Time to pay tribute

I am sitting here listening to Colbie Caillait's new song, "brighter than the sun". It is a song with a great hook, very catchy. She is singing about a love that is brighter than the sun.

It is funny how the words can be applied to each of us in our own lives in various ways to something or someone we admire greatly.

It is these lyrics especially that have me paying tribute today:

I swear you hit me like a vision
I, I, I wasn’t expecting
But who am I to tell fate where it’s supposed to go with it?

Oh, this is how it starts, lighting strikes the heart

It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun

Today is the very day 3 years ago that my silly dream became a real living thing. SpookyTime Jingles. STJ was my vision and lightening to the heart.

Bittersweet in some ways, I suppose. I love the growth and am really humbled by all we have grown but also misty of the good days behind us that I would love to relive and how fun an early dream can be. I guess kinda before the reality of " hey, you really have something here, so get your butt back to work"!

Such a wonderful place to be, and I know it.

I have made some of the truest friends I have ever known in my life. I have met such genuinely sweet people who are so beautifully talented that "inspiring" seems to not be a big enough word to describe the feelings I have. I have experienced some amazing experiences that would not have been in my life without my silly little dream

come true.

Looking back today, I want to say....

Thank you to every artist who has ever been part of SpookyTime Jingles. Thank you to every person who has ever purchased a piece of our art or helped us spread the word in anyway. It really all helps tremendously! Sometimes people can forget or not realize that artists' create not just for love but also money. These are not occasional crafters nor hobbyists but tried and true artisans. Souls need to be nourished and the bills need to be paid...mortgages covered, doctor's visited, school supplies gathered, clothing worn and food in the tummy's of our lil pumpkins.

The success of SpookyTime Jingles helps insure that, for everyone affiliated with STJ. I thank you from the bottom of my soul for allowing my silly little dream to flourish so that I could help other artist's follow their own "silly" little dreams.

With much Love and gratitude, thank you~

*Please consider visiting our "giving page" where we are accepting donations for The Make a Wish Foundation of America! Each Anniversary we choose a new charity to benefit. The Make A wish Foundation, grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. You can donate directly or purchase a piece of art from us that shows a portion of the sale going to this charity in YOUR NAME! Starts tonight at midnight~

This year we chose this charity in honor of our surprise guest artist, whose son had 4 years of fighting for his life from a blood cancer. The foundation granted his wish in the dark days when nothing was guaranteed in this sweet young boys future. The wonderful news is he MADE IT and is now a grown young man and doing wonderfully considering the harsh side effects that chemo leaves in ones body. So please consider donating in honor of someone you love. You may just grant a child their last wish.

http://friends.wish.org/100-000/page/Dani-Nelson/SpookyTime-Jingles-Donates!.htm

Exciting Time of Year for me

I am here resting up since my health has been scary and questionable as of late. I need to rest these bones for the big event. My 2nd annual trip to Petaluma, California (Can you scream Dreamy?) for the 15th annual Halloween and Vine Halloween Art show! This show is a personal favorite for me as it is wrapped by the cutest, quaintest, friendliest town I have ever been in America. Of course the drool worthy art is the big draw- no doubt but this charming "old town" makes it the epitome of 100% perfect for me.


Last year I was lucky enough to attend both Halloween and Vine and Ghoultide. Both represent wonderful artistry that will leave you spellbound to say the least. With my own holiday show in its first year (SpookyTime Jingles Holiday Soiree) I needed to choose which one to attend as there was no way I could do all three (boo hiss).


So for many reasons the choice was Halloween and Vine baby! The stellar Petaluma Antiques Faire certainly did not hurt! The day after H&V is Sunday the 26th, and the center streets of Petaluma close down for streets filled completely with gorgeous antiques! It is nothing like I have ever seen!
Wonderful News, that it worked out well as Halloween and Vine and SpookyTimeJingles has since partnered to help spread the word about these amazing artists and the magic they bring. It was only 2 years ago that I dreamed of being able to simply visit this Super Bowl of Halloween Shows and now to think that we have partnered is heart warming beyond compare. The owners, Ginny Betourne and Christy Silacci both seemingly come from the same school of belief as myself, that there is room for all of us in this industry and to help others along the way. These are the type of women whom make you proud to be a professional woman. No shananigans just support, Hoo-rah ladies!

I just know this is going to be the trip of a lifetime!

There are 4 of us flying into San Fran from all over the country to meet up in Petaluma for the show. We added a few extra days this year so that we didn't lose time due to full days of travel. Plus, some of us are working the show, so we will need all the time we can get!



We have rented a sweet lil cottage that sleeps 5. It will be really nice to stay in a small house versus a hotel. I am in love with this yard already!


I imagine this amazing opportunity of rooming with friends, giving us many laughs and memories to reminisce on for many years.

I can see me now asking my roomie...are you asleep yet or can I keep talking? HA!

I am excited to be among such dear friends and new ones, whom I know will be dearie's too in no time flat (a girl just knows these things).

~click above to go to the Facebook event page or paste the link below~
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148858378488093&index=1

After the big show day of the Halloween & Vine artistry, is an after party at the Adobe Pumpkin Farm in their exquisite Halloween Barn! I LOVE this farm and I cannot imagine a better location for friends, new and old to gather, enjoy a lovely dinner and dessert served with local wines.

If you are attending this years Halloween and Vine, please do stop by! We would love to see you! Details below:

You can also get information about this Event at: Creating TheHive

http://creatingthehive.com/event/1199/halloween-vine-after-party-2010

Stampington Holiday & Celebrations Annual Issue is out and SpookyTime Jingles looks great!

I am so pleased with the Stampington Holiday and Celebrations annual issue-2010! It is their best issue yet. I am SOO happy we decided to kick up our ad campaign with them this year.

The issue has not even officially hit the stands yet (tomorrow 9/1) and it already seems to be their best selling issue. This issue will be featured in EVERY Barnes and Nobles, nationwide through October 2010 on end caps to showcase it!

We are on the first page in..

And the back cover!

I know that there are VERY FEW left to order. No exaggeration. So if you plan on ordering one, I suggest you hustle up! link below to order

http://www.stampington.com/html/holidays_celebrations_2010.html

Plus a big congrats to my STJ artists and friends Iva Wilcox, Jenn McGlon, Tracy Nuskey-Dodson and Melissa Valeriote for their wonderful features inside this amazing issue!

Wonderful wake up call

Today was a first...I slept in a bit after a late night and was woken up in the late morn by a friendly gentlman who is the Editor in chief of a large magazine. Kinda went like this:

Hmmm..yes, I am Dani.
Yes, I would love to do a two part interview with you about SpookyTimeJingles.com.
Your calling from where? Really....your kind of far, how did you hear about STJ?

You are doing a story on Halloween Collectibles and the fast growing industry that it has become for original folk art and my name keeps coming up to interview?
(heart and tummy are doing the mambo at this point).

ok...
blah, blah, Halloween, Blah, Worlds finest artists, blah blah.
(I blathered on like a tween crushing on Justin Beiber)

40 minutes later.......
yes we can finish this in our next conversation when you have the rest of the questions ready.
(he actually wants to hear more from me...holy hell!)

Get you pictures of Halloween pieces and 3 artist referrals for additional interviews...ah sure... (who the hell do I choose?)

Yes, I look forward to hearing from you too. Thank you~ hung up.

SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a way to start the day! I love my job!!!!!

SpookyTimeJingles New Group that is Open to all "creatives" on the Hive ONLY!

SpookyTimeJingles New Group that is Open to all "creatives" on the Hive ONLY!

I have wanted to start a group for a long time now, that combines STJ artists and STJ fans who also like to share in creativity and the process..whatever that may be for you (sketching, painting, scrap booking, poetry, etc...).

This type of group makes sense to me since, I often would like to add more artists to SpookyTimeJingles but cannot due to size constraints. When a marketplace gets too large in size it causes the viewer to lose interest because their is too much content to take in. Hence the reason for our 6+month wait list to join us plus we just do not have a lot of turnover.

So in creating this open group, I would so love a place where other creatives with the same interests (holidays) and goals (kindness and inspiration) as STJ could commingle and share in this holiday goodness together! I believe the HIVE has given us the perfect venue to make this happen.

So please come join in the HIVE: http://creatingthehive.com/signup/spookytimejingles

And then join our STJ group on The Hive: http://creatingthehive.com/group/SpookyTimeJingles

~Hugs & Happy Creating my friends~

My 1st Magazine feature!

this is my best Halloween pose ;)

I am soo pleased to announce that I will have a SIX page feature in the upcoming Fall issue of Studios! Studio's magazine is an extension of Cloth, Paper, Scissors and will feature my Halloween Studio. My studio is part work space and part Halloween Gallery. I worked with a wonderful photographer named Andrew Wilkinson, owner of WilkinsonMedia.net.

He was wonderful and guided me through the entire process. He was even excited to shoot my studio space and liked looking at all of my collected works and especially my cabinet of curiosities. We actually live in the same town and have since attended some of the same art shows. He was kind enough to drop off a goodie bag filled with doll parts for me to alter! Amazing how things work, you just never know who you will meet and if you will make a new friend. The entire experience has been magical and I am grateful for these Happy Days!

I really adore the fact that my favorite artists that I have collected Halloween pieces from will be seen in print in my article!! I hope it brings them some extra exposure and maybe even sales! How cool would that be?!

page 102 -A Visual Treat! Yeah, I made it to the Table of Contents too! ;)

Studios by Cloth, Paper, Scissors can be purchased at many Barnes & Noble, Joann's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and AC Moore's. They tend to sell out quickly so you may find ordering easier.

You can pre-order the issue now by clicking here!

Jetsetting Continues South!

By this time tomorrow (in theory-barring yet a 3rd blizzard) I shall be in Charlotte, North Carolina staying with Miss Brandi McKenna of She's of her Rocker!! Look there she is in her Halloween finery !

Brandi and I met last year in person when she drove all the way from NC to Phila for The National Halloween Convention to help with the SpookyTimeJingles booth! Which btw..I am the NHC's- Halloween Art Director this year! Yippee Skippee! What an honor! Extra work but still pleased to be asked.

~Ok..back to Brandi~

She brought some of these wicked large azz moons-they were a BIG hit!

How flippin awesome is she? She and her hubster Jim were there to see just how fantastic the con was and how STJ rawked it! So, she is thee perfect chick-a-dee to help me plan for this years upcoming show in which we will have FOUR booths (instead of one). HELP me! Lord hear my prayer!

Now..this once again requires me to fly with my menagerie of calming BullChit- (xanax, slipper socks, eye mask, ipod, vitamin water & Luna Bars) but this trip is only 2 hours - easy breezy right? Well yeah kinda? With the EXCEPTION it is on a "puddle jumper" plane...hear my deep sigh?!


Puddle Jumpers are the ones that hold 40 passengers or less (Tight Quarters), yes it is a jet and it is Continental...BUT Continental (as most all airlines do for small jets) contract out their "smaller" flights to private companies and Continental (again as other airlines) who practice this have NO liability should something go sideways! Yep..ZERO!

But what could go sideways...? Certainly not the plane-that would be crazy!

Ok, So I pinky swear this is my last rant about my "flight issues"

My Ever so slight ;) flight phobia aside I am UBER jazzed to get down to some nitty gritty Halloween art and spend time with Miss Brandi and her family. Brandi is one of those true blue people you meet in life and thank your lucky stars for your good fortune. Seriously, it amazes me that I have made such good friends through the wonders of the internet + art= genuine friendships.

I will be leaving some Facebook updates along the way for those that seem to enjoy my Jetsetting escapades and random pictures & posts. If we are not yet friends, just ask ;)

In Flight Music Choice:
This flights relaxing new album of choice will between the new Corinne Bailey Rae "The Sea"
or Sade's first album in a decade "Soldier of Love". No Nickelback, 3 Doors Down or Seether for me in flight or I will be rockin out in my seat and singing..lmao...not pretty, not at 'tall ;) !

Last trip's relaxing music was John Mayer's new album "Battle Studies" (awesome btw) but with his recent crude & stupid azz Twitter remarks (DUMB AZZ) I cannot bring myself to listen to him again yet (why do I care?). But I do have to wonder why men can be so stone azz stupid when it comes to women?


Well, Ok that about does it for this ramble... Thank you for joining me and for giving a damn about my jetsetter blatherings and other lil ditties~

Tickle Me Smitten

Look at these darkly wondrous lil goodies that totally tickled my Fatuitous fanny this week! Feels SOOo good to find things that make me smile, laugh and pine away for one!!

~Exquisite Corpse Doll~

Look at the cover of the newest ADQ- Art Doll Quarterly, February 2010. I am so kRaZy over this cover doll.


This doll was designed by two different artists' each making a different component in separate work spaces! They had general guidelines set before they started but how amazing is this doll that they constructed. I AM SUCH A SMITTEN, KITTEN~ ( besides the fact that my dear friend Marie Patterson (Studio) has her doll pictured 4x inside! Go Marie (hope she autographs it for me;)!!

Ok, Next on my Tickled Smitten list is: Tim Burton's Tragic Toys for Girls & Boys Series.. Sweetly Spook-a-licious!

I just collected my first set from my free ebay bucks certificate and they arrived today!!! Miss Janell turned me onto these sweet & spooky lil characters with lil sourly sweet stories in the book, written by Tim Burton. I will leave you to learn more about the sweet & silly characters but the one in the middle is "Stain Boy"- What's not to love I ask!??

~I excitedly look forward to adding the rest of the crew over time~


Filmmaker Tim Burton is known for his unique ability to mix intelligent wit with highly original visual intrigue.
In this wonderful little volume, Burton gives birth to a cast of gruesomely sympathetic children--misunderstood outcasts who struggle to find love and belonging in their cruel, cruel worlds, where destruction and misery lurk in every corner....Burton's lovingly lurid illustrations convey both the sweetness and tragedy of his macabre, partly human creations.

My final Tickled Smitten is this darkely divinely designed Kookshi doll original made by Janell Berryman.
While visiting Janell in Oregon, I snapped this up and snuck it in my suitcase. Yep, I STOLE it. I knew if I told her I wanted to buy it she would just give it to me (she is too nice to me, I tell you). So, I stole it and just paypal'd her the money. he he he~

Now, go google-a-away my sweet and spooky friends and gets yours!

Dirty Spelunking with a Prozac Smoothie please

Do you have any interest in Spelunking? Well perhaps you could send a well equipped team to help me explore and analyze this downy right sorry azz situation I have gotten myself in.

I realize spelunking is considered an Extreme Sport but I assure you there will be many death defying maneuvers required to remedy this situation. Send Help STAT with a Prozac smoothie chaser please.

p.s. My Oregonian travel goodies will post this week for those who give a crap..lol-hugs! ;)

My mind is a bad neighborhood to be in~

Yes, it is true at the current moment, my mind is a bad neighborhood. Where have I been, you may be wondering or not so much....I have been EVERYWHERE & absolutely F-ing NOWHERE. How is it possible that I have seemingly accomplished so much yet am absolutely nowhere near where I NEED to be?

I suppose this is a universal sentiment but when it is happening to me it seriously sucks and I am a tad bitter at the moment ;)

There is a reason my personal business name has "Ambition" in it. From the moment in my life (still remember the exact time and place when it hit me)the word AMBITION set off some sort of happy chaos in my mind. It felt like the word explained my whole purpose of being on this planet. Versus just being that crazy chick who always has something going on here, there and everywhere and OH..are you kidding me..she is doing what, now? The word ambition gave me purpose and therefor courage to follow through with my ambitions.

Now that purpose, that understood drive has been my constant companion for 10+ years now with the caveat being the occasional unwelcomed episodes that rear their ugly head at thee absolute worst time (One of life's curious mysteries)

My current quandary seems to be that I am pulled in 10 different directions and it is all of my own doing and I am not sure I would change any of it (well short of hitting the lottery and hiring oodles of staff).

No one thing is bad or even problematic accept that I am in the pooped out stage. I am behind on emails (back up to 370+/-Now 420 by post time of this!), I have very lil time to blog, sketch, write or create the art I need to create to be a happy gal. Christ, I swear am lucky if I see daylight and breathe fresh air once a week.

FM=Fibromyalgia is a serious pain in my f-ing ass. Ok, enough already, seriously..funny gag you pulled their fate but now it is time to reel it back in-please. You are f-ing up my mojo. Aging parents who enjoy testing me, Two teen boys who are great kids but still they are teens and 100% know how to irk me within an inch of insanity.

Well the list could go on and I KNOW we all have these random BS issues in our lives but I need a break so I can grab my dreams and goals for STJ. I have HUGE, I MEAN HUGE commitments and plans for SpookyTimeJingles.com in 2010 that I am hell bent on finishing and producing to help continue our world domination ;) I need this first for all of "my" STJ artist's but also to know that I CAN pull this off. Just that in itself is enough without the bunches of other variables that get thrown in.

My point is (in part;)...I miss talking, with you all. I miss the groups and other online communities that inspire me to be a better artist & person and to share my knowledge with others excitedly coming into this wonderful artful community we are so lucky to be part of.

I am hoping that this public venting (whining)will allow me to let the angst of the pressure that I put on myself-GO!

Now that I have done all that vomiting. I do want to seriously thank all of the SpookyTimeJingles.com artist's and supporters who have helped me keep my head above water during the last busy months. I 100% could NOT have accomplished a 1/4 of what we have done without all of you. The commitment and excitement you all bring to STJ is heart warming beyond compare. Thank you for turning STJ not just into a successful business but into a true family that I am so honored to be part of.

Heartfelt Hugs~

Surprise!! 12 Extra Sales Days on STJ this December!!

~Click This Badge to go directly to the 12 Days of Christmas sales page!~



Help SpookyTimeJingles.com countdown the 12 days of Christmas!
Beginning 12/1-12/12 we will be listing a few new ooak goodies each day!

Just look for this first avatar if you go directly to the STJ Main Page each day!


It will take you right to all of the one of a kind handmade artisan pieces that make for perfect gift giving! Many pieces are under $35.00! Wow!

Happy Gift Giving!

HUGE ARTIST on SpookyTimeJingles tonite!!

Be sure to be at SpookyTimeJingles.com tonight at midnight (EST)
when we update with our newest goodies.

You will not believe who our surprise guest artist is!!

Also, here is my one Halloween piece offered for October 2009

Halloween & Vine Trip 2009 !!

I have just returned from The amazing Halloween & Vine, here are the deets! Ghoultide Gathering deets to follow in the next few days!

I flew from Newark, NJ International on Friday, Sept 25th into San Fran. I met my friend Wendy of My Brain Child from Shrevesport, LA who also flew in and we were on our way!





We picked up our rental and upgraded for a nominal fee to a Nissan Altima Hybrid-we both Loved this car. We drove for 4 days all over and never went past a 1/2 tank of gas!

After leaving the airport we started the 30+ mile drive north to The Hilton Sonoma. This drive took us through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge! Very cool but so super foggy no pics were of any value on the way. Oh and the traffic...$#^@&*^@*&*^...enough said.






Our hotel was nice enough but we couldn't wait to check out Petaluma and to be ready for the next days festivities! Petaluma is DELIGHTFUL! This town was full of great food that is very affordable and tons of charming shops with friendly staff and oodles of Halloween delights! Finally, the next morning we awoke early to get in line. We were 45 minutes early and still were at the end of the building almost around the corner!












