Halloween 24/7 Team Interview 6: Janis

Hello, hello all you Halloween ghouls out there.  I hope you are getting as excited for Halloween/Samhain as I am.  Nothing compares to the harvest time of year when the veil thins, ghosts come out to play, and adults let their inner trickster peek out and celebrate. 

Today we are interviewing our fearless leader Janis of jansbeads.  I'm sure you've seen Janis around in various BNRs and BNSs and making wonderful treasuries.  Read and enjoy her interview and check out her adorably spooky shop :)

1. Why Halloween/Samhain?
On a basic level what kid does not love to dress up, get candy, and stay up real late? To add the facts of picking and carving your pumpkin, sharing ghost stories, and welcoming in all of the mystical of your life. Halloween is just the perfect holiday
Black Skull Rosary    Gravestone Magnet

2. Your inspiration:
The original DARK SHADOWS pushed me over the top. How fantastic Vampires and witches and historical mysteries every day after school. Milk and cookies and Barnabas Collins.
Vampire Necklace

3. What color makes you want to create and why?
Red. For me it is the color of passion, life, loss, but mostly real inspiration. Red dares you to move, and move fast, to catch up, to create, and to share.
Skull Rose Earrings

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy?
Well, a combination of spooky and cute. I love the scary stuff but really like to see it reinterpreted into sweet and cute. Just to soften the blow.
Devil Girl Earrings    Black Cat Earrings   

5. Lestat or Edward Cullen?
Vampires, for sure. Being alive and beautiful forever, great stuff. However, that does not make a lot of sense with my like of spooky cute.
Katrina Coffin Purse 

6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition?
I love the art and images of Halloween and the fall season. However, growing up in Los Angeles those images have combined for me with the bright colors of Calaveras and
Day of the Dead Altars.
Sugar Skull Cuff Bracelet    Skull Charm Bracelet

 7. Trick or Treat? Why?
Treat, OK, no fooling around, just put the chocolate in the bag
Gothic Cameo Earrings
 
8. Interesting tidbit about yourself.
 Suddenly I was a retired law Librarian really needing something to do. I started making holiday jewelry, when I reached Halloween and the Day of the Dead holidays I realized I had found my passion. I started collecting little bone skulls and now I have thousands of them all around the house! Today I maintain a passionate, life, and year long love affair with all things All Saints Day.
Vintage Skeleton Earrings    Sacred Heart Cuff Bracelet


I just love Janis's Day of the Dead jewelry and her rosaries are simply divine.  Janis has a store truely dedicated to the Halloween spirit which she celebrates all year long. 


Till next time darlings.  May you all remain screamingly happy......

Halloween 24/7 Team Interview 5: Steaphanie

Hello you dark darlings! How is your week going?  Horribly fangtastic I hope.  Today I bring you the treat of an interview with team leader Stephanie of StephaniePayan jewelry.  Step up and check out Stephanie's very unique jewelry while you share in her interview.


1. Why Halloween/Samhain?
By far one of my favorite days of the year. I love dressing up and the darkness of it all. Its a fun day to embrace what scares you. Weither I am out and about causing havoc or at home watching scary movies I always manage to have a good time!
I also embrace my Mexican heritage and love day of the dead. The vibrant colors and celebrating those we have lost.
Red Skull Earrings  

2. Your inspiration:
I am a person with a wide variety of interests and am literally all over the place. I don't have one paticular thing that inspires me. If I had one thing to choose it would have to be my mood and energy. I try not to limit myself and make a little bit of everything. I want my creativity to reach everyone!
Wine Glass Charms   Pink Flower Skull Hair Clip

3. What color makes you want to create and why?
 Red and Blue. It really depends on my mood. I notice when I am drawn to red I tend to be a bit more wild and manic. I will create off the top big pieces. Blue keeps me mellow and routine. I will make stuff that is more pattern and repetitive motion oriented.
Blue Heart Stained Glass Pendant   Red Coral Earrings

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy?
Creepy.... I feel it draws far more of a reaction. good or bad....
Black Skull Bobby Pins

5. Edward Cullen or Frankenstein?
Frankenstein!!! no question!
Red Flower Skull Hair Clip



6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition?
dressing up in costume. I always make my own :-)

Black Rose Ring

7. Trick or Treat? Why?
Treat, its fun to have an excuse to give.
Copper Wire Wrapped Ring

8. Interesting tidbit about yourself?
I'm a grown up who is afraid of the dark..... Sshhh don't tell anyone ;-)
Black Onyx & Blue Crystal Bracelet   Yellow Swarovski Crystal Necklace

Stop by and say hi to our team leader Stephanie.  Yet another caretaker of our team.  Until the next time my dears, don't run with sharp implements pointed towards you. Point it the other way!!

