On any given night, I’m liable to stop what I’m doing and just churn out something like this. Here is a quick Hubert Cumberdale sock puppet, based on the character in the delightfully creepy Salad Fingers cartoons (originally posted on Fat-Pie with other David Firth cartoons).
My speedy, off-the-cuff rendering looks lumpy, but such is the nature of socks…he can be smoothed. If you haven’t seen Hubert Cumberdale in action, I won’t spoil anything. Watch the cartoons!
Hubert was quickly adopted after his creation. I do hope he’s enjoying his new home.
My day was low key and filled with treats (like this Boo Berry cake):
The cereal texture was actually a bit chewy, which I didn’t expect, but they were quite good.
Another highlight of the day was seeing these two chocolate moose in a Vermont candy store. Without antlers or accessories, this fellow weighs close to ten pounds more than I do:
And his lady friend…
Um…“Open Cuts, $12?” Not a Halloween special, I fear.
It seems like most people are thankfully relaxing now that Halloween has passed, but I don’t quite feel done with the whole season yet. I’d like to stretch it out a few more weeks.
I can only post briefly, since I’m hosting an event at my house later (which I’ll be sure to share in the near future). Here are two not-so-high-quality photos of the accessories I made myself for today.
I am not a photographer. I don’t even know how to use Photoshop. I’m just a snapshot taker who loves to capture an eyeful of something interesting.
My father and I stopped at the Hollywood Forever cemetery early this morning. They had some of the most impressive mausoleums I’ve seen in modern cemeteries.
The feeling floats somewhere between classic memorials and sci-fi dystopian burial cities.
I’m dangerous around sales where you can pick up shirts for two dollars each. I always leave with an armful of plain shirts to emblazon with whatever design feels right when I get home (I fell victim to this habit the other day).
Here are a few simple alterations of some plain tank tops from Walgreens. Pardon the absolutely hideous snapshots…
And for the fun of it, I recently made this decorative surgical mask (pestilence is such sweet inspiration). Unfortunately you can’t really see the details, or the silver coloring of the backround:
I was floored when I received an amazing package in the mail from my kindred spirit Sarah. I had made her a plushie last month; a jellyfish named Princess Squishy (an incarnation of a nickname/drawing conjured up in the delightful minds of children Sarah worked with).
In return, she sent me the most amazing collection of trinkets: classic Bigelow Rose Salve (it’s delightful), a Liz McGrath limited edition tin, and a phrenology head pocket mirror!
But the most incredible gift was this handmade necklace. An anatomical heart seasoned with tiny gears, axe in a glass case, black flower and a locket filled with meaningful symbols. Does this girl know me, or what?
All of this for a plush invertebrate! What a talented and beautiful soul she is. I’m so grateful.
I’m fascinated by random cultural explosions that take place around arbitrary objects. Bacon has become a veritable phenomenon over the past two years, and I’m noticing steady growth of the toast trend.
I’ll refrain from posting images of pictures burned into toast…it’s been done ad nauseum. I will, however, show you this meta-toast mosaic:
Who can forget the 1990’s pioneer of these crumbly, starchy heroes, POWDERED TOAST MAN?
High-velocity raisins, corrosive croutons, acidic marmalade, flying butter pats…and of course, flight. He had it all.
Years later, we meet Mr. Toast and his mini empire. There are countless variations of Mr. Toast images and products. Personally, I’m a fan of Vampire Toast:
(Love the shiny cape…very classy)
Slightly more menacing is this toast from one of my favorite web comics.
Never thought toast could be sad? Well, My Paper Crane proves that it can be, if aware of its ominous scorching fate.
If you prefer your toast enraged and screaming, you can now purchase a Mini Toast Pocket Friend:
In fact, angry toast does seem to be all the rage (pun intended).
And my own soft toast creations, circa 2006 (and part of a complete plush breakfast) were pretty happy too:
Yummy Pancake’s Mr Toastee flickr set runs the whole gamut.
Happy…
Dressed up…
Drunk…
Whole wheat, original and rye (together in perfect harmony)…
Some modern toast creations include bizarre, counter-intuitive designs like this Soft Toaster Cell Phone Holder, complete with bear face and ears:
(The toast, also with a face, is supposed to “wipe off” the phone…wonder if it’s large enough for touch screen phones)
Are you…
(Image source link now dead)
What are your feelings about the growing Cult of Toast?
All the turducken buzz this year inspired me to make: *THE ORIGINAL TURDUCKEN ORNAMENT*
(It really loses something in the photo, sadly)
The moment anything hits the internet, profitable imitations start to surface. I may be opening a gigantic Pandora’s Box of turducken crafts (a comical idea, for sure). For once I’m staking claim. All too often, someone emails me with an etsy link saying “Didn’t you make this last year?”
If you want to order one, handmade with love and painted stuffing, contact me and ye shall receive…at least until my fingers cramp up from the sewing. ($15 US)
I am away from my craft supplies (and experiencing separation anxiety) while in LA with family. So instead of crafting an elaborate costume, I vowed to spend UNDER FIVE DOLLARS on whatever I made. The result?
RABID MOUSE ATTACK! Careful…he’s a bit foamy.
Total cost: $2.49
Materials:
Mouse ($1.00), Fake blood ($1.49), Black Sharpie, Old shirt, Hotel sewing kit, Elmer’s glue, Cotton balls, Nail polish, White paper
Allow me a childish moment, if you will. Months ago I made Sparky, my pet neuron. I just found out that Giant Microbes (a company I love dearly), now makes THIS!
Let’s take a look side by side, shall we?
Sparky:
Giant Microbes Brain Cell:
It’s not like they ripped me off. The plush neuron is simply an idea that has reached it’s proper time for creation in the order of the universe.
The child in me pouts at the fact that I seem to be forever JUST ahead of this order. I make strange products, only to discover that someone else has independently created a nearly identical product…and is reaping serious financial benefit as my version sits happily on a shelf or wall, reaping dust and the occasional entertained smirk from visitors.
, 
There are countless variations of Mr. Toast images and products. Personally, I’m a fan of Vampire Toast:
SheWalksSoftly 