I've Made An Executive Decision

And as primary executor (not to be confused with executioner) of this blog, I do indeed have all authority.
We're moving, friends.
For a little over a year, now, I've been concurrently writing 2 blogs (besides the horrifying story blog that Dana and I write). I had initially thought that Bow Ties and Bandits would be my personal blog for friends and family, while Pastiche would be my blog focused on thrifty treasures and tips. But I've come to realize, that really, there's no separating the two. Thrift ("vintage", if you're feeling pretentious) shopping and creating unique pieces from previously unloved pieces is an integral part of my life and vice versa.
Therefore, we're all going to get friendly here and jet on over to Pastiche.
Don't be scared.
We'll all be friends.
No tears.
Here's the link:
Pastiche
And hopefully you'll join us there.

Et tu, Brute?

Remember that chalkboard at the end of our hallway? (If you don't, that's ok. It was on my other blog. I'm combining worlds. Don't freak out.) Right at the start of this year, my mom wrote, "Home is where your story begins" with a sweet drawing of a house beside it. So lovely and endearing.

I changed it this morning.
I'm a terrible daughter.

I spent much longer on this than anyone ever needs to know.

To: Dana *TEASER*

I'm making an entire folder of things I need to give you. That's all the teaser you're gonna get. Hey look! Rabbits!

Charley Harper

When it comes to art, I'm a pretty simple girl. Sure, yeah, Van Gogh, da Vinci, they're nice. But who cares? Really? (Just kidding, I know a lot of people care, and yes they're completely amazing and well-rendered, blah blah blah.) But when it comes to things that I actually enjoy, I prefer something more stylized.
Enter, Charley Harper.

My art teacher recommended him for me, and I'm so very glad she did. His work is simply fantastic (plus, he was darned adorable). It's no secret that I love animal paintings/drawings. I just feel like animals have such quirky, and very real, personalities that we don't often take the time to see. After doing a bit of commercial work in the 1950's, Harper did a lot of work for conservationists and zoos and whatnot. (Which, hello, are often quite boring, bland, and bleeding-heart-oriented. No offense guys. You know it's true). But Harper's illustrations knock that blandness right off the pages.
Honestly, you can't tell me Harper didn't chuckle a bit to himself while he painted this. Anyone who has even smidgen of a backyard has seen this scenario take place at least once in their life. (Let me tell you, if you haven't seen this, you might think to put your money on the squirrel because he has, you know, arms. But ohhh no. Birds are evil and scrappy.)

Besides that... his work is sometimes creepy
(Yeep!)

Sometimes endearing
(...or seductive according to the title? Ai-yee!)

Sometimes a bit of both

Some of them even feature people
He has a few different series of Palm Springs, the Hot Springs, and the Grand Ole Opry, among other touristy destinations, and they're just hilarious.

It's encouraging to see someone who felt that art was about "leaving things out" rather than putting everything in. I sometimes feel, in my own work, that being minimalist isn't as fabulous as being realistic. In order to be considered a "true artist" you have to be either incredibly weird and misunderstood or incredibly traditionally talented.
And that's just not me.
I like animals. I like cute. I like quirk. And sometimes I draw because I like to draw, not because I have some deep existential meaning behind it.
So, thank you Mr. Charley Harper, for reminding me to "always be doing something that satisfies you, what makes you feel good inside."
What makes me feel good inside?
Doodling animals.
Laughing when my creations take on personalities that I didn't necessarily plan.
Painting what's magical, not what's accurate.
Much like Harper, I prefer to "never count the feathers in the wings; I just count the wings.”

You've helped rejuvenate me, Mr. Harper, and I thank you for that.


Many of the pictures are from this Flickr site and Charley Harper's own site. Be sure to check them out. There were about a zillion other pictures I wanted to post, but figured that might be overkill.

Post About Blood by a Girl with Vampire Teeth. Let's All Laugh Together

I like random facts. That's just the way it is. That's probably why when I blog you can get anything ranging from my inordinate love of Star Wars to Heidi Klum's Workout to Hollywood's Hall of Creepers (which, ps, it's totally that time of year again. God bless the rain for keeping them inside).
The proof is in the pudding. So to speak.
All this to say, I got a book from the library. Not because I'm a super health nut or against practiced medicinein any way, but simply because I like facts. It's a fact. I like facts. Facts facts facts.
(I'm saying that like Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes. I just went to find a link to the comic I'm talking about and holy cow. There's a site just for the comic I want. Don't Knock My Smock or I'll Clean You're Clock. Seriously. )

So in the pursuit of (sometimes) useless knowledge...presenting... (dun dun dundun duh dun duh dah!!!):
4 Blood Types, 4 Diets. Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer and Achieving Your Ideal Weight by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo with Catherine Whitney
I'm assuming they had a real crack book jacket writer and had to include a summary of the book as part of the title. That really can be the only acceptable reason for having a title that long.

Simply put, different blood types require different diets. Not like "lose weight" diet. But "eating properly" diet. For me--type A--it seems fairly accurate. I'm what you could call dainty. Or a weak gazelle if you're out in the wild. It seems to make sense thus far. If animals range from carnivores to herbivores to whatever you call an animal that eats plants and little bugs (e.g. Timon and Pumbaa) why shouldn't people? Yes, this is a faulty argument, but what are you going to do? Kill the poor sick gazelle? How dare you.

