What was your earliest memory of watching horror movies?
Being a kid of the ’80s really opened my eyes to the genre. My mom loved scary movies and
would often invite my brother or me to curl up on the couch with her when she wanted to watch
one. I have fond memories of her jumping at moments in Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the
13th, then laughing at herself afterward. She even woke my brother up in the middle of the night
once to watch The Shining with her. It was always funny to me how she’d cover your eyes
during the sex scenes but never during the gore.
One specific memory stands out: it was Thanksgiving, and we were at a family friend’s house.
Her husband pretended to carve the turkey like Leatherface (this was more than a decade
before Seth Green’s moment in Idle Hands). My mom said, “Let’s go rent it,” so we did.
My mom passed away from cancer when I was 10, so as strange as it sounds, these memories
are ones I cherish. Many moons later as an adult I had the honor of telling Bill Moseley how my
mom spit out her cheesecake when Chop Top picked at his plate on that momentous
Thanksgiving day. During that meeting, I also gifted him an original split-face portrait I’d drawn of
him — half as Chop Top and half as Otis Driftwood from the House of 1000 Corpses franchise
I specifically remember the movie that scared me the most as a kid though was Poltergeist. That
damn clown and that swimming pool. I remember being petrified… “Carol Anne! Carol Anne!”
When did you decide you wanted to create horror items?
Thanks to Flashback Weekend Chicago, I discovered there was a much larger horror fan
following than I’d ever imagined. My first time attending their convention was in 2004 — not only
was it the first horror con I’d ever attended, but also the first I’d even heard of. Seeing all the
vendors, fans, celebrity guests, and enthusiasts made me realize there were so many others
like me who truly appreciated the genre for all it was worth. It was an art form. And to top it off,
the people I met were some of the kindest I’d ever encountered. Some of those folks, including
Mike and Mia Kerz, who run the convention, are now what I consider a part of my horror
community family.
At that convention, I had the honor of meeting the legendary Sid Haig for the very first time.
What started as a fangirl moment blossomed into a 15-year friendship that lasted until the very
day he passed away. For years, my husband and I would meet up with him when he was in
town, or travel to Indy to meet him at conventions. We’d have dinner, catch up, and share
stories. I even had the honor of helping his wife, Suzie, plan his surprise hotel room birthday
party at Flashback Weekend in 2006. When we were miles apart, we stayed in touch through
emails and by sending things through the mail.
I’ll never forget the first time I sent Sid some of my art via email, and his response was, “You
and your art are hot shit.” So, when Rob Zombie posted on his message boards that he was
looking for fan art inspired by House of 1000 Corpses for a fan art book he was planning, I knew
I wanted to contribute. And I knew I wanted my art piece to feature Captain Spaulding. I finished
the artwork and sent it in. Although the book never came to fruition and I never got my artwork
back, I had made two prints of it before mailing it — one I kept (which Sid later signed for me),
and the other I gave to Sid himself.
Despite the book never materializing, that experience, combined with attending my first horror
con, sparked my motivation to create more art inspired by my love of the genre — and even my
artist name, Living Dead Girl Nicole. Many moons later in 2017, I decided to create a special
portrait as a birthday gift for Sid, so he could own an original piece of mine, rather than just a
print. Not to mention, my skills had improved over the years. Sid had always been incredibly
supportive of my art endeavors, and I wanted to show him that I supported his work, too. The
gift was a split-face portrait of him — half as himself, and half as Captain Spaulding. When I
gave it to him, he was blown away and loved it. It’s one of the many memories I cherish from our
time together.
How did creating horror items turn into a business?
I created my Etsy account back in 2008. At the time, I wasn’t sure how or where I would sell my
artwork, but I was in the midst of planning my Halloween masquerade wedding, I discovered the
platform and set up an account to connect with fellow creators. It was important to me to
incorporate art into our special day, so anything I didn’t want to stress over making myself, I
wanted to be handmade by other artists. After our wedding, I moved forward with setting up my
own shop.
