tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74659957627428102612024-03-05T09:08:31.060-05:00Ursula And Oliveursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-13638899904464624902010-03-24T10:01:00.002-05:002010-03-24T10:02:16.648-05:00CRAFTOPIA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32NLE-9F8guM014Ciigeh97lpSop6f31Ac4Ymo0Oav9AGEC12CQqSdx4pYfwx0wdX4YnzdnYrOhTpIS8KiPJioZHrnfKOqmrXbcdkuI8Vj_MhaeBPc0-db_cXD8YAXpprdOA8Rpt87oCr/s1600/Craftopia_artwork_sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452215836291340226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32NLE-9F8guM014Ciigeh97lpSop6f31Ac4Ymo0Oav9AGEC12CQqSdx4pYfwx0wdX4YnzdnYrOhTpIS8KiPJioZHrnfKOqmrXbcdkuI8Vj_MhaeBPc0-db_cXD8YAXpprdOA8Rpt87oCr/s400/Craftopia_artwork_sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This is going to be a Rockin' Good Time! Come, Visit, Shop!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-42890236428134022512010-03-12T14:30:00.004-05:002010-03-12T14:36:43.390-05:00NY Here I Come!<a href="http://www.bkcraftcentral.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447832764548893858" style="WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi5qKLXNJD_E0VV1uD9m4W_liOEY78uGXx8ud8vg5DJEsjrt5IJF7aTXvvnakzNVSHahh4G7VaeEz8J5CGhqjotmq0zrQXcrQvRdua8HrFb6zS38I4PzdLO9X_Jd1K0BM7f3qllAqcQA7/s400/webflyer%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Ursula and Olive will be taking a new crafty road trip to Brooklyn, NY this Spring! I hope some of you will stop by and visit me at the Lyceum Spring Craft Show.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-79502269171336845842010-02-03T14:17:00.002-05:002010-02-03T14:20:31.876-05:00Who Humor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafcV4VtoBpoVsFLBSFlkY2eQkTZMFJdDk2F5j4xsAHyxJhfuS6mPaO54SdzB_64TXnxnGBlTce0o-5KuoefeKbZW_Vvt41NepVRHieCmrZSxUoDlESV08-mkLPk3jUdD0gUujuSrdFy4f/s1600-h/nerf+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434099218580416562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafcV4VtoBpoVsFLBSFlkY2eQkTZMFJdDk2F5j4xsAHyxJhfuS6mPaO54SdzB_64TXnxnGBlTce0o-5KuoefeKbZW_Vvt41NepVRHieCmrZSxUoDlESV08-mkLPk3jUdD0gUujuSrdFy4f/s400/nerf+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I'm vending at a gaming convention in a few days (Templecon in Warwick, RI if anyone wants to come visit). For the convention I've modified/customized several mini nerf guns and "steampunked" them to sell as cosplay items. So today I was making a price sign to go with them and came up with this. I cracked myself up with the 4 hour temporal anomoly warning so I had to share with you all.</div><br /><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-51014381480915329762010-01-22T15:49:00.002-05:002010-01-22T15:50:24.675-05:00New Craft Show in Pawtucket, RI<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxeOgj62HvoErWO9shZjbwSjr27nXjFi20QZdq8lzPesojOT1hd7mxDmDkk8itaCYSjsp_5JdG2p2-a1wVt5n2PIpYzXVSm0oj4sXUwbl7Dgs4EA93lYCSoO0NEZ-1QVHu2q_CWcfIA2y/s1600-h/craftopia_banner_4%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429669372054099426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 377px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxeOgj62HvoErWO9shZjbwSjr27nXjFi20QZdq8lzPesojOT1hd7mxDmDkk8itaCYSjsp_5JdG2p2-a1wVt5n2PIpYzXVSm0oj4sXUwbl7Dgs4EA93lYCSoO0NEZ-1QVHu2q_CWcfIA2y/s400/craftopia_banner_4%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-26545044688126489392009-10-16T07:37:00.002-05:002009-10-16T07:39:38.638-05:00Let it Snow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxwBdagFEpaPvkyweCLBOFNKSts7FrNKn4eu3MQ7c5o3zO5V3zrc60w6k8IDMDki4fOU5gLsCGunMXJIkFe7ZfwVpYibsnBCTmfzvaC0JL24rLXYRuxiF9AXq7npla5cyuK8FzOXMJCxQ/s1600-h/Luke+by+the+fire.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393176276150713010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxwBdagFEpaPvkyweCLBOFNKSts7FrNKn4eu3MQ7c5o3zO5V3zrc60w6k8IDMDki4fOU5gLsCGunMXJIkFe7ZfwVpYibsnBCTmfzvaC0JL24rLXYRuxiF9AXq7npla5cyuK8FzOXMJCxQ/s320/Luke+by+the+fire.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />We had our first snow flakes of the season last night so we celebrated by lighting the first fire in the fireplace! We're ready for winter now - go ahead and let it snow!ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-28727700219165397962009-09-23T14:47:00.005-05:002009-09-23T14:58:19.501-05:00What is it about evil alternate universes and facial hair? Why is a goatee a sign of evil?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIMg6G-hmy0SoL1jVug2IQvm99d2EDT3Wii9UUK69UkfAJ5S2xg5oKy9MyU4ULQIGvYpxw1CWbXoAmgVuk6B8i8cyhDsU5YAqha8dlAw3f7NFUMHumdgDvnkPf_ioKIEG4NPVPszNzuO/s1600-h/292px-Spock_(mirror).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384753604336470194" style="WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIMg6G-hmy0SoL1jVug2IQvm99d2EDT3Wii9UUK69UkfAJ5S2xg5oKy9MyU4ULQIGvYpxw1CWbXoAmgVuk6B8i8cyhDsU5YAqha8dlAw3f7NFUMHumdgDvnkPf_ioKIEG4NPVPszNzuO/s320/292px-Spock_(mirror).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>I was recently in a Star Trek swap on Craftster.org and my swap partner (ClonedBravo) made me an alternate universe surival kit - I laughed so hard and had to try it on!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4luwAbb2w5TXiWUKJs8El1a-7FvaIcirKxL7FxbfED4KkdKsDWejoiBiq7_8wwYLHhjQ0lDNg4vC6otxdMiRUTtb6WKOJMVVG-ucykQ5-EJE0vVX_A68FHMsmkoro86dxTMk6HbBweIjZ/s1600-h/alternate+universe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384754223729809666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4luwAbb2w5TXiWUKJs8El1a-7FvaIcirKxL7FxbfED4KkdKsDWejoiBiq7_8wwYLHhjQ0lDNg4vC6otxdMiRUTtb6WKOJMVVG-ucykQ5-EJE0vVX_A68FHMsmkoro86dxTMk6HbBweIjZ/s320/alternate+universe.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-87093950949720126572009-09-15T14:28:00.005-05:002009-09-15T14:43:17.879-05:00Ouija MemoriesDo you love being scared? I don't like "horror" but I do like a little fright every now and then. When I was young the cool thing to do at sleepovers was to break out a Ouija Board and see if we could get it to tell us the name of our true love and then scream hysterically when it actually spelled something.<br /><br /><br />It's been a long time since I used a Ouija Board but I happened to be in a toy store a few weeks ago and noticed that they still sell them - only updated! They had Barbie pink Ouija, glow in the dark ones and even a Bratz Doll version! I don't know which one scared me more!<br /><br /><br />The glow in the dark one did inspire me to make a new necklace though. This is my version of a glow in the dark Ouija Board. I painted it with two layers of glow in the dark paint before giving it a final coat of resin. Now I need some photography advice. How do I get a picture of the pendant glowing? I tried using my digital camera without the flash and just got a black screen. With the flash of course it didn't work either - too much light. Here is the non-glowing picture. :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtmxvu4LF_xbRzfjsMfxLk1M-HIQor2JqNXKaAouEG5aw1BQr9IRAhdAd8WsZBb0a5mj86DEBEXi8eNM8swRM4SWe5MRqPE_hBiCeXWJ5cykFwXaVbcZqX-bPwWFTcdOzOr35R0T4gMka/s1600-h/DSC03891.