Chain Maille, Seed Beads, and Rob Zombie

Have you ever heard the expression that everybody has a story to tell? Well, I have a similar saying: Everybody has a freak flag, you just have to find it. Freak flag is a phrase that came about in the 60's referring to unconventional behavior that goes against what is considered normal. An example of this was men having long hair in the 60's. I remember my Dad telling me that he had long hair growing up and there were places that wouldn't hire him for work because of his long hair. It is crazy that something as simple as long hair can be considered unconventional. God help those like me that have a different hair color every few months.

 

I don't know why, but when I heard the term freak flag I fell in love with it. I liked that, in so many ways, it described my personality and my appearance. I liked that it could be used to describe my pierced and tattooed friends. I liked that it took something that a lot of people see as unusual and turned it into something empowering. It was great to see that I had so many friends that dared to be different and let their freak flags fly. 
 

I started using this term in a slightly different way. I would use it do describe something about someone that you wouldn't be able to assume on looks alone. I have a friend that pretty much looks like a homeless man that may or may not be a serial killer and in reality he is a huge animal rights activist. Several days a week he is working with an animal rescue team on top of another job. His soft spot for animals is his freak flag because you wouldn't guess that about him in a million years. I have another friend that is young, covered from head to toe in piercings and tattoos and looks like she could win a bar fight in a biker bar. She is a new mom with an on-line business that is doing very well and that is her freak flag. 
 

This post is about a girl I met through Etsy and she has a freak flag too. She makes amazing jewelry. She is pretty much a ninja when it comes to beading. Now, since I have never met her in person, I began making assumptions about her based on her work. At first glance I assumed she is a beach lover who enjoys sporting events, and a night out with family and friends. Then, I decided to check out her favorites. This girl loves horror! I was tickled pink by this. This is like meeting a friends sweet mother who is your typical Martha Stewart type and then finding out she is the human pin cushion at the circus. How freaking cool would that be!?!! So I am very excited to let you get to know a bit more about this lovely lady, Katie, her shop, and her freak flag when it comes to horror!
 

Hi, My name is Katie and I live in the Berkshires in Western MA. My husband and I just got married last July 4th. I work for my husband in his locksmith business 2 day a week so I have the rest of my time for my jewelry work..In the small amount of spare time I have, I love to read, watch movies and spend time outside when the weather is nice.
 

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

I make chain maille and hand woven seed beaded jewelry. My chain maille is all aluminum so it's light weight and easy to wear. The seed beads I use are all glass beads and I love to pair the necklaces with both natural and dyed stones. I also recently added key chains and Para Cord to my work.

 

2. How long have you been making jewelry and how did you get started?

I started making jewelry in 2006 as gifts for friends and family. I worked at a craft store back then and was in charge of the beading department. We had just put a bunch of products on clearance so I picked up quite a bit along with some books. When the new products came in, I fell in love with them. As I was working/ shopping, I became friends with one of my regular customers and the more I talked with her the more I knew jewelry was what I needed to be doing.

 

3. I know that chain maille jewelry has becoming a popular trend. What about this type of jewelry making appeals to you the most?

I love making chain maille because there is so much variation with it. There are so many different weave and ways to add color to it. I am always trying different techniques with it and getting great results.

 

4. One thing that makes your necklaces stand out are the chains and ropes that make up necklaces themselves. The pendants seem to be the color inspiration for the necklaces they hang on. Apart from having a pendant to work off of, where else do you pull inspiration from?

Aside from the pendants I use, I draw inspiration from just about anything that catches my eye. The area I live in is wonderful for natural colors, the fall foliage is great. Also, when ever I am out shopping, I look for anything that has great color. Even if I don't buy it, I make a mental note of it and when I get home I translate the colors into my jewelry.

 

5. The spiral rope necklaces are very impressive. How long does it typically take to make one?

The spiral rope chain is one of my favorite bead weaving techniques. On average an 18 inch necklace will take me about 6-8 working hours. I usually need a break at least once but I can get one done over a day or so.

 

6. Is there any other type of jewelry making techniques or supplies that you haven't tried out yet, but are looking into? Tell us more.

I am always looking to work with new materials. Right now I am thinking about working with Polymer clay. I want to start making some of my own beads and pendants. I love to create and I would love to add another one of a kind aspect to my jewelry.

 

7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making jewelry?

My advice to anyone looking into starting jewelry making is to never give up, keep learning and find a niche that you love, In the 7 years I have been making jewelry, I have learned so much and I know I need to just keep learning.

 

8. Etsy is filled with amazing shops filled with one of a kind items, jewelry included. What do you try to do as an Etsy seller and crafter to make your items stand out?

I try to stand out on Etsy by having a little something for everyone. From teens to adults, men and women. I have fun, funky necklaces and earrings, delicate looking bead work, Para Cord for the survivalists and chain maille necklaces for men and women.

 

9. So I decided to get to know more about you prior to this interview by checking out your Etsy profile and your favorites. I noticed coffins, skull charms, a haunted pillow, and Nightmare Before Xmas stuff.This goes to show that my theory that "Everyone has a freak flag, you just have to find it" is true. What else would I be surprised to know about you if I had to base a judgment of your personality and interests solely on your handmade jewelry?

A surprising thing about myself would be that I have a zoo at home. I have 2 bearded dragons, Gwen and Ringo, and 3 ball pythons, Miss Diva, Stryker and Samhein, my Piedbald. They are a huge passion of mine. Also, I have 4 dogs, Molly, a yellow lab, Lady, a Golden Retriever, Jack, an Olde English Bulldog and Shadow, a blue nose pit. And last but not least, I have Smokey, my Maine Coon/ Siamese cat.

 

10. In case you didn't know, you don't get to be interviewed by A Ghouls Best Friend without a horror related question or two. What is your favorite part about Halloween and why?

Being part Irish, I find the Celtic influence on Halloween awesome. Particularly the history and lore of why we celebrate Halloween the way we do. Also, seeing the trick or treaters is pretty cool too.

 

11. What is your most favorite scary movie and why? It's okay if you can't name just one, lord knows I can't!

At the top of my favorite scary movie list are House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. Rob Zombie is one of my favorite guys out there. Also, I can never decide but I love Stephen King so any movie made from his books. I always read the books and then watch the movies to see how the books were translated into movie form.

 

Here is a quick word from Katie on how to get in touch with her and get the 411 on her shop!

Thank you for taking a few moments to get to know me better. You can keep up with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/katiescustomjewelry1

Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/KatiesCustom

And check out my own jewelry site at www.katiescustomjewelry.com/

 If you like what you read or have a question, leave a comment!

Curtains: 30 Years of Casting Audra

Curtains. They are an interesting item as far as home decor goes. You can open them to let in the light and warm things up or close them to keep things dark and cool. You can use them to keep out wandering eyes or use them to show the outside world just a little bit of what it's like on the inside. However, curtains can also be more menacing than they mean to be. As much as they are about privacy, they are also used to hide. They cover things up. They keep secrets. Though, sometimes, being on the inside of the curtains isn't always the safest place to be... At least not in the 1983 cult horror film, Curtains.

Curtains is a film about a group of six women auditioning for a movie. Not only are these women auditioning for the same film, but they are all trying to get the same part; Audra. To make things a bit creepy, the casting call is being held at a mansion in the middle of nowhere. Naturally, there is a masked killer that goes after the wannabe leading ladies one by one. It sounds simple enough. 

The film starts out with a woman, Samantha, auditioning for the role. She is doing a great job, but the director, Johnathan Stryker, has some criticisms for the young actress that put her in a mental institution. Don't worry, she hasn't gone mad... she just wants to do some research for the role of Audra and does a little method acting so that other patients think she really is mentally ill. While Samantha is locked away she discovers that Stryker is auditioning a group of girls for Audra. Samantha freaks out and goes out on a killing spree targeting that ladies trying to get the role of Audra.

