Days of The Dead Indy 2022

Is our extended weekend already over? That’s how I am feeling right now as I type this. Since the pandemic, my husband and I have not enjoyed one of our full blown horror con weekend getaways. We did a random one day drive to Flashback Weekend last year and prior to that we hadn’t enjoyed a full horror con weekend since Days of the Dead in 2019. That was until this past weekend when we decided to take some days off work, extend our weekend and take a road tip back to Indy for another Days Of The Dead con.

As in the past, I was especially excited to gift some of my original art pieces to those who who would be attending and inspired my work. Unfortunately Lori Petty cancelled at the last minute so this Tank Girl fanatic will have to wait until our paths hopefully cross one day in the future. However the guests who did attend that received my work were incredible and made the experience and road trip so well worth it.

First was John Kassir. It felt so great to be in his presence again (we met him in 2018 in Chicago). There are just some people in this world that you encounter that you get all the good vibes from and John is definitely one of those people. I had shared my “Deadtime Stories” art piece with him via the link to my blog post which he was so kind to stop by and comment on. He recognized it right away when I approached his table with the original and told me how impressed he was with my work and that not all things “Tales From the Crypt” that he collects/owns get put up on full display in his home. However, my piece most definitely will be. He gifted me a 8×10 signed Crypt Keeper picture and took this great photo with Frank and I. Later on we even had the honor of enjoying his company in the hotel bistro and he displayed my work on his table all weekend long. Seriously.. I can’t say it enough.. John really is the greatest!

Later after Patty Mullen arrived and was settled in at her table we visited her and I was able to gift her my “Tossed Human Salad” art piece. She also recognized my work and told me that she had seen it posted on Instagram. She said she was impressed with the way I captured her likeness in such a unique way. Especially her eyes. She said for some reason people have difficulty getting them right but I got her spot on. She was a blast to talk to. Even her interacting with the fans before us in line was a trip to watch. Especially when she was in full Frankenhooker inspired fashion from head to toe! So much purple I was loving it. She too gifted us a 8×10 signed Frankenhooker print and took this adorable photo with me. She was so sweet and so much fun to meet!

If that was not memorable enough. Frank and I decided to enter the That Damn Tattoo Contest that was taking place at the convention. Originally I talked Frank into entering his new They Live tattoo and the people hosting the event insisted I enter my Pee Wee’s Playhouse tattoo as well. We BOTH ended up winning in different categories. Frank took home Best Horror Sci Fi Tattoo and I won Best Small Color Tattoo. The judges who we met on stage during the show had nothing but great things to say about our work. We are now so excited to be able to share these plaques with our tattoo artist Luke Reubelt when we see him next.

It felt all around great to finally have a horror con weekend away just the two of us and experience such lasting memories in the process. An all around great weekend that went by way too fast. Thank you again Days of The Dead for another killer event and to John and Patty for being so kick ass!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

A Very Memorable Days Of The Dead Chicago 2019

We almost didn’t attend Days of the Dead Chicago this year. As some of you may or may not know our dearly departed friend Sid Haig was going to renew our vows at this convention. Unfortunately due to his recent passing in September (my heart is still aching) the ceremony was cancelled. We didn’t want to still do it without Sid. Normally couples don’t even renew their vows when its been 10 years but it also marked 15 years since we first met Sid. We thought it would be a fun way to celebrate together and he was all for it. Without him it just would not be the same.

We had already booked our room and purchased our tickets but were having a hard time deciding if we should still go. The thought of being there without Sid in general was hard to even think about let alone the reminder that he would never be there with us again. But after talking with my Murder Ride sister Nicole and Sid’s wife Suzie I was reassured that Sid would want us to still go. So we packed up our bags and hoped we could make the most of it and maybe even possibly bring us some closure. Ironically enough right before we left I was pulling up some files on one of my flash drives and found my old Captain Spaulding’s Chicken Shack Cheerleaders questionnaire (from around 2006 or so) that was used for his previous website. I didn’t even know I still had it. I considered it a sign from Sid as it brought back some great old memories of fan girl moments from the earlier days. I have since added it to my Sid Memorial page.

We decided to bring the key to our heart necklaces that we had exchanged at our wedding. We had added sun and moon charms to them to represent 10 years and words from our vows and were going to re-exchange them during the renewal ceremony with Sid. Bringing them with us made it feel like Sid was still with us in spirit.

Once Frank and I were at the convention we decided to focus the highlight of our weekend to being time spent with each other in our element and also being able to gift a few of my art pieces. The Soska Sisters as well as Skeet Ulrich were added to the guest list. Unfortunately Skeet cancelled at the last minute but we were able to see Jen and Sylvia again. As always the ladies brightened our spirits and it felt good to be reunited with them.

They loved that they got to keep the original of my “Twisted” Demon Twins of Berlin portrait that I drew of them. Sylvia even told me that the American Mary barrettes I made them are displayed on one of their special alter. She also educated me on the “god cell”. These ladies are both entertaining, beautiful and smart! What is there not to admire.

As you know from our convention adventure photos we always stop to support projects that Sid was passionate about. This includes one of his recent movies High On The Hog. The first time we met these guys at Flashback Weekend a few years back we could feel the love and the genuine admiration they had for Sid. Since then if they are at a con we always stop and talk to whoever is running the booth wither it be Tony. Kevin or Ben and try to buy something and shoot the shit. The last time we saw them was early September at Horrorhound where we had just learned that Sid was in ICU on our drive to Indy. This time it was even harder as we were all in pain of losing Sid and we were all feeling that emptiness of him not being there with all of us. But in turn it was good to be around other like minded people that understood the struggle we were feeling that we could actually talk to.