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381780757786585074" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtmxvu4LF_xbRzfjsMfxLk1M-HIQor2JqNXKaAouEG5aw1BQr9IRAhdAd8WsZBb0a5mj86DEBEXi8eNM8swRM4SWe5MRqPE_hBiCeXWJ5cykFwXaVbcZqX-bPwWFTcdOzOr35R0T4gMka/s320/DSC03891.JPG" border="0" /></a>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-9228828344695096952009-09-11T12:25:00.008-05:002009-09-11T14:50:46.768-05:00To Blog Or Not To Blog<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380266331800623634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa5AbYM9GQbI8vZmV8eyNkEUJAZ3zqjYiAZcJ96w72ORU0Yg9dfKwPoRKJjFdh6ikVTlQufe28Q2MYNxpd4-rVrRDTeojeMs22GxHFNTAG_UP8Q15WbEKIstuCiB4zXW_Zs-dbbqYQ0cL/s320/shakespeare.jpg" border="0" />To blog or not to blog, that is the question! Okay - so do any of the rest of you get blog guilt? I do love my blog but I've found it hard to keep up with it, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Etsy</span> shop, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Flickr</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Craftster</span>, and the zillion other sites I frequent. Now I feel guilty that I haven't blogged.<br /><div></div><div>I used to feel the same guilt with my diary when I was a kid - I'd write in it every day for 3 months and then I'd go to once a week, then to once a month and then I'd find myself <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">apologizing</span> to my diary! "Dear Diary, I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote in you..." Like the book cared! Now I know a blog is slightly different seeing other people actually read it (or at least that's the goal I think) but do I need to feel guilty for not writing? </div><br /><div></div><div>Well, I've decided to feel guilty no more! Life is short and my blog is what it is. Thank you to those who still wander in here from time to time and read my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ponderings</span>. Perhaps I'll do it more often and perhaps I won't...Just know that I wish you all sunny days, positive thoughts and a life filled with at least a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">geekiness</span>!</div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-55256769425107331432009-04-28T10:27:00.002-05:002009-04-28T10:31:23.225-05:00JUMPCON UPDATEFor those of you who followed the horrible Jumpcon debacle last July, here is an update:<br /><a href="http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090428/NEWS01/304289925">http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090428/NEWS01/304289925</a><br /><br />Looks like Shane may finally get some of what is coming to him and I'm happy to see some justice done.ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-45939423867990075322009-03-04T12:01:00.002-05:002009-03-04T12:04:39.014-05:00Gocco Experiment #2I’m getting better with the Gocco! Yeah! This is Dalek print try #2 and they turned out a zillion times better now that I’m using the paper ink on paper. I fixed the other newbie mistakes as well. I didn’t take the original off the master right away and I used a steady, stable surface to print on.<br /><br />I tried printing these on a couple different paper types. I took some pages from a Doctor Who book and printed on those. So far it’s my favorite – I love the look of the image over the text. I also printed on some silver card stock. The cards had a bit of a glossy sheen to them and it took the ink twice as long to dry on those as it did on the book pages.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOASXb7c54LujKokHR5GoXp9Gp5ZagMdGJ1xvzbg3Cn00LSoSI7iSRHmlPU8laAs7R4dzMFP-RssbpX2QgqLYaIP24EaEHpHsycPKHUWOHtnDfA0kTNrEjGiVGHPEjCiD8l6Q3Dp2fC27p/s1600-h/DSC03258.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309379207562831282" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOASXb7c54LujKokHR5GoXp9Gp5ZagMdGJ1xvzbg3Cn00LSoSI7iSRHmlPU8laAs7R4dzMFP-RssbpX2QgqLYaIP24EaEHpHsycPKHUWOHtnDfA0kTNrEjGiVGHPEjCiD8l6Q3Dp2fC27p/s320/DSC03258.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I came up with a great idea for what to do with the prints on the book pages. I’m in a Doctor Who swap on Craftster right now and I’m going to make this for my swap partner so I can’t share it here yet, but if you’re a Doctor Who lover – you’re going want one too! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTYJzsIwfvydCqrsBEZaS807kyI0elIuqhhhVUneoYjmQDBo1gcdhPSjy8Fnu7n6t-bYfZOlHHXLax-DFLQIsa9_Tm8NXXZ4Md2QrrNr-qdUjdrDsw9vMm7b575njpKpsH8RHyoLj4OjC/s1600-h/DSC03256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309379396170604162" style="WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTYJzsIwfvydCqrsBEZaS807kyI0elIuqhhhVUneoYjmQDBo1gcdhPSjy8Fnu7n6t-bYfZOlHHXLax-DFLQIsa9_Tm8NXXZ4Md2QrrNr-qdUjdrDsw9vMm7b575njpKpsH8RHyoLj4OjC/s320/DSC03256.JPG" border="0" /></a>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-13697211456292947882009-02-25T11:02:00.007-05:002009-02-25T11:11:03.259-05:00Go Gocco!Hello Everyone,<br />Sorry I’ve been away so long. It was a busy end to 2008 and I overextended myself a bit doing craft shows and burnt myself out. So, I took an extended craft break for the last 2 months and now my creative juices are flowing again and I’m ready to get crafting.<br /><br />I started last night. I’ve been wanting a Gocco printing machine forever and I finally broke down and bought a used one on Ebay. For those of you who don’t know a Gocco machine is a Japanese made unit that basically makes instant screen prints. You can print on paper or material and do it from the comfort of your dining room table.<br /><br />To give you all a little insight into my crafty world I thought I’d share my Gocco experiences with you. I got my Gocco about 5 days ago and even though I’d been yearning for it for so long when it arrived I was suddenly scared to death of it. I’d read a zillion tutorials online about how to use it but when faced with the box, ink and lots of instructions in Japanese I froze!<br /><br />So, last night I decided the best way to start was to just do it. I made what is called your original – it has to be something either photocopied or drawn with a carbon pen/pencil. The carbon is what makes the whole screen print process work, so you can’t use a inkjet or laser copied item, it must be a photocopier that uses toner.<br /><br />Seeing I can’t draw very well, I created a digital image and photocopied it. Here is my “original” and yes, that is a Dalek from Doctor Who! What can I say, I craft geek!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95bPQWXzP0DJg-vt3k5dDqraU8bompeCRWVf457AP66gdDfj1RjxN8Ehd2T_J3cvURazGHXmojw41HmZho2xNQlhl8dtwWJO5vHFul_pUZsseipgwDIGQUGWTG8BBW7mwqCdNVgNYh7pu/s1600-h/DSC03237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306766919391949970" style="WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95bPQWXzP0DJg-vt3k5dDqraU8bompeCRWVf457AP66gdDfj1RjxN8Ehd2T_J3cvURazGHXmojw41HmZho2xNQlhl8dtwWJO5vHFul_pUZsseipgwDIGQUGWTG8BBW7mwqCdNVgNYh7pu/s320/DSC03237.