The Gothtober Blog

Gothtober Day 19: David LeBarron’s Pumpy the Pumpkin!

artists Comments Off

Oct 192017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 19 to see/hear a full gamut of emotions with David LeBarron and a squash in peril!

It is fire season in California, no doubt you have heard. Sometimes, you just get burned, just like Pumpy the Pumpkin! Within this charming little film are three very different reactions to burning hellfire.

NOTE: A very real pumpkin WAS destroyed while making this piece, but just remember: 1.) It’s not actually alive, despite the impassioned voiceover 2.) It smelled delicious!

When you’re a pumpkin, and you have been cooked, it’s nice to know that you make the world a better place in puree form. You can be stirred into oatmeal, made into compound butter, used as gourmet ravioli filling with sage, churned into ice cream, added to cinnamon rolls, swirled into smoothies… the glorious flavor of roasted pumpkin is a fall favorite.

The little sliver of time Pumpy the Pumpkin has been given sits at the tip of 13.8 billion years of existence. Energy can’t be created or destroyed, it can only change from one form to another, and transferred from one object to another. This means that Pumpy is still with us, as a spiced latte, as seeds in the garden, or even perhaps in another dimension, serving donuts on another planet.

Find out more about David LeBarron here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day 17: Creepy Cooking with Family Chambers!

artists Comments Off

Oct 172017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 17 to see mouthwatering recipes from The Family Chambers!

Have you been serving up the same old crusty casseroles? Are your salads in a slump? Are your desserts drab? Well, not any longer! Hard at work in their laboratory of flavors is the Family Chambers, with delectable dishes you can make for everyone you love! The holidays are almost here, if you want to impress, look no further.

Featuring such fresh and healthy ingredients as dead eyes, braised beast, lice and nutmeg, every recipe in this volume promises not just a feast of sumptuous tastes, but dishes that are good for your health. It’s also worth mentioning that this cookbook has a whole new take on SIMPLE SLUGS! Everyone knows how to make them, but it’s really hard to get them just right, and you’ll learn the secrets to making this family favorite: no more mushy slugs, what a relief!

So take a look and start planning your get-together today with meals that come alive… literally.

Find out more about the The Family Chambers here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day 16: Mom and Son Haunted Battle Collaboration!

artists Comments Off

Oct 152017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 16 to see a haunted battle!

I made friends with Kendra in the year of 1990 when I knocked on her dorm room door and asked her if she would be my friend. She said YES she would be my friend even though she BARELY KNEW ME, which is one of the reasons she is such a quality person. The last time she made a Gothober piece, it was probably about 10 years ago or more, and it was about spider fear. She thought that perhaps she’d do a Gothtober piece this year, and asked her six year old son, Miles, to be the director.

The two put their heads together, and built a really cool haunted house, then had fourteen days of intensive storyboard meetings, concept exploration, and technical assessments. There were, like all good collaborations, some creative differences. When all the details were hammered out, they then put on their animator hats and went to work, and recorded their own sound, and I must say, the Haunted Battle is quite a SUCCESS!

The stage is set with a moody storm, there are skeletons and there’s lightening and WHAT’S THAT?!? Do I hear broad swords? The clashing of metal? Smoke and the creaking of haunted doors? What will happen next? Guess you better watch and see!

Find out more about the mother/son team known as Scribble Scrabble here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day Day 15: Guidance from the Witchy Witches!

artists Comments Off

Oct 152017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 15 to receive wisdom from the Witchy Witches!

As you know, Gothtober is FIFTEEN years old in good ol’ 2017, a bona fide Quinceañera! The Witchy Witches Coven has stirred the cauldron to impart upon us the sacred knowledge we need to keep being our witchy ghoulish selves, so pay attention, and get schooled! You get fifteen, count ’em FIFTEEN birthday blessings from Guy-A Magique LaMarr, Frizzy Fawcett, Lady Ass Majick and special guest, Heather Damage!

