Vampire From Past To Present.





Here's the overview:

"Long before Edward Cullen and the Twilight phenomenon, there was Angel, Barnabas Collins and Bela Lugosi, and many others in between. They are vampires the undead. Add an infusion of Bella, Buffy and Carla Laemmle, then sprinkle in unforgettable characters such as Renfield and little Eddie Munster, and you have a capsule of how cinematic vampires are viewed by today s world. But there were vampires walking this earth long before the invention of movies and television. In this book, author David J. Skal weaves a narrative history of vampirism, from the ancient Aztecs through the writings of Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer. But what makes this book even more unique are the replicas tucked inside sleeves and pockets. There are removable photos of Bram Stoker, Carmilla and Lord Byron. For movie buffs, it has posters from Nosferatu, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave starring Christopher Lee, and Bram Stoker s Dracula along with a replica of Stoker s Dracula notes. Take a walk through the history of the undead, with romance, horror and blood along the way."


This puppy is huge, heavy and a vampire pictorial delight! Loaded with pockets and pull-outs, it resembles a scrapbook and covers everything from Bela to Buffy and Vlad to movie vampires. There's even a paper, vintage style vampire mask complete with elastic headband at the back of the book. And it's as if the Great Pumpkin himself knew how challenging my day had become he granted me a bonus. The book was a mere $4.99!


Needless to say, I scooped up a copy (a well deserved gift for yours truly) and I intend to spend tonight discovering all the little treasures it holds inside.

Oh, and don't worry. I found the perfect book for my dad.

As for the MIL? She's getting garden frogs for her birthday and hubby is pleased. To-do list...Done!

Haunt on!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

My Other Life

I don't show too many different sides when floating around the haunt world - retailer and haunt freak are about it. Well tonight I'm going to share something else that I devote my time to that's totally non-Halloween related.


Brittan - Halloween 1996

My oldest son, Brittan, is a Halloween junkie (just like his mom) and I have tortured him from birth with handmade costumes. He is also an aspiring musician. His goal is to reach out with his music and help make changes in the world.

So, indulge this Ghoulie Girl while I veer a bit off topic to showcase one of the few things in my life that takes precedence over Halloween. This song is a cover of Adam Lambert's Whatdaya Want From Me.




Now...back to your regularly scheduled haunting..

Monday, June 13, 2011

Can't Help Myself

I must be on a retro kick. It's rare that I listen to music from my past - I just love this generation's alternative rock. I must be feeling a bit nostalgic lately. This song in particular is set on repeat. For some reason I can't get enough of it today. BTW - 1985 was a very good year ;)




Haunt on!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

In Ruins

Dawn (of Nickols Manor fame) posted back in May about The Baker Hotel located in Mineral Wells, Texas. The Baker was built in the 1920s and abandoned some 40-50 years later. Vacant and deteriorating, it reminded me of something I had come across earlier in the year.

Oh it all began innocently enough. My BFF, Google, and I were trolling the internet looking for dilapidated buildings for haunt inspiration when I came upon Yves Merchand & Romain Meffre Photography and their Ruins of Detroit. The book had not yet come out (but is now available on Amazon) so I just poked around the site.


I love old buildings and have been known to nose around in abandoned structures if the opportunity presents itself. Akin to snooping around the graveyard, feeling the soul of it's old bones and wondering what used to be.




I have a soft spot for Detroit though I've never been there. See, the hubby is in the car business and has been for over 25 years. When you think of cars you can't help but think of Motor City. I was especially pleased to see Chrysler with their recent ad campaign focus on Detroit. (Adding Eminem to the mix didn't hurt either.) Let me add here that hubby was not amused with my fascination with the ads. We don't sell Chrysler. Ehhh - but that's not the point.





So what is the point of this post? I know I was going somewhere with this.


The falling down buildings with their haunting rooms and peeling walls are ideal backdrops for a haunt and a look that many try to obtain. You will find some inspiration within the Ruins of Detroit but it's also a reminder that nothing stays the same and these old relics host the ghosts of dreams and disappointment from those that came before.



**All photos copyright Yves Merchand & Romain Meffre Photography and shown only as an small sampling of the stunning photos you can find in their book, Ruins of Detroit.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

All by myself

All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore...



