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

Thanksgiving

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Gladys.
Gladys who?
Gladys Thanksgiving. Aren't you?

Many Happy Thanksgivings, everyone. Now, in saying that, I have to a second out of furious grocery shopping/baking/cooking/cleaning extravaganza to say what I am thankful for.

It may be cliche that I am thankful for my parents but I am completely sincere when I say that I am. If it wasn't for my parents I have no idea where my children and I would be. Mom and Dad have bent over backwards to help us; making meals when I had my surgery, watching my kids while I recovered, taking them to school, to church, to the park , etc. There are too many things to list that I am grateful to them for. Just last night Mom and I stood in the kitchen chatting about movies, people, christmas presents, etc. until 1:30 in the morning. It's not surprising really. Mom has become one of my closest and dearest friends. And Dad and I get along better than we have in years. Grateful.

I am thankful for my faraway friends, all who sent their love and faith from afar while P & J and I were settling here in Ohio. Their words of encouragement have meant more to me than any other time before. I needed my friends and my family (be they related or no longer related) and they've had my back ever since I took a fateful leap and came back home.

(I am thankful for a certain awesome man from the North who makes frequent trips down here to see me and the kids. He is a rock of goodness, kindness and strength that I have not seen in many other men. One of the smartest guys I know, and funniest, he is the sweetest man. Period. He loves my kids and me and wants to be here with us and for us. I don't think I can ask for much better... I don't think 'better' exists. I love you D)

My kids. My kids are the funniest kids I know. Their sense of humor can range from dry and witty to silly and weird. P is an artist/dancer/singer/current archeologist while J is a builder/mechanic/astronaut/mummy-finder. They are my light in the dark, and they can pull me out of a bad mood just by being themselves. They both help me through the pain, they comfort me in ways I didn't know they could. And they love snuggles, movie-night and sleepovers in the living room. In short, P & J are the greatest gift (aside from the Heavens above) to me. I hope they grow up knowing that.

Love and Cranberry Sauce,
M

Art Shows! Things!

Art show, Art show, Art show, Art show.... It's like a mantra that I've been repeating for the last few weeks. The time is upon me, and I must show my stuff.

Art shows are incredibly personal, I think. You're really putting yourself out there in a way that is akin to being naked. Not that I'm going to show up to my art show naked, although that would be something Dali would do, but I shall be clothed nonetheless. Un Mundo Cafe in Beautiful, Downtown Springfield - December 6th @ 7pm. If you haven't seen the gorgeous banner.... here's a reminder:

isn't it pretty?

I'll be putting forth my works of watercolors, acrylics and graphic design posters. Perfect for the holiday season! Perfect for the unbelievably hard to buy for person! Who doesn't like art, I ask you!?
Besides people who have one dimensional personalities.... but we won't go there. Not today anyway.

*clears throat* moving on!

Yet another hint of things to come.
<3 Mellissa

New Things and Such

Well, I said pics up by Sunday--I just didn't let on which Sunday that would be. Today is the day. New Things and I am excited.

Theme change! Thanksgiving nostalgia coats the blog for the month! I wanted the header to be a little different so I snagged a vintage Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade picture featuring the Pink Panther. I'm a little in love with it! I could only imagine how cool it must be to be living in Manhattan and watching the floats go by as a kid.

I've been working on some graphic design goodness; my art show in December is looming before me and I'm getting my graphic savvy on. They're fun and odd and ... I really am a sort of warped mind. I feel like I am really putting myself out there for display, not only with designs but with my paints as well. The nerves are starting to get to me but pushing it down and shoving on is basically what must be done.

It's just a matter of time before there's more.

Is anyone going to go see Thor 2? My beloved mom and I are going... there will be chocolate bars involved while looking at Chris Hemsworth, not to mention my not-so-secret love for Tom Hiddleston. He's adorbs. Because of the first movie I actually got into reading the comics! I actually wish the writers of the film would incorporate more Old English, (you know, with the Thee's and Thou's thing going on.) or at least a larger fusion of old-speak. A moderate attempt, I believe, was giving for the first movie with Odin's character ("In the name of my father and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!").

'You think me strange?'
-M

The 20s nostalgia, Noble Benefactresses, And A Change Will Do You Good.

So, craft fair a few weekends ago went with rain. Lots and lots of rain. With the rain brought about the diehard craft fans that came and perused under giant golf umbrellas, and seriously? I love these types of people. They negotiate, they haggle, they look for those deals or the gotcha-sales that make craft fairs fun in the first place.

On a side note: The Roaring 20s are one of my most beloved eras. Which is probably why movies like 'The Legend of 1900', 'Some Like It Hot' and 'Coco Before Chanel' are in my DVD player rotation (changed out with frequency to movies like 'Pride and Prejudice' or 'Elizabeth') and all of these are wonderful movies and the costumes are drool-worthy. Which is why, in time, I truly believe I will start morphing into this:

The change is already starting to happen. I've recently become the recipient of a noble benefactress. Also known as a good friend with fabulous taste that wants to get rid of almost all her stuff. Over 30 scarves have come into my collection, as well as tapestries and furniture, amazing lanterns, lamps, pictures, and clothes. It's AWESOME! My apartment is turning into an exotic, worldly boudoir and not so much a dorm. Even my kids get the benefits of Mommy having friends!

Speaking of decorating. Emerald Green. Emerald Green is a just a gorgeous color and is looking like the color to wear for the Fall Season (new jewelry, anyone?) At least it is according to HelloGiggles.com and their style pages. Duly noted and that color will be incorporated into my newest shiny things.

I welcome the change of the season; pulling out all my cardi's and chunky sweaters. The layering, the scarves, the fingerless gloves, ah! Brisk walks outside with apple cider (or probably coffee) and decorating pumpkins. The porch is currently being transformed into a fall wonderland surrounded by changing trees and my childrens strange decorating techniques with gourds and pumpkins. Not to mention Mums.

You always gotta have the Mums. (pics up on Sunday eve.)

It's getting closer to Halloween, fair peoples. You know what that means?

THEME.

For those that don't know, (and omg why wouldn't you?) the new banner is themed for iconic horror film actors. Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price dancing with a skeleton (because, why not?) and Madeline Khan from The Young Frankenstein. Yes, I know, Young Frankenstein isn't exactly horror but! I love her in that movie, so there.

The Halloween Theme shall henceforth continue on! Keep coming back for more people.

Also! New jewelry things are up. Click on a pic to scroll through and marvel at the loveliness!! :D

j/k

No not really, I'm awesome.

Love it.

Anyone watching Sleepy Hollow, like me? I think I like it! Of course, it reminds me of the cartoon of old, Bing Crosby crooning about Ichabod Crane.

Wow, take me back. I haven't seen that cartoon since I was in kindergarten. Great, now I have that song in my head.
"Ichabod, Ichabod Craaaane."

-M