FORTUNATE FRIDAY!

I want to make sure everyone knows that there is some really cool and fun stuff happening this weekend and I would love to see you all there! On Friday, the Unfortunate Heads will be playing at the Blanton museum's B~Scene. The Blanton opens to the public from 6pm to 11pm on the first Friday of every month, providing music, food, drinks, museum tours, and hands-on art projects to Austin's art lovers. This month's theme is the American West. The U-Heads will take the stage at 9:30pm and its going to be a really fun show!

The same evening, my superdupercool friend Clane Hayward will be reading from her book, The Hypocrisy of Disco at Book People. Growing up in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco during the "free love" era, Clane has some incredible stories to tell and a razor-sharp wit to tell them with. She'll be signing books after the reading...at least until we steal her away to B~Scene!

And if you can handle it, The Unfortunate Heads will be performing the following evening at Trophy's at 9pm. If you're still trying to decide whether or not to buy a day or weekend pass to Fun Fun Fun Fest, don't worry about it. You won't have the time or the energy with all of these other great things going on. :)

Fri Nov 2, 2007
7:00pm Book People--
Clane Hayward, The Hypocrisy of Disco

9:30pm Blanton Museum of Art--
The Unfortunate Heads at B~Scene

Sat Nov 3, 2007
9:00pm Trophy's--
The Unfortunate Heads

See you this weekend!

Hang on to your costume! There's more fun to be had!

Hey y'all! I sure hope your October has been as fun-filled as mine so far. I'm barely keeping up with it all, and its not over yet! This is the last week of the month, which means HALLOWEEN is creeping up on us. My alter ego, "The Costume Nazi," was once again in full effect this year, and I dare say my peeps would agree that it was worth the daily nagging, the bossiness, and the frequent trips to Hobby Lobby. I made myself a grackle/blackbird costume that was perfect for letting out my inner goth. (She gets out so rarely these days.)

We transformed Justin into the best-looking ghostbuster since Harold Ramis. That proton pack's construction kept me awake at night, and sadly I didn't even get a good pic of it.

I even helped Katie a bit with her Christo's Surrounded Islands ensemble, though I must say that she needed very little assistance. I think the Costume Nazi's regime has rubbed off on her over the years. ;) Katie, I want a pic to compare you side-by-side with the original!Speaking of Katie, check out these AWESOME pumpkins that she and some friends carved! Katie did the Edward Scissorhands, lower left. Can you believe these? I'm thinking of commissioning these carving professionals for portraits next year...

If you want to see more photos of great costumes and halloween fun, PLUS pics from Maker Faire and a daytrip to San Antonio, check out my photos on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967901@N08/sets/

Blue bird on my earlobe makes me happy...

Check it out. I created this little birdie design in Illustrator, traced from a copyright-free image I found in one of my craft source books. I love it so much that I wanted to make them in all sorts of colors! I started with these three, colored in with pencil on shrink plastic, then baked and bejeweled into earrings! The little blue birds I sent to my BFF-Rae for her very belated birthday. They will look darling with her sparkly blue eyes and shiny blond hair. The gold ones I kept for me, and...the black ones I'm keeping for me, too! But they're soooo eazy, that I can whip another batch for whoever wants 'em! Holla!

October in Austin is Hands-On, Haunts-On, Hearts-On

I can't believe how much cool stuff is happening in Austin this month! Whether your type of party involves paper mache, costuming, or bondage (or all three?) there is at least one thing happening for you this month, probably several.

