Discriminating Weirdos

Making Heads

Can anyone out there guess what I'm working on this week?  Well, Em was accepted into the One of a Kind show here in Chicago (a big deal about which thee will be more information to come), so I'm working on making pieces for her display.  More specifically, I'm working on jazzing up some styrofoam heads.

I made a couple of these about a year ago, but I started with the old flour and water and wet newspaper mess.  To save time, and because I apparently hate the Earth, I decided to use a base head made of styrofoam this time.  I kept my idea of using strips of finished crossword puzzles as the covering.  It has a quirky feel while still having a touch of class. I also like the fact that that the puzzles have been filled in because it gives the thing an extra bit of humanity.

It's been fun, even for a guy who's afraid of mannequins.

Here's a quick picture that I took with the Photo Booth application, so it's certainly not as good as it could be.  It's enough to give you an idea, though.  (ADAM)

Check out the NEW Moe Sew Co

We've diversified! 

You can find Adam's work at moesewco.etsy.com

And I have opened my very own millinery atelier!  MoeSewCoMillinery.etsy.com

And MORE FUN CHANGES TO COME!!!!

Adam and Emily Have Broken Up

Hold on!  Don't get all upset!  We haven't broken up our marriage!

We have, however, made the jump to break up our Etsy shop into two entities - one for my embroidery work and one for her hats.  I just wanted to make a quick announcement here that you can still find me at the original shop, while Em has moved to a new, just-for-hats place called MoeSewCo Millinery.

It's a big step, and it felt a little bit like the end of a long relationship, but once we saw the end result, we were both pretty excited.

We also got some new banners, and if you've been paying attention you'll notice that Discriminating Weirdos has a new look as well.  It's been a busy computer week at the Chicago Moe compound.

And because I don't feel comfortable posting without giving you some eye candy, here's a picture that I thought was pretty funny.

Moe Sew Poe

October is just around the corner, and October means ghosts, goblins, and ghouls.  Sure, I'm a little early, but I love Halloween enough to start blogging about Halloween-themed Etsy products.  Besides, as long as we have Christmas, there's no such thing as promoting a holiday too early.  Don't they start jamming carols in our ears in about a week?

Today I want to focus on two items featuring one of the most recognizable faces in the world of literature -- Edgar Allan Poe.  I have always loved Poe, and he was one of the first authors that I really connected with as a child.  I remember reading The Pit and the Pendulum when I was in third grade and thinking it was the coolest thing ever.  I still pick up his writing today, although everything is a re-read these days.  The tough thing about dead writers is that they stop writing.

Back to Poe on Etsy.  Our first stop is Cedar Junction, a collage, assemblage and mixed-media artist with a shop HERE.  I found this fascinating little piece of Halloween goodness there -- a bottle containing dirt from the grave of the man himself.  Actually, Cedar Junction was quick to point out that no actual grave or resting place was actually disturbed in the creation of this piece, and I suppose that's good.  Even I can have too much morbidity in my life, and that's saying something.  Even so, I really like the idea.  It's antique-looking, looks authentic, and would look great in some sort of Halloween shadow box collection.

Sweetheartsinner Creations has another take on the Poe collage.  This time, Poe's head has been placed on the body of a raven.  Of course, we all know the important part that the raven plays in what is probably Poe's most well-known poem, and this collage neatly connects the man with the animal (Manimal!).  I also love the detail of using the poem itself as the background for the piece.  If you're looking for a Poe pill box, I suggest this one. (ADAM)

Moe Sew Co needs your discriminating eye

All right people.  Reach deep down inside and grab that inner critic.  I know it's in there.  As a discriminating weirdo, you've got some things to say about what you see. 

moesewco.etsy.com needs you. 

We're a bit stalled.  A bit stuck in the muck, as it were.  The car has a dead battery and we need to borrow your jumper cables. 

Would you be so kind as to visit our shop and tell us what you think is wrong? 

We just discovered this morning, actually, that "weirdo" is misspelled.  That was an embarrassing hit to take.  I will fix that, pronto, but....

Do we need a new banner?

What do you think about our photos?

The direst question: Should we be two different shops?

So, what do you think? 

Two more From Renegade

Today's Renegade Art Fair featured sellers both caught my eye with their plush work.  Fuzzy Ink and Caseybot both made me stop and take a closer look at their work, and I hope they do the same for you.

Fuzzy Ink actually grabbed my attention with (say it with me) gigantic plush mustaches!  Sure, we've all seen plush-taches, but generally they are not mu bigger than a large banana or a summer squash.  Fuzzy Ink decided that you can never have too much of a good thing, and makes them in sizes ranging from the fairly normal 9-inch model all the way up to the barely liftable 45-inch monster-stach.  I've included a picture of a man holding one of these gargantuan beasts, apparently after catching it in the wild, just so you can get an idea how awesomely huge these plush-taches are.  Good on you, Fuzzy Ink, for taking an idea and making it your own through the power of sheer size.  Kudos, indeed.

