👻 Spooky Sketches, Disappearing Pies & a Little Secret
Published 1 day ago • 3 min read
A Letter from Julia
Spooky Sketches
Hello Reader
Well, October seems to have completely taken over my sketchbook!
There have been ghosts, skeletons, mysterious rituals, and cake!
And somewhere in the middle of all that, I’ve been working on a little something for November. But more about that later!
First, let’s talk about the spooky stuff!
31 Days of Spooky Sketches
This month, I’ve been taking part in #FrightFall2026, a daily drawing challenge hosted by Retro Supply.
The idea is simple: one spooky prompt every day throughout October, ending on Halloween. Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, some prompts have certainly had me scratching my head!
I’ve been having fun putting my own slightly peculiar spin on them. After all, why draw an ordinary scarecrow when you can have a crow dressed as a scarecrow? And apparently, when I see the word Ritual, my brain immediately conjures up a group of mysterious hooded figures worshipping a tin of sardines
It’s been a great excuse to experiment, play with different ideas and draw every day.
That was just a little selection of my FrightFall illustrations! The challenge finishes on October 31, so pop over to my Instagram to see the rest of my spooky creations.
Apparently, I Wasn't Finished With Spooky!
You’d think drawing something spooky every single day would have satisfied my Halloween obsession.
Apparently not!
I also found time to draw a wonderfully wonky candle at Jutta Schneider's sketch-a-long session and attend a Halloween cake-decorating drawing session, hosted by Claire Makes Things,
The cake was particularly fun because I’d actually come up with the idea the day before the session. I had a picture in my head of what I wanted to create, and it was lovely seeing it come to life.
Although, as usual, I couldn’t resist thinking about adding a few more details, textures, and finishing touches afterward.
When does a drawing ever feel finished?
And Then There Was Cake. Lots of Cake.
Just when you thought my sketchbook couldn’t get any more chaotic, things took a decidedly sweeter turn.
I attended another lovely live drawing session, this time featuring cakes and pastries.
Everything was going swimmingly until I somehow managed to delete the entire filling from my cherry pie.
The funniest part? I didn’t even notice straight away!
I kept looking at this rather strange, empty-looking pie, wondering why something seemed off.
Eventually, the penny dropped.
THE CHERRY FILLING HAD VANISHED!
Of course, by then I’d moved on to other things, so the trusty Undo button couldn’t save me.
I did eventually restore the missing filling, but by that point, I’d started drawing a few extra treats.
Which led to more cakes.
Which led to more pastries.
And before I knew it, I had an entire cake gallery!
Which is your favorite treat?
Apparently, I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to drawing baked goods.
Psst...Something's Brewing for November!
While I’ve been busy filling my sketchbook with all sorts of spooky and sweet things, there’s also been a little activity happening behind the scenes at Blue Owl Crafted.
Some of my illustrated characters have been getting ready for their next adventure, and this time they’re heading out into the world!
I’m excited to share that I’ll be taking part in a Pop-Up Artist Market launching in November!
It’s a lovely opportunity to discover creations from a collection of independent artists, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
The market will run over Black Friday and beyond, and I’ll share more details soon.
For now, I’m keeping a few things under wraps.
After all, everyone loves a little mystery!
Before I Go...
I'll leave you with a fun question to ponder.
Would you rather have...
A haunted cake that never runs out of slices?
OR
A magical candle that tells you spooky stories?
Until next time, keep creating, stay curious, and watch out for disappearing pie fillings!
