2010 December | Upon a Midnight Dreary

Archive for December, 2010

Dahlia Jane’s 2011 New Year’s Resolutions

Friday, December 31st, 2010

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.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Microdermal Anchor Body Piercing

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Microdermal anchor piercings on the upper chest and face (along with nose and lip rings) via Best Photos War

Often used to accentuate tattoos, microdermal piercings look like a stud or bead on your skin. Developed as a process between the short-lasting surface piercings and the more intense transdermal implants, this relatively new technique has taken the body art world by storm. I love the possibilities they offer for adding sparkles to almost any part of the body.

See the microdermal piercings in the birds' eyes? Hot! photo via Grinn & Barrett Tattoo on Flickr

Cheek piercings via jasper4420 on Flickr

Cute! Star microdermal anchor piercing via espoirfaux on Deviant Art.

Neck microdermal anchor piercings via kirif1 on Flickr

Hip piercings via youaretheone on Deviant Art

Two examples of lower back microdermal anchor piercings via Body Piercings

Here are the two jewelry components before they are placed under the skin. The first piece on the left is the post that the gem attaches to above the skin. The middle piece is the flat anchor that goes under the skin. And on the right you see the two pieces screwed together.

An experienced piercer will use a dermal punch to break through the skin and create a pocket where the anchor will sit. (A dermal punch is a round needle that takes out a small chunk of skin, like a biopsy — a regular piercing needle separates the skin). This type of piercing may be less painful but result in more bleeding than other types of piercing since the hole made is bigger than the body jewelry. The piercing will usually heal within a month, but may take as long as three months. When the skin around the anchor has healed, the gem or screw head can be switched out. Though it may be too soon to tell, this type of jewelry seems much less likely to be rejected than surface piercings (meaning your cells won’t attack the jewelry and force it up out of the hole and close the hole). Most studios charge between $40 and $60 per microdermal piercing.

If you’re considering microdermal anchor piercings, you should be aware of certain risks. Depending on placement, there is a chance that your body will reject this type of piercing. Sometimes they migrate and scarring can result. While the top component can be changed, the jewelry anchor has to be professionally removed. Once it’s removed, there will be scarring. This can be especially noticeable on the face.

Posted in Jewelry | 1 Comment »

Arm Warmers keep you warm while looking cool

Monday, December 27th, 2010

This time of year my extremities tend to be corpse-like cold. I warm my feet up in knee socks or slipper socks, and I like to have several pairs of fingerless gloves and arm warmers lying around for icy hand emergencies.

Arm Warmers by Zen and Coffee

North Carolina Etsy seller Zen and Coffee has an amazing selection of unique arm warmers and fingerless gloves for the goth-inclined. From signature stripes to gothic lolita to steampunk, she has a style for any outfit.

The Passion of Lovers short fingerless gloves for $20

Sleep Eternal red, black and silver arm warmers for $24

This is my favorite Zen and Coffee design and can be custom made in lots of colors. I'm considering a pair in white with black details. Blood Fiend Gothic Bondage Arm Warmers for $30

Shadow and Mirth Corset Laced up Arm Warmers for $32

Contorted Angel Arm Warmers for $45

To see the rest of Zen and Coffee’s arm warmers, visit her Etsy shop.

More Arm Warmers

Bat Fingerless Gloves from Ebay seller dysfunctional_doll_clothing for $7.99

Red Stripe Skull Arm Warmers from Ebay seller inarushpartyfavors for $8.99

Arm Warmers Skulls White on Amazon for $9.99

Harajuku Bones Long Arm Warmers from Sock Dreams for $15

Black Tattoo Velvet Arm Warmers by Tonyaringdesigns on Etsy for $19

French Stripe Arm Warmers from Free People onsale now for $19.95

Posted in Wear | 1 Comment »

Hollywood is Dead Posters

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Hollywood is Dead Posters make every movie an epic zombie movie. Artist Matt Busch poster parodies faithfully recreate iconic film posters while reveling in the macabre.

“It’s an ironic twist,” says Busch, “to take these beautiful master-works and attempt to recreate every detail, while at the same time, shredding them to bloody pulps. Literally. Nothing here is sacred, but it’s all in good fun and out of the utmost respect to the original posters that had such an impact on my life.”

There are currently 28 posters (including six from the Star Wars saga) and a handful of t-shirts, but more are on the way. Each poster is $19.95.

Admit it, you’d go see all these films. To see all of the available posters, click here.

Posted in Decorations | 2 Comments »

Beautiful Darkness Book Review

Friday, December 17th, 2010

I recently finished the sequel to Kami Garcia and Margaret’s Stohl southern gothic tome, Beautiful Darkness (Beautiful Creatures, Book 2). While I enjoyed the original, I liked the sequel even more because the supernatural details had been established so there was more room for plot and character development. Despite its five hundred pages, I devoured this book in three days. The twists are so compelling that I was distracted when I tried to put the book down and do something else.