This film isn't the best horror movie ever to hit the screen. It has a cheesy story line and the director, Stryker played by John Vernon,  is probably the most noteworthy actor in the bunch. However, what makes this a cult film has nothing to do with these things. More so, it has to do with the kill scenes. Most notably, the scene where one of the actresses is ice skating on a lake and the masked killer comes after her. This was the first time a kill scene was filmed on the ice and not because some kid went after his ball and slipped through the broken ice. This was pure icecapdes murder realness! (That last sentence is a testament to my ever growing RuPaul's Drag Race addiction, FYI.) There are a bunch of other crazy murder scenes. Some involve a doll, a vent, a head in a toilet, and there are almost always curtains with someone behind them watching.

I think this is a film to check out, at least once, even if it is just to check out the kill scenes.

To end this post I would like to share some random facts I learned about this film.

1. This film has several references to the production of this very film itself.

2. The real director, Richard Ciupka is not credited for the film as the director. The fictional character Johnathan Stryker is.

3. Stryker is played by John Vernon who has also been in Dirty Harry and Animal House. "Double Secret Probation!"

4. The film was originally in it's beginning of production in 1980, but got shelved for a year for multiple re-writes, re-shoots, and even one re-casting.

5. The credits at the end of the film are brought on by the closing of curtains and are listed by acts to continue the ongoing theme of scripts and acting.

6. A band named Morticia wrote a song called "Audra" and they lyrics are about the film. It's a metal band, so you can't understand a damn word the band is saying, but it's cute when you read the lyrics. Also, the intro to the song is a sound clip from Curtains. 

Audra Lyrics

Betrayal, left to die, lust for blood
Casting call for Audra, six summoned
Desolate, eerily dark estate

Jealousy for the part, seals their fate
Masked killer, morbid rage, waits for them
Murdering one by one till there's none
Hideous horrid face, takes your life

Slits your throat, spilling blood on the ice

Hatred, all must die
Icepick in the spine
Darkened rooms of death
Sound of morbid breath

Psychotic killer comes, mask of death
Hunts for you, shining blade, blood is fresh
Mutilated corpses lie in the snow
All are dead, Audra lives, curtains close

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this post and Happy 30th, Curtains!

From the Desk of A Ghoul Vol. 1

Hey there Boils and Ghouls!

I wanted to take this time to give everyone a quick sneak peek into things to come this month. So far this month I have already had two excellent featured shop posts! They were with The Silver Crucible and Sick and Tiled. Check them out if you haven't already. These are two of many more to come this month!

You will also see a few horror related posts including my very first Ghoul Talk post! I am very excited to be kicking off this series of posts that will involve myself and a fellow horror nut talking about all things horror. My first post will be about horror movie remakes and reboots with Bazooka Jenn from Sick and Tiled. We are going to tell you what we loved, what we hated, why we think this is a growing trend, and ask that age old question of which was better: the remake or the original? SO keep your eyes peeled for that one!

On a different note, A Ghouls Best Friend on Etsy is doing amazingly well! In fact, the online shop is one sale away from hitting 400 sales! The lucky person who is the 400th sale will receive a ton of free merchandise with their order! Also, in celebration of the 400th sale, there will be a discount code floating around for Facebook and Twitter followers, so be on the lookout for that as well.

At the moment, A Ghouls Best Friend does not have any events planned, but as soon as it warms up you can count on a whole list of fun events to attend and support local crafters like myself. As of right now, I will be vending Hon Fest in June and Hampden Fest in September. Those are the only two events that are annual events for AGBF. Hopefully, AGBF will be vending with Dragontown Corset's Burlesque Festival in Jim Thorpe. I have vended with them twice in the last two years and I am looking forward to many more.

I hope everyone has had a lovely winter!

Keep it Sweet and Twisted!

Sara, Your Friendly Neighborhood Ghoul

Sick and Tiled with Bazooka Jenn

I am extremely pleased to introduce the ghoul I interviewed for this post. She is a horror freak much like myself and is someone that embraces this love with open arms and a handful of tiles and records. Her name is Jenn, but I may have to nickname her Wonder Woman because she, literally, does it all. She is a wife, mother, pet owner, crafter, and business owner. Jenn specializes in horror themed home decor items that includes everything from clocks to coasters! On top of this, she is thinking about expanding her business even more! She is an awesome and creative lady and I think that if she lived near me we would be really close friends. There is just something about horror that tends to bring people together. I learned a lot more about Jenn recently and it would be rude of me not to share. So sit back and get to know the owner of Sick and Tiled: Bazooka Jenn! 

My name is Jenn (Bazooka Jenn on FB. Find me!), 31. I'm a mom to 2 of the coolest little boys ever, Merrick (8) and Brody (6) and married to my college sweetheart/drinking buddy Adam for nearly 5 years. We met at special effects school 9 years ago and have been together since. We have 2 pets, a black lab named Loki (the hubs likes Norse Mythology) and a furball named Izzy (I like G'N'R). Aside from being a fulltime mom, I'm also the owner and creator of Sick and Tiled.

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

I make a lot of home decor (clocks, drink coasters, light switch plates, etc) with gothic, geeky and/or horror movie themes to them but I'm a bit fickle, honestly, and may branch out into more clothing and repurposed furniture. Right now, I'm working on really cool yet creepy wall art and I'm pretty excited about it.

2. How long have you been crafting and how did you get started?

Well, I've always had a little crafter in me, but I started doing more after I had my kids. Simple stuff mostly. Then, as the kids got older, I had more time and instead of returning to work right away, I started Sick and Tiled. It's the shop's 2 yr anniversary on the 28th!! 

3. Where does a lot of your inspiration come from?

Horror movies, mostly. But, also from my personal aesthetic. I like things with personality.....Dark, unusual, weird.....I pretty much put things in the shop that *I* would love to own. This shop has a lot of me in it. I've always been a HUGE horror fan, so it seemed inevitable that I'd be doing something along those lines. 

4. Is there a certain aspect of horror films that you tend to depict in your work more than any other? (ie scream queens, slashers, villains, classic horror, cult films)

I'm not gonna lie, I think I still live in the 80s-early 90s when it comes to horror. A lot of items have been inspired by cheesy slasher movie that I grew up loving. I figure I can't be the only one that loves these so I'm trying to carve out a little niche in the horror memorabilia circuit. 

5. Where did the inspiration for your tiled trays and wall art come from? Is this something we can expect to see more of in your shop in the future?

The inspiration for the trays came from Martha Stewart. Seriously! I found tutorial in one of her books for a tiled tray, in which I changed to fit my needs. I think hers was some kind of beachy looking tray, but not mine. Mine needed some "balls". 

As for the wall art, it's been something I've wanted to do for a while. The coasters come out looking so good, that I almost don't want to sell them as coasters, but instead keep them and hang them all on my walls. 

More of both coming soon!!

6. Have you ever had a piece that you couldn't bare to part with? What is it and what made it so special? 

Ok, I know this sounds really lame, but do you remember when I said that I live in the 80s/90s? Well, that applies to a lot of music too. That said, I love hair metal. To be more specific, Whitesnake. So, during "cocktail hour", I tossed my vinyl record to my hubby, but it hit the something and cracked. I couldn't use it anymore, so I turned it into a clock that now hangs in the dining room. If you look closely at the picture, you can see where it's cracked. 

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

I'm going to be making a lot more coasters, wall art, trays, and puzzle magnets (to name a few) in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!!!!!! Also, there is a 2nd Anniversary sale going on right now!

And if you find my shop through this site, use the code GBFBLOG for a 10% discount off orders $10 or more!

8. February marks your shop two year anniversary. Congrats! I also noticed that you are coming close to having 300 sales! That is amazing, especially when you consider that some shops don't hit 30 sales in their first two years. What do you think has helped make your shop become so successful?