Saturday, October 6th is WORLD CARD-MAKING DAY.
Did you know that crafty card-making has its own holiday? It does! And you should celebrate it! Make someone a card. It doesn't have to be fancy. Maybe just a quick note to say "hello." This would be a great time to get started on holiday cards, wouldn't it? There are several occasions coming up, you know. Myself, I am celebrating World Card-Making Day 5 days early by making my little sister a birthday card. However...the card is actually 5 WEEKS late. Sorry, Megan. Uh,"thought that counts" and that whole thing? http://www.worldcardmakingday.com/

The second weekend in October will see the first ever TEXAS BURLESQUE FESTIVAL, a 2-day sextravaganza! Burlesque troupes and performers from Texas and beyond will be strutting their stuff--literally--on Friday the 12th at the Parish, and Saturday the 13th at Antone's. There will also be live music, vaudeville stage acts, etc., plus educational panels and workshops during the day! The festival ends with competitions and awards on Saturday night, where the audience will choose the winners. Can you handle it? Check it out at http://www.texasburlesquefest.com/

Probably the one event that everyone is talking about in Austin this month is the AUSTIN MAKER FAIRE, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, October 20th and 21st at the Travis County Expo Center. We (the creative and crafty collective of Austin) are super psyched for this event, which is put on by the geniuses at MAKE: magazine. As the faire's date approaches, more info is becoming available about the incredible attractions we'll be seeing. Besides all the artists/inventors displaying their creations, we can also look forward to the Swap-O-Rama, where crafty peeps will be encouraged to swap or reuse old clothes and accessories to make new ones on the spot! There will also be an all-day halloween site, where pumpkin-carving and costume-making is in full effect. And, perhaps the most exciting thing to me and my crew: the Power Point Slammers have been asked to do a demonstration at the faire! It's gonna rock (in electronic outlined format)! I'll be volunteering at the Maker Faire all weekend, so give a shout out! http://makerfaire.com/

When the Maker Faire closes for the evening on Saturday, you might want to head on over to Red 7 for the SINSATIONS 2nd Annual EROTIC CARNIVAL. Somewhat like the Burlesque Festival, the Erotic Carnival will include sexy performances and live music, as well as naughty carnival games, a dunk tank, spanking booth, and more!! And the best part is that proceeds will benefit AIDS Services of Austin. So, just go! I know you're curious, and its for a good cause. Possibly several, if you consider what it might do for your love life... http://www.sinsationsaustin.com/

That is a lot of artsy-fartsy, steamy-sexy fun for one month, and I haven't even touched on Halloween yet, people! It's my favorite holiday and I know the local haunted houses are already open for business, so you can expect a post on all that is spooky in Austin soon...

A Dream is a Wish Your TV Makes

[Oh, boy. One thing is for sure: if my blog were a baby, I'd be in jail for neglect! Sorry I've been away so long, y'all. But I'm back and I have TONS of stuff to post, so stay tuned!]

There are only three things that I've desired from television in recent years and until now, the gods of broadcast have seemed deaf to my wishes. Totally uncooperative in the area of my personal interest-- HOT MEN! But now it appears my luck may be changing...

The first thing I've desired to see on my TV screen, for several years, is a return of GEORGE CLOONEY. I can only watch old episodes of ER and Roseanne so many times before I bang my head against the wall. I might even watch the later eps of Facts of Life, if it were on DVD. (And if it were only the Clooney season.) Sadly, it doesn't look like he'll be returning to the boob tube any time soon, and how can you blame him? He's moved onto an incredibly successful film career. But his movies are few and far between. I propose he have his own television series, preferably a drama so we can see him for a whole hour, rather than the half-hour sitcoms are allowed. He can shoot movies while the TV series is in the off-season! C'mon, George. How much more money and success do you really need, doing the movies and saving the world? How about saving my bored EYES!?

On a related topic, I fear that a non-TV wish of mine may have actually come true. You see, I've been secretly wishing that Clooney's new stupid whore of a girlfriend, Sara Lawson, would have a devastating accident that left her disfigured, or maybe just a vegetable. But apparently my voodoo wishing went awry, when Clooney crashed his motorcycle, breaking his own rib, and the stupid whore's foot. Oops, my bad!

Now, the second TV wish I've had recently, is for my beloved JOSH HENDERSON to return to Wisteria Lane. As Austin McCann, Josh left Desperate Housewives last season after breaking Julie Mayer's heart, and impregnating the skank-nasty Danielle Van De Kamp. Now Danielle's mother is pretending to be having the baby, but you and I both know that she can't pull it off for very long in that neighborhood. Okay, for those of you who are saying, "Josh Henderson? Didn't he date pre-prison Paris Hilton? Eew!" Yes, and Ashlee Simpson before her, and now some girl from The Hills. Guess what, people-- I don't CARE! Look how hot the boy is! I just want to drool over him from my own living room, at a safe distance where he will never find out and I will never contract whatever STDs he has. Is that too much to ask? Well, I think I may be in luck, because I have a sneaking suspicion that Austin McCann will have to return to Wisteria Lane to face his lost love, his baby-mama, and his baby-mama's mama. Hopefully there will be some hints in the season premiere tonight. I'll keep you posted...

And my third wish, which is more for American media in general, is more JONNY LEE MILLER! OMG, I've had the hots for this guy since 1996! Unfortunately, he's a Brit, so I've been relegated to seeing him only in sparse supporting roles in not-so-great American films. But do you remember him as Sick Boy in Trainspotting? Hottest bleach-blond pimping heroin addict with a Scottish accent that I've ever seen. Well, it looks like ABC (the same network that introduced me to Josh Henderson) will be granting my wish with a mid-season dramedy called Eli Stone. (http://www.tv.com/eli-stone/show/68652/summary.html) The lead role will be played by none other than the sexy ex-husband of Angelina Jolie, JLM! And, if it could possibly get any better, the pilot and two additional eps will star my second-favorite George, GEORGE MICHAEL!!! Can you believe this? Even if the show sucks, at least I'll be occupied until the next season of Lost, which doesn't start until 2008. Thank you, ABC! Thank you!

Hands Off, Bitch!

She may not know it yet, but this TRAMP is my new arch nemesis. She shouldn't have gone there...she'll be sorry!

Well, I'll Be Slammed!

Barbie and I attempted to get in touch with our technogeek sides last Wednesday night by attending the first ever (EVER? Yes, EVER!) Power Point Slam. What? You don't know what a power point slam is? Allow me to enlighten you in bulleted outline format:


The Power Point Slam is NOT:

• An inappropriate use of computer hardware that may result in personal injury, property damage, or electronic malfunction.
• An violent dance party that combines speed metal music with a computer-generated slide show.
• Your grandmother's--or your boss'--power point presentation.

The Power Point Slam IS:

• A new form of interactive, multi-media expression
• Held monthly and open to the public to attend or participate
• An evening of original entertainment that you cannot find anywhere else at a super low price that may or may not include a 40-ounce of your favorite beer.

Highlights of the first Power Point Slam, held at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre at 2803 Manor Rd., included Becky D'Orsogna's argument to "Measure the Way God Intended," using thebiblical unit of measurement, the cubit


Local Apple employee Tim Johnston presented a compelling series of statistical data to support his theory of "Less vs. More." One thing we learned for certain: Less is NEVER More! As you can see in this chart, "more consistently outperformed less, year after year."

And, in the spirit of all that is revolutionary, Miss Hayward, a local junior high history teacher, presented the alternative lesson plan that she would teach her students if she was able to have a stiff drink prior to each class, entitled "Fucking Shit Up." Miss Hayward made it known that if any of us tried to lay claims about her performance at the Power Point Slam that evening, she would "Admit nothing, deny everything, and offer plenty of counter-accusations."
From her slides we learned that some of the people and events that we had previously thought of as revolutionary, were perhaps not so much. Then again, things that we take for granted as being mundane have changed the world in big ways. For example, the automobile could be thought of as the "vehicle" (pun intended) that put the sexual revolution into motion, since it offered a new and more versatile place to get it on! (Think about it.)
Miss Hayward made her point in the time it took to polish off a fifth of Jim Beam, rather than the recommended 5-minute presentation time, but the point was made nonetheless! (She also openly declared her love for me in the parking lot afterward, but I'm sure if you ask her about it she will just admit nothing, deny everything, and make plenty of counter-accusations.)