The authors have masterfully crafted a fantasy world that is unique but clear. The southern setting is so sensual that you’ll smell the lemon trees and mourn the decay of Ravenwood Manor. I desperately want to visit the underground Lunae Librae and see the cemetery on All Saints Day.

The story revolves around an archetypal fight between good and evil, but allows for many shades of gray in between. As the main characters come of age they repeatedly discover that nothing is as it seems or as they hoped it would be. I don’t want to deny anyone who hasn’t read either book the pleasure of discovering the lush world of Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes, so I’ll just say you’ll find spellcasters and demons, impossible love, ghosts and adolescent trauma between the covers. The book is joyous escapism and this is the perfect time of year to pick it up. If you think your family is twisted, wait until you meet the Ravenwoods, Duchannes, Wates and Lincolns.

Have you read Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness ? What part of the world would you visit if you could?

Beautiful Darkness (Beautiful Creatures, Book 2) is available from Amazon in hardcover for $11.63 and paperback for $9.99.

Posted in Read | 3 Comments »

Alice in Wonderland Gifts

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

To Wear:

Alice in Wonderland design by Marlene's Store on a women's Cap Sleeve t-shirt from Cafe Press for $25.50

Blood Red Alice t-shirt by Anita Inverarity on Red Bubble for $26.22

Alice in Wonderland Red Queen Watch available on Amazon for $31.99

Alice in Wonderland Book Purse by NovelCreations on Etsy for $45

Alice in Wonderland Mens T Shirt – Stylized Zombie Mad Hatter available on Amazon for $16.99

For the Home:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia available on Amazon for $10.57. I love this artist and she did a great job with the illustrations for this unique edition.

White Bunny Hook from Urban Outfitters for $8

Alice in Wonderland Tea Party zippered pouch with art by Sandra Vargas from HautTotes on Etsy for $12.75

Black Distortion Candlestick from Areaware for $24

Alice, a 19x13 inch giclee print by Abigail Larson from Gallery Nucleus for $30

Sloth by Tegan Coddington tattoo art canvas print from Mood Swings on the Net for $65

Posted in Gifts | 1 Comment »

Creepy Cute Gifts for 2010

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Grimm Jim kinder goth plush doll from Varner Concepts for $12.99

Skulls Salt and Pepper shakers from Mister Nostalgia for $18.99

Black Cat mini backpack from Cool Stuff 4U for $19.99

Nec Romantic t-shirt with a design by Lucky Mule from Cats Like Us for $20

Black Cat t-shirt with design by John Schwegel (fizzgig on Redbubble) from Redbubble for $23.94

Vampires vs Werewolves t-shirt with design by curua on Red Bubble for $23.94

Skull Bear Hat from Ebay seller pawstarstitches for $24.99

Check out Misty Benson's Ebay store Gossamerfaery for tons of creepy cute big eye girls and skeletons like this one called Hypodermic of Love. It's a 13x19 inch print for $28.99

Welcome to Hell limited edition 9x9 inch print by Mizna Wada for $50 from Gallery Nucleus

Posted in Gifts | 1 Comment »

Bad Bunnies to Gift

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

I wasn’t planning to do a bad bunnies gift post, but as I researched the other gift lists, I kept coming across more and more evil rabbits. I can’t explain it except that the rate of rabbit procreation is notoriously high. I felt compelled to share this rabbit infestation with you.

Zombie Rabbits T-Shirt on Amazon for $19

Vampire Bunny t-shirt with design by Crockpot on RedBubble for $24.94

Vampire Bunnies v-neck t-shirt from Crywolf on Supermarket for $29

Gothic Jrock Bunny Ladies Pullover Hoodie from Gesshoku for $30

Zombie Rabbits limited edition print by Badbird comes in three sizes including 8x10 for $35 on Etsy

Ninja Bunny fleece hat from Bunnywarez for $35

Bunny Leather Mask in Black by Tom Banwell on Etsy for $65

Psycho Bunny reversible checkerboard cashmere scarf from Saks Fifth Avenue for $250

Mandy Coon Ginny Velvet Rabbit Bag from Assembly New York for $438

Posted in Gifts | 2 Comments »

Give Poster Pop for the Holidays

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Huntington Beach-based Poster Pop prints merchandise with designs by some of the best lowbrow, pinup and car culture artists working today. My favorite Poster Pop artists include Eric Pigors, Big Toe, Shag, Almera and Dirty Donny. With smaller items like stickers, magnets and patches, apparel and fine art prints, Poster Pop has great gifts for every budget. All of their merchandise is high-quality and high-energy.