Coming soon a contest to name our little goth fish!!

Halloween 24/7 Team Interview 4: Anika

Ah we meet again my pretties.  Welcome to our continuing interviews.  This week we have the great pleasure of meeting Anika of DragonflyontheMoon where you can find unique gems and jewelry.

1. Why Halloween/Samhain?
It's a fun holiday I think about anyone can relate to. And I just like the moons, witches, cats, bats and all that anyway.
Spider Necklace  

2. Your inspiration:
Anything will do for inspiration. From a song, to a movie or nature and pets. Something I see. Something somebody says.
Celtic Triskelion Necklace

3. What color makes you want to create and why?
Red and it's such a vibrant, wonderful color. Well and black.... :)
Red Bird Steampunk Necklace    Red Wire Wrapped Ring

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy?
I want to make it spooky and somehow it always happens to come out cutesy. That's life... :)
Steampunk Fly Pendant

5. Dracula or Wolfman?
Dracula....
Dark Moon Necklace

6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition?
Yes. Candy! And lighting black candles in the evening and decorating. And pumpkin carving. LOL. All my favorites.
Shooting Star Pendant

7. Trick or Treat? Why?
Treat! Can you tell I like sweets?
Flower Pendant

8. Interesting tidbit about yourself?
 I am from Germany originally and became American a little while back.
Love Spell Mini Bottle

Welcome to another team leader! Isn't it great getting to know them and visiting their stores to see how their inspirations translate to beautiful creations?  I hope you enjoyed this installment of Team Leader Interviews and stay safe my pretties! Until we meet again..................

Halloween 24/7 Team Interview 3: Amber

Greetings once again fellow Halloween/Samhain celebrators.  I hope you are enjoying a wonderfully dark weekend.  As our series of interviews with our fearless team leaders continues, I introduce to you Amber from SerpentsDance.   You will see what a wonderfully macabre person Amber is.

1. Why Halloween/Samhain?
I have always loved Halloween the most, even as a little girl. I was an odd child, always obsessed with ghosts and skeletons and the thought of death and the afterlife, so Halloween called to me more than any other holiday. That, and it comes hand-in-hand with my favorite season. I am happiest in October..it's why I got married that month!
Haunted Graveyard Necklace

2. Your inspiration:
Everything! Music, art, history and nature are probably my biggest influences, though. I love to tell stories, and that's what I feel like I'm doing when I make jewelry. I'm telling bits and pieces of a story in each piece.
Perching Crow Necklace

3. What color makes you want to create and why?
Red. Which is funny, because it rarely shows up in my jewelry, but the majority of my paintings are red. I think it's just the vividness of the color that grabs my attention. I tend to use a lot of blue and green stones in my jewelry, though, because it goes so well with copper.
Silver Dragon with Garnet Cabacon

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy?
Spooky and Creepy, for sure. Not that I don't like cute things, but spooky and creepy always win, for me.   Cemetary Ring   Memento Mori Necklace

5. Lestat or Edward Cullen?
Lestat, of course. Never got on board with Twilight. 
Copper Scroll Necklace

6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition?
I always watch Nightmare Before Christmas. I also love to roast the pumpkin seeds from the jack-o-lanterns.
Hammered Copper Hair Stick   Copper Leaf Necklace

7. Trick or Treat? Why?
Treat. Because I love candy a little more than I should.
Dragon's Love Necklace

8. Interesting tidbit about yourself?
I have a slight obsession with crime. If I could've been anything, I would have been a forensic anthropologist, but my stomach does not handle the sight of real-life blood and guts very well. So I make up for it by filling my bookshelves with books about serial killers. I also have a lot of books about weapons and poison, and grow a lot of poisonous plants in my garden (in my defense, some poisonous plants also happen to be really pretty!). My husband is convinced that if one of the neighbors ever turns up dead, the cops will take one look at my bookcases and haul me away.
Moon and Stars Dome Necklace  

What an interview.  As a fellow true crime enthusiast I have to say I understand the lure of forensics.  Check out Amber's unique shop items by clicking on the links after each answer.  It will give you a taste of her talent.  Until we meet again my Halloween lovlies.....

