Is it wrong that I....

really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want this cat toilet?

Stuff Out Of Things

This was the highlight of our trip to Portland for Crafty Wonderland.

A butter dish. With a monster on it.

We don't have exactly this one -- ours is green and has a second weird head coming out where one of the baby arms is -- but this gives you an idea.

I don't even use butter. But I'll have to start because I could not pass this up.

Check out their blog.

And their Etsy shop.

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.