These are godless times, I'll drink to that!

Imagine living in fear. Fear of being made fun of, fear of making friends, fear of your mother, and even fear of yourself and what you are capable of doing. What would you do if even the slightest agitation made your mind react with a defense mechanism you didn't fully understand? What if your mind could break glass, slam doors, or even kill people? Would you let yourself live in this fear or would you embrace the destructiveness from within?

 In 1976, one of many films based on a Stephen King novel came to life. This film is called Carrie. It tells the story of a high school misfit that is constantly tortured by her peers and is relentlessly harassed by her religious mother. One day, Carrie is picked on by a group of girls in the locker room, who are later punished and a few are even banned from going to the prom.

They decide to get even on Carrie and give her a prom that she will never forget.

Unfortunately, these bitter pranksters have no idea that Carrie has recently discovered she has telekinetic abilities. These powers help her humiliate and torture her peers, teachers, and mother.

This film is absolutely phenomenal and is still an extremely popular film today. The film only cost $1.8 million to make and it grossed $33.8 at the box office.

Another fun fact about this film that is also a Star Wars fun fact as well is that George Lucas and Brian De Palma held a joint audition for Carrie and Star Wars. There is a long-standing rumor that originally, Sissy Spacek was cast as Princess Leia, and Carrie Fisher as Carrie, but when Fisher refused to appear in nude scenes and Spacek was willing to do them, they switched parts. However, Fisher refuted this story in a Premiere magazine article called "The Force Wasn't With Them," about actors who auditioned unsuccessfully for Star Wars. That article quoted Fisher as saying, "Not only do I love being nude, I would've been nude then... But anyway, it's total bullshit that Fisher refused to play Carrie."

Now to the good stuff! As a celebration of Carrie being made 35 years, I am sharing a discount code with everyone that cane be used today, tomorrow, and Wednesday only! The code is to save 35% off your entire purchase excluding shipping! The code is: CARRIE35 This code expires on August 31 at 11:59pm so use it while you can!!!!!!

Amusement

Recently I watched a horror movie called Amusement.  This movie is awesome!

This movie sounded very typical and cliche, but I thought I would give it a chance anyway. After all, I will watch any horror movie at least once... the good, the bad, the budgetly low cult.

Amusement tells the story of three girls: Tabitha, Lisa, and Shelby. They were all friends in school and used to pick on a boy that had very strange habits. Years later the girls are each collected by this mentally disturbed, now full grown man for the sake of revenge and torture.

If you're anything like me you are thinking of this sounds like a Valentine rip off mixed with every serial killer movie that involved multiple kidnappings. Well, you are part right. It does have those similar elements, but so much more. This movie is dark and demented.

When I started watching this film, I was like alright, let's just get this over with. The first 20 minutes were indeed cliche, with the clown costume and baby sitter being stalked by a crazy person, but I promise it gets better... you just need the set up. Before you know it there is blood, crazy torture methods, a huge house, and a psycho killer with the catch phrase, "It's funny, right?"

I don't want to give too much away, but it's definitely a movie to check out on a dark night with all the lights out and some popcorn with a friend.

The Dame of the Dead

I am always on the lookout for new sellers on Etsy, especially ones with darker themes. I love shops filled with skeletons, blood, zombies, severed body parts, bats, mummies, spiders, and anything else your twisted little minds may find creepy. Recently, a lady joined one of my Etsy Teams, The Etsy Massacre! She is the single mother of two that resides in sunny California! By day she is filing away at a law firm and by night she is the shop owner of The Dame of the Dead! I asked her a few questions and I learned a lot about this awesome seller!

 1. What sorts of items do you make and sell?

I have tried to become more diverse with my items. I started out making small clay pieces, and then expanded to wood and glass pendants, dolls, coffins and now paper Mache rings and masks.

2. How long have you been crafting?

I actually didn’t start out crafting until later in my life. I have always been an artist from the time I was a very young girl, but often focused on drawing with pencil.

Crafting came later after I saw 15 years go by and my art with it. Slowly but surely I would learn new things until I am where I am at now. I would say I have been crafting as a small business/hobby for just over a year now.

Lucy

3. Where do you get your inspiration from?

There is nothing I can pin-point. Things have just always sort of popped in my head. I have been trying to challenge myself, making my creations more realistic, more detailed, so I look through medical photography online, or through books. I have been taking photos of items I see around the city or take in things as I go. I have been using fantasy/horror movies as new inspiration as well as of recent.

