Hell yeah I made it to 666 Twitter followers!  I was able to screen grab these shots at about 3am last night.  Like any good achievement, I had to cheat a little when I saw the number had jumped to 668.  Luckily a couple of souls were willing to (temporarily) unfollow me.  Thanks to their sacrifice I got the proof I wanted that I am the beast master.  I knocked out my first 2012 New Year’s Resolution in 17 days.  Yes!  One down, nine more to go.

2011 blew my mind a little bit.  I reached a lifetime dream of attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans; I was unleashed on Monsterpalooza; I MET TIM BURTON;  I stood feet from actors from my favorite show at the True Blood season 4 Red Carpet Premiere, got autographs, and made friends there I’ve stayed in touch with; I saw Muse and Eminem at Lollapalooza; Krystopher Sapp made me a gorgeous purple Baroque frame for my computer monitor covered in my favorite things; I created my 666 blog post; and Megan, Hope and I had a deviant and decadent Halloweekend that  took five posts to cover.  I was obsessed with FX’s new series American Horror Story, which even gave True Blood a run for its money as my all-time favorite show.  I also got sick new Dahlia Jane illustrations by SpunkyFreakster, Christopher Ulrich (!), and Callow Lily.   And I’m thrilled to have made new friends with Christopher Ulrich, Justin Mabry, and Dr. Paul Koudounaris.

Here’s a look at how I did on the ten resolutions I made last year:

10. Have 666 Facebook friends (at 659 this morning, I’m tantalizingly close).  Hell yeah I achieved this one.  I’ve been doing my best to maintain it, but it does fluctuate by a few.

9.  Get someone in the religious right to admit that they wish I’d been aborted.  No on this one.  But I don’t think I talked to any hardcore conservatives this year, which seems like an accomplishment in and of itself.

8.  Determine once and for all whether human meat tastes like chicken.  I’m taking the fifth amendment on this one.

7. Become penpals with a serial killer (preferably one that’s incarcerated.  This is not a veiled death wish).  I’m still working on this one.

6.  Meet and get a photo with Anna Paquin, Bill Moyer and/or Alexander Skarsgard from True Blood, Matthew Gray Gubler from Criminal Minds.  Technically I didn’t meet or get a photo with them, but I did get Anna Paquin, Bill Moyer and Alexander Skarsgard to sign my Rolling Stone cover at the True Blood season 4 premiere.  I’m still looking for Matthew Gray Gubler.

5.  Talk more to other people and less to myself (I concede that most of the voices responding to my chatter are still technically myself).  I talked to the voices in my head and we all think we did this one.

4.  Stop collecting art.  Start collecting artists.  I probably should have said start collecting restraining orders.

3.  Learn the art of domination from a bonafide Dom.  I guess I forgot about this one because I didn’t even try to make this happen.

2.  Have an amazing Mardi Gras in New Orleans filled with gorgeous costumes, rum and creepy things.  New Orleans Mardi Gras with Megan was a highlight of my year.

1.  Create dark and deviant guides to the neighborhoods of Los Angeles to share what I love so much about this city.  I did a little work on this one, but I’m making it my number one resolution again for 2012.  Hell is paved with good intentions and all that.

I guess I did a little less than half of the things on this list.  But my main goal was for 2011 to be more “insane” than 2010, and in that sense it was a huge success.  I’ve decided this year to make 666 New Year’s Resolutions.  Oh my goth, can you imagine?  Yeah, I’ll just do another ten.

10. Have 666 followers on Twitter (at 379 this morning, I’m more than halfway there).

9. Learn Photoshop, especially techniques to enhance horror.

8.   Wear something dead.  Perhaps someone’s face like in Silence of the Lambs.  But if that doesn’t work out I’ve also been seeing lots of interesting taxidermic jewelry and accessories.

7. Become penpals with a serial killer (preferably one that’s incarcerated.  This is not a veiled death wish).  I mean it this time.

6.  Meet and get a photo with Rob Zombie or Marilyn Manson. (hey, I never really thought I’d meet Tim Burton, but I did, so I’m going to aim really high on this one this year).

5.  Do more photo shoots like the ones at St. Louis #1 Cemetery in New Orleans and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia.  I’ve been doing about one a year, in 2012 I’d like to do at least four.

4.  Build an altar at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Dia de los Muertos festival.

3.  Memorize The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.  I think I have a better chance of meeting Rob Zombie, but I subscribe to the Lewis Carroll sentiment, “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

2.  Become as pretty on the outside as I am rotten on the inside.

1.  Create dark and deviant guides to the neighborhoods of Los Angeles to share what I love so much about this city.

I always strive to top myself, but 2011 is going to be a tough act to follow.  I don’t have any trips planned for 2012.  There are so many places around the world I want to see so if opportunities arise you can be sure I’m going to pounce on them.  I am looking forward to seeing Emilie Autumn live for the first time in February and I’m hoping to see Marilyn Manson.

Thank you for your blessings and RIP 2011.