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then you take your Gocco machine and you have to assemble all the parts – flash bulbs, batteries, and a mesh screen that will become your master screen. This is what the image burns onto. Here is a photo of the Gocco machine. Sorry I only got 1 angle and it doesn’t show you the screens, or flash bulb housing unit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiPBb2eOuZBJq4YyyjnBVV0nZyxAZyzguwjDACnFf5bPfnFOuFVGl_3mlU_nK8nVeOhHDHh3RbFVIIKmJXNZAC2RS1cVIRXXxT1vl8jSYYtazaNdTekwPwWKzewO-oKVNxDHbb4sksuLz/s1600-h/DSC03236.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306767103593111346" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiPBb2eOuZBJq4YyyjnBVV0nZyxAZyzguwjDACnFf5bPfnFOuFVGl_3mlU_nK8nVeOhHDHh3RbFVIIKmJXNZAC2RS1cVIRXXxT1vl8jSYYtazaNdTekwPwWKzewO-oKVNxDHbb4sksuLz/s320/DSC03236.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I was doing great up to this point. I assembled it all, put my original down, screen in place and tried it – no flash. Guess I should have checked the batteries. Turns out ones that came with it were no good. I replaced the batteries and tried again. Success! I saw the flash and could see the screen had burned an image onto it.<br /><br />Now came more mistakes – I got too excited at this point and stopped reading directions – so learn from my mistakes and if you’re just starting a Gocco project – go slow.<br /><br />Your original will stick to what is now your master screen. What I incorrectly did was immediately peel off the original. Then in my excitement and haste I grabbed a tube of ink and started applying it to the master screen. Well, there are 2 kinds of ink. One for cloth and one for paper. I wanted to print on paper but grabbed the cloth ink instead. It was too late once I figured out I had the wrong ink. My master was covered with it so I gave it a try anyway. Here is a print on canvas, not too bad:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-390LeFIStjM-sJ1VxC88qUZHjC29NShdG3h5TZWzhnDp4Mc2mwZZzg38SkG1OsXBv795SkKdnNy8e48emdM9j_6l8SI0kjs8naTDpraRjsyxO_IKzqZYPsOqw3txtiLFUFMVmIVhI5Ww/s1600-h/DSC03238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306767355896250162" style="WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-390LeFIStjM-sJ1VxC88qUZHjC29NShdG3h5TZWzhnDp4Mc2mwZZzg38SkG1OsXBv795SkKdnNy8e48emdM9j_6l8SI0kjs8naTDpraRjsyxO_IKzqZYPsOqw3txtiLFUFMVmIVhI5Ww/s320/DSC03238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Then I tried it on paper. My next mistake was to quickly put a piece of cardstock under it and press down – well, the image came out but I hadn’t thought about which direction the card would fold – so now I have a dyslexic Dalek card that opens backwards! Exterminate it!<br /><br />That’s it. That was my 1st try at printing Gocco! Hopefully I’ll learn from each attempt and be printing out beautifully geeky images in no time.<br /><br />Oh yes – 1 little tidbit that was a great hint I found in the Gocco group on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/">Flickr </a>.<br />My machine didn’t come with any of the official Risso cleaning solution and I did end up with ink all over the place – guess what cleans it up great? Vegetable oil! Yup, good old fashioned greasy vegetable oil. Not only can you cook with it but you can clean ink with it too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPXmPK6wS2KAqdtd6iivLwgdmyoc_wE3-NBuZFd5IGQSUYf-6HKvpTJ3YVk-bMahbnRjrK3vA7eWSUD0b_03pW81O3zgSOAPbFVEnKQx4reo7y0NaRb8jlNRiIphQDGISiZwzU8Y5D2Kg/s1600-h/DSC03239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306767650093347618" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPXmPK6wS2KAqdtd6iivLwgdmyoc_wE3-NBuZFd5IGQSUYf-6HKvpTJ3YVk-bMahbnRjrK3vA7eWSUD0b_03pW81O3zgSOAPbFVEnKQx4reo7y0NaRb8jlNRiIphQDGISiZwzU8Y5D2Kg/s320/DSC03239.JPG" border="0" /></a>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-71613532970768855422008-12-09T14:15:00.007-05:002008-12-09T14:33:02.893-05:00Geek of the Year Interview - Chris Hicks - Sole Artist and Designer of the Mighty Muggs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f4L6oAZPLYWaZ9uC53X1-IOO4X3fZuhPGoLzlzSeInCJeBbEOF7m8cOO-5gSVMfgvi6E7sXWWzetMUQdw4a_1I2XmmnYqipXECkO4MwbrZHWchPq6PW2-FSPL-tSZuwXW4-ZAZFJQfiC/s1600-h/mightymugs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277874962849214770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f4L6oAZPLYWaZ9uC53X1-IOO4X3fZuhPGoLzlzSeInCJeBbEOF7m8cOO-5gSVMfgvi6E7sXWWzetMUQdw4a_1I2XmmnYqipXECkO4MwbrZHWchPq6PW2-FSPL-tSZuwXW4-ZAZFJQfiC/s320/mightymugs.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div>Okay the Holiday Season has overwhelmed me a bit and my geek of the week interviews have faded into more of a geek of the month so I decided to bring out my last, best interview of the year!<br /><br />I am lucky enough to be good friends with someone whose husband is the sole artist and designer of the Mighty Muggs from Hasbro. His name is Chris Hicks and even though many of you don’t know his name yet, you’ve seen his work in toy stores around the world!<br /><br />Without further ado, here is the Mighty Man himself…Chris Hicks (you can hear the crowds roaring).</div><br /><br /><div>1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been creating art?</div><div>That’s a pretty heavy question- who am I? I dunno, just some dude? I’ve been creating art (if you apply a very liberal definition of “art”) ever since I was a little kid. The first grade is my earliest memory of really enjoying drawing. Oh, and I am from Rocky Point, New York. The Most God-Forsaken Place on Earth!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>2. Do you create for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)</div><div>I work in toys now, but I’ve done comics and gaming illustrations too. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>3. What was the first “geekey” craft or artwork you ever made?</div><div>Probably drawing up pictures of my Dungeons & Dragon characters when I was a teenager. Doesn’t get much more geeky than that!</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>4. What inspires you to create?</div><div>Movies, comics, video games. Anything inventive and fresh, with a good story and good characters. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>5. Where can we find your work (website, shows, blogs, etc.)</div><div>I have a lot of my freelance work on my web site <a href="http://www.pyroplant.com/">http://www.pyroplant.com/</a> although it’s in a dire need of an update. Also, my comic book “Mister Blank” is available through Slave Labor Graphics or Amazon.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ESstq6ZqbWP6NSod1Av23-DGzMRb8WNJNPoy9ekRX8UJv028NYf_DMo2YWKAgkPERV0WoDv_nqJIKaJGbdqjNVZ731PaY4Ls4B7yYmHuEfcs7ZVPcSlCBy_gqRyIgCInZJCBhu5j3APd/s1600-h/Indiana+Jones+Mugs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277875098183591106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ESstq6ZqbWP6NSod1Av23-DGzMRb8WNJNPoy9ekRX8UJv028NYf_DMo2YWKAgkPERV0WoDv_nqJIKaJGbdqjNVZ731PaY4Ls4B7yYmHuEfcs7ZVPcSlCBy_gqRyIgCInZJCBhu5j3APd/s320/Indiana+Jones+Mugs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We also know one of your secret identities is as the sole artist who designs all the Mighty Muggs for Hasbro Toys so we’ve got a few Mighty Mugg Questions: </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>1. What is your favorite Mighty Mugg that you’ve designed so far?