To be a part of the most famous Halloween show of the last 14 years was a truly amazing feeling!























Jorge of HoHo Halloween and I vamping for Camera ;)



















Jorge reworking his table after many sales ;)










And look at Miss Laurie Hardin's table of Monkey-Cats Studio! I missed the chance to get my pic taken with her (I am so blond sometimes)







Laurie sold her work like crazy and I was honored to help her and her sweet hubster Kelly along the way. Of course only when I wasn't walking around in a daze shopping!






Here is some of what I brought home with me!!





William Bezel Pumpkin JOL






Scott Smith 2 sided Ornament












Kerry of Paper Moon
Needlefelted Sculpted Bat Boy!!







Arbutus Hunter Paper Mache JOL






Susie Scott Paper Arts Ornament







When we returned from H&V and the local gift shops we put all of our goodies together on the desk in our room and had a lil photo shoot! We had a ball!












The days following the show we were on such a Halloween high! We visited everything we could of visual interest in Petaluma and had a ball!




































Here is my roomie Wendy!








And me, dani!





We fell in love with the AWESOME Halloween Displays in the shops of Petaluma. Totally Inspiring!



*Petaluma Antique Mall*






























*ILeoni*


Oodles of Glitterville goodies with super kind owners who gave us wonderful attention.

This store is a do not miss!


























ILeoni also has this signed Glitterville piece! Only one in stock!!!!

*PaperWhite*



Look at this killer window display!















PaperWhite has this great Day of the Dead collection~






Of course I bought yards of fun ribbons and trims!







*Papyrus*


20% off all Halloween goodies!! Yee ha!













~Marisa's Fantasia-Halloween Store~







And look they had a Janell Berryman of Pumpkinseeds Folk Art Display!

























*Heebe Jeebe*

















































*Heebe Jeebe*

Also has an everyday artsy store of fun!































After shopping & dinner on the water at Dempsey's,








we even even went to a rock show to see these awesome young (very young) men named

~The Lost Boys Band~

From Lake County, California

While walking through Petaluma we saw TONS of moving billboards for these kids who looked like they were 12.



They were playing that night at McNears Mystic Theatre!



An Awesome Venue for sure~








Anywho while walking down the street we met the father of the drummer and other family members who were taking the bands SERIOUSLY pro equipment inside the theater. They said you have to see them, you cannot believe how good these "kids" are. The short of it is we said no thanks as we were not convinced ;) They insisted on giving us free tickets.



WELL...HOLY COMOLY! These kids ROCKED!








We came to find out they have opened this summer for 3 doors down, Kelly Clarkson, Lynard Skynard, All American Rejects, Toby Keith and other HUGE artists! WTH?


I have no doubt these young men will make it and continue to grow their sound which will make them world famous. I was the old chick in the theatre who went up and bought their CD from the Drummers mom..LMFAO!



During the show the Uncle came up and said " I TOLD YOU SO"!! They offered to have us stick around to meet the band (too funny) and get the CD signed. Wendy & I were wiped out and left after the show, just stunned by the talent. My hubster is annoyed that I didn't take them up on it and get it signed. He agrees they will be HUGE! Still laughing that a grown women (supposedly me) was totally crushing on these kids talent.



Oh and you HAVE to see the keyboardist..he spins on a rotating floor at like 20+ miles an hour while playing. Crazy good show.




Finally, After a Full Day of Shopping on Sunday we packed up our mess for our flights home...eep!

















And readied for the morning drive back into San Fran for our return flights ;(



We finally Got a few great shots in the fog!












And even found an awesome cupcake store
(drove by the van and followed the address...lol).











I had them pack up some for the hubster and kiddos and flew them back to NJ! they were a lil banged up but tasted awesome!



This was undoubtedly a trip of a lifetime and I am so happy that Wendy was my roomie. She is not only a sweetheart but truly very easy to travel with. Good Stuff!