FREE Graphic Design!

Yep, you read correctly...

As some of you may know, I am a graphic designer for my "day job". I am trying to build a new website and feature some new samples in my portfolio.

I'd really like to include a tri-fold brochure. If you/your business/online shop needs this service, please contact me at gh-artdesign@hotmail.com with a brief paragraph or two of what you are looking for. Style or the nature of your business does not matter. Whether you are a mechanic, artist, real estate agent or any other profession-I want to hear from you! Details will be given via email.

By entering, you are giving me permission to feature the work in my digital and physical portfolios if you are chosen. One winner will be selected, based on what you are looking for and how well I believe it will showcase my work.

*The attached photo is not my work, but is an example of what I am looking to design for you. Based on a Vistaprint.com template, this is a 2-sided piece of literature that folds into 3 sections to feature your business, services, and/or promotions. Of course, your brochure would be tailored and customized just for you.

Deadline to enter is January 5th, 2011 so please act quickly! Thanks and best of luck to each of you!

Ornaments are taking over!!!!

They really are!

I now have two fairly large sections in my Coffin Critters shop dedicated to the holidays! Better yet? These items are affordable, and start at around $3. You even have options for personalization on select pieces!

Here are a few examples of the new items. See the shop for more creepy cuties!

Holiday Ornaments
Holiday Stocking Stuffers

November's Giveaway...ENTER HERE!

Sadly, Halloween is now over (except for those of us who celebrate it year-round!), and it is time to be thinking about Christmas. As a customer, what kinds of things would you like to see in my shops for the holidays? Ornaments? Prints? ATCs? Personalized items? Tell me what types of things YOU are looking to buy!

Leave your comments and suggestions here, along with a way i can contact you. On November 15th, a winner will be drawn at random and I will give you YOUR CHOICE of prizes based on 3 of the suggestions given here. :) There will be one prize and one winner! So put on your thinking caps!

Want to enter more than once? Any order placed between now and November 15th will receive THREE additional entries! Just type the code "NOVRAFFLE" in the Notes to Seller.

Come see the Coffin Critters!
Faeries aflutter in Gossamer Hollow!

OCTOBER'S LOGO CONTEST-Winner!

The winner for this contest has been drawn at random, and I am happy to announce Daph as the lucky one! Congratulations! I will be contacting you via email shortly.

As for the logo, here are the final designs! I will use the Coffin Critter one for Classic Coffin Critters ONLY. It will be a limited edition logo only available when specifically pertaining to the little guys in their coffins. The skull will the official logo and will be used on everything else, from promotional materials to web graphics!

Thank you all for your help! I appreciated it very much! Look for my next contest to be posted soon.

Hope you all had a scary Halloween!

FREE Samhain Ritual~~~

*This is for Facebook Fans only, sorry. If you do not have a Facebook, or do not want to become a fan, I will include this service (with the charm) for free with any order placed with my Gossamer Hollow or Coffin Critters shops. No minimum to order. Thanks for understanding!*

To thank my FB fans for your support, I am offering to perform a free Celebrate Life/Messages to the Dead ritual for you on Samhain.

We have all lost people we love to the inevitable course of life. With October 31st being known as the day when the veil between the living and dead is the thinnest, it is the perfect time to speak to them.

As a practicing solitary Wiccan or more than 10 years, I always perform a ritual on this day to honor the Dead. If you would like to participate, I will do the same for you and help to send your own personal messages to your loved ones! Be rest assured that this Ritual will be practiced ethically and with the best of intentions. If you would like to participate, please do the following:

*Email a message for your loved one to me at: gh-artdesign@hotmail.com. Put "Samhain Ritual" as the subject line. Any email without this subject line will not be opened. You may send it from an unsigned, anonymous email address if you want to keep your identity private. There is no need for me to know who you are.

*ONLY include messages that are positive and respectful, and written with good intentions. Any messages with negative or ill-spirited meanings will not be used.

*Your message should be fairly short-think of it as a brief letter. Maybe share with your loved one a great accomplishment, give them a compliment, let them know what they meant (or still mean) to you, whatever you are feeling. It can be a sentence or a short paragraph but please limit the length of your message.

*I will be printing out your message. If you would like the actual printed message used in the ritual to be mailed back to you, please contact me. I will simply ask that you send me money to cover a postage stamp. Unclaimed printed messages will be burned or buried.

