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!