New Stockist – The Peter Scott Gallery / Nuffield Theatre at Lancaster Uni

Well, actually it’s not new new as you would have found Sock Horror there in December last year, but they are new in that it’s a new year, a new term, and a new series of creatures.

The Great Hall complex at Lancaster Uni is a focal point for arts, housing both the Peter Scott Art Gallery and the Nuffield Theatre and a great little coffee bar in the middle.

The Nuffield Theatre stages a multitude of productions and concerts ranging from small shows to full scale orchestral performances and the Peter Scott Gallery houses an international art collection which includes Japanese and Chinese art and a selection of works by 20th century British and European artists.

And it is here that you will now find Sock Horror!

Does that sound like a harmonious assembly of work? I’m not sure, and to be honest neither are the curators, but I do know that someone up there loves them as their numbers keep dwindling.

So what does this mean? Well, it means that if you are in the Lancaster area and want to find out about Sock Horror (or need a caffeine boost), you’re going to have to get your arse over to the Peter Scott Gallery… and soon… so that you’re not disappointed when there’s none left… again!

Hello New Year and Welcome to Tattoo Freeze

You lot ran me ragged in November and December, so much so that I developed perpetual pins and needles in my index finger from repetitive and prolonged use of the tools of the Sock Horror trade.

The repercussions of this have been extreme and much needed… a total standstill. You may have thought that Sock Horror had fallen off the face of the Earth, and as far as my activities online were concerned that was right. I was busy rejoiced in the quietude of the holiday season.

With that little episode out of the way I have cast aside the slippers and cocoa and have returned to my natural state; a fanatical hyperactive dervish of a hunter.

We started 2010 with a bang by attending Tattoo Freeze… and what an event!

We were a little bit worried that the elements would work against us and force you all to stay wrapped up warm indoors but an astonishing 6000 of you made it!

We were busy; busy answering your questions of what happens to odd socks; busy training you to defend your family from socks theft; busy discussing the intricacies of various traps and hunting grounds.

We were too busy to take time to check out the amazing tattooists; the closest we got was gazing at the fresh ink encapsulated in cling film as it stopped at our stall. Too busy to cheer on the roller derby tournaments, settling ourselves instead with watching the girls glide by between games en route to somewhere else. Too busy to walk round and take in the graffiti, art exhibitions, other stalls and custom car and bike show... you just have to look at our shop to see how empty we are!

We did manage to be impressed by the skate boarders and BMX riders though, as our stall was right next to the half pipe! All I can say is that next time we’re going to bring helpers… there’ll be more of us to help you, and more of the creatures to capture your imagination. That way we’ll have a fighting chance to get a drink when we need one and take a breath to enjoy the convention.

So, with Tattoo Freeze over and unbelievably empty shelves I'd better get back to the grind stone and work on regaining those pins and needles!

Open For Commissions

We have learnt from last year that this is the time we spread ourselves too thin. During November and December in 2008 we were definitely over enthusiastic in what we could achieve; signing up for numerous craft and Christmas fairs and accepting commissions and wholesale orders left right and centre. We were so busy last year that we were still sending out people’s Christmas presents after Christmas day… and we don’t plan to do that again.

We have decided not to participate in shows and events this holiday season and to concentrate our efforts on our online sales and commissions... we actually want to enjoy this holiday instead of passing out as soon as the heat is taken off!

So, I am offering my services to you! Anything your heart desires… be as wild and wonderful as you dare.

Please be aware of the final postage dates below and allow at least a week to craft your bespoke creature.


Final postage dates:

Australia and Rest of World 4th December
USA and Canada 10th December
Europe 11th December
UK 21st December

Whitby Goth Weekend in 50 days!

It must sound like the Goth weekend is the only real event in my calendar as I reckon about 50% of the blog entries I have made have been about it… and I can’t deny it’s a big one for me – especially as it’s at Halloween.

There is a fair amount of preparation for every event I take part in, but because I attend this one with a large group of mates I need to be as organised as possible to give myself the time to party while I’m there. My preparation for the Goth weekend starts earlier and earlier each year as we become more and more established and people expect to see us there. This requires that we take more creatures and become more ingenious with our designs as Halloween themes are popular and Whitby folk are starting to think about Christmas gifts.

I’m starting to panic! 8 weeks may sound like a long time but I assure you it is anything but. I have just made a list of everything I would like to achieve in that time and I am blown away by the length of it. Of course I have a good stock here, created for the events I have attended this summer, but I’m sure you can appreciate that the creatures I take to family fairs in sunny parks are a whole different kettle of fish to the darker variety that is swooned over at the Goth festival.

I am torn between creating the staples of the store; the creatures I know are popular, and the new ideas I have swimming round in my head, as yet untried and very much still in the design process. I have ideas about a new look for our stall, based around an old Victorian curiosity shop but I am worried that I won’t be able to give it the time it needs to make it look authentic, and of course there are the Halloween costumes to think up and make!

There is nothing for it but to buckle down to work and get creative.

The countdown to Whitby has officially started: 50 days to go!

A note about Whitby Goth Weekend: Many of the regulars will know that there have been some changes to the organization of the Goth festival over the last few months. I want to assure you that everything you come to expect from the Goth weekend is still happening and your festival enjoyment will not be affected by any management changes (most of the rumours incidentally are just that…rumours). There is of course the main Spa event with bands such as Faith and the Muse and Eden House, but there is also Carnival Macabre, Nostalgia, a Halloween costumes ball, club nights and bands at venues all around town, a custom car and bike show and events for under 18’s, not to mention the extensive gothic markets, where you’ll find us at the Leisure centre. So don’t believe anyone when they say part of the event has been cancelled and go find out for yourself.