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

Spitting Image: Chop Driftwood

Another well overdue portrait has been checked off my art bucket list. I have been a huge fan of Bill Moseley‘s ever since I was little and watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The funny thing is I watched it with my family on Thanksgiving ha ha. And to top it off it was my Mom’s idea to rent it after someone tried to cut the turkey pretending to be Leatherface. I will never forget how funny it was when she spit her cheesecake out during a scene when Chop Top grossed her out. Sometimes I feel like I connect with horror movies because it brings me back to good memories spent with her. I miss cuddling with her on the couch and watching scary movies. Whenever she would get scared and jump she would then laugh about it afterward. She really introduced me to the genre and look at me now.

I have had the honor of meeting Bill numerous times. He is such a character even in person. The first time my husband and I met him was in 2004 when attending our first horror movie convention, Flashback Weekend. He put his arms around us and laughed his creepy laugh in our ears. The photo is pretty priceless and I swear I can hear that laugh every time I look at it. I remember thinking, “I wonder what my Mom would think of me actually getting to meet Chop Top Sawyer and hearing that creepy laugh!” She was probably watching over us and laughing right along with the three of us.

As avid convention goers we have crossed paths with Bill many times since. And each has been just as memorable. I remember one time we had him sign our big Devils Rejects mugshot poster. He was impressed that we were able to get all 3 of them to sign it. “That Sheri is a hard one to get!” he said. Then I told him about how Sheri got us backstage at one of Rob’s shows for a Total Skull Meet and Greet and that the poster actually survived in the mosh pit ha ha. He was even more impressed. That poster is now framed and hanging in our dining room. Another time I was working outside a Haunted House as a zombie girl promoting a low budget horror film. He was a guest there meeting fans that were waiting in line and asked to take a photo with us. So got to add that one to my collection as well.

Well now that you have read my fan history with Bill, here is the art piece I finished inspired by him. I call it “Chop Driftwood” (catchy name right?!)……

I think the name says it all. I did a split face portrait of him as half Chop Top from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and half Otis Driftwood from House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. I would have loved to have been able to also incorporate Luigi Largo from Repo The Genetic Opera (as we all know how obsessed I am with that movie and have seen my art piece of Blind Mag) but I didn’t think it would be a good fit. Maybe a future piece? Either way, I am really happy with the way it came out and can’t wait to give it to him in November. And for his birthday week none the less!

If you are also a big fan of Bill and these characters, I have prints and custom made-to-order t-shirts available in both my Etsy and Amazon shops. Perfect for convention goers! Art prints make for unique items to have signed and the shirts are like nothing you will find anywhere. Stand out from the crowd!

See more of my portrait art on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio site!

Stay Spooky!

LDG Nicole

Loves: Otis is quite the monster now!

Wanted to share with you guys how big Otis has gotten since we got this little monster at the reptile show in March.

The top photos show how little he was when we first got him as well as how big he was when he graduated to his 10 gallon tank (when he got too big for his temporary beta tank). The bottom photos are him now. We must be doing something right because he is definitely growing in the 4 months we have had him. He was practically a tadpole in March.

He is pretty amazing. When Frank and I go up to the tank or walk past it he gets excited and swims to us. He is quite entertaining especially when its time to feed him. He loves his blood worms and occasional earth worm snacks.

Stay Spooky!

Living Dead Girl Nicole

Loves: Meet Otis!

So I was sick yesterday (stupid digestive disorder) and didn’t get a chance to share our fun news. We added a new member to our family over the weekend after attending the reptile show. He is a tiny, baby albino axolotl!!

We named him Otis. Yes after Otis Driftwood because due to our axie’s look we could not resist. His coloring and gills reminded us too much of Otis’ look and mutton chops in House of 1000 Corpses ha ha. To top it off they are meat eaters and he is in his cannibalistic stage right now ha ha. If we were to put another axolotl in his tank they would try to eat each other. Fitting…. I think so ha ha. We had come up with a bunch of different names and when I suggested Otis my husband Frank immediately shook his head in agreement ha ha.

We already have a 10 gallon tank and aquarium ornaments and things but we have to gradually move him into that one once he is bigger. He is in a small tank right now because he is only about 1.5 – 2 inches long and we have to make sure he eats so he grows. He literally is a tiny baby. In a big tank he might have issues finding his food etc. It will be fun to get to actually raise this little guy.

We also of course spoiled Vlad (the red crested gecko we picked up at the reptile show last year) and got him a new really cool vine for his little tropical paradise (aka his tank).

Frank spoiled me by getting me this killer snake ring!!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole