Jammies

Before you say anything, he was cold. He was shivering and it was bedtime. My mom always said to layer and well, this saves on the heating bills.

Whoa! I am BEHIND!

I went and saw Amy Sedaris speak recently. She told us all about her book "Crafts for Poor People" or something like that. Sarah couldn't go so I had my friend Amy sign a plate for her! I really wish you could see my HORRIBLE crayola sweater that I wore. Many people asked sensible polite questions about her acting career, past performances, etc. I stuck with the topic of the book. I asked" So, if you are making things with glitter and it gets in your eye but you don;t have tweezers, what other common household item would you use to get the glitter out of your eye?" She replied "a needle, no, no! TAPE! Just hold your eye open and slap it on and the glitter will stick to it." Then I asked "As a follow-up to the same subject, if you hurt yourself reallly bad while crafting, should you call 911 and finish your craft while waiting or should you finish your craft and then call 911?" Her answer was "whatever it takes to finish it. You don't want half done crafts laying around your house. They'll never get finished then."
Amy is very smart.

Our outfits for the L5P Fest

This is what we wore for the festival last weekend. It was a blast!

FINISHED MY COFFINS!

Progress on my coffin for the Day of the Dead art show

This is for the show at youngblood on Oct 30th! It will have lights! I will have more of everything, but for my first stained glass...not too bad!

Tomorrow is the L5P Halloween Fest. You should come see me. I will have a bright green wig on.

Whew!

The next few weeks are INSANE!
Work dinners, big staff meetings, GA National Fair on Saturday, maybe the Drive Invasion Sunday and then festivals out the wazoo! We have the L5P Halloween fest in 2 weeks on the 16th, then the Cabbagetown Chomp and Stomp on nov. 6th, the Athens Craftstravaganza on the 13th of November, and THEN the ICE show on the 20th and 21st. WHEW!
This coming weekend is the World Championship Bike Messenger Races and my boyfriend has friends from all over coming in.
I have to finish my Halloween costume AND I have to finish my Day of The Dead Artwork for the show at Youngblood on the 30th.

I'm gonna need a red bull.

2nd piece for lucky star art show

This is my second piece for the lucky star art show. I don't love it. Scott says it reminds him of Roy Orbison. Jerk.

Training a hunter

Miyagi has already proven to be a stealthy bug killer. Now we are working on mice. I got some stuffed ones from IKEA and so far he has really taken to them. If I catch any more live ones I may give him a go in the back yard.

The second photo shows his red eye rage at those dastardly mice!

Lucky Star- Here is my print!

This is a linoelum block print. 8.5 x 11 cardstock paper. I made it for the Lucky Star show this Saturday!

Lucky Star- Saturday

I signed up to be in a Madonna inspired art show! Well, it was partly on accident and I forgot until I saw my name on the flier. OOOPS!

So, last night I began my linoleum block to print my madonna out. I will print it tonight and hopefully it will only need a few minor adjustments.

I also plan to do another piece but not until this one is completed and framed and ready to go!

Famous again!

Sarah and I were interviewed by Scoutmob recently and it just hit the interwebs. Check it out! http://www.scoutmob.com/atlanta/scoutfinds/532

Here's the interview in case you are too lazy to go check it out:
Meet Third Half Studios

In the words of Lori and Sarah, “Everybody loves a Zombie squirrel!” And you know what? We couldn’t agree more. The two ladies are engineering and designing the kitschy Third Half Studios; Lori began as a traditional quilter and went under the business name of Sew Sew Def. When she joined forces with Sarah, they wanted a name that did not implicate just sewn items (or the famous Southern rap label). They chose "Third Half Studios" because, between the two, they have so much brains they had to keep the extra half in a jar. Or maybe between the two, they only have one and a half brain pieces. It's fuzzy math. But since we love crafty and cutesy things you can’t just find at Urban Outfitters, we wanted to get to know these fun-lovin' ladies a little bit better:

SCOUT: Tell us how might people know you?
L&S: Third Half Studios is made up of Lori Kishlar and Sarah Marks. We have a mix of hand-crafted as well as manufactured items emblazoned with our original designs. Our zombie forest animal melamine plates are the most popular item right now. Everybody loves a Zombie squirrel!

