Tuesday uEtsy: Von Erickson

[Etsy.com's tagline is "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Coincidentally, there's a lot of spooky on Etsy, and each Tuesday, we highlight one of the sellers. If you're looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your tomb or get a gift for that special something in your afterlife, Etsy.com is a place for spooky econo.]

Von Erikson (VonErickson.etsy.com)

The Original VonErickson Stitch Choker

Von Erikson. Does he sleep? We don't know. Perhaps he's managed to do it in between moments of his tenure as a prop craftsman doing commercial work for places like Rediwhip and Absolut; maybe in the cracks of his schedule as a teacher at college; or perhaps he's managed the skill of sleeping while playing upright bass for the Memphis Morticians. The man must have a secret.

VonErickson's Original Stitch Choker Necklace

It's Von Erikson's work we're proud to spotlight this time around. His Etsy store showcases some of the Von Erikson Lab's best work in chokers, necklaces and bracelets. Want the authentic stitched together look but not too fond of needles or excessive bloodshed? Aren't you glad we're showcasing Von Erikson's work, then? Take a look at the two chokers above. Rather realistic, yes? Or reasonably realistic.  We're sure if we saw someone leaving Ozzie's Bar around closing time, we'd initially think the person was a dissatisfied customer, not happy with the burial job and thus come back to life to seek better services elsewhere. Then we'd wonder if Ozzie was slipping something into the drink again. Thus is the testament to Von Erikson's work.

The Original VonErickson Stitch Bracelet

We always like the Monster from Frankenstein. Seemed like a chap given a bad break, really. Brought back to life by some other person's hubris. Granted, he was no angel, but who is? Of course, any undead critter from zombie to ghoul could be sporting this bracelet. Or someone with a functioning circulatory system could do their best in pretending. And we here would much rather you pretend to have stitches across your wrist than the real things.

Red/Silver Glitter Blood choker Necklace Extra Drippy-Dark

It's not all stitches. As seen here, Von Erikson offers chokers and necklaces of the bloody type. Accent any evening wear or casual get-up with this necklace. If stitches are the 'After,' show the 'Before' with this necklace. It seems a bit gorey but maybe you're looking to attract someone who's into it. Or maybe you want to ward off vampires who think that your blood already sparkles. Or perhaps you just like this and want to wear it to dinner because you like it. We don't mind. It's a nice necklace, isn't it?

Cemetery Tombstone Necklace - Glow in the dark

All of Von Erickson's pieces are wonderful and we want you each to buy two, but the Cemetery Tombstone Necklace is one that hits close to our hearts, which is not to say our hearts are not close to our necks (we hope.) This also glows in the dark, which we've only seen happen once before in real life so we can say that Von Erikson has captured an authentic cemetery experience that you can carry around just about anywhere. Kind of taking a little bit of home on the road, outside of taking a pocket of dirt or a shovel in the back of the car, which is already pretty much a given anyway with us.

Skull and Peppermint Candy Bracelet

In addition to the stitches, blood and cemeteries, you'll find some skulls and candy at Von Erikson's shop. Feel a bit playful but still want to keep that sting of death nearby? Why not purchase this bracelet? Maybe you want to get that special someone in your life a nice gift that says "You're sweet and you remind me of my mortality, how everything in life is temporary and that one day, it all falls down to ashes and dirt. PS. love you."

You can find the Von Erickson etsy here, along with his personal site (Vonerickson.com) and the location fall the spooky stuff at VonEricksonLab.com. In addition, you can locate Von Erickson's lovely lady, Ms. Steffi-Veizen at steffi-veizen.com for some fantastic photography capturing some of the wonderful sights of the psycho/rockabilly scene (as well as all other things pretty and unique that she's managed to capture. High recommendations.)

