Scathingly Brilliant: tagged

Friday, March 29, 2019

video: the x-files tag!

I feel like three weeks in a row means... I'm a vlogger now??

Yes, that's right, three videos in three weeks! And I feel like each one has been a bit of an improvement in my ability to talk to the camera. I even came up with a fun idea for a series (!!) that I'm hoping I'll have finished for next week's video post!

I had SO MUCH FUN with this video because it's about my favorite tv show, The X-Files. I found two tags that people on youtube had created and combined them into one list (I typed out the questions below in case you want to make your own video, too!) Don't forget if you like my video to hop over to my channel so you can like and subscribe! :)

1. When did you start liking The X-Files?
2. Are you a Mulder or a Scully?
3. Do you ship Mulder and Scully? Why or why not?
4. What are your favorite types of episodes - the myth arcs or the stand alones?
5. What is your favorite episode?
6. What is your least favorite episode?
7. Who is your favorite guest star?
8. Original series or reboot?
9. Favorite season?
10. What fan theories do you think should be canon?
11. Scariest monster?
12. What did you think of the movies?

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

creative blog hop!

I was recently tagged by Mary from Inside My Hideaway and Laura from I Love Crafty for two separate creativity-themed blog hops and decided to combine them into one post. I love both of their shops so much, so I'm really honored that they tagged me! I'm actually going through a little blue spurt with regards to my art and shops so maybe this will cheer me up a bit!

1. What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk this week?

Last week I was in Disney World so I didn't get too much making done! But before I left I was knee-deep in projects. I just finished a custom flip book for a customer, something I don't normally do but I was too excited about working on it to say no! I took a lot of progress video so I'll probably be sharing that on my art blog this week.

I also just finished 20 new fan club designs last night. I included a few where I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on the planet who will want them, but I guess that's the benefit of being someone who makes things - sometimes you're allowed to just make things for yourself! :)

I'm also trying desperately to get my 2015 calendars done in a timely manner this year. All of my previous designs are available with 2015 dates in my store but I like to release a brand new set of illustrations every year as well. I'm also working on a sweet and lovely one that I'm really excited about, too! There just aren't enough hours in the day, haha!

2. Where are you currently finding your inspiration? (Influences, heroes, sources of inspiration, paths exploring)?

Right now I'm working on a project inspired by the suffragette movement, and one inspired by Busby Berkeley movies (the first drawing in that series is right here.) I'm basically always inspired by classic movies in some form or another --

And then there are some artists and people who inspire me but I've never found a way to channel that inspiration into my own creations. I am and will always be in awe of Mary Blair's work -- she designed the It's a Small World attraction at Disney World, did the concept art for numerous Disney films, illustrated timeless children's books and more. Her style is so classic and modern at the same time, and her work never ceases to make me happy.

3. How does your writing/creating process work?

When I get an idea one of two things happen - either I need to work on it IMMEDIATELY and then within a few hours I have the makings of a new shop/product/drawing, or I write it down as a future project and don't get around to it for months or years. My fan club shop came to fruition within hours after the idea struck me in the shower. In one night I already had the shop name, the basic design for the pins and ideas for my first 20-30 fan clubs.

My 90's time machine was one of the long-time-in-the-making ideas. It was shuffled around between numerous to-do-lists over the last year before I finally buckled down and designed the kit in February. It was another few months before I finally got around to even listing it in my shop! It's funny because it's one of my favorite products and, I think, one of my most fun & creative ideas, but it just didn't have the same sense of urgency that some of my other ideas have.

4. Why do I write/create what I do?

This is going to sound so corny, but I feel like I have to. When I get an idea, it's almost like the same feeling as when you really have to pee in the middle of the night. You might want to just lay in bed and keep sleeping, but your body is like, "NOPE! We're getting out of bed and working on this bladder issue RIGHT NOW." It's an urge, something I literally cannot ignore.

When an idea shows up in my brain, I just feel compelled to bring that idea to life. It's part of who I am, and I don't think that will ever change. Ideally I don't want to be working as a freelance artist/shop owner for my whole life, but I can't imagine a life in which I'm not constantly creating things and testing out my ideas. Even if there comes a time when I no longer share everything that I make with the internet or try to make a living off of my creations, I still want to create -- I'll still need to create.

I know so many super talented ladies that it's really hard to choose who to pick for the blog hop next, but I'm going to go with Bianca from Goodnight Little Spoon and Polly from Paulie Antiques. They're both so creative and brilliant, I'd love to see what they have up their sleeve at the moment! :)

Sunday, July 14, 2013

10 things you might not know about me

Mandy from Miss Indie started a '10 things you don't know about me' tag and tagged yours truly! After 3+ years of blogging I honestly don't really remember what I've shared here and what I haven't but here are 10 things that I *think* you don't know about me...

1. I've never had alcohol or coffee. Not for any religious reasons, I just don't care to try it. I'm perfectly happy with grapefruit juice, fruit smoothies, and iced tea, thank you ;)

2. My natural hair color is dark brown. This September will be 10 years since the first time I dyed it and I haven't stopped since. Even the few times I've gone back to dark hair I've still dyed it some other shade than the one I was born with.

3. The first time I dyed my hair I was feeling very emotional about a boy-related-issue and asked one of my best friends to go in the drug store and buy any hair color and dye my hair. I didn't know until I got out of the shower that I was blonde. (And so begins my lifelong habit of dying my hair when I'm feeling emotional.)

4. I go through spurts where I don't draw or paint for a while, and when I get the urge to start again, I'm literally terrified that my abilities* will have completely vanished. I mean I seriously panic. I end up finding it's like riding a bicycle, it always comes back. But nevertheless, I still get petrified every single time. *There has to be a better word than abilities. That makes it sound like I'm an art superhero, which I'm definitely not.

5. I'm allergic to cats! I have a chronically stuffy nose and if I skip my allergy medication for one day I turn into an itchy disaster, but it's totally worth it. I can't even imagine a life without cats in it.

6. My biggest fear is being autopsied. Even after I'm dead and wouldn't know it was happening, the whole idea of it just freaks me out so much I can't even think about it. I've even looked into medical bracelets that say "Do not autopsy." Somehow I can sit and watch Scully cut people open on The X-Files with no problem though?

7. Speaking of The X-Files, I was such a big fan in middle school that I regularly published my own alien newsletter. I think I had three subscribers and two of them were my parents.

8. I get ridiculously excited about mail. I basically spend 11am-3pm every weekday anxiously looking out my front window to see if the mail truck came yet.

9. My three biggest pet peeves are: impatience, women wearing their coats over their shoulders (coats have sleeves for a reason!) and when your nailpolish has chipped off a bit and you run your hand through your hair and it gets caught on your nail. ugh!!

10. I just discovered that I like ice cream! My whole life I thought I hated it because I had only tried chocolate and vanilla (which I didn't like) but last year I tried coconut and that changed everything. So far some of my favorites I've tried have been winter squash, orange pineapple, black sesame and apple!

I'm going to tag Millie, Kailey, Jenny, Chiaki and Kati! And if you haven't been tagged formally but would like to do one of these posts, then tag, you're it! :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

it's in the bag

So, here's my 'what's in my bag' post! Nothing especially exciting, but I had a lot of fun doing it anyway lol :)

Moving clockwise from the top I have sunglasses from Urban Outfitters; "My kingdom for a wintergreen mint" Shakespearean mint tin (in which I keep aspirin) from the Art Gallery of Ontario; "Anti-Establish-mint" mint tin (in which I keep trident original gum) from the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild; my green ipod shuffle; my new iphone with a Eureka background ftw!; my telephone case (it's a telephone booth.. get it? ha ha) from CBSew on etsy; a glittery pink heart wallet from 5 and below; my pink Canon powershot; a little camera case with kitties on it; my favorite green Sony headphones; Nine Stories by JD Salinger (I always carry this specific book because I can re-read the stories a million times.. I keep my 'currently reading' book at home next to my bed); and finally, an allergic girl's best friend -- kleenex!