SCOUT: Describe Third Half Studios to someone who has never seen it?
L&S: Darling yet sinister graphic characters on a variety of items mixed with homespun craftiness. Old-fashioned crafts like your grandma would make...if your grandma was disturbed in some way.

SCOUT: My grandmother is luckily not too terribly disturbed. But does love Zombie Squirrels. Go figure. Tell us how you ladies met?
L&S: Two years ago Lori was invited to attend a secret craft society meeting. Sarah is the Master of Ceremonies for the local chapter. We hit it off and Lori was formally initiated in. We've been inseparable ever since.

SCOUT: That a super secret fairytale. Your designs are pretty eclectic. Tell us your personal faves?
L&S: Sarah likes everything: fabrics, housewares, light fixtures, jewelery, doorknobs. Everything. Lori just tags along. Lori likes the less wholesome items. She just made a sock monkey in tribute to the movie ”The Human Centipede” (Be warned if you watch the trailer.) Sarah is currently working on making some hilariously disturbing fabrics for Lori to incorporate into quilts.

SCOUT: Now that you have combined your crafty powers, what is your favorite project you have done together?
L&S: We both have the most fun brainstorming for themed art shows. There was a Star Wars inspired art show at the Highlander recently that was fun and the next that we are creating for is a Day of the Dead show coming up at Youngblood in the Highlands.

SCOUT: When you aren’t oozing creative juices, where in Atlanta to you go to escape & kick back?
L&S: Sarah loves going to the bookstore more than anything and sometimes she goes to the White Windmill Bakery to have fresh red bean buns and sketch. The rare times Lori goes out past bedtime she ends up in East Atlanta, usually Gravity Pub, or at a friend’s house. Both love going to kitschy places for roadtrips: Pasaquan, the Georgia Guidestones, Ave Maria Grotto…

SCOUT: Another local Atlantan that inspires you or your work?
L&S: There are so many: Chris Hamer of Urbnpop Studios, LoriGami, and Jay Hornsby, the Belligerent Monkey are a few that pop up immediately. Chris and Lorigami are great inspiration in that they actually are making a full-time living on their arts/crafts which is what we both are aiming for. Jay’s style is complimentary and we try to help each other out when one or the other can’t make it to a festival.

SCOUT: Where do you go to get new ideas?
Lori: Sleep.
Sarah: I don’t really have to go anywhere. Ideas fly around me constantly and hit me like a frying pan to the face. Real life for both of us is bizarre and inspirational.

SCOUT: Tell us your favorite “curious find” in Atlanta?
L&S: Buford Highway Flea Market ”Holiday Mall” is always an adventure. Everyone should go at least once! At least three stores sell accordions and there is a special photo-booth where they snap your picture and when it prints, you are holding hands with Jesus! One time a man asked me for money in the parking lot and when I said I didn’t have any, he cursed, removed his leg and angrily shook it at me.

SCOUT: What are you currently working on?
Day of the Dead show caskets and new products for upcoming holiday shows and festivals like the L5P Halloween Fest, the EAV Strut, and Indie Craft Experience (which we are currently applying for). We are also working with Netherworlds people on a special line for their gift shops.

SCOUT: Finally, throw out a shameless plug of where people can see your work?
Libertine in Little 5 Points carries our products and our website is www.ThirdHalfStudios.com. Also check out our Etsy page for one-of-a-kind items like the now infamous sock monkey sculpture.

Buford Dam

Two weeks ago, after a day of attempting to get to Lake Lanier and fish, we realized we were failing. So we drove over to the Buford Dam. Its soooo cool I wish I could be there today. See, the dam releases water from the bottom of the lake, which makes it super icy. The water running from the outlet stays so cold that it takes your breath away if you dare to put your feet in it. See Scott below, his feet turned blue! It also makes a steamy cool fog/mist and it's so lovely. Way out, in the center of the photo you can see a trout fisherman out there.