Just spinning a little Eric Carmen for you all in Ghoulie Land. That song reminds me of being in the roller skating rink. Suddenly the lights dim down and a deep voice comes over the PA to announce it's couple's skate. And so they pair off - holding hands, skating circles in their bell bottom pants, blushing and making small talk. Pity the ghoul with no partner. ::sigh::

Well, I've successfully dated myself again.

Anywho...so you have just this one and only Ghoulie Girl. Sitting here. All by myself.

God I need a beer!

So, let's see...what is the topic of the moment? Ah, yes...being alone. The house is empty and I'm sitting here perusing the internet searching for something strange and unusual. [Quote Lydia Deetz "I, myself, am strange and unusual"].



With too many results I narrowed down my quest to zombies. After all, they are the latest and greatest in the horror genre. (I'm having The Walking Dead withdrawals as we speak. Fall cannot come soon enough!)

So what did I find?
I'm so glad you asked!

These have been on my Must Have list for several months now.



By Iron Fist, Zombie Stomper peep toe pumps. I'm in love! I can't say for sure but I'd bet that in the case of an actual zombie attack you could use these as a weapon.

I haven't decided to go with the green or limited edition glow in the dark. Suggestions???

Here's another item I had on my possible purchase list last season:



The Zombie of Montclaire Moors Statue from Design Toscano. Designed by artist Alan Dickinson the site claims "If this doesn't scare your neighbors, nothing will!" I'm not sure about that but I do think it's an excellent static piece with exceptional realism.

And finally, if you haven't already met, allow me to introduce you to Zombie Boy.



Bizarre Magazine interviewed him in 2008. His mission: to cover his outer self with his inner self to present a full size corpse. A real live member of the walking and rotting dead, Rick, hails from Montreal. He claims that "There’s all sorts of weird sh*t here in Montreal, so I kind of blend in with the culture...". Hmmm - makes me kind of nervous to visit our neighbors to the North!

He was most inspired by George A Romero's Living Dead movies. Hey - I love those too but I'm just not this committed. If I were I'm sure the hubby would have me committed.

Zombies have finally come into their own, pushing aside their more famous horror cousins for their time in the spotlight. I guess you could say that they're all the rage (pun intended). But I want to know what you haunters think. Will you be incorporating zombies into your haunt? Is the zombie your costume of choice for the 2011 season? Are zombies here to stay or will they fall by the wayside in a pile of decay?

Haunt on!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Goodbye to a Ghoulie Girl

Where, oh where, have the Ghoulie Girls gone? Like the mist fading from the cemetery grounds it would seem they have vanished with the dawn.

Pfffft!

It's been over a year. Did the passion for Halloween burn out?
Nope.

Did the ghouls get into a fight and find themselves in a heated court battle for the rights to the site?
Uh - no.

Well, what's the 411?
Simple, really. It's called life.

There are some changes coming and we'll be back. Well, one of us will be. The name will remain the same but there will be, for a while anyway, only one ghoul behind the scenes.

Tracy has experienced some significant life changes and is moving in another direction. I love her dearly and wish her all the best.

I hope to bring in another Ghoulie to give the blog a bit more bite! I have someone in mind but she doesn't know it. I must craft my approach carefully. Yes, sneaky and underhanded maneuvers will be required. Mwahahahah!

Now - enough of the sap. Onto the business of haunting!

In the News....

Stolloween recently completed his Boris the Troll project for Midland, Michigan’s 2011 Downtown Sculpture Series. This is a must see!

The Mad Lab is back up and running with TWO brand new contests for the haunt prop builder. Plus two very cool prizes. Worth checking out!

Free at last! Free at last! HauntCast is free again. That's right ghoulies. You can once again listen to the hauntalious crew podcast without a subsciption. But hey - don't be cheap! Support their sponsors so we can keep this thing going!

Home Haunt News rises from the abyss and will be launching a new edition on July 15. They are currently looking for submissions so if you've got something good to offer hit them up!

On a final note - As I was attempting to help a fellow haunter run down a prop how-to I stumbled across this:





















The French Design Studio, Pool, recently debuted this plastic skull chair. Now tell me, what could be better than sitting in one of these watching the kiddos splash around in the pool? Love it!
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