Miniature Halloween Countdown 7: Spooky Favorites!

UK doll artist Julie Campbell makes an incredible assortment of figures, full of ghostly (and otherwise) personality! Here's her ghostly bartender who attended our party here last year. See her latest figures on Facebook.

 

Here's Frankie! (Sharon Cariola figure)

The Miniature Halloween Countdown continues!

(Click photos for full size; see last post: Witch hats. All posts can be found linked in the left column archives.)

It's always Halloween when it comes to some of the fun miniature creators out there!

I had to re-share work from a few of my favorite miniature artisans who've appeared on the blog many times. Be sure to check out their latest "horrific" creations at their sites. All are 1/12th - 1" scale (except Lisa's.)

Sharon Cariola -  hand-made figures on Facebook - all kinds of hand-made figures, but her Halloween work like Grandpa Munster are spookily great!

JP Sligh makes some incredibly creative projects, constructing rooms and scenes in various structures. His latest was a hand-made corpse flower (see below left) and other plants in a small greenhouse tended by Morticia, also hand-made. Check out his witchy kitchen  (and my accompanying story) from last year.

Patricia Paul Studio - check out her spooky gallery! She makes some great Halloween food and figures, too!

Lisa Tabboner has a fun assortment of hand-made half-scale figures (via Etsy.) Here's a previous pair of zombies she made. The expressions are perfect!

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. 

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.

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: 

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.

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!

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

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!

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.  

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                       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 

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!