This rain-soaked night we’re speaking with Mary Ciesynski of Gothcupcake!
So, what’s Gothcupcake all about?
A mix of creepy and cute! I came up with the name originally as a means to describe my own personal style. While I enjoy scary dark creepy things I also still am drawn to bright colors and sparkles! I wanted my products to reflect that duality.
What drives you to make “spooky, cute, weird, and vegan” stuff?
Growing up, my parents had their own jewelry business, so from a very young age I had the desire to create. As I got older I realized a lot of what I wanted to wear wasn’t in stores, so I started making my own crazy jewelry and accessories. I’ve been a vegan for 7 years now so I make sure all of my products are vegan-friendly too.
Why do you make stuff, instead of just watch TV all the time?
I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and have always made things. It’s just in me! If I’m not making something or crafting something I go crazy! I always love learning new techniques and skills and trying to work with new supplies as well, I am always trying something different!
Does Halloween impact your life at all? How?
Having grown up in New England I actually get very homesick around Halloween! I miss the leaves, the chilly nights, the apple cider, carving pumpkins and all the spooky lore of the area. Halloween was always a big deal because of the history of the witch trials and the Mercy Brown vampire myth, H.P. Lovecraft having been a resident in Providence and even Edgar Alan Poe having been a visitor of the area.
New England just has a spooky aura in general, with all of it’s little cemeteries scattered all over, so at Halloween everyone revels in it 
I’m trying my best to make the most of Halloween in the desert, and to bring some of the East Coast spook here!
What’s your favorite Gothy movie-film or book?
So hard to decide! It is tradition around Halloween to watch: Trick r Treat, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Halloween, and of course some of the classic horror movies. As for books usually H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Alan Poe, or Witch Crafts (a really cute Halloween-themed craft book!). I also enjoy any of those titles year round!
What’s the local Maker/Crafter scene like in Phoenix? Are you involved in it?
The local Maker/Crafter scene in Phoenix is definitely a mixed bag of every sort of talent and type–it’s inspiring and awesome! I try to take part in as many local craft events as I can to get to know, meet and support fellow makers/crafters. I like staying involved and even collaborating with others. I enjoy the Coffee, Cookies and Crafts events and taking part in First, Second and Third Fridays when I can.
Did you go trick-er-treating as a kid? What was your favorite childhood costume?
Yes! I loved to go trick or treating as a kid. One of my favorite costumes was a harem costume that was very “I Dream of Jeannie” that my mom got for me one year. “I Dream of Jeannie” was one of my favorite television shows along with Bewitched.
(In the included photo my little sister Lisa (right) is with me dressed as the cutest bumble bee!).
If you were to go to a Monster Ball, what monster would you want to dance with?
Tough choice! I would say Frankenstein, even though I’m not sure he’d be a great dancer. I might let Dracula cut in for a dance or two, I bet he dances fangtastically.
A Huge Thank You for Mary for supporting our first Keen Halloween!
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