Persistance, i.e. a facebook addiction. Just kidding....kind of. I do a lot of promoting through both my shop page (www.facebook.com/sickandtiled) and my personal page. I think when using social networking as a major source of advertising, it's important to really show your personality. So, in between a random horror movie trailer, music video or ridiciously funny posts from yours truly, you're bound to see the what I have in the shop.

9. There are a lot of sellers on Etsy that sell horror related items, myself included. Granted, horror decor is not the biggest category on Etsy, but it is one that is growing. How do you think this will impact fellow horror related Etsy shops?

I'm hoping positively! Horror fans are a passionate group and are always coming out of the woodworks. They love to show off any horror merch they have, so it's just a matter of getting seen.

10. There were a ton of horror movies that came out last year. Were there any that you saw that you would recommend? What are they and why?

I was really surprised at how much I liked Cabin In The Woods. I originally thought it was just another teen horror movie that I'd hate, but if I would have noticed it was a Joss Whedon movie, I would have seen it sooner. Lovely Molly and The Possesion was cool. The subject in The Possesion is pretty creepy. I've heard stories about the box prior to the movie and it's supposedly bad luck to even say its name! TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

11. Are there any horror movies coming out in the next few months that you are dying to see? What are they and why?
Nothing has peeked my interest so far this year. I'm not sure yet about the new Evil Dead movie because I'm partial to the original, so we'll see. I am a little excited about World War Z because out of every type of monster, zombies are my favorites. But, based on trailer, I could go either way, as long as I don't take it too seriously. 

If you would like to know more about Bazooka Jenn and her work you can Shop on her Etsy Page, Friend her on Facebook, and Like her Shop's Fan Page.

Also, Bazooka Jenn will also be working with me on my first Ghoul Talk post where we will discuss Horror Movie Remakes and Reboots. This is a growing trend that is becoming a large part of horror movie culture. Plus, with The Evil Dead and Carrie coming out this Spring there is no better time for a little Ghoul Talk on the topic. 

The Silver Crucible: Wearable Art

“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” -Robert Henri

I think this quote is quite fitting for the artist I am introducing for this post. Joseph Mundy is the mastermind behind The Silver Crucible. He makes one of a kind art jewelry. I am not really sure how to describe his pieces in a way that would give them justice, but I am going to try. His jewelry is obviously jewelry, but the more attention you pay to their details, the more more you start to question what they really are: jewelry or art? These aren't your run of the mill high end jewelry. Each piece looks like it has it's own story as to why it exists and what message it is trying give out. It takes a very special lady to wear one of his pieces and Joseph and I get into that as I got to pick his brain for our interview. I had a lot of questions for him and he had a lot of wonderful info and insight to share with me and my readers. 

In all honesty, I have never had a post where I couldn't find the right words to describe an artists work. It's strange to be at a loss for words, but pictures are worth a thousand of those bad boys and Joseph does a great job using his own. Therefore, without further delay, I give you my interview with The Silver Crucible. 

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


 I make one-of-a-kind art jewelry for women, usually from Sterling Silver and semi-precious stones, but sometimes I use copper to make pieces that are more affordable—every woman deserves and should be able to own something beautiful and unique. I call my work “art jewelry” because it comes from my impulse to create, not an impulse to cash-in, but if I can profit enough from my creative impulse to keep everything going, that’d be the dream.

2. How long have you been working with metal and how did you get started?

I’ve been working with metal for about 25 years ( just being able to say that I’ve done anything for 25 years besides breathe kinda freaks my extended-adolescence mentality out.) I got started freshman year of college. I was an English major, but there were only about two or three classes a semester that were mandatory, but you could take up to five--so I filled the rest of my schedule up with all art classes. I took every art class that Loyola Marymount University had, and after I ran out of those, I created independent study art classes. Three of those classes were Jewelry classes taught by noted Jewelry Artist and instructor at both LMU and FIDM, Sue Dorman.