Book of Shadows

4. What is your most favorite item in your shop? And why? please include a link so I can share it.

Probably my Siamese twin skulls, though it’s hard because I have adoration for many of my items. Each has a little piece of me with them, a little joy infused into each item. It’s hard to see them go. Those little guys almost didn’t make it, after a few mishaps, so they are survivors. and there is something innocent about them I like.

5. Are there any new projects that you are working on that you would like to share?

Always working on new projects. I have a Jeckyl and Hyde idea with clay I am thinking about, many more paper Mache rings and also another coffin

One of her coffins

6. What is your favorite medium/material to work with? paint, resin, fabric, feathers?

I like it all, but I have a soft spot for rhinestones which is funny considering the items I have in my shop. I am willing to try them all though and they have all worked well for me

Pie Necklace made with Heart... I mean love

7. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years from now?

Happy, still crafting and hopefully a little niche made for myself in the art world

Beatrix

8. What is your favorite horror movie?

Way too many. I am not into gore horror, for the most part. I like the suspense types. A horror movie that can terrify you without the blood. If I had to name a few it would be “Let the Right One In”(original) “Tale of Two Sisters”, “Exorcist” and with tads of gore “Ginger Snaps”

Ouija Board Necklace

9. What advice would you give to a new Etsy seller?

Don’t give up. NETWORK NETWORK AND NETWORK. Create treasuries, get on teams. It’s a lot of work and it will not happen overnight, but if your product is good and you do these things, you will get noticed.

If you would like to see more items by The Dame of the Dead please check out her shop! She also has a Facebook Page loaded with lots of awesome info!

The Bell Punch

Okay Boils and Ghouls, it's quiz time! What do you get when you cross athleticism, fearlessness, and a beautiful woman? If you said a ninja cheerleader then you need to lay off the B Rate horror movies! However, if you said one hell of a stunt woman then you are correct and if you said Zoe Bell then you pass with flying colors! Today I am going to gab about this kick ass lady!

Zoe Bell and yes she is really that HOT!

 Zoe Bell has been in dozens of films and even a few well known television shows. One of her first gigs was being the stunt double to Lucy Lawless on the show Xena: Warrior Princess. She has also done work on several of Quentin Tarantino's films, most notably, Death Proof where she played herself.

On the set of Xena

I have always been fascinated by stunt men and women, especially Zoe Bell and Kane Hodder, so I thought I wanted take the time to learn more about one of them for the time being (because if you think there won't be a post about Kane Hodder, especially after his bio comes out you got another thing coming!). Anyways, back to Zoe!

Zoe Bell was born November 17, 1978 in New Zealand. Her parents are Tish and Andrew Bell, both are in the medical field. Her father is a doctor and her mother is a nurse (Talk about handy!). She hass a younger brother named Jake.When she was very young she began participating in gymnastics. When she reached the age of 15 her interests in physical activities broadened. She began to study Taekwon-Do, scuba diving, high diving, dance, and track and field sports.

On the hood of the Dodge Charger

 In 1992, her father was working at a hospital treating a stuntman that was injured on the set of a local soap opera. Her father saw this as an opportunity and arranged to Zoe to call the coordinators for the show and thus landing her first job as a stunt woman. Her first stunt was to jump from a moving car. She did so well that she landed a regular job with this soap opera until 1995 when she picked up a role on Xena: Warrior Princess. She also did work on the show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys while working on Xena. However, some of the roles she became most well known for didn't come around until 2003 when she was hired as a stunt woman in Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2. These were her first roles in a Tarantino film. She started out being hired as Uma Thurman's "crash and smash double",  but soon after the crew saw what she was capable of they also hired her for the film's fight scenes. Her work in these two particular films earned her nominations at the Taurus World Stunt Awards for Best Overall Stunt by a Woman", "Best Fight", and "Best High Work".

On the Set of Kill Bill with Uma Thurman

 Now, with all stunt people there is a high chance of injury. Unfortunately, Zoe has been injured performing stunts in the past. While she was filming the last bits of Kill Bill Volume 2 she was doing a stunt for Uma Thurman's character where she is thrown backwards by the force of being shot by a gun. Zoe suffered injuries to her ribs and the ligaments in her wrists. She ended up needing surgery and had to spend a few months recovering. 