Speaking of which, the band that Von Erickson plays, the Memphis Morticians, can be found here, with their Myspace here and Twitter account here. Von Erickson has the scoop, saying the Morticians are almost done recording the new album entitled "Bereave it or not, Another record by the Memphis Morticians" and it will be available soon on some non-major label. Get hip. Get crackin'. Get back here next Tuesday for another Tuesday uEtsy.

Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: Chaino

Chaino

Official Site (Label)
Eye of the Spectre, Dionysus Records 2008 (Original release date: 1957)


One of the most striking things about this CD is the cover, the artwork on which looks like something from a horror comic by Eerie Publications. It features an African tribesman strangling and preparing to whip a native woman in practically see-through clothing, who is in turn struggling to reach a dagger. Pretty bold stuff for a 1957 release and it is nothing short of amazing that Dionysus Records (under their Bacchus Archives imprint) was willing to use it in our modern times.

But don't let your feelings about the cover affect your opinion of the artist or the music. If anything, let it provoke your curiosity...who or what is Chaino? According to the liner notes, producer Kirby Allan had recorded the sounds of tribal wedding ceremonies in Africa and attempted to build interest in his "new sound." After receiving numerous complaints that the music was too repetitive, Allan decided to rework the music a bit to make it more palatable for American listeners. To this end, he teamed up with a musician whose real name is lost in time and is known only as CHAINO...

Eye of the Spectre is the first of six Chaino albums and its odd name is (according to the back cover) a reference to the "unbridled passion of love's eerie spectre." But that, along with the scary Tiki figure art on back cover aren't Chaino's only horror connections. The liner notes reveal that Chaino songs were used in low budget chillers like Night Tide and The Devil's Hand.

Now that I think about it, those films have been released through many "public domain" DVD labels. As Atomic Mystery Monster often points out, even if we assume the films themselves are truly PD, those companies could get sued if the Chaino songs on their soundtracks weren't created especially for the film as works for hire. If the Chaino material was created before those films, it would copyrighted separately. You see, you have to replace or license music that's still under copyright even if it appears in a public domain work. That aside, the use of Chaino's music in those films is still not the final horror connection...

Click Here to Read More

Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: The Moon-Rays

The Moon-Rays

Official Site
Sinister Surf, Sound Imp Records 2006


This may surprise you, but I already knew about the majority of the surf bands I'm reviewing before I started the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari. If I hadn't heard of them on my own, then Strange Jason had recommended them to me. However, there are a few exceptions. While researching some albums on Amazon, I noticed a recommendation for Swingin' at the Seance by the Moon-Rays. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and read up on the album. A CD composed entirely from re-recordings of vintage Halloween songs from the 20's, 30's and 40's? It wasn't eligible for the Surf-ari, but I decided to look up the band's contact info and file it away for use in the next Halloween countdown. But in the process of doing so, I discovered that the band usually did surf music and my plans quickly changed. And that's how the Moon-Rays became the second surf band I had discovered during the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari, the other being Witches in Bikinis.

But enough about that, let's talk about the band themselves. Formed in 2000, the Moon-Rays consist of Scott Mensching (percussion and vocals), Greg Griffiths (keyboards), Andy Blanco (saxophone and vocals), Brandon Cochran (guitar) and Paul Luka (bass). According to their Facebook page, the band's first big break was in 2001. That's the year they recorded the theme for the famous Creatures Features TV show. This foreshadowed the use of their music in many horror-related movies in the years to come (also noted on their Facebook page). Although much of their output in those days were cover versions of songs, Sinister Surf is one of their more recent ventures into albums consisting of mostly original material. But be it cover or original, the Moon-Rays always make it sound amazing.

Click Here to Read More

Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: Arts & Crafts

With all of the music reviews that are being done for the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari, odds are that some of you have developed a hankering for some Tiki stuff of your very own. The appeal of Tiki bar decor is very understandable, whether you want it regular or spooky. With that in mind, I have put together a little selection of projects you can make at home. Some might need to be altered a bit to make them more freaky, but that's hardly a big deal.

Page 168 of Matt Maranian's Pad: the guide to ultra-living by Matt Maranian shows you how you can turn a Tiki mug into a cool lamp.

Retro Mania!: 60 Hip Handmade Cards, Scrapbook Pages, Gifts & More! by Judi Watanabe, Alison Eads, and Laurie Dewberry shows how to make a Tiki greeting card (perfect for inviting friends over for drinks) on page 35.

This two-part article from a 1961 issue of Popular Mechanics shows how to construct a wooden Tiki idol.

The sections on the "Safari Cube" and "Tiki Cube" on page 94 of Cube Chic: Take Your Office Space from Drab to Fab! by Kelley Moore tells you both where to get Tiki goodies and interesting ways to turn a room into a Tiki bar-style environment.

Finally, for those who prefer their Tiki tutorials to be spooky from the get-go, here is a collection of links from HalloweenForum.com:

Haunted Luau
Halloween Luau
Aether's Album: Tiki
Haunted Tiki Island 2009
Haunted Tiki Island 2008
Hosting a Haunted Luau for my Birthday!
Why I haven't been around... (Tiki Tutorial :p)

Enjoy!

As noted in previous "How-To" posts, Gravedigger's Local 16 is not to be held responsible for the content on or anything that may occur (be it good or bad) as a result of visiting any links on those sites (or constructing a project that's detailed on them). Attempt at your own risk.

Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: Kava Kon

Kava Kon

Official Site
Departure Exotica, white label detroit 2005
Tiki for the Atomic Age, Dionysus Records 2009

For this installment of the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari, we'll be taking a side trip into the world of neo-exotica. What is neo-exotica? From what I can tell, neo-exotica is exotica music made using synthesizers and other electronic music equipment in addition to classic exotica instrument standards. It's a close cousin to another exotica offshoot, space age pop, and the bands that make it tend to have fewer members than old school exotica groups.

Although the term is never used in the following Amazon writeup, I still think it also helps describe how Kava Kon is a neo-exotica band: "Kava Kon is an electronica lounge duo. With heavy influences in exotica, bossa nova, electronic, cocktail lounge, western, and 1950s-60s hollywood sound. They make music for the lounge crowd and all of the Tiki heads."

According to the band's Myspace blog, Kava Kon was formed by Nels Truesdell and Bob Kress in 2004 as "a magical escape from the urban decay surrounding them in their former home city of Detroit." In 2005, they released their first album Departure Exotica and followed it up with Tiki for the Atomic Age in 2009. The cover art for both was done by the talented Heather Watts.

Click Here to Read More

Tuesday uEtsy: The Chop Shop

[Etsy.com's tagline is "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Coincidentally, there's a lot of spooky on Etsy, and each Tuesday, we highlight one of the sellers. If you're looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your tomb or get a gift for that special something in your afterlife, Etsy.com is a place for spooky econo.]

The Chop Shop (chopshop.etsy.com)

weScare

Normally, the phrase "chop shop" brings forth the idea of an illegal automotive autopsy, not "design studio over thirteen years old, known for working with Phish, They Might Be Giants, Dilbert and Adobe." But this is what we have here today for this Tuesday uEtsy. The Chopping Block, the aforementioned design studio, has a presence on Etsy with The Chop Shop.

weVolve

What you'll notice The Chop Shop currently has plenty of things on sale that run on a nicely designed theme - a shape made up of corresponding shapes. For instance, if you look at the Famous Apes picture, the design of the 'Barrel of Monkeys' shape is composed of 37 famous simians. Name them all and you can show that you have a mastery of ape-based trivia that makes you the king of Convention of the Apes, three years running.

weRobot

Like all things, if you don't like monkeys, you can have robots. Fighting e-ter-nal-ly, the Robot has been the bane of all things monkey. You can demonstrate your servitude for your metal overlords by wearing this shirt featuring famous Sci-Fi robots. Like all things from The Chop Shop, it doubles as both a guessing game and a  loyalty pledge. Can't name all the robots? KILL THE HUMAN.

