The Ghastly Governess

I will forever have a special place in my heart for horror. I can't explain where this love came from or why I would rather watch Night of the Living Dead over a romantic comedy, but it's just the way I am. I am the type of person that will leave spider webs all over the place when I am dusting the house because I like the way they look, despite my husband telling me to get rid of them. I will always have horror decor up year round instead of just once a year for Halloween. Now, on a slightly different note, one awesome thing about Etsy is joining teams and meeting people that have similar tastes as you do. last month I became a bit more familiar with a seller that is in a few of the same teams as I am. Not only does she make awesome jewelry and love horror movies, but she is also named Sara. Sara gave me the opportunity to pick her brain and get to know more about her family, her business, and her creative side. She had a lot to share and has some excellent advice for fellow Etsy sellers, so I am very pleased to introduce you to The Ghastly Governess!

Hi all! I'm Sara. I am a 31 year old mixed media artist with a flair for the dark macabre. I am a Halloween enthusiast and a beauty obsessed aesthete who enjoys making unique jewelry and accessories and a lover of all things vintage and creepy! I'm a Psychobilly kinda gal! Too dark to be just plain 'ol Rockabilly. Halloween is a way of life for me and my family. I'm a girly girl - makeup, shoes, bags, jewelry. I love pin up girl style but with a horror twist, coffins, skulls, bats, zombies and old school monsters! I have tons of tattoos, all horror/Halloween related. My last tattoo was a 1950's hearse. My husband and I are from a small little slice of suburban Hell outside of Knoxville, TN. Around town were are referred to as, "the Halloween people". We have 3 kids and have been married 12 years. My husband is a system's admin for the school system in our county and I stay at home with my youngest (she's almost 3) and run my Etsy shops full time.

1. What sorts of items do you sell in your shop? (Try to be descriptive and let the audience know if everything is handmade or if you use recycled materials too, they eat that up!)

My shop is full of a little bit of everything. I enjoy making jewelry and pin up girl/rockabilly/psychobilly type accessories but my passion is art. Unfortunately, I can't sell enough of it to make much profit, so it works out well that I make jewelry and other fun stuff. Everything in my shop is handmade by me. Most of the items in my shop are made from new materials but I love when I can find a vintage piece that I can repurpose into something fabulous.

2. This Ghoul loves the name of your shop and your alter ego! How did you come up with Ghastly A Go Go by Ghastly Governess?

My shop name and alter ego are a combination of a couple of my favorite things. My favorite band (though no longer together) is The Ghastly Ones. Their album "A Haunting We Will Go-Go" is one of my favorite albums. They are (or were) a great "Ghoul Surf" band. If you've never heard them before, you should check them out! My shop name is a definite tribute to them! I am also a HUGE Edward Gorey fan. One of my favorite books is The Gashlycrumb Tinies. I may not be "Gashly" but "Ghastly" I can do! Being a "Governess" just seemed Edward Gorey-esque, a little bit spooky, little bit droll. My husband refers to me as "Your Ghastliness". He's being sarcastic, of course, (he also says I have hooves) but it makes me smile none the less.

3. What inspires you to create adorably dark, horror related items as opposed to bubble gum, cutesy ones?

My love for Halloween and horror movies inspires my art. I've always loved Halloween and felt like Halloween should scary, not cutsie and kitsch. I think my artwork reflects that. I love creepy baby dolls and clowns. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a makeup artist. Painting dolls and faces just seemed like the natural progression of that for me as I got older. I love to paint but if you hand me a flat surface and say "here, paint on this" I feel like a bumbling fool with a paintbrush in my hand. Give me a clay face or a baby doll to paint and I'm right at home. Going to bed at night with a kitchen counter full of painted doll parts is a good feeling.

4. Do you have an item in your shop that is your favorite? What is it and why? (please send a link with this so I can add a pic of it)

My favorite item would have to be "Oscar".

He is a painted doll head on a decoupaged music box. Wind him up and his head spins to the classical version of "Rockabye Baby". Oscar was one of the first baby doll heads I ever painted. When I finished him, I knew he was going to be part of something special. I held on to him for months until the idea of turning him into a music box came to me. The music box was the first thing I ever decoupaged. When I was growing up, my father (both of my parents are very talented artists) decoupaged all kinds of things. His pieces were beautifully creepy and inspiring to me as I was growing up. The name "Oscar" actually comes from the name of the doll that the head came from. On the base of the neck, "Oscar" was printed into the plastic. There is a short clip on YouTube of Oscar playing for anyone who wants to see him in all his creepy glory.

