Tag Archives: horror convention

Flashback Weekend Chicago 2023

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I would just like to start this off by saying that the real horror story begins when that “back to reality” feeling sets in Monday morning after being away in la la land during an amazing, extended weekend with your local horror community. The struggle is real, and my husband and I are definitely feeling it today after another memorable Flashback Weekend Chicago!

So needless to say I am happy to relive the adventure while sharing my latest post horror con recap …

So one thing I learned this weekend was that after 27 years, your 90s teen dreams can still become a reality. The inner teen that is still left inside my 42 year old body was all sorts of giddy gifting my “The Exorcist Was On” portrait to Billy Loomis himself.. Skeet Ulrich. He was in awe that he got to keep the original and thanked ME for making HIM look good (who would’ve thunk it). He got a kick out of me telling him that he was the reason I started watching Riverdale and told me that I was very talented and I definitely need to keep up the great work. I guess you can say he was encouraging the “psycho” in me to keep being “more creative” (pun intended).

Mad props go out to my husband Frank who was a trooper during all of this. He took these pics that I will cherish and didn’t end up threatening a divorce afterwards 😆. However, I think he had his special moment when Rose McGowan (who we’ve met before) voluntarily lit his cigarette when he was standing outside the hotel having a smoke break with our friend Ben.

Living Dead Girl Nicole gifting her artwork to Skeet Ulrich
Living Dead Girl Nicole gifting her artwork to Skeet Ulrich

This weekend we also got to reconnect with David Howard Thornton. The last time we saw him was when I gifted him my original #SELFIE art piece at Days Of The Dead Chicago in 2018. It truly was an eye opener to see the difference 5 years can make and how a sequel to something could actually go surprisingly in the right direction. When we first met David back then we were able to walk right up to his table and shoot the shit with him. However, now that Terrifier 2 has come out and people are starting to discover Art The Clown, we actually had to stand in a decently long line just to say hi. Not to mention the main cast members from both films were there so it was quite the “terrifying” event. For me personally I was excited that the cast reunions included Damien Leone who is not only the creator and director of the film, but also the special fx artist who developed the Art The Clown character. In a world of remakes and reboots, he literally gifted us a new horror icon and from what I have witnessed of the franchise growth over the years, I am not the only fan of the horror genre that has been craving his originality.

With that being said, I gifted both David and Damien wearable art print shirts of my #SELFIE piece. They both really liked them and thought it was great they got to keep them. The woman working at Damien’s table was even impressed by them and asked if I had more of them. Once again Frank gets mad props for capturing these candid images while I was talking with and gifting to them.

We waited to get an actual posed photo with them because we already had reserved a ticket for their in costume photo op that was an absolute must. It was so great to see Damien’s work up close and see David in full character. Just like in 2018, I made sure to get my hands on Art’s horn again. He flipped it around all funny to give it to me and then we all laughed and took the photo. David himself stayed in character the whole time on mute. It was pretty epic. The best part was that we didn’t know he made this face until we got the print out of the photo and it’s pretty damn priceless. Don’t worry I gave the horn back to him..this time 😉

We also had the opportunity to catch up with our dear pal and master of “dark, sticky fun”, Ron Fitzgerald. He is a local entertainer and illusionist that I have been following for close to 30 years. This is all thanks to my Dad who took me to be in the audience of Ron’s live tv/cable access show when I was in 6th grade. I have been catching up with him ever since at cons, events, and even around town. He is one of the nicest, and stylish guys you will ever meet. Frank bought one of his bad ass engraved razor blade necklaces to further support his work.

We made some other purchases from the vendors but the highlight was finally finding an “Audrey II” inspired plant that was impressive enough to buy! I have been on a search for a decently sized one for quite some time for a deadly plant display for our home. Most of the ones I have found are cheaply made plastic and overly priced, but thanks to Archives of The Underworld my search is over. This artist hand sculpts and paints each one beautifully. Of corpse Frank insisted on buying me the biggest one she had and I was not complaining. 💕

We took a break from all the lines and crowds to sit back and watch the costume contest hosted by horror host Svengoolie. To our surprise the room was packed this year and there were quite a few contestants. These being my top faves.

I of corpse had to get a pic with the fellow rebel in the amazing Pee Wee cosplay…

Being a musician, my husband Frank was very happy to be able to talk with composer Alan Howarth who has done music for a lot of the movies he really loves, including They Live. To top it off Frank was in awe that he was signing his autographs like sheet music. He had a ruler and was making the lines and adding the notes. For me, it was his shirt. I could not get over how awesome it was and need one in my life.

We unfortunately missed Alan’s live show because we were attending the Private Gala Cocktail Reception for the Ultimate ticket package holders and the celebrity guests. As someone who has been attending and supporting this convention for almost 20 years I joined forces with Mike and Mia (owners of the con) and donated bloody framed art prints which I put into 4 horror swag bags for party raffles. These bags included not only my artwork but prizes donations from my fellow fiends at Closet Collectibles, Fangoria, Creepy Acres, September Son Films, High On The Hog The Movie, Zombie Pumpkins, Resin Glitz Jen, Metal Movie Nights, Olivia Frankenstein, and Dead Sled Brand.

Zombie Army Productions‘, Chad Savage (the incredible artist who designed our Save The Date Cards for our wedding in 2009 and the Frankenskull lapel pins we display on the curtains of our Frankenhearse), and John LaFlamboy (haunted house extraordinaire) were announcing all of the raffle ticket numbers and handing out all of the prizes at the event. Mike got on the microphone and announced who I was and how I have been attending and supporting their convention since 2004 which made my creepy little heart happy. Then he handed the microphone off to me to plug my work and those who donated. Shoutout to everyone who kept this introvert laughing the whole time and for John making it a point to purposely “get my name out there” over and over again when he announced the winners. I truly appreciate your hilarious determination to help this ghoul out.

It was great to see the prizes being such a big success at the event after all the hard work that went into them. The attendees who won them really lucked out thanks to all the amazing boils and ghouls who joined forces and donated for them. Frank and I had some drinks and mingled a bit at the party but neither of us were comfortable pushing our way through the folks who were hoarding over the celebrity guests to get selfie party pics with them. Frank and I figured we would give them a break from their already long day of fan photos and let them be humans for the rest of their evening. Unfortunately, this made it hard to be able to just shoot the shit with any of them as they were sort of congregated to one spot with a crowd around them. However the party was a really nice perk for con attendees and we were truly honored to get to be a part of the whole VIP experience.

I would like to end this by saying thank you again to Mike & Mia and the crew at Flashback Weekend Chicago for all the hard work you put into making this such an immersive and unforgettable event each year. You guys are killer and we are so grateful for all you do and have done over the years to support our Midwest horror and art communities!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Days of The Dead Indy 2022

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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

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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

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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.

2018-11-16 Days Of The Dead Convention Prep

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.

2018-11-16 Days Of The Dead Bill Moseley Portrait

 

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.

2018-11-17 Days Of The Dead David Autograph

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…

2018-11-16 Days Of The Dead David Howard Thornton Portrait

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.

Paul Sorvino

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!

2018-11-16 Days Of The Dead Paul Autograph
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.

2018-11-17 Days Of The Dead John Autograph.jpg

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

2018-11-17 Days Of The Dead John Kassir
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