 

Happy Halloween you miserable maggots!  I’ve been running around like a psychotic having a manic spell this weekend, collecting souls and making mischief.  I have so much I can’t wait to share with you over the next week or two.  But I refuse to be chained to the computer on this of all days.  So for now you’ll have to be satisfied with this gorgeous and brand spanking new Dahlia Jane illustration by the incredible Callow Lily.

Callow Lily specializes in vicious femme fatales with intense, penetrating stares.  I have had her at the top of my list to do a Dahlia illustration for over a year and grave-robbing and black market pedaling finally paid off so I could commission a portrait.  I couldn’t be more pleased with this one!  The eyes are stunning and I love the black dahlia headband, the straight jacket, the skull and the bottle of something toxic peeking out of her count hands.  She really captured the living dead girl vibe.  SICK SICK SICK!!!

Isn’t she gorgeous!  To see more of Callow Lily’s delightfully twisted portraits, or to commission one, visit her website.

I hope everyone has a thrilling day!

Someone is going to get a wickedly tasty Halloween treat thanks to Hyaena Gallery.  One of my favorite LA area haunts, Hyaena Gallery exhibits dark and dangerous art by some of the most twisted contemporary artists.  The gallery has generously given me TEN horrific show posters to pass on to one lucky winner.  Each poster is signed and numbered, making these both great display pieces and collector’s items.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me who your favorite dark artist is (doesn’t have to be from one of the posters) by October 31, 12 pm pacific time (3pm eastern).  Thanks to Hyaena Gallery for the awesome prize!  To see more from Hyaena or for more information, visit their website.  This is going to be a tough one to pass on!

Puppet Wars is a brand-spanking new board game featuring sinister, voodoo doll and horror inspired characters.  Each player starts out with a Master Puppet.  ”It’s simple, just find the other army’s leader, and rip him. If he’s more frayed thread than stuffing, you’ve won. Start by wielding Pins and Needles to go on the offensive, or Hide Under the Bed if your enemy approaches. Animate all your friends from your Toy Box or yell Mine! to take over your opponent’s Toy Box so he has nowhere left to sew up the wounded.”

The Master must construct an army of animated puppets whose purpose is to destroy the other player(s) Master(s).  According to the game description: “Puppets are small-minded creatures. They resemble their living counterparts but have only a slight memory of how to function once they become animated and sometimes they are confused about their roles. But watch out! They’re vicious when organized into an army!”  You win by killing the other Master(s) or taking control of all the other player’s work benches so they can no longer construct puppets.

The game is played with miniatures and cards.  Puppet Wars includes components for two players, including the following puppet miniatures, some of whom have kick ass names: Lady Justice, Seamus, Judge, Bete Noire, Misaki, Rusty Alyce, Executioner, Death Marshal, Austringer, Rotten Belle, Nurse, Punk Zombie, December Acolyte, Razorspine Rattler, Silurid, Malifaux Cherub, Ronin, Convict Gunslinger.  The miniatures come unpainted, which is a little unfortunate for someone like me, but if you have the skills, you could really go nuts with these designs.  Additional accessories such as a multiplayer expansion and booster packs are also available.

As I’ve said before, I’m not much of a gamer.  I rely on my brother to keep me in the know about new releases like this one, which he encountered at GenCon in August.  I don’t like having to learn a lot of rules, or games that go on for hours, but this one might be manageable for my limited attention span. A typical game lasts under an hour.  And I love the warped character designs and the idea of yelling “Mine!” as part of the game.

I actually want to play this.  You can get the board game (and accessories) through Wyrd Miniatures, LLC for $85.  It’s also on sale at CCG Armory for $57.50.

Time flies when you’re up to no good.  I’m delighted to announce that this is my 666th post on Upon a Midnight Dreary.  According to Revelation 13:18, “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”  No one has been able to explain to my satisfaction why 666 is the mark of the beast or what that even means (try searching for history 666 online and you will come up with the wackiest, head spinning explanations — I found one religious blog claiming that the antichrist will implant computer chips with the 666 into our foreheads as a way to control us before the return of the Messiah — I’m sure that’s exactly what the Bible is talking about).  But I enjoy embracing all things dark, and if the number creeps out the conservative religious types, so much the better.

I can’t reach the 666th post without a little fanfare.  It’s just not my style.  In keeping with the theme, I began the morning by purging my Facebook friends from 713 back down to 666.  I was feeling ruthless.  But, more importantly, it seems like a good time for another giveaway.  And since 666 is the mark of the beast, what could be more appropriate than a print by the master of beasties, one of my favorite artists, Dan Harding.  The winner can choose from any of the five prints in Dan Harding’s new Big Cartel shop.  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon pacific time (nine am eastern) on August 31.

Upon a Midnight Dreary is two years old today.  This blog is such a passion project and I’m thrilled to reach this milestone.  I have to thank my friends and family for not turning me in to the authorities or filing restraining orders on me at any point over the last year (don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to).  And I want to thank all the artists who have participated and supported this blog through interviews, illustrations, invitations to shows and their inspiring work.  Finally my biggest gratitude goes to the readers, without whom I’d have given up on this project long ago and missed some great experiences.

