October 28, 2024

Miniature Halloween Countdown 6: Witch Hats

 


The Miniature Halloween Countdown continues!

(Click photos for full size; Last post: Witches)

I better get to work! Three days left to Halloween and the miniature Haunted house tour!

Meanwhile, sharing some favorites: handmade witch hats; large hats by the amazing Kat the Hat! Katherine Hazelton. I made the small purple hat and other items. The hats are part of my fun Halloween Shop; more photos here


October 25, 2024

Miniature Halloween Countdown 5: Witches!

 


Continuing the Halloween Miniature Countdown:

(Click photos for full size; see last post: Witch Cottage.)

Many people don't like dolls in their dollhouses, but in some, I do. I like dolls, always have. 

Of course, I've dressed quite a few witches for Halloween, both 1" and half-scale.

The above is a favorite, which was in my haunted house, but now is in a greenhouse scene. Here are several others in this post.

* The Halloween posts will continue on Monday.


October 24, 2024

Miniature Halloween Countdown 4: Witch Cottage

 


Continuing the Halloween Miniature Countdown:

(Click photos for full size. See last post: Abandoned Room.)

Yes, I'm still working on the half-scale Halloween Van Buren house. I have a few things to add yet before I share the "tour."

In the meantime, here's a different view of the side of the Witch Cottage. See more photos here.

Not a super great photo, but here's a favorite view of the other side: 



October 23, 2024

Miniature Halloween Countdown 3: Abandoned Room

 

Continuing the Halloween Miniature Countdown: 

(Click photos for full size. See last post: Halloween food.)

Revisiting the half-scale Abandoned Room. This was a fun project made in an unused photo box. Loved making this! See more photos here.

October 22, 2024

Halloween Miniature Countdown 2: Let's Eat!

 


Continuing the Halloween Miniature Countdown:

How about some Halloween food?

I made a variety of food over the years... "Normal" food and the creepier, the more fun! heh-heh! Here's a smorgasbord table with moldy bread and whatever else. (Click photos for full size. Day 1: Poe Bookstore)

For fun, here's a quick treat: a finger sandwich! haaa!




October 21, 2024

Halloween Miniature Countdown: Poe Bookstore

 I should've thought of this earlier, so it's late going up, but since it's 10 days from Halloween I decided to post a mini project a day until Oct. 31. I'm sure I have enough work to go back and revisit some favorites.

Today: The revamped Poe-themed "Sam's Study" kit. It includes books from fellow authors and copies of my Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter series. (Front bookcase, bottom shelf, 2nd and 4th book cover.) Book details: www.cverstraete.com



October 14, 2024

Halloween Reading: Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter

 


Want something scary for Halloween reading? 

Several scary books, including Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, are featured in the Publishers Weekly's Booklife Indie Spotlight for October! 

See my website for details on the book!


October 13, 2024

Mystery, Fantasy & Halloween Crime Reading List

Some great reads, so make room on your bookshelves and e-reader! 

** Don't forget to check out the Spooky-Horror-Zombie-Halloween Reading List & the October Frights Blog Hop - Oct. 10-15. ** See participants list & my first post and schedule here.  


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Anthologies/Collections:  Crime/Mystery

 



Crimeucopia: Say it Again - Sixteen stories of crime and deja vu... Crimes worth a second look...

* These music-inspired anthologies are such fun! I'll have to ask the library to order them!

Friend of the Devil: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the Grateful Dead, Josh Pachter, Editor - Fifteen tales inspired by lyrics from the Dead’s thirteen studio albums and two of their many live recordings. The contributors include some of the finest contemporary authors of short crime fiction, such as award winners Bruce Robert Coffin, James D.F. Hannah, Vinnie Hansen, James L’Etoile, G.M. Malliet, Twist Phelan, Faye Snowden, and Joseph S. Walker. Also on board are Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazineeditor Linda Landrigan (with her first published story!), married couple Kathryn O’Sullivan and Paul Awad, Flemish writer Dominique Biebau, David Avallone (son of the legendary crime writer Michael Avallone), and more.

Harrigan's Price and Other Stories: Tales of Mystery, Intrigue and Horror - Christian Bauer - Reprints and new tales of pilots on a fateful flight, machines with a love for pranks, and more. 

(I Just) Died in Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders - Fun anthology featuring 12 crime stories based on familiar, and maybe not so familiar songs. Includes my story, "Wildfire." (** Now get free shipping anywhere for paperbacks at the publisher site above.) 

Janie's Got A Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Aerosmith, Michael Bracken,editor - Sixteen crime authors celebrate the legendary band with fiction inspired by a career spanning over 50 years. Stories by Ed Ridgley, Bill Baber, Eve Fisher. Avram Lavinsky, John C. Bruening, Jeffrey Marks, Mary Dutta, Tom Mead, Steve Liskow, Joseph S. Walker, Adam Meyer, John M. Floyd, Leone Ciporin, M.E. Proctor, Tom Milani and Jim Winter. (* Releases Nov. 8. Get free shipping anywhere for the paperback at White City Press. Download ebooks at site, Nov. 1.)


Murder, Neat: A Sleuthsayers Anthology, Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, editors - Twenty-four crime stories set in bars, taverns, and other drinking establishments where crimes can easily occur. From members of the crime writers' Sleuthsayers blog.

Smoking Guns, A Sisters in Crime Anthology - Kaye George, editor - Twelve original crime and mystery tales of revenge, deception, and justice served cold by various authors. (Paperback).

The Skeleton Rides a Horse and Other Stories,  Toni L.P .Kelner -  Sid the skeleton makes an appearance in the title story, plus there are some decent short mysteries to enjoy in this new collection. Includes the Agatha-award winning story, "Sleeping with the Plush." (See publisher site.) Curious about Sid? Meet and learn more about him here.

Twisted Voices: Stories from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine - Award-winning authors including Doug Allyn, Ed Gorman, Barb Goffman, Joyce Carol Oates and others offer stories of crooks and kids, private eyes, struggling artists and more in crimes that often push the boundaries.

Fantasy




IMP: A Political Fantasia, Steven Paul Leiva - Thomas P. Powell thinks his unusual political climb from traffic cop to vice president is because of his own innate moral authority. Then on the cusp of his reaching the pinnacle of success, an impetuous imp climbs from his ear, taking him on a wild, dreadful, nuclear journey. Described as West Wing meets the Twilight Zone.

Kickstarter Ending Soon! Darkworld Anthology - Darkworld is a magical place of dragons and heroes, dwarves and elves, myths and legends. Half of the world is scorched in sunlight and the other half is shrouded in darkness. The dark and the light, good and evil, which will endure? ** Five stories by renowned authors Jean Rabe, Richard A. Knaak, Donald Bingle, Richard Lee Byers and introducing Patrick E. Pullen.

The Dragon's Hoard 3 - Assorted authors including noted mystery and fantasy author Jean Rabe spin tales of all kinds of dragons.

Halloween 

Something Scary for Halloween Reading: Ends. Nov. 1

Behind the Shadows II - In my story "Blink!", Tommy wakes to a new world and wonders why no one else "sees" what is going on but him.  A little weird and even funny at times! * Get the ebook: various outlets - * Paperback, e-book - Barnes & Noble -* Paperback  - Amazon US

October Screams: A Halloween Anthology - Assorted horror from various noted authors.

 Witches of Halloween: A Collection of Cozy Mystery Short Stories, Amorette Anderson - Four specials featuring witches from her magical worlds: 

The Case of the Cursed Hat: A Hillcrest Witch Special - Witchy PI Penny Banks is looking forward to celebrating Halloween in style. 

Bohemian to the Bone: A Marley the Witch Special -  It’s Halloween in Hillcrest, and Marley and her witch sisters are planning a party!

Gone with the Grimoire: A Marley the Witch Special - When Marley the witch learns about a break-in at a nearby chocolate factory, she vows to help. 

A Moon for Manifesting: A Midlife Medicine Special - New witch Grace Littleton doesn’t know much about the lunar magic, but it’s high time to learn! A local is missing, and it’s up to Grace to follow the celestial clues…


Horror Readers Sale! Through Oct. 30


Halloween Horror Giveaways: Ends Oct. 31


-- C.A. Verstraete - www.cverstraete.com 


October 03, 2024

Halloween: Dollhouse Garbage & Projects

What else I have been working on? Garbage! ha!


Sometimes your work turns out to be garbage. Literally. (Click for full size photos.)

What's a dollhouse without a garbage can? Had to make this one for the haunted Van Buren dollhouse. (See last post.) They even threw out some good fruit slices, of course. (They prefer the rotted stuff.) Hey, there's even an eye in there! I may add a skeleton arm sticking out yet. Love doing these!

Some other things I've been working on:

Also made another smaller Philodendron plant; just have to gloss the leaves on both of them. (Kits: SDK Miniatures.)

And it's back to (legal) bookmaking! Fifty so far. Waaay more to go so I have them on hand. Even a dollhouse needs lots of books! (These are half-scale so they're under 1/2" h.)


That's it for now! Thanks again for visiting! Come back for more projects & minis!



September 30, 2024

Halloween: Spooky Season: Pumpkin Patch

 


Today's the last day of September -- already??? And the last day of the #septemberspookyseason24 prompts via Instagram. Hope you enjoyed the posts!

Today's Prompt: Pumpkin Patch. And since I don't have a formal "patch," I'm sharing some pumpkins again. They're always fun anyway, right? (Click photos for full size.)

Here's some pumpkins outside my half-scale Witch's Cottage again. That really is the house that's mostly decorated now. I should have the Van Buren house (see previous post) finished by Halloween so stay tuned for the final tour and more views!


I really liked decorating this house and making all the gardens as I wanted everything to be in orange, yellow, and the green.


** Today is Day 30 of #septemberspookyseason24 on Instagram. Daily posts and some giveaways via @wyrdworldminiatures. (Click photos for full size.)


* Follow me also - @cwrite12. I'll try to post my daily (hopefully) Halloween inspiration here also with a reminder. Join in! 

* Thanks again for visiting, as always!