Sunday, May 31, 2009

Fairs and Dark Affairs...

Hello Lovelies-

Well, I hope this weekend found you all well and in good spirits. I was busy as usual, but before I get into all that, I want to thank my friend Valerie over at the wonderful Cabin and Cub blog for giving me the Blog Friends Award, which is described thus: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement." Wow, I've never been called "non-self-aggrandizing" before! Very sweet. Thank you Valerie!

Moving on, I have been working like a mad-woman to get my inventory ready for the Old Port Festival this coming Sunday. This will be my first fair so I'm nervous and excited! I think I've thought of everything... hahaha. I will take some pics of the booth and put them up next week.

Despite being busy, I have put up three new art photos in the shops, they're more architectural than my work usually is, but I still went for the darkness that I think we all love at this point. They are entitled: Fried Clams, Green Dragon, and Seahorse Palace:



Oh! And haven't I found the most wonderful artist on Etsy recently! The shop is called Vintage Dreams and he's not lying... I don't know where to start with the amount of awesome this shop is, the pieces aren't cheap (because they're one of a kind art pieces), but I think they're beautiful. That Seeing Eye Camera is funny and strange and dark and so of course... I'm coveting it.



Let's finish her up with a news story, and you know it's going to be a doozy. Did you read about the squirrel that lives in a tree near a military cemetery at Port Huron, MI? Yeah, he's been making a nest out of American flags that people put on veterans' graves for awhile now. "How did anyone figure this out?" You ask. Well, the flags were being yanked off at the sticks and cemetery workers thought it was an act of vandalism... until they saw the squirrel take a flag off and carry it up to its nest. Seriously? Strange and sort of cute...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Bright Sun, dark lake...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, I'm back from my weekend foray to the lake and let me tell you, I haven't laughed that much or had that much fun in a long time. The weather was perfect, we canoed, we hiked, we fished (and I didn't catch anything... thank goodness), and I took some pics of our adventures. Take a peek. That's Bailey, the lake dog. She was ready to go, can you tell?



In honor of the weekend (and because Stephen King has a summer cottage on the lake we visited), I brought along Pet Sematary to read again. It had been almost 17 years since I'd read it last time and I thought I was ready. Well, you get a fire going in a dark cabin on a lake and needless to say. I wasn't ready. It's a great book though if you like suspense and you've never read it.

I am working on some new photos that I will be putting in the shop this week. I will post those probably tomorrow or the next day so keep your peepers peeled. Things are busy this week!



Let me wrap things up with a movie review Lovelies, we haven't had one of those in about a week or so. We're going down the really, really corny road this week. Up until now we've done classy corn (if that's possible), not today. With camping on the brain, I thought Sleepaway Camp (with the tagline: You won't be going home!) would be fitting. Is it the cheap gore? The ridiculous amount of blood? The totally random plot that alludes to things it never resolves? The early 80's hair and outfits? Yes, it's all those things and the bad acting, but they don't hold a candle to the final scene. You really won't see it coming and may have to rewind it a few times to figure it out. (This isn't to say it's good, but it's good 'n corny.) Pay special attention to my favorite character "Jude..." I give this flick 4 cobs.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Bonny and Clyde and the Reaper...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, I hope all of you have wonderful plans for this Memorial Day weekend. For some, it kicks off the summer (for others, it kicks off the fall and/or it's not an actual holiday in your country... hahaha). My Lovely and I are making a trip up north to a cabin on an island on a lake... to talk with friends, BBQ, canoe and just relax. I'm looking forward to it immensely.

I have been busy here at the mill getting my paintings together for the First Friday Artwalk at the Sylvia Kania Gallery here in Portland, ME coming up June 5th. I will have 4 paintings up and here are three of them. This series (which I've mentioned in past posts), is finally complete and it is entitled: Bonny, Clyde and the Reaper. Stop on by if you're in the area and take a look at all the wonderful work! 