</div><div>Hmmm, probably one that is so ridiculous it will never appear in stores and I dare not even mention its name. My favorite ones are the ones with a little bit of dark humor twisted in.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>2. How did you get such a cool job?</div><div>I honestly don’t have the slightest clue. The cliché answer would be “right place, right time” but that seems to slick and elegant. It’s more like a Mr Magoo cartoon where I’ve bumbled and flailed around and somehow landed in a spot with a chance to do something awesome. The details are a blur!</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>3. Are there any new Mighty Muggs coming out soon that you can tell us about?</div><br /><div>I was a HUGE Transfan growing up, back when Transfan wasn't even a word. And I still am. So I was very excited about doing Transformer Muggs. I tried to pump as much of the detail and my memories of those characters as possible. Soundwave was my first Transformer, and still my favorite, so getting to do him as a Mugg was A LOT of fun!</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>4. How do you feel about people who paint over your Mighty Muggs so they can design and paint their own custom Muggs? Do you consider this a form of flattery or do you hate seeing your Mugg designs get painted over?</div><div></div><br /><div>Definitely the latter. The whole custom market for Muggs is AMAZING. People are doing some really inventive and cool things out there. Plus they are in the enviable position of being able to make a Mugg of any character or license they want.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Thanks again Chris!</div></div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-80326923720686250332008-11-14T11:49:00.003-05:002008-11-14T11:54:52.084-05:00Geek of the Week - The Geekery!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK9wfVUCVztbGqHsA2HaG_R5kP4UKF_E80ZUxyHRSP5ksiGfbLK74DilZtv1zBHC2kXgeX2oKzhgsNzqkNyoUpqypiQYvH_jtbffdDcOjfsObhojnPxYfGr86sJwzKuRH4bY9MSgZrLa0/s1600-h/coasters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268557628927536546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK9wfVUCVztbGqHsA2HaG_R5kP4UKF_E80ZUxyHRSP5ksiGfbLK74DilZtv1zBHC2kXgeX2oKzhgsNzqkNyoUpqypiQYvH_jtbffdDcOjfsObhojnPxYfGr86sJwzKuRH4bY9MSgZrLa0/s320/coasters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I'd like to introduce you to a new Geek of the Week - The Geekery! Her fun floppy disc coasters caught my attention on Etsy (and yes I'm old enough to remember when floppy discs were really floppy) and I knew she must be a kindred soul!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been crafting?</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm Jocelyn from The Geekery. I live in San Jose, California, but I grew up in Las Vegas. I've been crafting off and on all my life. I was big into rubber stamping before rubber stamps were even in Michael's back in the late eighties, early nineties, but I've gone back into my first love: sewing by hand. I started sewing things when I was about seven years old. I picked up a needle and some thread and taught myself how to thread the eye, crafting avant garde clothes for my Barbie dolls out of fabric scraps and whatever materials I could find. My parents took me to a miniature dollhouse show at the library one year, and after that I started making miniature versions of furniture out of things we would toss out. Every room had a lamp made from a used cap of toothpaste and a generic game pawn. I made a rather large dining room table out of toilet paper rolls cut in quarters and a thick piece of cardboard. I used to make all different kind of tableclothes for it with construction paper and doilies. Over the years, I've made various household items from frivolous toys to the practical.</div><div></div><br /><div>2. Do you craft for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)</div><div></div><br /><div>I'd say I'm kind of eclectic geek wise as I've got computer-oriented stuff such as the floppy disk coasters, the meeples appeal to gamers and the cthulhu's appeal to the horror geeks. I think when I'm crafting I like to take what's known and give it my own twist. In the future I do want to explore more of the gaming geekery. I'm also creating my own game which I hope to sell on Etsy.</div><br /><div></div><div>3. What was the first “geekey” craft you ever made?</div><div></div><br /><div>When I was eight, Devo was one of my favorite bands. I somehow recreated the famous red plastic dome hat for my Barbie doll out of cardboard and red construction paper. I also made her a one piece dress out of duct tape to go with it. My parents thought I was weird, and they were right.</div><br /><div></div><div>4. What inspires you to craft?</div><br /><div></div><div>I get inspired nowadays by thinking of ways to repurpose materials. I love to create, but I'm not fond of waste so I get ideas from thinking about ways to reuse materials. </div><br /><div></div><div>5. Where can we find your crafts (website, shows, blogs, etc.)</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.thegeekery.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thegeekery.etsy.com/</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegeekery/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegeekery/</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/thegeekeryetsycom/20219259081" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/thegeekeryetsycom/20219259081</a><a href="http://www.thegeekery.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thegeekery.livejournal.com/</a>and recently featured in Gizmodo:<a href="http://gizmodo.com/5075458/please-insert-drink-5-of-12-to-continue-alcoholism" target="_blank">http://gizmodo.com/5075458/please-insert-drink-5-of-12-to-continue-alcoholism</a><br /></div><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-64802360326257150302008-11-13T12:00:00.004-05:002008-11-13T12:05:06.035-05:00Handmade Arcade Rocks!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnRoKo4LRgwbVc241EaCTqdVIp473aUIdF2ENzMH3MIyMWot9n-GLAl0b7Znez5ICk5d7zLOsTS4p_zj_g2PAiwDZEKNzXURahs9lJC6TOs-jvKmAEH3Kuy6BQi-by67KhZNVAPS9iy7p/s1600-h/HA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268188380959243906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnRoKo4LRgwbVc241EaCTqdVIp473aUIdF2ENzMH3MIyMWot9n-GLAl0b7Znez5ICk5d7zLOsTS4p_zj_g2PAiwDZEKNzXURahs9lJC6TOs-jvKmAEH3Kuy6BQi-by67KhZNVAPS9iy7p/s400/HA.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>Our roadtrip was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came out to see us at <a href="http://www.handmadearcade.com/">Handmade Arcade</a> and thank you to the organizers of the event! We had a fabulous time and we hope they let us come back and do it again! Pittsburgh Rocks!</p><p> </p><p> </p>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-40155244942651252512008-11-03T12:55:00.002-05:002008-11-03T12:57:55.498-05:00Road Trip<div>I can't belive it's almost here but my roadtrip to Handmade Arcade in Pittsburg, PA is this weekend! My good friend <a href="http://www.fruitcacke.etsy.com/">Fruitcake</a> and I are leaving on Friday for the show and I can't wait! Just think of us as a cross between Martha Stewart and Thelma and Louise!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwk9NRiwOx2WUi-u5Rt_4dFIP8bAxAmmWHP1t9nzRenQM64xrqwB3xgEleSPOBgsJ9IvYj4q2bwkznib8dcxyUrUMmNOgaWjA7VaKH_JcwCznkDcDIp07GUHJsJjf7OvXdO3iC6OBPJ-y/s1600-h/thelma.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264491922900300098" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwk9NRiwOx2WUi-u5Rt_4dFIP8bAxAmmWHP1t9nzRenQM64xrqwB3xgEleSPOBgsJ9IvYj4q2bwkznib8dcxyUrUMmNOgaWjA7VaKH_JcwCznkDcDIp07GUHJsJjf7OvXdO3iC6OBPJ-y/s200/thelma.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-32496454843567768782008-10-31T10:06:00.006-05:002008-10-31T10:15:17.055-05:00Happy Halloween<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK_HbTG3GCqGZeA0PE6mbh0QHzkVC-SMRBz4qv7ys2cLlBm3YKg6TDHnpf5fg_ch-naX9ZCQ99XoQeFcBUTt4BMbg0UXtzLDPDIWn90Y9Y-HHwKh2q2nnoQGQ1SIQrEcOFW90le9NmOVw/s1600-h/DSC02726.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263334910864227250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK_HbTG3GCqGZeA0PE6mbh0QHzkVC-SMRBz4qv7ys2cLlBm3YKg6TDHnpf5fg_ch-naX9ZCQ99XoQeFcBUTt4BMbg0UXtzLDPDIWn90Y9Y-HHwKh2q2nnoQGQ1SIQrEcOFW90le9NmOVw/s400/DSC02726.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">May</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Your</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Halloween</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Be A </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Peaceful</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">One!</span></strong></p>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-76326131598780195972008-10-29T11:54:00.006-05:002008-10-29T15:35:41.067-05:00Oh No Sulu!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7jrrX70CGlEGCVuA6MmMiOccR_6WanzEFjxxnco3kf2v3ef1prUr0MWJDqc5x5bJIpI4ix1b5RXWL_s5gvm3jte6rpXhZciFYMUgT3uXMPTyEZ_SewYJS90f6-v8T7zLyqVDBKISBdLZ/s1600-h/Sulu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262621900319134626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7jrrX70CGlEGCVuA6MmMiOccR_6WanzEFjxxnco3kf2v3ef1prUr0MWJDqc5x5bJIpI4ix1b5RXWL_s5gvm3jte6rpXhZciFYMUgT3uXMPTyEZ_SewYJS90f6-v8T7zLyqVDBKISBdLZ/s400/Sulu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Sadly I just found out that Sulu (George Takei) will not be attending the New England Fan Experience Convention in November. It sounds like he was offered a role on a new TV show and will be filming during Nov & Dec and thus unable to attend the convention.<br /><br />I wish him the best of luck with the new show and I hear that NEFE may be announcing another guest soon so stay tuned! </div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-5751781244361205282008-10-22T07:35:00.003-05:002008-10-22T07:49:52.951-05:00Forget Jumpcon - Try a Real Con - NEFE!Okay all you folks like me who were rooked out of money by Jumpcon and are a bit gun shy of trying other cons - let me tell you about a real con!<br /><br />The New England Fan Experience is coming up in November and it is run by a very reputable fan based broup that has been doing cons for many, many years now. I attended one of their cons 2 years ago, got to see William Shatner and had a great time. The con is reasonably priced, well run and I promise they won't disappoint!<br /><br />Here are the details;<br /><br />The New England Fan Experience is coming to The Hyatt Regency –Cambridge (across the river from Boston)FIVE conventions in one!!!<br />One ticket / membership gets you intoeverything. Weekend advanced tickets only $49 / teens ½ price, under 10 free(with adult purchases). To purchase tickets log on to <a href="http://www.nefe.us/" target="_blank" __removedlink__1494583287__href="http://www.nefe.us">www.nefe.us</a><br />Mail in cut off is November 7th. Or register online before November17th.<br /><br />Sci-Fi Experience Guests:<br />Peter Davison (Doctor Who)<br />Robert Picardo (Stargate: SG1, Stargate: Atlantis, Star Trek Voyager)<br />Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Stargate: SG1)<br />Mark Goddard (Lost in Space)<br />James Cowley (Star Trek: New Voyages / Phase II)<br />Andrew Probert (production designer, artist, illustrator also videogame artist)<br />Clifford Bowyer (author)<br />Marc Vun Kannon (author)<br />Mark Lund (writer producer First World film)<br /><br />Pop Culture guests:<br />Kellen Lutz (Twilight, the new 90210)<br />George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes also Kaiju & video game voice actor)<br />Gary Sohmers (King of Pop culture / Appraiser)<br />Clive Young (Author / independent film producer)<br /><br />Anime Kaju Experience Guests:<br />Johnny Yong Bosch (anime & video game voice actor, and the BlackPower Ranger)<br />Vic Mignogna (Anime, kaiju & video game voice actor)<br />Don Frye (Star of Godzilla: Final Wars and UFC champion)<br />Bob Eggleton (Godzilla Artist, Hugo Award winning SF artist & cardgame artist)<br />Ikeda Katsu (J-pop band)<br />The Slant (J-pop Band)<br />Sid Narged (Author)<br />Steve Horton (techniques of manga writer)<br />Sam Ramero (manga & webcomics creator)<br /><br />Gaming Guests:<br />Rob Balder (Game designer & webcomic creator)<br />Mecha Software (Anime and SF gaming designers)<br /><br />Science & Technology guest:<br />Jeffery Hoffman (Astronaut) – Friday only<br />Story Musgrave (Astronaut)<br />Don McCasland (Director of the Blue Hills Observatory)<br />Dr. James Prego (Holistic Medicine)<br /><br />Please help spread the word about the show to other fans through anyand all related websites and boards! I hope to see you all there! I will be set up as a vendor in the dealer room on Saturday and Sunday.ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-88627409028140546692008-10-17T09:56:00.007-05:002008-10-17T10:04:36.674-05:00Geek of the Week # 5 - Spamberly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYGJkZrXYKT5evBCdSkBZVZ7ZgfK0VhGhph9XTApVCyda6WkbarYemwN4SRrRwuSx78zBvwDTRxMqC4iM59sk0KcUNmjKFKLdcJIUuAxVLHJJErh8olnKm2roYLg31ed-RGDuDjUZyau0/s1600-h/il_fullxfull.40950285"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258137223321910146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYGJkZrXYKT5evBCdSkBZVZ7ZgfK0VhGhph9XTApVCyda6WkbarYemwN4SRrRwuSx78zBvwDTRxMqC4iM59sk0KcUNmjKFKLdcJIUuAxVLHJJErh8olnKm2roYLg31ed-RGDuDjUZyau0/s320/il_fullxfull.40950285" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAzu97w0iDQZ0FJinvfIZwg4g4uf9QvKxIgPW5KaAvRZGgzBiZm4C3OR3LTF7cs061She846T0gBsXuE1odIBj9Cuh7UPzdxJmdq7FSITKSWDZpGueeRFV94JxjTQV_JMC3soETHqDnAY/s1600-h/il_fullxfull.16987771"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258137327575883106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAzu97w0iDQZ0FJinvfIZwg4g4uf9QvKxIgPW5KaAvRZGgzBiZm4C3OR3LTF7cs061She846T0gBsXuE1odIBj9Cuh7UPzdxJmdq7FSITKSWDZpGueeRFV94JxjTQV_JMC3soETHqDnAY/s320/il_fullxfull.16987771" border="0" /></a><br />Geek of the Week #5 – Spamberly<br /><br />My mother taught me how to cross stitch when I was a young girl and I remember getting very bored very quickly doing samplers so I stopped doing cross stitch. Well, I found someone who makes such fun funky cross stitches that it makes me want to pick up my needles and give it another try. Let me introduce you to Spamberly!