All tucked neatly inside my new favorite handbag from urban outfitters :-)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

kate and her six confessions

(via)

Playing along with this meme I saw on Diana's blog!

1. My two biggest pet peeves are women wearing coats or sweaters on their shoulders instead of using the sleeves, and the addition of the letter "s" to words where it doesn't belong. Examples: Anyway(s), All(s) you have to do, I talked to some people(s), etc. I'm not a grammar nazi or anything, but this one thing just annoys the heck out of me!

2. I once had a post up about this, but I deleted it out of embarrassment... I was a huge fan of Shane West in high school (he was in that sappy Mandy Moore movie A Song to Remember) and went to see his band perform for my 17th birthday. I told him it was my birthday, when he asked how old I was I said "legal" and then I had him sign my chest. *facepalm*

3. I am terrified of mirrors at night. We have a full-length mirror in our hallway, and I always run past it really quick if I have to go by after dark. I always think I'll see someone else in the reflection with me. Super irrational, I know..

4. I wish so badly I had a more scientific mind, because I desperately want to be an astronomer or quantum physicist. I read science books more than fiction, and I love trying to wrap my brain around scientific theories that in reality I'll probably never comprehend. I understand the words, but when it comes down to the t-x2=(c)8-n∞ stuff I'm totally lost :(

5. I really love the smell of garlic, and I don't understand why most people ridicule it. I'd burn garlic candles if they made them! And wear garlic perfume, and bathe in garlic bubble bath. I just love it!

6. I don't really want kids. I'm not a very maternal person, and I have zero desire to ever be pregnant. If I end up with someone who does want children, I'm okay with adoption, but kids aren't even remotely close to being on my checklist of things I want to do in life. I like cats better, lol ;-D

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Garbo Talks!! (Well, not Garbo.. just me..)

(I apparently do a corny "thumbs up" whenever I'm feeling awkward)

I've been putting off posting anything with my voice on the internet for a looong time, but when I saw this Regional Dialect meme on Kaelah's blog, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to finally speak up. I felt like a total buffoon doing this, but at least now you can put a voice to the face. Not sure that's a good thing though, lol ;-D

Anyway, here's the meme... if you decide to post one too, leave a link in the comments, and share in my embarrassment!

Say these words:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

Now answer these questions:
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Day 17 - an art piece

I don't think many people know that I also do pun-paintings, which is kind of weird since I only started doing classic movie and flapper art last year... the puns have been my "thing" since about 2005. This one is my personal favorite, I price the original really high at my art shows so that if it ever sells, by golly it will be worth parting with it :)

Monday, April 5, 2010

Day 15 - a collection

I had no idea what to do for fanfic, so I changed it to a collection :)

When I was little I wanted to have glasses so desperately that I used to lie during my eye exams and say different letters than the ones that were being displayed on the chart. I guess the doctors always caught on or something, because I never got glasses. As recently as a few years ago I'd hope so badly when I showed up at the eye doctors that they'd tell me I was just a little less than 20/20 and could finally get some specs.

Thankfully fake glasses caught on during the last year or so, and I've been stocking up like mad. They're bound to go out of style soon, so I need to hoard them while I can. It's one accessory that I absolutely adore, and despite my earnest attempts at cheating for cheaters, I'm kind of glad that I can finally wear them AND still have 20/20. Very win-win.

Day 14 - a nonfiction book

I really read fiction more often than non-fiction, so this was pretty tough. I loved Pre-Code Hollywood by Thomas Doherty when I read it last year. I also really enjoyed Charles Boyer's biography by Larry Swindell and Joan Blondell's autobiography (disguised as fiction with names changed, but come on, it's non-fiction) Center Door Fancy. Once I finish Snakes and Ladders by Dirk Bogarde (the second installment in his autobiographical series) I'm sure that one will top my list as well.. so far I love the way he writes!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Day 13 - a fictional book

Day 01 — Your favorite song
Day 02 — Your favorite movie
Day 03 — Your favorite television program
Day 04 — Your favorite book
Day 05 — Your favorite quote
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Just any book? (Is it just me, or did the person who made this up start running out of good ideas after Day 5?)