I have discovered a wonderful online stationary store here recently that I just had to tell you all about. Old School Stationers is based out of the other Portland (OR), and they specialize in cards and wall prints. Most, if not all, of these are letterpress and they're all definitely to die for folks. This Camping Circa 1960's set is a particular favorite:

   

And let's conclude with a little humor, shall we? I just a read the following headline: Snake Wasn't Used As School Jump Rope. Upon reading further, I discovered that at a school in Pittsburgh, PA, a high school student "swung around a snake from a biology class but didn't use it as a jump rope as police at first claimed." Did the student feel bad for the snake and refrain at the last minute from swinging it, to jumping it? you ask... Uhm, no. Apparently, the snake wasn't long enough to jump rope with. WHAT?! What? First of all, why was the snake even out? Where was the teacher when he took it out? And what would possess anyone to swing a snake around?! His parents are in for a tough go with that one. Whew. Good times.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams

Monday, May 18, 2009

Findings and Collections...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, I am back from my great antiquing expedition and I found some choice items. But first, let me say that the people watching was almost the best part. I saw a woman completely wrapped in fur sables and a hat and gloves... and it was 75 degrees out. I saw a booth dedicated to chalkware cats (I'd never even seen one chalkware cat, let alone that many). And I saw more mullets, cigar smoking women and Happy Meal toys than I care to ever see again. 

Below is some of my stash, this is just the paper stuff. I picked up some great Victorian cabinet photos of ladies you may see in my work in the future, an old copy of Argosy which is great since I love old men's magazines, a couple of girly calendar pin-ups and a great original watercolor portrait. I love Brimfield!

  

Moving on, I am currently working on some paintings for my gallery co-op that I'll show you Lovelies pictures of in the next post. So, in lieu of my own work, I thought I would show you the work of yet another great Etsy seller. I love cabinets of wonder and Aldetha's pieces are an amazing display of eye candy for those who also like this type of work. Even her profile description is great. Here are some of her more high-end offerings.







And let me conclude with another movie review Lovelies. Some of you may like Michael Crichton for movies like Jurassic Park, but you need to go way, way back for the real gold. Westworld, starring Yul Brynner, is a wonderful combination of a creepy/interesting plot, robots, suspense and vacation resorts gone really awry. (Sound familiar? Only this one doesn't have Veloceraptors and a ton of CGI and overacting...) All of the effects were really executed using models and sets and clay-o-mation and the idea is really cool too. Just don't rent the sequel folks. I give this one 4 out of 5 corncobs.

Until next time: Unpleasant Dreams.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Summer is almost here...

Hello Lovelies-

I have to blog a couple of times in a row this week to get everything out because my Lovely and I are going away for the weekend so I will have to leave you Pigeons to it for awhile. 

So let's just jump right in, shall we? First, my R photo was featured in a beautiful "R" themed treasury put together by Goagainstthegrain. As you can see below, all of the items are fabulous and (as is always the case with treasuries), I am flattered. Thank you!



In honor of the coming summer months in the US (I know you southern hemisphere Lovelies are going into fall), I posted a couple of new art photos in my shops. The first piece is entitled Skydiver and I think the colors really give off that summery vibe. The second piece is called Heated Pool and it compliments the first nicely I think. And for you kiddies who like the somber stuff, fear not, Watching will satisfy your dark desires. 

      

The Lovely and I are heading down to Massachusetts for the Brimfield Antique Show this weekend. This show is full of a mixture of antique dealers who sell everything from high-end pieces to Happy Meal toys from McDonalds. The crowd and the fair food alone are worth the trip. I will try to remember to take some photos of the booty if you will and post them when I get back! Wish me luck...



And let me wrap it up with a movie review. As many of you know, one of my favorite corny movie stars is of course Chas Heston, star of Planet of the Apes and Omega Man, which I've reviewed on here in the past. There's another movie floating around out there called Soylent Green that all of you Pets need to view pretty much as soon as you wrap up this post. The entire movie is basically a lead-in to a huge punch line at the end that has now become a famous quote. You'll know it when you hear it and I won't spoil it for you first time viewers. Suffice it to say, the ending is worth it. I just got the book this movie was based on and I can't wait to see if it ends the same way! This movie gets 5 corncobs out of 5 for the ending alone.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Old is better...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, things have been really busy here at The Stapelia Company. I was lucky enough to land a slot in the Weekend Deals feature in the Storque on Etsy and it kept me busy all weekend filling orders, which is great. I met a lot of great people who enjoy my work too which is gratifying. So thank you Etsy! 

