Maren Owens of Mimi’s ole Nickel creates whimsical Halloween and Christmas characters overflowing with personality. Each sculpture speaks to her during the creative process, letting her know who they need to be. Her characters run the gamut of emotions. They can range from serene to sassy, or perhaps even grumpy. All are beautifully dressed in antiques and carefully chosen found objects. Maren draws inspiration from folklore, the Victorians, Old World Europe, and everyday people. 

After studying art in Chicago, Maren shifted from the traditional gallery world to sculpting holiday characters. Whether it’s potion-testing witches, vigilante vampires, or mischievous elves, her creations are layered with meaning, humor, and conversation. Her time working at a makeup counter sharpened her understanding of facial anatomy and even inspired her unconventional sculpting tools. 

“Once I sculpted a face, I just couldn't go back—it's so much fun because the characters start telling me who they want to be.” - Maren  

Mentions: 

• Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween (Marshall, MI): http://www.bewitchingpeddlersofhalloween.com
• North Penn Holiday Art Show (Lansdale, PA): https://northpennifc.org
• Vampa Museum (Doylestown, PA): https://www.vampamuseum.com 

Visit Maren at "Mimi’s ole Nickel” on Facebook and @mimisolenickel on Instagram. 

Welcome to Season 7 of the Halloween Art and Travel Podcast! I’m your host, Kristen Stafford, and I’m thrilled to kick off another season of celebrating the artists and collectors who bring Halloween magic to life. 

This year, I’m launching the season a little later than usual, but for a good reason. In this trailer, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes story of a new project I’ve been working on with my friend Jorene Lomenzo of Shivers of Delight. It all started with a simple text message... and today, it’s officially live. 

We are introducing “The Halloween Art Guide for Spellbound Collectors” (HAG). This guide supports Halloween art collectors with an artist directory, a collecting guide, and a section on Halloween art shows, past, present, and future. 

This season podcast episodes will drop the 13th, 23rd, and 30th, August – October.    

You’ll also get a preview of my interview with Maren Owens of Mimi’s Ole Nickel, debuting on August 13.  

Mentions: -Halloween Art Guide: www.halloweenartguide.com  -Halloween Art Guide on Instagram: @halloweenartguide 

Grab your broom and journey to the enchanting world of Kitchen Witches to uncover their cultural significance. Join the movement to revive their popularity. This episode features insights from various creators and collectors, shedding light on their enduring fascination.  

Thank you to all of our content contributors: 

• Anna Allen, (Aw Shucks Annie Dolls): https://www.facebook.com/awshucksanniedolls and https://www.instagram.com/awshucksanniedolls
• Jennie Hepler-Takens (My Dearest Witch): http://www.mydearestwitch.com
• Kris Gurky (Dark Moon Salem): https://www.instagram.com/dark_moon_salem/
• Mary Lynn Cudejko (Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween Fan and Owl Collector) 
• Lauren Demers-Windom (Witches for Kitchens): https://www.instagram.com/witchesforkitchens
• Pat Benedict (Woopitydoo Art): https://www.facebook.com/Woopitydooart and https://www.instagram.com/woopitydooart
• Rebecca Miller Campbell (Rebecca Miller Campbell Designs): https://millercampbelldesigns.com/
• Ryan Knight (The Handmade Knight): https://www.instagram.com/the_handmade_knight/
• Stephanie (Stevi) Tiongco (Stevi T Fiber Art): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063437424746
• Ter Brazier (Host of the Merman Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/the_merman_podcast
• Vanessa K. Eccles  (Fabled Collective): https://www.fabledcollective.com/ 

To look at some fun pictures of kitchen witches, visit my Resources page: https://www.halloweenartandtravel.com/p/resources/ 

Meet Marion Held, the creator and curator of the Devil-ish Little Things Museum in Vancouver, WA. Marion shares her passion for collecting whimsical devil, Krampus, and satyr objects. Marion’s collection is brightly colored, mostly from Europe, and is based on fairytales and folklore. Her collection began 26 years ago when she fell in love with the Devil and Cards ceramics by Royal Bayreuth.  

Marion is dedicated to inspiring others to appreciate and collect art. Her collection exudes a playful European charm that reflects her upbringing in her native Germany. She loves the craftsmanship behind each piece and is still actively adding to her collection by partnering with a network of dealers around the globe. She has a keen eye for unique pieces and works diligently to preserve the history of each object.  

Marion is a well-known beadworker. When she lived in LA, her beadwork was discovered by a Hollywood costume designer. That lead to work in movies like Hocus Pocus and Batman Returns. She also created special creature effects, for movies like Hellboy. After moving to WA and opening her museum, Marion took on doing pottery, which she sells out of her museum gift shop.  

