The annual neighborhood trick-or-treat announcement flyers have finally been printed and are ready to be distributed to 125 houses throughout my development. In recent years, I have become the unofficial official flyer creator and distributor, which I do without complaint. Designed and printed by me (easy now that I only have to change the date from last year!), and distributed by my son and a few of his neighborhood friends (work smarter, not harder!).
And while I'm still disappointed with the meager two-hour window for trick-or-treating on a date before Halloween proper, I'm happy to see the annual orange-and-black flyers go out to all the neighbors, signaling the countdown to the big night.
IT'S OFFICIALLY THE HALLOWEEN SEASON! And it's time to kick off the annual Countdown to Halloween! An orange-and-black blitz of 31 posts in 31 days, all leading up to our high holiday of All Hallows Eve!! This is my 15th year celebrating all things creepy and cool with the Countdown to Halloween blog party, and we are still going strong. Can you feel that crisp, electric excitement in the air!!??
We've got a long list of blog posts all lined up and ready to go. A full month stuffed with tricks and treats, so be sure to check back daily because this party is going nonstop straight through the 31st! And you don't want to miss out on the good candy, do you??
So let's get this thing started, shall we!?
Each October, I like to start the festivities with the unveiling of my annual yard haunt logo. It's a great way to set the tone for the spooky season, and it gets me motivated to finish all the planned projects for the year's haunt.
For the past 21 years, I have created an increasingly defined and prominent Highbury Cemetery haunt logo for the season. The logo is used across social media and a very small batch of t-shirts. Each year, the t-shirts are hand printed here at the Cemetery and then given out as a thank you to everyone who helps put on the yard haunt on Halloween night. A well deserved treat for all of the hard work that goes into this crazy thing every year.
So ladies and gentlemonsters, boils and ghouls, without further ado I proudly present the ghastly and gruesome logo for Highbury Cemetery, 2025:
YEAR TWENTY-TWO. So many good memories and still so much fun, why stop now?!
Only 30 days until the big night, so let's get this pumpkin party started. Let's do this!!
The limited run of Highbury Cemetery t-shirts for 2024 are done! Every year, I take the annual haunt logo and create a t-shirt graphic. I then hand print a very limited run of shirts that I give out as a thank you to everyone who helps set up, run, and then tear down the Highbury Cemetery yard haunt.
For this year, I ended up going in a completely different direction with the art in that instead of traditional silkscreening with ink, I decided I wanted to try printing with BLEACH! And the results are amazing!!
I followed the detailed instructions from Pigskins and Pigtails (which made it super easy! Thanks, Jennifer!), and got a unique series of one-of-kind shirts. Each had a different level of logo bleaching brightness followed by a random spray or spatter of extra bleach across the front and back. I'm REALLY happy with the way these turned out and REALLY excited to hand these out! I think these are some of the best shirts to come out of the Cemetery the past 21 years...
But the best part of all? It looks like I'll have an extra shirt or two left over. Soooo...
Who wants to have a contest for a chance to win one? An extra little Halloween treat for those that have been hanging out at the blog all October long?
Next week (after all of the madness), I'll post up a little something. Nothing too crazy. Win it and the shirt is yours! Cool? Let's do this!
The annual neighborhood trick-or-treat announcement flyers have finally been printed and are ready to be distributed to 125 houses throughout my development. In recent years, I have become the unofficial official flyer creator and distributor, which I do without complaint. Designed and printed by me, and distributed by my son and a few of his neighborhood friends (work smarter, not harder!).
And while I'm disappointed with the meager two-hour window for trick-or-treating, I'm happy to see the annual orange-and-black flyers go out to all the neighbors, signaling the countdown to the big night.
IT'S OFFICIALLY THE HALLOWEEN SEASON! And it's time to kick off the annual Countdown to Halloween! An orange-and-black blitz of 31 posts in 31 days, all leading up to our high holiday of All Hallows Eve!! This is my 14th year celebrating all things creepy and cool with the Countdown to Halloween blog party, and we are still going strong. Can you feel that crisp, electric excitement in the air!!??
We've got a long list of blog posts all lined up and ready to go. A full month stuffed with tricks and treats, so be sure to check back daily because this party is going nonstop straight through the 31st! And you don't want to miss out on the good candy, do you??
So let's get this thing started, shall we!?
Each October, I like to start the festivities with the unveiling of my annual yard haunt logo. It's a great way to set the tone for the spooky season, and it gets me motivated to finish all the planned projects for the year's haunt.
For the past 20 years, I have created an increasingly defined and prominent Highbury Cemetery haunt logo for the season. The logo is used across social media and a very small batch of t-shirts. Each year, the t-shirts are hand printed here at the Cemetery and then given out as a thank you to everyone who helps put on the yard haunt on Halloween night. A well deserved treat for all of the hard work that goes into this crazy thing every year.
