Discriminating Weirdos

Block Printing Is Harder than They Made it Out to be in Elementary School

I've just spent the greater portion of two days trying to learn to do a very basic block print.  I didn't even have to do the hard part.  Adam's fairly adept at making "outsider art" blocks.  Well, he's done a couple of them in the fifteen or so years that I've been around.  The first attempt was to print "moesewco.com" on a whole bunch of lunch bags for craft shows.  On this third try, he remembered that he needed it to be backwards. 

Well at least he can learn.  Eventually.

I'm seriously challenged when it comes to visual art.  I can do Ed Emberley, but that's IT. 

So Adam carved the block, and my task was to print it. 

Which I completed.  But I won't show you the results.  Let's just say that I'm definitely not showing a natural affinity for the medium.  And we can also go so far as to say that I've developed a seriously huge amount of respect for artists who have this affinity.  More than I had before. Which was a lot. 

So here's a couple of examples of some really great linocut block prints.

This one's for Amy who's still got a boo-boo.  She's really into fossils, like in a professional capacity.  So she'll like this.

I do too.  I like KShanks tendency towards the scientific in subject matter.  It's not the usual sort of thing one sees. 

This plesiosaur pleases me as well (HA!).

Plesiosaur II print available from KShanks at Etsy

I am nothing short of astounded, however, by the detail in this linocut block print by Histand. 

Thanks to Myrtle, the Goddess of Late Blooming Spring, it is NOT blustery and cold outside, but rather lovely as all get out.  And I did (get out), and now one side of my pale pale face is burned.

This print brings me back to October.  I just want to stare at it for ages.  It's got that movement like the rain is really and truly coming down, and is definitely threatening to soak you to the skin.  This is one day to bypass even the class umbrella and just stay home, drinking hot whiskey next to a fire in the fireplace, wrapped in a really big blanket. 

Thanks a lot for transporting me from mid-May to October! 

Blustery Day print available from Histand on Etsy.
(EMILY)

The Strange and Beautiful World of Tile

The women in our building have been bitten by the kitchen remodeling bug, and that means TILE!  Our friends MT and Dave started the whole thing by replacing their counters and redoing the backsplash with tile.  Then Em put her foot down and said we were going to get counters and tile as well.  Today, our downstairs neighbor is finishing the tiling behind her new counter, and this week, MT and Dave are having new tile floors put in their kitchen.

That's a lot of tile, my friends, and I just can't seem to escape it.

Never one to turn down a theme when it lands directly in my lap, today I have decided to feature two of the more interesting tiles and tile-related items I could find on Etsy.

First off, this one really caught my eye.  This 4X4 tile features an angler fish, one of natures most perfect creations (if you like horrible-looking deep sea carnivores).  Gretchen Kramp makes her tiles by hand, and her subjects range from toast to nursery rhymes.  There is an art tile for everyone at her shop, so go take a look.  If you're looking for that special tile to set off your home improvement project, or just to hang on your wall, I guarantee you'll find one you like.

Not all tile is made to be glued to the bathroom wall.  Some are meant to be hung as art, like these awesome textured wall tiles by Heather Knight at Element Clay Studio.  She molds each piece by hand without the aid of commercial molds or machinery, resulting in pieces of porcelain that almost look alive.  Several of the tiles in her shop almost look like they might pull away from your finger if you touched them.  That "life" stems from the inspiration for her newer pieces, plant and fruit textures.  Take a look at her fine work HERE. (ADAM)

Boo-Boo.

My sister-in-law Amy's got a boo-boo. 

I've been worried off my head today about her, and basically unable to focus on the blog today.  So this one's for Yam.

I also really dig this board.  Autism (not something that I think is wrong with Amy) is a problem dear to our hearts.  Adam used to teach autistic children, and the stories he tells will break your heart and make you laugh at the same time. 

I am hurt board (girl) available from autismlearninggames on Etsy.

Apparently I'm feeling particularly maudlin.  I better stop. 

In any case, feel better Yam. 

(Emily)

Happy belated Mother's Day

I had meant to post this video for Mother's Day, but I forgot.  I didn't forget Mother's Day, but I did forget what is probably the most important part of Mother's Day in the Moe family.

As you may have read in previous posts, I am a fan of bad music.  Part of my idiotically large collection includes various pieces of trauma-inducing holiday recordings, and I make it my business to play them as part of each holiday celebration.  I don't think I've missed spinning "What Can You Get a Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb)" since I started the tradition some 20 years ago.

Side note: I was utterly surprised I found an MP3 of this horrendous ear-salad on line.  I've tried in the past but never found it.  I thought for a while that I had the only 45 of this "song" in the world.  Fortunately, it appears that the recording is alive and well, and I can take my copy out of the safe.

Some holidays, Christmas and Halloween in particular, are well-represented in horrible music.  others, however, are a bit more difficult.  Easter, for some reason, doesn't seem to make crazy people burst out in song.  Sure, there's always the old joke about leaving crushed Easter baskets next to bits of roadkill, but I don't think there's a song about it.

Father's Day and Mother's Day are really difficult.  Sure, there are lots of smarmy songs for them (see C. W. McCall's Roses for Mama and Red Sovine's Daddy if you don't believe me), but true humorous recordings are hard to come by.

Groucho Marx gave us the great Father's Day song, Father's Day:

Today, father, is father's day,
And we're giving you a tie.
It's not much we know,
It's just our way of showing you
We think you are a regular guy.

You say that it was nice of us to bother.
But it really was a pleasure to fuss,
For according to our mother,
You're our father,
And that's good enough for us.
Yes, that's good enough for us.

And now, thanks to the multi-talented Mr. T, we have a song for Mother.  Watch the heart-felt dance and delivery from Sir T.  And just where was he keeping that microphone? (ADAM)

Louise Black Inspires My Feathers

Louise Black doesn't seem to need the PR.  She's in the middle of fashion school finals, and a bit bogged down by the combination platter of school and a successful Etsy store.  If I was a nice person, I'd leave her alone. 

I try to be nice, but the thing is, her work with feathers on fascinators is just beautiful.  I can't help myself.  It's like I've tasted millinery heroin and I really just want more.  MORE MORE!  So you see, I'm driven to obsession by this beautiful work, and I can't help myself.  I don't care that she's insanely busy making corsets (which are also beautiful...

a side note about corsets: if you've got lower back problems, these things are amazing.  Don't disparage the corset, they can be wonderful for feeling good.  And Louise Black's corsets are gorgeous. But I'm not here to talk about corsets.)

This is the headpiece that made my heart originally go all a-flutter.

Just look at that.  Wow.  What style.  What amazing eye-candy. Somebody else thought so too.  It's sold.  But maybe if we all wish really hard she could make another one. 

Here's from her description:

1920s silent films have always been a big inspiration to me. One of my favorite silent films, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, was the direct inspiration behind this piece and several of the others I currently have up for sale.

Made for my recent graduation fashion show, this spectacular head piece has 25" and 28" long, black and white striped pheasant feathers trimmed at the base with 2 large jet black ostrich plumes and greenish/black coque feathers. The focal point of this piece is a black taffeta rose with leaves topped with an antique art deco, steel cut buckle. I've hand-sewn Victorian era jet glass beaded fringe to the bottom of the flower.

This piece has been hand sewn and secured to a hair comb and is actually meant to be worn in longer hair that can be tied back/up and secured. In this photo the comb is sitting in my hair and is secured with bobby pins. The entire piece measures about 31" long. Worn once for a fashion show but is still in new condition.

Dramatic Avant Garde Film Noir Inspired Feather Head Piece used to be for sale at LouiseBlack's Etsy store. If you want one, you might have to commission it.

There are others though, that we can dream of possessing.  Check this out:

Flapper girl Clara Bow was my inspiration for this Ziegfeld Follies style hair comb, which was part of my recent graduation fashion show collection.

This fascinator is 7 peacock feather tops attached to a white fabric base that has been sewn to an antique rhinestone encrusted centerpiece. The rhinestone centerpiece is made up of a section removed from a 1930's dress trim, an art deco brooch, and many more swarovski crystal rhinestones. The entire piece has been securely sewn to a hair comb.

Oh My Yes.  It's so very showgirl.  I'm more of a Busby Berkeley gal, and I can imagine it there too. 

I would LOVE to walk into a room wearing this.

Clara Bow's Ziegfeld Follies Inspired Peacock Fascinator Hair Comb is available from louiseblack at her Etsy shop.

I really need to learn to make fascinators. 

Here's one more:

Again, such an incredible use of feathers.  So much style. 

This particular piece is fashioned from burgundy ostrich plumes, with a curled feather base attached to a hand-cut antique metallic lace corsage. I've attached turn-of-the-century pink tassels to the base of the corsage and topped it off with a Military inspired, vintage Roman Soldier brooch. The entire piece has been sewn to a 3 layer metallic mesh sash that wraps around the head and ties at the base of the skull.

The Burlesque Feather Headband is available from louiseblack at her Etsy Shop.

(Emily)