As my shop grew, I later became the creator and moderator of the Etsy Massacre Team, a
group I founded because there were no other teams on Etsy that catered specifically to artists
inspired by the horror genre. It was an incredible opportunity to collaborate with other
like-minded creators, promote each other’s work, and get our names out there. Although teams
are no longer a feature on Etsy, the experience allowed me to network with so many amazing
artists whom I continue to support and follow to this day.
I now also sell on Amazon and have expanded into selling my work at Closet Collectibles in
Crete, Illinois. What started as a stop in to pick up some vintage Pee Wee’s Playhouse toys they
were holding for me has turned into an amazing five-year partnership. What began as a shelf in
the store has now grown into a full glass display case that fills me with pride every time I shop
there or stop in to restock my creations.
What inspires your creativity?
I draw inspiration from the things that intrigue me, from the darkness of horror to the lightness of
fantasy. If it’s creepy, spooky, and has a dash of glitter, neon, or monster fur, I probably own
it—or have made it. As a kid of the ’80s and a teen in the ’90s, I loved surrounding myself with
the imaginative worlds of creators like Jim Henson and Tim Burton (and still do). I was the type
of kid who’d daydream about the day my “I Wish” would call on Jareth to take me to his castle
beyond the Goblin City, or when Pee Wee would get my letter and invite me to his Playhouse in
Puppetland.
During playtime, I’d often use my markers to turn my dolls’ blonde hair into every color of the
rainbow. While my friends were dreaming of becoming ballerinas (I tried it and hated it) or
growing up to look like Barbie, I was the one who wanted to design fashions for Jem and the
Holograms and imagined growing up to look like my dad’s cardboard cutout of Elvira.
Even as an adult, I find fulfillment in embracing my inner child and incorporating the strange and
whimsical into not only my artwork but my overall aesthetic. A gothicorn powered by art
supplies, I embrace both the dark and the light, all while paying homage to the films, characters,
and icons I adore.
Do you have a favorite Undead Doll that you’ve made?
I would definitely say Red is my favorite Undead Doll that I’ve created so far. She was the 8th
doll I made, and in many ways, she represents a part of me. Red stands fearless, showing the
world who really wears the cape in the family. She proudly sports what remains of the Big Bad
Wolf, with Granny nestled in her basket—undigested, of course. To me, Red is a reminder to
never let anyone challenge your intelligence, strength, or bravery. She symbolizes the power of
overcoming anything, no matter how big or scary it may seem.
How long does it take you to make an Undead Doll?
The time it takes really depends on the vision I have for each doll and the treasure hunting I do
to find upcycled items that fit the concept. I don’t typically create them on a commission basis;
instead, I work from the vision that inspires me at the time. Each Undead Doll is crafted from a
unique idea, and once I’ve created a specific style, I vow never to recreate it. That way, each
doll is one-of-a-kind, making it special for the person who owns it.
What is your favorite horror movie and why?
I’ve been asked this question before, and I always say there’s no way to pick just one. With so
many sub-genres within horror, it’s nearly impossible to choose a single favorite. However, if I
had to pick one that has stuck with me the most over the years, it would definitely be The
Exorcist. There’s something about the raw intensity and the psychological terror that lingers long
after the credits roll. Even after all these years, it still sends chills down your spine.
How can horror fans find your wonderful creations?
Website: https://www.artworkbylivingdeadgirlnicole.com
Online: https://livingdeadgirlnicole.etsy.com/
Store: Closet Collectibles 1626 Wood Street, Crete IL 60417
Do you have anything spooky that you are currently working on?
Right now, I’m deep into a 7-piece art commission for a fantasy web series. Once that project is
finished, I’ve got a whole bunch of ideas lined up, filling up my art bucket list, and I can’t wait to
bring them to life. Keep an eye out for those future creations! Be sure to follow my blog at
https://artworkbylivingdeadgirlnicole.wordpress.com/ for all the latest updates and
announcements!