Valerian's Journal

Vintage Glamour

2009-07-06T23:32:17Z

I finished a necklace recently that I'd like to share with you. kambriel sent me some vintage crystal beads that I believe belonged to her grandmother (K can correct me on this); most of the beads were donut-shaped and pretty large. I wanted to make it in such a way that the crystal beads did not touch each other so as to avoid scratching, but also so the huge donut shapes (some almost 3/4" in diameter) didn't look odd on a relatively short 3-strand necklace. So I interspersed them with lots of different antiqued pewter beads & caps to give it a deliberate chunky feel, adding in a few small crystal beads in here and there where needed. Pictures really don't do it justice - the quality of this crystal is outstanding.

There were a few odd beads remaining that I made into a matching single-strand bracelet (no pics of that yet though because it's really hard to get a good shot).

FYI, I don't do custom work very often because it tends to be very time-consuming and I really honestly have to be "in the mood" to make something I can end up being happy with. Luckily Kambriel was not in a hurry so it was finished over a period of about 8 months.

Vintage-Style Shoes

2009-06-29T19:39:14Z

I'm selling these gorgeous little retro shoes because I should have ordered a size up. I normally wear a 6 1/2 and although I can usually wear a 6, I'm also used to wearing shoes that have a much pointier toe - without the 1/2 size my big toes ram right up against the tip of the shoe. Yep, I forgot my first lesson in buying normal toed shoes. :P

Colour: black
Material: satin with chiffon ruffle, velvet trim and velvet bow
Size: USA 6 (best fits US 5 1/2 or 6)
Condition: brand new, worn once around the living room
Manufacturer: Funtasma (by Pleaser)
Price: $55 CAD or $48 USD
Payment: cash, money order or PayPal/credit card accepted

Shipping: approx $15 USA or Canada (might be less, I'll need your postal code for exact quote), $33 elsewhere
Pickup: I live in downtown Vancouver near Burrard Skytrain

Anyone interested?

Bat Crest

2009-06-10T21:24:47Z

View all "Bat Crest" Products by Valerian

Just made this design - available on mousepads like above, as well as t-shirts, mugs, etc The Latin text translates as "Night Without End". The crest is a hybrid of 3 separate vintage crest images plus my original bat design. Canadian visitors go here to shop/view more Bat Crest stuff. I think this design, or one similar to it, will become the next Gothic BC shirt design.

Art happens in unexpected places

2009-06-09T17:59:20Z

Today my mom forwarded my aunt's email regarding her visit with my cousins:

Hi,
We had a great weekend with Dave, Gina and girls.

But....this is so weird! On our way there Saturday, we drove the scenic route that follows the shoreline up the island coast. We stopped at an Open House in Union Bay....just to be lookie-loos....nicely finished log cabin, right on the beach (quite beautiful, one bedroom with loft, and full suite in the basement, way too much $$). Anyway, the agent showed us through. I went into the master bedroom, had a peak at the ensuite, and when I turned around, on the wall was one of Elaine's original paintings, "The Model". Wow, imagine that! The agent said the owner had bought it some time ago at an Original Art Show.

The "original art show" was a group show at Spirals cabaret in North Vancouver back in May of 1993. The buyer was the CEO of C.M. Oliver & Co. Ltd. (huge stockbroker company) who bought three paintings that day (I remember this sale well because I dropped the pieces off at his posh downtown office, and the first thing I saw when the elevator doors opened was two enormous floor-to-ceiling Shadbolts). But my aunt's story is but the second bizarre incident involving the three paintings. One of them, Contemplation, was noticed on a living room wall by Michael while having Christmas dinner in his girlfriend's uncle's house back in 1996 - at least two whole years before we'd even met. Being a painter himself he remembered it, and boy did he ever have a déjà vu moment when he saw my portfolio for the first time when we began dating in 2002...

As an even weirder side note, but not involving art: in 1990 (WAY before Michael and I met), after his car broke down only a few hours drive from Vancouver while on his road trip from Duncan (Vancouver Island) to York University in Toronto, he had no choice but to stay with the only Vancouver friends he had at the time. He resigned himself to attending a local university (SFU) instead and traded the car for a month's rent in the basement of this house, which turned out to be the exact same house my father grew up in - and the basement was the room my father and his older brother shared.

