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Aut viam inveniam aut faciam* I apologize for not getting a blog out sooner, it seems as soon as I think I am almost done with the Belltown Gothic section of the website, something else comes up and I want to stop and work on that. For the past few days now, my entire waking moments have been devoted entirely to research, my goal was to find out the provenance of a particular collection of Medieval torture devices. I was able to find out not only information on the previous owner, but the owner even before that, as well as certified documentation *and* one person who is still alive who knows the whole sordid history of this particular set of torture equipment. Let me just say that after searching endlessly different queries, I found myself at the proverbial wall and thought I was at a dead-end. Then I noticed during one search, a sentence caught my eye, one that specifically had to do with this collection. I clicked the link and it sent me to some ivy league school website, which required not only that I sign up, but fork over a hefty amount of money just to see the rest of the sentence. All I needed, was the rest of the sentence. I have a certain trick I use with Google search during situations just like this, and after a small amount of manipulation I was reading the entire sentence. This sentence not only that gave me one specific name that I needed, but even more importantly, it gave me the DATE! I did a major happy dance, because it was the information I needed in order to open the big door, which lead me to the rest of the research. After that it was like hitting the jackpot. I sent in an 18 page in PDF to my client and not less than 10 minutes later, he emailed back absolutely overjoyed with the information that I found. He said that I would be "justly rewarded" which usually means something absolutely wonderful. It will probably be a while before I get paid, (again as with this client, he usually pays in human skulls, Egyptian mummy bones and bits or other exotic curios i.e. Victorian monkey paws, though I would love a mummy hand but I don't think he has any available at this time). If you are in Seattle this week-end and won't be glued to the TV for Superbowl Sunday, make sure to stop by the Mourning Market! 
I have been told that Gothic Beauty will be there! And if you do go, please stop by and say hello to Lucky! He has a new display, which is actually a vintage display, one of those portable mortuary curtains that was once used to set up behind a casket for viewing. It even comes with its original lamp! He set it up and it looks so incredible, all maroons and gold, with velvet rosettes. I love that old look, and with all the posters up against the curtains, it looks truly incredible! Lucky thought it would be totally appropriate, especially considering how this mortuary drapery had been used for countless funeral displays during the 1930s and 1940s. This was obtained by my most favorite scout hunter Rachel, who always finds me the most incredible treasures! The Belltown Gothic section is FINALLY done. This is merely a slice of old Seattle history with six major sections, including my collaborations with these amazing writers: Jesse Bernstein, William S. Burroughs, and Wilum Hopfrog Pugmire, Esquire. The other sections include Old Belltown before it was bulldozed, razed and rebuilt, SCUD (Subterranean Cooperative of Urban Dreamers) and the amazing Free Mars Cafe. I went ahead and scanned all the artwork collaborations I did with Jesse, Wilum and Mr. Burroughs because all of my books are sold out and no longer in print. You can go ahead and click HERE! Some of my recent purchases, a most incredible French Laudanum bottle with a smidgen of Laudanum still in it, A Weird Trips #2 1978 comic book that has a rather extensive and very detailed story with actual photographs about Ed Gein, the original Psycho. These will be for sale later on my website. Next up on my never-ending web to-do update list: I need to put up a bunch of new original artwork for sale on the original artwork pages, take down the stuff that has long since been sold. And then I want to update the freelance section, especially considering that I no longer do web design. I have been aching to add all the incredibly cool projects I've done, especially for Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, and other clients, as well as a few nifty reviews. This section is sorely out-of-date! And lastly, and finally, I need to tweak any other minor sections, update links, etc. Then I will be FREE to tear apart my studio and rearrange it, organize it. I really need to get cracking on new posters, but first, I need to take a wee break. The husband and I plan to visit Fort Vancouver Barracks, it is majorly haunted, especially the basement. I read that the basement is where the blood was collected during amputations, it flowed through "blood pipes" and the blood was collected in "blood barrels." When the barrels were full, they just emptied them in the Columbia River. To think all that blood drifting right past Astoria during the Victorian era! I am going to bed now. *I will either find a way or make one
Nec mortem effugere quisquam nec amorem potest* I found this absolutely amazing Cadaver Hanger, and just had to have it. I mean, how many times in my life will I ever run across something as horrifyingly strange as this? 
Look at the points on this thing, touching it with my finger, they are really, really sharp! I wasn't sure what this was, and emailed my MAIN scout hunter (and mortician extraordinaire) and she thought perhaps it might be an old metal cervical skeletal traction device and I immediately agreed with her findings. But the more I looked at photos and diagrams of traction devices, I noticed that the prongs on the traction devices were much more gentle looking, like little nubs. And then looking at the prongs on the device, it actually looks quite deadly. 
So I did a bit more research and found a doctor online who specialized in autopsy tools, just the man I was looking for! I emailed him and attached photos of the device, as I was certain that this was indeed a cadaver hanger, only because I had seen some old photos of hanging cadavers, and these look like a variation of what I have: 
He emailed back and confirmed that is was in fact a cadaver hanger. After pondering this, I decided I am going to keep this one, most often I buy stuff to look at it, use it for a framed curio and inevitably sell it. But this one, I think I have to keep, frame it and will put it on my wall. The next item I purchased is an 1895 1st edition of a book titled Espy's Embalmer by J. B. Espy. 
There are seventy-five "cuts" (photographs), all of which are gruesome and almost primitive in nature, compared to embalming photos now days. There are lots of photos of how to raise arteries, all of it rather disturbing because the wounds made are clean and bloodless. Which is more disturbing, wounds seeping blood or clean, bloodless wounds? 
I noticed that all through the book, the corpse was wearing a chin strap, which I had never seen before. I am still working on the web update. I just finished the SCUD pages (which are NOT live yet) and am working on the last five sections which I am happy to say, is coming along nicely and quickly. It should all be up in a few days, and of course I will post here when it is all live. There are still have packages that I haven't even unpacked yet, only because I am waiting to do the major Studio Reorganization before putting anything away. Case in point, my very lovely and long-sought after ribcage (female axial skeleton) which is currently residing on top of the Wedding Skull velvet box. I plan to hang her up once I get the studio in shape. I am thinking that it might be better for her hanging rather than lying there like this, which is another reason I am getting closer to finishing the web updates in order to get started on re-organizing my studio. 
And for those who are interested, there is a Doll Reservation list up on the website, which you can go to Here. You can email Lucky or Ruby to reserve a spot, and you can ask them about doll prices. *No one is able to flee from death or love |
F R I E N D S The Mutter Museum Billy Jamieson Circus of the Scars Zamora, The Torture King Matt the Tube Orgone Research Sideshow World The Human Marvels Wilum Hopfrog Pugmire Cam Garrett The Queen's Obsession Miss Oblivious Claudia Andrei Gothic Tea Society Blooddrop Clothing and Fineries Altered Bits: Altered Art
    
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