*Again, this is a thank-you and there is NO purchase necessary! However, if you would like a special charm made in Remembrance of the ritual, I would be happy to do so for $7.50 (including USPS first class shipping to US address-no insurance included). It is a nice piece for you to hold onto or wear in honor of your Loved One. With any luck, it will also be infused with their energy as they pass through the Land of the Living during the ritual. Email me if you would like this.

If you have any questions, please email me!

Looking forward to helping you in honor of your loved ones. Thank you for your continued support, and Merry Samhain!

New Logo, NEW CONTEST!

Gossamer Hollow, LLC and Coffin Critters are undergoing a minor makeover! In the upcoming few months, my shops will have an all-new look, including better photos and new pricing to reflect insurance on all packages delivered to the US!

My new Gossamer Hollow logo has been designed, and will be revealed during my Etsy shop Grand Re-openings. However, I'd love to have your opinions on the new Coffin Critters logo!

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
All votes will be entered to receive a free Graveyard Skull Dust Bottle, in your choice of colors. Leave a comment here with your favorite logo option and why you like it, and you will be entered into the drawing. One winner will be drawn at random November 1st.

Thanks for your help and good luck!

Your options are:

Step Inside, Don't be Shy...

Get a sneak peek into my realm of fantasy and horror by checking out this blog feature of my art studio:
http://44chicken.blogspot.com/
Comments...?

On my easel, you will find my latest painting titled "Midnight Burial".

*ExoSkeleton*-Latest Painting

I don't usually sell my paintings, but wanted to at least share my latest one! It's called *ExoSkeleton*, oil on 9"w x 12"h canvas.

My camera needs batteries so I apologize for the bad photo taken from my phone! I'll post better photos soon.

Something Spooky in the Air!

Could it be...Halloween?

With this favorite of holidays, I have created several new items in celebration! Whether you see it as a spiritual holiday, a time to relish in horror movies or just plain fun, please check out my latest creations!

Samhain Oil/Potion with Coffin

Samhain Potpourri/Incense

Vampire Blood with Coffin

For more Halloween fun, please check out my DIY project on the Etsy Dark Team Blog!

http://etsysdarksideteam.blogspot.com/2010/09/creepy-carnivale-banner.html

July's GIVEAWAY! "Little Lolita" Original Illustration

The Etsy Dark Team is reaching 1000 fans! In celebration, I'm running this fun Giveaway to thank Dark Side fans for their support!

You will win this lovely ORIGINAL (-this is not a print!-) pen and ink illustration, "Little Lolita". It is 8"w x 11" h and signed by the artist. Frame in photos is for presentation only. Frame not included.

I like to keep my Contests and Giveaways easy, so this is all you have to do to enter:

1) Become a Gossamer Hollow Facebook Fan

2) Become an Etsy Dark Team Facebook Fan

3) Leave a comment here critiquing the price of any item in my Gossamer Hollow or Coffin Critters shops. Is the price too high? Too low? Just right? Let me know what you think!

You may leave as many comments as you want, but commenting will get you a maximum of one entry.

How do you gain more entries?
Any order placed (including custom) from either of the above shops will give you an additional 4 entries, for a total of 5. There is no minimum to buy!

This contest is open to everyone world-wide. Contest ends July 31st and winner will be announced the first week of August.

June's GIVEAWAY!!! It's a good one...

Day gives way to night
And now the children are sleeping
Out of their coffins
The Critters start creeping
Dust from a graveyard
And fortunes to be told
These tarot Critters
Are a sight to behold!

As an introduction to a new line of graveyard dust bottles, I am giving you the opportunity to win the VERY FIRST ONE! Because this series in LIMITED EDITION, only a certain number of them will be made...ever. Here is your opportunity to win the very first one, and it's an Original-not a Prototype!

What do you have to do to win him?
Simple.

• Become a Facebook fan

• Browse my 3 shops: coffincritters, gossamerhollow, and gossamergraphics.

• Leave a comment here telling me what you would like to see in my shops. Do you want more of something? Less of something? A particular theme, style, or medium?

Extra entries: Each comment you leave will gain you an additional entry into the contest, with a limit of 5 chances to win. ALSO, following this blog increases your chances to win.

Onto the fun stuff
This creepy cutie is from the Tarot series and features the King of Pentacles. He is a symbol of wealth, accomplishment, confidence, reliability. Although he doesn't come with all of the other items in these photos, he comes with an official signature card signed by the artist. Not including the cork topper, he is 2.5" high and a wonderful decoration or addition to your sacred space.