Caseybot takes a different tack -- using the skills of plush toy making to create hats for children (and adults) representing animals both real and imagined.  There were hats that looked like unicorns, deer, various monsters, and more, and when worn, they all looked like they were eating your head due to excellent tooth placement.  It may not seem like it at first, but there's not much in this world that's funnier than having your head swallowed by a deer -- or any other vegetarian animal for that matter.  You can visit Caseybot's Web site HERE, or the Etsy shop HERE.  At the time of this writing, there is more product on the actual Web site, but take a look at both.  (ADAM)

My Renegade Day!

As Adam told you yesterday, we had a great time browsing around the Renegade Craft Fair this year.  It really was an amazing event.  It was not over-run with owls.  That's a good thing. 

Renegade is actually kind of a fairly big anniversary of sorts in the family Moe.  It was there, at the first show, that we discovered this "new" aesthetic in crafting.  From that day forward, we were inspired to dive in to the DIY culture, gradually honing our skills and interests into what we do today.  Adam's first embroidery project was a set of Luche Libre dish towels from a pattern we purchased at that show, for his sister for Christmas. 

Today I'd like to feature two artists (as in the painter type) that I found particularly compelling. 

The first is Ryan Berkley of Ryan Berkley Illustration.  His stuff was grand fun for me.  Just my sort of absurdity.  The bulk of his collection focused on various animals in suits of some sort.  Here are two of my favorites:

He also ascribes to the Moe philosophy of giving a bit of character and story to his prints.

"This small town mayor is a bit of a jokester. He's been known to attend town meetings dressed as The Flash and he boasts about his autographed photo of Speedy Gonzales in his office."

I'm also dead fond of meerkats. Not so fond that I'm willing to watch Meerkat Manor more than once (or twice or...).  But honestly, how can you not love a meerkat particularly in a flightsuit?

"You might think this guy is just your standard flying meerkat. You'd be wrong! He also plays piano, paints, draws, and he once had the world’s largest model Porsche collection. Ask him about the time he played the keyboard while doing a double barrel roll."

Prints are available from berkleyillustration on Etsy.

The other artist that really caught my eye was Catia Chien.  The word that really comes to mind when I look at her paintings is "winsome", but according to my dictionary (attractive or appealing in appearance), I'm ascribing more to this word than it actually contains.  A little melancholic.  Like a dream that's fading... There are stories in this work, and they are for us to imagine.  

There are, in fact, quite a lot of stories for Catia Chien.  She has done illustrations for all sorts of media, from children's books Nickolodean.  Good onya!  How wonderful to find a truly fine artist that is actually making her way in the world.  

Her paintings make me want to take a long cool look. And then another. 

Catia Chien's work is available from catiachien.com

(Emily)

Renegade People

This weekend was one of the biggest crafting weekends of the year -- the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair.  Em and I went on Saturday, met up with beefrank, and hit the booths.  We grabbed a lot of cards from a lot of artists that we liked, and I thought it might be fun to spend the next few days linking D.W. readers with some of the things we liked.

First, we were really impressed by Red Velvet Art.  According to their extremely well-designed site, the business was started several years ago by two friends (and a younger sister) by selling handmade accessories at music festivals.  Now, six years later, they are running a boutique in Springfield, MO as well as an on-line shop.  And if this weekend is any indication, they are also traveling to craft shows.  It was fantastic to see that someone has found a way to make a life out of craft without having to give up other important things like food and shelter.

We were also drawn to Zooguu, both for their awesome plush creations and their excellent tent display.  According to the events calendar on their site, Zooguu is taking its crazy plush monsters all over the country this winter and fall, so you might even get a chance to see their work with your own eyes.  I was especially fond of the puffer fish, but there were so many animals and monsters to choose from that it was almost overwhelming.  If you are a fan of stuffed toys, or if you like animals with one big eye, I suggest visiting the Zooguu Etsy store HERE.

Finally today, I was drawn to the work of illustrator Brian Gubicza.  His deceptively simple portraits of famous writers, literary characters, and monsters were fantastic, and can be found at his Etsy shop.  I was really fond of his Poe, but frankly, if I had to choose I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite.  Check out his shop for mummies, vampires, and even the Queen of Hearts -- all in his own, unique style.  (ADAM)

An autre treasury...

This one's called  "Unlike me...unlike you, I'm not pretending." It's very lovely and organic.  Lots of good wood.  Check it out soon, before it goes away!  Treasuries fly away like the leaves in autumn!

(emily)

Excitement at the Moe Compound

Those of you who have been following our blog know that Em recently made a hat for British wit Stephen Fry.  It has been a while since she sent that hat to London, and we found out late last week that it had been held over in customs because of some unpaid fee or other.

Mr. Fry's assistant, the patient and talented Jo Crocker, was able to pay bail on the package this week, and we received word that the hat (and the embroidered tie I sent with it) arrived in the form of the following note and picture from the man himself:

Dear Emily and Adam,

My package arrived today! One hat and one tie. Both gorgeous beyond imagining.

I am wearing the hat as I type this and the tie is around my shoulders (proof enclosed)

Thank you both SO much for such generosity. I really am very touched by your kindness and very staggered by your skill, design flair, wit and perfectionism.

A great big, slobbery, grateful thank

With love from

Stephen

To say we're happy is a bit of an understatement.  In the words of one of Em's Facebook friends, we have achieved some sort of nerd apotheosis with this one.