NOW!

I am in NOW this week!

Now is an independent free weekly news and entertainment newspaper that pretty much one trillion Toronto people read on the subway every Thursday. Its basically the perfect audience for people like me. Its an "Authors Fest" issue and my little bookmark got chosen!

Hello little cat!

Here is a link to the web version of the little article. I like it that my name got into the little blurb at the top. Not too shabby.

So that is fun. Its pretty much what I expected when I was contacted by the fashion reporter. Its teeny tiny but its still in print. I tried so hard to pitch the "Book Vampire" one to him! Ugh, doesn't anyone like vampires?! ;-) haha

So HI NOW READERS!! If any of you manage to trickle this far I am going to celebrate by getting myself a present. Or if none of you do, I get a present. I basically just get a present.

I swear he can say the word "mom."

Here is my day, morning and evening.



His isn't so much a cat, as he is some sort of constant eating-animal. I like to call this animal the fatty bear. Or possibly, the cat-loaf. He turns cat food into fur and pee. Loudly.

I am featured on my Street team's blog today! My street team is pretty active and has about one billion members. The Etsy Dark Side Street Team is all about making darker sellers more visible and giving them a community to chat to and network with. I just squeak under the door as "dark" enough. Hi street team people!

Maybe tomorrow I will make a comic about how my cat can only go to sleep if I build him a tent in the blankets. No really. Its freaking pathetic.

Monday.

Ok, its Monday. It dreary outside and cold in my studio and I feel like I could just crawl under a blanket and watch House (which I downloaded in a totally legal way.) Is someone being a jerk to everyone supposed to make me smile so much? I might be a bad person...

So this weekend a batch of Batcat plush were finished up. I got a request for a more baby-safe doll, and this is what I came up with. They are nice and floppy, and kind of flat, perfect for kids to lay on and beat up.

I put one sleepy one in the shop. One is spoken for and the awake one might be photographed tomorrow (when its less dreary.)

Another thing that I will add is my new little phone my Dude got for me. I had the oldest phone on the planet, and the worst part is that it still worked perfectly and dependably. How crappy is that?? I wanted it to break so I could get a new fancy one.

I now have the phone of a 16 year old boy.

I have yet to mar its surface with stickers and junk, but that will happen after the honeymoon period of newness. I think its nice I actually have a use for my Bluetooth now. Sending nonsense to and from my phone. Its like I live in the future. (P.S. My Dude got the 'girl' colour and I got the 'boy' colour. Does that blow your mind how we laugh at typical gender roles? HA.)

Ugh, today is definitely the day I turn the heat on in the apartment. It somehow feels like failure. I always try to go as long as possible without it. But Screw that, its officially friggan cold, and friggan Monday. I have written posts about how I usually feel so optimistic and productive on Mondays. I am so sorry about that. I take it ALL back. I just feel COLD.

The dead rise and review...

Nightmare Revisited

Looking at the CD for "Nightmare Revisited", I really have to imagine that it was prompted by a Disney executive in a nondescript boardroom saying, "Geez, we ought to exploit this Nightmare Before Christmas property after all these years!". Beloved of spooky kids everywhere, a 'special edition' DVD of the film has just been released, and to accompany it is this album, a collection of covers of the full original soundtrack, I.E. with 20 different artists all covering a different song. Luckily, the album sounds much better than a quick cash-in should (though this can be attributed in no small part to the strength of Danny Elfman's songs). The choice of artists is interesting; although there are exceptions, the album largely splits into straightforward alternative rock on the one hand (Flyleaf, Korn, Rise Against, Plain White T's) and more experimental, hipster-approved bands (Sparklehorse, The Polyphonic Spree, Datarock). I have to say that my preference (at least on this album!) is for the former. Marilyn Manson's bombastic Weimar-metal cover of "This Is Halloween" is clearly cartoonish by design; Sparklehorse's "Something's Wrong With Jack" is insufferably precious, a mess of glittery meandering and falsetto vocals. Definitely a worthwhile album - most of the time - for fans of Jack and Co.
-N. Zombie

N. Zombie will be reviewing only zombie approved awesome albums weekly, to brighten your dreary existence. Or the opposite. Or whatever. :-)

Its ready!!

I heart my colouring book!

Its in the shop!

I think it came out really well. It was fun to do too. I might have to start a second book right away!

Its a little 10 page black and white book, with a glossy cover. Each little book was hand assembled, has an original little Batcat doodle, signature and number. So each little kiddie, or big kiddie feels like they have something super special.


If I never sell one, I don't even care, because I am think they came out so sweet. (Ok, I would still like to sell some. haha!)

There was some discussion on whether I should use the US or the Canadian spelling of 'colour', especially since it was definitely for children, and almost all my audience is in the states. But when it comes down to it, I am a Canadian, Batcat is a Canadian, and that is how we spell colour! :-) I think the world will survive my choice.

P.S. Do you like Batcat's new buddy? He is a cute little Rat, as Batcats only eat cakes and pastries, not rodents.

Sneaky Peaky

Assembly of my little book thing is underway! The one I showed a bit of here.


Trim,trim,trim.


And another bit.

I am assembling them slowly (it IS Thanksgiving weekend in Canada...) And I am sure they will be in my shop my Tuesday or Wednesday. Its cute! I think I can safely promise that now. ;-)

New Pin Set!

Its been a while since I designed a new pin set for my shop.

I guess this one is only half new really, since it uses existing paintings, like the one I posted about in my last post...

"Pretty Girls" is available now in the shop.

The little mirrors are really cute! I think I like them more because I did something I don't usually do. I cheated! I did this little sketch in pencil, loved it, and then just scribbled on it with pen and marker and kept it as the final. Usually in a situation like this I would take the time to make this super clean ink drawing, which sometimes looses a bit of the life of the pencil sketch. This worked out way better. In university my professors always said this was the best way to get good work, but I guess I forgot. haha

So that's my big accomplishment for the day. I feel like its a good one.

*Oh, look at that, a pin set sold before this post was complete! Yay. That's a good sign! :-)*

Commission...

Please don't ask me to paint you.

Once in a while I do a commissioned painting, usually if it interests me. Call me lazy, but its really stressful to paint something for someone you don't know, and be happy with the final product.

I really struggle with custom work, because I am a very bad planner and I like to "try stuff" in the middle of paintings. Stuff that sometimes goes horribly wrong.Ok, OFTEN goes horrible wrong. So when I can't do that because I am freaked out that I will ruin the painting of your lovely pet/child/husband/mama, it looses some of its life.

BUT. When I know the person I am doing work for, its WAY easier. I know what colours you like, I have seen the art at your house and I know that you know me and have seen everything I have ever done. So doing work for you is a treat.

This little painting was a gift for an autumn bride's paper anniversary. I know the giver and receiver really well, so when I got the "Do whatever you want." I didn't have to panic. This little painting was supposed to remind her of the wedding, remind her of herself, and maybe even remind her that there is life outside her office walls. ;-) I think it came out quite pretty.

Little tip for anyone commissioning an artist for a gift for the Mrs or Mr: The giver who commissioned the artist gets no love, and the artist gets it all. :-) Haha. Sorry!

So its October! Officially fall to me. And if I needed any proof, there is something that proves it. Door to door pumpkin salesman.

You can buy a pumpkin off the street of busy Toronto, with the farm dirt still on it. How weird is this? Weird and kind of perfect for the neighborhood I live in. Its veggieland.

Some day I am gonna run out there and buy something. Maybe its the mix of cuteness of the piles of veggies, the obvious law breaking, or the fact that its the ultimate DIY way of selling your stuff. Next time...

Oh wait, would I actualy have to eat the veggies? Hmm. Might have to rethink this.

An new print.

I don't generally do artwork that is for a specific time of the year, as that just seems like such a strange and limiting concept...

But. I did do a Halloween-ish one this year.

Not that it started out that way, it just kind of progressed and with LARGE thanks to a costume idea from Martha Stewart, it just became a Halloween painting.

Here is a progress shot I grabbed if it as I threw paint on it. Of course, using orange makes it instantly Halloweeny. I hardly ever use orange.

I think this is one of the rare times when the print is actually more beautiful than the original artwork. I reproduced it at the same size and the slight change in colour that happens when you scan and print really made it pop. It's available in the shop now. I might also offer it matted in the near future. And probably the original painting too. Haha, how many ways can you utilize one image? I will do it!

