Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Some Web Updates, and Introducing Featurette I

The holidays are quickly approaching, and along with colder temperatures, darker months, and a Full Moon on Christmas comes the accompaniment of holiday stress. So while I do have new posts coming up in the New Year, in the interim I wanted to announce some updates to the site: 

First, I added links next to the cited sources in my previous posts. I hope this is helpful to anyone who wishes to view the original articles I referenced. 

Second, I am introducing a series, titled Featurette, in which I showcase interesting media that I happened to stumble on or was enthralled by. Here are five sites that I’ve been currently frequenting: 

VonMonsta: While stumbling around on the Internet, I came across a site run by the lovely Naomi von Monsta. It is a beautiful site filled with amazing outfit photos, enchanting artwork of fairytales and folklore, DIY posts, recipes, and so much more. I enjoy reading about her myriad adventures in the lush hillside and finding aesthetic inspiration. 

Black Widow Sanctuary: Black Widow Sanctuary is another gorgeous blog run by Hukutettu Nukke, serving as another great source of outfit and DIY inspiration. I found this blog when she posted an outfit inspired by Naomi von Monsta; I find it interesting how, with the innovation of the Internet, we are able to be connected across the many miles of continents and countries. This is a fun blog to read, and I definitely recommend it. 

Take a Bite: This webzine, which was unknown to me as an angsty teenager, is a faint but interesting look at Goth in the earlier days of the Internet. While the site is very simplistic compared to modern day Goth webpages, The Net.Goth Handbook is an example of the glow of the sharp wit characteristic to Goths glowing through the austere text and design. Sadly, there are only two issues of Take a Bite, but they are both intriguing and humorous. While some of the pages sadly no longer function, I would also suggest checking out other articles on Vamp.org, such as the discographies of Bauhaus, an amusing Guide to Napalming, and the hilarious alt.gothic.FAQ that I have linked to through my resources page. 

Skin Artists: I hope to get a tattoo and a piercing someday, and I often visit Skin Artists for information on piercings and tattoos, interviews about different artists and look for inspiration for that first inked image to cover a piece of skin. I’ve read quite a few articles and find them very intriguing, and the art is breathtaking to look at. 

Ethical Scavenger: Despite the inherent morbidity involved in collecting and cleaning bones, I find the cracks and surfaces of animal skulls mysteriously beautiful, but I completely object to killing animals for the mere reason of adding to one’s own personal collection. I love this site because it is a great resource for those who want to build a collection of bones and other oddities, but with an ethical respect for an animal’s habitat. The site features information on laws regarding collecting items such as bird feathers and parts from animals that died from natural causes (however, these laws only apply to those who live in the US), a step-by-step guide on collecting and whitening bones, resources on identifying skulls, and guides on dry and wet preservation. Additionally, there are lovely photos of bones and taxidermy that serve as great inspiration for my décor. I highly recommend this site to anyone who adores morbid curiosities and would love to surround themselves in an environment of oddities. 

I hope these websites are both informative and entertaining, and once I create some semblance of a schedule, I would like to periodically write Featurette posts. Thank you to those who have visited and followed my blog, and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.