A-Z Challenge: S is for...Stuck on You Salt & Pepper Shakers

S is for...Stuck on You Salt & Pepper Shakers!

Whilst I'll be the first one to admit that salt and pepper shakers are not the most overtly horror-related items and not something I should be writing about on this blog, after receiving this wonderful pair of pots on my birthday last year I think I'm going to make an exception here! They are from the Nemesis Now, Willow Hall Collection, as part of the 'Stuck on You' range. 

View of the pair when unstuck

The set I own is 'The Monster and His Bride', which are actually labelled as "zombies" on the box. The two of them are independent salt / pepper pots, but by way of a magnet they each have embedded in their mouth they join together, giving the impression of a kiss (awwww... ....?). The details on them - from stitching to nail polish to hair - give the "lovers" great character and a healthy dose of charm, which makes them rather endearing.

The happy couple

As well as being decorative, they are also functional salt and pepper shakers, with holes at the back of their heads. However, I haven't used them for their intended purpose yet and probably never will, so I can't say how well they actually work.

The back of their heads

Nemisis Now also have other horror-themed pairs in the Willow Hall Collection, including vampires, skeletons, witches and coffins. Sadly, they only sell to the trade on their website, so unless you can find these little dears in a shop (physical or virtual), it's not possible to buy them. However, I've seen them dotted around the internet, so I'm sure they'd be simple enough to track down for those who want them!

The images below are from the Stuck on You section at Nemesis Now's website:

'Love at First Bite'

'Love Never Dies'

'Love is Spooky'

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge

Valentine's Day: Top 15 Creepy Couples Part 1

Ah, Valentine's Day...it's pretty unappealing, from its cardboard candy-filled smugness, right down to its heart, which seems to only be full of cheesy cards, dreadful songs and hideous romantic comedies these days. Nevertheless, even in the world of horror and fantasy there's romance, so Erinia Spooky and myself (Lilia Tombs) have put together a list of some of our favourite creepy couples to mark the occasion!

Count Dracula & Mina

Originally a character created by Irish writer Bram Stoker, Dracula has become one of the most famous and enduring horror characters ever. Numerous films have been made starring the Count, but we're focusing on Dracula and Mina's doomed pairing in 'Dracula' (1931), with Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler, marking the 80th anniversary of the movie today! You might believe Mina was under hypnosis whilst looking into Dracula's "two red eyes", but we're not buying it. Maybe next time you should choose a guy that doesn't leave hickeys!

Jack Skellington & Sally

Arguably Tim Burton's most popular characters, Jack Skellington and Sally appeared in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Although they're not strictly horror characters, the King of Halloween Town and the kind and devoted Sally defintely have a place in this list, and in our hearts!

Gomez & Morticia Addams

Now to our favourite couple - Gomez and Morticia Addams of The Addams Family - perpetually in love, in each others arms and insane! They're both gorgeous, confident, bizarre and make being married with kids seem almost appealing (almost)! If you're going to shove your love affair in everyone's faces today, this is undoubtedly the best way to do it. Perfect!

Chucky & Tiffany

From the fourth installment of the Child's Play franchise, 'Bride of Chucky', comes Tiffany! Her love hate relationship with Chucky, is violent, bloody, crazy and, thanks to a "Voodoo curse", doll-shaped. Definitely everything a horror relationship should have. Bloody romantic!

The Monster & Bride of Frankenstein

Now to another relationship with a bride...The Monster (Boris Karloff) and The Bride (Elsa Lanchester), in James Whale's superb sequel to 'Frankenstein', 'The Bride of Frankenstein'. The Bride isn't exactly a willing participant in the pairing (and by this we mean she screams and hisses at the sight of him), but technically she had just been born. Well anyway, her loss, because we don't think you "belong dead", Mr. Monster. No, we love you!

Lily & Herman Munster

Not quite so involved with each other as Gomez & Morticia, but still very sweet, Herman & Lily Munster are the next on our list. They first appeared back in 1964 in 'The Munsters' second pilot episode - the first episode having Herman married to a Morticia-esque wife called Phoebe instead. (Maybe that explains why their son is a werewolf?) Still, ignoring the hidden wife and Eddie's questionable parentage, this creepy couple are about as wholesome and innocent as it gets in the world of horror. Aww...

Betelgeuse & Lydia

Starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, 'Beetlejuice' is another  movie from Tim Burton, featuring the delightfully "strange and unusual" Lydia and the "ghost with the most". After he's called from the grave by his name being said three times, the young girl Lydia is almost forced to marry him in order to save her recently deceased friends, the Maitlands (er, it's better than it sounds, honest). Whilst Lydia seems unattracted to anyone at all, her groom will take anyone female; more than one if he can. Not exactly a perfect match, but we still think it's a great couple! Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Be..tter not just in case! ;)


More to come in Part 2!

Fashion: Boom! Boom! Baby!

I recently purchased a corset made from horror-themed fabric from UK based bespoke corsetry and costume brand, Boom! Boom! Baby!. The brand have made beautiful creations for numerous clients, including burlesque performers Anna Fur Laxis and Frankii Wilde, and comissions from the BBC. Their work has also been featured in magazines such as Devolution and Creepy Queen.

The ones that particularly caught my eye were their bandage/mummy-themed corsets and outfits (pictured below) and I really was amazed by how low the prices are, considering the quality and uniqueness of what they offer.

I'll probably write more about this brand when my own is finished, but until then, you can view more of their work, contact them or even buy something yourself at the following websites:

Boom! Boom! Baby! Boutique
Etsy Store
BBB Blog

For more images of the gorgeous mummy-themed creations...

Fashion: T.U.K. Shoes

TUK have been terribly helpful and combined two of my loves - horror and shoes! Whilst I'm the first to admit that shoes are not usually very creepy nor horror-related, I think these are absolutely worthy of a mention.

As TUK themselves described these purple and black wonders "Cotton candy colours, cupcakes and skulls, Oh My!" Indeed.

Cute and spooky not your style? Not to worry! There's something for you classic horror lovers too, with TUK's Anti Pop Heels, featuring green stitches, purple lightning bolts and their version of The Bride of Frankenstein:

And if you're still not satisfied, they even have flip flops, complete with skulls and bone-shaped grips. Perfect for those long Summer days spent hiding from the sun, watching old Dracula movies at the beach.

To get your claws on these and other TUK horrors, visit their online store:

TUK Shoes

Music: OOMPH!

Today, I have a confession to make... not everything I like is horrific and spooky. Shocking, I know, but even I can't resist the lure of fluffy kittens and men without split personalities or chainsaw hands sometimes...maybe...

Anyway, confessions over with, on with the entry! Speaking of confessions - or rather priests - today's post is about OOMPH! - a band from Germany that has absolutely nothing to do with horror and are not even that creepy. They do however, have some rather good, tongue in cheek horror-themed videos. 'Brennende Liebe' is inspired by 'The Bride of Frankenstein', whilst 'Sex hat keine Macht' takes from 'The Exorcist', head rotating and all. You might not like their music, but you can always hit the mute button :P

Art: Joseph Lara

This portrait of Elsa Lanchester in the 1930's James Whale classic, 'The Bride of Frankenstein', is the latest creation from aspiring New York music journalist and horror artist, Joseph Lara. With a love of all things spooky from childhood, and a background in painting, Lara naturally began combining the two.

Expect more ghastly ghouls, graves and ghosts from him soon!

You can keep up to date with him by visiting his page ⇒ here