I could not have asked for a ghouler way to kick off the “ber” months and spooky season than by being able to announce that I have been chosen by Soundgrowler to be their Featured Artist of the Month for September! This means my work will be on display and available to purchase at their brewery all month long!
Last night my husband Frank and I loaded up the truck in the smoldering heat, headed to the brewery to enjoy some tacos and drinks off their menu and got to work setting up my display. I can honestly say I could not have done it all without him. He helped me unload everything and get the nails and my prints on their display board just how I had envisioned it during the months of planning. I set up the tables and print racks and got his feedback along the way. Together we were able to put together a great display of my work and I could not be happier with how it came out.
Of all the times I have been to Soundgrowler and admired the Artist of the Month displays over the years, it was surreal looking over and seeing that the work now on display was actually mine.
Now as you can see my display is all prints of my hand drawn/hand painted pieces of artwork. This includes 2 very rare 16×20″ giclee framed prints that are the first of their kind! This also means my hand crafted pieces of work are still on display in my Cabinets of Curiosities at Closet Collectibles in Crete, IL. along with a sign I designed to inform my art collectors who shop there that my prints are temporarily on display at Soundgrowler in Tinley Park, IL. for the month of September and will be restocked in early October.
My goal was to allow my art collectors to be able to go experience both of these amazing small businesses who support me as an artist. I mean who wouldn’t want to get engulfed in nostalgia while getting in a treasure hunting fix at one place and then follow it up with some delicious Mexican food and uniquely crafted drinks in a rocking atmosphere at the other. Allowing you to spend your hard earned money this spooky season at local small businesses instead of big box stores and inauthentic beer and food chains.
And when you do, please be sure to tell them both that Living Dead Girl Nicole sent ya and make sure to snap a few photos of you with my displays and the work of mine you purchase. I would love to feature them in my Freaky Fanatics slideshows!
And as someone whose marketing brain never stops, I also designed this flyer that is being used to promote my collaboration with this killer brewery and would love if everyone could take a moment to share it (and this post) to help spread the word. You may have already even seen it in the September issue of the Artflow Alliance Insider e-newsletter that just hit inboxes yesterday (thank you once again Dominique)!
Want to see other ways my artwork has been featured? Then be sure to check out the Creature Feature section of my portfolio website. And… if you are interested in showcasing my work in your next publication, exhibition, or creative venture let’s connect and make some magic together!
A week ago today, Frank and I packed up our truck with our luggage, a cooler full of snacks/drinks, my artwork, 2 wagon utility carts, multiple large bins of donated prizes and a rubber chicken and headed off for another killer artventure with our horror community fam at Flashback Weekend Chicago!
When we arrived I already got a sign that it was going to be a memorable weekend because 23 was on the parking spot we parked in without even realizing it until we got out. It’s my Mom and my Uncle Randy’s birthdate number (both have passed away) and it often manifests (as what I refer to as) a “glimmer” telling me I am exactly where the universe intends for me to be. ✨
Once we got the truck unloaded and got moved into our “home away from home for the week” we cooled down, relaxed a bit and then got a bite to eat at their Red Bar. When my shrimp tempura arrived I couldn’t help but feel like I needed to cash in a coupon for a “free demon possession with every exorcism” because immediately when the waitress set it on the table I started singing “DAY-O!” and honestly it couldn’t have been a funnier way to kick off a memorable weekend.
The big national sports collector event was taking place at the convention center next door again, but this time the hotel listened to everyone’s feedback from last year and put up signs and had extra security that prevented the lobby areas from being hoarded with collectors trading and collecting cards in every orifice of the hotel and making rude remarks to the “freaks” (as some said they were called) trying to have a good time. There were actual places to sit in the bar and lounge areas again this year and it felt more like the fun hotel vibes we love about the Hyatt Regency. Although we have had many amazing memories at the Crowne Plaza (where Flashback Weekend used to be held at), we have really grown to love the open layout of the Hyatt. So it really made us happy to see the hotel staff listened to why so many guests were not happy with the chaos we endured during our stay last year. Seeing these signs through out the hotel was a win for us horror fans.
