Williams Sonoma Hallowe'en Items at Yorkdale, Toronto

Just wanted to share these awesome Hallowe'en finds I came across while shopping at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto the other day. 

Williams Sonoma has their Hallowe'en collection out right now, and it's pretty nice. I especially love their "Hallowe'en Potions" plate set that includes 'Hemlock Root', 'Wool of Bat', 'Witches' Brew', and 'Toe of Frog'. This design can also be found on a coaster set.  Click here to check out more Williams Sonoma Hallowe'en items. 

The last photo in this post is a pair of skull & cross-bone shoes available for purchase at Town Shoes. They're really cute, but I did find them a tad expensive at $140. :-S

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]

Bat Skeleton Necklace

Bat Skeleton Necklace by Stephanie Inagaki

Check out Stephanie Inagaki's jewelry collection "Miyu Decay" on Etsy!!! :-D

[Link to Miyu Decay on Etsy]

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

Everybody Needs... a Batstache!!!

Get your very own Batstache via the Neatoshop!

I think you will all agree: there is never a bad time to wear a Batstache. To go to church, to go clubbing, to meet the inlaws... Timeless and classy, the Batstache instantly updates your look with an air of sophistication. Order yours today!!!

[Link to purchase Batstache]

[via the Neatoshop]

The Bat Cocktail Ring The Vampire Wishes She Had

Epic ring, designed originally by nOir, and spotted by el Presidente! Must...have it.

[Link to If Style Could Kill]

Bat Shawl

Need something vampiric to help keep the (undead) chills away? Try out this bat shawl, posted especially for The Vampire.

Bat Shawl

Find the pattern for knitting this shawl at The AntiCraft!, through the following link:

[Link to The AntiCraft!]

Hallowe'en at the Wine Store

Yes, those *are* wine bottles. :-) Check out the awesome display I helped make at work today with two other colleagues. We've got it all: witches, vampires, mummies, and Frankenstein himself! Not to mention the bats and creepy graveyard scene (Copper Moon trees included at no extra charge).

Only 12 more days until the High Holy Holiday is upon us! What are *you* going to dress up as???

Bat/Gargoyle...Jack-o-Lantern!

Bat? Gargoyle? Either way, awesome.

Behold The Vampire's pumpkin carving endeavour from Hallowe'en 2010. Don't you just love the adorable little fangs?

The Vampire is currently accepting ideas for Hallowe'en Jack-o-Lantern 2011. Post your suggestions in the comments...your idea could inspire the next Vampire original pumpkin carving!

Stained Glass Is Nice But Bats Are Better

I could have hanged some 'fancy schmancy' stained glass in the window but Bats are better ... don't you think ?

The Vampire's Wishlist: Bat-inspired Electric Guitar

Rocking-bat Guitar

This electric is absolutely gorgeous! A must-have for sure, found on Ed Roman Guitar's website among all kinds of wicked, fancy, custom guitars. Rock-star epic!

[Link to page with Rocking-bat guitar]

[Link to Ed Roman Guitar's website]

~Bat Influence~ by: el Presidente

Sunday, July 31, 2011 was a quiet night at the Woodcock's. I was busy sorting buttons (before you knock it... it's very therapeutic...) when a bat started whizzing around in the den. I'm not sure how he/she got in, but I am assuming it was through a loose screen in one of the den's windows.

I immediately shut the French doors and sized up the situation. This bat looked to be very healthy and rather large. It definitely didn't look like a Little Brown Bat which is common to this area. I decided to put some gloves on.

For half an hour to forty minutes I jumped around in the den. It looked like I was playing a good game of 'something' on the Wii! I wanted the bat to fly continually, hoping to tire it out. Once in awhile it would cling with its teeny tiny bat feet to the books in the bookcase, swooping up to land and popping its cute little head up, beady eyes sizing me up. I also tried swatting it with my gloved hand while it was in flight, actually making contact on a few occasions.

Finally, it landed on the floor. People have told me that bats can't take flight once they are on the floor. Uh, wrong! In less than a second it was up and flying again. This happened a few times. It was on the floor when I quickly put a blanket over it. I thought I had the little guy! No such luck! Off we went again!

After much sweating and swatting (me) and flying and diving (bat), the bat made a crash landing on to my button tray! Thanks a bunch, you little terrorist! I threw a blanket over it and attempted to pick it up. It started to vibrate with all its might, just like a little cell phone! And you should have heard the squeaking (read: bat swearing)!

I took the bat out on to the front porch and opened the blanket. He/she looked quizzically around and then flew off into the night. Goodbye my little buddy! Don't come back inside!