East Atlanta Strut!!!! tomorrow!

So tomorrow is the Strut. This is my favorite festival each year and now there's more exciting stuff going on. There is a mechanical bull which should be hilarious once people get really wasted. Then there is a circus- The Imperial Opa! Sarah and I are ready to party (and sell you zombie plates). come check out Third Half Studios. Our booth is between the EARL and Joe's coffee shop.

This wasn't how these traps were supposed to work!

So I have a mouse problem. One day I walked into my craft room- where the magic happens- and I saw THREE mice jump off the couch and run under the attic door. Awwwww Helllll nawwwww. nope. We aren't having it. That nice i had nightmares and restless sleep and before work the very next morning I was at my local big box retailer buying death in boxes. I decided to do science and purchased a variety of traps. All shapes and sizes. Day 1 I went ahead and put the glue traps down. BOOM! Caught one. It was kinda pitiful and heartwrenching to see him squirm but oh well, its really his or her own fault. The next morning BOOM! A second one in the same glue trap! Time to toss that gross thing. Then I set the expensive "Kill and contain" trap. Now, this is a white box that promises to kill the mouse and keep it from my sight. I set it before bed and the next morning i had captured number 3! Of course if you see three then there are 100 so only 97 more to go. But wait...So the white plastic kill and contain box had a head sticking out of the tiny bait door. EWWWWW! THAT wasn't supposed to happen. oh well, he's dead. I reach down to use the convenient carry tab that was promised to me on the packaging...oh holy hell that thing is alive and the minute I touched the trap it was screaming and squealing and carrying on...i dropped it and ran. After catching my breath in the front yard I went back into the battle. I used a coat hanger to hook the trap and put it into an empty dog food bag. Mr. mouse was screaming the whole way downstairs, the dogs are jumping all over me like i have treats in the bag and we go outside. Now, i am pissed. I didn't buy the super expensive traps for THIS to happen. I dumped the trap out and took a picture and decided to push the release button and set him free. But then I discovered his poor little legs were paralyzed. Sigh...I was looking for a proper rock to put him down and then the neighbor Tony James comes out and asks what I was doing. "oh, just torturing a mouse"...and then here comes Mama. She's my outside kitty. she bats at the little mouse-who by this time is probably having a heart attack. Tony James sees this and exclaims "OH! Are they friends?" and at that EXACT moment Mama swoops in chomps on the mouse and carries it to the bushes for dinner. Good girl. Tony James...well, bless his heart. Of course I reused that trap and it was successful the next time.

I tried to make a cake recently. Well, like a month ago but i am a slacker at posting things on here. Anyway, my friend has a birthday next to mine so we make treats for each other. It makes people insanely jealous when you have a cake delivered and they don't.
So, I am no professional when it comes to baking. My treats taste good but they are ugly and I have only made about 2 successful cakes (i.e. no grand canyon down the center and no dogs getting a hold of them). Hey, I have an idea, lets try again! I know she likes carrot cake but I had a craving for chocolate. I also wanted to bring some treats to work if I was going to the effort. Soooo, why not make the cake half chocolate and half carrot cake with cream cheese icing? GENIUS! It was just a little wonky but once I drowned it in icing...well, it was still wonky. The tricky part was that I have no a/c. It was a hot hot August day and the icing was turning to soup. I would ice it, and throw it in the fridge, pull it out and write my saying, throw it in the fridge, add flowers...throw it...you get the point. I had no choice but to let her know it was ugly but not poisoned.

Sock Monkey Centipede

By now you must have seen the movie. The Human Centipede. Yes? No?!!!! Well go watch it immediately! No, don't. Well, yes, you should but only after reading the wikipedia review perhaps. Consider yourself warned.
These monkey babies were hand created and are filled with love, terror, horror, and a little regret. I love them so much. They are freshly surgically connected so they are still a little weak in the knees. Because of this i have created a stand with coat hangers soldered together and sprayed gold. But as you see, I am a genius, but not a metalsmith.
Each monkey was filled with cotton and fabric scraps. They have individual expressions of surprise, fear, and horror. Enjoy!


So, Its featured on boing boing! Thats an awesome awesome blog and its probably cooler than regretsy!
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/11/sock-monkey-human-ce.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53627114/sock-monkey-centipede-seen-on

It's a tiny squirrel skull coffin

My friend Kseniya made this for me. It is the coolest item I have recieved this year (other than the dog bracelet from Olivia that her grandmother gave her that she didn't want). I haven't known her long but she is rad and even more rad is that she brought this to me for no reason other than i like skulls and she can make an awesome box that would hold the squirrel skull she was giving me. Thanks and i love it!

Day of the dead show coming up!

I was accepted to do a piece for the upcoming day of the dead show at Youngblood Gallery!
It will be held from October 30 through November 28 and I'm super stoked! I have purchased the coffins and now I will have 2 to decorate to my hearts content!!!! I have some pretty good ideas cooking in my head so we'll see what I can come up with!

Soldered jewelry

I took this class last Sunday and look at everything I made! The class was a one day event at the Spruill Center for the Arts here in Atlanta. They have all sorts of classes and range for 2 months to one day. Great place! Anyway, i made these awesome items! The first was the set with the reddish-orange pieces. Not bad. Then I did the clear glass piece with the tiny paper scenes on each side. Very fun. The other ladies in class mostly made floral, pretty items but I went with funny. Next was the heart that is made with 2 pieces of glass soldered together. Then in a quick flash i made the last 2 and my tecnique got better and better.

Yeti- now with REAL fur!

So I know most of these past blogs have just been crafty stuff. Well, get used to it because that is all I do these days. Well, i do some dog-sitting but overall I am not the wild woman my finances once allowed me to be.

Anyway, shown here is a lovely yeti print we made. I have perverted the idea, or made it awesome, your choice. I took a lovely 8.5 x 11 print and I hand pulled fur from my dog Eggroll Something Wong 5. See, she's puffy (see photo), and when she sheds it comes out in clumps. I brush and brush her and yet, each day, there are these clumps falling off of her. I would hand pull a few and immediately glue them to the print. She is white and black so the fur colors have some marbling. I need to take a picture so you can see just how puffy this little yeti is! You can buy it here if you really want.

Motley Crue Update

Remember when I showed you guys this Motley Crue Cross stitch? Well, This is the June update. I still have a long way to go but it is coming along!
So, a few weeks ago we had a table at the Rollergirls Event here in Atlanta. We had our table set up and Sarah was geeking out talking to a storm trooper. don't ask...Anyway, this guy is standing at the table next to ours and I asked "Is your name Johnny?" It was indeed. See Johnny used to come into my old work for some neighborhood meetings and he recognized me and we chatted. He's been doing some CNN i-reports among other things and then I had an epiphany! WOW! So i say "Sooooo, you're friends with Tommy Lee, right? Well, I have this Motley Crue cross stitch that is a to scale replica of the Shout at the Devil album..." and he had me email my progress. I plan to send him updates periodically too. Just knowing that Tommy may have seen it is AWESOME.

PS- Johnny Colt's I-reports are pretty cool. They are straight forward views of events and news. Go check out his website!

UPDATE: Finished!

Postcard Swap

I recently participated in the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap. I am retarded and either I missed the theme or I am blind, or both!
Look how beautiful the card i received is! It is hanging on my bulletin board at work right now!
The theme was apparently "time" but I just made a little monster. I was having issues with materials and inspiration so I'm sorry to whoever got mine. Also, was I supposed to mail it as a postcard or in an envelope for someone else to use? I always have received these things as postcards so when the lovely spot of tea showed up I instantly felt bad and thought i should re-do it. Now, looking at the examples I am embarrassed to put this on here but what the heck. mine is the ugly one that is second.

