Get The Hell Out Of The Way Barbie!

Being a girlie ghoul, I fondly remember playing with dolls while growing up. You may (or may not) recall that our second post here had to do with some vintage dolls I scored at a friend's auction. Well, ghoulies, this ain't your childhood Barbie doll we're talking about today!

Over the past several years there's been a movement afoot bringing to life a whole new genre of dolls - the creepy kind. Maybe it started with the Living Dead Dolls or Chucky from Child's Play but now the creepy doll selection is bursting at the seams.

About five years ago I had the good fortune to stumble upon Zosomoto on ebay, aka Jodi Cain of TatteredRags.net. I just had to have one of her hand stitched rag dolls and managed to snag this little wicked witch.

Another of my favorite creators of creepiness is Kerry Kate of October Effigies. She makes the most amazing stump dolls. She even has a Jill Tracy version (refer to previous blog entry). Her other creations include corset dolls, rag dolls and the Opium Poppy doll among others.

I recently stumbled upon Jade Perez's New Age Dolls. Below is her Nurse Betty creation. I can imagine a character like Nurse Betty overseeing the patients in an asylum - she's that creepy!


I'm only scratching the surface of the creepy doll artists out there but I want to squeeze in a couple of doll inspired creations.

Check out this baby doll bits and pieces rack created for the 2008 Design*Sponge DIY contest. Someone out there is totally twisted (and we so love it!).

And for the truly over-the-top creepy doll project check out this collection of Toddlerpede's on Inventor Spot. This one is sure to give me a few nightmares!

Ghoulie Girl Kerli

I'm a music nut. It's one of my indulgences that I refuse to do without.

Last night I was ripping through BMG music club because I've racked up 65 free cds (yes I still buy cds) and I have to use them by the end of April since they are discontinuing their music points program (freaks). I was desperate since I own everything already so I was looking at anything and everything. That's when I was introduced to Kerli.


Coined as a mix of Bjork and Natasha Bedingfield with a touch of Amy Lee, this 21 year old Gothic Lolita with an Estonian accent has a quirky music style loaded with emotion. Songs from the cd include "Love Is Dead", "Strange Boy" and "Creepshow" but the video to "Walking On Air" has a nice creepy Halloween feel to it so I thought I'd share.

For your viewing and listening pleasure - Kerli

P.S. Pull her up on YouTube and check out the song "Bulletproof" if you prefer something a little more mainstream.

P.P.S. And for those of you concerned regarding my outdated approach to music, worry not. I have a Rhapsody and ITunes account and I do own an IPOD. ;)

Thrill of the Hunt

What do you get when you cross an early Thanksgiving visit home with an old high school friend that is auctioning off her store antiques? It's what I call a "Halloween Score".

Jeanise and I go way back. Don't even ask me how far as I like to think I'm still 2o-something. We share a love for old stuff but she's much better at sniffing it out, so, when I realized she was having an auction on the same day I'd be home for Thanksgiving I thought it was a bonus.

After scarfing down the Thanksgiving feast I headed out to the auction which was already well underway. I perused the trailers loaded with miscellaneous vintage wares faining disinterest (no sense letting anyone else know I might be on to something). My eyes caught a glimmer of old orange and black - bingo - vintage Halloween. Now we're talking my language! I casually made my way around the trailer and eyeballed the paper mache Jack O' Lantern - hmmmm tiny and in bad shape. Next. The pan style noisemaker. Dang - already have that one. What else? That's when I saw them!

I placed myself close to but not in front of my target and waited. And waited. And waited some more. Why is it that when I zone in on one thing the auctioneer takes his precious time getting to it?

Finally. The box is moved to the center of the trailer and the prizes are laid out before the crowd. The bidding begins. I bid. Ack - competition! I bid again - she bids - I bid....back off lady these are mine! What's this? She bows out? Ha! She must have sensed she didn't stand a chance.

The contents are carefully placed back in the box and presented to me. Inside lay 5 vintage composition dolls in various degrees of decay. Like a protective mother I wrap my arms around the box and stare lovely at my new pets admiring their cracked faces, missing limbs and disintegrating clothing. Faces only a Halloween fanatic could love.