There are GREAT tips everyone needs to know (or remember, if this isn’t your first rodeo) about such things as how to deal with Harvest Gods, the meaning of Tori Amos songs, learning how to goth dance, and so much more! After all, Heather Damage has been 15 for over two thousand years! If you can’t learn anything from her, you can’t be helped!

A special note: I, creator of this calendar, identify as a lesbian (and yes, Head Candy Corn.) Thus, there is a lot of queer camaraderie and solidarity in the Gothtober calendar. When the Coven of the Witchy Witches showed up on their brooms five years ago, to join us, I couldn’t have been more overjoyed! These supernatural individuals fight the darkness with ass, class and sass every day. They suit up, show up, and are ready to celebrate and fight for our LGBTQ community in countless ways, something we need more than ever during the times we’re having. A special spell of love and light for the witchy sisters of the coven, from all of us here at Gothtober!

Find out more about the Witchy Witches here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day Day 14: PUMPkin starring: Cassils!

artists Comments Off

Oct 142017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 14 to see what the latest exercise trend is for fall!

It’s never too late to begin your path to a healthy, strong body, and Cassils is HERE with a new program called “PUMPkin.” It involves a rigorous fitness routine combining meditation, transformation, jubilation, fabulation, and really a lot of orange-colored fall season squash. This is your cornucopia of fully-realized components, bringing you the work/life balance you’ve always dreamed of, the workout is only 6 hours long, and you’ll feel the results instantly!

Seriously though, the feats captured in this informercial are REAL, showing the raw power that Cassils packs into an explosive display of glorious and challenging calisthenics right before your very eyes.

Find out more about Cassils and JP here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day Friday the 13th with Federico Tobon of Wolfcat Workshop!

artists Comments Off

Oct 132017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 13 for an instructional video and downloadable paper craft from Federico Tobon!

Happy FRIDAY THE 13th! Welcome to a BLOODY game of cat and mouse! I suppose you can decide how much mayhem in this scene will play out when you download, print and build the components yourself. Federico has made for us a Kitty-Jason Voorhees-themed folding paper project involving a mask-wearing feline and a rodent that will surely meet its fate! If anyone invites you to Camp Crystal Lake tonight, tell them you can’t go because you have important paper crafts to make… I hear it gets a tad boisterous, out there in the woods, some pesky death curse or whatever.

Find out more about the artist, Federico Tobon, and Wolfcat Workshop here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day 12 Zombie MakeUp Tutorial with Sabine Maxine!

artists Comments Off

Oct 122017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 12 for a Zombie MakeUp Tutorial with Sabine Maxine!

This is our VERY FIRST makeup tutorial, and it couldn’t come at a better time, we need more guidance in this area, we’re so thankful the walking dead stepped in to give us some pointers.

FIVE REASONS YOU NEED A ZOMBIE MAKEOVER

1. You should broaden your undead horizons. It’s easy to find yourself stuck in a living rut. If you’ve been using the same spider fangs, wolf hair and rat tails for years, you may not realize that there are more gruesome and terrifying options for you! Go to a witches counter or take a cemetery lesson (maybe even “hire” that BFF of yours with mad makeup skills in exchange for some Starbucks) and have them go to town. While a rotted eye socket may not be your cup of tea, a quick swipe of formaldehyde or mold could really spruce up your look!

2. It could jumpstart MAJOR changes. Never take the power of having no head for granted. It could land you that boost of confidence you needed to find your dream haunt, new monsters, new hobbies — a whole new and exciting afterlife!

3. Pampering yourself reduces major stress. Shopping for body parts after dark = stress relief. The relaxation of getting a spooky-pedi, the newfound self-assurance of finally getting that blood-curdling scream from terrified villagers— nothing takes your mind off that big haunting project or jerk who won’t text you back like taking care of your brains, cadaver and fallen soul.