Props to Donald Pitschel and Aaron Calhoun for organizing the rockin' shindig, and to Renee Woodward and Lance Sollock who provided charming musical interludes. Barbie and friends will be eagerly awaiting the next Power Point Slam. Stay tuned!

Zen and the Art of Road Rage Maintenance

For those of you who don't know, I got myself a new car recently. Not just a used, but "new to me" car, a BRAND NEW car! I didn't think I'd be able to afford a brand new car until middle age, but with months of extensive research and the car-buying wisdom of my uncle Duane, I am now the proud owner of a little black Hyundai.

Since I now have this spotlessly clean and shiny machine that is costing me a large chunk o' change, I figure I should be a little more careful on the road. I never thought of myself as a person with "road rage." I may curse frequently, and use the horn occasionally, but I'm not one of those people whose blood pressure skyrockets at the first sign of traffic congestion. I don't drive the same way on the road as I do when I'm playing video games, but a frightening number of people do! Still, I realized the moment I drove my new auto through town that I could stand to be a little more cautious. When I was driving the purple monster, nicknamed "MyGalant," I think I was secretly hoping someone would run into me, just so I could get the hunk o' junk off my hands. But now I am like a new mom, and I have to watch out for my little baby.

Last weekend, in a moment of hilarious irony, I was cruising along with a friend in the passenger seat and found myself going from cool, calm, and collected to crass, cranky, and combative in less than two seconds! Just as I was describing how quiet and peaceful I was feeling that day, the car adjacent to me attempted to speed up and cut me off, then slowed down to wait their turn, and then sped up again and I heard my self exclaim, "Make up your mind, you mother f_____!" Wow. That was all it took for me to go from serene to obscene?!

I thought it might help to keep something in my car to remind me to stay cool and not let the everyday perils of driving ruffle my feathers. Now, who or what embodies the principles of discipline, meditation, and harmony with nature...? YODA! I needed Yoda to be my co-pilot. So I found a handsome photo of the little guy online, printed him out on some shrinkable plastic that is designed for ink jet printers, shrunk the little bugger in the oven, and tied him to my rear view mirror with some glamorous silver ribbon. Now he is my tiny wing man, reminding me at every turn to use the force in maintaining a smooth and even driving attitude. Is it working? I think so. Every time I start to mutter an expletive to the guy in front of me who is taking FOR-EVER to notice the light has turned green, I hear this gruff little giggle, "Uh HEE hee hee hee hee" and I feel my brow un-wrinkling, my shoulders un-hunching, and the color returning to my knuckles as they un-clench from the steering wheel. :)

Maker Faire is Coming to Austin

Austin is going to be one of the lucky few cities in the country this year to host Make: magazine's Maker Faire! This is going to be a really cool event, and one that is definitely suited to Austin's pool of creative genius. If you aren't familiar with the Make: or Craft: magazines, click on the current issues below. They are quarterly publications and online zines that feature wild and crazy project ideas from all kinds of wild and crazy people.

I subscribe to Craft:, which is mostly for the traditional arts & crafts mediums that have been revamped to meet today's trendy hipster needs. Make: is more for the super-smart, inventor/MacGyver types. However, the step-by-step instructions and photos, called "instructables," are easy to understand and stress the theory that ANYONE can do them. They have featured a remarkable array of DIY projects, ranging from practical solutions for your average appliance malfunctions, to creating mass chaos with only a few household items. Some of the most popular projects they've featured are:

• A homeade cotton candy machine
• An ipod or flash-drive charger made from a breath mint tin (pictured)
• Techniques for getting mountains of change from jammed vending machines, pay phones, & video games
• WWII techniques for locking someone to a tree without restraints (very dangerous)
• A remote device that allows you to lock up someone's shopping cart wheels from across a store or parking lot

But your invention or idea doesn't have to be complicated or mischievous to be selected for the Maker Faire. A whole list of suggested topics is featured on their web site's call for entries. They prefer exhibits that are non-commercial, interactive, and focus on the process of making.