Enough blithleblathling.
Here's the site
I recommend the book, however. It actually explains the science behind it, rather than being some bizarre alternative medicine with no scientific proof to back it up. I'm going to try it. See how I feel. If I grow a couple extra legs or antlers or anything I'll be sure to let you know.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Yes, this post is belated, but we did actually celebrate on his birthday, because really, who doesn't like Lincoln? (That's rhetorical. The real heart of the question is, "who doesn't take the opportunity to celebrate any occasion with a picnic that includes cupcakes?")

Yes, we brought Scrabble in honor of...uhh...Lincoln teaching himself to read in a log cabin. Yeah. That's it.

I'm normally not a fan of the sun, but it really was a glorious day.

Spot the Valentine Rabbit

I swear I'll stop with the rabbits soon...maybe even today...or maybe not...

These are all vintage Valentines. And by "vintage," I mean "mid 90's." That's like...soooooo long ago...right? Rad! Psych! Not! Said the liar!

Superbowl Sports Rabbits

Neither of these are football, but today Americans across the country are celebrating the Super Bowl by eating vast amounts of food and drinking exorbitant amounts of alcohol. Plus they yell. To celebrate such a time-honored tradition (as well as continue our rabbit theme), here are a couple of rabbit mascot friends.

1. Hip Hop, Philadelphia 76ers

He looks like a clown. That freaks me out.

2. Reggie Rabbit, South Sydney Rabbitohs (that's rugby, folks)

He's a far better looking hare. Therefore, he wins a link to his own website. Well done, Australia. Well done.

Year of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

For shame if you don't know who Oswald is.

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's officially the year of the rabbit. Funny turn of events: while doing some swift googling for a "rabbit" picture to include, I accidentally typed "rabbot." Let me tell you, friends. Way more interesting results.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

And finally...

Exhibit C:
There were zillions of sexy robot bunny pictures and my response was, "What the...I feel uncomfortable." Until I read her description.

That's right...She's from Sonic the Hedgehog. Hello that's awesome.

In the days to come, be prepared to be inundated with rabbits in honor of the Chinese New Year. Because this post...did not go where I intended.

How could I forget! (Whimsy Pt. 2)

The woman who started it all

Mary Blair

This is the woman who did a lot of the concept art for Disney and- what's that folks?- it's a small world. There are just far too many pieces of hers that I would like to include, but I have a hunch that once I started, I wouldn't be able to stop. So I'll just include the one above (from her trip to South America that concluded in the creation of "The Three Caballeros.")

Also...who doesn't want to be friends with this woman?

Whimsy

A couple of artists for you, my friends, that are full of extravagant whimsy:

Amy Sol

What I think I love most about her is that she includes animals in most of her paintings. Plus she paints on wooden panels. That's just awesome.

Nicoletta Ceccoli
While also whimsical, she's a bit darker. She's also obviously influenced by fairy tales, which I think is fabulous.

I Stole This...

...from myself.
My thrift store blog to be exact. What are you gonna do?

Here's the notification I received through email today (minus some exclamation points because, WOW someone went !!!!!!! crazy) (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!):

Hospice Foundation of the East Bay

ANNA'S ATTIC
5350 CLAYTON ROAD
CONCORD

We are having our annual book sale this weekend!
It is located at our Concord Thrift Store Anna's Attic.
We have books from every genre! Vintage, Cookbooks, Fiction, Sports, Kids, Do It Yourself, Foreign Language and much much more! And as always, our store will be fully stocked with merchandise from housewares and clothing to antiques and collectibles.


Friday January 21st
10:00am to 5:00pm

Saturday January 22nd
10:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday January 23rd
12:00am to 5:00pm

All Books will be 50% off or MORE on Sunday!!

Proceeds to Benefit Hospice Foundation of the East Bay

I'll be there. Probably tomorrow. Maybe Saturday. And perhaps Sunday. I've gotten quite a few books there before.
(Prove it, Liar!)
Fine. I will.
Past posts from Anna's Attic finds:
Ba-Zing!

Down with Pnina

So...I've been watching Say Yes to the Dress. I realize it's in New York and, who are we kidding, New Yorkers are sometimes...mmm...tacky. But come on. Really? Are there really THAT many people that want to look like a hooker on their wedding day? And although the answer is obviously and unfortunately "yes," sorry Pnina. This is revolting.

It's horrifying times like these that cause me to ask, "What would Ingrid think?"

My feelings exactly, Ingrid. My feelings exactly.

So That's What It's Called

Hi. I'm a girl. I paint my nails. I do my make up.
While I do these things, I look in the mirror and think to myself,
"Self, how can you get a job naming these products, because you are like waay more clever than these ding bats."
And I then respond,
"Self, you are just too sweet. But I don't think that job can really exist. Can it?"
Then the original me says,
"Self, just focus on your eyeliner. That's definitely not a straight line."

Well, Selves...You're wrong! That's totally a job! It falls underneath the umbrella of what's known as a Freelance Namer (seriously). Ironically enough, I found out on a website called The Art of Manliness. I'm not kidding. Go. Read. Envy this man.

BTW Proof that I should totally be a Namer:
(These would be for my new Ghetto Ghoulies nail polish line)

Gang Green
Bloods and Crypts
Silver Bullet
Pushing Daisies Yellow
Skeletor (Whatever. He's a villain.)

I could continue but who likes a show off?

I Want a Cupcake

Miglet's Gluten-Free Bakery

I don't even care. I want a cupcake from here. Seriously. No joke. Who's been here? Someone needs to take me.
And to get you on my side...

Banana Nutella Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Tangy Tangerine Cupcake with Tangerine Cream Cheese Frosting

I don't even like carrot cake but this looks amazing!!!
Carrot Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting