Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Random internet fun

I've been sewing all day and my eyes are starting to go a bit fuzzy, so I'm taking a break and wasting some time online.

I'm currently working on three custom plush orders (6 plushes in all) plus a bunch of stuff for my shop and Fantasci (a local SciFi convention that I'll have a table at this June) I'm also drawing a cover for Justin's short story collection...I just love the idea he came up with! It's going to be awesome :)

And speaking of Justin...he's just shy of having 100 subscribers on his YouTube page. You should go and check it out (and subscribe!) He does comic book and movie reviews, MST3K reviews, and other dorky stuff. And when he gets to 100 subscribers he's going to do a special question and answer video.

Blogs I'm currently addicted to:
Cake Wrecks- Brilliantly joking on "professionally" made cakes.
Honey in Your Tea- Random beauty
Dork Yearbook- Dorky, nerdy goodness
Crafty Storage- I love looking into other artist's studios!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Vote for me! (please?)

Cafe Handmade is having a Best in Show contest for their virtual craft show. I, and my etsy shop, are in the running and I need your votes! Just go to the link below and vote for Silent Orchid Studio. You have until next Saturday night.

Handmade Cafe - Best in Show

Thanks so much everyone!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

I'm melting...

There's currently a small heatwave here in Virginia. I don't like the heat. I feel like I can't do anything when it gets over 80 degrees. The official temperature today was 90, but I know it got up to 100 in Chesapeake (the official reading comes from the airport in Norfolk) I just don't think my body can handle the heat anymore. What's worse, I still live at home and my mom hates to turn on the air conditioner. Even when it's this hot, she just won't do it.

I want to live somewhere where it doesn't get so hot this soon in the spring. Maybe somewhere further North. Portland, Oregon sounds nice...or Seatle. Maybe Pittsburgh, my stepdad's mom lives there and she loves it.

I'm really tired of living here, but this is the only place I've ever lived. I wouldn't know where to go, really. Any suggestions? Somewhere that isn't too hot and humid in the summer, and is fairly cheap (for a starving artist) Maybe with a good art scene?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Comic book reviews - April 14, 2009

Comic book reviews - April 14

Lots of reviews today, so lets get started!

Rose and Isabel, by Ted Mathot
Graphic novel in two parts, self published

Oh, my! I love this book. I stumbled across Ted Mathot's blog on boingboing.net and fell in love with his art.

Rose and Isabel is about the journey of two sister, trying to find their missing brothers during the Civil War. Descendants of an Irish warrior woman, they're smart, strong, and determined to bring their family back together.

I highly recommend that you get this. 5 out of 5!

Ignition City #1 of 5, by Warren Ellis
art by Gianluca Pagliarani

I haven't read much from Warren Ellis (just his online comic, FreakAngels) but the steampunk look of this book was intriguing so I picked it up. The story isn't bad. It's about Mary Raven, a pilot who's father (also a pilot) has just died. She goes to Ignition City, the last public space port, to collect his things and find out why or how he died.

Again, the story is pretty good. The art, however, is varied in quality. I love the backgrounds and the spacey/steampunk vehicles, but the characters are iffy to me. It may be the inking or the coloring, but they look stiff sometimes. I'll probably buy the rest of the mini series.

3 out of 5

Buffy, Season 8, # 24 by Jim Kruger
Art by Cliff Richards

Faith and Giles hear about a "slayer sanctuary" from a new, reluctant slayer. They go there with her and find out is isn't so much a sanctuary...

Good art and story, as usual. I really do love this series!

4 out of 5

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #5 byGerard Way
Art by Gabriel Ba

I don't want to say too much about the plot, as it would spoil the fun. Read it. Now.

5 out of 5

House of Mystery, #12 by Matthew Sturges
Art by Luca Rossi

Really good issue. We learn some more about Cress, through the side story from the mysterious Genevieve. And we see one of Fig's father's hidden talents. Weird and fun. Can't wait to see what happens next!

4 out of 5

The Wonderful Wizard of OZ #5 of 8 by Eric Shanower
Art by Skottie Young

Finally, we get to see the Wicked Witch! Skottie Young's art is what really keeps me reading this book. I love his versions of these characters. The story isn't really new, but it's cute and fun.

4 out of 5

Madame Xanadu #9 by Matt Wagner
Art by Amy Reeder Hadley

We're now in 1940s New York, and Madame Xanadu is getting really tired of the Phantom Stranger. She sets a trap for him, with the help of John Zatara (who is the father of Zatanna, on of my favorite DC characters!)

Lovely art, and a great story. 5 out of 5

Friday, April 10, 2009

Etsy shop update

Huge shop update today! Lots of new plushes, as well as screenprinted pins and original art pieces.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Cthulhus!!!

Ready to destroy the world...with their cuteness!
Box-o-Cthuluh
This is the result of my very first wholesale order (woo hoo!) They'll be going with the wonderful The Poison Apple to Cthulhu 2 Convention in Madison, Wisconsin at the end of the month. If you can't make it, I'll have some in my etsy shop soon.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Fantasmo interview

At this weekend's Fantasmo, Justin interviewed the hosts and creators of the show, Rob Floyd and Jim Blanton.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

I can't believe I actually watched that...

Last night was Bad Movie Night at Fantasmo. Every year, for Fantasmo's anniversary show, we stay up all night watching really bad movies. The audience votes on the movies shown, which means people actually wanted to see some of these. This year's movies were...

Against the Dark - I didn't watch all of this. It stars Steven Seagal as a vampire hunter. I don't think I need to say any more. I watched the last thirty minutes, and this is what it did to me
bad movies rot your brain
Justin still looks happy...he was in the lobby for the whole movie.

Chopping Mall - A really fun 80s movie about mall security robots that go on a killing spree when some teenagers are trapped in the mall after hours.

Leprechaun 4: In Space - I had never seen a Leprechaun movie before, and now I know why.

The Thing with Two Heads - Honestly, I slept through a lot of this on.

Sssssss - 70s movie about a doctor who specializes in snakes, who figures out how to turn a human into a snake. He secretly gives his new assistant the serum. Goofy and weird, but I've seen worse.

Squirm - I love this movie! I'm so glad we ended the night on something I know from MST3K. You gonna be da worm face!