<br /><br />1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been crafting?I’m an Upstate New York girl who moved to Boston in 1997 for college and I decided to stick around awhile. My mom was a quilter and always encouraged creativity, so I’ve been crafting since I had hand-eye coordination. Cross stitch was probably one of the first needle/thread crafts I did seriously as a youngster. I began with pre-packaged cross stitched kits but they got so boring. I wanted to make stuff for my friends that pushed the envelope a little. So I began designing my own patterns with a pencil and graph paper. I got super serious about designing work to sell when I broke my leg and had a few months to sit on my ass and think about stuff.<br /><br /><br />2. Do you craft for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)Yeah, I’ll watch Star Trek if it’s on. I don’t, like, seriously plan it out or anything. I get that Uhura is hot. I don’t dress up like her on weekends or anything. I get that Bones is always trying to get in on Kirk and Spock’s friendship. Poor Bones. He’ll never infiltrate that shit!My work probably attracts people who are a lot like me because if I don’t get some kind of personal satisfaction from a particular piece, I would never have made it in the first place. My work is a reflection of my life and interests and if another person taps into the same, that’s cool. If not, please don’t send me hate mail. It’s getting old.I managed to land a great job at the geekiest university in the Western hemisphere. It is vibrant and youthful and full of socially awkward people who get off on math equations like the one Matt Damon solved in that movie. It’s a diverse and supportive place to be and gives me a lot of ideas for new stitcheries.<br /><br /><br />3. What was the first “geekey” craft you ever made?This question is impossible for me to answer. Too many years of weirdness coupled with too many odd crafts. There’s just no way to know the true answer and I cannot consciously lie to you by giving a cutesy tale of my very first oddity.<br /><br />4. What inspires you to craft?Cross stitch is a very old, traditional craft and I like the idea of giving it a new voice. Although I don’t deliberately focus on it too much, there is a political aspect to what I do. Cross stitch has been fused to femininity for a long, long time. I really enjoy putting little cracks in that traditional image. I want to stitch words or pictures that are provocative in some way. I’m looking for a reaction from the viewer – from giggles to utter disgust.But, in a more general sense, my own everyday life is what inspires me most. Conversations with friends. Rock Operas. Water. Connections. Rejection. Fear. Protest. The Golden Girls. Anger. Legislation. Gleaming the Cube. Europe. Yard sales. Love. Jim Henson. Dark alleys. Hunter S. Thompson. Guilt. The woods. Neil Young. Honesty. Bombs. Victimless crimes. Moods. Sex. Silence.<br /><br /><br />5. Where can we find your crafts (website, shows, blogs, etc.) <em><span style="color:#ffff33;">(Please note some of Spamberly's creations do contain mature content)</span></em><br />Etsy: <a href="http://spamberly.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://spamberly.etsy.com/</a><br />Flickr: <a href="http://flickr.com/spamberly" target="_blank">http://flickr.com/spamberly</a><br /><br /><br />6. Anything else you'd like to share?The most accomplished feeling I can think of is to begin with a small idea and make it into a tangible, physical object that expresses me in some way. The reason I am so passionate about cross stitch is because it is a marriage of my skills and my opinions. It goes from idea to pattern to finished piece to its home on a wall or tabletop or Christmas tree. An idea becomes a physical object that will most likely last several lifetimes. Whether many crafters are conscious of it or not, their work is probably going to be part of this world long after they have left it. There is something morbid, beautiful and strange about that that keeps me doing what I do.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1sWSH3UdEWLfn0-MMhERZDSyDY2wFjWGvC8hd8WBm-xSxXOfIeiaz2sPigqq1AUHJ8rq_0MdahRk5s3svM5Cp6VarSKcTfJn8Ezx5wqnTisB6NKPXJbBkstfiMcQFVhCKaNYOIumjT9C/s1600-h/il_fullxfull.16987771"></a></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-75287259178680784832008-10-12T09:57:00.004-05:002008-10-12T10:01:41.197-05:00Cemetary Geeks - The Gravestone Girls<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_rrHhM5M6F4C8G5kTpJ8_wVRSlVQgd-qpdGs0Eqx97PGmp1E3OeswBLBXlsCE5o_TNqRIgpmcfTwwmnBY2kw8QF_8SgYPdGpl2pQqKZBgCerUlolSMRnlZ2_GPtUWzSA6i3-JijwuJ0v/s1600-h/gg2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256281979194365010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_rrHhM5M6F4C8G5kTpJ8_wVRSlVQgd-qpdGs0Eqx97PGmp1E3OeswBLBXlsCE5o_TNqRIgpmcfTwwmnBY2kw8QF_8SgYPdGpl2pQqKZBgCerUlolSMRnlZ2_GPtUWzSA6i3-JijwuJ0v/s320/gg2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hello Everyone,<br />I don’t have a geek of the week interview this week but instead I wanted to introduce you to some “cemetery geeks.” The Gravestone Girls!<br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.gravestonegirls.com/">http://www.gravestonegirls.com/</a></div><div><br />The Sutton Historical Society invited the Gravestone Girls to give a talk and cemetery tour of one of Sutton’s many graveyards. I went and had a great time. I learned about the different types of stones that gravestones are made of. I learned about some of the symbology on the stones and I never knew that there were headstones and footstones. Literally just like a bed – or as the Gravestone Girls said, “your bed for eternity.”</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj175q0SinU8BQIleTQIqbQPfX4aNvo74fTgoGM1RpjJyqPzKdP-LK2PMtgZWt7Kt9d3dZWusfF-UBCNUAUKnEHgdv46URCkm1zCSQ6cY2JnYV9fljhCLb5CsXS6Su06wqKFuESFaGsGpl-/s1600-h/GG+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256282151279603522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj175q0SinU8BQIleTQIqbQPfX4aNvo74fTgoGM1RpjJyqPzKdP-LK2PMtgZWt7Kt9d3dZWusfF-UBCNUAUKnEHgdv46URCkm1zCSQ6cY2JnYV9fljhCLb5CsXS6Su06wqKFuESFaGsGpl-/s320/GG+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I learned a lot more than just that, but I’ll let you go check out their website to get the info yourself.</div><div><br />Oh yes, the GG also make some incredible artwork from the stones - Check them out!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMky_y5ZiXupjsP38_QPSf6MAy7K83lLEdk9U-xKoEFG37G1GPdtSZBDLK6jQaGW_CZ2DdEkHRSXFljdTrrwUdppNsp9Gq7BtKZnO4xl_1Jfsa3zI_nxQaJ3AoRM45PyxsY88g-DnvfQz/s1600-h/gg+casting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256282437727494546" style="CURSOR: hand" height="200" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMky_y5ZiXupjsP38_QPSf6MAy7K83lLEdk9U-xKoEFG37G1GPdtSZBDLK6jQaGW_CZ2DdEkHRSXFljdTrrwUdppNsp9Gq7BtKZnO4xl_1Jfsa3zI_nxQaJ3AoRM45PyxsY88g-DnvfQz/s320/gg+casting.jpg" width="236" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-37896044358474661902008-10-03T12:37:00.005-05:002008-10-03T12:43:50.354-05:00Geek of the Week # 4 - Jordan Alexander<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs1V6fFEemhmUJCZMGq0POr5KUIXDHmwzEitApJh814qDkk-4hMsaIzYNvYevqkiDuGIIbcb4sH2nydof3mIO4MsB_-s8CnTShdRVwESXut1l-g94JT6LoTd2a3VGKbAdu9mVRArDj7FB/s1600-h/Pumpkin+robot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252984503991608370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs1V6fFEemhmUJCZMGq0POr5KUIXDHmwzEitApJh814qDkk-4hMsaIzYNvYevqkiDuGIIbcb4sH2nydof3mIO4MsB_-s8CnTShdRVwESXut1l-g94JT6LoTd2a3VGKbAdu9mVRArDj7FB/s320/Pumpkin+robot.