What Do Bacon Do?

At the last I Heart Rummage I noticed a vendor I had never seen before, "What Do Bacon Do." She makes little bacons. That's right -- LITTLE BACONS! In outfits. And costumes. I love them.

Doug and I make a Shower Art with a little pig on it that says, "When I Grow Up I Want to be Bacon." We recently made postcards of some of our favorite Shower Arts and the bacon one happened to be one of them. I brought one over because I thought she needed to have one. Then, when I was leaving, she gave me a little bacon ornament. Super freaking awesome. Not only bacon -- but FREE. My two favorite things.

I took it home and after reading the super cute packaging, I realized there is a whole separate part of this project where you can send in pictures of your bacon doing different things in different locations and she will post them on her blog.

Freaking Awesome!

Check it out if you like bacon and fun projects.

Soapy Claus Got Chased by a Raccoon

That's right. A raccoon.

Did I mention that I live downtown? In a big-ish city? Because I do. I was walking along the busy streets in the urban area that I currently live in -- and out of the corner of my eye I notice a fuzzy thing up ahead. At first I think that it's someone's dog tied up outside the convenience store.

Nope.

It's a raccoon the size of three cats that is getting increasingly anxious as I approach. It locks eyes with me and all I can think about is the episode of This American Life where a woman gets attacked by a rabid raccoon and can't kill it. It just won't die. At this point I turn the eff around and start running as fast as I can. The raccoon chases me until I round the corner and then it jumps a fence into a preschool playground.

Good luck kids. That thing was a big'en.

And at this point you're probably asking yourself, "Okay, that explains the raccoon part of your blog title, but what the hell is Soapy Claus?"

That is a fair and intelligent question. It shows you read the title and expected there to be a reference in the post somewhere about Soapy Claus. I will not disappoint.

I have become obsessed with Estrella Soaps. It's a serious problem. We have stacks of Estrella Soap in our bathroom. It is, quite literally, the best soap in the entire world. It smells amazing and it moisturizes like a motha'. It rules.

So this year for the holidays, I got everyone Estrella Soaps. We have a gigantic box of some of their most awesome scents. Doug started calling me Soapy Claus. And I like it.

So that's how it all fits together. Neat and tidy. Now, just stay away from the intersection of 2nd and Seneca in downtown Seattle unless you want to be mauled by a possibly rabid raccoon.

Best Earrings Ever

Bought these earrings on Etsy from roundrabbit and they are - quite honestly - the best earrings I have ever owned.

I have worn them every day and people always comment on them.

Plus, I just think they are so freakin' pretty.

And they're ceramic.

And awesome.

I think these will be my next victims.

Sauce Traders

Some of the folks that I've traded with through bARTer Sauce send me updates on their shows and such. Now, I have so many of them, that I have to do a whole blog post about them. Rebecca DeVere won Best Local Artist: rebeccadevere.com Voters have no trouble recognizing the artistic talent of local artist Rebecca DeVere. DeVere began her long and fruitful artistic career at 9 and has since produced a wealth of beautiful works, including many eye-catching mosaics. http://www.425magazine.com/article_read.php?articleid=137 Temple Terkildsen's Tasteful Nature Show!

Signature nightscapes, jellyfish, totem animals, seascapes and a handful of collaborative pieces...

Will has an experimental band called PillowSniff.

I told him it sounded like NPR with a beat. Kelly Lyles has a show at 2 Bells through 11/30/09. 2313 4th Ave (Belltown, Seattle) Check out the details on Facebook. Stacy (General Chaos) I just wanted to let you know that I am displaying some of my paintings at Hansen's Florist (4252 Fremont Ave N.) Nik's Show: Check out his art show online since you missed it in person...and since you probably don't live in the same state where it is.

Zombie Tater On the Town

The Zombie Tater went out on the town. Someone I am married to named Doug took pictures. Here they are: Zombie Tater goes to run an errand. La Familia Gallery will probably never be the same. I skeerded them good while picking up a painting that I purchased on their Facebook benefit to send their artists to somewhere or other. I got a piece by Brad Strain. It is awesome. Zombie Potato loves it. Although it was a bit difficult to communicate that I was in the gallery to pick up my winnings. I think people were distracted by the fact that I was dressed up like a Zombie Potato. Tater Zombie plays bridge at The Reeders (one of whom is pregnant with twins). I took a risk with this one because they have one very, very large dog and one very, very neurotic dog. The odds were that they would eat me. They did not. But only because they are well trained. Tater Zombie hangs out in Belltown. Yes, I own a condo in Belltown. I'm a douche. I totally get that. In my defense though, I hate Belltown and all of its roaming, screaming, drunk Halter Tops. Most people in Belltown thought I was either an STD or a vagina with teeth. Douches. Loud douches. My Tater Zombie costume did need one adjustment. Doug made me a drinkin' hole that I could fit a staw through so I could get wasted on Gin & Tonics while I was wearing a big sack that impared my vision. It was smart. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... best costume ever. Zombie Potato. I highly recommend.