One extra note: Because of the cost of shipping to other countries and the delicate nature of this item, I am limiting the chance to win this Coffin Critter to US and Canada residents only. If you are outside of this geographic location and still want to participate, I will enter you to win a Vampire Drop necklace so you won't completely miss out. :) Please specify your location if you are outside of US & Canada.

One winner will be drawn at random at the end of the month-GOOD LUCK!

Mini Me Coffin Critter-April's Winner!!!

I am proud to show new photos of April's contest winner's Custom Mini Me Coffin Critter! She provided an excellent photo for me to work from, and I think her Critter reflects her unique style. What do you think?

The winner also has an amazing Etsy shop you should check out:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jujugiggles?ga_search_query=jujugiggles&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

I will be adding the option for you to get YOUR OWN Mini Me Coffin Critter to my shop soon! I'll keep you posted.

May's WINNERS!!!

I am happy to announce the 3 winners for May's contest! *drumroll please*

*Cricket Saunders

*Kelsey the Ewok

*Calej

Winners, please send me your mailing addresses via Facebook or gh-artdesign@hotmail.com. Be sure to include the necklace style of your choice! Congratulations!

Thanks to EVERYONE who participated!

May's Contest...3 Winners, 4 Choices

Isn't it great to pick your own contest prize? Well this month, you can!

May's contest features your choice of necklaces:

*Graveyard Dust
*Pixy Dust-Midnight Sparkle (dark blue/silver Pixy Dust)
*Pixy Dust-Day Sparkle (White/iridescent Pixy Dust)
*Vampire Blood Drop

Because the prizes are smaller, I am going to have 3 winners! Would you like to be one of them? All you have to do is:

• Be, or become a facebook fan here: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/GossamerHollow/177873799537

• Leave a post here with your FAVORITE item from any of my shops:

http://www.faerydustpixy.etsy.com
http://www.coffincritters.etsy.com
http://www.gossamergraphics.etsy.com

That's all ya gotta do! 3 winners will be chosen at random at the end of this month. Each winner may choose their prize from the necklaces listed above.

Please Note: Each comment you leave here with a favorite item will get you an entry. The more comments/faves you leave, the more you will be entered (up to 5 times)!

Good luck and have a whimsical day.

The Winner Is...

And the winner of the Mini Me Coffin Critter contest for April is...Sr. A.I.! Thanks to everyone who participated, and look for another contest to pop up soon! :X

So many new and fun things...where to start?

I have added lots of new designs, sculptures and interesting art pieces to my repertoire! Here are a few that you just gotta check out!
Tiny Top Hats

Pushing Daisies

Zine

Custom Tattoo Design

The Pushing Daisies Undead Flower Head featured here was taken by a very happy customer? Doesn't the little zombie look right at home? That customer also has an awesome shop on etsy. You should stop by and take a gander!

The Return of Gossamer Graphics

With a new computer in tow, equipped with the latest professional software, my graphics shop is BACK! It's been re-vamped with a new header and graphics package, and I will be adding more listings in the next couple of weeks!

Do you have suggestions? New items or services I can add to my shop? I'd love to hear them!

NEW CONTEST!!!! So easy, even a Coffin Critter can do it.

First, I need to apologize for my lack of blog activity...I've been without a home computer since November! But now I am back, and armed with a brand new Macbook Pro so watch out!

To celebrate my return to the cyber world, I'm kicking things off with a new contest! And this one is EASY. Really, it is. All you need to do is:

1) Become a fan on facebook. If you are already a fan, then you're done with step one!

2) Leave a blog comment on any of my posts, except for this one. You can comment on this one too, but it won't count toward the contest.

That's it! Simple, right?

Ok, so what you get is really cool. You will get a Mini Me Coffin Critter! Yup, a little undead cutie made to resemble you. Do you have blue hair? A goatee? piercings? Your critter will reflect you as closely as possible, while still mainting the classic critter style (Artist's discretion). How cute would that be? Oh! And your name will even appear on the lid of the coffin.

So that we are clear, you need to be a facebook fan and leave a blog comment. You have until April 30th to do so! Then the winner will be chosen at random and announced on this blog.

So...what are you waiting for? There is a Critter to be made with your name on it!