So ladies and gentlemonsters, boils and ghouls, without further ado I proudly present the ghastly and gruesome logo for Highbury Cemetery, 2024:
YEAR TWENTY-ONE. So many good memories, and still so much fun!
Only 30 days until the big night, so let's get the party started. Let's do this!!
So for the past 20 years, I have created a t-shirt based on that year's haunt logo. I print a handful of shirts up here at the Cemetery, and then given them out as a thank you for anyone who helps set up, work, or tear down my yard haunt display. A small token of gratitude to those who help keep this crazy thing going for another year.
For the 20th anniversary edition, I wanted to do something a little extra in honor of the big milestone. I took this year's "XX" haunt logo and created the version for the shirt, breaking it out into two colors (not an easy task, as the shirts are always hand-screened on my kitchen counter).
But I also ended up adding that little bit extra. When you turn out the light, you get an added surprise on the shirt. Glow in the dark background!
I'm REALLY happy with the way these shirts turned out, probably the best results in 20 years of doing this. I can't wait to pass these things out at the end of another trick-or-treat for yet another job well done!
Well, after 4 straight days of rain, I was finally able to get the annual neighborhood trick-or-treat announcement flyers distributed to every house in my development (I think we counted 125 houses in total?). In recent years, I have become the unofficial official flyer creator and distributor, which I do without complaint. Designed and printed by me, and distributed by me, my son, and a few of his neighborhood friends (work smarter, not harder!).
And while I'm disappointed with the meager two-hour window for trick-or-treating, I'm happy to see the annual orange-and-black flyers go out to all the neighbors, signaling the countdown to the big night.
One more thing off the list, now onto the other fifty...
IT'S OFFICIALLY THE HALLOWEEN SEASON! And it's time to kick off the annual Countdown to Halloween! An orange-and-black blitz of 31 posts in 31 days, all leading up to our high holiday of All Hallows Eve!! This is my 13th year celebrating all things creepy and cool with the Countdown to Halloween blog party, and we are still going strong. Can you feel that crisp, electric excitement in the air!!??
We've got a long list of blog posts all lined up and ready to go. A full month stuffed with tricks and treats, so be sure to check back daily because this party is going nonstop straight through the 31st! And you don't want to miss out on the good candy, do you??
So let's get this thing started, shall we!?
Each October, I like to start the festivities with the unveiling of my annual yard haunt logo. It's a great way to set the tone for the spooky season, and it gets me motivated to finish all the planned projects for the year's haunt.
And this year's logo is extra special! For the past 20 years, I have created an increasingly defined and prominent Highbury Cemetery haunt logo for the season. The logo is used on posters, stickers, and a very small batch of t-shirts. Each year, the t-shirts are hand printed here at the Cemetery and then given out as a thank you to everyone who helps put on the yard haunt on Halloween night. A well deserved treat for all of the hard work that goes into this crazy thing every year.
So ladies and gentlemonsters, boils and ghouls, without further ado I proudly present the ghastly and gruesome 20th ANNIVERSARY logo for Highbury Cemetery, 2023:
I cannot believe that I have been doing this for TWENTY YEARS. So many good memories, and so much fun!
With this year's logo, I have taken one element from each of the past 19 years' logo art and dropped it into the 'XX' portion of the logo. A subtle nod to how far Highbury Cemetery has come as a yard haunt. I'm incredibly happy with this year's logo and I can't wait to get this thing printed on some shirts. I have some really great ideas to make this the best shirt yet...
And in honor of the 20th Anniversary celebration, I might just print up a few extras to give away! Sound good? Just check back throughout the month (both here and on the Highbury Cemetery Instagram page) to see how to win one of your own! Let's do this!!
A little over a month ago, I made a post talking about how I didn't feel like it was time for all things Halloween (Sam Heimer actually had a succinct post that I quoted and was in full agreement with). We were still in the thick of August's sweltering summer heat, and the "Halloween creep" was starting earlier than it ever had before...
Fast forward to today with a look at the calendar, and my, how things have changed. Ready or not, tomorrow is October. It's orange alert, all hands on deck, 100% Halloween season. IT IS TIME!
Tomorrow starts the annual Countdown To Halloween, where I'll be dropping posts like mad all month long up until the big night.
Since that post, I have been working like mad behind the scenes to get into the spirit and get things moving. It has been a quick flip from summer relaxation to the high-output energy of autumn. Things are happening.
Be sure to check back tomorrow as I kick off another black-and-orange blitz of Halloween fun and frivolity. This is it. IT IS TIME!
Here's a cool little retro-inspired screenprint series that I found while perusing Etsy. Monsters In Therapy by Iain Burke of Mummy's Hand perfectly encapsulates that tiny dark corner of self doubt that sometimes boils up in each of us.
And yes, even spooky monsters aren't immune to it, as each character questions themselves in a unique and truly humorous way.
I really love the 60's old-school monster illustration style of the entire series, paired with bold blocks of color and cool typography. Simple, spooky fun! Enjoy!
Boy, did I miss the boat on this one! I just recently discovered the incredible releases from Library Of The Occult Records out of the UK. The label describes itself as, “Esoteric Electronics, Dungeon Jazz and Wizard Psych sounds on limited vinyl releases." Sign me up!
Alongside the incredible sounds, each release is meticulously designed to mimic the iconic throwback look of 70's occult/folk horror. Wonderful, "Satanic" imagery perfectly paired with ornate typography and a bold palette of reds, blacks, and purples make each a true work of art.
I have been snapping up a few of their limited vinyl releases (not easy because they are released in very small numbers, sell out quickly, and their immediate collectibility makes the prices go up, up, up...). But it has been totally worth it.
My favorite of their releases thus far has to be The Unseen's "The Goatman."
"The Goatman, from what I can tell, would fall into the folk horror category. The Unseen’s score feels right at home there; a mixture of guitar, synths, mellotron, and paranoia to go around. “Eerie Meadow (Opening Titles)” is subtle and makes it known this is not a meadow to be in after dark. It’s reminiscent of Charles Bernstein’s work on Nightmare On Elm Street. “Newlywed Arrival” is subtle nightmare fuel. Eerie keys play a sort of cryptic lullaby that would feel right at home in an early 70s creature feature. “Footsteps Outside The Cottage” has early Romero vibes. Season of the Witch and Martin comes to mind. “Darkening Meadow” goes for broke with the mellotron, giving the song a melancholy Moody Blues feel. It’s quite lovely and eerie.
This album tows the line between ambient and incidental, laying on both the creepy noises and psychedelic melodies that feel as if they were locked in a tomb for 71 years. “Passion in the Woods” gets a little randy with some funky guitar and electro squalls that may or may not be a couple becoming one with nature. And “Lullabies (End Titles)” closes our Goatman journey out with melancholy harpsichord and voice that feels like late-60s psych pop of the highest order.
Give this one a listen, and you too will be adding it to your "spooky season" playlist. Grab a copy of this, and all of the other incredible releases over at the Library Of The Occult Bandcamp page. Enjoy!
As we get closer to the spooky season, it's time to put up those decorations! And if you're like me, the standard off-the-shelf fare from the chain craft stores just doesn't cut it. If your exacting standards are in search of something a little more special (like mine), might I suggest these insanely cool historic wood block poster reprints from the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum?
Hand-printed from the original blocks, these posters recall a simpler time and just ooze with incredible Halloween nostalgia with wonderful, bold typography, color and illustration...
Do people still read blogs? Ehh, I still do. And that's why I'm all in for another month-long celebration of the Countdown To Halloween.
Starting October 1st, it will be another non-stop black-and-orange blitz of anything and everything Halloween. Heck, it's what makes the other eleven months of the year worth it!
Got a blog and wanna join in on the fun? Sign up to the official Countdown To Halloween masterlist here to find out more and be included in the celebration. And then we can share the Halloween fun with the rest of the people out there who still read blogs!
(But don't worry, I'll still be rolling out posts regularly from now until October 1st, just to keep the momentum going! So much still to share before the big party! And thanks again for stoping by!)
Dweebs, punkers and shitheads rejoice! Estrus: Shovelin’ the Shit Since ’87 gives you the sights, sounds, stories...and shit...behind the iconic independent record label Estrus Records. The book—a roughly 9" x 12" cinder block of a publication—chronicles label founder Dave Crider’s journey from small-town hobbyist to regarded move-and-shaker in the DIY/punk/garage rock circuit.
Not only will Shovelin’ include the matchless imagery that accompanied Estrus releases by artists like Art Chantry, Frank Kozik, Darren Merinuk, Alex Wald, and (Chris) COOP, but it contains stories and other words of wisdom from members of The Mummies, Man or Astroman?, The Makers, The Mono Men — plus other bands that don’t start with the letter “M” like Fireballs of Freedom, The Nomads, Cheater Slicks, The Drags, Sugar Shack, Guitar Wolf, The Trashwomen, Gas Huffer, The Oblivians, Prisonshake, The Von Zippers, Lord High Fixers, Phantom Surfers, The Quadrajets, The Statics, Estrella 20/20, Gasoline, Jackie & the Cedrics, The Fall-Outs, and more…
- X -
I'm backing this one 100% simply for the absolutely incredible work from one of my favorite graphic designers, Art Chantry. An endless flow of amazing work him and a host of other well-known artists that created now-iconic work for the label...