Quentin Tarantino and Zoe

Her most well known role in a Tarantino film was playing herself in Death Proof. In this film her biggest moment in the lime light is what made this film! Her main scene involves her on the hood of a 1970 Dodge Charger while the car is being driven at highway speeds as Kurt Russel's character repeatedly hits the car with his own. Naturally, Zoe did all of her own stunts in this film.  If you have not seen this film, you must!

The Dodge Charger Scene

In more recent years, Zoe has been involved in a lot more films playing roles and not just doing stunts. One of my favorites is the film Whip It!

On the set of Whip It

In this film Zoe plays a team member on a roller derby team with the derby name, Bloody Holly! This is a kick ass movie too!

Getting a bruise foe a scene in Whip It

If you want to know about more films that Zoe Bell has been in, check out her IMDB Profile and if you live in the Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania area, she will be at the Horrorfind Weekend this year! and Yes! I already have my tickets!!!!!

Meet MrHanz

For the most part, when I recommend Etsy shops they are usually shops that are geared towards those of the female persuasion. This time I am sharing a shop that carries items for both men and women! So take a seat and join me in getting to know MrHanz!

About Me :
Hi, my name is Han. I studied and lived in California before, but now I spend more time in Jakarta as I'm busy with "mrhanz" and also just starting up an event staffing business.
I live here with my family and my two dogs. Love traveling when I have the time off.

1. What types of products do you make?
I make handmade leather goods such as wallets, key chains, belts, cell phone cases, passport holders, belts, watch straps, and etc.

2. How long have you been making these items and how did you get your start?
It all started from a little hobby of mine in 1997. I love watches and I like to wear different straps for different occasions. The best thing about straps is that you can give your old watch a new style just by changing the strap. I've only been selling professionally since last year but the sales has been picking up. Now mrhanz has expanded from strap products to other accessories.

3. What made you decide to use leather versus another type of material?
I personally prefer to wear leather than other materials. It's more durable and will stand up to much more wear and tear. By using various leather materials (calf, buffalo, python, lizard, crocodile), we'd be able to present our customers with unique products.

4. What is your favorite item that you have made? and why? (please include a pic or a link to a pic with it if you have one)
It's hard to pick just one, so I'll just have choose these 2 items, if I may. The first one is this watch's strap made of crocodile hide. The one on the far left.

The second one is this slim wallet, very compact. I can just put this wallet in back pocket and ready to go. Favorite wallet

These 2 items are the ones I frequently wear.

5. I noticed that you have some items that are in pink and purple colors, do you think you might try to make larger items such as clutches or small purses in the future?
Yes, I might expand my products to those areas as well as ipad case in the future.

6. Do you do custom orders?
I do custom orders for watch straps.

7. Where would you like to see your business in 5 years from now? (whether it be with more items, targeting a new demographic, etc)
I've done corporate gifts for local businesses here in Jakarta. I'm planning to target international businesses in the near future.

8. Where do you get your inspiration from when you are designing your items from what colors you use to style of your wallets, for instance?
From life and the people around me. Take the slim compact wallet as an example, I have this friend who came to me and complained that he hated carrying his bulky wallet. He just wanted something really simple and slim.
As for colors, I try to use as many colors as possible because I feel that everyone's choice of favorite color is not always the same. What works for me might not works for you.

9. What advice would you give to a person getting into making handmade accessories?
Just don't give up. It's tough in the beginning, but it'll get better.


If you would like to know more about MrHanz, other items, colors, prices, custom orders, or anything else check out his Etsy Shop and his Facebook Page!

Mineral Love

In case you were wondering, I am a girl. I know... shocking, right. Anyways, as a girl I like to wear make up. I wear it a lot. There are a few things I look for when I am shopping for cosmetics. I like make up that is good quality, brands with an excellent selections of colors, and products that are not tested on animals and are vegan friendly. On Etsy there is an awesome lady that sells products that hits every bullet on my check list and she is from Baltimore no less! I had a little chat with her and I learned a lot about her and her shop. So take a minute and read all about Mineral love!

Hi everyone! My name is Tricia, and I'm the owner and creator of Mineral Love cosmetics. I have a wonderful family, boyfriend and 4 fur-babies (3 dogs and a cat.) I was born in New York, but my mother moved back to Baltimore when I was a baby, so I consider myself a Charm City girl all the way!

1. How long have you been making vegan cosmetics?

I have been making vegan cosmetics for years and started my Etsy shop in 2009.

