In Loving Remembrance...

Greetings, all.
I'm not going to lie. This really hits me hard. And I am sure that you feel the same way, too. I've been weeping intermittently, all day long yesterday and now again today... every time I recount this sad, sad news, a fresh wave of sorrow and tears envelopes me.

 
*** We lost a precious angel on Tuesday, August 25th. Yes, I said angel, because that is what Dolly Parton genuinely was. She was the real thing: she walked it like she talked it. A public figure, a singer, songwriter, actress, literacy advocate for children and overall, a humanitarian like no other. The epitome of what a human being should be.

                                           The Butterfly ... she has earned her wings

*** I owe Dolly a huge debt of gratitude on so many levels, I can't even begin to list it properly here. Not only for graciously giving me a special interview, as well as allowing me to use her beautiful song "These Old Bones" in my Fall 2021 issue of the magazine, but most importantly, for the gift of her bright light of LOVE, that which permeated the world and blasted the darkness away. You could not ever listen to her, or watch her, or read about her, and feel badly in any way. It just wasn't possible; she radiated positivity and she unselfishly shared it with us all. She made our world a much better place as result of just being HERSELF.

*** I was at a meeting earlier that day at our local radio station Hippie Radio 94.5, with my dear friend and Halloween cohort Vance, when we heard the sad news. As many of you know, Vance has worked for Dolly for many years. It was a moment of utter disbelief. It felt as if all the air went out of the room, and then everything went dreadfully silent. Dolly was not merely just his boss, she was his friend. What do you do when you get the news that your beloved friend has passed on... I choke up recalling this moment, as we looked at each other with pure shock in our eyes. It's going to be a mournful memory for years, remembering exactly where I was, what I was doing, with whom, when I learned of her death. Much in the same awful way that I recall exactly where/what when John Lennon passed away... and Robert Kennedy Sr... the space shuttle... my parents. This pain is terrible.

 
*** I absolutely hate this... can't get my head nor heart wrapped around it. It wasn't supposed to happen! Dolly was supposed to live forever, and continue to shed her loving light all over us with her songs, her wonderful sense of humor, and with her unending well of kindness.

Dolly Parton - January 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026 

***I have a special memory I'd like to share with everyone. It happened a few years ago. I had the opportunity to work on one of her TV specials, Dolly Parton's Pet Gala (which aired on US television February 21, 2025). Vance brought me along to help him with set design. When Dolly entered the room, I swear the atmosphere was charged with a rare electricity. I could not take my eyes off of her... she was a supernatural being, perfect, exquisite... and tiny! Her petite stature in person belied the giant you saw in photos and videos. And this is in spite of wearing her signature 6-inch high spike heels. I was mesmerized!

*** As she was being seated to be filmed for her interview, she first stopped and said hello to all the staff, the camera & lighting women and men, each and every person who was there. I stood about ten feet away, to the side of one of the main cameras. She looked into my eyes and smiled that famous radiating smile at me. I felt her electric energy shoot through my head and out my feet. 

*** It is that beautiful smile that I will forever see in my mind's eye. Thank you, Dolly. Thank you for everything. I love you.

 
***Here's the lovely video interview Dolly did exclusively for Autumn Brilliance. I enjoyed her candor, relating of what it was like growing up in the Smoky Mountains and her love for the autumn and Halloween, but especially love what she said about possibly working with Elvira ... that is something that I -and so many others! - would have loved to have seen.

 

 

❤️

A Harrowing True Tale - - -

 *** Today we present to you an artist of rare distinction, one whose original creations often reveal a heartfelt championing for the underdog... most often, that of misunderstood women. 

 
We are very happy to welcome the artist, Jennie Hepler Takens to our Fall 2026 issue. ❤️

*** It's a sad and well-known fact that history has often not shown kindness nor favor for women in the past, simply because they were different in some ways that ran counter to the rigid orthodoxy of society's norms. 

The Puritan era was not exempt from many shameful events.

*** Jennie illustrates the harrowing true tale of "Half-Hanged Mary" with her stunningly sculptured doll of the same name. The story is indeed a gruesome one... but, does Mary triumph in the end? You'll find out in the pages of Autumn Brilliance!

*** You can also witness Mary and all of Jennie's dazzling art in person at the Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show on September 26th, 2026 in Marshall, Michigan.
---Please stop by and say hello! You can have Jennie herself autograph your copy of the magazine ---

--->Our Fall 2026 issue is available in September - link is at the left side of the page<---

❤️

Get ready to be enchanted - - -

Greetings, everyone! 🎃
*** As we tip-toe in teeny-tiny increments toward fall, thoughts of the seasonal magic that will soon fill the air come to mind... bringing the magic-makers with it! And as we know, some people have the ability to create true magic...
*** It must be, as it seems their souls are true alchemists effortlessly bringing forth an exquisite beauty and mystery of realms previously undiscovered to mortals. 

 
*** This is very much so, with artist/photographer Darla Teagarden. 

Her ethereal scenarios conjure up soft and mystical places. Everything you see in Darla's photography evokes passion and enchantment; sometimes you'll find the denizens of these vignettes gently awash with a wee bit of melancholy or cheeky humor... but always drenched in allure and charm, and coming straight from the artist's heart and soul.
*** Darla herself creates all of the backgrounds and props herself by hand - you will find zero AI here to offend the senses.