Ah, heck. The label put pout some REALLY awesome music, too!
And apparently I'm not the only one excited for this new book release, because in about 2 hours the ENTIRE project was fully funded! Nice work! But I still kicked in to grab a copy of this one, because it's a mandatory addition to my library.
Happy 2023, everybody! I took a few weeks off, but I wanted to get back at it with a very big announcement.
I still can't believe this, but 2023 is going to be the 20th year of the Highbury Cemetery yard haunt!!
Wow. Where has the time gone (and am I REALLY that old??)?
I can still remember those early days of discovering the crazy world of home haunting, learning how to build props for the yard, meeting and collaborating with likeminded haunt lunatics, establishing the identity of the haunt, drafting friends and family members to join in on my Halloween fun, and finally taking the big step in starting this blog!
As they say, time flies when you're having fun and this trip has been one hell of a good time! In honor of the big milestone, I'm going to be bringing the goods throughout the year.
I'm kicking it up a notch with a ton of new posts from now through All Hallows Eve, including some extra special surprises along the way! Lots of announcements to come in the following months, so check back, hang out and celebrate!
Twenty years is a pretty big deal to me, so I want to make it extra special and share it all with the haunt community that has been my extended family for the entire ride. Let's do this.
Another outstanding, stark black-and-white, cut-and-paste typography layout giving it a totally bold, unique look. And like all poster releases on Mondo, this one will be limited and will go fast...
Another item checked off of this year's still-to-do list. The 2022 neighborhood flyer has been designed, printed, and distributed!
I made things easy and just reused the art I created last year, simply updating the date. I made a quick trip to the local Staples Copy Center, returning with 125 flyers on a wonderfully bright orange paper stock.
But with so much left to do for this year's fun, I decided to delegate the rest of this project's responsibilities. I ended up "hiring" my ten-year-old son and two of his neighborhood friends to go out and drop a flyer in every mailbox in the neighborhood. With the prospect of making a few bucks they eagerly set out, making quick work of their task.
So it's now set. One more week until the big night. A lot of things left to do, so it's time for me to get at it. But still so many posts to share during this final week of October, so let's keep this party going! The activity at the Cemetery is going to be fast and furious. I hope you're ready...
IT'S OFFICIALLY THE HALLOWEEN SEASON! And it's time to kick off the annual Countdown to Halloween! An orange-and-black blitz of 31 posts in 31 days, all leading up to our high holiday of All Hallows Eve!! This is our 12th year celebrating all things creepy and cool with the Countdown to Halloween blog party, and we are still going strong. Can you feel that crisp, electric excitement in the air!!??
We've got a long list of blog posts all lined up and ready to go. A full month stuffed with tricks and treats, so be sure to check back daily because this party is going nonstop straight through the 31st! And you don't want to miss out on the good candy, do you??
So let's get this thing started, shall we!?
Each October, I like to start the festivities with the unveiling of my annual yard haunt logo. It's a great way to set the tone for the spooky season, and it gets me motivated to finish all the planned projects for the year's haunt.
Since 2003, I have created an increasingly defined and prominent Highbury Cemetery haunt logo for the season. The logo is used on posters, stickers, and a very small batch of t-shirts. Each year, the t-shirts are hand printed here at the Cemetery and then given out as a thank you to everyone who helps put on the yard haunt on Halloween night. A well deserved treat for all of the hard work that goes into this crazy thing every year.
So ladies and gentlemonsters, boils and ghouls, I proudly present the ghastly and gruesome logo for Highbury Cemetery, 2022:
As an added bonus, I'm going to be hanging out a bit more at the Highbury Cemetery Instagram page this October, so stop by for a continuous Halloween double shot straight to the candy corn.
Mondo is going to be offering up these really cool, limited-edition posters for John Carpenter's iconic sci-fi/horror film, The Thing, by artist Rafa Orrico. A very unique twist to a film that has been covered a million times over. I REALLY dig the bold 60s typography, the stark black-and-white imagery, and the expansive swaths of white space.
The Thing (Version 2), by Rafa Orrico.
The Thing (Version 1), by Rafa Orrico.
Version 2 is the clear winner for me. Such a great treatment and so well designed. And each unique element cleverly plays to Carpenter's vividly horrifying storyline. I don't always go after the always hard-to-get Mondo posters, but this one will be the exception.
Both of Orrico's The Thing posters will go on sale at 11 am CT, Thursday, September 15 on the Mondo Shop site. Good luck!
A cold, weathered hand pierces the rust-laden earth of a late autumn night. Reanimated decay becomes the evening's guide. Masked faces bask in the fiery glow of a jack-o-lantern's illumination. A lifeless finger points the direction toward the next porch-lit house. For this is the night of ghouls and goblins and tricks and treats. This is the night of Hallowe'en...