Thank you to everyone who entered the print giveaway.  Congratulations to Carole Weir and Paul Gauthier for winning the Dienzo and Eric Pigor’s prints!  There should be a couple more awesome giveaways between now and Halloween…

I have so much planned for the next year.  I really see the first two years of this blog as phase one.  And I have definite delusions of grandeur for the future, including more content each week, more interviews, more exclusive photo shoots and video content, and more travel.  I recently signed up for twitter as Dahlia Dreary, and I was going to make a big deal of that today, but for the last few days Safari is refusing to load twitter so I can’t tweet or read tweets.  I don’t know why it’s not working.  The second Apple releases the new operating system (they said July, it’s July peeps give me my stuff!) I’m getting a new computer and some other new toys that will help facilitate my cyber takeover (my beloved G5 is over six years old).  Anyway, while I usually post about events on this blog after they’ve already happened, my plan with twitter is to update with as many upcoming dark community events as I can (especially come Halloween time).  A few of you have mentioned you want more book recommendations, so I plan to start a cyber dreary book club (like Oprah’s but instead of warm and fuzzies my picks should give you chills and nightmares).  I love to get comments and feedback so keep it coming!

We’re about a quarter of the way through the year and I wanted to see how I’ve been doing on my goals for this year. I hope that the last two weeks of posts have shown that I accomplished resolution #2: Have an amazing Mardi Gras in New Orleans filled with gorgeous costumes, rum and creepy things. I’m so grateful for the experiences I had in New Orleans with my friend Megan.

I’ve also accomplished resolution #10. Facebook says I have 666 friends. This has happened a couple times before for a few minutes at a time. Without me doing anything, my friends count seems to fluctuate by two or three multiple times a day. This time I’m calling it. I would like to maintain 666 friends, but I know that’s probably impossible.

So what’s next? So much! When I get back to LA I’ll be gathering material for my deviant local guides (#1). I’ll also be setting up a PO box and attempting to correspond with some incarcerated serial killers (#7). I don’t have a plan yet for #6: Meet and get a photo with Anna Paquin, Bill Moyer and/or Alexander Skarsgard from True Blood, Matthew Gray Gubler from Criminal Minds and I’m open to suggestions.  I can’t resort to anything that will lead to jail time before I get most of the list complete.  I don’t want to miss seeing Pirates of the Caribbean 4 or Harry Potter 7 Part 2 in theaters.  You can review all of my New Year’s resolutions here.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Dahlia Jane is taking some time off to travel in the southeastern USA, checking off two of her lifelist items, and gathering material for future posts. Back soon!

While New Year’s Eve is not a holiday that holds much magic for me, I do appreciate the opportunity to reflect on where I’ve been and where I want to go.

2010 gave me so many gifts:  I had a blast with Megan at Bats Day in the Park weekend;  I got to wear an incredible custom straightjacket by Angry Girl Gear while visiting a 150 year old asylum (part 1/ part 2); my blog had it’s first birthday; I was blown away by the groundbreaking Mummies of the World exhibit; I saw myself come to life in illustrations by Jamie Brown, Aleksandra Marchocka, Miette, and Noneta; I met astonishing artists including Dan Harding, David Gough, David Richardson, Dienzo, Eric Piggors, Jennifer Jelenski, Jessica Joslin, Krys Sapp; Laurie Lipton, and Robert Williams; I saw a Muse concert; I suffered only minor injuries at WUMPSKATE’S Zombie Skate; and I was enchanted by Tim Burton Burlesque.

I am grateful for all of these opportunities, but I am greedy.  I want 2011 to be even more insane than 2010.  So here are ten things I hope to accomplish in 2011:

10. Have 666 Facebook friends (at 659 this morning, I’m tantalizingly close).

9.  Get someone in the religious right to admit that they wish I’d been aborted.

8.  Determine once and for all whether human meat tastes like chicken.

7. Become penpals with a serial killer (preferably one that’s incarcerated.  This is not a veiled death wish).

6.  Meet and get a photo with Anna Paquin, Bill Moyer and/or Alexander Skarsgard from True Blood, Matthew Gray Gubler from Criminal Minds.

5.  Talk more to other people and less to myself (I concede that most of the voices responding to my chatter are still technically myself).

4.  Stop collecting art.  Start collecting artists.

3.  Learn the art of domination from a bonafide Dom.

2.  Have an amazing Mardi Gras in New Orleans filled with gorgeous costumes, rum and creepy things.

1.  Create dark and deviant guides to the neighborhoods of Los Angeles to share what I love so much about this city.

Besides my resolutions, I’m also looking forward to seeing the Tim Burton retrospective exhibit at LACMA as well as the latest installments of Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.

What do you think of my resolutions?  I’d love to hear some of yours.  Thank you for reading my blog this year and I look forward to providing even better content in the year to come.  Happy New Year!

RIP 2010.