The first thing we did at the convention was venture off to get our badges at the registration booth, where we were greeted by Mia (our horror con fam’s Momma and queen of the con) and the amazing convention staff volunteers. I was quite smitten to see there was a little shout out for me inside the Ultimate Ticket Holder goodie bags! 😊
For those of you that may not be aware, Frank and I have been attending Flashback Weekend for 22 years now and I have become the convention’s Prize Coordinator. This means I am in charge of organizing and collaborating with various businesses, artists and vendors to collect and deliver merchandise for prize donations that we raffle off for the convention’s Ultimate VIP Cocktail Reception Party (held exclusively for Ultimate Ticket Holders and the celebrity guests) every year. This also means setting up the prize table at the event and marketing the sponsors leading up to it by maintaining the landing page, and designing/sharing social media posts and promotional flyers/signs. I would like to mention that Frank should get an award just for his patience with me over the months leading up to the con while I am collaborating, tracking and getting packages on our doorstep for months, keeping them safe and stored in our home, and then of corpse all the loading and set up during the con itself. I truly could not do this without him and he’s a real trooper about all of it.
Mia, the sweetheart that she is, pulled out a layout map so Frank and I could easily find the vendors that I needed to pick up raffle prizes from. After picking them up and packing them safely with the others we ventured back into the ballroom to visit with our very talented friend Chad Savage (Sinister Visions). We got carried away getting caught up that we forgot to take our annual reunion pic but I made sure to remember to get one with him on Sunday when we made our last rounds and goodbyes.
After scoping out the amazing vendors and getting an idea on where everything was located, we went and got a bite to eat at the hotel’s O’H American Grill where we were standing in line with actor Joseph Whipp and his lovely wife. She was such a hoot and laughed with us over mai tai drinks and ended up sitting next to us. When the staff handed us our table number as 23, I couldn’t help but acknowledge it as another manifested glimmer. ✨
After making more rounds around the con we went and got ready for the return of Svengoolie Live! It’s a fun on stage late night talk show hosted by our favorite local horror host legend. Flashback Weekend introduced this new event to the con for the first time last year and we absolutely loved it. This year he interviewed actors David Naughton and David Arquette and just like last year, we were not disappointed. Each guest was full of stories and kept us laughing through out the entire show. Of corpse Sven never disappoints when it comes to comedy relief so it was once again worth attending. After the show we stopped in at the con’s little after party for a bit, roamed around the hotel and then headed back to chill on the balcony of our room. Unfortunately the full moon was rising on the other side of the hotel but we still felt its presence.
We woke up Saturday to a text from our friends Ben and Jon from Dead Regime Media telling us that they had arrived and that Ben had Wisconsin dill cheese curds in his cooler with our names on them. So we got our butts in gear and met up and hung out at the con with them all day. One of the many reasons we love reuniting with Ben is because we always reminisce about our memories and friendship with Sid Haig. Our friendship blossomed many moons ago after Ben worked with Sid on High On The Hog and then later interviewed us for a possible future documentary in tribute to Sid’s life. When we are all together it always feels like Sid is there with us in spirit and it helps to not focus on the fact that Sid isn’t at a table ready to look up at us with a huge grin on his face, but instead he is looking down on us from the stardust happy we are all together and keeping his memory alive.
When it was time to finally meet Svengoolie, our horror con fam pulled through. Between Mia and Don (who manages the successful operations of the con each year) they made sure that when the time arrived for me to gift Sven my “You’re All Grown Up Now” portrait that Frank and I would have enough time to spend with him. Don even captured memorable candid and posed pictures of us during our interaction and made sure Sven’s people properly handled his gift bag of art from me.
When talking to Sven, I was so thrilled to hear that he remembered the art piece from our online messages and was excited to finally receive it. He kept telling me how “terrific” the artwork was and even remembered that I had made a special barrette to give to him, so he could hand deliver it to his glamour ghoul co-host Gwengoolie. I also was able to tell Sven that my Dad is an artist and one of my biggest inspirations and loves tuning into the show every Saturday. He loved hearing how excited my Dad was for me to gift my work to him. Being in his presence, I couldn’t help but reflect on how seriously blessed we all are to have such an incredibly talented and kind soul as one of our local Chicagoland legends. And thanks to him always being such a big supporter of Flashback Weekend we now officially have an autographed rubber chicken hanging in our home as a reminder of this memorable moment spent with him.
After grabbing a bite to eat and some drinks with our friends, we headed to our room to start gathering the prizes and loading our carts up to head to the Ultimate VIP Cocktail Reception Party. As always, Frank did an awesome job helping me set the table up. This year it was full with the most prizes we have ever received. There was 20 generous prize sponsors and many of them were kind enough to donate more then one item leaving the party attendees in awe.
Chad, John and Don all assisted in the prize announcements and as always we announced who donated each prize before raffling them off. Frank took photos of all of us live in action while Kat was getting photos of each individual winner with their prizes. It may have been a bit more work this year with so many prizes being donated, but it was so rewarding to see the excitement of so many people leaving the party with something amazing and giving all these generous people and businesses who donated the exposure they deserved.