alienWe

You might consider this week's entry a demonstration of evolution. Monkey. Robot. Alien. From the time you were bashing rocks against other rocks to when you could add numbers greater than the amount of fingers and toes at your disposal, you're now ready to venture out into the universe to see that which you never thought possible. Natural evolution of a species or you finally moving out of your brother's couch to find an apartment for yourself? It can be both. And when you show up at the showing for your first single bedroom/studio, make sure to wear something that says "I will have the rent on time and will do my best to not let too many foreign parasites invest the premises. The most alien things I want are the pictures on this clever and well-designed t-shirt." We here at the Local, nor the Chop Shop, Chopping Block or any of the subsidiaries are saying that you will have a better chance at getting that swank apartment for less rent than asking price if you buy and subsequently WEAR this t-shirt. But in this economy, it's worth a shot.

my heart is divided

It's not all collections of things that will eventually replace you at your job. Take a look at the anatomically and geek-atomically correct heart graphic. Don't wear your heart on your sleeve. Wear it on your chest and let everyone know, well ahead of the time they'll take to get to know you, that you mean business. And that business involves Star Wars, Beer and Family. Seems like the modern values of this coming generation. And the Chop Shop is there to guide you along the way.

Say you're not a t-shirt geek? You're a dirty liar. Say that you're a geek that has too many t-shirts? Much better. Don't you feel happy now that you've stopped lying and finally accepted the truth? Probably not.

Thankfully, Chop Shop has something for those of you who have come to admit that you have a problem. It's a print of 149 famous characters of sci-fi. It seems not to say "you have a problem, geeky" but more of "damnit, Otto. You have Lupus." So we're not yelling at you for being a geek, nerds. Just, eat a bit healthier, okay? Bacon is not a go-to condiment. Cut out the high-fructose corn syrup and try to drink a glass of water or two. Look, you're going to end up dead someday so we've already got you scheduled as a customer. Try to prolong the process as much as you can. You'll enjoy it more. 

weDead

This is our favorite of the 'collection' theme the weDead shirt. Granted, skulls might be - as Poinsettia says, "played out" but we disagree. This upcoming Halloween, why not get into the spirit and have this on your person. Walk up to some cute looking ghoul of your choosing, ask him or her if they can name each person on your chest. Go back to your tomb. Trick and Treat. Something like that. If this shirt doesn't make you smoother by at least 10%, you're probably wearing it inside out.

Chop Shop runs package deals on their shirts, allowing you to get a their sets - horror, sci-fi, rock - for a deal than purchasing them separately. It's a unique design that you won't find elsewhere. Or, you might find it at their Etsy page. You can also keep up on things with their Twitter page, or become their friend on Facebook. Do you use tumblr? or Posterous? Chop Shop is there as well.

If you want, and we do recommend you pay a visit, go see what the Chopping Block has done. Odds are, you've seen their work and not even known it. Find out what they're doing and hey - if you've got the dime, they got the time. See if they can make you look incredible with their design skills. And see if you can make it back here next Tuesday for another Tuesday uEtsy.

Freaky Tiki Surf-ari: Daikaiju

Daikaiju

Official Site
Daikaiju, Reptile Records 2005


Not to be confused with the similarly-named anthology series, Daikaiju is a surf band known for music influenced by Japanese monster movies (hence the name) and the kabuki masks worn by the four band members in order to hide their identities. Thankfully, the band's origins are much less mysterious.

Daikaiju first appeared in 1999 in Alabama, coincidentally(?) the same year that the classic Godzilla movie Destroy All Monsters was set in. After years of live performances and self-released CD-R singles, the band teamed up with Reptile Records. This resulted in their appearing on the 2003 compilation album Heavy Surf and the band's self-titled debut album in 2005 (which I'll be reviewing today).

Click Here to Read More

They say it starts showing up earlier every coming year....

Man, I feel like it's Halloween-time already.

