Junk Gypsy and Hippie Jesus

My current obsession has turned to Junk Gypsy on the GAC channel. I don't know if there are any of my friends that share my passion, all I know is that I need a chandelier with gold glitter tipped white feathers on it.

Because my apartment would totally rock that.

I must confess I lost the plot for a minute there last month. A lot happened in my personal life, stuff I cannot divulge just yet but the good news is that I get to teach little kids about Art! I would love to be able to go all Bob Ross on them, showing the happy little trees, but alas, you have to start with the basics of art and life first. Like the colors of the Rainbow, for instance. Once that is nailed down, I can start on the primary, secondary and tertiary colors. If I see them get bored quickly, there's always an episode of Bob's I can put on. It mellows the crowd down quickly.

"Let's put a...a little river here.... just a little happy brook... yeah, I like that..."

hippie Jesus.

Seriously, that man is a perfect example of Creatio Ex Nihilo. Although, I could always turn it around and put the Epic Rap Battles of History spin on the classes.

Being a part time teacher also frees up a few days that I can dedicate in whole to my jewelry making stuff... which you will see... hopefully on Wednesday. (i say that a lot, don't i?)

It's a Geekblog Wednesday, So What?!?

Okay, so I'm not going to say anything much on Robin Williams' passing. It's honestly too fresh and I feel like I've lost my favorite uncle. I will however take a nod to Amanda Palmer and insert my own homage to the man.
O Captain, My Captain.
I'm up on my kitchen counter, which is more my desk than anything.

And now for something completely different.

LifePro Tip: When having children and chickens please do yourself a favor and walk ahead of the children when going to feed the chickens. That way, you can spot a dead chicken(or two) before your six year old daughter does, and you can avoid the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Plus you can also avoid the practical 5 year olds wondering out loud when we can eat the chicken...in front of the six year old thereby throwing her into another fit of hysteria(we're talking hands-in-the-air wailing, thrown herself down on the knees kind of despair).

We'll turn this around with a geek post.

Coolest Business Card Idea Ever

Paper USB Business Cards... it's brilliant and I live in the future. This needs to be a thing that is widely spread out of its sheer cleaver design. PAPER! Paper, people. genius. I want.

Except it's expensive. Ridiculously so only for 200 cards but it might be worth it. What an impact you would have on whomever you would give that to. Talk about a radical first impression.

Yes I use the word radical, and no I am not going to change it. Savvy?

Geek Tuesdays

OMG IT'S GEEK TUESDAYS.

AND OMG IT'S A BORG MINI FRIDGE.

The Borg is my favorite villain(s)(can I say that they are plural or singular because they are one in many...) in the Star Trek 'verse. The mechanical zombie appearance, the drones, the Borg Queen, Locutus/Jean-luc, the list goes on. The fact that the Cube has been downsized to a mini fridge just enhances my love for them. Why do I love it so? Because resistance is futile. That's why. If you read down the comment section of the page someone had the brilliant idea of creating a microwave to look like a Replicator.

That was also the time when a lot of people were like "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY". ThinkGeek needs to get on the ball on this one, just sayin'.

For those in the Geekdom that don't have the sincere appreciation of Star Trek and its glory, you can purchase the Rubik's Cube Mini Fridge which is just as nerdy and just as awesome.

If, for some reason, my kids don't want to get into Star Trek (but that's ridiculous, why wouldn't they?) they can switch over to some other means of Nerd. Which is fine, my kids are nerds, they really don't have a choice - this is genetics after all.... *sarcasm implied, sorta* But I put it to you, when your four year-old asks you if you would like "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot, Mommy?" just like Captain Picard takes his, is she a nerd-in-training?

I think so.

M.

Update

So I have decided that this thing needs an over haul. If you subscribe to my Facebook (which you do, I mean... why wouldn't you?) then you know that I've decided to pour my goals into concrete and really work on them.

Goal: To quit a job I hate.
Goal: To open my own damn shop.
Goal: To get a house in Yellow Springs with my kids and D.

I figure it's going to take some time for these things to come to fruition and I am well aware of all that entails. No seriously, I am very well aware. My first step has been to get a book on online marketing and time management. My second step is to join a gym because Momma loves cake and that muffin top has got to go.