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yeah, it’s Geek of the Week time again and today I have some robot love for you! I’d like to introduce you to Jordan Alexander who is the creator of a world of wonderful robots.<br /><br />1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been crafting? <div><div></div><br /><div>I'm Jordan Alexander, I work at an art supply store in downtown phoenix. I've been crafting on and off for the past 5 years, and have been designing my robots for the past three years.</div><div></div><br /><div>2. Do you craft for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)</div><br /><div></div><div>I try to peak the interest of the etsy sci fi geeks, but I have learned that robot love reaches beyond the geek realm. </div><div></div><br /><div>3. What was the first “geekey” craft you ever made?</div><div></div><br /><div>I've always been mad crazy about robots. The idea for making my robots came from collecting wood scraps from construction sites and buying wooden blocks from the craft store. I started gluing pieces together and it's been a marriage made in robot heaven ever since!</div><div></div><br /><div>4. What inspires you to craft?</div><br /><div></div><div>Pretty much everything. I listen to David Bowie a lot and read a shit load of sci fi books. David Bowie is all the inspiration anyone needs.</div><br /><div></div><div>5. Where can we find your crafts (website, shows, blogs, etc.)</div><div></div><div> </div><div>my etsy page: <a href="http://spaceboyjordo.etsy.com/" target="_blank">spaceboyjordo.etsy.com</a> ; and at some local shops in Phoenix, most importantly: Red Hot Robot, a store that sells vinyl toys and sells a lot of art work by local Phoenician artists.</div><br /><div></div><div>6. Anything else you'd like to share?</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm addicted to the book series DUNE by Frank Herbert. I get a lot of inspiration from those books. I've literally read every book. Twice. Also, the best times of my life have been spent sitting at the kitchen table and watching my mother draw in her sketch book. To this day my mom still sketches. I live across the country from her and every once in a while I get a letter or a post card from her with a sketch that she's drawn. Half of them are robots!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n6Gc1fttnMg6A6MAo9admp9RzghCYSsh_V_1p_uRbDzYq0WuNlknkCh1fTa887jqEtx5n0kkw0GMTxuQBSBLx6UDndK6Webm8odoZgBxOr66H3yK3Ec6n_8pKRM2SfVEfd4o43cG-mxa/s1600-h/Punk+Robot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252984095592365602" style="CURSOR: hand" height="269" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n6Gc1fttnMg6A6MAo9admp9RzghCYSsh_V_1p_uRbDzYq0WuNlknkCh1fTa887jqEtx5n0kkw0GMTxuQBSBLx6UDndK6Webm8odoZgBxOr66H3yK3Ec6n_8pKRM2SfVEfd4o43cG-mxa/s320/Punk+Robot.jpg" width="210" border="0" /></a></div></div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-58358034367323609332008-10-02T12:42:00.002-05:002008-10-02T12:47:27.992-05:00Tagged - I'm it!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FtX2hc4XDTp_58mh9GpxIy84Rpl4zDsVoVAAXTKOQTo9LRUGyCvSc2LUlz7s-Xmj1S6HT1SjGVJ-1iLx_1i_tXVGsSZ0dWsX4ooxoV2DXR4GnO4P5Z5O-PRkOs2EtM3j6ZYFhG7WDITQ/s1600-h/tagged1-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252613705618800850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FtX2hc4XDTp_58mh9GpxIy84Rpl4zDsVoVAAXTKOQTo9LRUGyCvSc2LUlz7s-Xmj1S6HT1SjGVJ-1iLx_1i_tXVGsSZ0dWsX4ooxoV2DXR4GnO4P5Z5O-PRkOs2EtM3j6ZYFhG7WDITQ/s320/tagged1-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So, I’ve been tagged by the wonderful Melissa of <a href="http://hobocampcrafts.blogspot.com/">Hobocampcrafts</a> whom I haven’t seen in much too long! She’s having a baby in just a few months (or is it less now). Congrats!<br /><br />Anyway, she’s radiant and she tagged me, so here are the rules:<br /><br />7 Random things about me.<br /><br />1. I love Christmas music all year long. I start playing it in my car where no one else can hear (and tease me) around July and then by October I can’t hide it anymore and I start playing it everywhere (aren’t you glad you don’t have to share an office with me). Jingle Bells, jingle bells…<br />2. I hate the smell of wet peanut butter (like when you wash your knife after making a PB sandwich) – and yes it does smell different then when it’s dry (if you can call peanut butter dry).<br /><br />3. I’m an introvert who loves to act. I love being in theater. I haven’t done it in about 10 years now but I’m an introvert who has a hidden streak of “ham” in her.<br /><br />4. I can’t sing, not a note, not a tune – I’m horrible (think injured dog howling and you might come close to what I sound like) – to those of you who know me, this is no surprise and bless you for loving me anyway.<br /><br />5. My favorite Atari game is Circus<br /><br />6. I’m addicted to Project Runway<br /><br />7. I own a naked cat<br /><br />Now it’s my turn. I’m going to tag <a href="http://www.piratefruitcake.blogspot.com/">Fruitcake</a>, <a href="http://www.dollfacedesign.blogspot.com/">dollfacedesign</a>, <a href="http://www.girlcalledric.blogspot.com/">Girl called Ric</a>, <a href="http://www.deborahchampion.co.uk/">The Devil’s Wallpaper</a> – and that’s all I can think of for now. </div>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-39663023985621514462008-09-26T09:28:00.004-05:002008-09-26T09:36:57.421-05:00Geek of the Week - Dean Velez<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgNmDFFLgwM8VJfuAH2u3M-YCgyJ-2Xhmb6kvsAx_JNLZxo2nhuo6ovVfM5sVytiYX9Gj2hcRGpuQrhwBKay7gKEM9mfgbGW6iGymLG-tY1G5c2r00iW71Cqdst9sUyTPZnKkRlA17PGi/s1600-h/Deans+poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250336887649187010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgNmDFFLgwM8VJfuAH2u3M-YCgyJ-2Xhmb6kvsAx_JNLZxo2nhuo6ovVfM5sVytiYX9Gj2hcRGpuQrhwBKay7gKEM9mfgbGW6iGymLG-tY1G5c2r00iW71Cqdst9sUyTPZnKkRlA17PGi/s320/Deans+poster.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Hello Everyone,<br />Let me introduce you to my newest Geek of the Week – Dean Velez. He is an artist who makes incredible posters in 3-D. Sadly in my photos here you can only get the 2-D effect but they’re still amazing even without the 3-D glasses needed.<br /><br />So, check out his shop on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6195659">Etsy</a> and here is his interview:<br /><br />1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been creating art?