Chopping it up with Alana Bates with her killer CUTlery and Morbid Cuties

Please introduce yourself, where you are from, and what you do.

Hello! I’m Alana Bates (yes, that is my real last name), the owner of Morbid Cuties. I currently live in the tiny town of Fish Haven, Idaho. My day job is helping my family run a coffee shop in Garden City, Utah… which basically means I’m a barista.

1.) Can you tell us when you started this TERRORIFFIC endeavor? How long have you been in business?

I originally started sewing voodoo dolls and crocheting horror themed dolls, which is where I got my business name Morbid Cuties. I slowly moved into painting in November of 2018, So it’s been less then a year but probably the most rewarding form of art I do. It’s what keeps me sane.

2.) What kind of gory goodies do you offer?

I paint horror and sci-fi themed chef knives!

3.) What’s your biggest sellers?

Definitely Art the Clown from Terrifier. He has been the most requested from pretty much everyone! Pogo the Clown (John Wayne Gacy) has been a top seller as well, especially because Pogo is the only real life monster I have painted so far.

4.) What has been your biggest challenge?

Probably trying to find the time to paint consistently and work on better perfecting techniques. I have never been much of a painter until recently, so I have a lot of room for improvement.

5.) What was your most exciting project?

I would say the Predator knife I painted! He was the most challenging and detailed knife I have done because he is one ugly mother f…...

6.) What can your fans and future customers look forward to? Any new projects in mind you care to share?

I will be doing more sets! After my clown knives went viral on Instagram I have had a lot of requests for clown themed sets. Big project on my list that I am excited to get started on soon is a Pinhead and Cenobites set from the Hellraiser movies. I am a huge true crime fanatic so I will most certainly come out with some serial killer knives as well.

7.) What’s your definition of horror?

Disturbing things, images or actions that cause a person unease.

8.) What’s your favorite horror film?

That is tough because I have so many! I could never narrow it down to just one, but here are a few of my top favorites; The Omen, Stephen King's It (1990.... Yeah, I know it was so cheesy BUT Tim Curry as Pennywise was brilliant), American Mary, The Shining (1980), Hellraiser, Hereditary, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Cell (not quite sure if you can call this horror especially since JLo and Vince Vaughn were absolutely terrible but the visuals and plot of this movie were disturbing and eerie, …...so underrated) and I am sure there are a lot of movies I am missing from this list but this is a good start!

9.) Who’s your favorite horror character?

Another hard question! I don’t know if I can pick just one. Mary Mason from American Mary is a top contender though. She carried out the revenge everyone wishes they could but can’t and in such a gruesome way.

10.) Where can one go to purchase your horror themed goods or to find out more about you?

I have an Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/morbidqts. My instagram (@morbidcuties) and Facebook page (Alana Bates) is where I post most of my art and upcoming projects!