To You and Yours

Happy Birthday Mr. Karloff!

We send our love to you wherever you are! Pierre Fournier over at FRANKENSTEINIA is hosting a blogathon celebrating the phenomenal life and multi-faceted career of this amazing soul starting today and lasting through the 29th! It kicks off with a personal message from Mr. Karloff’s daughter, Sara and over 100 blogs will be delving into the life and accomplishments that have left a lasting impression on so many and will continue to do so for generations to come! This is a week not to miss!

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Fun Facts:

His paternal grandmother was Eliza Julia Pratt, a sister of Anna Leonowens, whose tales about life in the royal court of Siam (now Thailand) were the basis of the musical THE KING and I.

Beginning in 1940, Karloff dressed up as SANTA CLAUS every Christmas to hand out presents to physically disabled children in a Baltimore hospital.

His voice was the basis for future TONY the TIGER commercials by Kellogg's.

He was the original inspiration for the first illustrations of the INCREDIBLE HULK.

He once did a television commercial for A-1 Steak Sauce.

He married six times but only had one child, a daughter, SARA.

He was one of the founding members of the SCREEN ACTORS GUILD.

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Anecdotes From A Day In the Life:

During the production of FRANKENSTEIN (1931) there was some concern that seven-year-old MARILYN HARRIS, who played Maria, the little girl thrown into the lake by the creature, would be overly frightened by the sight of Karloff in costume and make-up when it came time to shoot the scene. When the cast was assembled to travel to the location, Marilyn ran from her car directly up to Karloff, who was in full make-up and costume, took his hand and asked "May I drive with you?" Delighted, and in typical Karloff fashion, he responded, "Would you, darling?" She then rode to the location with "The Monster."

He raised rare Bedlington Terriers while he lived in Brentwood, CA. One day he was walking them with his four-year-old when they broke free and ran up to an inebriated man stumbling down the street. The drunk begged Karloff for a ride to the hospital, claiming he "just saw three sheep bark!" Karloff obliged.

Season's Creepings Now Available!

'SEASON'S CREEPINGS' one-of-a-kind holiday pieces now available on ETSY, as promised!

In total, I created 13 pieces ~ art dolls, ornies, trinket boxes & more ~ 6 of which are now listed online (the other 7 are already sold)!

Christoween Doll Swap

This marvelous creepy Christmas creation came to me all the way from Kansas! DAPHNE WHITE, my partner in the CHRISTOWEEN DOLL SWAP hosted by RABBIT HOLLOW PRIMS, created this festive skelly especially for me! How cute is this with his little elven ears?! Thank you so much Daphne, he will be cherished for years to come!

Friday 13th Random Facts

* Paraskavedekatriaphobia (or friggatriskaidekaphobia) is a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th, while triskaidekaphobia is the fear of just the number 13

* On Friday the 13th, 1307, Kind Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar and began torturing & murdering them

* The British Navy built a ship named Friday the 13th and on its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th and was never heard from again

* On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half

* Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest

* Months with a Friday the 13th always begin on a Sunday

* Those with 13 letters in their name will have the devil's luck: Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Albert DeSalvo, & Jack the Ripper (though the latter was only his moniker, obviously not his real name - which is still disputed to this day)

* Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926

* In a traditional hangman's noose there are 13 twists of the rope and 13 steps to the gallows

* More than 80% of high-rises lack a 13th floor

* In Formula 1 racing, there is no car with the number 13 (the number has been removed after two drivers were killed in crashes, both driving cars numbered 13)

* The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle's head, 13 war arrows in the eagle's claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch (so far there's been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation)

MHA November Giveaway!

The MAGICAL HOLIDAY ARTISTS team from ETSY is having a holiday giveaway on their blog! What better way to get in a festive mood than to win an awesome, one-of-a-kind treasure from any of these super talented artists! Check it out HERE.

Ahh, A Classic

A Victorian-era ghost story by one of my favorite literary greats ~ I'm so there!

Season's Creepings

Can't decide which holiday is your favorite, Halloween or Christmas? Can't quite hide your darker side no matter the season? Well fret between the frightful and the festive no more!! I'll be unveiling devilishly delightful, one-of-a-kind pieces from my "SEASON'S CREEPINGS" 2009 Holiday line within the coming weeks, so keep a watchful eye out!

UPDATE: Pieces "HAVE YOURSELF A SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS" & "SPIRITS OF CHRISTMAS", will be unveiled next week!