5. Are you working on any new items that you would like to share with my readers?

I have a few art pieces that I am currently working on. I have a couple of doll pieces that will be ready early next year. I have had to put a lot of creating on hold at the moment as I am trying to get my second Etsy shop, Miriam's Vanity, ready for it's grand opening. Once it is up and running, I will be back to work on new things. I've ordered tons of new supplies and have a lot of great ideas on paper. Not being able to sit down and work every night is killing me. I can't wait to get back to it. Stay tuned!

6. Congrats on coming up on your first year anniversary of your shop on Etsy! I noticed that this will be coming up in January. What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy as a seller?

Promote! Promote! Promote! Self promotion is a necessary evil. It's boring and hard work but if you don't put yourself out there, you're basically invisible. Join Etsy teams that appeal to you and make friends with other artists. I have made some wonderful friends on Etsy and have learned so much from them. When I first joined Etsy I thought, "I can do this on my own, I don't need to participate in all the "social" parts of this site." I don't know what I was thinking. If you're just starting out, chances are, you don't know what the heck you're doing. Reach out to others on Etsy. I would have never made it through this year if it weren't for the amazing people I've met on Etsy. Once you get yourself established, PAY IT FORWARD! Reach out to new shop owners, be friendly and kind and supportive. Help promote other artists and it will come back to you ten fold. I cannot stress enough how important being a part of the community within Etsy is. We're all in this together!

7. In the past few years the DIY movement has continued to grow. Do you think this helps or hinders your business and why?

That's a tough question. On one hand, I think it helps bring attention to what we all do. Someone posted on Facebook just the other day, "Just because it's handmade doesn't mean it's cheap!" Anyone who thinks handmade goods are cheap obviously have never shopped for craft supplies! I think it helps people appreciate the hard work that goes into the items that you find on Etsy when they try to make them for themselves. Either they are good at it and they don't have a need to buy from us or they are terrible at it and they realize just how hard all of us are working. If I were to be completely honest about it, the DIY movement is how I came to Etsy in the first place. Where I live, the items that I wanted just weren't available. I spent a lot of money shopping online to get what I wanted. If I hadn't had the "Hey, I can do this myself!" moment, I wouldn't be where I am now. I look at is this way, I can paint and make jewelry but I can't sew to save my life. My friend Lindsay can. She has a great shop on Etsy and I'm incredibly jealous of her ability to sew circles around everyone she knows. I constantly hear people say that Etsy is "over-saturated with jewelry makers, seamstresses and artists". I think that's bunk. There's enough room for everyone. The world is a big place and we all bring something different and unique to the table.

8. With the holidays just around the corner do you have any out of the ordinary spooky or kitschy decor or accessories that you bring out of the woodwork this time of year? Tell us about it.

When it comes to Halloween my family goes all out. We usually decorate the garage and it's so scary the neighborhood kids are afraid to walk up our driveway. I have a huge 12 foot demon/skeleton named "Sarge" that my husband gave me for Valentine's Day a few years back. He's a staple in our Halloween decor. We may be all out Halloween crazy but when it comes to Christmas, we're very traditional. We have a huge Christmas tree with white lights and gold and red ornaments. I decorate the mantle and hang up stockings. We put up icicle lights outside and I always have Christmas scented candles burning. Even Ghastly Ghouls need a little holiday cheer!

9. I am going to kick it close to home for a sec. I noticed you are from Tennessee and this past summer I made a road trip there to spend time with my in laws for a family reunion. What is your favorite hang out place in the city?

Tennessee is a beautiful place to live. Knoxville is rich with history and Civil War ghost stories. Unfortunately, most of my favorite places from growing up are gone. The city is constantly under "revitalization" and so many wonderful places have been shut down or bulldozed. Downtown Knoxville used to be one of my favorite places to go. There's a part of the city known as "The Old City" and it was the place to go when I was a teenager. There were coffee shops and bars and little shops full of wonderful local art and gifts. Up the hill from The Old City is Market Square. A little club called The Mercury was where I saw my first punk rock show when I was 14. It's all gone now, completely changed. The Old City is still there as is Market Square but now it's full of hipster shops and over-priced swanky bars. It's just not the same. The only place in the city that hasn't changed is the Greenwood Cemetery. It's a huge cemetery but it's older sections have a creepy New Orleans feel. In the very back of the cemetery is an empty mausoleum where we all used to hang out when we were teenagers. I can still drive up there and it's just like stepping back in time. It's the only place I can go here in Knoxville that still feels the same.

10. This Ghoul wants to know what your favorite kind of horror movie is! Are you a slasher lover or do you prefer a good haunting or maybe you like something with vampires and other creatures of the night.... SPILL!

My all-time favorite scary movie is The Exorcist. LOVE IT! I've probably seen it one hundred times. I'm also a huge Rob Zombie fan. I love his music and his films. His Halloween remake, The Devil's Rejects, House of 1,000 Corpses - GREAT movies! They are gritty and gross and make you feel like you need to take a shower after you watch them. I love all horror movies, really. I'll watch anything, old school black and whites, subtitles, guts and gore or ghosts. It's all good! It takes a lot to scare me so I'm always interested in seeing the newest scary movies. I think the new movies have lost a lot of the griminess that made horror movies in the 70's so good but there are some good ones out there. I really enjoyed The Woman in Black.. no blood and guts there but it was a good scary movie, definitely worth seeing.

Want to know more about Sara and how to get in touch? You can find her at these places:
 Check out my Etsy Shop
You can add me on my personal Facebook page (I accept all friend requests)
My shop's Facebook page
My new shop is also on Facebook  I have a new blog set up (Haven't posted anything just yet)
You can also find me on Pinterest and Wanelo where I have boards and collections for all of my Etsy teams.

Gettin Low Brow with Miss Dister

I love art! I could go one all day about the different type of art that I love, but we don't have that kind of time. Lately, there has been an art movement taking over and making a name for itself, and it is hard to ignore. This type of art is called pop surrealism or low brow art.

I remember being first exposed to it in a magazine called Gothic Beauty. There was an article called, "Untamed Imagery: The Art of Mark Ryden." I know this because I still have the Spring 2005 issue and it is currently next my keyboard as I type this. There was something so beautiful and classic about his art, but also strange, unusual, and even a little disturbing. It drew me in like a fly to honey and I have been addicted ever since. I recently met another person who is not just a fan of pop surrealism and Mark Ryden, but creates her own low brow art as well. The artists name is Dahiana and her shop is Dister, but you can call her Miss Dister. I had a few questions for Miss Dister and I learned a lot about this talented artist. So, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Miss Dister!

My Name is Dahiana, I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I live in Boston MA with my husband Michael and our cat. I went to college and got a Bachelor's degree in Advertising. I'm a full time professional artist who specializes in realism, portraits, still life and abstracts. Over the past three years I have developed a new passion for Surrealism, specifically Pop Surrealism (Lowbrow art), Digital Photography and Silkscreen Printing. I love horror movies, photography, crafts and yoga.

1.What kind of items do you sell in your shop?

Mixed media art, screen printing, prints and original paintings.

2. How long have you been an artist?

Almost all my life, since I can remember.

3.If you had to describe your art in only 5 words, what would they be?

1)Whimsical.
2)Intense.
3)Morbid.
4)Sarcastic.
5)Lovely.

4. I am loving the skulls and heart prints! They look like something you find in Grey's Anatomy. What inspired you to create these images?

Well, I've always been fascinated with how intrinsic the anatomy of the human body is, it has a mysterious beauty even a sense of nostalgia, when I create those images because I want to show that even the most ghoulish object can be something beautiful.

5. Do you have an item for sale in your shop that is your most favorite above the rest? What is it and why?

"The Walk", I think it has to do with fact that there are people out there that enjoy this style of art like me or because this was one of my first items when I opened my shop hahahaha.

6. I noticed in one of your profiles that you have a passion for surrealism, specifically pop surrealism or lowbrow art. What is it about this style that you love so much?

I think it is the dichotomy that you feel when you see a piece. There is a darkness that is at the same time so beautiful, breath taking and sometimes funny. This genre for me is an escape from structure, a break from how things should look just because society says so.

7. I also saw some shirts with steam punk images. What is it about this culture that you like and inspires you?

Steampunk is the most amazing movement that I ever seen even though some people think that it has a political agenda. I love the victorian era, the idea of time traveling, the combination of modern technology and old machinery, fantasy and horror and of course I adore the kick a @$ Steampunk fashion!

8. If you were to give an new seller on Etsy some advice, what would you say to them?

Be patient, promote at your own pace, use all the media that you can twitter, Facebook, etc. If you don't know how to use them don't worry eventually you will figure it out and NEVER! NEVER! consider your shop as a " hobby shop", don't let people put your shop in that category. Just because you don't have a gazillion sales every day it doesn't mean that your shop is not good enough or the product that you are offering is the wrong one. Have passion for what you're are doing and you will get results.

