aliboombayeh!

Ali is on Etsy!
Way to go lady :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6694766

The Chuck "e" Cheese Band

So, I recently got the MGMT album Oracular Spactacular, which I really like. I was checking them out online today (since we randomly have a wireless signal today), and while watching one of their videos I was totally shocked to see the Chuck-e Cheese band. Yes, the animatronic band that entertained/frightened children while they ate pizza. I remember standing at the edge of the stage waiting for the curtains to open and then just standing there and staring at the strange robotic creatures on the stage. There was the very intimidating gorilla on the keyboard, the weird floppy-eared dog, the stupid snaggle-toothed bear that sometimes did duets with that thing that popped out of the oil barrel and that creepy polar bear who just didn't quiet fit in. I don't think I have seen them since I was about ten years old, but as soon as I did, I knew exactly what they were. I must have celebrated at least three of my birthdays at Chuck-e Cheese's, not to mention the parties for my brother, cousins, neighbors and friends. Sort of a strange thing to get excited about, but I was so surprised to see it. I guess the Chuck-e Cheese band made quite an impression on my younger self. Weird.

Here's the Video

Step, Bump, Step, Bump! Bump!

Ric Stultz

Click the pic

Did you know!?!?!?!

Tornadoes are natures most violent storms.

The average lifespan of a tornado is less than 15 minutes.

One time, a chicken house, sixteen by sixteen feet in area, was picked up by a tornado and ended up wedged between two trees. The hens were found the next day sitting on their eggs in the chicken house, with no windows broken, as though nothing had happened.

Yesterday afternoon, there was a tornado near downtown Minneapolis!

Jake got stuck on 35W because it was flooding and was then diverted to 35th Street, only to have to weave between the trees that littered the road. Despite the circumstances, he was still concerned about being late for work. Sheesh. What a goodie-goodie.

Moments later, Minneapolis became a top trending topic on Twitter (say that 3 times fast!)

Minneapolis had been a top trending topic on Twitter several days before because some dude decided to play for the Vickings. I'm sick of hearing his name, so I will refrain from writing it.

That one guy in my collage is a friend of Jake's who works at the Electric Fetus and hooked us up with concert tickets.

The Electric Fetus closed yesterday after the tornado smashed the windows and damaged the roof.

The wicked witch was spotted flying on a bicycle over Portland Avenue... actually that is false... I lie...

This StarTrib article has some great pictures, some of which I stole to make this beautiful collage.

I may start referring to Jake as "the tornado" since he, too, can plow through glass bus stops, shattering them to pieces.



If you double-click on the picture, it will get bigger and you can check out the details of the destruction :)

Stealing Ideas from Etsy...

I have found my next projects. I am posting this so that I actually do them. Part of me feels a tad guilty about stealing other peoples creative ideas instead of purchasing their original creations and supporting a fellow artist... but only a tad guilty. Making it yourself is so much for fun, plus way cheaper.

Love this leather leaf necklace. Seriously, how hard can this be?


Kind of like the scarfy necklace, but a little less scarfy and a lot more necklace. Something about cutting up and reusing old t-shirts is just so satisfying.

This one is not actually an idea I stole from Etsy. While at a friend's cabin a few weeks ago, I discovered the unbelievable cozyness of fur. Faux fur actually. I couldn't possibly sleep under a blanket of real fur. The idea of using a poor dead animals skin for warmth sort of sickens me. I don't really even like the way fur looks. It's all hairy and dead looking.

Despite my aversion to fur, however, my experience sleeping under one of my friend's faux fur throws was one of the most comfortable sleeping experiences of my life. The experience has since motivated me to create my own extremely cozy faux-fur hibernation blanket. I will probably line one side with fleece or something else, otherwise I can see myself getting freaked out by the pile of fur on the couch. I have been somewhat converted to fur though (for blankets at least), and let me tell you, once you experience it, you probably will be too ;)


I leave you with one final warning though ... be careful where you get your "faux fur" from...

Scarfy Necklace

I have been seeing these scarfy necklace things all over. I like them a lot. It's like a necklace... that is cozy. What could be better? "Necklush" sells them on Etsy for like $60. I will not pay that much for a cut up t-shirt, so I decided to try and make my own. I think I will probably start "upcycling" some old t-shirts and make more, but to start, I just used some clearance fabric from JoAnn's. The beauty of the t-shirt is that if you cut the shirt all the way around, you don't have any ends to tie and you can just tie all those loops together. I also like the idea of adding chains or beads. Just a bit snazzier.

Instructions:
1. Get some jersey knit fabric - i.e. t-shirt fabric, or better yet just get a t-shirt (large=bigger loops)
2. Cut the fabric into narrow strips with a sharp scissors.
3. Tie them up
4. Be cozy in your neat scarfy necklace that is not quite a necklace and not completely a scarf.