cover

Originally uploaded by furny.

Alli and I are geeking out over “Meet Me in St. Louis” as we speak. Evan is here too, but I am pretty sure he is not as invested as Judy Garland’s impeccable charm as we two girly girls are. I mean, seriously. Huge technicolor dresses and huge tenchnicolor hair, along with the move elaborate interior decoration there EVER WAS? How can you not love that. Now I want to watch An American in Paris, and the Muisc Man, and probably Gidget, even though that isn’t a musical. I just love rediculous old movies.

So yeah, i made some accordian books for class and it was mundo fun. I LOVE PAPERING BOOK BOARD. Geez. Am I crazy? I also love using rubber stamps. Sigh. Maybe if I had more patience for various printmaking methods I would have been a PrintPaperBooks major. But alas, I am lazy.

now Alli and I are debating over what musical we watch next. I am voting for Swing Time. Fred Astaire is number two or three maybe on my list of charming men, with Jimmy Stewart being number one, of course.

Also, congrats to Bill for your fantastic brewskie label. Can I try some of it!?!?!?

The verdict is in on the Beer Label contest:

(Commence Guest Post)

Dateline: Saint Patrick’s Day. Meeting of the Iowa City Homebrew Club

Beer Label Competition Winners:

The panel of judges, while sipping many tasty beers from around the
world and each others basements, carefully considered the nine entries
(I included entries that were posted on Shambot, even if they were not
sent to me by email) and voted for their first, second and third most
favorite labels.

The third place winner was Chewbacca Defense Porter (by Lindsey). Half
of the fourteen judges had it as a first, second, or third pick.

The second place winner was Broken Jaw (by Joel). It received eight
votes for first, second or third.

The first place winner, with ten judges picking it for first, second or
third, including four first place picks and four second place picks was
Two Headed Brew (by Bill).

Runners up, fairly close and in this order, were: Oyster Cracker
Disaster, Sea Otter Stout, Lizard Lager and Metronome Ale.

In discussion that followed the voting, people felt that Broken Jaw
would be a strong beer, probably a barleywine. They thought that
Chewbacca Porter would be “chewy”. There was some discussion of what a
two headed beer might be. The conclusion was that it would have to be
blended in some way out of two different batches. It was suggested that
Lou’s Brew would have to be a Malt Liquor. Apparently there is an
official category for malt liquor in some homebrew competitions. The
judges drink it out of a paper bag beside a dumpster out back.
(seriously, this is what i was told). Metronome Ale was thought to be a
reliable, tried and true beer.

No one jumped at the chance to award a second prize, but someone might
step forward later. Meanwhile, I will get started in creating a recipe
for Two Headed Brew. With luck, the prize of twelve bottles will be
forthcoming sometime in the summer.

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all who participated.
It was a lot of fun for everyone.

(end guest post)

In other news: I finally put up pictures on my Flickr account. Go there to see fun times and rollergirls!

For those of you who know me, you know that I am the type of person who is actually able to cry when I try on a dress and it is THAT CUTE. (Katie and Emma, I know you know what I mean.) I can be the type of person who is shallow enough to watch Entertainment television, with for instance Sugar Ray… its that bad. But here’s the worst part. I indulge in America’s Next Top Model. It’s awesome. And even though its been going down the shitter since the first season (I mean come on, ELLE magazine doesn’t want to give them modeling contracts anymore). And the whole premise is getting wierder and wierder. But OMFLFLAJSJDSG… I still love it.

Im shamful, and to heck with it, I am PROUD to be an ANTM whore! I love Tyra Banks and her shitty feel-good TV Talk show! I love all of the models and their daytime-tv-esque-drama! I love Miss Jay Alexander and those beautiful gams of his! And I even love looking online, yes… at the girls’ portfolios. For example, I was browsing around today whilst doing lame proofsheet printing and found this ridiculous picture of brittany, from this cycle. I haven’t seen this episode yet, because I work wednesday nights, but here it is in all its glory. Look at how ridiculous it is! AND I LOVE IT NONETHELESS!

…but I got my pink battle robot

isnt it adorable? im totally putting it together and painting it when i get a chance.

well, not intentionally. i do not have some sort of political cause against st. patrick’s day. if i had, in fact, remembered that today was a celebration of…green things and the irish, i may have been inclined to don some mint colored pants (okay, first i would have to buy said pants, but you get the idea) and drink green beer. but. i did not remember. and so, i babysat. in a beautiful apartment on crosby street, which featured very high ceilings, amazing wallpaper on only one wall (how very now) and the best interior decorating/design i have seen so far in my adventures (which, as it may be very obvious by now, are merely fuel to my real-estate whore fire).
anyway. saw a very, drunk, very underage looking guy being dragged home by a few other boys, and lots of exuberantly drunk people on the subway. turns out drunk people are way more fun when you are also drunk. who knew?
my crazy night of debauchery also included finishing “the fortress of solitude,” an epic and amazing novel by one jonathon lethem, recommended to all (you should also check out adam langer’s “crossing california” and the sequel, “the washington story”–they’re kind of in the same vein). it was especially exciting to read it while in nyc and brooklyn, where the story is set. the whole thing turned very interactive: i now read the tags i see everywhere, analyze and catalogue graffiti and the authors of it, and have a mental version of 1970s brooklyn to compare with the very gentrified, cleaned up modern version. anyway. read it.
next week (er, this week?) exciting things are happening. harper’s may issue is closing, so that means a nice, slow, highly alcoholic week for myself and the other interns (not to mention most of the staff not bothering to show up for work). angie is coming on thursday. kara is coming on saturday, and staying with me for a few days. i am starting a couple of new books and attempting to slowly eat away at the very large pile in my apartment. and also, i bought these really rockin new shorts that i will wear, whether or not the weather decides to cooperate. and i will look slammin. and finally, i have apparently stopped using the letter “g” to end words. to conclude, i heart new york.
word.

It is not a real holiday without a deer head wearing a festive hat.  Yes, this is real.  I saw it with my own eyes (and phone).

Be safe!

A work in progress.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I commited but didn’t get around to it. My apologies to myself.
Spring Break is near over for us in Iowa City, and despite not having class, it feels like I had less time than usual. I’ve spent the last few days updating Allyson’s website though. Fellow artists, have a look:
AllysonBone.com
More pieces to be added sometime here. Allyson is always working on new pieces it would seem!

You know, most days, I think I am pretty crazy for being at an art school.  And most days, I want to be super successful, and solve all of the world’s problems (notice the order of importance there?).

I am always frustrated with how non-profits are run (and have no money), and yet, I am often working for them.

I think that there is a way to creatively run companies for profit, but with the mission of making positive change in the world.  Somehow, art is involved, but I can’t quite decide how.

How do you think art is being used for change?  Are you involved?  Who is?

It’s old fashioned! Actually, I think they are actually conjoined twins…