“...if young people don't start collecting, everything is going to be lost...I always say go out there, go to antique shows, look around, discover some cool stuff and then maybe you’ll see something you like that will stick with you. And then before you know it, you have a house full of stuff like I do. Then I’ll come see you...” - Marion Held  

Visit Marion at: https://www.facebook.com/DEVILishLittleThingsMuseum or https://www.instagram.com/devilish_little_things_museum         

Meet Anna Allen, an artist who blends traditional cornhusk craft with her Appalachian heritage. Anna creates cornhusk dolls under the name Aw Shucks Annie Dolls. Her dolls feature vibrant colors with a special focus on witches and the magic of Halloween. She also enjoys creating dolls showing traditional Appalachian clothing and activities.  

Growing up in Ohio, Anna was surrounded by her creative and self-reliant family. Her childhood includes memories of her grandparents making their own lye soap and family gatherings filled with joyful bluegrass music. Anna collected dolls before she started making her own. One day, along with her mother and a friend, she decided to bring to life her own. She laughs now at how “ugly” her first try was. Through exploration and determination, she grew into the skilled artist she is today.  

Anna does twist up tradition by putting faces on many of her dolls.  She enjoys making witches with two or three heads. She loves knowing that her collectors put their own narratives on the dolls once they adopt them.  

“... it's an honor and a privilege to share my Appalachian roots and heritage through the creation of my cornhusk dolls.” - Anna M. Allen  

Mentions: 

• Anna singing Moonshine Ridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWXLQw7Gqjk
• Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show: https://www.pumpkinshow.com/
• Halloween in July Market (Circleville, OH): https://pickaway.com/event/halloween-in-july-market-2/
• Peggie Kilgore Corn Husk Dolls (Search the internet for pictures) 

Visit Anna at: https://www.facebook.com/awshucksanniedolls and https://www.instagram.com/awshucksanniedolls/ 

Meet Kymmburleigh Clark, upholstery teacher, designer, and restorer of furniture. When her dogs destroyed two of her chairs, she taught herself how to restore them. This started her on the path to learning the craft of upholstery. As a co-owner of a furniture fabrication shop, Kymm learned about the dire state of the upholstery field. Demand far exceeds the number of people with the skill. 

After their successful business closed due to a lack of skilled labor, Kymm made it her mission to teach as many people upholstery as possible and Lullco was born. Today you can find Kymm teaching in-person and virtual classes, taking on her own clients, and developing new techniques to keep dated furniture out of landfills.

Kymm offers cautionary advice and inspiration for dealing with furniture, making this interview relevant for upholstery enthusiasts, DYI adventurers, and people who sit on chairs. You’ll hear about scary things found in chairs and other secrets they keep.

Our conversation also delves into Kymm's love for Halloween, with a haunted cemetery travel tip, and all about her upcoming spooky mansion vendor show, showcasing her unique furniture collection.

Mentions:

• Allied Aethernautics Art and Design by William Kevin Petty: https://www.alliedaethernautics.com
• Maker Works (Ann Arbor, MI): https://www.maker-works.com
• Sunset Hills Cemetery (Flint, MI): https://929nin.com/flint-michigan-cemeterys-haunted-crack-the-whip-sculpture-may-come-to-life-at-night

Visit Kymm’s web site at: https://lullco.co/

Meet Iva Wilcox of Iva’s Creations, a talented artist who creates vintage style folk art. Iva is well known for her spun cotton. When the muse strikes, she also works in mixed media and watercolors. Her pursuits in music, costuming, cooking, and dance also stand testament to her creative drive. 

Iva instantly fell in love when she saw spun cotton ornaments for the first time. They invoke the charm of a bygone era and provide limitless opportunities to create many kinds of shapes. Working with cotton is a process of building up, which Iva finds to be more pleasing than carving away matter.  She creates intuitively, pulling treasures from her “hoarder’s nest.” She jokes that she creates out of chaos.  

Iva has participated in and produced many national-level art shows including All Hallows Art Fest, Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween, and Spirits in Sanford. Her favorite part of doing the shows is interacting with collectors and fellow artists. Seeing collectors take her work home is a compliment and a gift.  

Her unexplained encounter at a historic bed and breakfast adds a captivating twist to the conversation. She also shares a scary tale from a haunted light house in St. Augustine, FL. While there’s no ghosts at her house, she does love to go all out with her home haunt. 