I was the guy staying in the studio all alone until 5am and then rushing back to my dorm before the sun came up like a metalworking vampire. I’ve always gotten more done when I could be alone in the studio. Ultimately, I took so many art classes there that I inadvertently qualified for a double-major (English AND Studio Arts)…so that was pretty cool, just signing a form and already having earned an extra degree! Sweetness.

3. You have several items that incorporate different gems and metals. I also noticed that in your item descriptions each has it's own symbolism. The same goes with the overall shape of your pieces. I have a million questions about your process, but I will start with this... Where does your inspiration come from?

Artists always say their inspiration comes from “the world around them”, and that could be anything and everything, and it’s true, but to narrow it down a bit, my inspiration has always come from a combination of romance, magic, and the night, which is of course best embodied by beautiful, creative women with keen intellect, disarming humor and exultant femininity. 

A woman like that becomes my muse by sparking those emotions that compel me to design. There have been a rare handful, less than a handful in fact, but my fiancé Mohini is the most powerful muse I have had. It’s not like your muse shows up and you grab a sketch book and start riffing, though. For me its that they create this warehouse of powerful, widely varied emotions in me that I generally tap into with music. So I use music as they key to open the floodgates…usually very moody music, whether dreamy like Sigur Ros and Goldfrapp, dark and wounded like Bauhaus or Fields of the Nephilim, or adrenalin-charged like Cradle of Filth or Rammstein—different music channels different designs, but all filtered through me, so they all have my distinct style in common. In fact, I’ve started writing the songs I was listening to (often on repeat, to hold onto a particularly productive emotion/mood) when I have designing sessions. 



4. How often would you say you get the idea for a piece based on a specific stone? Symbol? Emotion?

If I get the idea for a piece from a specific stone, it almost always ends up being a really involved, signature piece—but it has to be a kick-ass stone for that, so it’s not usually where I get my ideas. I am always buying stones, however, kind of the way a painter buys paints—to have the colors (and vibrations/energies each stone possesses) available on my palette when I finally get to work. I don’t often get inspired by symbols, though—I have much more of an impulse to create my own symbols. I’d have to say that Emotion, with a capital “E” is where I get about 95% of my ideas for pieces. When a powerful emotion hits (or sneaks ups on me), whether it’s joy or contentment, anger, lust, or a seething self-pity, a switch in me gets hit, and the moment I’m alone I have to start designing. 



5. Just get some sort of idea on what your process is like, granted it is probably different for each piece, what was your process like from getting an idea to the finish product for your Cupid's Thorn Band of Eternity bracelet?

Well, I tend to design with a lot of dimension, sort of in defiance of manufactured simplicity—like, why not go upward and outward and use all three dimensions, y’know? I’d been designing of lot of high-relief pieces, which tend to feel more dramatic and aggressive, when a conversation I was having with friends inspired and excited me about going in a softer and traditional direction for the next piece. During a little private jewelry-making class I was teaching, during the red-wine-drinking lesson, my fiancé and I were listening to a friend’s general complaints about finding “the one” and why it was so “friggin’ hard,” and like many of my fiance’s friends (99% of whom are surprisingly single), she’s a smart, attractive, fiercely independent woman. It occurred to me while discussing how smiling more, being more open, and initiating eye-contact more might make her more “approachable,” that I could design a piece with a very specific intent for her particular romantic issues. I figured it would be easier to design a piece whose intent was to make a love match find her more approachable than to actually get her to change old habits--prescription jewelry, I suppose. 

So I began designing my own version of a more traditional scrolling design, which is very feminine, chose the stone which not only felt right visually and viscerally, but also one whose properties fell in line with my intent for the piece. The idea was that all of these physical elements together, along with my intent, which was purposefully worked into the piece as I designed, cut, soldered and wrought it, would act as a kind of Cupid talisman for the wearer…even a fiercely independent, stand-offish, sarcastic wearer.

6. After really taking the time to look at your work, I am fairly certain that I could pick your work out anywhere or, at the very least, compare others work to yours. What do you think makes your work stand out?