Well... my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut, and my favorite book of his is Slapstick, which is a "fictional book". I have a hard time describing his plots without them sounding too far-out, so I just won't. A lot of people seem to think of him as a Science Fiction writer, but I really wouldn't classify him that way. His stories often have elements of sci-fi in them, like aliens or futuristic worlds or nuclear war, but they are works of literature, not dime-store science fiction.

Kurt Vonnegut is my dad's favorite author, too. I'm pretty lucky, I have really similar tastes in literature to my dad who happens to have like a million books so I have my own personal library in my house ;-D

I got this great silkscreen print (we have number 6 not 1, this photo is from his site) a few years ago for my dad for Christmas and it's probably the most cherished possession my family has.

I think when Kurt Vonnegut passed away, it was the saddest I've ever been over a celebrity death. A lot of his unpublished works were destroyed in a house fire, so it's unlikely that many new stories will be released anymore. To me, that's one of the saddest things ever.

Friday, April 2, 2010

braids

I've been growing my hair out for a year and a half now (it started out around chin-length) and it's FINALLY long enough to do braids across my head! This is the first time I've ever been patient enough to get it this long.. I usually end up chopping it off after the first time I get frustrated with knots after a shower ;-D

I skipped the "Day 11 - a recent photo of yourself" tag, so let's just say this is it.

Day 12 - whatever tickles my fancy

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Day 10 - a photo of me taken over 10 years ago

Christmastime, 1992
On my way to ballet class.. this wasn't a normal outfit lol

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Day 9 - a photo I took

I love grapefruit juice :)

Monday, March 29, 2010

Day 8 - a photo that makes me angry/sad

Nothing exceptionally heavy, but it does make me sad -- the last episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show :(

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Day 7 - a photo that makes me happy

This is my favorite Dirk Bogarde picture.. also my desktop background :) By the way, today he would have been 89 years old. I think this calls for a mini-Dirk marathon tonight!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Day 6 - whatever tickles my fancy

This illustration by babyc on flickr is definitely tickling my fancy right now. It's the sweetest thing ever.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Day 5 - my favorite quote

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Day 4 - my favorite book

My favorite book, hands down, is Main Street by Sinclair Lewis. I read it for the first time in 2008, when I was called for jury duty. I can remember sitting in the jury room, gasping aloud when one of my favorite characters died. I looked around at all of the strange faces, wishing one of them would ask me if I was reading Main Street... "oh, that's one of my favorite books!" they'd proclaim, and invite me to gush about the main character, Carol Kennicott and share in my heartbreak over the passage I'd just read.

Alas, nobody did that. During my lunch break, I telephoned my mom at work and kept her on the line for my entire break, emotionally describing what I had read in the jury room. From the length of our conversation and from the obvious importance I was giving the subject, one would think I had called her to sob over a break-up, or the death of a loved one! I was very attached to the story and the characters, and way more engrossed than I'd ever been in a book before.

And no book has ever stuck with me like this one; I feel as if the act of reading it was a life experience, something that happened to me that I'll never forget. The funny thing is that Sinclair Lewis isn't actually my favorite author -- that honor belongs to Kurt Vonnegut -- but I feel like Main Street belongs to me in a way that none of Vonnegut's books do.

I think that one needs a certain attitude about provincialism and modernism in order to really 'get' this book. But if you are like me -- from a small, slightly backwards town that doesn't understand you and that you don't understand... with a yearning for something bigger and more important -- this book could be just as powerful for you as it was for me.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Day 3 - my favorite television program

and The Good Neighbors

I also love Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Twilight Zone, As Time Goes by and Get Smart but they aren't even close to my top two.