WTF

unfinished fatty worm fresh from the oven.

one click on this picture will take you to my new blog where you can learn more about it... not much more but more then this

A New Place To Play

I've finally gone and done it. I made my dot com site a reality and even though its still new, I've been adding content daily. I'll be keeping a fresh and different kind of blog on beatblack.com. It will be more about the process and my own goings on than about featuring other peoples work (That's not to say it will be completely devoid of such things).


Once its a little more content-inized I will be hosting a jewelry or accessory giveaway on it. I'm still unsure of what will happen to this blog. Maybe I can make it ALL about other goth, steampunk, pin up, punk and alternative artists? I don't know yet but the way it is now has just been too confusing for me to keep up.

Spring Crafting

So back in august of 2007 I made a post about an octopus project I was working on. I used to make little voodoo dolls and monsters like this before meeting polymer clay.


Well the thing has been sitting around in place to place, all half painted and sad looking for far too long. I've finally brought it to my newest apartment in hopes of at least giving it some eyes.


It's in desperate need of a little texture as well. I'm thinking of adding some polymer clay eyes and suction cups. I think its a little over painted to ever place for sale but I can't stand keeping it the way that it is. What exactly does this have to do with polymer clay?!?! dick squat... so far. just wait :D

Starting a Newsletter

I've been wanting to make a newsletter for beatblack for some time now. Thanks to the mysterious free internet at my house all of a sudden, I'm finally gettin 'er done. Thank you neighbor :)

It's going to be sent out monthly and highlight some of the usual newsletttery goodness. Every month I'll show you whats been freshly listed, offer an exclusive to newsletter peeps only coupon, updates on any local shows I'll be vending at, a sneak peek into any new themes or ideas for my jewelry as well as anything else that seems interesting or relevant at the time.

If your in just click on this link or the picture below to sign up. It's all legit so no worries about being spammed. You can also painlessly opt out at any time you want.


I'm new to this so if there's anything you want to see or especially do not want to see, I'd love to know.

Alice's Handmade Wonderland

Its hard not to notice how big of a deal alice in wonderland has become lately. Some people adore it, others are maddened by it but whether its your cup of tea or not, I've just added to the pot. Below are only a few of the most intriguing pieces I've come across on my searches.


1: Steampunk small zipper pouch [WastedWishes.etsy.com]
2: Leather Cat Mask [teonova.etsy.com]
3: Alice and The White Rabbit [blackeyedsuzie.etsy.com]
4: Drink Me [FiveSisterz.etsy.com]
5: White Rabit Candy Bucket [LeFrenchCircus.etsy.com]
6: Teacup Ring [bionicunicorn.etsy.com]
7: The Caterpillar [JustinErickson.etsy.com]
8: Mini Mad Hatter [MadHattery.etsy.com]
9: Talking Roses OOAK [ODDandWHIMSY.etsy.com]
10: Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum [cartbeforethehorse.etsy.com]

Another Bizarre Toronto Craft Show!!

Hope to see some of you there on April 25th!!

Started by Creepy Christine and continued by Plastik Wrap, the Bazaar of the Bizarre has been a constant successful show in Toronto. All you have to do is read my previous posts on this show to know how much I adore it.


Its full of all sorts of strange, curious, beautiful, freaky and unusual items. If your not local or just can't make it I've tried to link to as many of the vendors as I could below. The talent is certainly worth a check out:

Plastik Wrap
Kaotic Ekko's
Clockwork Zero
Random Pretty things
ChiZine Publication
Beat Black *
Dirty Little Secrets
Eden Bachelder Fine Art
Imaginary Thomas
Sci Feye Candy
The Original Face.ca
BinarySoul Design
To Die For Designs
Roxy Swing Creations
Skye Castle Publishing Co.
Plastik Haar/Neko designs
Vintagelove
Munkybuns
Sew Scary
The Circus Store
Sadistic Vanity
The Generation
The Gnarled Branch
Sick on Sin
Garden Dub
Dreaming Tree Paper Company Zom-b
Zirco Circus
MISSLEXIA
Creepy Christine
Jenuinekraft by Jenny Kuri
Papersnake Jewelry
Pamela Williams
Marionette
Epidemic Clothing Collective
BitchCraft
Cyclops and Owl
Positive Spin
and Storming the base

It Gets Weirder

Since getting my belly button pierced I've seen my fair share of belly lint. It comes in all shades of gray and a whole slew of soft blobby looking shapes. Kind of like having my own simple lint farm where the only maintenance required is to wear a shirt. Yup that's right... In addition to making jewelry, I'm also a farmer.

With an introduction like that its quite plain to see why I fell in love with this linty siamese bear I found on Etsy. I nearly squealed when I saw the thing. The creators name is Rachel Betty Case and she runs her shop under the name bettyraecase.

In addition to lint she also utilizes human finger nails in some of her pieces, like the ones below. Anyone who follows regretsy may recognize her cockroach pendant from a long ago post. Personally I have to admire anyone who is willing to work with such controversial mediums.

The only thing missing is some hair

I Love Grey Skies...

And I want the world to know! This newly discovered Etsy shop blew my mind with its odd, fresh, freaky style. ilovegreyskies seems to be doing all the right things with polymer clay and acrylics.

Creator Kimberley Laurenti is a self proclaimed homebody living in Southwest Florida with her husband and 4-year-old son. Its no big surprise that her favorite movies include Donnie Darko and The Others.

I personally find this shop very inspirational and couldn't wait to show it off!

I've been hard at work these past couple weeks vending craft shows, photographing new stock, filling orders, eating cookies aaaand...finding the wiener for the giveaway :)

In the end there were a total of 95 entries from 68 different people. All entrants had been added manually to random.org. That means the few that didn't follow the rules were also excluded and their comments deleted.

lets stop wasting time here, drumroll!!!!