Donating my own artwork for prizes over the years is actually what led to me becoming the Prize Coordinator to begin with, and this year I found it fitting to donate an oversized 16×20″ canvas print of my “You’re All Grown Up Now” split face portrait of Svengoolie! Laura, a member of our beloved horror con fam had her raffle ticket number pulled as the winner and the whole party cheered in excitement for her again this year. For those who may not recall Laura won my “Daddy” oversized 16×20″ canvas print last year and Kane Hodder signed it for her at his table. She has been attending Flashback Weekend for many years and she had never won a prize until then. Now she’s on a two year winning streak with her very own limited edition Living Dead Girl Nicole print collection and my soul could not feel more fulfilled.
That evening we stopped in for the Woodsboro dance party that kicked off later in the evening before roaming the hotel and enjoying more chill time watching the airplanes fly over on our hotel room balcony. On Sunday we were tired after a very eventful weekend. We checked out and loaded up the truck and then went back to the con to make our final rounds and say our goodbyes to any of the horror con fam we could find as everyone was wrapping things up as another successful con came to an end.
Like I always say, no matter what other events and cons Frank and I go to, Flashback Weekend will always be home. Not just because its the first, the best and largest horror con in Chicago, but because it genuinely feels like our horror home away from home. We love our horror con fam and look forward to our reunion with all of them every year. Thank you for doing all that you do for us Mike and Mia! You truly have created something special. All of us feel the heart and soul you always put into this event and we are so blessed to be able to be a part of it for over 20 years!
What a beautiful day for an exorcism….I mean an art show! Thank you to everyone who came out to the Unruly Art Market yesterday (I wish I had gotten pictures of all of you). It means the world to me that so many people in my life showed up because you see me, and you understand that art runs deep in my soul and fuels my very existence. By doing so, it’a testament of how much you truly support and believe in me, and my heart is so full right now 🥰✨️
It was also so rewarding to connect with so many new artists and reconnect with others I have known for years. Being surrounded by your amazing artwork was so fulfilling! 🖼✨️
A big HUZZAH to my friends Ellie and Strazz for venturing out early to set up, helping me keep my shit together all day, making sure our crew was fed and taken care of, lending their canopy to Melissa, staying late to help take down.. and so much more. Frank and I are so blessed to have such caring best friends in our corner. We seriously can’t thank you two enough! 💎✨️
Shout out to my incredibly talented friend April Adams for wanting to give back to all her creative friends by putting on such an amazing show and motivating me to take a break from vendor retirement! It was so great to be a part of something that was truly created to support artists. 🎪✨️
Thank you to Loren at Crow and Calico for your hospitality and being my first sale of the day! Can’t wait to come back to see my It’s Gonna Be That Kindof Mornin’ Pee Wee Herman art piece on display at the bar and to spend more countless hours getting my kitty fix in from Whiskey! 🥃😻
Last but not least, a shout out to my husband Frank, who not only is my rock but puts up with all my shenanigans and is along for the ride for all my crazy ventures. Even when one minute I am on a high inspired and motivated and the next minute, I am overwhelmed and pulling my hair out. You see all of me, and I hope one day you can at least say I never made your life boring. 🤪🌙
I am exhausted today after weeks and weeks of preparation, the show, and now to unpack and inventory everything, but it was all so worth it to get unruly with all of you in the name of art! 👩🏻🎨💗
Never let anyone tell you that your art will get you nowhere, because getting amazing seats and going backstage at a Howie Mandel show is a pretty epic place to be! 🤩✨️
This weekend was filled with so much joy and perspective. At one point during the evening I was looking up at the beautiful ceiling of the Genesee Theatre and it hit me that this unforgettable evening I was having with my husband all stemmed from a piece of art that I envisioned and created.
There I was, 45 years old, standing next to Howie Mandel, all because I had picked up my drawing pencils to engage with my 8-year-old inner child. The little girl who fell in love with a movie that made life less scary, because there was always the possibility that a high-energy, baseball-card-collecting, Dorito-munching, home-goods-smashing, bully-revenging, apple-juice-pissing, homework-eating monster of a friend was just a bedtime away.
That’s when I got this overwhelming sense that my younger self would be so proud of where her art has taken her. That she would be so glad she never listened to those who told her that art would get her nowhere. Because although it has not made me rich financially, it has blessed me with so many amazing life experiences that my younger self could have ever imagined. And to me that is somewhere.
5 years in the making, and I truly can not thank Howie’s Manager Rich enough. Not just for an unforgettable evening but for also pushing me to take a risk and ship an original piece of artwork to him because “Howie saw it and loved it so much”. The heart of this “little monster” is now fuller than “an elm tree”😆💗🌳 and you made that happen.