9. Is there any artist that you idolize or admire over most others? Who is it and why?

Yes I do! Mark Rayden, incredible artist, mesmerizing art work. Some people say that he's the "god-father" of pop surrealism. When I saw his work for the first time I knew it was okay to let my imagination flow. As an artist who works with realism all the time, it is very difficult for me to let my creativity go sometimes.

10.This ghoul would like to know what your favorite kind of horror movie is and why? Do you prefer a bloody, slasher flick or maybe a good old fashioned haunting in an abandoned hospital?

All of the above! hahahaha, I love horror movies, I get inspiration from them and integrate that in to my work.

If you would like to see what she has for sale, Check out her Etsy Shop! You can also Follow her on Twitter, and Like her on Facebook!

A Word with Gothic Glass Studio

A little over four years ago I met the man that married two Halloweens ago.  In case you didn't know, when you become involved with someone to the point where you marry this person you get to learn a lot about them and even meet their family. I know, what were the odds! Anyways, I met the in-laws the fall after James, my husband, and I started dating. That following summer James and I went to Georgia and spent some time with parents, Ruth and Lenny. We did the touristy things, went shopping, had some killer eats, and met a few of his parents friends. We met a couple that in-laws are good friends with, Joan and George. Ruth met Joan at a mosaic, tiling class... if I'm not mistaken.  We found out that Joan and George were and still are amazing artists. Their chosen craft is stained glass.

By Joan and George

They have stunning work to say the least. Our family is happy to say we own some of their pieces. Since this trip, James and I have taken a fondness to stained glass and other forms of glass art.

Also by Joan and George

So it should be no surprise that I was very happy to get an introduction to Angie, the owner of Gothic Glass Studio. This lady has some killer pieces to say the least. Angie took a moment to answer a few questions that I had about her and her work and I am very happy to share this info with my readers.

I am Angie Chase, designer and sole owner of Gothic Glass Studio. My feline, Patch, is social media coordinator and book-keeper. I create art glass suncatchers and ArtzyGlazzy™ Jewelry from my home in Nova Scotia. My designs have captured the international attention of those who have an appreciation for unique, one-of-a-kind art. I specialize in originally designed Wicca, Pagan and Goddess symbolic suncatchers.

Gothic Glass Studio prides itself in crafting quality art glass. During a span of over 20 years, I have developed the skills, practice and understanding of the many tools, materials and glass that are essential and valuable in creating quality art.

Glass art is an exact craft. It requires many hours to meticulously draw the patterns and select and purchase suitable colours and textures of glass for each design. Each piece is hand cut and hand assembled by grinding and shaping, copper foiling and soldering each and EVERY piece. The soldered piece is washed, polished and hanging hardware attached. You definitely get what you pay for.

My name, Gothic Glass Studio, refers to an architectural era of ornamental window glass. My designs are inspired by that 13-14 century Gothic emotion and moderates it with today’s culture where the glamorizing effect of the sun and glass remain unchanged.
And...it reflects my inner Gothesque and vampishness, too!

1. What kind of items do you sell in your shop?

Bored with pattern books, I take pride in creating art glass from my own original designs which helps define my business and sets me apart from others. I tend to design from themes that have a spiritual/personal meaning to me.

2. How did you get started in creating these amazing glass creations?

I began the process of learning the craft during summer employment while attending university. It immediately felt ‘natural’ to me. After three consecutive summers working as an apprentice, I started my own home-based business. During phases of my life, I didn’t have the space or the time to work my craft but now I am fully immersed and focused on my art. I am now utilizing social media to market my art.

3. What inspired you to make darker images in your work, such as bats?

The concept and perception of ‘dark’ and ‘light’ are subjective. My bats, as well as my other designs, flow from a joy-filled spirit and reflect and honour Mother Earth and other spiritual entities...with freedom to add the colours. The spectrum or rainbow is neither good or bad/dark or light. I’ve always had an interest and attraction to a reality and imagination beyond the one-dimensional concept of the existence we are generally fed.

4. Where would you say most of your inspiration comes from?

My inspiration comes from my evolving, maturing inner wisdom, a direct translation from the language of my spirit. I am my culture, roots and experience. I re-create those symbolic intra-connections in my designs. I celebrate and honour my existence and world through my art.