Is there no such thing as destiny? I ask you to reconsider...
O_o

Anyhow, back on topic more or less. I've sold more work in cafés, bars and gourmet chocolatiers' shops than I ever have through gallery shows. Maybe it's just the style of work that I do that lends itself better to cabarets and the like, but regardless it's a statistic worth noting.

On-Demand Printing

2009-05-29T07:24:53Z

Wham bam Zazzle art spam!

Order postcards, shirts, tote bags, greeting cards, coffee mugs, magnets, postage stamps, neckties, business cards, BBQ aprons, and loads more in different styles, sizes and colours from my design gallery at Zazzle (which now has international sites by the way, so folks in or near Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA can order direct in their relevant currency.

Naturally there's Art of Adornment merch, but there is also original paintings, fashion photography, vintage art and even goofy Harry Potter inspired fan stuff. A lot of it is customizable so you can add your own text, change shape/style, etc.

Art of Adornment Themed Merchandise

Painting & Digital Art

Fashion Photography

Reclaimed Vintage Art

For Fans of Witchcraft & Wizardry

Believe it or not, that tacky pin-up girl tie is a huge seller (bachelor parties maybe?), as well as the "Portkey" fridge magnet (I couldn't resist getting one myself!).

Anyway, Zazzle runs different monthly discount promotions on top of their already standard bulk discounts, however promotions vary depending on which site you order from.

F-List Purge

2009-05-25T06:03:13Z

Time for the annual Friends List Purge™ (removing people whom I have had little or no interaction with over the past year).

No offense should be taken, I just like to keep a tight list. If you were removed in error and want to be added back (eg. you have two blogs and generally only use one, or you changed your username and I removed you because I'm a dumb-ass and forgotten it, or you stopped using LJ for a while and are starting up again, etc.), please comment here, not in this post.

Natural Glamour

2009-04-27T05:49:42Z

This lovely lady has to be one of the most naturally photogenic women I've ever seen! Meet the fabulous Gaby de Barry (a couple more pics to come from this shoot in artofadornment over the next day or two):

Photo by Michael R. Barrick (mbarrick - watch his blog for many more pics from this shoot, he took A LOT and I know he'll be posting some soon!).

Lace Embrace

2009-04-03T23:16:39Z

Select Art of Adornment products now available in-store at
Lace Embrace Atelier
219 East 16th Avenue
[1/2 block east of Main St.]
Vancouver, BC Canada

Lace chokers, velvet pendants, beaded bracelets and chandelier earrings now in stock!

Yo!

2009-03-13T23:43:18Z

STUFF ON SALE.

This is a rare occurance. Go now!

Canadian Artists

2009-02-06T02:51:03Z

Thought maybe some of my Canadian model/designer/artisan/photographer/videographer/etc. friends might be interested.

Entity is a Canadian networking site (not unlike FaceBook really) specifically geared towards Canadian alternative talent. Unfortunately you can't view site content without signing up first (yeah, I know, but given the amount of artistic nudity & outright fetish subject matter in the Goth/alternative scene it's kind of a given these days), but it's not too bad. I figured if anything, it's free advertising for your wares/services so how could it hurt? I probably won't visit very often but you're welcome to add me as a friend if you you sign up.

Free exposure. It's a good thing. :P

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T17:58:23Z

I Spam Because I Can :P

2008-12-23T08:29:20Z

Eclectic Craft & Jewelry Supply Ebay Store
Beads * Rhinestones * Feathers * Eyelets * Clasps * Cameos * More!

YEAR-END SALE ON NOW Til Jan. 20th!
Save 10%-15% On Selected Items
Act quickly - these deals will go fast!

It's Shipping Time Again

2008-11-27T18:20:05Z

It's not my store so much as bloody Ebay. Ebay has "detailed seller ratings" which allow you to anonymously rate the seller on shipping cost, shipping time, accuracy of information in the description, etc. while leaving feedback for them, which unbeknownst to many of you affects the seller's standing in search results. Too low of a rating in shipping costs (for example) can cripple a seller's appearance when buyers do an Ebay search filtered by by "best match" (which is the default filter unless you change it in Advanced Search).