P.S. She has magic hair. In more ways than one.

I haven't worn anything but pjs this week.

No, I haven't left the house yet this week.

I usually make things for myself to go out and do but this week seems like a good time to cocoon and work on stuff.

Just a few minutes ago I sent part of the teeny tiny book I made to the printers. Nerve wracking!! I just get all worried that it will printed wrong. Just a tiny change in colour or shift and its ruined. I won't sleep soundly until I have it in my little hands. I think its going to take a week and a half...

So, my October is going to go well. How do I know this? Good omen. My bat was on the front page!

Its always super nice when someone (Thanks phydeaux!)lets me know I have something on the front page of Etsy! I would never know if people didn't do that. I was just on the front page recently, so I am feeling the love. :-)

So aside from a few custom orders, and restocking a few items in my shop, I have decided to take a break and just do some paintings and drawings in the next week or so. Nice to have a change of pace. I have some new supplies to try out and halloweeny ideas to bring to life.

Maybe I won't leave the house until Friday! Hmm, that would be a new level of hermit-ness. yes, I think I can acheive it.

Self indulgent.

Here is a post of useless things. I can post junk, its my blog.

One dorky pose, then its a blur of cookie devouring! Do not get between me and my icing sugar.

My dude likes to buy me presents when I reach milestones. (I know, awesome right?) He bought me the Hells Kitchen DS game so we can make fancy ass food in video game form while eating takeout onion rings.

Oh, so here is some stuff that is awesome.

#1-Martha Stewart. I already like her, but when Halloween comes around, I want her to adopt me. She just does halloween the way I wish the whole world did it. Its scary and elegant. She gets such good people to work at her magazine! The halloween room setups always look like I want my house to look like year round...

Look what I made! Its from the magazine, its a bat-mobile!! (Click for a tutorial) Gawd, I love it, and it was fun to make. I am never taking it down.

#2-Vampire related book. Enough said. Its almost read already, its not challenging reading. *snarf*

#3-AND philosophy The Haunted House set of yummy bath and shower gels!! OH MY FREAKING LORD I LOVE BLACK LICORICE! I died of happiness. Then the smell brought me back to life. I could drink the stuff. Also has a pumpkin spice and a caramel apple. Its really too adorable to exist.

Um, what else.

Oh right. As I stare down at my hot pink hands, I remember that I dyed my hair again, a nice intense fuchsia with a bit of black.



Its always so awesome the first few days, people stop me on the street to ask me about it, and kids eyeballs pop out. When I stop having pink hair, I know I will miss kids look of amazement when they realize that THEY could have pink hair if they wanted to. Its freaking sweet. And then the moms flash of panic is sweet too. haha.

So, work stuff...

The last page of my 10 page book (booklet?) is complete, and just the cover remains, which I may have professionally printed, we shall see. Its my big project that I pretend to work on when really I am cooking furiously with Gordon Ramsay on my DS. He hasn't even called a donkey yet in the game. I am disappointed. I am sure its coming.

*dances in chair*

I had a whole bunch of little things to blog about. Things I bought, things I made...BUT it has all been blasted away by this awesome thing that occurred!

1000 sales at my Etsy shop!

I couldn't be happier about it. I won't lie, it makes me feel like a big shot.

The person who helped push me past this landmark was Jennifer from urbanfusions! A glass artist,with a candy coloured shop. And she's a fellow Canadian ,which is pretty rare. I think having a fellow Etsy shop owner buy the 1000th thing is great, because I am sure she can share in my excitement. We all start with zero and never think we will achieve what other people do. (Ok, I lied, I totally thought I would sell 1000 things someday, just someday in the far future!) Thanks Jen. You made my day!

So I have orders to pack and a totally renewed sense of self awesomeness. Which may result in me making mazing new products or just dancing around my studio and not getting anything done but cutting out paper bats.

Plus I may have chosen what I want to be for Halloween, which makes life complete. :-)

Narrows eyes...

My banner is a charity case.

I made this little banner painting a month or two ago, and I hated it. It sat on my desk, taunting me with its crappiness all this time. So today I cut it up and took a pic of it on striped fabric and its my new banner. UNTIL I make a new one, which will be soon, because, it still annoys me. But I somehow feel better using it so its not a waste.

