Braaaainnnnss.....

Zombies Chasing Victims Refrigerator Magnets from zedszombieramch.etsy.com

The Zombie Wall Jumbo Print from MATTY8080.etsy.com

Antique Doll Head from OldeTymeNotions.etsy.com

-Satchel Paige

Click the captions for details on these fun finds. 

 

Vintage Playing Cards, ZOMBIES from 30one.etsy.com

Cold Night For Alligators font by Junkohanhero can be found at dafont.com.

IF - Breakfast

Today's Illustration Friday prompt Breakfast showed up in my inbox with this whimsical Lewis Carrol quotation: "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." 

While I don't find breakfast particularly inspiring, I do love coffee...mmmm...mmm. So I decided to finally pull together the Zombie Apocalypse mugs I've been thinking about since last year.  (Using Zazzle for the first time. I'll let you know how they come out.)

 

If the thinking about the 1st meal of the day makes you pick up a pencil instead of a fork, I suggest you pop over to IllustrationFriday.com & add your take on this tasty topic. Or just click through & check out what all those fun artists are up to.

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By the way, have you entered the new random drawing? Mixed Media artist Jacquelyn Berl has generously donated 2 of her 11" x 17" prints to this great giveaway. There will be 2 winners & each will get to choose one favorite print from her large selection. Click Here For Details & to enter this drawing which ends 7/29.

RTT - mmm..mmmm...linkaliscious!

Missed you last Tuesday

Sadly my time machine is still busted so we must move on....

It's time to flush all those random thoughts so grab a button & play along!

Another tag done - 1 more to go

Giving proper credit: The silhouette is based on one from publicdomainpictures.net. The hooded figure is adapted from thesiNister stock image Hood.

I think it was Joy to the blog who introduced me to unnecessaryquotes.com. If so, thanks Joy! This is my new favorite pick me up

Have you tried whizzball? Not nearly as dirty as it sounds & highly addictive. I've about 50 puzzles my 5yr old made this weekend clogging my email box...

Pampering Beki is giving away a piece of her handmade jewelry on Friday to 1 lucky winner

Tom Banwell is up to something peculiar this week. He's designing gas masks for animals...

"hippo Vajen-Bader 'smoke protector' inspired mask" by Tom Banwell

.....verrrrrryyy peculiar......

And thanks, Tom, for last week's introduction to Radio-Guy:, Steve Erenberg. Anyone into steampunk, gadgets & odd stuff MUST check out this guy .

I think I've mentioned curiomira before but this blog is well worth mentioning again!

A shout out to Totus Mel's Wunderkammer for pointing the way to Goths in Hot Weather - not a keeper for me, but worth a chuckle

In time for Halloween, a seriously cool Beaded Spider Tutorial over at Room3Designs

Beaded Spider by Tiffany at Room3Designs

If you can't be bothered to make one, you can buy a finished spider at Room3designs' etsy shop.


Captain D. turns grilled cheese into eye-candy in this guest post.

And what's a Tuesday without zombies? I think these guys from Barbara Moustafa are craving some of that grilled cheese right now......

Reminds me - time for lunch! Be sure to visit The Un Mom & show us your random today.

P.S. There is still time to enter 3 random drawings happening here this week:

To enter the 1st, just leave any comment on my blog before noon (EST) on 9/10.
1 piece customized jewelry from Etsy seller Jewelry By Solange

For the next 2 leave a comment stating how you would use each prize if you win.
500 custom business cards to 2 winners - ends 9/10

&

A 24" square custom wall sticker to 2 winners - ends 9/13

RTT- Just a wee bit-o-random today

Getting a head start on my Random Tuesday Thoughts. I have a hunch that once the day's madness begins, I may not make it back here. Just 1 of those week's already

Spent the weekend building a ginormous outdoor playset - holy $h*+! Rediscovered some muscles I forgot I had. Too tired to work on art in the p.m. so cramming to meet some deadlines. (Just fun stuff tho - no paying gigs)

I joined an art book-group for Twilight over at ZNE. While not thrilled with the series, I do love me some vampires & there are some great images throughout the book. It looks like we'll be reading & then making art for each chapter. Fun stuff. I think there'll be some public pics up Wednesday. Will post a link then. In the meantime here's a sneaky peak of my illo's inking phase:

Inspired by Oblivion Stock over at DeviantArt.

