Newish ArT!

 I realized the other day that it is almost August. So what? Well, that means it's getting closer and closer to OCTOBER, a very good thing. So with Driveinvasion coming up fast and Halloween not too far behind it, I have been on a feverish art-producing spree for the past week or so. A new Serpentina: Wild Woman banner and a Feejee Mermaid banner are in the works, among other things (stay tuned.) I also have CANVAS PRINTS of my side show banners available to purchase now! They are gorgeous fine art-quality digital prints on canvas, and very true to the originals, but for a fraction of the price. I will have several more sideshow banner prints to choose from by the end of the week, and will be bringing a full selection to Driveinvasion. Here are a few of my latest smallish artistic endeavors. 

Go HERE for more details or to purchase these pieces. 

As always, vaya con El Diablo!

EVIL ETSY- interview with LadySpleen

Etsy is its own universe, and within the Etsy universe are many planets all orbiting about the coveted front page spot, vying for attention. Somewhere between the planets of Craftin' Country-Style and Classy Expensive Jewelry lies my own home planet of EVILetsy. Home to a wealth of creepy, cute, surreal and odd wonders. This is the first in a short series of interviews with some of Evil Etsy's more prominent citizens. May I introduce...Ms. LadySpleen!

1) How would you describe what's in your Etsy shop right now?

A mix of quirky, colorful, offbeat and spooky necklaces and accessories - all 100% handmade (including a healthy dose of bacon and zombies).

2) What's your favorite item right now?

I love the Jeepers Peepers Eyeball Hairclips. When I perform I always wear my red one!

3) How long have you been selling on Etsy? Do you sell through any other venues? What has been the most successful for you?

I've only been selling on Etsy for a few months. My other venues for selling are booths at art and comic shows (I illustrate a comic book, Polyglot & Spleen), club events, and in brick-and-mortar stores. Nothing beats setting up somewhere and getting your goods in front of people!

4) Are you working on anything new right now or is there a craft you would like to learn?

I'm learning to solder, so there is a chance that metal may make an appearance in my shop soon.

5) Any suggestions for crafters who are wanting to turn their crafting into a full or part-time career?

Don't ever do something just to "make a little extra money". It will end up being far more trouble than it's worth. Create because you simply have to, whether or not you're selling anything - and make sure that everything you do meets your highest personal standards. If you do that then, with a little hard work, everything will come together. Also, please be original. 

6) Morticia Addams or Lily Munster?

Lily Munster  (Pick up a copy of Polyglot & Spleen #6 to see why!)

7) Bela Lugosi or Vincent Price?

Vincent all the way

8) Zombies or Vampires?

Zombies are more fun, but Vampires have had better press.... they're sexier. I suppose it depends on my mood.

9) Eye of Newt or Frog's Breath?

Frog's Breath is so hard to keep, I can never use enough before it goes bad

10) Eyeballs or brains? 

Brains in a nice bernaise, heavy on the shallots

(EDITOR'S NOTE: BERNAISE?! ARE YOU CRAZY? Brains are traditionally served au jus.)

More evil etsy on the way soon... and "How to make a bowl or planter out of an old LP without horribly disfiguring yourself or burning down your apartment: a tutorial".

 

The Internet: Where Evil and Crafts Collide!

It can only be a good thing that when a search for 'evil' in craft forums actually yields a wealth of results. 

 To wit:

The incredibly clever project below. I located this little beauty on Craftster.org. It's titled "Nightmare/Daydream CrossStitch" because that delightfully sweet little unicorn gets all EVIL on you when you turn out the lights, thanks to strategically placed glow-in-the-dark embroidery thread. 

Dang. If you've got some extra time on your hands, I  don't see how you could  go wrong. The chart and directions for how to make it are here.

If you're looking to make (or buy) some incredibly Day of the Dead art, you need to check out Crafty Chica. Covet, covet, covet. Go to the project section of her site, click on any October archive and you will find at least 3 or 4 incredibly Day of the Dead projects- everything from necklaces to shrines to these incredible bleach pen skull banners. 

Coming soon: my hunt for more evil crafts takes me to ETSY... and EVIL CRAFT PROJECT BOOKS. 

If you want me...

You can find me, left of center off of the strip. (PLEASE say you know where that quote comes from.)

REALLY, you can find me peddling my goods, and those of other independent artists in Atlanta at DRIVEINVASION on Sat., Aug. 30 and Sun., Aug. 31. Driveinvasion is a 2 day festival of horror movies, bands, hot rods and more- all at one of the few authentic operating drive-ins still in operation. Th' Legendary Shackshakers will be headlining! Check it out here, and while you're at it, go give the Shackshakers some love. They are, in my humble opinion, the best live act in existence.

Picture from our booth at Heavy Rebel this year

Crafts gone utterly, truly WRONG!

I would've put an upside down exclamation point on that if I could figure out how. Ah well. So this is it- blogging. I feel hipper already. This is the first of , hopefully, many more. I have an entire series of posts written out in my mind. Now maybe I can put all those useless hours searching the internet to good use. 

So what shall we talk about? Why, alternative crafts of course. How to make 'em. How to sell 'em. Where to buy 'em. Oh, and we can be really snarky and mock ridiculous seventies crafts. Which brings me to... the funniest craft-related site on the internet. 

Yes, that's a REAL picture. As in I believe these people do/did exist, and they really did pose for this photo, which really did appear in a REAL book. I found this gem on the Cate's Garage website's  When Crafting Goes Too Far page. Too far, indeed. Cate's analysis of the various crafting disorders pictured here and in other (gasp) similar photos is clever and smarmy to the extreme. But it's in such a sweet, sort of passive-aggressive way that you wonder if these dolts would even realize they were being mocked. Sort of like how older Southern ladies preface an insult with 'Bless her little heart' to soften the blow...as in, 'Bless her little heart, that baby's just the ugliest thing I've ever seen.' I want to issue a personal challenge to you all now. I challenge you to find uglier crafts, in print, than those on her site. Your prize is a feeling of undeniable superiority. Send 'em my way.

My second nomination for craft sites that I laugh WITH (never AT, because that would be cruel) is the bastion of fabulous geekery that is Geekcrafts. Prepare to witness the ULTIMATE in crafting, found on this site- I mean, I don't know that this can ever be topped. Get ready....

Your eyes do not deceive you. This is, indeed, a Perler bead portrait of Mr. T. Kudos to you, Mr. T portrait artist. 

Stay tuned...it's only day 1, after all!