Make sense? :-) No. I know it doesn't.

Ladies, please stop swooping and biting!

The last of the bats...

These two are the last of the little batch of bats I made. I used different eyes than I usually do, and they are cute, but I don't think they are as cute a the smaller ones. It just doesn't fit my style as well. Back to beady eyes!

I have been having a heck of a time photographing things lately. I made a new huge lightbox, and since then I have been struggling. I think it might have to be scrapped. I think it blocks too much light, and then I have to digitally lighten photos to much. Life is so hard.

So now I am free to work on the book again, and also some other secret-y projects. Spray paint some stuff, paint other stuff, NOT sew ANYTHING, and then see Ghost Town this weekend and heart Ricky Gervais. Week is planned out.

Still haven't decided on a Halloween costume. I would say that panic mode is near. Must decide!!

BABY BATS.

(I almost wrote "BB bats" then was shocked with a memory of the old school candy I had forgotten existed...)

A batch of baby bats is trickling into my shop...

Here is a creamy little dude.

And here is a radioactive orange one.

I usually don't like orange. I got this wool to make a fox, and I still might make one, but it just seemed too perfect for some Halloweeny bats! I have three other bats that need to be photographed, but its too late and dreary (and freaking FRIDAY) for me to do that. ;-)

My dude (N. Zombie, my music reviewer) just got some awesome work news, so there will be no more work tonight. But there will be blueberry cheesecake. I guess its "work" to fight the urge to smash my face in it like a pie eating contest. Yum.

Only 48 days till Halloween, still no costume! Tonight I shall decide. I just ...decided.

Dapper little dude.

One bat is ready!



He is ready and in the shop.

His brothers and sisters are in various unfinished forms, and he couldn't wait for them.

I think one or two of the other bats will have costumes or some sort of accessories, I'm not really sure until I finish their faces.

Have I mentioned I like Halloween? NO? I do.

I don't feel bound by your rules.

I often start, and then don't finish.

Cathy was right in her guess on my last post, its a type of Batcat book that I have been working on. Its just a small one, and its pretty far along, but I got bored of it and will work on it again next week.

So NOW I am working on a big batch of something...
Seee? See how sneaky I am??? Can you get my super sneaky clue? haha

I am sewing up a storm now. Maybe tomorrow or the next day I will be able to post some pictures of the little brood. Booooo.

P.S. The new "Following" gadget by Blogger (over there on the right-->) is going to change my blogging life, I just know it. I may actually comment on other peoples blogs now! Haha. I am going to go following crazy.

hop, hop.

A nice weekend surprise! I was blogged about by one of the cool people I have connected with on Etsy, the always fun kittycrossbones or AmyLynn Field. How sweet is this??? She wrote a ton of stuff that makes me feel all fuzzy.

Good luck with your brand new blog! I would wish you luck with your business, but you already are at that top of your game. ;-)

So hello to anyone who arrived here from kittycrossbones! Nice to see ya.

Ink progress

A little (big? Medium??) project I am working on right now. Its coming along well. Its nice to do some fat ink drawings like I used to in high school. (Except now they aren't terrible...)

Soon, soon.

The dead rise and review...

The Faint - Fasciinatiion

To be blunt, 'Fasciinatiion', the new album from The Faint (and their first self-released album from their new label blank.wav) is rather disappointing. To be sure, the Nebraska boys haven't altered their 80's-referencing synth-rock/dance sound to any great degree - in fact, none of Fasciinatiion's ten tracks would sound out of place on any of The Faint's last three albums. Still, the album is even more uneven than 'Wet From Birth' was. While "The Geeks Were Right" is a pulsing club banger, other tracks (like "Fulcrum & Lever") are meandering exercises in storytelling, or tedious and overwrought (especially the boyfriend-girlfriend argument tracks "Psycho" and "I Treat You Wrong" as well as "A Battle Hymn For Children"). Hopefully with the distractions of their apparent disagreements with Saddle Creek behind them, The Faint can get back to writing killer dancefloor songs with actual hooks in them.
-N. Zombie

N. Zombie will be reviewing only zombie approved awesome albums weekly, to brighten your dreary existence. Or the opposite. Or whatever. :-)