Pumpkin Carving 2013: Marianas Trench Ever After Toy Bear

Behold! The Vampire's Marianas Trench themed pumpkin carving for 2013. misspulga calls it the Bear-'o'-Lantern. It is modelled after the broken toy bear from Ever After's Toyland, who with the other toys felt the "apathy of heartlessness".

Most Ridiculous Shoes Ever Made? - MSN Lifestyle Video

These shoes definitely fit the "weird" criteria of SSWC.  I think the artist's commentary on fashion/beauty is successful, because it showcases the crazy lengths people go to so that they may be viewed as popular or beautiful in today's society.  Watch the video (originally posted on MSN.ca's Lifestyle page) below and leave a comment - let us know what you think!

Hallowe'en Pumpkin Carving 2012 - Suggestions & Submissions

Well, it's that time of year again... Time to plan how we'll be carving our pumpkins for Hallowe'en!!! :-D Some of you may recall last year's efforts: The Vampire's stunning rendition of Victor from The Corpse Bride, and misspulga's anatomically correct (and beating!) heart. Whatever shall we create this year? Zombies? Sugar skulls? We want *you* to tell us what you'd like to see!!

In addition to hearing your suggestions, this year we want you to show us your mad skillz by sending in your pumpkin carving photos! Please leave us a comment, or e-mail your pumpkin carving suggestions and submissions to: 

screamingskullsweirdclub@gmail.com 

Be sure to include your: 

• Name (at least a first name) 
• Location (e.g., Toronto, Canada)
• Social media info (if applicable/desired - e.g., website, Pinterest, Twitter...) so we can give you credit! 

Implements of torture, a.k.a. pumpkin carving tools.

Anatomically correct heart design.

Victor (The Corpse Bride) Design.

Finished products by misspulga (left) and The Vampire (right).

Planet Obscura takes your privacy and intellectual property rights seriously. We will not publish your e-mail address or any other revealing personal information. Only your name, city/country, and social media info (if desired) will appear next to your photos on the SSWC blog. Please also remember that all photo submissions *must* be original photos you took yourself and NOT from the Internet.

We're looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations... Happy carving, everyone!!! :-D

misspulga's beating heart, 2011.

The Vampire's Victor, 2011.

Invoking the Spirit Hunt by David Ruben Piqtoukun

This past August, I met up with an interesting and friendly creature named "Invoking the Spirit Hunt" (above) while appreciating many fantastic carvings of Shamans, Sedna, people, and various animals at the Museum of Inuit Art in Toronto, Canada.  David Ruben Piqtoukun, the artist, is from Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, Canada, and used stone and caribou antler for this piece.  If statues could come to life, I feel that "Invoking the Spirit Hunt" would have a lot to contribute to the SSWC blog!

Black Diamond Solitaire Ring by Core Jewels

Side view

Top view

This is what The Vampire wants for Hallowe'en!  Core Jewels designed this stunning black diamond ring.  It is approximately $9,500 CAD, 2.0 Ct., and 100% Vampire.  

[Link to ring on Core Jewels]

[via Core Jewels]

Epic Skull Pendants by John Willers

Beautiful skull pendants in 10K gold and sterling silver, created by John Willers of the Sturgis Jewelry Company.  Adorned with perfect laboratory grown rubies and emeralds. Check out these pendants and other skull-related items created by this company at the link below (yes, these pendants are available as rings)!

[Link to the Sturgis Jewelry Company website - Skulls Catalog]

Death Triumphant

Another epic piece of art.  Created around 1670, Death Triumphant hails from Germany, possibly Bavaria.  If you are ever in Toronto, Canada, you can visit this battle scarred, yet victorious-looking skeleton at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where it is part of their Thompson Collection.