If you already have a project, invention, presentation or demonstration ready to go, you can audition in person this Sunday, July 15th at the Austin Children's Museum. Applications and proposals are not officially due until August 15th. The Austin Maker Faire will take place October 20th and 21st at the Travis County Fairgrounds. For more info and entry forms, click here:

And even if you don't have something to exhibit, you should still buy a ticket and attend. It's sure to be the kind of thing you don't get to see very often.

The Arts AND Crafts!

On Thursday, Agatha and I walked over to the Women & Their Work Gallery on Lavaca. They were having an opening reception for Whitney Lee's exhibit, Power Craft. You may know of Lee's work if you've ever seen her spectacular latch-hook rug portraits of naked ladies. They are great, and you can buy the rugs, or kits to make your own, at various places around town like Parts & Labour. If you've never seen them,
CHECK. THEM. OUT: http://www.madewithsweetlove.com/ They rule! Agatha and I wondered if she takes commissions. Who wouldn't want a comfy bathmat with their own naked self on it?! I'm thinking this year's Christmas gifts...

The artist explained how she made the transition from the rugs to her current project, which she calls "crafitti." The rugs were an attempt to raise a common craft to the level of high art. This time, she went the opposite route, wondering how common craft themes would translate to a wider, very public audience. Traditionally they have been reserved for more domestic mediums like tea towels, needlepoint samplers, or <shudder> iron-on decals for those grandma sweatshirts with the collars sewn in. Barf!

If you've ever been to a craft or fabric store, you know the types of images she's talking about. Those geese in bonnets, teddy bears having tea parties, cats in sunglasses, etc. There's been a major trend in recent years to find new ways of doing traditional crafts with more modern, young, "hip" themes. One of the pioneers in this movement is Austinite Jenny Hart, of Sublime Stitching. She is one of my local heroes, and was at the opening that evening, along with a few of her fellow Austin Craft Mafia members. Very exciting for me, as I am kind of like the "crafterazzi" or something, always pointing out to my friends an ACM member or one of their designs when I see them.

So how did Ms. Lee attempt to get these cutesy images into the Austin public's line of vision? She painted a handful of adorable characters in standard poster sizes, and slapped 'em up all over town! You've probably seen them on electrical boxes around town in the last few weeks. Each picture had its own neighborhood, which she color-coded and features with an accompanying wall map in the exhibit. You can see a few of the posters in the photo above. How have the peeps around town been reacting to this bold and rebellious street art? Surely no one has gazed at the whimsical field mouse shrugging casually next to a giant mushroom and thought, "Darned kids, dirtying up the neighborhood with their filth!" Its more likely to have been the cause of several smiles at red lights, and friendlier driving! I love it. Its genius! Kudos to you, Whitney Lee!

If you've seen these posters around town, how did YOU react to them?

Power Craft runs through August 4th at Women & Their Work.

Hi! Welcome to my new blog. I'm April, and I live in Austin, the most wonderful city in the entire nation--er, state--of Texas. I moved here a couple of years ago from Iowa, where I was born and raised. I loved my home state, and still do! But after college, I found myself sort of floating with no real commitment to anything, simply because there was nothing I wanted to commit to. I was bored. And eventually I was in a creative coma. I have thought of myself as an artist ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon, and I realized that since college, I had produced NOTHING artistic. I had no creative juices flowing. They were stagnant. Stagnant juices. Yuck.

Then, I moved to Austin and right away hundreds of light bulbs began to turn on in my brain! (Yes, I have a HUGE brain. Seriously, you should see it.) Everywhere I looked, there was art! People doing art! People loving art! People making a living from art! Art of every kind you can think of. I was suddenly so inspired that I found myself without enough time--or enough hands-- to crank out all my ideas! I love it here, and so far those light bulbs haven't dimmed.

This bloggy-blog is my newest project. I will use it to chronicle the places I go and the things I see. I've enlisted my alter-ego, the red-headed, freckle faced Barbie, to be your guide. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for visiting, and leave me some feedback.