Check Out Mallorie McCune’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallorie McCune.

Hi Mallorie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Art and music have been in my family for years, so I definitely can say I was born with the artistic and creativity bug! I’d always needed a creative outlet and seemed to always make projects for myself when other avenues weren’t lining up. I didn’t initially expect textiles to be the first type of items I was going to produce for my business, but I truly just started by doing what I liked and it has changed and evolved over the years.

In 2014, I started by making custom stage wear for rock & metal bands, local and national. That tapered off after I left the band I was in and thus left the music scene in general as I wasn’t advertising and I purely operated by word of mouth. What it did do though was spark my interest in thinking about legitimately launching Dismal Cyanide Customs as a business.

Fast forward to Aug 2020 and I applied for my LLC. I started to crank out my now signature “plushie bats” & my first vending opportunity was the Oddities Fest in May of 2021 in Colorado Springs. My work and its following have grown steadily since then, and I am truly appreciative of everyone who supports my small business!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any time you build something, there will always be hiccups and certain aspects you didn’t necessarily prepare for or understand were a facet going in. You learn A LOT and have to be willing to educate yourself AND take notes from others. When you keep that mindset, the struggles are easier to overcome!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I first started making and selling art while in college from 2004 to 2007. I worked for a local artist who was selling well on eBay and it gave me the time I needed to produce my paintings as well. I’ve always been into more gothic/fantasy-type subjects and that was certainly reflected in my murals. I only do paintings on commission or when I feel like it now but remain with the darker subject matter in most of my product offerings to this day.

I have a passion for making my plushie bats (my current best sellers, with magnet feet so they can hang upside down), alternative/goth cameo pendants, witchcraft tools, coffin wallets, and hand painted crystal rune jewelry among many other bits n bobs. I try my best to keep my plushies made from at least 60% 2nd hand or upcycled materials. That aspect of my material gathering took a while to get consistent, but it was very important to me to try and help the environment in such ways.

As a creative business owner, you certainly learn by trial and error what is a good product to produce and what just falls flat. Some things are cyclical and some are seasonal, and you have to be honest with yourself about what WILL be worth your time and efforts. But this crazy bat lady will always be making her custom sky puppies for young and older alike!!

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
I have taken certain risks over my lifetime. The first one was moving from Maryland to Colorado 10 years ago, barely knowing only one person when I did move.

That single, albeit huge movement, has opened up so many opportunities and allowed me to meet so many new and valuable people that the benefits have always far outweighed the risks in my personal experience. As long as most aspects of the risk make sense and it’s not likely going to cause any actual harm, I say go for it!!

Pricing:

• 12″ Batty w/ Magnetic Feets – $30
• 3ft Cuddler Batty – $75
• Custom Cameo Pendants – $25
• Coffin Wallets – $65

Contact Info:

• Website: dismalcyanidecustoms.storenvy.com
• Instagram: @dismalcyanidecustoms
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisMalCyanideCustoms/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdcgSRWO60cZJmKMawjqJZQ

Image Credits
Vulture Bones Photography