This years gift certificate winner is... melanie who's favorite items are the truffle and cookie dough rings.

An email has been sent your way :)

Thanks to everyone who participated and your killer comments!! I'm already looking forward to having another giveaway in the new year.

WIN a $40 gift certificate!!

Its been roughly a year since my last giveaway so I thought it was damn time to introduce a new one!! Since there's a bit of a range offered in my Etsy shop, the prize you're all playing for will be a $40 gift certificate for www.beatblack.etsy.com

Lets start with the rules:

Everyone is eligible to enter meaning I do ship worldwide. The contest will run from November 23rd until December 5th with the winner (chosen by random.org) being announced on December 11th. If I can't get in touch with the winner after 4 days time another will be randomly selected. Lastly, don't forget to leave your email address under your entry if you don't have a blogspot account. This is so I can contact you in the event of your win and will never be used to spam.

How you can be a part:

For 1 Entry: Visit my Shop here. Let me know what your favorite item in my shop is.

For 3 Entries: Write a post about this giveaway on your blog including a link back to this post. Then leave the address of your blog entry in this comments section.

That's all it takes :) Good Luck to all!!!

NocturnElle Photography

If you've been browsing through my shop lately, you'll notice a new face in my featured items. This past October I was fortunate enough to have a neuro necklace modeled by the lovely Naomi Buechman (Doll Parts) *gush*

Naomi is a model/photographer who snaps her shots under the name NocturnElle Photography.

If you'd like to see more of her photos or are considering booking her for a shoot, feel free to check out her flickr page here, Doll Parts. Lots to see!

An unexpected CinderHella Story...

BEHOLD! The coolest dress ever known to man along side some of the most rad Etsy finds. Don't they just make your heart flutter? *swoon* You know, now that I'm seeing it all together its kind of like a Gothic Cinderella story.... CinderHella if you will.

CinderHella's the headless one with the skeletor dress. Her step sisters take opposite corners on the bottom and they all live in an orangey lit trailer. The soap represents her daily life of chores while its only obvious that the pumpkin faerie be the godmother (and the carriage for that matter). The boy in the striped hat is the prince and the eye necklace being the only thing left must be the... eye she... leaves behind? um, *cough*

1: Im Off to See the World print [KatHannah.etsy.com]
2: Needle Felted Faerie [AnnaBelleArts.etsy.com]
3: A Watchful Eye Pendant [TrashAndTrinkets.etsy.com]
4: The Dell no. 2 Print [NestaUsa.etsy.com]
5: macabre skeleton dress [smarmyclothes.etsy.com]
6: Mini Jack and Jill [onlygooddreams.etsy.com]
7: Jurassic Amber Soap [amandalouise.etsy.com]
8: Devil Girl [loopyboopy.etsy.com]

My Favorite Craft Show Approaches

Its a show I've been anticipating for an entire year. One that displays the handcrafted goodies of the strange, the macabre and the whimsical all under one roof. Its called the Bazaar of the Bizarre.

If your in or around the Toronto area on October the 25th, this year you'll also have the chance to enter a draw for a loot basket. It'll be quite the prize, featuring items from some of the vendors listed on this site: http://www.thebazaarofthebizarre.org/vendors.php

I've even thrown in one of these Neuro Necklaces

Last year I attended as a new vendor with no idea what to expect... and my table looked like ass. This year I started early with hopes of being able to sleep the night before :)

counting down the days

Positive Spin on being a Pyro...

This Etsy artists subject matter is what kept my interest on my first visit. Her sepia tones are refreshed with hints of blue and white, lending her pieces a style all their own.

TheHauntedHallowTree's method is called Pyrography (wood burning) but she also applies other mediums to her pieces such as milk paint.

This artist is a mother of two and lives out in Amish country. Shes never been to an art school but instead has self taught herself and is still learning and applying new methods. To learn more, just visit her website here at TheHauntedHallowTree.etsy.com

Hairy Rainbow

I'm not sure why didn't come across this seller earlier. Her imagination and creativity excels far beyond one medium, which is probably why after 16 years she decided to call it quits as a hair dresser. Crude Things creator Lana has the most edgy, over the top wigs, clothing, accessories, dolls and art up for sale in her Etsy shop.

These wigs have definitly re-ignited my desire to have coloured hair again. With all the up keep and damage inflicted by hair dye, I'm thinking it might not be such a bad idea to own one.

Dessert from the Heavens

In researching textures and structures of real cupcakes and ice cream Ive stumbled upon something out right AMAZING. Not even in my most bizarre, sleep deprived days could I have come up with something this sweet. Brace yourself!! I present you with....

AN ICE CREAM CUPCAKE! ...Its incredible ain't it?

I'd love to meet the genius behind this idea of a cupcake plus ice cream. I don't yet have all the ingredients for this bad boy but I did manage to make my own cupcake creations.

Not really the same thing but close enough for today.

zombie plus cupcake isn't nearly as appetizing. Real looking cupcake and ice creams will be making their appearance shortly.

Baby Food?

For those of you who have been visiting my blog since its very first posts (riiiiight), this sellers work might seem familiar. sixhours was actually a featured seller of mine ages ago under the name calobee.

Now she has a new shop dedicated to her photography alone and its just chalk full of eerie finds. My personal favorite is this carroty one :)

Her ideas are creep and her angles and set up are brilliant. So brilliant in fact that I just had to issue this re-post.

New Craft Show Coming Up

Heeeeeey Ghouls and Gals! Just posting to say that I'll be in my first craft show of the Spring in Brantford this week. Its called Telephone city and your aaaaaall invited :)

Come join us!!