Christmas Grump

Bah humbug and black cats. My preferred Solstice tree looks very much dead.
Maybe with some glittery skulls...

Christmas isn't my thing.

Not in the least bit. I find the culture around it sort of unpleasant. I hate Christmas music (save for the occasional song that is anti-Christmas or makes fun of the occasion or something to that effect). And the traditional decorations make me cringe.

I do however celebrate winter solstice, and I do follow the practice of gift giving, because I like to make people happy. I try very hard to avoid the consumer culture of the Holidays, but I fully support any one's personal beliefs or desires to celebrate as they choose. I just don't like celebrating Christmas traditionally I suppose. Maybe it's just that Christmas starts too early. You start to see decorations in stores by September, and are forced to listen to the bad music through November until December, sometimes earlier. Two full months of this kitschy holiday is too much for me.

One of my coping mechanisms is putting up spooky decorations and using this as an excuse to put up glittering Halloween decorations and dead things covered in glitter. (Dead trees with glitter? I can dig it.) And also to watch movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas. And to wear headphones everywhere in public to avoid the bad music. And I try to be polite and accept people's well wishes for the holidays, they mean no harm.

I also like making crafts. Some of my crafts pertain to creating witchy things for my Winter Solstice Alter, or to give as gifts, or as offerings to people's homes when they invite me. I also like to create little items to hang in doorways and in windows. Anything to invite creative and positive energies into my life when I'm surrounded by glum weather and (what I find to be) an emotionally draining atmosphere.

One cute craft inspiration I found were these "anti-Christmas" ornaments from EvilLilyOriginals. It inspires me to make some of my own "anti-holiday" ornaments. Perhaps they'd make a cute gift for a friend.

How do you guys survive the holidays? Or do you love the holidays and think I'm just being a grump ?

-Twiggy
Listening to "Control" - The Birthday Massacre

Sad Announcement

Both goth nights in Ottawa are done for.

As you may already know, Death Disco at Swizzles (which used to be held every saturday night) was official ended a few weeks back.

And now, I've just learned that Industrial Strength Tuesdays at Zaphod's will be officially ending next Tuesday. I've heard that Zaphods may host a retro alternative night and a gamer-goth night (Geeks & Bleeps) on the first and last Tuesday of each month respectively. However, I'm not sure that has been confirmed and presently I believe that the club will simply be closed on Tuesday Nights.

 I've heard that there is an alternative / underground music night at Swizzles on Saturdays. I can't confirm that yet though.

I feel great sadness to see these events go. They were the few weekly events keeping goth and industrial alive in Ottawa. The punk scene seems to be doing alright, with the Dominion thriving, House of Targ growing in popularity and Mavericks continuing to host shows. Cafe Decuf has also hosted punk, goth, industrial and other alternative bands in the past. And for now, Zaphods remains open and may still be a potential venue for goth bands. that being said, I feel that the alternative scene in ottawa is slowly shrinking.

Please, if you are located in Ottawa and feel a love for the alternative, come out to events and support local venues, bands and artists. The alternative scene is only what the local community makes of it.

For now, I will continue to scan the horizon for events and shows and keep you updated.

This upcoming weekend is PopExpo. For those geeky-goths in Ottawa, make your way out. Dress up in your most splendid cosplay, lolita, steam-punk or post-apocalyptic attire.

Next week, go out to Zaphod's for the final Industrial Strength Tuesday. Go out and party twice as hard for me, since unfortunate circumstances are keeping me from attending. I'll be there in spirit.

Goodbye to a beloved event.

-Twiggy

My Ice Queen Halloween Costume!

This costume was so much fun to make, and I got to wear a very odd amount of white. 

I had two versions of this outfit, princess mode and full-out vampire queen mode.

For both outfits I wore my white lingerie bodice which is very lacey and frilly and I love wearing it at any chance I get. I also wore a black wig, a pair of Scarecrow-brand vampire fangs, and some DIY accessories such as my icicle crown and my lacey-queen-collar, which doesn't show up great in this. I will be making DIY tutorials for those two items in the future.

More details after the break!

Costume Idea

I'm not sure what I'll be for Halloween this year. I'm not even sure if I'm going to dress up and go out...

But I do have the sudden desire to craft and make sparkly crowns and beaded capes. So I think I'll start making an evil ice queen costume. Maybe I'll buy fangs and be an ice vampire.

So this weekend I will be making a trip to the craft store to buy paint and sparkles and rhinestones.

What are you going to be for Halloween? Any plans, are you going out?

Cheers,

Twiggy

Geek Market 2014!

I got all dressed up and went to see all the local fun!

Giant Jenga! (And I wasn't even the one to knock it down.)

This weekend I attended the Ottawa Geek Market. The Geek Market allows local vendors and artists to sell their goods to the nerd community. The vendors included toys, art, costumes, clothing, books, comics, manga, vintage video games, new video games,  board games, card games, LEGO, and more. Cosplay is encouraged, and many steampunks, goths and lolitas were also in attendance. It was great seeing some of the local pro-cosplayers such as Kudrel and Detailed-Illusion. Several panels and workshops were held, such as "cosplay ettiquette" and "plushie making."

 There was also a gameboard section where you try out all kinds of strange games and even play giant games (like giant jenga!). AND 8-bit Bazaar was there with screens and consoles galore with all kinds of different games.

Halloween! Things I found at the Dollar Store:

Fishnets and skull Patches. :)

Also Plastic Tubing... This is the first time I've seen the dollar-store carrying  this stuff, but I might make some cyber falls with these, or just some funky head gear. And a shiny purple pumpkin and some plastic skull cups.

Feather eyelashes! I love these things, and they are best when found at the dollar-store at Halloween time, good quality and the best price.

I have a weakness for pretty masks. I might add some extra rhinestones to this one when I have a chance.

I found these pretty arm warmers too! They are surprisingly decent quality. Normally These types of accessories aren't the nicest when they are costume pieces but these are quite nice. Soft fabric and they don't feel flimsy like they'll fall apart after one wear.

Back to school

Farewell my Darklings!
I'm going back to school this week and I will miss you dearly.
I won't be gone completely, but I will be quite a bit busier and will likely not be able to keep posting regularly.


Oh but I will be back soon. And they are somethings to look forward to - Halloween is only a couple months away after all.

-Twiggy

Listening to: "Sugar" - Kerli