“Don't lose that childlike wonder. It keeps life interesting and exciting. Everything is full of wonder when you see it through a child's eyes.” - Iva Wilcox 

Mentions: 

• FatChanceBellyDance(R): https://fcbd.com/what-is-fcbdstyle/
• Saint Augustine Lighthouse Ghost Tour (St. Augustine, FL): https://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/visit/expand-your-visit
• Spooky Itinerary: https://www.spookyitinerary.com
• The Stockade Bed and Breakfast (Baton Rouge, LA): https://thestockade.com/historical-places-which-may-be-haunted-in-south-louisiana 

Visit Iva online: https://www.ivascreations.com 

Meet doll maker Kaf Grimm of Grimitives. Every doll born in her studio has a stitched heart. That’s Kaf’s way of putting a piece of herself into every creation. “Grimitives are my grim children, and each and every one is different. So, it's hard picking my favorite, and it's also hard letting them go when I'm finished with them,” said Kaf.  

Kaf is passionate about preserving history, which is evident in her choice to collect and use vintage materials. Her studio, built on top of a historic foundation, is full unexplained happenings. Where are strange voices coming from?  She is also deeply connected to the ocean for inspiration and relaxation. She can be found beachcombing for objects to incorporate into her works.  

Her dolls reflect her playful sense of humor. A Santa doll with a crab craw for an arm becomes Sandy Claws. Warm childhood memories also appear. Her nostalgia for being in the Girl Scouts manifests itself in her Zombie Scout dolls.  

Kaf also shares her encounter with one the greatest spooky artists of all time, Cape Cod travel tips, why she had to be under the supervision of a security during one of her first jobs, the job that was the height of her career, and more. 

Mentions: 

• Barnstable Village Ghost Tour: https://www.facebook.com/CapeCodsHauntedHistoryTourCo
• Bridgewater Triangle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgewater_Triangle
• Edward Gorey house: https://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org
• “Houses with History” TV show: https://www.hgtv.com/shows/houses-with-history
• Mayflower Market Days show: https://mayflowermarketdays.com
• Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm: https://www.mistletoeacres.com
• Who’s Afraid of an Old House TV show: https://www.hgtv.com/shows/whos-afraid-of-a-cheap-old-house 

Visit Kaf online: https://www.grimitives.com 

Meet Deven Blackwell, the creative force behind House of Blackwell, a gathering of her limitless artistic endeavors.  Some of her current offerings are spooky decor, tutorials, and patterns. Her diverse set of experience includes graphic design, art, writing, hair styling, and sewing. 

Deven is especially known for her spooky cornhusk creations. She loves to create phobia-inducing creatures such as bats and spiders. While she learned cornhusk crafting as a child in Texas, her talent remained dormant until 2020. Bored and unable to celebrate Halloween in the traditional way, Deven fashioned a witch out of cornhusks. Soon she was hooked and creating non-traditional works out of an age-old medium. Her mission is to dedicate herself to innovation while honoring traditional techniques.  

Deven also shares her best costuming tip, why she loves her 100 century-old sewing machine, how costumes are communication tools, and introduces us to her studio assistant, Nugget.  

“I noticed that a lot of my work has to do with taking old techniques and reapplying them in modern contexts. Sometimes new things are not better. Sometimes older things can be the right fit for people and their needs.” - Deven Blackwell 

Mention: Etsy’s Gone Gothic Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/etsysgonegothic 

Visit Deven online: https://www.thehouseofblackwell.com 

Meet artist Stephanie Tiongco of Stevi T Fiber Art. Stevi’s needle felted animals look so real, you’ll swear they are breathing. In this episode, you’ll hear how Stevi creates anthropomorphic dolls and her unique approach to incorporating antiques into her artwork. She discusses her involvement with doll organizations, giving valuable insight into the world of doll making and collecting.

Stevi’s artistic journey has taken her from making dolls for her daughter to showcasing her work on national television and art shows. Her creativity and tenacity knows no bounds – from dying her fiber in a cauldron to transforming her home into a haunted house.

Stevi’s work blurs the lines between art and reality and is driven by her love for animals. Many people who come into her booth at shows mistakenly think her work is taxidermy.  She stated, “I love the art of taxidermy. My animals are not, but I want them to be as real as possible. So, if you think it's real, then I have done my job well.”

Mentions:

• George Dante Taxidermist: https://wildlifepreservations.com
• New York Faerie Festival: https://www.nyfaeriefestival.com
• Old Mill Village, New Milford, PA: https://www.oldmillvillage.org
• Original Doll Artist Council of America:  https://www.odaca.org
• United Federation of Doll Clubs: https://www.ufdc.org/
• Wunderkammer Taxidermy Show (NYC): https://wunderkammernyc.com

Visit Stevi online:

• Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stevit
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/stevi.tiongco
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Stevit_alpaca_encounters