Sandy Claws is coming to town...

Hello Lovelies!

Hope your Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) was exemplary. Mine was very nice, I spent time with family and friends, had great food and many laughs. It was kinda like this:

Only less peace pipe/nudity.

The holidays are fast approaching and I have tons of stuff that's going to make your holidays easier! First, I just listed gift tags. These vintage-inspired macro tags are just the thing to take your presents to the next level. Ooo and Aaaah.

And speaking of presents, I am also offering $3 gift wrapping on everything in my store (including original paintings and larger items). Kraft paper, baker's twine and a free gift tag will make gift-giving a snap! So, see if you can't rustle something special up for your loved ones from Stapelia.

Lastly, to stuff those stockings, the Old Salts buttons are finished, listed and available. And they're pretty cute you guys.

I mentioned in my last weekly post that I was decorating my gallery's window for the holidays. Well, the Santa Worm Train is finished, installed and running!

Take a peek at this video of him in action HERE.

As promised, I have more Weekly Holiday Gift Guide suggestions for you! The shop this week hails from the other Portland. Verabel's jewelry is mind-blowing. I can't pick a favorite and I don't know how they do it. Look at some of their lockets, amazing.

The item of the week is this argyle paper tape from Little Happy Things. Perfect for wrapping, it was all I could do not to buy all their tape basically.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

And to all Happy Thanksgiving...

Hello Lovelies-

Here's a mid-week post to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it. I am thankful for all of you readers and fellow-lovers of the dark, beautiful and sometimes downright bizarre things I share with you each week. And speaking of bizarre, the She Walks Softly blog has a great collection of vintage parade float imagery here. Great stuff(ing). So, safe travels and remember:

You can use your turkey for food or as a car... not both.

If you see this during dinner, it's time to stop drinking.

Turkeys love cigar-smoking so don't let them near your humidor or you'll regret it.

This isn't really a tip, it's just weird. A croc float? Really?

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Hello Lovelies!

How are you all doing this fine Monday? Things are moving at a mad pace over here as usual. Over the weekend, I helped install the window decorations my art co-op designed for the holidays. There is a window contest Portland-wide each year and we're hoping we win. We decided to do a twisted take on Christmas with killer toys, Gift-Safe Kid Traps and a Santa worm train. The worm train (which will actually run when it's done) is the last piece to install this week. Take a peek at our windows and if you're local, come out and see it in person December 3rd for the First Friday Art Walk! I'll show the train in action next post... he's really cute.

Santa Worm Train unpainted

And, the Zom-B-Vex calendars are coming in this week! These 15-month calendars feature every shot in the Zom-B-Vex series professionally printed in hanging wall format. They're hilarious and unique (much better than the calendars at the mall). Supplies are limited, so get them while they last!

Speaking of great gifts, I've decided each week in December to post both a neat gift and a neat store that I've found for that hard-to-buy-for person your list. Hope it helps!

This week's great gift is for sci fi and classic movie fans. I'm sure you've all heard of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. (If not, you're going to want to get on that.) Some of the movie was lost for years, but it has recently been found according to this article and now the film is complete. This complete version has been restored and remastered and you can now buy it for the geeks on your list! I personally can't wait to see it...

...even though this robot may well be the best part of this movie.

The shop of the week is the Museum of Unnatural History. This retail storefront is actually attached to the Washington DC location of 826 National, a non-profit that helps 6-18 year olds develop their expository and creative writing skills. (The products of course support the centers, there are 9 nationwide.) With great packaging and design, creative product names and unique store fronts, this non-profit is doing great things in a great way for a great cause. Stop by if there's one in your city, or browse online.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Wise Old Owl...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all well. A lot to share as usual. First, as some of you may know, I carry limited edition Carnival button sets in my shop. Well, they really are limited edition and I have one set left! Grab it while you can. But this also means, a fresh button set is on its way. The new set, called Old Salts, will be in the shop by January. I thought I would give you a sneak peek of the sketches and final art. They're colorful and cheeky, just the way we like it around here!

I have listed the Death Crow Dandies in the shop for purchase. They're original scratchboard pieces, perfect for gift giving or keeping (I won't tell). My scratchboards tend to go quickly, so if you like it, go for it! Here's the final piece I didn't show last week:

I think I had mentioned buying the Avalanche letter press calendar for my studio from Oddball Press recently. Well, I finally got it the other day and it's wonderful. The detail and the sight gags when you look closely are priceless. (I snapped a shot here for you.) This calendar is cheap and you'd be supporting a great Etsy seller if you got one! (Plus, all us cool kids are doing it...)

As many of you followers know, I love antique/junk shopping. Well, my Dad was visiting this past weekend, so we went antiquing and I found the greatest little thing. I love wax seals, I have a few. Well, I found a Wise Owl seal with glitter wax in its original box! I had to try it out immediately and look at how great it is! I'm going to have to write someone just so I can seal their letter with the Ol' Owl.

Now, I am not a car fan. I love classic cars, but I know nothing about them and talking about engines and horse power puts me to sleep. However, have you guys seen Black Beauty from the new Green Hornet movie? Holy smokes. I want it. Amazing lines and guns and green headlights. Sigh. There's a video all about it and a pic here:

Let's wrap with some weird news, it's been awhile. This one is a doozy. Did you Kiddies read about the home in New Brighton, PA that had been a problem for years? First, the owner was breeding dogs there, then they moved out. Then, neighbors saw "scores" of rats coming out of the home and called authorities. The house will be demolished, but not before they attempt to exterminate 95% of the vermin (a foot deep in some spots), in an attempt to prevent them from running into neighboring homes. Check please. No thank you. Gross.

The house is like this, only with rats, not candy.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

The Dark House...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all doing well this fine Monday. The weather is just nasty up here in the North, perfect weather to get creative, I say.

A lot share. First, I have completed a new series of paintings for a December show in my gallery entitled The Dark House. Definitely inspired by The Addams Family and things of that nature, the best part of this series is the way it will be displayed. The smaller paintings depict various rooms/people inside the Dark House, so when it's hung, strings will connect the smaller shots with their place in the bigger piece. Kind of like this picture:

You can see more shots of the series on my Flickr page, and I'll give more details about the show as it gets closer!

I have also created some new scratchboard pieces entitled the Death Crow Dandies, perhaps for the shop, we'll see. I have one more to go to make 4, but I think they're coming out splendidly, don't you?

Oh! And last piece of business, the garland is doing really well in the shop, so I will be listing more this week; different colors and styles, all handmade. So if you're interested, peep it out.

I have found a designer that I want you Kiddies to meet; Caleb Owen Everitt's work is obviously inspired by design trends of the past, but he puts his own modern spin on them, creating an aesthetic that's aged to perfection. Take a peek. I'm sure you'll feel inspired like I was. I want him to design my life. Haha.

Speaking of work inspired by past aesthetics, have you heard of Max Dalton? Well, you should know him. His work definitely speaks to 60's style illustration, and his fake album covers (like the ones below), are the bees knees. You really can't help but smile when you see his work...

Let's wrap up with a movie recommendation, shall we? Of course. I'm sure you've heard of Soylent Green, if for no other reason than the famous quote "Soylent Green is people" which is definitely overblown and really, so obvious by the end, the line is unnecessary. Regardless, I watched it again the other night and it's kind of good. If you like "The Future is Going to Really Suck" movies, this one is for you...

Plus, you get to watch Chas Heston run around the entire movie in a standard police issue pimp scarf.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...