I miss you Bill Bailey

Wondering what happenned to the importance of music videos has gotten me to thinking about my old favorites. Not only is Guns N Roses one of the finest bands to ever grace the stage, but the videos were amazing. Were they over the top? Of course. Were they really expensive to make? You bet. Were they completely awesome? Hell yes. Use Your Illusion I and II left me speechless, they were that good. It really is no wonder they broke up, how could they have topped themselves after that masterpiece?

My favorite would have to be November Rain. Which was based on a short story by Del James titled "Without You." Check it out here:

http://www.geocities.com/zsniper51/WithoutYou

As a side note, A: I have been searching forever for the only book ever published by Del James, titled "The Language of Fear." I found a copy on ebay for $200+ dollars and didn't feel I could justify spending that exhorbitant amount on a book. Although I really love books... and B: I always envisioned I would wear Stephanie Seymour's wedding dress from the video to my own wedding but alas it was not in the cards.



November Rain was a trilogy of sorts, along with Estranged and Don't Cry, the latter being my OTHER favorite. Here's the thing about that song: it was so awesome, they had not one but two sets of lyrics. I, of course, am partial to the alternate lyrics version. The video is set to the original lyrics(which I can't link to), but the live version is here:



So there you go, the only other band that needs to reunite and tour again. If the Crue could do it, why can't they? Here is a rare appearance by them on the Fox Late Night show in 1988? I don't even remember that show. Arsenio Hall, yes. That show? No way.

Don't Come Around Here No More...

I haven't blogged in ages, the Crafty Goodness show I am co-organizing is consuming every waking moment it seems. It is my first show, so saying I am nervous is the understatement of the year. Tomorrow is our "meet and greet", and I think I am prepared. The show now has a logo, courtesy of the fabulous Wendellina:



my partner in crime, who is co-organizing the show with me. 2 months to go before the show, and SO much to do, secure advertising, signage, the list goes on. I have been crafting up a storm, so my offerings will be bountiful: pottery, polymer clay jewelry, sewn items, soap and other randomness.

But on to the REAL pressing matter, why are there no videos anymore? I swear, I haven't seen one in years. Other than Lady Gaga's newest, courtesy of Perez Hilton. Not to date myself, but a video premiere on MTV was a big deal back in the day. To pick my absolute favorite, I would have to go with "Into the Great Wide Open" by Tom Petty. For starters, a young Johnny Depp was the star, so of course it was awesome. And there was a story as well, it was like a mini-movie. Why they fell to the wayside is really puzzling. They say video killed the radio star, so who killed the video star? Crap shows like "The Hills?" Spencer Pratt killed the video star? Thank goodness for youtube, at least there is somewhere the classics are preserved for posterity. But, since Universal Music Group has disabled embedding, I can only post the link to the best video ever made. Enjoy a young Johnny in all his hotness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivXDLaGZNlc

but first, enjoy a live version of the best Tom Petty song ever, made even better as a duet with Axl Rose:

A little "me" time...

I really despise Sundays, but knowing I do not have to work tomorrow makes today that much better. I'm either swapping or etsying, so I never make things for me it seems. In a craftster swap a while back, I received the most beautiful patchwork scarf. When I opened it, stupid as I am, I thought it was a tablerunner. When I thanked her for the lovely tablerunner, she was a bit confused and told me it was for me to wear. I never wore it, but it has been gracing my table ever since I received. It is made frm many swatches of japanese fabric, so obviously it is all kinds of awesome. I've always been tempted to make one, but never got around to it. Finally I thought I'd give patchworking a go. I slid open the door of my fabric closet and picked a few fabrics that were predominantly black, and then added a little lime green for that extra punch of color. Here it is, still needing a tiny starch and iron:



For the center I used a piece I had left from my glorious Ikea fabric from a trip I made last year:



So I managed to include my 3 favorite things: birds, polka dots and sugar skulls. I do like how it turned out, but the original is just better.

I Love these guys...

Who are those handsome men to the left you may ask? They are Larry Page & Sergey Brin, and they are complete GENIUSES. Never heard of them? Well they are the men responsible for creating google, and I pledge my undying love to them. Google has become a verb to me, I never "look" things up, I google them. Do I need phone books? Hell no, I'll google whenever I need a number, thank you very much. Have a problem? Type in a few pertinent words and voila, answers galore. It is my go to place on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. I was thinking today, "What if there was no google?" I cannot even fathom what a horrible existence that might be.

Or no internet for that matter. My computer broke a few days ago, and I was having a panic attack thinking I couldn't look on craftster, etsy, perez hilton, the "important" sites. What I had was the Code Purple error, a little special surprise HP decided to put in their computers. I'm not a techie, but of course after googling it, it basically told me once you have that error you are in fact screwed. Nice one HP, really appreciate it. So my darling husband and I trekked it to Best Buy and guess what we bought? Another HP. Apparently we are gluttons for punishment, should've bought a Dell...but I am online so every thing is right with the world.

Not your typical craft show!

Tired of plastic canvas and fleece blankets at craft shows? Looking for a cool place to buy handmade gifts for the upcoming holidays? Looking for a venue to display your truly unique crafting endeavors? Look no further, here is the answer:


Crafty Goodness at the
Calvin Park Rec.
2241 Mapleview Drive
Seven Hills, Ohio 44131
Saturday, 11/07/2009
10 am-6 pm

If you aren’t familiar with Seven Hills, it is a very central location, halfway between Akron and Cleveland. Easy access via 480 or 77.

Set up begins at 9 am, show starts at 10 am and runs until 6 pm, Clean-up from 6-7 pm. There are tables provided, but we may need more depending on amount of sellers.

I have advertising set up in Scene Magazine, 1/8 of a page, plus a mass email sent to 20,000+ subscribers. I have contacted Cleveland Handmade and the show will be advertised on their website. I have posted show info on Craigs list, AnnualEventPost.com, Ohio.com and Cleveland.com. I will see about craftster.org, as there are some new advertising options available.

Here's where you come in: if you have ANY contacts at any newspapers, magazines, etc., let me know. Any ideas let me know. I'd like to keep this as affordable as possible, tables will be $35 each. Money will be due no later than September 30 to secure a table.

There are many free advertising options available: facebook, myspace, etsy shops, craftster accounts, etc. Word of mouth is great too. Tell your friends, families, coworkers, everyone you know. If you are doing any shows in the meantime, advertise there. I'll work on putting together an evite and flyers for you to use.

If anyone is interested in a brainstorming session, let me know. There is new Panera Bread near the venue that we can meet at. I hope to have an informal meeting by the end of August, on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

I know we will have an awesome show!

Thanks for your interest!

Contact info:

Chris(organizer)
Cmsdesigns@yahoo.com
www.craftygurll.etsy.com

Wendy(co-organizer)
Satub740@cox.net
www.wendellina.etsy.com

This is the end of innocence...

I got home from the studio earlier tonight and thought I'd check my email, and what was on the yahoo front page? That the absolute GENIUS John Hughes had died. I am so sad right now, there just are no words. How do you sum up a man who made EVERY movie you adored as a teen? Movies that were quoted by you and your friends, TO THIS DAY. Movies you can recite VERBATIM when you catch them on TV. And when they are on, you are COMPELLED to watch. He gave us the Brat Pack for goodness sake, the man is more than a legend. To name a favorite is impossible, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off... No movie of modern day can even compare to any of those. I thank you John for the contribution you made to my childhood, you will not be forgotten.

I believe you have my stapler...

The crafting funk has been lifted! I STILL wish my job was more creative and that I didn't work in a cubicle, but a few hours in the studio and I feel so much better. Not going into the studio all last week was torture. One day I will craft for a living, but until then I will staple my useless TPS reports with my red Swingline and dream of a better day.

A glaze kiln was done, I was excited to see some trays I had been working on were finished. I have a housewarming coming up, so they will be the lucky recipient of one of the completed trays. Also a few custom alchemy orders were ready. This soapdish:



and this spoonrest:



I was given a picture of cherries, and the spoonrest turned out pretty much spot on to the photo. It definitely is one of my favorite custom orders to date. I was instructed to go a little crazy on the leaf soapdish, so I spattered some brown underglaze over the green, and do like the results. I'm usually very precise, but I liked the effect and will have to try it again.

I also noticed I am at 99 hearts. How exciting, I should give the 100th person to heart me a surprise! Which I think I will...leave a comment here and then heart me on etsy, and you will become the lucky recipient of a crafty surprise. Could be handmade buttons, maybe a pendant, maybe a bar of soap.

www.craftygurll.etsy.com

Livin on a Prayer

Peter Gibbons, the lead character from Office Space, sums it up best:

"We don't have a lot of time on this earth. We weren't meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements."


It's Sunday around midnight, and I probably should be getting ready for the work week. But why? There are SO many more important things to do, crafting, you tubing old 80's videos, the list goes on. If only I could parlay my etsy and crafting ventures into a full time income. It really isn't that I don't want to work hard, I just don't want to do it in an office. My boss is awesome, the hours are good, and 90% of the time I wear jeans to the office, but I am just not feeling it anymore.

I may be in a crafting funk because I haven't been to the studio in a week. My house was "under construction" for the past week, but it is almost finished. We hired professionals to come and re-roof the old homestead, but decided to install hardwood floors ourselves. If anyone has ever removed carpet, you will know that the carpet installers obviously are in cahoots with the staple manufacturers, that could be the only reason why anyone would need to staple the padding down in half inch intervals. I removed staples from the hallways, living and dining rooms, and it took me FIVE HOURS. Non-stop. My fingers were actually numb for a day or two afterwards. It was a group effort to install the hardwood, and it is finished and absolutely gorgeous. The only thing left to do is install the shoe mold, but that still needs to be bought and stained. The hard part is done, that is only minor detail. But now I feel the need to paint, and get new curtains, and new artwork, definitely a vicious circle. I solely blame HGTV.

While putting in the floor, VH1 was airing the 100 Best Songs of the 80's. Of course I was compelled to watch it, even though I have seen it many times before. My sister was over so we could discuss in depth the placement of the songs, if they were worthy of the position or not, what we would of picked. All was discussed with the seriousness of a summit on world peace but isn't 80's music of the utmost importance? Bon Jovi was number one, and for some reason I just do not agree. Not that I don't LOVE me some Jon, Livin in Sin has got to be him at his very hottest:



but now that I delve further into their discography, I come to Never Say Goodbye:



and now I don't know, maybe they do deserve the number one spot. I was impressed that Pour Some Sugar On Me came in at number 2, wasn't expecting that one. I will admit that to this day, I crank it up whenever I am driving and it comes on. It was the epitome of 80's hair metal, how can you not love it? Never in my life have I seen the UK version of the video:



but geez is it cheezy, I'll take the American version any day. I must add that when they performed it at the country music awards with Taylor Swift a few weeks ago, that was all kinds of wrong but I digress....

Here's the complete list, draw your own conclusions:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-100-Songs-of-the-80s