Michael Brookes's Blog

I don't get why more people don't sign up for these bonus donations - if you shop online via any of the supported sites such as Etsy or eBay, or looking to switch your broadband provider then sign up here first and earn money for your favourite charity. Naturally, I hope you'll support the  German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund​ but if you have a cause closer to your heart then push that and still sign up. Think of it like a charity tax that you can drive! 

Individually the amounts are small but when combined we can make change happen. Potentially impactful change. Our work is completely reliant on the amazing generosity of our supporters - why don't we spread the load a little?

Please like, comment and share as widely as possible and make online retail therapy a force for good :-)

Please join me in supporting German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund on #easyfundraising, you'll raise FREE donations with your everyday shopping. It's quick and easy to sign up! Plus, once you've raised your first £5, easyfundraising will double it! Sign up now: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support-a-good-cause/step-1/?invite=8ik9ub&char=45963&referral-campaign=s2s&utm_source=refsharebox

 

Edgar All Poe was born on this day in 1809 and died only 40 years later. In those years he wrote some of the true classics of the spooky and the macabre which still have an impact today.

Pictured is a special handwritten on parchment version of The Raven. And I'm quite partial to Rotting Christ's audio version.

 

It's finally done! The blockage that was adding the John Milton biography is done. It'll need another content pass further down the line and a bibliography section will need adding as well.

As the Day in Milton's Life proved to be so short but also such a colourful glimpse that I'll work that in as well. For the AI art tooling  I'm shifting away from Midjourney as I'm not a fan of prompt censorship especially when they want real money from me.

But for now, let's discover some of Milton's life :

https://paradiselostaiedition.blogspot.com/2022/12/paradise-lost-ai-illustrated-edition.html

 

It seems our ever-unstable cultist left a message before mysteriously disappearing...

 

I wondered what had happened to the final addition and now I need to nuke my house from orbit...

Hi everyone! - I'm just trying something different here as I've grown more interested in playing around with videos helping with the GSD Welfare Fund and would love to do some more of my own projects with it. Starting with reviews of the various things I collect like the edged weapons and old books (well mostly Paradise Lost) seems a good place to start, so here's my most recent purchase.

It's rough on the edges, but I can fix those as I go along if this becomes more of a thing - which I hope so as I quite enjoyed putting this together :-) Anyway here's my review of Raven Forge's Tactical Hatchet from their new Tactical range.

https://youtu.be/1Gaw8XEcQWs

If you're interested in one for yourself then check it out here and they have plenty of other cool stuff:

https://ravenforge.com/collections/new-in/products/tactical-hatchet

Please note that I'm not sponsored by Raven Forge but if they'd like to I could be persuaded :-)

The Halloween Horror Auction raising money for the German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund is in full steam approaching All Hallows Eve. There are still some amazing and a few unique horror themed items available with more to be added daily. Here's the list of items available for bidding:

Alchemy Pewter Two Dragons Necklace - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364026340070Unique Pair of Hand Crafted Horror Masks - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364025477254Alchemy Pewter Lighter Case/Sleeve with Gothic Pentacle Theme - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364024173937Signed Copy of Little Bones by N V Peacock - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364023245318Jack Deconstructed Original Mixed Media Art by Eilidh Griffiths  - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364022276494Signed Copy of Dark Blood Comes From The Feet by Emma J. Gibbon - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364020950365Handmade Crochet Zombear - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364019964173Original Painting 'Aztec Apocalypse' by Luciana Nedelea - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364008390553Original Thread Painting 'Shepherding Stars' by Carron Bailes - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364010518737

These aren't auctions, but part of the same fundraising event and feature art (including my back piece)  from one of my favourite contemporary artists.Various Horror/Dark Fantasy A3 Prints/Posters - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364006019323

The talented Eilidh Griffiths has generously donated this excellent abstract piece titled 'Jack - Deconstructed' to the Halloween Horror Auction supporting the GSD Welfare Fund.

���Jack Deconstructed #1 ��� is a mixed media, an abstract art piece which shows the shapes and colours of the traditional Halloween ���Jack o��� Lantern��� along with invoking the feeling of chilly, misty mornings where you can smell the frost in the air, which then clear into crisp days with aqua skies.

This will make a very nice addition to any Halloween / Autumn or Pumpkin lover���s home as an abstract art piece.

It is approximately 20 cm x 15cm or 8 x 6 inches in size and is worked upon a canvas board with several different media including collaged paper and acrylic paint. Signed and dated on the rear, by the artist and initialled on the front. It is sealed with matt acrylic varnish and is supplied without a frame.

You can discover more of her art on Instagram: @alesgriff.art

Bid now to own this eye-catching and thoughtful work of art in time for Halloween:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364022276494

 

The talented Eilidh Griffiths has generously donated this excellent abstract piece titled 'Jack - Deconstructed' to the Halloween Horror Auction supporting the GSD Welfare Fund.

‘Jack Deconstructed #1 ‘ is a mixed media, an abstract art piece which shows the shapes and colours of the traditional Halloween “Jack o’ Lantern” along with invoking the feeling of chilly, misty mornings where you can smell the frost in the air, which then clear into crisp days with aqua skies.

This will make a very nice addition to any Halloween / Autumn or Pumpkin lover’s home as an abstract art piece.

It is approximately 20 cm x 15cm or 8 x 6 inches in size and is worked upon a canvas board with several different media including collaged paper and acrylic paint. Signed and dated on the rear, by the artist and initialled on the front. It is sealed with matt acrylic varnish and is supplied without a frame.

You can discover more of her art on Instagram: @alesgriff.art

Bid now to own this eye-catching and thoughtful work of art in time for Halloween:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364022276494

 

 

We only have 11 days left of the Halloween Horror Auction raising money urgently needed to support the GSD Welfare Fund. Firstly a thank you to everyone who's participated we've raised just over £200, but we still have many cool items coming every day until Halloween.

We also still have some open auctions - take a look and see if anything catches your eye!

Signed Copy of Dark Blood Comes From The Feet by Emma J. Gibbon - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364020950365Handmade Crochet Zombear - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364019964173Signed Paperback of Neptune's Reckoning by Robert J. Stava - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364018248082Various Horror/Dark Fantasy A3 Prints/Posters - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364006019323Original Painting 'Aztec Apocalypse' by Luciana Nedelea - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364008390553Signed Paperback 'I Can See You' by David Haynes - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364016436294Signed Paperback copy of Sliggers by Michael Yowell - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364009448291Original Thread Painting 'Shepherding Stars' by Carron Bailes - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364010518737