It's going to be a long one, folks.

Tuesday uEtsy: blacklilypie

[Etsy.com's tagline is "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Coincidentally, there's a lot of spooky on Etsy, and each Tuesday, we highlight one of the sellers. If you're looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your tomb or get a gift for that special something in your afterlife, Etsy.com is a place for spooky econo.]

blacklilypie (http://blacklilypie.etsy.com)

You can't pin down Tara Fortin of blacklilypie. And we don't mean with thumbtacks. Not for lack of trying, we suppose. Thumbtacks wouldn't do it. Neither staples, velcro or industrial strength adhesive could do the trick. Kind of ventures into nailgun territory, and then you have to rent an air-compressor and then lug it around. And Tara's mobile all the while, so it's not easy. Plausible, yeah. Maybe if you snuck up on her and we really don't advise that. Not if you want to get any of the fanstatic goods offered by blacklillypie. The direct approach is best.

Variety! Spice of life and blacklilypie might as well be your Indian grocer peddling a peppergrinder because blacklilypie has a a lot to offer. It's been a while since we showcased some art here on the Tuesday uEtsy Spotlight so we're glad to return to form with some nice pieces. Take a gander at this death rock lady and ask yourself "does she exisit? Do I know her? Is she single?" Granted, you might not be lucky enough to have a physical representation of all things rocking and spooky but the closest thing you could (legally) get is this wonderful picture hanging on your wall.

Leisurely looking back against your seat, admiring the portrait of someone you wish you could take to see 'Revenge of the Living Dead' at the Alejandro Drive-In, your back might ache as your strange, two-dimensional-attracted-to heart. Why not sooth the physical with this fantastic pillow set - Pink skull, seperate cross bones, all comfy.

You have art, you have pillows, you have artful buttons you can put on that pillow. Look at that picture of that back cat. Those eyes looking up at you as you wear that pin while working at your office desk or on the mandated red-cotton/poly blend polo your gas station manager has issued to you, hell. Black cats are bad luck if they cross your path but wear them on your lapel and you are ultra lucky. maybe you won't get robbed that night? Maybe you won't get fired from your job? Maybe you will! Make your own luck with this Gothic Girl pin set from blacklilypie.

When you peruse blacklillypie's store, you'll ntice the happy picture of the company mascot and new-found guru for this modern economic client, Batcat. It's really ingenious of Tara Fortin to cross two wonderful things - a bat, a cat - to make something that in itself is greater than both. We saw Hector try to do the same, one time, by making a sandwich meat out of three different types of jerkey; all that made was for a quick trip to the hospital. We're lucky to say that Hector survived the stomach pumping but receiving the bill gave the poor boy a stroke.  Thankfully, he recovered his motor skills (and mercifully, not his culinary spirit) through the use of art therapy. It really was a bummer that all he knew for art was the bathrool stall grafitti, though he's now the county's Poet Lauriet, albeit his medium is mainly dirty lymricks detailing the daily news of the town. Had he this color book, 'A Day with Batcat,' the incredible artwork might have turned Hector into a backwoods Monet. But don't let his condition defer you from making the right choice. Unleash your inner artist with this coloring adventure.

blacklilypie offers matted and unmatted prints, making it easier for you to display, frame and impress other people with their delicious selection of artwork. It shows class and nothing could be truer than seeing this piece of blood and ink on your wall. Taking a look at this print makes us really appreciate the linework, in both the eyes and the lips. It's a simple and elegent design, woring with darkness to create something both subtle and powerful. The touch of red comes after the blackness draws you in, or so we're told by Professor Holloway from the university. We don't know for sure what exactly all that means except that the picture is pretty and that it's something you should buy.

We really do like Ms. Fortin's artwork. There's something about the use of color and a good control of lines that makes for a great blend. Like wildness and restraint. Something like that, we suppose. Look, this is a great picture of a girl wearing a white bow over what we can only assume is a vampire bite. How great is that?

You'll find a lot of things at blacklilypie. Bookmarks, sculptures, pillows, pins and artwork. It's a great place that you should check out, along with the blog and blacklilypie's twitter feed. Go and make yourself happy by adding a little variety to your life. And make us happy by coming back next week for another Tuesday uEtsy.

TGIF13 Flashback

Not only is today Friday the 13th, but it's also the last Friday the 13th of the year. That's right, there won't be another one until May 2011! Naturally, the Local feels it necessary to pay tribute, but we're too short on time (and ideas) to come up with a new installment of our "TGIF13" series. So instead, please enjoy these classic posts:

TGIF13
TGIF13 II: WOOF WOOF WOOF!
TGIF13 III: The Beginning

Strange Trip: Friday the 13th
Strange Trip: Friday the 13th - Part 2
Strange Trip: Friday the 13th - Part 3 (IN 3D!!)

Happy Friday the 13th!

Tuesday uEtsy: The Mighty Squirm

[Etsy.com's tagline is "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Coincidentally, there's a lot of spooky on Etsy, and each Tuesday, we highlight one of the sellers. If you're looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your tomb or get a gift for that special something in your afterlife, Etsy.com is a place for spooky econo.]

The Mighty Squirm (TheMightySquirm.etsy.com)

The t-shirt. We're wearing one right now. We hope you are, if you have decided to wear something today (or tonight, whenever you're reading this.) The Local tries to negotiate some leeway in the uniform but it all boils down to a workshirt and a pair of jeans. Sometimes, one might class it up with a matching pair of work pants but each digs the dirt the way they like it, really. Some workers get so committed to the uniform that it's hard to peel it off (literally) from their bodies. So the Local advises, though not officially dictates, that at least three t-shirts comprise a member's wardrobe.

Luckily, The Mighty Squirm have that (and hopefully you) covered.

Granted, the t-shirt has become some kind of second currency in the last fifty-million years, or it feels that every site offers some kind of t-shirt related goods. Oh, we might, eventually. But until then, look towards The Mighty Squirm for some horror themed apparel that has a lot more class to it than what you might find elsewhere. And let's face it - class is rare to find on a t-shirt. Take the pirate up above. Seems rather fine art on cloth, yes? Wouldn't that be better than some rough, reproduced, falsely-weathered design you could get anywhere? Of course.

Of course, we'd be partial to the above design. It gives a different perspective on our daily work. And you knew if you saw a lady sporting this finery, she'd be the settling-down-with, hope-she-doesn't-eat-me-during-the night type.

We never really get the appeal of falsely-aged clothing. Of course, we're not the only ones. Mr. Marty hitchhiked his way off to Cooperstown, mainly to lay low after the Walkens Chicken incident. When he came back, told of how he was taken in by these young drifter kids on bicycles. Thought that hobos were having kids or something, from the way they were dressed. Beards and second-hand clothing. He was king of the Goodwill pile, that Marty. He left them when he found their music boring and that no one had anything but American Spirits. Marty maybe mangey but he's a loyal Lucky Strikes guy. This is all rather unrelated to how incredible this dinosaur t-shirt is, but if you were ever to buy it for your kid (as The Mighty Squirm has children's sizes) then you can pretty much ensure that your kid never grows up to be anyone related to that story. We love Marty, and all, but the man smells.

Of course, you don't have to go with dinos, hearses or pirates. There's also dragons. Flying skeletal dragons, breathing fire! Imagine that. It's like everything good about your neighbor's van art, on a t-shirt. And not on a van, because goodness, no art is really great when it takes van-form. But in this Mighty Squirm t-shirt? They've reached the perfect balance between dragons, skeletons and t-shirt to provide you a dragon skeleton on a t-shirt.