4. Your current routine just isn’t cutting it. A zombie makeover doesn’t just stop with your makeup! If your mealworms aren’t wormy, your claw polish chips in a night, your foundation is melting and your mascara is crumbling … you (and your zombie beauty routine) are in need of a makeover. What’s the point of using these fancy products if they insist on making promises they can’t keep? Find things that really work for you, so that you can look and feel your best (because remember, big haunting ahead!).

5. Most importantly, because you don’t need a reason! This essentially encompasses everything and nothing because at the end of the day, why the heck not? It’s fun, fun and oh, loads of fun! Order some deep-fried kitten hearts and invite your friends, cousins, mom, grandma and have everyone try new looks. You’re never too old to play dress up with your zombie beauty stash! Never!

Find out more about Sabine Maxine and Patty Wack Vintage here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day 11 Cash 4 Organs!!!

artists Comments Off

Oct 112017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 11 to find out more about Cash4Organs!

Today’s gothtober day was proudly sponsored by Cash4Organs.com, the premier organ sales site.

Surely you have an extra kidney, lung, or eye laying about. So do Millions of Americans! Maybe you are already an organ recipient and don’t need it anymore. Maybe it has sentimental value but you won’t ever need that kidney. Wouldn’t you like to get cash for that organ?

Cash4Organs.com is the original online organ buyer.

We’ll give you CASH for your organs. Our process is Secure. Fast.

Find out more about Day 11 here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Quinceañera Day 10 with Moonhouse Productions!

artists, Original Music Comments Off

Oct 102017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 10 to see quite the party from Moonhouse Productions!

Day 10 is brought to you by Moon House Productions, also known as Paprika Clark and Emily Hansen. Emily and Paprika are multi-talented creative types. They met after college and have known each other for over 20 years – but they never played with dolls together until they brainstormed the idea for their Quinceañera-themed Gothtober project.

The characters starring in Dia de La Quinceañera started out as previously loved Bratz and Monster High dolls tracked down on Ebay and garage sales. Each was carefully auditioned and screen tested, then hand painted and costumed in (mostly) custom made clothing. The Moon House crew managed to spend weeks designing the characters and crafting the look and style of the film without dancing the dolls around and talking for them…. Much.

In the end our favorite character ideas were the ones that filled out the film as background artists – the Ghost of Frida Kahlo and our Dia de los Muertos figure, who are both at the party repping the ancestors. Long live our honored forebearers!

After many layers of artist’s acrylic paint and Mr. Super Clear sealant and some strategic use of polymer clay, the dolls were ready for their closeups. Emily’s son, Trenton, improvised and performed the musical score, and Emily put her magical effects and editing skills together to make the gem you see before you.

We enjoyed these creations immensely, and look forward to making many more variations on these themes in the future. If you would like to see more on the doll-creation process (and possibly buy one of the “actors” for your own collection), please visit http://castlesintheairfoundation.org/moonhousedolls/

Find out more about Moonhouse Productions and other Gothtober contributor bios are here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Gothtober Day 9 Story Time with Pauly G

artists Comments Off

Oct 082017

Visit www.gothtober.com and click on DAY 9 to see an animated story by Pauly G and family!

Paul and his siblings used to listen to Nanny BeeBee’s Gruesome Tales that she would tell them before bedtime. “Buddy and the Fishhook” is a TRUE story that took place in Philadelphia in 1921.

Told with animated paper cut-outs with limbs sewn together with needle and thread, this little story is short, sweet, and well… kinda GROSS! Paul said that this story his Grandmother told always held a vivid scene in his imagination, and he said that it was lots of fun to bring to life.

This wasn’t the only one she told either, she had many, some of them quite macabre!

Future Gruesome Tales might include:

Aunt Rose and The Million Dollar Pier, Elsie and The Box of Chocolates, The Cat o’ Nine Tails and Poor Adeline.

Paul’s Mother, Marcy, does the narration on this, and his son, Francis, plays the piano at the end! Thank you to Lecie, Trixy and everyone who came together to make a really great mini-gristly project!

Paul’s bio and other Gothtober contributor’s bios are here!

Be Sociable, Share!

Older Entries