Just a quick post today, my spookies! I’m leaving tomorrow to go to Door County, Wisconsin. We’re going to see lots of fall colors and lighthouses.
Lighthouses in the Midwest. I can’t wait.
First off, be sure to listen to the most recent episode of The Dukes of Horror Podcast! We’re discussing The Crow 1994, and barely mention the travesty of a remake.
We’re recording our next episode tonight on The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I know that you shiver with anticipa—
SAY IT SAY IT
-pation!
(If you don’t get that joke, please go look up the next midnight screening and take yourself on a strange journey. You won’t regret it.)
Halloween Crafting
In my last post I mentioned getting ready for the trunk or treat at my daughter’s daycare. Here’s how our trunk turned out (with my stupid mug cropped out because who wants to see that?)
Not captured here are the cauldron’s flashing lights and sound effects. As you can tell, I’m not the type who stages perfect pictures for the social mediums. What you see is what you get.
This was our first trunk or treat, and I did not know we could spread out outside of our trunk. I was super impressed by several of the other trunks—there were carnival-style games! Dance zones! Photo booths! Human creativity always astounds me.
Next year I will come will all cauldrons at full boil. But I’m proud of our first attempt.
Seasonal Crafting
After writing a post about the creation of the above cauldron, which I made out of cardboard and dreams, I realized that Halloween crafts is an integral part of my spooky season. Most years when I was growing up we’d make some sort of Halloween decoration with my mother. We were not a store-bought sort of family.
I’ve created an entire apothecary of potions and ingredients fit for a witch. I’ve knit my own witch hat. Last year I made my ghost kids, who reside in my office year-round but get to spend the spooky season on our hearth this year, and the “coals” that the cauldron rests on in the above picture.
Currently I’m working on a trend that caught my eye in TikTok last year: thrifted ghost paintings! Is this still a thing, or am I revealing how out of touch I am? I deleted TikTok several months ago for mental health reasons, so I really don’t know.
I bought this print at my local thrift store last October with the best intentions, but haven’t gotten around to actually painting it this year. It also had a bible verse printed in the white space that I already started to paint over when I took this picture, because eww.
This is how far I’ve gotten. I still need to actually add the ghosts and other Halloween elements. I’m working on it a little every evening after my kid goes to bed. I’m trying not to be too much of a perfectionist with it. I’m not an artist by any means.
Elements I’m going to add:
-A pumpkin patch
-a bubbling cauldron
-jack-o-lantern leaf bags
-trick-or-treating ghosts/a ghost handing out candy
-bats flying out of the belfry in the middle and towards the moon (though I have to add clouds so they’ll be visible against the black sky, which feels risky, haha)
-lights, spider webs, jack-o-lanterns, and other Halloween decorations
Updates to come! Do you partake in Halloween crafting? What do you do to honor the spirit every year? Comment and let me know!
What I’m Reading
Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi
I usually read before going to sleep at night, but since I’m working on the painting I have less time to read. But I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while, and my hold just came in on Libby. I’m about ten percent of the way in. So far it has serious Stephen King vibes.
Follow Me on Letterboxd!
I just started a Letterboxd account! I watch a fair few horror movies every month and I can’t dedicate a full post for each one on substack. I also need a place to keep track of the movies I’m intending to watch.
So give me a follow and I’ll follow you back 👻I’m excited to see what you’re watching!
Click here to follow me on Letterboxd
Stay spooky, my spookies!
-H. H. Duke
H. H. Duke is a writer, author, and podcaster. Most importantly she loves horror! For more book recommendations, horror movie reviews, and other spooky things, subscribe to H. is for Horror now!