I like to think what makes my work stand out is that when I design, one of my prime intents is to make a piece that could be thought of as “treasure”…something bold, beautiful, romantic and powerful--and in doing that, I don’t observe any preconceived notions about what jewelry should be.
 There was a time long ago when jewelry symbolized more than simple wealth and adornment; it was part of arcane symbolism, of legends and supernatural energies…I’m doing my part to bring jewelry back to that. 

7. Have you ever made pieces for men to wear or considered it?


I have made several pieces for myself and a few items for friends, and friends’ boyfriends, and some specially commissioned pieces, but nowhere near the volume of pieces I make for women. I’ve intended to make a men’s line for a long time now, and I have friends in men’s retail and in costuming that have asked me to produce a series for men, but I’ve been lagging on that. Maybe it’s just that as a man I’m much more motivated to make special items for women…that, and the fact that women purchase much more jewelry than men do may be a factor…but I’m open to making almost anything for anyone.


8. What item that is currently for sale in your shop is your favorite and why?

Looking my collection, it’s not easy to choose a favorite, because each piece, for me, is like a distillation of a feeling or a vision—so it’s like choosing a favorite daydream or memory, but if pressed, I’d have to say that “The Secret Dragonband of Melusine” is my favorite.


That’s a piece that when I look at it, I think to myself that I was really in the zone when I was making it—like looking at something I made while I was in a trance after snapping-out-of-it, because the amount of work it takes to pull a piece like that together is immense, and just the thought of making it, (if I had to make it again, exhausts me!) So in this detached way I’m kind of amazed at my past self for jumping right in there and doing it, when the present me might lazily take a pass, knowing how involved it would be. I put pretty much every technique I know into it—casting, piercing, cutting, layering, forging, and stone-setting; not to mention a lot of intense thought and emotional energy into the design and intent. 

For me it feels like I accomplished my objective of making “treasure” rather than just jewelry, something of significance beyond it’s beauty or monetary value. It feels like an artifact that may have belonged to a legendary figure from history, historical or fictional. I feel like I would be in awe of the woman whose arm I envision it on. By doing one-of-a-kind pieces, I’m able to maintain that enthusiasm for each piece that keeps me going when things get challenging. Making something you’ve never seen before makes you excited about how it’ll come out, and that enthusiasm tends to trump laziness and procrastination.

9. In my opinion, you must think very highly of women to devote so much time into a piece of jewelry that has a special symbolism in every part of it. What is it about women that you love or appreciate the most that separates them from most men?

I DO think very highly of women, I think that more men, and more of women, for that matter, should as well. I love a women’s allure, the flash of their eyes when thoughts are sparking, the warm wash of excitement when a woman smiles and means it, the way flipping their hair in a certain way can send my pulse and thoughts racing, the way they adjust their posture when they want to be noticed, the way we as men are powerless NOT to notice when they walk into or out of a room, the way a woman becomes more powerful and compelling the SOFTER she speaks, while for men it’s just the opposite. In a very real way, I believe the design of a woman is unquestionably of divine origin, to be so perfectly poised to rule with a whisper, and be a more powerful being the more she embodies her unique feminine power. A woman fully embodying her femininity is the most powerful being on earth—and so I’m sometimes puzzled that masculine power is so envied by so many. Masculine energy is designed to deal with conflict, aggression, and problem-solving, while feminine energy is creative, inspiring, emboldening, healing and absolutely essential for peace. Quite simply, feminine energy is magic. 

I don’t think it’s simply an issue of idealizing women, because I’ve actually known women who perfectly embody themselves—my mother was one of those women, and I am in heartfelt awe of women like that. It gives me this very privileged reference point of knowing that striking an awe-inspiring balance between strength, intellect and femininity is always possible for a woman.
, and humanity truly needs that balance.