And I have to give another thank you to Scoutie Girl a wonderful blog that I follow and love. I sponsored her blog this month and she did a little feature on The Stapelia Company which was very sweet. Thank you!



I have also been working on a design project on the side for a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fundraiser. I donated my time and designed some invitations and inserts with a little original illustration up top. Take a gander, I think they came out great and it always feels good to help out this great cause.

    

I will be coming out with a couple of new art photos for you all this week, but since they're not ready yet, I put together this collage of vintage and vintage-inspire items for Covetables #4. (Am I the only one who can't believe we're up to 4 already? Time flies when you're window-shopping...) Stop by these shops if these products tantalize you kiddies:



And, did you read about the nude woman in Florida who was wandering around a mobile home park in the middle of the night and proceeded to knock on a stranger's door to ask for a cigarette? Really? I mean, really? I don't know about you, but when I'm nude in public my first thought isn't about getting a smoke, but that's just me. (And I don't smoke so maybe I'll never understand. Haha.) Whew, I'll tell you what folks, what would we do without this sort of entertainment?

Until next time: Unpleasant dreams.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Turned to stone

Hello Lovelies-

I hope this post finds you all doing well wherever you dwell. 

I am excited to reveal the project I alluded to in the last post. I have just listed the Medusa art photo in the shops. My model, Eleanor and my usual makeup artist Elly, helped me create this shot. It required Ell to go out on my wooden deck in the dark with only a tank top on to get the right lighting. I'm sure my neighbors thought I was bonkers when they saw that floor light and a half-nude woman crawling around out there at all hours. But I think it came out great. Thank you ladies!



On a totally unrelated noted, I stumbled upon a great vintage shop on Etsy tonight while poking around. As a glasses wearer and lover of vintage frames, BackThennishVillage was a heavenly treat. They have a lot of other vintage items, but they have an eyewear section that I was drooling all over. Now, if I could just find some that fit my head... 
Here are some samples:



And did you read about the man who got caught smuggling 13 songbirds into the US from Vietnam... in his pants?! The poor birds. He apparently fashioned a fancy pair of leggings to hold them all. Remarkably, it was the droppings and feathers coming out of his pants legs that revealed his trick... not the birdsong. Wow folks, wow.



And let me wrap up with another movie recommendation because personally, I am loving these. Since we're on Medusa, Clash of the Titans featuring Ray Harryhausen's clay-o-mation creations that are nothing short of remarkable is a great pick. This movie was pretty ahead of its time and while some of the effects are clunky today with CGI etc. I think it holds its own. The Medusa in that movie was especially creepy, (and she would have been even creepier if her eyes had been straight folks. But you can't win them all.) Three corncobs. Check it out!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Beautiful Things...

Hello Lovelies~

Another weekend has come to an end here at Stapelia and I've been working on some pretty exciting new things. (That is, after I did about 6 hours of business work in Quickbooks and felt my creative spirit departing my body...)

My good friends Elly and Ell (one's Elisabeth, the other is Eleanor), came over this weekend and and we got into the makeup again. (Uh oh, you know what comes next Kiddies... yes, photos.) We started a "top secret" project that I can't yet reveal, but it involved cat-crawling across a wooden deck in the dark... yeah, it's going to be awesome. Trust me. Then we did this peacock eye for fun. What do you think? Pretty cool, huh? Sort of Diabolique meets Dr. Doolittle.



I've gathered yet more of my favorite Etsy sellers/items into Covetables #3 below. Skulls, perfumes, clowns, really, I'm in heaven just looking at these myself! Stop on by their shops.




And I'm going to wrap things up with another movie recommendation that builds on the Barbarella recommendation from last post in that it's another corny sci fi flick but this one features the inimitable Chas Heston. (No, it's not Planet of the Apes... though that's good too.) I am referring to The Omega Man, an apocalyptic future drama featuring albinism, murder and I don't know if they're zombies or what, but they're in rough shape and their eyes freak me out. There's even a totally forced/awkward love-scene that made me wish there was a soundtrack beyond someone playing a set of bells with a house cat. So, check it out, this one gets 4 corn cobs. 

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...