5. I think it is amazing to see the final result of your process, your work is stunning. How long does it typically take you to make one of your items, say something the size of your baby bat sun catcher?

Thank you for your compliment. I am always encouraged by and appreciate of feedback. My craft brings me happiness so it is a bonus when others have positive feelings about it too. If I were to make only one bat, it would take me approximately 3 to 4 hours from start to finish. The more pieces in a design, the longer it takes. Sometimes, I work slowly, especially on new designs because I have to think about and plan my cuts. I apply the same amount of mindfulness and positive energy into every piece.

6. Do you have a hard time balancing your normal life with your creative, glass art making life? How do you keep things in balance?

Because I am currently unemployed, I have oodles of time to devote to my glass work. Although I lack a living wage, I gain the time and space to do what I am passionate about doing. I devote many hours of the day ‘doing glass’ including marketing. I also walk and bike and jump at any opportunity to actively engage in life....experiencing events, activities and people. I am living ‘normal’ when creating...it is balance. Everything/life is in balance....even when we think it is not.

7. Have you ever done a custom item before? Would you consider it?

I have worked on many custom designs. They can be challenging because the image begins from someone else and I have to re-create that idea in reality. It can be time consuming deciding on colours and types of glass. I may not even like the subject of the design but I will always put my best effort into the design and the craftsmanship. The point is to create something that will please the other.

8. Are you working on anything new that you would like to share with my readers?

I was sent an image of a Tacca flower on Facebook because its common name is ‘Bat Flower’. Only a few days later, I began sketching the flower and choosing the perfect colours. It is now ready to solder. I really like it, (like most of my panel designs) and I might want to keep it (as they are usually one-of-a-kind) but I will list it in my shop to sale. Business is detaching from the art after it is finished.

9. What is your most favorite item that is currently for sale in your shop? Both out of your sun catchers and jewelry.

My favorite design is the pair of primitive crow/raven with cherry panels. I would love to keep these (crows and ravens are one of my predominate spirit guides) but business is business.

10. This ghoul would like to know what your most favorite horror movie is and why? If you can't pick just one, that is okay too. Lord knows I can't!

Ahhh, now we’re talkin’...I really can’t, not right now anyway. I love love macabre literature (Bradbury, Poe, Straub, Saul, King, and Lovecraft) and movies! I’m especially partial to vampires. I like the oldies like Hitchcock’s, ‘The Birds’. Most people won’t go to the movies with me to see a ‘horror’ movie because I usually laugh when others scream and I start getting a crush on the vampire....yeah, ‘nuff said.

If you would like to know more about Angie and her work, you can find her all over the web!
Check out her Etsy Shop! Like her on Facebook! Follow her on Twitter!

Gobble Gobble, Mother F*cker!

First off, Happy Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe that it has finally arrived. I swear, it barely feels like November has started and now it is practically over. However, it is not over and it is Thanksgiving! This ghoul has been dying to share this movie review for a while now, but has never felt like it was the right time. I love horror movies as you all know and I love ones that take place during a specific holiday. In fact, I have a favorite one for every season! When New Years Day comes along I like to watch new Years Evil. Valentine's Day is when I watch My Bloody Valentine and Valentine. St Patrick's Day should be obvious, but in case you are dense, I watch The Leprechaun. I could go on, but I don't want to spoil any future movie reviews.

Unfortunately, there aren't many Thanksgiving horror flicks. Sad, but true. There are actually only four. You have Home Sweet Home, Blood Freak, Thanxgiving, and ThanksKilling. The one that I have seen the most times, for some ungodly reason, is ThanksKilling. This movie is about a group of five college kids that run into a homicidal turkey that hunts them down to kill them one by one. If you think that is insane, then you will never believe that there two sequels that follow this. I wish I was kidding.

I'm not sure if this movie will peak your interest, but if you like low budget, B rate horror, then maybe this one is for you. PS when I mean low budget I am talking $3500 budget.... literally! A movie so ridiculous that the catch phrase, "Gobble Gooble, mother fucker!" was written before the plot was developed. The turkey puppet was constructed from old special fx materials by the director in his apartment bathroom. The body of the puppet was a foam, decoy hunting decoy. This is why you never see the turkey's feet. When audition time came they were held in a garage.

Final summation: If you like bad horror movies with ghetto talkin turkey's and porn star cameos, then give this a whirl... otherwise, you will be disappointed.... severely disappointed! Happy Thanksgiving!