I've been working on the concept of this one for awhile now. After finishing up the Christmas Scene, I wanted to do something Halloween related, 3D, with flickering lights and using these amazing pop-dots that my friend Veronica gave me. This test run is pretty childish... in technique (lots of mistakes) and in the cartoony figures of the ghosts I used in the windows.
However, I'm not discouraged, just interested in trying again. Possibly on a smaller scale? Using some patterned paper? My next try will be to create a minature 3d replica of the house we live in. I was thinking of doing it for all seasons and then hanging them on the wall in a grid. Not sure how lame that is, I suppose I will find out once the first one is done.
For those of you who speak scrapbook: I used sticker bats from Heidi Swapp, ghosts from Border's, Jolie's pumpkins & spiders, the grave stones are chipboard inked black and covered in black mica glitter. All of the paper was either Bazzil Bling, vellum, or something from Archivers' stock with the exception of the roof, which was a handmade paper that I found at AC Moore. The detailing you see on the paper was made with a grey souffle pen.
The lights I used came from AC Moore- they are the ones that look like pretend tea lights. When you open them up, there are two tiny lights inside - one stays steady, the other blinks, producing a flickering light. They are incredibly fragile (not really intended to be modified), so they are really not an option for future projects. I'm going to bug my friend Kevin to see if he has an alternative since he is my hero for light modifications.
And finally - the frame. I got it at AC moore... it's one of those shadow box frames. However, what I failed to realize upon purchase was that you had to keep the insides, well...INSIDE in order for the glass to stay put. How incredibly lame. What's the point of having to keep the ugly cardboard inside the frame? I'm going to have to research better options. In the mean time... I may wind up making the frame myself.
[09:36] Me: I've had this justin timberlake song in my head all morning
[09:37] Alex: bzeerp
[09:37] Alex: boop beep
[09:37] Alex: giiiiiirl
[09:37] Me: ha
But in his defense, jeez... Timberlake's songs are all like that!
It's pretty neat to see the good stories after hearing (or witnessing *) a lot of the bad stories.
* did I ever tell you about the time we went to visit my sister in boston? While we were out shopping, a car screeched to a halt where we were waiting to cross the street and a guy who was ODing on heroin tumbled out of the car. My sister, crazy ass that she is, got peed on for her efforts.
More videos of the '07 MOTD are up on You Tube.
The tough part about this weekend is that I don't think I'd be able to put into words how awesome it was. I learned what I can do with my car... and I suspect learning will either mean many speeding tickets or purchasing a radar detector.
Just so you get an idea of what the dragon is... watch this video (or look at the map closer). While I can't claim to be out of my flipping mind like that guy, I did about 40-55 mph depending on the road, slowing down to about 25-35 on the hairpins... and I did drive at night.
Exhilarating, scary and also ... well, nauseating. It's like a roller coaster you control.
I am posting various pictures taken by Alex & I on my flickr account.
Alex and I are heading over to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the end of this week to take the mini on the strip of the parkway they call the "Tail of the Dragon." Apparently this strip of road has about 318 curves in an 11 mile strip of road- either vomit inducing or wonderful... you decide.
The fact that we get to go with friends Patrick & Becky doesn't hurt at all. We should have a great weekend with the mini and thousands of other mini owners. I suspect that the new camera will be overloaded with pictures like this... and this... can we say parking lot?
Highlights of the weekend include a beer swap, midnight driving on the dragon and a drive-in showing of Cars for mini owners only. (Convo with Alex- Me: Do you want to go see Cars with the rest of the mini people? Alex: What cars? Me: You know, Cars. Alex: ... What cars? Me: You know? The movie? Alex: Huh? ... Ohhhh!!!)
I'm geeky enough to want to shout: I CANNOT WAIT!!
To honor the weekend of mini drivers (and because we're going to be asked) we've named the mini: TBD.
P.S. Gyre is so jealous!
What my hair really looks like.
Looking over his shoulder, he's alone on Alcatraz at night
By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, Calif. - Each day at sundown, when the last tour boat departs from Alcatraz Island, one lonesome soul is left behind. He's the night watchman of Alcatraz.Guided by the beam of his flashlight, Gregory Johnson inches down the gloomy infirmary ward of the island's retired prison, once home to the nation's most malicious killers and psychotic criminal malcontents.
"Hey, what's that noise?" he asks, throwing the light against the half-open door of a solitary-confinement cell.
OK, I take it back... That would be an awesome job. Full of undeniable street cred (at least for those of us who grew up in creepy New England and liked movies like The Blair Witch Project). I would totally want this guy on my team if the world was suddenly overtaken by zombie ghouls.
Yea or Nay, folks?
A few other questions:
Pergo or Hardwood?
White or Cream?
Outdoor or Indoor Furniture?
Built-ins or Free Standing?