To our surprise Sid’s pig prop from the movie was there and Kevin and Ben let us take a couple special photos with it. Including one that included our special wedding keys. So I am so glad we decided to bring them with us. From the beam of light in the photo of Frank and I we definitely think Sid was happy we met up with these guys again and he was definitively there in spirit.

Later in the day Ben actually interviewed us for the Sid Haig Documentary. A project that Sid had given them his blessing on and was in the works well far before he had passed away. None of us expected it to become a tribute but the interview was actually very therapeutic for Frank and I. Not only did it make us smile thinking and sharing some of our many happy memories of Sid but it made us feel better knowing we may be a part of something that will help keep his memory alive for everyone that loved and admired him. Now let’s just hope I am not an ugly crier ha ha. Even if I am so be it. The feelings are real and from the heart and we are honored to be asked to be a part of it.

So in a nutshell this was a hard convention to be at but in the end Nicole and Suzie were right. Sid wanted us to be there and we are both glad we went. It felt like we were in the right place at the right time and with the right people and it actually did give us some closure. It will never be the same without Sid but like he told me when my Uncle passed away earlier this year “He may not be in body anymore, but as long as you and all who love him remember him, he’s never gone.“

Stay Spooky!
LDG NIcole

Days of The Dead Chicago 2018

This weekend was yet another epic one for horror fans like us attending Days of the Dead “Chicago”. For my husband and myself, we were celebrating another horror-themed weekend away for our belated wedding anniversary. A stay-cation, scare-cation or whatever you want to call it. Either way, it was a nice end to a stressful work week for us to unwind and be surrounded by all things creepy.

Thursday evening I got convention prep ready and bagged up my original Chop Driftwood and #SELFIE art pieces to gift to Bill Mosely and David Howard Thornton.

On Friday we got checked into the hotel, settled in and got a bite to eat. When the convention opened we went downstairs to find Bill’s table first. I loved the way he really took in the art piece when I handed it to him. He looked it over and was smiling at it and loving the whole concept of it being 2 of his characters in one piece. He even put it up behind him on his little display table and gave me a big hug as well as some Chop Top buttons and stickers. We bought a Chop Top metal plate for our collection and he signed it for us. Another memorable moment added to my art bucket list as well as a new memory shared with Bill that we can add to all the others from over the years.

 

We saw that David Howard Thornton was at his table so we went directly there to meet him next. Not only was he as nice as we had expected, but he kept telling me how talented I was and loved getting to see my “Art” piece in person. He had commented on it on Instagram so he had seen it before. But he was even more pleased that I was gifting it to him personally. On top of all my art bucket list excitement, he had my favorite Terrifier scene in an 8×10 photo for signing so I had to have it. He gave us a great deal as a thank you.

But it gets even better…. when we went to take a photo with him he let me hold Art The Clown’s horn!  Let’s just say I was a giddy living dead girl and you can see it all over my face in this photo…

As you can see I arrived at the con rocking one of my favorite shirts from one of my favorite movies, Repo The Genetic Opera. That was not just because we would be seeing Bill. The convention added a few late guests to the list and the one and only Paul Sorvino was one of them. My husband (who also loves Repo) and I were in complete awe when we met him. I mean it was Rotti Largo right in front of us.

Not only was he very welcoming and happy to meet his fans but he got a huge smile on his face when we told him we wanted him to autograph “keep those vultures guessing” on our photo. He started to say the lines from the movie and it was all around epic. The next day at the convention we actually even heard him sing!

Epic didn’t stop there. My husband and I got to live out a childhood dream nightmare come true. We got to meet THE CRYPT KEEPER! That’s right, we got to meet John Kassir and actually hear him say Boils and Ghouls as he signed his autograph for us.

He was a really funny guy and even laughed like the Crypt Keeper when we were taking our photo with him.

I told him how I use to sneak watching Tales From The Crypt. I would turn it on late at night in my room when my Grandparents would fall asleep. He told us he actually hears stories like that a lot and it amazes him how determined so many young ones were to watch the show. He also told us we were a great looking couple. So we are now officially Crypt Keeper approved ha ha. I mean what better way to add a chapter to your love story than to tell people the Crypt Keeper thinks we look good together.

I wanted to also give a shout out to our pal Sid Haig who was not able to attend the convention this weekend. We missed you Sid, but we are so much happier knowing you are home with Suzie and still safe right now from the fires in California. Love you and we will catch you at the next one.

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole

Meeting Brad Dourif at Flashback Weekend!

Made a new “friend ’til the end” this weekend while attending the Flashback Weekend Horror Movie Convention. That is my fun way of saying how incredibly honored I am that I got to finally gift my original art piece to the one and only… Brad Dourif!!!!

I did my usual themed wrapping the night before the convention. This time I chose the colors that made me think of the Good Guys doll ……

When we got to the convention we immediately looked for his table and got in line. The convention was well organized so the line went really quick but still gave you enough time to conversate with him when it was your turn…..

When it was our turn and I gave the piece to him, he was so appreciative and kind. And when he saw it, he genuinely seemed blown away by it. Even the lady with him at his table kept saying how good it was. I told him how I made a matching one to of Tiffany and how I hope to one day give it to Jennifer Tilly and he thought that was really cool. When Frank and I were walking away we could even hear him discussing how impressive it was. Needless to say, I was a very giddy living dead girl this weekend!  It was an honor to mark another talent that I admire off my art bucket list. Especially one so humble. I am so happy another one of my originals is now owned by another legend who inspired me.

For those of you who like this piece or want to own a print of an art piece that was inspired by and now owned by Brand Dourif, you can purchase one in either my Etsy or Amazon shops online.

See more of my portrait art pieces and me gifting them to the talents who inspire them at the Spitting Image page of my portfolio site.

Stay Spooky!

LDG Nicole