Nightmares & DayScreams

Haunting Virginia

September 19 2022 -It is about this time of year every year so far that I have been spending alot of time in Virginia. I spent one weekend in Norfolk checking out the expanded  Tidewater Horror convention  and then just this pat weekend I was back at Hampton Roads for  the 2022 Haunted Screams Expo. True to form I brought costumes and did a little shopping amongst my merchant friends. I was unable to be part of the Monster On Makeup Wars challenge this year as my  makeup artist was away on assignment, but I did manage to bring home second place in the Adult Costume Contest. < Many thanks to Charles A Townsend for the amazing images he captured while at Haunted Screams.>This gives me just a few weeks to get together all the pieces I am making for Culling Innovations Halloween Mini Photo Shoot in Salisbury MD on October15th. But First...I have the distinct honor of having been asked to help with makeups for Farragut Forward a local ongoing Star Trek tribute  You Tube Film short being done locally. So Time to clean up my kit and polish up on my beauty skills. 

"Oh Look Another Glorious Morning. It Makes Me sick."- Winifred Sanderson Hocus Pocus
#HauntedSreamsExpo2022 #halloweencostume Angel of Death 2nd Place winner Adult Costume Contest winner

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

August 2022- So fall is finally here. That means I am kicked into high gear once again. Maryland Renaissance festival last weekend. This week I am on the road again to Norfolk VA for TideWater Horrorcon with a quick side trip to  check out this years Howl-O-Scream at BuschGardens Williamsburg. Still working on costumes for next weeks Haunted Screams in Hampton VA as well.  So busy but things keep squeezing into my jam packed schedule with a new special event I just got asked to help out on in Fredrick MD in October...Shh...mums the word for now..must not Jinx it. I have been getting some amazing conversations with a few local independent film makers and discussing their projects.  All this leading up to  my first trip to  FaerieCon in Baltimore in October and as quick trip to World Oddities..all before Halloween. Then there is the HUGE project I have been working on for my return to Ocean City Comicon once again in December. Never fear dear friends things are very active here @ Nightmares & Dayscreams. Can't forget to mention my true new collaborations with David Insley of Culling Innovations coming up in just a few weeks.  Time to get Spooky!! Many thanks to the one and only Father Evil for this stunning photo from our reunion at  Scares That Cares Charity Weekend 2022. 
 **I was So Thrilled to see that FatherEvil recieved a special recognition Award at the New Jersey Horror Film Festival  on September 17th and I truly wish I could have been there to celebrate his special moment with him. Well done my friend. You deserve it.** -xoxo

#FatherEvil #Scaresthatcarescharityweekend2022 Father Evil dance with his favorite Succubus Temptation at the final Scares That Cares Charity Event
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Happy Friday the 13th from 2020 - the year that almost didn't happen

2020-10-31 115514jpg While Covid-19 has certainly made Halloween 2020 much quieter than normal. I was very happy to have the chance to get out and create once again. I was asked by the  kind folks at Trimper's Rides in Ocean City MD to change their staff into zombies for the final weekend of October 2020. It was a task I am used to doing but have honestly never been the sole artist when creating zombie hordes for events. Since they are normally larger groups I have always worked as part of a team for most of my prior events as well as when I worked in OC Screams years ago. Time management and preparation become key when faced with having to do several people in a short amount of time. Also simplicity. My designs are normally very detailed and this time I learned to work fast and go for basic makeup tricks that pack punch and fool the eye. In the end I was exhausted but I think the staff and management were both happy with  my services and I gained more experience.
 Oddly these events led to me deciding last minute to not go out myself on Halloween. I did have the time to create several new character looks that I was quite happy with and I have made several new connections with people through all this down time Covid has created. While I am anxious to get back to work and have a potentially very busy 2021, I know that we are all holding our breath to see if things will go backwards before they get better.
 Keep Creating and People will notice.

Summer has Just begun but Fall is Heating Up

 It is no loss of irony to me that here it is just the beginning of June 2019 and I have been invited to create a horde of Zombies and survivors/victims for a Walking Dead themed photo shoot. Never before have my Zombies had to be able to withstand the onslaught of summer heat, daylight and still be worthy of a planned photoshoot. This is also my first time working with a photographer who is more like a director. I have my line up of  Zombies to transform as the end result looks he wants for each actor. I will keep you apprised. 
 Meanwhile I have already been informed that another photographer I have worked with in the past as a customer has contacted me for two character costumes and makeups that will be photographed but are being elevated to Brand Ambassadors for some side projects they are developing. 
 There is the busy summer schedule of face painting to be done for block parties and events in the community. Which will lead up to August and my annual trip to Scares that Care Weekend in Williamsburg VA. This year I am proudly volunteering for several events as well as have a special surprises lined up for that weekend, but that part is a secret.
 I was thrilled to learn that my fall may be even busier as I learned that I will be tapped as an Extra for the production of " To Avenge" due to be filmed here on our humble shores during the fall so that will be squeezed in amongst the normal Harvest & Halloween events to be followed by Float preparations for the Winter holiday parades and parties. 
 I am hoping my schedule allows me to complete my certification in both Airbrush Makeup and Makeup Mastery in time for 2020 but I will keep you posted.


2019-05-17 115934-1jpg

Once Upon A Time....

September and October were a blur here. With preparations for Halloween festivities merged with the demands of rehearsals for a community l theatrical production of Into the Woods my time was in high demand. After months of long days and late nights the parties were done and  the show was a wrap. I learned alot and made new friends as I flexed my skills to include more hair styling and wig work along with traditional theatrical makeup. Of course my main tasks were helping off stage with the myriad of hair and makeup changes often needed quickly when characters shift roles. But I learned teamwork with the actors and the wardrobe staff really helps make a daunting task more manageable. My director was clear about what he wanted and what he needed changing but he also was open to my suggestions so we worked well. The wardrobe staff were great and most of my actors knew how to do much of their own stage makeup and hair with only suggestions from me. We did have to tweak some things as the show moved from rehearsal to performance but it was a great learning experience. 
My own character creations turned out well and I managed to fit in a few costume competitions which I placed well in. So I will keep working. Presently I am in a short respite before Holiday Character parades and Christmas Pageants begin. I had reached out to our local children's theater group as well for their production set to open in January. Wondering if I have truly overbooked myself, perhaps the  Junior theater may well not need me this show. That being said I am currently free to indulge in private projects or open to bookings after January 20th- until then Happy Holidays to one and all.
Michele