The bARTer Sauce website is no longer Orange and Green

My wonderful husband, Doug built me a new website for bARTer Sauce for Christmas last year. Today he finally finished it (Eh-hem. Snicker). I designed the last website. It was orange and green. There is nothing more that we need to say about that. The new site is built in Drupal, a database driven, open source, content management system that is perhaps a close second in the "love of my life" competition. Doug's first. Always. Now I just need to post all the trades I'm behind on due to website launching excitement! Check back next week for a whole passel of new available trade items -- including a figure drawing book that originally didn't include any penises on the male forms. Someone went through the book and drew a penis on each male figure. Then -- a puritan went through and made underwear on many of the men with white out. It's quite possible the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Well. Maybe not.

Eight Weird Things

I Builted a Website on the Internets

This is it. I did it. This website finally launched. It's been about a year since I started -- but it's done. It's done. It's finally done. What's EtsyRAIN? It's the street team for everyone who lives in Seattle and the surrounding areas and sells their handmade goods on Etsy. We've got over 700 members that now get to play with my creation. The site is built in Drupal (swoon) which is an open source, database driven, content management system. What's that mean? Basically that we can enter content in one place -- let's say an event -- and have it show up on a calendar, as a featured event on the front page and also in a sidebar block of upcoming events. And we only have to enter the content once. If you've ever updated a straight HTML site -- you know why this is awesome. Basically, if something changes, we only need to change it in one place -- not on every single $&*#&$#ing page. The site has a crafty calendar that we're adding all kinds of crafty related events to. It will soon be THE place to go to see what's happenin' crafy wise in this great city. Also, our Premium Members (they pay $20/year to get special discounts on shows and other benfits) get to create their own profiles on the site to highlight their work. It's cool. For reals. I heart Drupal.

Someone Won Something and then they did Something Nice. Vague enough for you?

A nice lady named Theresa won my contest where I asked people to look at a Shower Art and tell me what was wrong with it.

Theresa correctly guessed that the "It's Shark Week, Bitches" Shower Art was missing a shark.

Yes, I'll say it again, "I forgot to actually put the shark in a Shower Art about sharks." I'm THAT forgetful. And if you don't believe me, ask my husband who does things like - leave his Netflix on my bag and say, "Hey, can you mail these for me?" Then, when he comes home, he finds the Netflix sitting on the counter because I got distracted and set them down somewhere.

Also, sometimes I forget what we're talking about -- while we're talking about it.

In any case, Theresa got her prize and then wrote a blog about it. What a nice lady. She makes needle felted things for her Etsy shop -- something I've always wanted to try! My favorite is called Mr. Squints. Teehee. He's an angry bear!

bARTer Sauce Gets a Lesson in Steampunk-ology

bARTer Sauce just did a great trade for this Steampowered Top Hat to Increase Your Thinking Power.

And boy, if that isn't just what I need - increased thinking power.

Gary recommends putting a stick of incense in the top to give it the full effect. I think that idea rules because not only will people wonder why the top of your head is smoking, but they'll be overpowered by hippie smell (minus the b.o.).

This is me - trying to recreate Gary's picture above.

Who knew Photoshop was so freaking hard????

Here's Gary with the Robotic Bug that he got in exchange for the Steampowered Top Hat to Increase Your Thinking Power.

I think he likes it.

And if you like Steampunk stuff, you should check out Gary's Steampunk Beer Goggles. They are super-duper cool.

If you're asking yourself what the heck bARTer Sauce is -- then you're in the majority. bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on bARTerSauce.com.

Shower Art - Don't put it in your Facehole

It's Shower Art. Don't eat it.

Don't rub it on your body like soap.

Don't wear it like a belt buckle.

Just hang it in your shower and giggle once a day.

And...if you can tell me what's wrong with the Shark Week Shower Art -- you win a prize. But only if you're the first one to figure it out. Leave your guesses here as comments.

Rock on.

Have a super Tuesday.