Life tip: When your five year-old comes up to you, pats your stomach and tells you that there's a baby in there(when there is no baby) it's time to drop a few pounds.

I've discovered sterling silver wrapping and will be posting the glory of ultra-shiny things as soon as I have more than one finished. It's not as awe-inspiring when there's only one, people. Fire Mountain Gems is a thing of beauty, I really recommend anyone to them for all their jewelry needs. Plus tools, I was able to purchase nylon coated pliers and the like for all the sterling so it won't be all scratched and ratchet looking with my wire twisting ways.

And trust me, non-ratchet looking jewelry is always the best way to go.

I'll be posting with greater frequency. Hint: Geek Tuesdays are coming.

M.

Art Affair On the Square and Upgrades

I went to Portland. I became Portland. I lived for Portlandia. . .

For a solid week and then, when I came home I snapped back into reality... Slightly. Only slightly. I missed my loves! But it was good to get a break, I think there are those times when separating from the kids is just completely necessary. Space. Air. Breathing room, etc.

Just to let you know, for all my nerds out there, that is in fact the Astoria from one of the best 80s flicks of all time: The Goonies. My best friend, O, wanted me to do the Truffle Shuffle but I declined.

Some of the best parts though?

This guy right here.

All in all it was a good week. I'll be damned if I don't go back soon.

I've been thinking about upgrading my stuff into silver and gold! My tools came this week so this weekend you'll be able to see my new wire-wrapped stuff! Oh yeah, by the way....

So, for some good fun this weekend you should make your way down to Urbana, Ohio if you can. Why? Well, Lemme just say Art Affair on the Square and all its glory. Because there you can find things like these:

This is what I'm saying. Saturday, July 19th from 10:00 am till 6:00pm I will be there with fantastically shiny, pretty pretty things!
You should probably be there...

sweet saints of procrastination

The Procrastination is strong with this one. For your genuine amusement, I give you the many levels of procrastination.

Ah, Memes. Can't live with them, can't internet without them. Srs. I've been without my computer for nearly a month because of stupid computer being stupid (No, my Coco, I didn't mean it. I swear.) and my sweet bro came over last week and fixed it. Huzzah!
Also, how many women feel me in the heat this year?

There have been a lot of things going on IRL that involve the drama/comedy/tragedy thing. Most of it I won't divulge here, but let me just say: Migraines... suck. There is no word in my native tongue to demonstrate how badly they suck and at the volume of hating my body when this happens. Hate with a burning of a thousand suns. Hate with a passion that defies reason and logic. Because everything in my life has to shut down in order for these headaches to be taken care of and nursed into oblivion so I can resume functionality. I actually had to be rushed to the ER because it was so bad. ugh.

But! On an up note, and there are some I promise you, I am at the Springfield Farmers Market this year! wooooooooooo! Saturday mornings from 9 till 12:30 I'll be there! You should come down.
It is also noted that I am in the Urbana Art Affair on the Square! July 19 people. Lock that down to come on up, okay?

I've been magnificently busy with lots and lots of things which I will be posting later with a lovely friend of mine. That's later this week though.

Stay tuned!

HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER

It's that time. The time where we put all of the things together and collaborate for an online store. All that effort comes together this week, one item listing at a time. It kind of reminds me of a song I know:

It was either that or Britney Spears 'Work B*tch'. Either way, the point is made. T.O.N.C. is growing!

The Original Notions Co. has broadened her horizons out to etsy.com. It is a shop for gorgeous things. And I happen to make gorgeous things. :D shameless plug! GO. Click. Enjoy!

Pendants, Necklaces, Bracelets and Earrings! OHHHH MYYYY!

Also to come, engraving. Yes, children. I have an engraving machine and can draw on metal. It looks like a skinny version of a tattoo gun (of which I used to wield), and the concept is basically the same. It's very cool and very fun! Pics to come.
However, I've misplaced my camera. Anyone seen a red camera lately? It's a Kodak...they don't even make them anymore.

Jeez, I just dated myself. Good job, M.

More to come.

-M

Valentines

I have found the most amazing valentines. Sweet Lord, these are hilarious and the comments afterwards are well worth the read.

I am currently making my own.
D, you are warned.