Go look at the beautiful examples that I will not add my ugly one to.

Oh, and look at my maily partner's review!

June 17, 2010

Target Corporation

1000 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542

RE: Atlanta Midtown Store Complaint 6-5-2010

To Whom It May Concern:

First let me say I am a fan of Target Stores. I have almost always had a pleasant shopping experience (except for the final price after I am lured in by wonderful items). On June 5^th I changed my view, and I hope you can help this be a temporary ripple in an otherwise wonderful relationship.

On that Saturday night I met a friend at your Atlanta Midtown store located at 375 18th Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30363-1190. I went in and browsed until said friend arrived. We bought some candy, some snacks, and debated some other items but we would come back the next day for real shopping. We left in one car and went over to Atlantic Station for a bit. When we returned we noticed my car was missing and there was a tow truck in the process of removing another car. I looked around for a sign that had said no parking and it was TINY!

I understand that your lot is not a parking garage for the masses but I feel I was wronged. Most lots that actively tow have a very prominent sign. The average tow warning sign is 9x12 from what I have seen out and about. So, because the one teeny tiny sign was not obvious when the lot was full, I ended up spending all of Saturday night trying to locate my car, go home to get my registration, go to the tow company…My car was there only 2 hours past closing (not more that 3 hours total). So there I am, carless in a bad neighborhood. I feel if you are going to tow then you need much more prominent signs, and you need to wait a fair amount of time to activate the tow process. In fact, there have been many times we choose to meet at other Targets and leave one car there, and almost every time I spend money with you.

I have spent 1000’s, probably 10’s of 1000’s at your stores in my lifetime. I would like to continue to give my money to you. But right now I am so angry that I would rather shop at Walmart and the grocery store. How can you make us a team again? Well, you could give my 135 bucks back. I know you won’t do that since that money went to A-Tow. I’m not sure what kind of kick-backs they give you for the right to drag car after car out of there, but I’ll bet you can afford to give me a credit of $135 to spend at your store. That is how we can be friends again. $135 cash or $135 gift card. Until then I will go elsewhere for my toiletries, tank tops, socks, pet foods, gardening goods, etc. There are many other stores that are quite convenient for me to shop at.

Please consider my request as it is not done lightly. If you would like to discuss this matter you can contact me at xxxxxx or xxxxx. My address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I look forward to a positive result from this horrible experience.

Angrily Yours,

The key to healthy living

Dad is the healthiest dude. He's fit and can outrun us all. So how does he get that way? Well, he eats right, he exercises, and he takes his vitamins! Check out the vitamins! I am not organized enough to remember to take them 3 times a day, I'm doing good to get one a day. But just so you know, dad can outrun all of us and he doesn't take any prescriptions. Beat that!

The nicest thing EVER!

This past weekend I participated in the Art-B-Que in Avondale Estates. It was about a thousand degrees outside but was a lot of fun! So my next door neighbor was Chris Hamer These guys came to visit him and pick up a FANTASTIC commissioned piece. They have like 6 of his paintings. Anyway, they brought a present and it was the photo from the botanical gardens that you see. Its GORGEOUS! I love love love it and I said I wanted to buy one. They seemed a little hesitant but I insisted that I would email them about it. I don;t usually love photography at shows so it must REALLY speak to me. And this one did. Maybe it was the wonderful raised mat that really brought it out but I had to have one. Well, Sunday, here come Chris's fans again. And guess what?!!!! They brought one for me! Its about 16x20 framed and so wonderful! I can't decide if it will go in the living room or the dining room but it's going on the wall TONIGHT! See the picture I took of it. Sorry about the reflections, I'm not a pro.

Motley Crue cross stitch

Sorry i haven't posted in FOREVER! But look what I am making!


UPDATE: Finished!