Halloween 24/7 Team interview 2: Kim

Hello again! Our next interview features out steamy leader Kim from SassySteampunk.  Her shop contains some deliciously dark creations along with some marvelous machinations, so continue reading to meet our next Halloween 24/7 team leader. 

1. Why Halloween/Samhain?

Why Halloween/Samhain? I love Halloween..the bats.black cats,+ ghosts! BOO!
Bat Necklace Set    Death Note Book Necklace

2.  Your inspiration:
Your inspiration: Full moon, graveyards, + ghosts   Zombie Card
 
3. What color makes you want to create and why?
What color makes you want to create and why? Black + red my 2 favs Black scares you as you dont know what to expect. Red-the fiery attitude that goes with it,( Im a redhead) When I see red I throw myself full force into my creations
 Vampire Bite Bracelet    Goth Skull Cameo Necklace

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy? 
Creepy muhaamuhaaa   Bone Bag Necklace

5. Van Helsing or Harry Potter?
Van Helsing I own the movie + watch it at least twice a day for inspiration   One Last Drop Necklace

6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition? 
I dress up every year as a witch to hand out my treats   Orange Earrings

 7. Trick or Treat? Why? 
Well I love my candy corn but I love to play tricks on unsuspecting roomies or my kids hehe
Crazy Skeleton Card

8. Interesting tidbit about yourself?
I believe I was a gypsy in a past life as I find it hard to stay put in 1 place for long
Greek Theodolite Necklace

So what do you think of our 2nd interviewee.  Isn't she interesting?  I have to wonder where her gypsy yearnings will take her next, maybe Transylvania? Once again mysterious times until we meet again.

Halloween 24/7 Team Interview: Alura

This week I am featuring interviews with your Halloween 24/7 leaders, so we can get to know then all a little better.  After all don't you want to know what drives them to the love of Halloween?  What divine horrors they delight in?  What weird and wonderful things decorate their holiday?

Our first interviewee is Alura, team captain, founder, and owner of Moonspell Crafts.  So without further ado, our interview.


1. Why Halloween/Samhain?
Since I was little I loved Halloween. I'm sure at first it was the candy but it was always a big to do at my house. To this day it reminds me of childhood fun. I've grown into appreciating Halloween as the Celtic New Year, known as Samhain. I feel that it is a special night, when the veil is thin, where we can send messages to those who've gone before us.   Magic is a foot

2. Your inspiration:
My inspiration comes from my husband and cat...a vampire and a black cat to be specific. Can't get better than that. But I also love the vintage Halloween images and games from the late 1800's too.
Vampire Victuals Menu and Recipes  Black Cat Card

3. What color makes you want to create and why?
In creating Halloween items, I use a lot of orange and black, eluding to pumpkins and cats of course! For me those are traditional if not old fashioned colors!   Gift Set Bag & Card, Primitive Greeting Card 

4. Spooky, Creepy, or Cutesy?
For me it's kind of Victorian Folksy really. Maybe cutesy...  Goth & Spooky Journals

5. Lestat or Eric Northman?
Ummmmm Lestat and even more, Louis du Pont du Lac!!   Lestat Live Sign

6. Do you have a favorite Halloween/Samhain tradition? I've always loved giving out treats. Nut as of the last few years I've made a table by the door with candles and pumpkins and a big cauldron! And I sit right there with my cloak and hat on!   Witch with Attitude Sign

7. Trick or Treat? Why? Treat always! I love sweets and nice things!   Vampire Coffee

8. Interesting tidbit about yourself?
  I love classical music and love to eat devil dogs...lol. Antique Music Book,  Music Journal

There you have it teammates.  Our first interview.  Get a taste of Alura's Halloween by clicking on the links after each question. 

Until next time when we interview leader Kim of SassySteampunk! May I wish a macabre evening and delicious nightmares.......

The many disguises of Halloween or Halloween around the World

Halloween is celebrated in the Western Hemisphere the most, but there are other parts of the world were cultures celebrate Halloween or festivals honoring the departed. 

Check out the Halloween: Around the World website for a quick cover of the most popular festivals.

Many know of the ancient Celts and their celebration of Samhain, but the ancient Romans also had a celebration of the dead called Lemuria. 

Honoring our ancestors, those who have passed before us, seems to be an innate human need.  For some it is a time of spooky, scary celebration, for some a time of honor and remebrance, for others a time to recognize the eternity of the spirit passing the veil to a new world, however you celebrate Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead, Teng Chieh or any others your are carrying on a deep seated human tradition that is iconic to all of us.  

So HAPPY CELEBRATING ALL!!!!!