New jewelry over at the Flickr page. Be sure to check it out. Here's a taste:

That's a Black and Red Acrylic Bead Bracelet with Black Wire and a Handmade Clasp, for your viewing pleasure.

Valentine's Day approaches, (As well as my son's birthday) and with the change comes the header and button change over. Does anyone like what I do to the blog every month? Just checking.

On a hopeful note for this year, I'm up on the calendar for the Depot Coffee House down in Urbana for August. Which, for me, is pretty perfect because it gives me time to do new stuff. I've got a couple of paintings 'roaming the halls' if you will and I'm excited to get going on them. Hopefully, also, the street fair in Urbana in the summer. Should be freakin' sweet and I can't wait! Pam down at Cosmic Charles' Breads and Threads convinced me to try for it, so we'll see. I love love love the breads she creates.

mmmmm local organic.

Currently loving and reading the March issue for Romantic Homes, celery green people. I feel it. I feel it move through the crowd like a wave. Like a little baby unicorn that draws the masses to universally 'd'awwwwwwwwwwwww' all over it. Just watch, people. Celery green.

..........celery.............greeeeeeeeeeennnnnn.....

-M

P.S. On a more personal note. Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favorite actors of all time. Almost every film he has made, I've seen and right now it goes without saying that 'Capote' is masterful. Although, the first time I saw PSH was on 'Twister' as the lovable Dusty,('windy? that's intense', 'tasty cow, aunt meg') he reminded me of guys my brother and I would hang out with. It seems the older he got, the darker, more twisted characters he played lending to the idea that maybe this man was not as happy as one 'would seem' be in Hollywood. But who am I to know? I'm just a fan in mourning of a beloved actor, trying to reason the whys of his most untimely death. Philip was an actor's actor, and a god among the cinephiles. I will miss him much.

Radiant Orchid and the Engorgement of Turquoise

Holy crap it's a Flickr account!!

There will be many uploads over the next several days, (without work and life impeding my ability to do so, of course) and you can browse, scroll and drool over to your hearts content.

So, according to Pantone the color of the year is a pruple-y color.

*romantic whisper*...Radiant...

It's a beautiful color, don't get me wrong, but does anyone else feel that it will be plastered onto everything like turquoise blue? Are we going to get a thousand and one radiant orchid chester drawers, coffee tables and bookshelves? I ask you. I. Ask. You.
The color for last year was a very pretty emerald green, and I did see a couple of those at the trade shows but they were still supplanted by all the turquoise. WHEN WILL THE ENGORGEMENT OF ALL THINGS TURQUOISE END?!? ((...i still really like turquoise jewelry though...))

We'll see for the year how it all turns out. For right now, I am concentrating on the trend going through jewelry and it is rainbows. With all the 'My Little Pony' merch coming back in style (yes, pinkie pie) and even guys getting on the MLP bandwagon it doesn't really surprise a lot of us that the PRISM effect comes into play once more. As long as we don't see a surge in the Lisa Frank colors and combinations come back I think we'll be fine.

And does anyone else watch Project Runway? Because I am addicted to that show.

-M

To Everything Turn, Turn, Turn

Sweet Lord, where has this year gone?

I'm pretty terrible at blogging, but I think we've already established this fact.
Well, first, I think we must address the issue of the Art Show and why it didn't go well. I think it can be summed up in one word: SNOW. Freakin' snow, man. It was every where. The roads were coated in black ice by the time the show started and the city virtually shut down. My many and abundant thanks to the few brave souls who trekked out to get some good coffee and see strange artwork. Speaking of strange, here's a few of mine:

They're slightly crooked. It's true.

There are some of my graphic design posters, as well.

I'm going to try to find a suitable thumbnail system so you fine folk do not have to scroll forever to find my stuff. Next on the 'things to do' list is to get some type of etsy going so you can actually purchase prints, if you want!!

My kids had not one but two Christmas mornings; one with their cousins on Christmas Eve and then one for just us on Christmas morning. They were like little islands in a sea of toys, clothes and wrapping paper.

I really have super cute kids.

So with that I have to say that 2013 was a pretty good year. I got an art show, a few craft shows, branched out into furniture rehab and took risks. And I will continue to do so on into 2014. Things are lovely and I like it. Goodnight 2013, Good morning 2014, let's do this thing.

-M