2. Apart from your items being vegan, what other aspects of your shop attract buyers?

My line is all about fun, easy to wear products. My customers are from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages (from pre-teens to women in their 90's.) There is something for everyone!

I also love connecting with people from all around the world; in fact I recently found out that one of my customers and I share the same birthday. How cool is that?!

3. I noticed that you donate money to an animal rescue. Tell me more about that ...

Growing up, my family always had pets. My mom and I had cats, my grandparents had two dogs, and my aunt and uncle had a plethora of animals throughout the years. My aunt was a mail carrier, and my uncle worked on the railroad, so they always enountered stray animals that (more often than not) needed vet care, a good bath, and a happy home. I saw that kindness to animals at an early age, and I will forever carry that with me.

Pets provide so much more than companionship; they reduce the negative side-effects of stress, their care is linked to cognitive development and high self-esteem in children, and they improve overall social interactions and relationships.

Animals do so much for us, and I knew when I started my line that I wanted to give back. It took me some time to decide which non-profit organization I wanted to donate to, but then my friend told me about her sisters rescue, Charm City Animal Rescue, (at that time) a new non-profit that could certainly benefit from the donations. I set up with her at BARCStoberfest in Patterson Park this past October, and would love to do so again this year. I continue to donate $2 from every full-size product sold on my Etsy shop to CCAR. For more information about the organization, you can find them here- www.facebook.com/charmcityanimalrescue

4. Apart from making cosmetics, do you have any other crafty hobbies?

I do! I love to make collages, and the occasional hair clip/ring/assorted craft project that hits me all of a sudden and I'll have to stop everything I'm doing and dive in. I get inspired at odd times, and I have to admit I've gotten out of bed just to make something that I thought of randomly.

5. What do you like to do in your free time?

I play bass guitar, and a few friends and I had our first show in May in Fells Point. I've always played some sort of instrument, and I was part of the Vocal Music magnet at my high school. It's not something that I've pursued professionally, but music will always be a part of my life... and you never know where life may lead you!

I'm a total nerd; I also love to do crossword puzzles and play word games (I'm currently obsessed with Boggle, and can't resist a good word jumble.) I'm a fan of City Paper, and there's a stand right outside of my postoffice, so when I drop off my orders I'll pick one up. I also try to take time to "unplug" and shut of the computer, turn off the tv, and get lost in a good book.

6. Apart from your own make up, is there any brand out there that you are addicted to?
I can't say that there is another brand that I'm addicted to (besides my own.) I'm addicted to creating! I have to say though, I love the packaging of Benefit cosmetics; their retro branding is adorable.


7. How do you come up with names for your cosmetics?

From a variety of places! Most often I'll make the color and then see what name strikes me. Sometimes I don't even know where the ideas come from. I'll also consult a thesaurus from time-to-time if I'm stumped. Some of the eyeshadows I have were custom requests; for example, Angie (www.etsy.com/listing/32601446/angie-full-size-eyeshadow) was created for one of my customers named Angie that wanted me to make her an eyeshadow to match her favorite lip gloss. I love making custom colors; it's always my favorite thing on my 'to-do' list.

8. Where would you like to be 5 years from now?

Happy, healthy, and have my own brick and mortar shop in one of our historic neighborhoods where I can feature work from local artists and crafters.

9. Since you are from Baltimore, I must ask, what is your favorite place to go and why?

The American Visionary Art Museum, hands down. When I feel overwhelmed or stressed out, I go to AVAM and all of my anxiety seems to melt away. It's one of my favorite museums in the states, tied with the Salvador Dali museum in St. Petersburg, FL. I had the pleasure of going about 7 years ago, and it took my breath away. I'm a huge Dali fan; in fact, I'd pull my mom's Dali books off of her bookshelf when I was a little kid, and just stare at the art for hours.

10. What is your favorite John Waters film?

Ooo that's a tough one! Can I cop-out and say I love them all?!

If I have to choose one, Cry Baby will always have a place in my heart. <3

11. If you could give any advice to a new Etsy seller, what would it be?

Don't give up! Even if it's intimidating, even if sales are slow (or non-existent;) don't doubt yourself. Immerse yourself. Read as much as you possibly can about having an Etsy shop (there are TONS of resources out there, including the Seller Handbook on Etsy.) Experiment and choose which ones work best for you.

Most importantly, be yourself! The rest will fall into place.
♥

If you would like to know more about Tricia and her killer cosmetics, check out her shop Mineral Love, her Facebook Fan Page, or follow her on Twitter!