Four Weird Things

My Girl Crush on Betsy

The cutest lady in the world just traded me "Lord Bratnose" for the Glitter Cats. Betsy cans things. She cooks. She's adorable. She sews the most amazing skirts. She has a super cute blog. She has a super cute Etsy shop. And another super cute Etsy shop. She embroiders things with scary twin ladies who can explode birds with their minds. See. Cute. Cute. Cute. If Doug and I ever considered Polygamy -- I think Betsy would be one of our top choices for second wife. What? So anyway, here's the crazy beaded eagle on black velvet that Betsy-face traded me for bARTer Sauce. Did I mention Betsy named him Lord Bratnose? I have no idea why. What's bARTer Sauce? It's an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get -- I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website: http://www.bartersauce.com. And now -- we have a Facebook Fan Page. "Who doesn't," you say? Well, yeah, that's a good point.

New Shower Arts...

Some new Shower Arts for your viewing pleasure. Go ahead: waste your Friday. Waste it.

The b-Sauce got some g-Cats (glitter that is)

bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Everything I trade for -- I turn around and trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story.

Some trades are odder than others. Some are actual, no-lying art pieces. And some are....well, glitter cats.

bARTer Sauce: High Tech Ass

This awesome Cyber-donkey is up for trade in my bARTer Sauce project. If you've ever wanted a toy donkey that had a bunch of buzzers and lights attached to him, and then got broken -- this is for you.

Read more about the story behind Cyber-Donk.

bARTer Sauce is an experiment in trading for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else and everyone I trade with has to tell me a story. I document it all on my website: bARTerSauce.com

New Coats

Okay, Let's all think about which coat I should buy. Starting. NOW.

Newest bARTer Sauce Trade

Totally innocent seeming armless - but otherwise shockingly anatomically correct - bunny rabbit.

See how cute he looks.... And then you realize, "huh -- he's armless."

And then there's this.

Read the story that came with the weird bunny.

What's bARTer Sauce? Seriously? Ummmmmmmmm...yeah. Try Google. I'm not here to answer all of life's little questions for you. Put forth some effort.

Four Weird Things

I just made...

some cards with that have "I do what I want robot" printed on them.

They crack me up.

bARTer Sauce: Nik Trades me Mosaic Clown Painting and Lost Cock

Nik trades with bARTer Sauce a lot. A LOT. All the time. He trades with me so much that I am really far behind in updating the website with all his trade offers. He trades with me so much that I have officially BANNED him from the site until September 1, 2009. He is not allowed to make any trade offers, no matter what kind of awesome stuff I get between now and then.

How's that for punishing someone who likes your project and participates fully and often.

Yeah, that's how I am.

Ridiculous.

Here's what Nik traded me last time. First, I got this Undead Mosaic Clown Painting. I love it.

It's so very undead and pointy. Plus, red and light blue are really hot colors this season. I'm sure that's what Nik had in mind when he painted it. Fashion. Yeah.

Then he also traded me the Lost Cock which is a technicolor rooster that he promised to trade me long ago but then couldn't find and now found again.

Read more about our trade and find out what Nik got in return.

Make me an offer for the Undead Mosiac Clown Painting

Make me an offer for the Lost Cock

What's bARTer Sauce? Seriously? Ummmmmmmmm...yeah. Try Google. I'm not here to answer all of life's little questions for you. Put forth some effort.

New Shower Arts...

Some new Shower Arts in all their glory:

My New Favorite Shower Art

Urban Craft Uprising ....it's air conditioned

If you're in Seattle right now, you know one thing: it's freakin' hot. It's hot. Super hot.

So cool off this weekend at Urban Craft Uprising. Over 100 indie vendors in one giant, air-conditioned place.

It's gonna rule. Plus it's free. Plus, if you get there early enough, you'll get a swag bag filled with awesome stuffs.

Urban Craft Uprising is coming....

This weekend Urban Craft Uprising takes over the Seattle Center...well, part of it at least. The part under the ballet. Yeah, I know -- that WHOLE part.

They cram over 100 indie vendors and crafty authors and well...YOU into a two day show that start 8/1 at 11 a.m.

Be there.

Be there early and get a bag of swag.

SWAG!

Swag=free stuff.

You like free stuff.

We all do.

It's exciting.

And romantic?

Come to Urban Craft Uprising or live to regret it.

And check out Estrella Soaps while you're there.

They make the best soap in the whole world.

Pinky swear.

Ray Guns in My Future

bARTer Sauce just traded for a Blueray Gun. It's ceramic. And blue. And super awesome.