 
*** We're enchanted by Darla's artistry, and rejoice in sharing some of her photos here, in the Fall 2026 issue of AUTUMN BRILLIANCE magazine.

---> Available in September 2026; link on left side of this page

 

You can also come to our booth at the magical Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show on Saturday, September 26th 2026 for your own copy. Won't you sit a spell with us? 

 

 

Sharing my JOY with you - - -

 It has truly been my absolute, most heartfelt joy and an outright privilege to be able to share the many Artists in each issue of Autumn Brilliance magazine over the years 🎃🖤🎃

 

*** My delight in discovering and promoting each one has brought such a healing light into my life. Surely everyone feels the same way when seeing their artistry for the first time, either in person or in the pages here. I can best describe it as a pure, childlike sense of wonder and undiluted happiness that blooms in my heart witnessing the imagination and creativity brought forth from each and every one of them (and, might I add, not one single speck of AI to be found!). Artists who have brought their talents, via an unending variety of mediums and genres - clay, paint, wood, fabric, metal, you name it.

I am genuinely, forever thankful. My Halloween mug runneth over! 

*** And, again, I get to share all of this joy with you!

And now for some whimsical Witchies! - - -

It's clear that artist Ryan Knight keeps the vivid flame of Halloween burning bright all the time.

    Hand-sculpting his distinctive Witch ornaments and pumpkins and more, his art instills a brilliant sense of fun, of surprise, of all-out whimsy in the viewer. These ornaments seemingly contain a magical cackle within that is ready to burst out. Don't even try to resist - you will cackle, too! 

    Every one of them is highly stylized, fun, occasionally odd, and simply stunning. Ryan creatives everything from clay, and festoons each one with all manner of materials, feathers, rhinestones, flowers... you name it, and Ryan's creations have it. Absolutely not a dull one in the bunch; they all have their own little personalities. You could collect a dozen, and still want more!

    If you, like us and like so many among the Halloween crowd, love to hang your Halloween ornaments year-round, you are wise to do so with Ryan's beautiful little goodies - the will bring you nothing but cheer and laughter every day.

*** You can meet Ryan and indulge in his fabulous artistry in person at the incredible All Hallows Art Fest in the picturesque northern California town of Petaluma, on Saturday, September 26th, 2026!

   We are so happy to present Ryan's art in the Fall 2026 issue of Autumn Brilliance magazine (available in September here on the website - the link is on the left side of the page). 

    And of course, we'll have copies of the magazine for you at the wonderful  Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show in Marshall, Michigan, on September 26, 2026. 

Please stop by our booth, we're excited to meet you there!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Come to a quiet place with us - - -

  We're a taphophile: a person who enjoys the history, architecture and overall serenity of cemeteries and graveyards. There's an incredible amount of forgotten history to be found in so many of them, along with stunning ancient iconography that often tells the tale of the person's life and the era they lived in. Many of the stones from yesteryear seem to be absolute monuments of remembrance, when compared to the relatively bland stones used today. Nevertheless, the artistry and history of these gravestones are resplendent with their regard for the people buried beneath them.

It is something that Brenda Sullivan of Gravestone Girls grew to love. Together with fellow GG's Maggie Phillips, Melissa Anderson, and Brenda's father, Richard, they explore burial sites all over New England, and also in their long distance travels, having visited notable cemeteries and burial site areas across the world.
 

Brenda's mother taught her at an early how to do a tombstone rubbing, which led to her lifelong fascination of the lives of the people who lay below the elaborately-carved and lovingly decorated blocks of stone.
 

With her fine arts education and background in small artifact restoration, she creates beautiful clay replicas: pins, magnets, and even stunning jewelry of some of the most striking gravestones and iconography from across New England and abroad.
 

You can learn more about the compelling artistry of the Gravestone Girls in the Fall 2026 issue of AUTUMN BRILLIANCE magazine.

Come visit Brenda and all the Gravestone Girls at the Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween art show, where they'll have a beautiful array of gravestone artistry to be had. You can have them autograph your copy of the magazine, too!

Remember, Bewitching Peddlers happens one day only: Saturday, September 26, 2026 in the lovely town of Marshall, Michigan.

- We too will be there, with plenty of magazines for you! 

 Available here and online in September.
- Link on the left, to order! -

An original Folk Tale for you - - -

  We're grateful to have had the opportunity to present the debut of an original folk tale, created by noted clay artist/storyteller, Lauren Martinez of Stony Layne Collections.

If you are familiar with the wonderful Latin American holiday of "Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), you will know that is full of reverence for past ancestors, focusing on keeping their memory alive. Truly, it's one of our most favorite, treasured holidays (next to Halloween, of course).  

❤️Meet the Pepperbones❤️ 

 Deep in our hearts, we all hold fast to the memories of those who have passed... it's a place where we ache and feel so alone. We suffer in silence, with only our grief as our dark companion. 

This is where The Pepperbones witches arrive, each with her own special ability to envelope us with their unwavering love, lessening our load.
It's a very lovely Day of the Dead styled tale, full of love and emotion, illustrated with Lauren's gorgeous original art. 

  You can read this enchanting tale in the Fall 2026 issue of AUTUMN BRILLIANCE magazine, available in September.
(Order information is found by clicking link on the left side - remember, this issue not available until September!)