10. In your shop profile you describe your pieces as something you, "...make jewelry for a very special kind of woman. A woman at ease with her feminine power, a woman with a curious and enthusiastic mind, a woman with a sense of mischief, a sense of humor, and an undeniable sensuality." Reading this, I believe that you are an artist that not only has a lot of respect for women, but views them in a slightly different light than most would, including women themselves. So often people will take something harmless and whimsical and turn it into a weakness and not a strength. It is easy to turn your descriptions into something negative like crazy, bipolar, slutty, promiscuous, unrealistic... Why do you think that is? And how do you think this has effected women?


I really think that there is an imbalance spreading through the world, ...an imbalance that is throwing-off how men and women relate to one another, and I feel that it’s partly because many women have been convinced that they have to adopt a more masculine energy to counter the existing injustices and imbalances of power in the world from which women have long suffered, when it’s really kind of a power-downgrade for a woman to do so. Feminine energy is power enough to accomplish any and everything a woman wishes. Look around the world at places where masculine energy holds absolute dominion, places where women’s feminine energy and influence is silenced, they are the most oppressive, aggressive, violent, and arguably cruel societies in existence. Yet it feels as if women in America can’t trade their uniquely feminine power in fast enough for the kind that men wield. The world desperately needs feminine energy—not female subjugation or repression, but that unique formulation of qualities and energy that only women can add to the male-female equation so that humankind doesn’t tear itself apart with aggression and dysfunction. Evolution designed us differently, but of EQUAL importance in what we as men and women bring to the table—we can’t forfeit either without tragic consequences…and we’re beginning to see some of those consequences. 

As a man, I know that we’re designed to respond to aggression with aggression, contempt with contempt—and historically, aggression and contempt came from other men, our competitors, not women. Now that many old, but really very essential gender identifiers are being tossed-out as sacrifices to the gods of perceived equality; and congeniality and charm is on the decline, the instinctual rules are breaking-down, and aggression and judgment is flying in every direction. How to be a “real” man when being knightly or a gentleman is mistaken for misogyny, how to be a “real” woman, when charm and passion can be mistaken for naivetee and sluttiness? We’ve got to give each other the benefit of the doubt, that the majority of men are not trying to take women’s power, and a majority of women aren’t trying to take men’s balls. Smiling, communicating, and understanding helps.


11. Your profile also says, "I have heard some say "where could I wear that?" The answer? Anywhere. When is the right time to be mysterious, alluring and dramatic?...to be beautiful and unique? Anytime." Would you please explain your answer?


For me it’s summed-up by a memory I have of a night out on the town when I was in college. My girlfriend at the time (who was a chronic jeans and Gap blouse wearer) and I were heading for the parking lot after dinner and a movie when we crossed the paths of two girls in deep-colored, dramatic vintage dresses, feather boas (not the cartoony colored ones, real ones), and hilariously high heels, laughing hysterically as they walked, falteringly falling into each other and joking, completely without self-consciousness, without affect or vanity, a little gothy, tomboyishly girly, and utterly beautiful in their daring. I felt like I’d just seen two of the women whom writers and poets wrote about, whom painters begged to paint, and whom every woman wanted as an exciting friend—the type who might get you into an unexpected adventure you’d never otherwise get into. For a moment I was completely captivated, and it seemed to me as if I’d just seen two mermaids swimming by. In other words, the sexiest most amazing woman is the woman who makes her own occasions for wearing amazing and improbable items, whose whimsical originality is what defines her character, not any established sense of propriety or practicality. It makes my think of a favorite Voltaire quote: “The superfluous is very necessary.” ~ Voltaire

12. Since I am A Ghouls Best Friend, I must ask... who is your favorite heroine in a horror film and why?


SO many horror heroines kick ass, I have to give three, with a standout among them. Gotta give Jamie Lee Curtis a spot for Halloween 1 & 2—classic scared underdog gets to the end of her rope and kicks ass! That chick in Hellraiser 2…but then, I just think Pinhead rocks as a villain. Finally, the most kickass horror heroine for me is Sigourrney Weaver as Ripley in the Alien series! I thought she was super hot back in the day, and her asskicking abilities were unmatched!


There are many places on-line where you can check out more work by Joseph Mundy. You can browse his shop on Etsy, Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Official Site.