<br /><br />My name is Dean Velez I currently live in Atlanta...I've had the Luxury of living in NY, NJ, FL and CA...and I'm originally from the Bronx.I've been creating artwork since I could hold a crayon...and being paid for it since the age of 18. Most of my work is in Motion Graphics and animation for television. I also teach Motion Graphics and Design part time at 2 colleges in Atlanta. I just recently started creating pieces that you can actually hang up.<br /><br />2. Do you create for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)<br /><br />All my artwork is created for me...so I guess that definitely falls into the "GEEK" category. Hmmm...Zombies, Comic Books, Monsters, Heroes, Villains, Sci-Fi, B-Movies, Pulp Fiction...these all fit the things I like.I figure if I create things that I love there might be others who relate to this stuff as well.<br /><br />3. What was the first “geekey” item you ever made?<br /><br />When I was 15 I used to paint SciFi images onto Denim Jackets, and sell them to my friends.<br /><br />4. What inspires you?<br /><br />Mainly I'm inspired by a good story...Heroes and Villains...Good vs Evil. After reading or seeing a good movie I am always driven to create something.<br /><br />5. Where can we find your work(website, shows, blogs, etc.)<br />Posters for sale <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6195659" target="_blank">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6195659</a><br />Posters in progress <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29665694@N07/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/29665694@N07/</a><br />Motion Graphics and Animation portfolio<a href="http://motiongraphicslab.com/motion-graphics-production.html" target="_blank">http://motiongraphicslab.com/motion-graphics-production.html</a><br /><br />6. Anything else you'd like to share?<br /><br />Yes...the 3D posters really are cool...I wish I was able to show the 3D effect on the internet!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8HXvB0cKp5NmSRZiYS-cjhP7lFkCb0hHfHHRov7LaerrwpToL5SrxdgqnHL5TdVJpMplV2BrurnVgs-A1TNqVLhLr_yR4xZ2rYT_bruWq5JnNUOBbX98OR6dJNwDLCYvQGQRvFWCwA4A/s1600-h/Dean+Home+Office.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338370687094450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8HXvB0cKp5NmSRZiYS-cjhP7lFkCb0hHfHHRov7LaerrwpToL5SrxdgqnHL5TdVJpMplV2BrurnVgs-A1TNqVLhLr_yR4xZ2rYT_bruWq5JnNUOBbX98OR6dJNwDLCYvQGQRvFWCwA4A/s320/Dean+Home+Office.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Dean at work in his Home Officeursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-48939250068253412472008-09-24T14:27:00.002-05:002008-09-24T14:32:03.913-05:00Geeks - It's a Good ThingI've been a fan of Martha Stewart for a long time now. I was just joking with Ric the other day that my goal in life was to be the Martha Stewart of the Geek world and low and behold doesn't Martha go and have a blog contest just for me. :)<br /><br />If you visit her blog and leave a comment she will then pick some of the bloggers and check out their blogs and feature them on her site. So any of you other bloggers out there, go link up!<br /><br />Here is Martha's Blog:<br /><a href="http://www.themarthablog.com/">Http://www.themarthablog.com/</a><br /><br />Blog on!ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7465995762742810261.post-15264331851194700032008-09-19T04:28:00.003-05:002008-09-19T04:33:42.058-05:00Geek of the Week - GirlCalledRicI’m very excited to bring you my 2nd “Geek of the Week” (by the way when I write “Geek of the Week” I hear it in my head being announced in the same voice that did “Pigs in Space” - “Geek of the Week!” – you can hear it now to can’t you!).<br /><br />This weeks Geeky Crafter is Ric – also known as girlcalledric. I’ve been in love with her dolls for quite some time now and was thrilled when she agreed to let me interview her.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc9ZCw8o4AjwfPvJbD002vlX9dtnAKHx6aAQE1HGPYZQ78T3mig88XUz1gdJ-BMGv5Yv5w3DVRSJbSDsjjXQqok7Pr2Zgqh6rIIMwlo_q4Zxy-YV4OqnU0G0bFk1T64nn29nb1EfQ1D-8/s1600-h/mr+t.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247662609223085794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc9ZCw8o4AjwfPvJbD002vlX9dtnAKHx6aAQE1HGPYZQ78T3mig88XUz1gdJ-BMGv5Yv5w3DVRSJbSDsjjXQqok7Pr2Zgqh6rIIMwlo_q4Zxy-YV4OqnU0G0bFk1T64nn29nb1EfQ1D-8/s320/mr+t.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />1. Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been crafting?<br /><br />I'm Ric, and I'm a girl. You don't meet too many girls called Ric. I'm from Connecticut, which isn't very exciting at all; and I've been crafting since I could string a licorice whip through Froot Loops. I think without crafts, I would have been a very hyper-active child.<br /><br />2. Do you craft for a specific genre of geek (ie. sci-fi, gaming, horror, math, fantasy, music, etc…)<br /><br />Sci-fi, most definitely. I've always been kind of into sci-fi, but recently I stepped outside myself and said, "Oh, I guess I'm a nerd." Then, I sat back and accepted it. I've been known to make math and binary things for friends and myself occasionally.<br /><br />3. What was the first “geekey” craft you ever made?<br /><br />I've thought about this question for awhile. I want to say "styrofoam ball diorama of the solar system in third grade," but who hasn't had to do that? So, I think I'm going to have to say that I hand-painted a ton of t-shirts when I was in high school. They all had favorite comic book characters on them. This was more than necessary because comic book character t-shirts were not readily available in girly sizes at the time.<br /><br />4. What inspires you to craft?<br /><br />Things I appreciate and things that others appreciate. I get so stoked when I'm making an object that I love, or when I'm making a custom order and I know the customer will be over the moon about it. I wish I could say it ran deeper than that, but I guess I just like making people happy. There are so many terrible things in the world, but if I can brighten someone's day for just a little while, then I've done my job.<br /><br />5. Where can we find your crafts (website, shows, blogs, etc?)<br /><br />My Etsy shop gets updated the most: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5465314">girlcalledric.etsy.com<br /></a>My blog, not so much. It has to get reworked soon: <a href="http://girlcalledric.blogspot.com/">girlcalledric.blogspot.com </a><br /><br />6. Anything else you'd like to share?<br /><br />Wow, that's a lot of pressure. Listen up, geeks, it's about time we openly shunned proper adulthood. Pursue happiness instead. I think that's a good message.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSluc89gg7k9r3a8lqdPlCl3Gqsm7bwsrGEC7MAYva_cvnbRkVvZGJcIhGC3I60q0O5MPPbGNLJZIwV0ag0kruJKj13SoYEAzsemkuRxLuNhQ1UDY6bUMIOVGCWnwyvu1LVnR81O1bsZ7/s1600-h/david+tennant+doll.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247663061414404562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSluc89gg7k9r3a8lqdPlCl3Gqsm7bwsrGEC7MAYva_cvnbRkVvZGJcIhGC3I60q0O5MPPbGNLJZIwV0ag0kruJKj13SoYEAzsemkuRxLuNhQ1UDY6bUMIOVGCWnwyvu1LVnR81O1bsZ7/s320/david+tennant+doll.jpg" border="0" /></a>ursulaandolivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00751178281238019802noreply@blogger.com1