another flyer. I am on a roll. rock and roll

Just finished this today. I also found out the album for The franklin Cover Up has been pushed back a month so that gives me a bit more time to work on their album art. I am also working on flyer # 2 with Sean, as part of our flyer making duo-- Awesome Opossum Flyers.

Harry and the Potters are coming to Boise.

I whipped this up last night. I think it took about 4 hours, no, more like 5 I think. Either way, the flyer is done and all I have left to do is design the tickets.

I must be super woman. I do so much!

Alright, I just realized I have about a million jobs, some pay some don't. I am going to make a list for you and maybe you will sympathize with me and how much time I don't have to hang out with people.


1. work about 10-25 hours a week at Tully's Coffee
2. work about 10-15 hours a week at Zoo Boise
3. design flyers with Sean for the Artistery in Portland, OR
4. create artwork for art collective in Portland, OR
5. make flyers, book shows, advertise for new venue/organization, Community Benefits in Boise
6. perform in a band
7. make flyers and other art for bands locally, and not locally.
8. make my own art on my own time
9. soon--go to school, 12 credits this coming semester

Experiments with a fisheye

I took these quite a while ago, but I thought I would give them a bit more "exposure". Har har har.

Pain in the form of a thin and long rubber band...

I had an ortho appointment yesterday morning. The doc checked my teeth and set up my braces for the last and final process for getting them off. In 3 weeks I should have my braces off. I have had this... metal contraption and rubber mess in my mouth since May of 2005. It will be August of 2007 when my mouth becomes whole (or less?) again.

I can not begin to tell you the shit I have had to do for my braces. Sure, I didn't have to wear headgear, but I did have to wear rubber bands (aka "elastics") in such a fashion that they did one or several of the following-- 1. stopped me from opening my mouth 2. stopped me from stretching my mouth to yawn or sing or talk 3. they stretched in the front of my teeth and made me look like a freak, even having strangers I didn't even know make fun of me, stare, or ask me what the fuck was in my mouth. 4. caused excruciating pain 5. caused a number of other problems.

I am trying to figure out how many rubber bands I used in the past year and a half. I will figure out a total estimate and I will post it on here for everyone to see. I know at least that I was getting 2-5bags of bands every 4-5 weeks for approximately 1.5+ years. I still have bags of them sitting in my house. I am trying to find a way to use them...possibly make a sculpture out of them. Some kind of message of being trapped and bound with rubber and now finally being set free.

Let me tell you right now. The pain I am feeling is probably the worst the braces have caused me. Right now I have what are referred to as "spaghetti bands" in my mouth. The band is a long and skinny band, resembling a spaghetti noodle. It starts from the back bracket, goes up to the next tooth, then back down, then back up-- 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to 5, 5 to 6. Basically, I have a zig zag of bands running on both sides of my mouth. My teeth don't have wires keeping them in place for these next 3 weeks. That is what the rubber bands are for. If I don't wear the bands, my teeth go back to how they used to be. It is an odd sensation when you bite down too hard and feel your teeth shift in your soft gums.

The pain is comparable to a few months ago when I had a spring in my mouth that rested right under my left cheek. It lay so close to my cheek, that when I opened my mouth for anything, it shredded the inside of my cheek and left welts. I had a non-stop infection and canker sore inside my mouth for 2 months. I kind of was glad my mouth was so infected. I wanted the ortho doc and assistants to have to look into my mouth and see what shit I had to put up with while having their contraptions in my mouth. I always hoped it looked really disgusting. ...Eventually that all healed as soon as that spring was removed.

But in three weeks, my dental work is still not finished. I have caps I have to get on two of my teeth. I had peg laterals, now with the help of the braces, they are now just peg teeth, meaning they are smaller than normal teeth. This wouldn't normally need cosmetic surgery to fix, but they are two of my front teeth, looking quite weird with the rest of my normal teeth.



le sigh.... it shall all be over soon. Maybe I will lose weight... not being able to open my mouth or anything.

When I get Free Time...

I want to illustrate the first half of The Arcade Fire's "Black Wave/Bad Vibrations".


We can reach the sea
They won't follow me
Shadows they fear the sun
We'll make it if we run!

Run from the memory
Je nage, mais les sons me suivent (I swim, but the sounds follow me)

Left my name with the border guards
A name that I don't need
Ce sera un long voyage (It will be a long voyage)
Sur les vagues de l'oubli (On the waves of the lapse of memory)

Run from the memory
Je nage, mais les sons me suivent (I swim, but the sounds follow me)


I can just picture it in my head.... I just need to make sure I render it as I see it.

update on the tour and other stuff

I have been working all day trying to get these flyers finished for the tour that is happening in August. I got them finished, lets just hope they get okay'd and then they can be printed and sent out for distribution. I got the idea for these flyers from a doodle I made last night while I was at an excellent show (I will delve into that later). Lately I have been obsessed with lines and patterns and animals--particularly squids or anything with horns and tentacles. Seems all of my inspiration comes from these obsessions in a combined manor. Maybe I am getting the animal inspirations from my job, or maybe just because animals are so awesome. When I first did this doodle, I was thinking more power cords, like something ripped open and spewing out cords and electricity... but I decided to turn it into a shameful looking squid.




Last night was the show for Real Live Tigers, Karrie Hopper, Unicorn Feather, and A Seasonal Disguise @ community benefits. I was so scared that no one was going to come because it was the first show for the community benefits. But to my surprise, lots of people came! People came because of the flyers I had posted around downtown and folks really liked my work. I felt so good last night about what I had done, though the flyer they liked so much didn't have any of my drawings, just some digital alterings of a tiger (see previous blog to see the flyer). But it was still excellent feedback! Quite a boost of confidence and I was so happy to see people loving the new place. The show was a ton of fun and the bands from texas were so nice. I have met quite a few musicians from Texas the past few months and I have had nothing less of excellent to say about them. Really, fine folk come from that state. After the show we all went to Pie Hole and chit chatted about car games and wanting to move to Montreal (luckily for band mate, Karen, she already lives there) and talked about all kinds of nonsense and laughed at the drunks.


Ooh, also found out I will be having an interview by The Boise Beat, a local writeup on music and art and other happenings in Boise. Quite a nice surprise, hope the publication starts to get more notice from the locals.

concert/show flyers

Here are three shows come up. I think these are my only ALL digital designs that I have. I am pretty proud of them.

By the way, SUPPORT local music and traveling musicians! Make friends. Help out those musicians in need (which is almost all of them!)

Also, I may be designing fliers for a venue in Portland on a regular basis with Sean. Stay tuned...

The Best Worst Movie

I have suddenly just had flashbacks from when I was a child viewing The Best Worst Movie, TROLL 2. I was on the phone with Chad talking about horrible movies we had seen and Chad started telling me about this film where everyone in the town were trolls and a visiting family was tricked and fooled into becoming food for the trolls.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. This was the film my twin, Tom, and I had seen sooo many years ago and could not remember the name of it! All I could remember were these horrible weird looking people with green goo and a troll woman turning a boy into a tree and then cutting him down.

Miso Hungry for Miso Soup!

Lately I have been craving Miso Soup, but I didn't have the time or money to go to an asian restaurant and order any. I was at the store and remembered seeing "instant miso soup" packages in the "world foods" isle at Alberstsons. I made my way over and found the exact packages I had remembered.

Kikkoman's makes packages of Instant Miso Soup. The packages come in portions of 3 for about 3 dollars a package. All you have to do is dump the contents into a bowl and pour 2/3 cup boiling water into the bowl, stir, and enjoy! The soup comes in three flavors-- Tofu Miso Soup, Shiro Miso Soup (white), and Aka Miso Soup (red). I decided to go with the Tofu Miso Soup to try and see how the dried tofu would taste. Also, I don't know what the difference between white and red miso soup is. Is red spicier?


My review of the soup? Well, I liked it. Not nearly as great as getting home-made or restaurant made soup, but if you are on the go or at work and have a hankering for it, it is pretty decent and even the tofu bits weren't too terrible.




Anyways, I was googling Miso Soup and found a very interesting article. Consuming foods with high amounts of soy may help reduce the risk of breast cancer. from Breastcancer.org

This is why some people believe that the lower risk of breast cancer seen in Asian women living in Asia may be due, at least in part, to the high soy content in their diet. These women eat a lot of soy products, including tofu, textured vegetable protein, and a paste made of salted and fermented soybeans called miso.

But, of course, this is all not proven yet, just another theory on how to reduce breast cancer. Still, I don't think eating 2-3 servings of Miso Soup can be all that damaging, so why not do it? You really have nothing to risk.

Portland, here I come, kinda.

I am trying to plan a trip to Portland for the beginning of September, Sept 6th-8th to be exact. September 6th is the art opening of the Professor Awesome But True's Electric Art Institute. The PABTEI is a newly put together art/illustration collective displaying the works and uniting eclectic artists from all over the globe. The collective is run by Portland native, Sean Christensen and the artwork will be on display at the Reading Frenzy located 0n 921 SW Oak St in Portland, OR.

I was fortunate to have run into Sean online and have him invite me to join this new project. The art shows go as follows, so far the collective has 3 shows planned. They happen every other month. The first show's theme is clothing--illustrating your favorite outfit. Because clothes are often used as a way of describing oneself, how do your clothes represent you?


If you haven't already, I advise you to check out the collective's myspace page. The artists in the collective are the top friends on the page. I also suggest you go check out Sean's blog or his myspace page.

Tour!

I guess it is official! I am going to go on a mini tour with The Very Most and A Seasonal Disguise. In case some of you don't know, I sing backup vocals for A Seasonal Disguise, aka Zach Von House.

We haven't come up with a name yet for our tour, I was thinking "The Most Awkward Tour" tour, or "4 Guys, A Girl, and a Giant Van" tour... but I don't know what the other members are thinking.
So far here are the details. I believe we leave on Friday, August 24th and play at Nobrow Coffee in Salt Lake City, UT. Then we are playing in Colorado the next day, but I don't think we have that confirmed yet.


I'll let you know what is happening when I find out. I am even making the flyer for the tour, which i'll post on here when I gots it.



this is who I am going to be touring with.

Nampa--Smelly, indeed.

In times like this I wish I had my camera. This is the 4th time that I have had to drive out Nampa for half a week and stay out here and house/pet sit. for now, I am going to use photos I find on flickr.





The thing about Nampa,--the only thing I somewhat enjoy--is that the city is still stuck in old timey 1950s era town mode. There aren't really any new buildings, all of the businesses and stores have their original metal neon signs circa 1950 something. The town is cute looking. It is interesting, it has its quirks. Like I said before, these are the times I wish I had a functioning camera. I am sure some of you Idaho folk know exactly what I am talking about when I describe how grimey and wonderful this place feels. I think Boise used to feel like this. But that all started changing around the time I was born, so I don't know old Boise.

Today I went into downtown Nampa for a little bit to see what shops there were. I had driven past The Music Exchange last time I was here so I thought I would take a look inside and see if I could find anything. I walked into the store stepping from the 100 degree heat into a cold and deserted store... so far I was not impressed. I look at the man behind the counter and knew right away this man knew nothing about music. I said hello and made my way over to te 5 rows of cds, almost all labeled as "USED". Wow, talk about the worst music collection ever. It was a store of used and new cds and cassettes and dvds. The music selection was just awful. It was divided into the following sections: Rock, Country, Punk, Rap, Pop. That's it, folks! The rap section was massive and I didn't dare try and see what was in it. The punk section included Good Charlotte, The Raconteurs, The Donnas, Daft Punk (apparently if you have "Punk" in your band name, you immediately get classified as Punk) and a bunch of other bands that aren't punk. I went and looked at the posters. HA. Poster displays filled with beer jokes, 1999 Brittney Spears, gangsters and ganastas, pot leaves, and Marylin Monroe movie shots. I have never felt so out of place and uncomfortable in a store before except for the time that James made me go into the kids Abercrombie and Fitch or when I tried on clothes from Hollister with Laura.

I left that store after about a 20 minute browse and headed back to an antique store I had passed. The antique store was also dead quiet and I couldn't find the person running it. I quietly looked at all of the cute knick-knacks old 1940s children's books, and salt and pepper shakers. I found a pair of red earrings polka-dotted with sequins for only $2. That was pretty much all I could afford and after I made the purchase I crossed the street to the Flying M Coffee Garage.

That concludes part of my day in Nampa. Tonight, Zach and I are going to retrieve his mics from the coffee garage and maybe find a bite to eat.

I miss my camera

I went back and looked at some of the photos I took last summer with my digital nikon p4 and I missed using my camera so much. That thing practically lived with me and took the nicest photos. I wish it wasn't broken. It might just be a worn out battery, but I am afraid to take it in and get it looked at in case it isn't and I'll have to fork over a ton of money I don't really have.

The photos also reminded me of the book I wanted to create-- The Place That You Call Home-- which, at first was going to be a book about Boise filled with photos and drawings, but then the title made me think about it being a book of personal and quirky things in peoples' homes. Either way, I want to make this book.




I also discovered how cute and gorgeous Parma is. Thanks to Greer for giving me a reason to go out to her house and see the band Rademacher. The band was super nice and just all around very cool people. Great music too, I bought two of their EPs and gave them some gas money.

birds of a feather, flock together?

I can't possibly be the only one to notice that crazy people travel together in troves. Seems they have mental freak-outs too at the same time.


Quick, on the count of 4, everyone get off your rocker!

the first real post

An event took place last night that has made me feel, unleashed? I don't feel a weight anymore, I am no longer uncomfortable and I no longer have to try and keep things bearable with someone. I believe things should be good from here on out. More and more opportunities keep arising and I am no longer sure where they will take me, but I am kind of okay with that. I am a little torn with where I am going to lead my life in a year, but I know it will get figured out.

In August I am trying to go on a weekend tour with two bands, The Very Most and A Seasonal Disguise. I sing back up vocals for A Seasonal Disguise and have created artwork for The Very Most. The bands are going to have a stop in Salt Lake City and somewhere in Colorado. I will keep you posted on exactly where and when and if I will be with them or not.

With every opportunity arising, I have been meeting tons of really cool people, all with plans and dreams and ideas similar and not similar to mine. I love working with other people, working to make changes in the community, to open minds, to bring like minded people together, and to create and share. I love supporting the local folk, the artists and musicians like me, the ones brimming with talent and dedication in their art and creativity. I am the girl that wants to know everyone. The girl that can suggest who to talk to for what, where to look for help, where to go for a friend. I am slowly becoming that, and I will become that someday.

jumping on the blogger bandwagon

For a long time now I have been stumbling into people's blogs and livejournals. I finally decided to get a livejournal, but I hated it. I have about 2 posts on there and the set-up is just too damn confusing and weird. I get lost on that damn website and it is difficult to navigate.

But blogger, here is where you save the day. I have always enjoyed the set-up and cleanliness of this website and how it doesn't feel like a stupid friend contest.

Anways, here I am. and I plan to frequently use this website and blog. I am going to update on current events and keep my art posted here. It should be some good times...