[Link to Death Triumphant on the AGO website]

[via Art Gallery of Ontario]

White Fright by Shary Boyle

A few weeks ago, The Vampire visited the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and came across this gorgeous piece created by Canadian artist Shary Boyle (check out her other beautiful creepy works at the link below).  This bat is perfect porcelain; the wings are created by attaching lace to the structure, then dipping the lace in liquid porcelain, and when the piece is fired the lace burns away but the shape of the lace remains.  White Fright is a stunning contradiction - bats are meant to be dark, evil, little vessels of pestilence, aren't they?

[Link to Shary Boyle's websites] 

[Link to Gardiner Museum]

Tissue Series by Lisa Nilsson

Artist Lisa Nilsson describes her above creations as "anatomical cross-sections in paper". The pieces are made from Japanese mulberry paper and the gilded edges of old books. According to Ms. Nilsson's website, she uses an antiquated technique called "quilling" to create these masterpieces. Quilling was apparently first practiced by Renaissance nuns and monks who were essentially recycling worn out Bibles.

[Link to Tissue Series on Lisa Nilsson's website]

Gory Brain Cap DIY Project

Gory Brain Cap DIY Project

Check out makeprojects.com... they have epic DIY projects, and even an entire Hallowe'en projects page!!! Vampire, we have a date with a caulking gun in October. :-D

[Link to Gory Brain Cap project on makeprojects.com]

[Link to Hallowe'en projects on makeprojects.com]

Anatomical Home Decor: Thing Hand Candle

After a "Taste Test" on Etsy to see what items match "my taste", one of the results was this awesome candle.  Created by JohnnyBWilde, this paraffin wax candle even oozes red wax "blood" as the wrist burns. Creepy chic!

[Link to Candle Listing]

[Link to JohnnyBWilde's shop]

[via Etsy]

Laurie Lipton

This artist Laurie Lipton is just sooo cool but kind of weird even to me.

[Link to Laurie Lipton's website]

Cyborg Rat for el Presidente

Sculpture métallique by jOh'.

I thought of our esteemed member el Presidente when
I saw this awsome rat skull art by sculptor jOh' so thought
I'd post it for her and everyone else's viewing pleasure.
Kinda reminds me of a Tim Burton character.
I wonder what 'eP' would name him?


[Link to amazing art by jOh']

Skull Bento Lunches

Lunches I wish I had when I was a kid.... Follow the link to see more of these awesomely artistic edible creations!

[Link to Skull Bento Lunches]

[via Cakehead Loves Evil]

Victorian Taxidermy Museum Display

This is my latest Arcane project.
I cannot afford a real Victorian museum display from 1800's Britain, as they are rare and can auction for hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Instead I decided to craft one myself.
The total cost was less than $120!
Created with:
- Dead tree bark / branch: Scavenged from local park.
- Old brass tray from India: Garage Sale
- Roll of artificial moss: Walmart.
- Taxidermy bats from Java, Indonesia: Online Auction
- Reproduction Victorian tiffany terrarium: Online Auction

Epic: Black Diamond Skull Ring

And yet another epic ring to add to your dark jewelry box. This black diamond skull ring was created by Mastermind and CORE Jewels, a Japanese jewelry company. They make a lot of other cool jewel-embellished items! I'm really loving the angular shape of this ring. Totally unique!

[Link to Core Jewels]

Black Glass Flower

I came across this gorgeous "Gold and Silver Fumed Black Glass Flower" on Etsy the other day, created by James Lais (borobomb), who makes and sells all kinds of beautiful glass items with borosilicate glass. I think this flower would make for some epic home decor and is definitely an interesting conversation piece!!

[Link to borobomb's shop on Etsy]

[via Etsy]

Misspulga

From The Vampire's Sketchbook: Our Noodly Master

A drawing of His Noodliness on plain paper, in pencil crayon and ink. A Vampire original, created late one evening when her hand was touched by His Noodly Appendage while sketching.

Lego® Anatomy!

Hand sculpted Lego® anatomy by Jason Freeny.

Super cute! I always figured Lego® dudes were anatomically correct under their little plastic bodies.

I found this awesome pic on the inspire me now website... I absolutely love this site, so definitely check it out when you have the chance!

[Link to Lego® dude]

[via inspire me now]