October Antics

Meet Jack, our friendly neighbourhood skeleton! Getting all the neighbourhood kids into the Halloween spirit while managing a myriad of domestic chores.

"What am I wearing...?!"

Wednesday wash day

Late night jams

Getting ready for the big day

Life of the party!

Manic Monday

Hoist the freak flag

The creak of the coffin door...I have been sleeping for so long but now I crave the light of the moon and the smell of the sodden leaves, rich earth and rain.
This time of year never fails to awake a part of me that is filled with wonder and excitement. Time to create...
I have finally posted the trailer for the documentary I made in 2010/11, Skeletons In The Closet. It feels really good to have it out there finally, it was a lot of work and I think the stories and people have so much passion in them. I miss all those crazy Canadian haunters!
Check it out here: 

https://vimeo.com/234183605

Since I sadly didn't manage to do much else with the film, having been thrown into the true madness of parenthood, I will likely release the full documentary online soon. I'd love feedback from the haunting community and if anyone has somewhere to screen feel free to get in touch.

Now it's time to make some spicy cider and brew up plans for this years festivities! Let the fog roll in...



"My latest documentary, Skeletons In The Closet, is a strange and exciting exploration into a world of Halloween fanatics, creative masterminds, and masked marauders.
Welcome to the oddball world of the Halloween freak, fearlessly straddling the dichotomy of neighbourhood weirdo and local champion of youth. Meet the people behind the tombstones and share their passion for the most devilish of holidays. See how they are keeping the generous spirit of Halloween alive for future generations."

Skeletons In The Closet!

and now for my latest Halloween creation...

www.chelseadigital.ca/SkeletonsInTheCloset/

Happy Halloween!

As you all are celebrating the best of all eves in the Northern Hemisphere it is already November here in the land of Oz.
We managed to put together a halloween housewarming party despite the many challenges of hosting the dark month in this land of sun and beaches. Some of the compromises included green and blue pumpkins, as the traditional orange ones cost 25$ each here since it is not the right season for them at all. No need to bundle up as it was a hot summer day outside, but we shuttered the windows and lit the lanterns!
The green and blue ones carved up OK, but were very soft and brittle so it didn't allow for any intricate designs. Made me feel pretty good about the whole thing though when a new friend said it was the first time he had ever seen a carved pumpkin in real life! Whoa, blew my mind. For many of our guests it was their first ever Halloween party! Pretty crazy.
I went pretty oldschool for the decor, Jack-o-lanterns, candles, webs and ghosts.
Now I can't wait to see the aftermath of Halloween madness that is happening in North America right now! I can almost hear eerie echoes of trick-or-treats! shouted across the seas...
Happy Halloween to you all!

Bereft of a true Halloween

I cannot capture the Halloween spirit.
For the first time ever.
But it's not me, it's where I am. I never would have thought that I could ever make it to October without the fever hitting me, the monster madness, the all consuming passion for the dark month. But I also never truly conceived of what October meant in a place like Australia.
I call it oppositeland for good reason, and the sunny skies, the spring flowers, the flipflops - none of these things say October to me.
I miss the smell of damp earth, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the brisk air and crisp mornings, the fog and pumpkin patches. So I guess I should have always said that Autumn was my favorite season, instead of saying October was my favorite month - but that doesn't work either because Halloween is part of what makes it dear to my heart.
But hard as I may try I feel like it just won't work here.
Case in point - I put some spider webbing up on the door this morning and caught a bird trying to eat the fake tarantula! It makes sense since there are GIANT spiders here - so of course they must be food for someone, but I've never had something prey on my decor before.
The dollar store Halloween section was about a 2 feet square and sadly disappointing. I tried to look up haunted houses and only found listing for actual hauntings!
I will continue to try - but my heart is not in it. I will have to be a voyeur this year and bask in the glory of a true Halloween from afar through all of you dark creatures out there spinning up a dark night for All Hallow's Eve.























a host of little ghosts visiting my apartment.

Momento Mori

The fog rolls in...

I couldn't resist setting up the front yard a bit.
I have had a lot of comments so far, even saw a man lifting his daughter up to see over the hedge, so adorable.
Her face was lit up like a kids at Christmas, only as we all know...with a darker sort of light..haha
Perhaps a little haunter in the making.
Funny that this is actually me not doing Halloween!
I painted Skelly with detergent this year to give him an eerie glow.
I had to do something nice for him after breaking his spine in half accidentally!
He just couldn't make it up the stairs this year...

Halloween creative

Art by Heather Gleason

Hey kids...want some candy?

Created a Halloween candy display last night. yummy.
I also made fresh corn chowder and Pumpkin chocolate chip bars.
The kitchen smells fantastic!
So delightful to actually have time this year to do the more domestic Autumn things.
Normally I would be frantically working away in the monster factory.
Alas, no new monsters will rise this year. I will be on a secret Halloween mission all season.

Summer Ending

Boudoir

A bedroom set for the dark at heart.




http://www.harvestmoon.co.uk/moulin-noir/coach-house-moulin-noir-bedroom-furniture.html

http://darkpassagetravelogue.blogspot.com/

Photography and decay, and excellently thoughtful writing. One of my favorite posts:
http://darkpassagetravelogue.blogspot.com/2008/09/buried-in-woods.html

My Photography

to remember it by...

Some more photos from this years haunt.

http://picasaweb.google.com/danthon/0810_halloween

My biggest regret is that I didn't have time to take some myself.

Pumpkins

Thanks to Mike, Lindsay and Lesa for helping to carve all 8 pumpkins in about half an hour!