You'll find at The Mighty Squirm's shop that they have some of their artwork for sale as prints, in case you want to preserve the image from one of their designs. It also gives you a chance to appreciate the detail in their line work. Take a look at this skeletal mermaid and you can appreciate the amount of detail that went into creating this creature. It's almost attractive in the 'deadly mythical creature bound to bring me to my doom' sort of way, or in the general, pretty impressive talented art way, as well.

The Mighty Squrim! They have a Twitter account, a website and, of course, an Etsy Store. You have money. We think you two should get together and mingle. We also think you should come back next week for another installment of Tuesday uEtsy!

Tuesday uEtsy: The Mad Crafter

[Etsy.com's tagline is "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Coincidentally, there's a lot of spooky on Etsy, and each Tuesday, we highlight one of the sellers. If you're looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your tomb or get a gift for that special something in your afterlife, Etsy.com is a place for spooky econo.]

The Mad Crafter (AmyLDice.etsy.com)

Knitting is something we all do. Seriously, if you break a bone, your body tends to knit the pieces together if you're smart enough to see Doc Killian and get the fracture set properly. If you're not, you end up like Craig Sands and become a champion Ping-Pong player. Of course, he could never scratch his nose ever again but, by and by, we suppose. Technically, what The Mad Crafter does is crochet, but we're not certain our bodies do that and Killian was too busy with a rash of new customers, a trio of German tourists that what ate the bad mustard over at Donnie's Time for Fun Funtime. That mustard is the most exciting ride at that place and is a known killer.

What first caught our eye was the number of horror and non-horror mounted heads that the Mad Crafter offers. Being that we're prone to take our dead things, dig a hole and bury them, the idea of mounting them and sticking them on the living room's wall doesn't usually come as a first idea. But the Mad Crafter has us thinking differently. Take a look at ol' Squidface as he's delightfully reproduced here.

What won't drive you mad, but is cute and deadly and a kill of a steal are the little buddies you can get from the Mad Crafter. Not only does she do mounted heads, she provides some of the well-crocheted items that will turn both your child and refuses-to-grow-up man/woman child squeal with delight and fright - like with this zombie, with attached brain.

Maybe you're the indulgent type who has not one, two but three toppings on your ice cream when you hit up the local shops the way Cooldrige hit up the pharmacies on a morpheine kick. Dipped chocolate, sprinkles and a waffle cone offering you the trifecta of a confectionary delight on one of these summer afternoons. And you didn't bring one for us? What gives? Aren't we cool? While you go out and share with us, let's talk about how The Mad Crafter has an item that fits your hedonistic nature - not only do you get one mythical creature, you get THREE! Not only is it a bigfoot, but their winterized version, the Yeti. And not only is it a yeti, but a ZOMBIE yeti. Here you see its head mounted on a square but the Mad Crafter offers a pocket-sized version if you want to carry around your little buddy with you.

As we said prior, Sasquatches are welcomed here in the Local. In fact, we showed a picture of this Pocket-sized Bigfoot to Glenn when he was stopping in last Thursday. Glenn's one of the Local's longest standing friends, which most don't really notice, what him being six-five and covered in hair. Glenn was rather impressed with the accurate resemblence in yarn. Plus, he wasn't at all taken aback at the thought of the mounted Bigfoot heads. Better to be fabricated than authentic, he said. Plus, the pocket-sized Bigfoot would do much for bettering human-sasquatch relations.

We also like dinosaurs. There's not much to that, just that dinosaurs are pretty neat. Sure, there's the whole 'digging up the bones' deal that we could tie into, but really, it's been Local policy that "Dinosaurs are all right." We had a vote and if you were to ever check the Local Logbook, detailing all the events and changes in policy that your Gravediggers Local has voted on in the past two centuries, you'd be surprised to see that, even from the first discovery, dinos and diggers of ditches have gotten on pretty well.

You want to know who else gets along rather nicely? You and The Mad Crafter. Go over and look at her works. See her wares. Buy something. Take it home and be happy. Add her on Facebook. See her blog. Check out the Etsy. And check back here next week for another Tuesday uEtsy.