I had to give up my Gumball Machine-shaped Kitty Cat Feeder in exchange, but I still think it was worth it.

Are you wondering what the hell I'm talking about? Then you probably don't know what bARTer Sauce is. And that's too bad because I'm not going to tell you either. Google it. You know how.

Renegade in San Francisco - I want to marry you

Okay, I knew Renegade in San Francisco was going to be good. I knew that. But seriously, I had no idea just how good. It was so good that I would very much like to go back and re-live that weekend several times at least and perhaps over and over forever if you really want to get technical about it.

We sold Shower Arts there and shared a booth with our long-time booth-mate Miss. Tara Smith from Revival Ink.  

I kept telling Doug (seen left in the Arkham Fire Department T Shirt) that he shouldn't let me out of his sight. That I would walk around and single-handedly wipe out every penny of our savings. He didn't listen... and here's what happened.

I found this stationary from Letter Writers Alliance right away but Donovan doesn't take credit cards and I didn't have any cash (my pitiful attempt to prevent myself from spending our life savings) so I left. Then, I sat and thought about that stationary all day until I finally got up, walked about 3/4 of a mile to Safeway where I purchased a pack of gum and got cash back so I could purchase quite possibly the best stationary I've ever seen. 

People always say you have to take credit cards in order to make sales. But I guess Donovan just proved that if you have the coolest product in the world, even lazy people will find a way to purchase said product. My stationary came with a membership card. I am member number 000534. Take that!

Check out her Etsy shop: DonovanBeeson

And if you ever wondered how you could build your own card rack display -- stop - she'll tell you how. 

If you know me at all, you know I'm a sucker for socks. My favorite website of pretty much all time: Sock Dreams. I ordered socks from them once at midnight on my birthday while drunk. I highly recommend it.

Anyway, I was walking along, trying to mind my own business when these ruffled leg warmers from Super Sugar Ray Ray caught my eye. And you're right, they're not socks .... exactly.... but close enough to stop my heart for a moment.

I loved them at first glance.

Here's Rachel. The genius behind the ruffled leg warmers. 

And now I just have to find something to wear with them... comment below with your recommendations and you just might win a super fantastic prize of some sort. 

Here's Cathy from Bossa Nova Baby. She's from Portland and I've been at shows with her a couple of times in the past. And I always have to buy something because it's just impossible not to. She prints on thrifted sweaters and sews the best skirts in the world. I have a couple of the sweaters already, so this time I opted for a skirt. With a deer printed on it and little green lines sewed around it like grass. 

Visit Cathy's Etsy shop or read her blog, Stitch and Destroy.

Awwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhh

It's also my favorite color of green.

And it has a little pocket.

And I love, love, love it. 

And this is Amy from AC Clothing and Bags. She probably thinks I'm a stalker because I went to her booth about 50 times, but I had to look at every single thing that I thought might possibly fit me. 

Her dresses are stunning. And affordable. And stunning. Did I mention stunning?

You should become a fan on Facebook or visit Amy's Etsy shop. 

Here's the dress I got from Amy.

Yes, my neck was itchy in this picture - but sadly this is still the best one in the bunch. I like to ruin nice pictures by making stupid faces and then I live to regret it when I actually want to use a picture that looks like a regular woman instead of a puffed out space alien. Oh well. The dress is pretty.

I got this tote back from The Black Apple so I could haul around all my awesome finds. Emily is the best example I've seen of someone who really knows how to write a good blog. Plus, she's an incredible artist. Plus, she likes socks...so I already know she's good peoples. 

And then there was the fighting chipmunks sweater from Stella Neptune. Yes, for reals. Fighting chipmunks on a sweater. How could you NOT buy that?

It's impossible. 

So here's mine. In my favorite color green. Ahhhhhh....

I saw my pretty friend Jessie from Cakespy at Renegade too. Her cupcake art is so adorable. And when she combined it with bacon on a greeting card, me and my $2 said, "YES YES YES!"

But we said it quieter. 

Doug told me about this t-shirt at the beginning of the weekend. He had seen it while strolling around and thought it was hilarious. 

I walked all over trying to find it so I could buy it for him. Then, we discovered that it was in the booth right next to us, Big Stone Head. Dur!

We also bought this Abe Lincoln pillow from Big Stone Head for our house sitter, Lizzy. We've decided that she likes all things Abe Lincoln and I'm not really sure how that started. What I am sure of is that I'm not ruining the surprise since no one reads this blog. Snort. 

Have a great weekend all. And if there's a Renegade near you. Run. Quickly. Toward it.