Paperself - Eyelash Art


On a rare shopping expedition with a dear friend to the dreaded mall, we stopped in at Sephora where I fell in deep adoration of Paperself's eyelashes. Not exactly eyelashes, but beautiful, paper cuttings designed by Ting yu Wang.

They had a variety of designs, some full and some partial, as pictured above. My favorite were the deer ones, (below), as I admittedly have a bit of a deer obsession. These could easily make a great addition to a Halloween costume, but special occasion wear is even better. Full lashes run around $19.95 and I believe, are reusable.


Paperself: http://www.paperself.com/

Through The Weeping Glass


"No child ever imagines the unimaginable. That he will end up as a skeleton."

A romance of two worlds has emerged – the Mutter Museum, a medical museum which showcases medical oddities, and filmmakers, the Quay brothers – who, if you are not familiar with, I urge you to rectify this misfortune straightaway – have produced a new film, arguably a “documentary,” Through The Weeping Glass: On The Consolations Of Life Everlasting.

I had the immense pleasure of attending a screening of the film last night, hosted by David Wilson, the man/genius behind the Museum Of Jurassic Technology and the Quay’s themselves.

All three men discussed how their work influenced one another. The Quay’s were working with Michael Penn at the time on a music video for his song, Long Way Down (Look What The Cat Drug In), when one day Penn took the brothers to the Museum Of Jurassic Technology. As it is for most, it was a life altering visit. Wilson tells the story of how he was leading a double life of sorts – working in the entertainment industry and curating the museum – when he was invited by a friend to watch what was “probably bootleg VHS tapes,” of the Quay’s work. This single, influential event caused Wilson to undergo an epiphany, inspiring him to finally extricate himself from the film industry and devote himself entirely to a work that he was passionately compelled to do. Thank goodness for us he did.



Although American born identical twins Stephen and Timothy Quay, “fled” to Europe, citing the ominous commercial beast of Disney as a reason, where they have created all of their work until now. Weeping Glass marks their first film made in the US.

The film, only about thirty minutes, is quite like a private tour of the Mutter, seen through the Quay brother’s unique and distinctive point of view. As they do with their puppetry, the Quay’s ensoul the objects at the Mutter and allow them to tell their story - the skeleton of Harry Eastlack, who broke a bone in childhood, triggering fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva – a disease that basically causes a secondary skeleton to grow in and around the first, the skulls of the Hyrtl Collection including this gentleman, “Giza Hermenyi. Reformist herdsman. At age 70 attempted suicide by cutting his throat. Wound not fatal because of ossified larynx. Lived until 80 without melancholy,” an exquisite “flap book” of human anatomy, and various medical instruments which even caused me to wince. One of them, used to extract gall stones through the penis, another, a 3 in 1 economy tool – a drill like end to enter through the birth canal to crush the skull of an infant/fetus and forceps on the other to extract it in order to save the mother’s life. I was so disturbed I am quite certain I have blocked out the third usage of this horrific tool.

We were also treated to a viewing of Edward Waisnis' companion piece, Behind the Scenes with the Quay Brothers . Their "accidental" manner of filming this piece, how they worked with museum staff, (who play all the "parts" in the film), and some of their beautiful lighting techniques are shown.

Through The Weeping Glass will be available on DVD shortly.

The Mutter Museum: http://www.collphyphil.org/site/mutter_museum.html

Museum of Jurassic Technology: http://www.mjt.org/


All photos are from Quay Brothers' work.

The Awakening


The Awakening, set to be released in November of 2011, is a post WWI era period piece, that features a female paranormal investigator straight out of the School For Skeptics. Needless to say, I'll be watching.




Photo of Rebecca Hall in The Awakening - by ORIGIN PICTURES

The Call Of...Chocolate? Yes, R'lyeh.

I want candy. Not just any candy but something...anything from Cryptocurium. A new candy company hailing from New Jersey that creates "handmade edible art," inspired by the strange and macabre.



We are heartbroken to see the Giant Cthulhu Candy Bars are no longer available. However, we are hoping the Great Pumpkin brings us an Edible Vampire Hunter Kit, which includes a hard candy holy water bottle, a dark chocolate crucifix, a red milk chocolate miniature Bible, a hard candy bottle of holy oil, a white chocolate clove of garlic and three milk chocolate wooden stakes, or at least an absinthe skull lolly. Please?



Visit Cryptocurium here http://www.cryptocurium.com/

Dolores Hope - RIP - Repost: The Vile Vial


I am sad to learn of Dolores Hope's passing today, but have little doubt that in her 102 years here, she very much enjoyed herself and blessed many with her presence...including me. I am grateful. Here is a repost of a little memory I had of her:

http://merricatblackwood.blogspot.com/2010/01/vile-vial.html

Haunted Dollhouse

I have always longed to create a haunted dollhouse, however on the few occasions I have been offered one said offer is quickly rescinded when the giver learns what I plan to do with it. Ah, well...I can live vicariously though jennythebloggess.

jenny says, "I started building a haunted dollhouse dedicated to all the horror and fantasy books that inspired me. I've been building it for 10 years and it's still not finished."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebloggess/sets/72157627520056330/with/6081626982/

Thanks so much to my dear friend Emily, for finding it.