Oh, if you're more into Buffy than Edward, this is priceless. The Un Mom graciously shared it recently

Also up this week is a mechanical toy I've finished in my head but had no time to make. I keep dumbing it down for speed of assembly. If I don't watch out, it will be a painted rock by the time I'm done.

Found out about this Diary project over at Ewian's blog. Check it out - still some openings left but deadline is looming. Just click on the box above.

I absolutely love Ewian's artwork. She has such a vibrant & distinctive style. A very sweet person too - always ready with a kind comment plus she sent me this fabulous field guide:

Hey, had to sneak those zombies in here somewhere - it is Tuesday after all ;D

Ewian also has a great art supplies giveaway going on right so, so hop on over & check it out!

Dang, gotta hit the hay. Tuesday snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. If you're looking for more chaotic goodness, pop on over to the Admiral of Anarchy (ok ok I'll admit I'm stretching on that one), The Un Mom. There is always something wacky going on over there any day of the week!

Man this post keeps running on. But I almost forgot to mention a reminder that there is no random drawing this Thursday. Check back on the 9th to see who wins one of my art boxes, customized with their choice of image & text. Click HERE for details and a photo of a similar piece. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on July 9th.

RTT - Random Tortured, ehem, Tuesday Thoughts

That's silly, honey. People just don't get smaller.
-Louise to her husband, Scott in The Incredible Shrinking Man

Morning all. Sitting outside with a cup of java before it gets too hot today. Sounds great (& it is). BUT it is only happening because there is a giant spider the size of my hand (no exaggeration!) loose the studio & now I'm too chicken to go in there! I think I saw this movie way too many times as a kid

I was posting for the Melange Fly challenge around midnight & heard a crinkly sound behind me, turned around and Big Bertha was scuttling towards me across a Michael's bag that was on the floor! Don't call PETA on me, but I bashed it with a rolled up copy of Artists' Cafe. A good thick mag, it didn't even phase the critter. Tho my screams woke DH, he only mumbled something about Serves me right for my studio being a mess & when am I coming to bed. Yeah right. Make fun of the arachnophobe.

So, I did the only sensible thing...Used the laptop in the kitchen and continued jumping at every little noise in the house. Too twitchy to sleep I wandered around the house like a zombie. (Knew I could squeeze a zombie or 2 in here somewhere) Finally broke down & guzzled some nyquil (So not P.C. - do not try this at home, kiddies). Then went to the kid's room (furthest from the studio), shut myself in & jammed stuffed animals in space under the door. Eternally grateful for the new bunkbed, I climbed in with my book light & The City of Z. Nothing like a good read on a long long night. Especialy a read that includes scary critters rustling in the jungle & possibly eating civilized explorers. Actually, the Nyquil & adrenaline crash kicked in just as Percy Fawcett was boarding the boat.

So where's the random? Being guarded by THE BIG HAIRY SPIDER!

But while you're here, check this out:

Utrecht Art Supplies Juried Competition is taking entries until Sept 1.

Moonlight Journey has a free collage sheet to download HERE. If you lean towards the ethereal & gothic, take a look around the site & links. Both Becky & Lynn create some fab ACEOs & other mixed media art.

The iprintfromhome Tuesday Tweet Treat is a free 11 x 14 print of your work. This offer is only good until midnight tonight (EST). Click Here for details

And finally...drum roll please... I found this on Nut & Bee last week and it had RTT all over it! Nothing says I love you quite like this:

created by City the NZ Cupcake Queen

Don't forget to pop over to the Un-Mom & see what Keely is up to today: looks like Jane Austin knockoffs, wacky dreams & drinking wine before your dr. visit...All good stuff. While you are there grab a button & play along!

Before you go, remember to leave a comment here to enter the newest Thursday Giveaway. This week's random winner gets Alisa Burke's book Canvas Remix. Just make sure you do it before noon (EST) on Thursday (6/11). Click HERE for book & random drawing details.

4 to beam up - It's Random Tuesday!

If he were still around, it'd be James Doohan's birthday today. I was thinking that no one actually said "Beam me up, Scotty" on the old Star Trek series (yes, yes Once a nerd, always a nerd) & a trip down google-lane ended at TV Tropes. They have fun lists of phrases now stuck in our minds that were never actually said on film/tv. My dweeby anal-retentive nature aside, a toast too ya Mr Doohan!I nicked this pic off a post called StarTrek's Greatest Moments in Drinking, another google gem

The Un Mom is still encouraging the zombie-luv...no not that kind of....ewww... I'm talking icky fun illustrations by Jason Chan! If you lean toward the dark side, I recommend a look around his blog. He has a great Norman-Rockwell's-evil-twin thing going on *ach, poorly phrased but meant to be a compliment*

Some of his pieces (like this lovely lady)would fit perfectly with all the squiggly-goodness over at cephalopod tea party

Joe Bagley has a freaking awesome papercutting of his eye on his blog today!

A peek at JanuaryWish's blog today introduced me to Airborne Toxic Event- Somewhere Around Midnight - very very cool

This looks good too - no fee online self portrait competition, deadline May 31. I say go for it! Or check out the entries that have been posted thus far

Gotta run. Final bit of trivia today. Another birthday wish to the famous gent who once said Mr. Watson- come here- I want to see you

Quasi-Random Thoughts Tuesday

Ok I'm just going to ramble - however a piece or 2 of cohesion may slip thru. I'm behind all schedules (as usual). Not really time to post - but I do so love The Random Zone!

Missed last weeks Arty Girlz challenge "Wire"- here are fun pieces from those who had their acts together. Lucky for me, the piece I meant to submit also fits under this week's topic "Butterflies"
A custom piece "gone bad", I was seriously bummed. Then all the positive feedback left by wonderful readers (on my last necklace posting) encouraged me to jazz it up for Arty Girlz . Also listed on etsy & YAY it's now on reserve!

Also listed an ACEO - it originally appeared on ZNE as Faeries Are Elusive... but "Believe" is a more productive search word so ...

Do You Believe in Faeries?

How 'bout Zombies?

I hear you...Yeah, you in the back, mumbling what is it with this girl and the frickin zombies? Dunno what to tell you, they just keep coming back ;-)

Enjoyed 1 of the worse movies ever on late night TV last week (hey...watching crap tv...not getting anything done...connection?) Nearly laughed to death (ah, but would I have come back?) The New Zealand horror *cough* classic *cough* Black Sheep. No, not the Chris Farley thing - the werewolf /mutant zombie one ....just replace "wolf" & "mutant" with sheep..... yeah, really.

I had this on my Netflix for ages before it was released. Once it came out, it crept lower & lower down the queue until it hovered in the 125 zone. This is the "walk of shame" area - movies that I think I want to see but not sure I want to (a) admit it (b) pay for -even if it's pennies & (c) remove from queue only to reinstate after seeing preview again usually after drinking too much

Spoiler: My biggest laugh was when our hero lost his gun & tossed a jar of mint jelly on the attacking creature! Sizzled like holy water on a vampire....classic! Did I mention it was around 2am at my house? C'mon help me find an excuse for such sophomoric pleasures....

Well, this is truly rambling... 3 more for you, if you're still with me, I must ask what is with all the Jane Austin adaptations?

You have probably heard by now that Elton John is said to be producing the film Pride & Predator I thought it was a joke at 1st

Now you can preorder Pride & Prejudice and Zombies Hey, can I read it when you're done?And my favorite: Jane Bites Back NY Times says "depicts the 19th-century author as a frustrated vampire, taking revenge on those who have made money from her work"

Ok. I'm done. If you get a chance, POP over to visit The Un-Mom (who's feeling a bit like the walking dead thanks to the latest bug going around) & see what wacky chaos she is up to this week

Time for a Quickie? It's Random Thoughts Tuesday

mmmm....brains......oops! i mean.....coffee

The Un-Mom is on a zombie kick today....and I soo looove zombies

I think this would be great in the the living room but can't get the family on board. If you're with me or just want a fun read click here for flash version

If you're into mobiles (or ninjas, or pinup girls, or..... The Undead!) you must visit Salty & Sweet - one of my favorite etsians

If you love or hate zombie movies you MUST see Shaun of the Dead . Sick & cheerfully twisted, it's my fave. (DH hates the undead but he liked this 1 too)

I'm sensing a theme here....whoops- back to random:

While looking for a spot to promote Monday's giveaway, I found ... wait for it ... wait for it ... bloggiveaways ! Great list of random freebies & drawings, from an Epson Printer & *ahem* personal massager to burp cloths & chocolates...now that's random!

Oh, if you would like to take a chance on winning some free earrings (see Monday for details) just leave a comment here before noon EST this Saturday. You'll be entered in the random drawing.

ok- how many times did I just type zombie & random? I really need a thesaurus.... or...more....coffee....mmmmmm