Your neighborhood faery gothmother, Mandolin!
My name is Mandolin, and I am the owner of Pretty Grim Designs. I was born in 1977, so I'm whatever age that makes me at the time of your reading this! I am married to the mad scientist of my dreams with a kind heart who always supports me no matter how wacky my ideas get. Bless him for his patience lol! Together we have a combined 8 kids: bio, step, adopted, you know... just a typical modern mishmash family! Most are grown, and we are down to 2 full time kids in the house. I grew up in Texas and Oklahoma, where most of my family still lives. We moved to western Michigan in 2018 for my husband's job. I am a uhhhh very unique person, and I embrace that fully. It's not a phase, Mom! I am an elder goth who is also into lolita fashion, fantasy, sci-fi, video games, comics, D&D, and all that stuff that used to make me a nerdy geeky outcast sort. The tides did turn, though, now it's just how people are because everyone realized that $hit is awesome! You only get one short turn here, and you better make it worth it by being part of things you love!
I have done many jobs from waiting tables and retail when I was younger, to owning my own business making bespoke clothing, costumes, and accessories in my 30's. We just bought a promising house on a decent sized property. I have some big dreams and plans for this place! So that's where this blog will start. I'll be taking you guys along on my journey to make this place both a sanctuary and family business. I have always been an artist, and I love getting my hands on ALL the mediums. I have a good habit of wanting to modify, upcycle/recycle, and "Mandolize" (a favorite word) a healthy majority of the things I own. This has lead me to acquire the skills to do a number of things, use a vast array of tools and products, become a creative problem solver, and gather a ton of knowledge based on my own mistakes to save you that heartache. I am all about making this world as beautiful and unique as we possibly can, so I am here to share the things I make and learn with you guys! You'll also get to do some of my other favorite activities with me, such as thrifting and making all the food! My DIY tutorial blogs will come in YouTube video format, and as brief written blogs here on my site. So buckle up, Buttercups! Let's learn some cool $hit!