Owls in Space!

After deciding on a space nursery, I realized it would be tricky to find pre-made decor at someplace like Babies R' Us or Target. Thankfully, in this age of the Internet, there are lots of other options. One of my favorites for interesting, unique items is Etsy. Etsy is great for all kinds of things and somehow less overwhelming than eBay. Added bonus: I don't have to deal with bidding (which I hate).

Two of my first Etsy orders arrived yesterday, and I have to say, I'm thrilled! Yay for creativity and customization combined with Internet commerce!

First up is this print that marries our space theme with my "pre-occupation" with owls. I'm trying not to dominate BabyO's room with owls, since that is my thing, but I couldn't resist this one from Nancy Lee's shop.

I ordered mine in a larger size than the 6x6 listing, no problem. And it's gorgeous! I can't wait to get it matted and framed. Even when BabyO's moved on from her space theme, I will gladly pull this print into another room of the house.

The second print is this "I love you from here to Cassiopeia" one from HopSkipJumpPaper:

There are a lot of options for paper color, and in keeping with our color scheme I got this one in aqua. It looks great! There are also ones from here to Jupiter or to Andromeda. It was a tough call to choose just one.

This space theme seems to be coming all swimmingly so far!

Who Doesn't Love a Good Propaganda Poster?

Featured on Laughing Squid, but I love me all kind of retro propaganda posters. Seems appropriate that social media get a propaganda make-over.

Great design by Aaron Wood.

Life After Comic Con - Part 1

It's been months since I've been to the blog. I would feel bad, but honestly wasn't too motivated to share anything recently. I even saw X-men: First Class and some other relevant movie that I've already forgotten. I haven't read any comics, watched any geeky TV (well, Fringe, but I think I've espoused on that quite a bit already), gotten involved in any creative projects - crafts or otherwise, or gone to any nerdcentric events. Until now!

As some may recall -- I certainly do -- I missed the annual "Nerd Prom" otherwise known as San Diego Comic Con in 2010 due to conflicting health issues. I couldn't even follow the coverage from the interwebz as it depressed the hell out of me to know I was missing something/everything. So, I was pretty motivated to get back this year.

But here's the thing, over the ~15 years I've been attending, Comic Con has changed a lot. And I suppose so have I too. I could totally fall into the "back in my day" spiel, but that's not really what I want to say (and honestly, others have likely said it better). No, what I found was a more personal reflection on where I am at in my life, and how much I miss the creative/artistic/expressive elements that I find when at events like Comic Con. While no one can accuse me of being an artist, I certainly miss the creative outlets of my past.

When I first attended Comic Con, I thought for sure I'd be working in the industry, or at least industry-adjacent, by now. I worked for years in comic book stores, hanging out with other fans, but also meeting artists, writers, and others who work in some kind of creative industry. I worked for friends with artistic vision on their projects, playing a supporting role but proud to contribute. But as we got busy, and the demand for a more "professional" job emerged, connections to that creative element have largely disappeared. My career lead me down a much more analytic, process-oriented path. And I suppose like many who work in an intellectual field, I feel disconnected from actually producing something. I mean, beyond a PowerPoint report.

Going to Comic Con really called that out for me. Surrounded by tremendous talent, looking at the books produced & art created, hearing about projects initiated & almost complete, watching friends, acquaintances, and strangers push forward their work, their mark on the world left me feeling...meh.

So, dear readers (all 2 of you!), here I am. Promising myself to take some steps to find that creative side and finding new places I can lend my support. And doing my best to share the journey along the way.

Darth Princess

(h/t Erica)

I don't even know what this is all about, save for some great concept (deviant) art from JosephB22, and I like it -- Darth Disney Princesses. Awesome.

Here's my favorite -- Darth Snow White:

Alternative Press Expo (APE) 2010

As you may, or may not, recall, I missed out on San Diego Comic-Con this year, for the first time in about 14 years. It was a big bummer. Even though I couldn't make it to SDCC, I was excited to hit up the Alternative Press Expo -- or APE -- last weekend in San Francisco.

APE is run by the same folks who put on WonderCon (also in SF) and San Diego Comic-Con. But it is really nothing like a "typical" comic book convention. This was my 7th or 8th APE Con, and over the years, I believe it has become my favorite event of the convention season. In addition to catching up with my geeky & creative friends, APE offers up a lot of interesting small/self-published comics, art/prints from a range of artists (many who are up-and-coming in the comic/animation/web world), and various other products that you can't find just anywhere.

I always leave APE so excited about the treasures I've collected over the day. This year was no exception. If anything I wish I had more time to explore the concourse floors, as the convention seemed to about double in size this year. The attendees are a really fun, mostly local crowd. My only complaint is that, while the Concourse is fairly convenient -- located right off the freeway and plenty of parking nearby -- there doesn't seem to be a great range of food options in close proximity. On the plus side, it's the only convention I've been to where you can drink on the floor. So, hooray for that!

Here are a few pics I took along the way.

Convention center floor just before opening:

Sparkly art by Charlene Kelley (my husband purchased one of these for his Marion collection):

My new owl print by Ashley Burke:

Plushie food, including a giant hamburger by Jakc Designs. PS - I'll do another entry on the Adventures of Slider (or "Bored at the Airport Part I") soon.

Felt octopus by Jackie Huang:

Beastlies by Leslie Levings:

SF Alternative Press Expo this Weekend!

The fast-becoming-my-favorite-convention, the Alternative Press Expo (or APE) is happening again this weekend in San Francisco at the Concourse Center. I will be there all day Saturday, with bells on, working at the ever-fabulous booth of Allen Spiegel Fine Arts. I know my good friend, and recently published (!) J.D. Arnold will be there with his new book, BB Wolf & The 3 LPs. And of course, the amazingly talented Scott Morse will be there --- can't wait to see what he's working on these days!

If you are in the City, I hope you will check it out -- this is one of the best, most interesting small conventions happening. Lots of up-and-coming writers and artists, tons of interesting small press publications, and some very cool niche products that this very creative community puts out.

I'm bringing an extra tote bag to bring back my bounty!

Comic Style Wedding Invites

Earlier this week, Comics Alliance featured a few images of very cool 60's style comic cover wedding invitations created by Etsy artist Swelser. I really, really wish I knew about this artist before my husband and I got married. Maybe for our 10 year re-commitment ceremony, we can get some of these awesome Kirby-inspired invites. My favorite is this one, probably because it is in space:



PS - Check out some of their other pieces on Etsy - pretty cool stuff, including vintage-inspired movie posters which I may have to come back to here at a later time...

Star Wars - Victorian Style

Apparently, it's been a while. I think missing Comic Con this year threw me off my bloggerific game. Sigh. Well, I'm rebounding now and hoping to post a few quick things before I'm out of the loop again for a short medical leave. (Summer has been great times this year!)

h/t to Rich for sending along this link to an LA Weekly profile on artist Greg Peltz, and his Victorian Star Wars paintings. Check out all the shared images over at the LA Weekly link, but here are a couple of my favorites:

Jabba with a top hat and mustachio.


Chewbacca with monocle.




Love these! I feel like they need some very flowery, ornate frames to really give them the extra oomph.

Finally, I just have to note that the artist, Mr. Peltz, is a 23-year-old artist, who is also a technical director at Pixar. Now I feel old and under accomplished.

Back to the cubicle with me...

More on the Prospect of an Edgy Snow White

Yesterday I posted the news that Brett Ratner is producing a new 'edgy' Snow White. Then today, I came across a post with some of J. Scott Campbell's (Danger Girl) re-imagining of Disney's favorites. And this pretty much represents what I hope not to see in a Ratner-produced movie version. Unless it's truly "adult fare" in which case, whatever -- it's all fair game.

So, About that Job at Microsoft...

(via Gizmodo)

When I look for my next job (not anytime soon, I promise) I think I have a new requirement: It must have geek related art in the lobby. And this one takes the cake!

Microsoft has an incredible Star Trek sculpture in the lobby of their Studio D office, an installation that continually gives the appearance that Kirk, Spock and the rest are just on the verge of materializing...Beads! The installation, inspired by the 1967 episode "Mirror, Mirror," was created by Devorah Sperber, an artist well known for her illusory creations involving unconventional materials.

So super cool! Imagine something that awesome at YOUR job! If only...

Lowbrow Alice

I recently saw Camille Rose Garcia's beautifully illustrated version of "Alice in Wonderland" and not only got one as a gift, but bought one for myself too (um, why yes, I am an only child). I wish I could be in LA for Garcia's show of original work from this book - I'm sure the images are stunning in person. But I hear she's moved to the Northwest, so I'm hoping to catch a future show or book signing soon. Powell's, I'm looking in your general direction.



(Image via BoingBoing)

A couple of other images of Camille Rose Garcia's non-Alice work: