buttons! buttons!

It's that time of the year again: I'm getting all my goodies together for the Alternative Press Expo next month. That means I've got to order some new buttons, among other things, but the other things are boring. Paper and ink and plastic sleeves are not half as good as shiny new pin back buttons!




I want your opinion on these buttons, k? In the past I've just kinda picked at random whichever images I think would look good on a button, but then I end up with none of one kind of a whole bunch of another kind left over. My preference would be to have no buttons left, because they are happily living on your jacket or book bag or wherever! SO, vote for your favorites (as many as you want!), and I'll make buttons of the most popular picks. This is especially easy cause you don't even have to leave an actual comment, you can just click on this little poll-thinger!

Click click click!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Or, you know, if there's something you think would be cool as a button that ya don't see here, I'm open to suggestions.

the new buttons + christmas cartoons

Print versions of the Shangri-la paintings have been added to the shop! Later this week I'm planning on adding the remaining ornaments that I made for Unique, and the new buttons, too. Here's your button sneak peak:



Half are the same, but the other half are new. The tattooed lady and the coyote with his cup of tea seem to be the most popular...I know because they were at Unique with me last weekend too.

Okay! It's almost Christmas! I really want you to watch some seasonal entertainment! I'm an American, and I live in Southern California where there is almost no weather, and so I cannot really tell what time of year it is unless the TV is telling me. And that's nothing to be ashamed of, cause as a result I get all warm and fuzzy over YouTube, and that's a pleasant feeling. So here's my top picks, hand selected for your nostalgic viewing pleasure!

It actually doesn't really feel like Christmas if I don't watch this one. Something about watching all the toys march around, and the way the cozy house actually feels cozier than any house I have every been in... I really like this maniacally giggling version of Santa. So jolly!


You know how I feel about Donald. He's my favorite, and there's sooooo many good cartoony moments in this one. I especially like how the snow makes a raspberry sound when it lands on him at 3:32-ish. Yay!


I think they got EVERY Muppet and Sesame Street character into this special. Seriously.


I watch this every single year. My mom taped it off of TV when I was a kid, and until the VHS just plain wouldn't play anymore we watched it. Some of the clay puppets are pretty creepy, like the pigs, for instance. They're weird man/pig things. But the majority of it is pretty magical and Christmassy! I think my favorite bit is the California Raisins singing Rudolph. Yeah.


Of course, you should also watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special, and all the Rankin/Bass stuff you can get your hands on, but I just figured that goes without saying. Happy Holidays guys!

pins are in the shop + apologies + what I'm up to

Okay, I lamed out. Somehow time escaped me and I missed my opportunity to keep up with my own two-posts-a-week rule. I came home from my APE adventures, went about getting re-organized in my little space (which was, to be mild, a big old freaking mess), and got instantly buried in sudden freelance. But I'm not giving up so easily! This is a new week, and although it's already Tuesday, I've still got four more days to make good.

First of all, my pins are packaged and in the shop and ready to go! See?



There are single buttons available on their own little tags...



...or button sets on a big hearty tag!



For those of you SoCal natives who couldn't make it up to APE to hang out, fear not! I'm going to be at Unique Los Angeles December 13th and 14th, selling my prints and other forthcoming goodies. I haven't been to UniqueLA before myself, but I'm pretty excited about it! It looks like it's going to be a swanky, stylish affair, and I'm going to have to take a few steps up from the "Welcome to Grandma Brigette's" look at APE. I'm going to be veeeerrrrrrry busy, folks. Hey, who all is heading to the Felt Club this weekend, by the way? I've been wanting to go for literally YEARS and something always got in the way. Not this year though, I'm making a point to get myself down there and enjoy some crafty goods!

What else can I show you blog readers to woo you back?

Oh! Here's a glamorous photo of my mom!



And here is a really fantastic artwork by Ken Garduno that I procured at APE. Our tables were next door to each other and we did a trade...which I think I rather unfairly got the better end of. I love love love this piece.



Okay, one more thing! This weekend Goonies is playing at the Rialto in Pasadena. It's a charity event, and you should go, because The Goonies is awesome.

Oh yes, and Ice Cream People.

I hope that at least slightly makes up for my DB'ing last week. You'll be hearing from me SOON!

the lovely couple + there's buttons!

I finished the dog face man too, so it only seemed fair to put him and her in the same post together so you can see them side by side.







Also, I had some buttons made! Here they are sitting in their little button box. They have to wait until APE to be set free into the world. I'm planning on giving one away to anybody who stops by my little table to say "Hey, I've seen your blog before" or "Don't you have an etsy store or something?" So if you're going to APE, come by and claim your button!




Here's a closer look at the actual designs on the buttons...some are little tid bits of paintings, and some I just made up cause I thought they'd look cool on a button. Sean is a fan of the close-up coyote face from the coyote car painting, but my favorite is the little baby coyote on the pink ground. I love how it says "hello coyote", like you're saying hi to the little guy every time you read it. He looks so smug hanging out there, sniffing the flowers. Do you have a favorite?




I've got to give myself a little pat on the back, cause I've totally been updating twice a week for like, six weeks! That's lots of weeks, in blog time. ALSO! I put a little counter at the bottom of my page about a week and half ago...I think it was Monday? Just out of curiosity, to see how many folks clicked past the old blog. I was pretty sure it was a ghost town, since I don't get like a bazillion comments on each post, but man, was I ever surprised! In a little under two weeks I've got almost 2000 views! That's a LOT more than I thought! So thanks to all you silent blog viewers who pass through and look but keep your two cents to yourself...it's nice to know that you're there, and that I'm not just typing away like a moron into the ether.


Halloween is sooo close! If you're in LA, you should go watch Carrie in the Cemetery!