Needless to say I'm getting borderline crappy ratings on shipping cost and it is affecting my search results. Aside from Ebay having this dumb policy, it pisses me off to no end because I ship for only $.25-$.50 above actual rates to cover packaging costs. So I must be getting dinged by people because a.) Canada Post charges so bloody much for shipping that people think I'm ripping them off, or b.) people are not realizing that I'm in Canada and therefore it's an international shipment (which usually costs more than domestic). I wish people would actually research rates before nailing me. Most Americans don't realize that for me to ship to them, the price ranges from about $5-$7 including insurance - for them to ship to me, it's more like $9-$11 including insurance. Then they'd also see that I charge them only $.30 to cover the cost of the bubble envelope on top of the shipping rate; hardly a profit.

So let's say you're making a purchase from me and the item total ranges from about $18-$25 (one fancy choker, or two pairs of earrings, or two pairs of stockings, etc.). And let's also say that you live in the USA, on the opposite side of the continent from me (Vancouver vs. Miami).

View Poll: Shipping Costs

[Incidentally, notice the jump for no tracking vs. tracking? Yes, that's for real - Canada Post offers nothing inbetween. Frankly I think tracking is a waste of money because half the time the USPS neglects to scan the parcel, so God only knows what happens to it after it reaches the US border.]

By default I only offer Air service for Americans. Naturally, everyone wants their item fast and they don't want to pay a lot for it. If you ask me, $6.75 isn't a lot to get your stuff an just over a week from Canada, but apparently people think so. So I'm debating also offering $5.35 Ground service as well, but there's a problem. My chances of getting a low rating on cost may go down, but the chances of my getting crappy ratings for shipping time may go up. Not to mention that people will only look at the Ground rate because it's cheapest, totally ignoring the fact that it takes much longer and then whine at me when their parcel took 3 weeks to get there (when they could have paid $1.40 more and got it in half the time). So depending on your poll results, I may offer Ground service as well.

Feel free to offer your comments/advice.

Social Networking

2008-11-17T19:19:32Z

Well, for me it's mostly more like "Fashion Networking". :P

Anyone who's a member of these places wanna add me as a friend?
http://www.kaboodle.com/artofadornment
http://www.stylehive.com/person/artofadornment
http://queenvalerian.stumbleupon.com
http://valerian.deviantart.com/
http://www.myspace.com/artofadornment
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-of-Adornment-Victorian-Gothic-Accessories/19712976896

Just sorta nothing-related:
http://www.last.fm/user/artofadornment
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=689911627
http://www.flickr.com/people/queenvalerian/
http://ladycatharsis.deviantart.com/

Yeah, I'm all over the place.

DECADEence

2008-11-07T22:23:30Z

Art by yours truly (among others) being shown at:

Gothic BC's 10th Anniversary Gala

---- DECADENCE -----

The Gothic BC 10 Year Anniversary Ball

* Celebrating 10 Years of serving the Gothic, Bohemian and Alternative, 1998-2008.

Club 23 West
23 West Cordova St.
Vancouver, BC Canada
November 8, 2008 9pm-2am

Age 19+ Only
2 pieces valid ID required
$8 dressed up / $10 plainclothes

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sin City Fetish Night, Sanctuary Saturdays & Gothic BC proudly present an evening celebrating a decade of alternative nightlife culture & lifestyle with a landmark party loaded with:

HIGH FASHION / HIGH ENERGY
COSTUMES / ART / PHOTOGRAPHY
VENDORS / VISUALS / MUSIC / MEMORIES

You are welcome to come casual, but we highly encourage all attendees to...
DRESS TO IMPRESS!

Suggested attire: new romantic, vintage, Victorian, uber goth, cyber, fetish, new wave, ultra punk, period costume, glam rock & roll, formal & ballroom wear

DECORATIONS BY MR. DARK
PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUMES
GALLERY SHOWING THROUGHOUT THE CLUB

2 ROOMS OF DANCING WITH DJs:
- PANDEMONIUM (Sanctuary / Sin City / Luvafair / Neverland)
- R-LEX (Sanctuary / Sin City / Blender)
- MALEFICENT (Neverland / Sanctuary / Sin City / Malfunction / Descent)
- CONTRASOMA (Sanctuary / Blender / Decades / The Sound)
- LOGIK (Cirque De Sade / Labyrynth / Neon Nights)
- CASPERELLA (Resurrection / Shift / Descent)
- KAINE (Gateway / Resurrection)
- EPINE (Body Perve / The Sound)
- SICKBOT (Blender / Malfunction)
- D-FENS (Blender)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
- Atratus
- Tessa Beebe
- Morgan Beare
- Mykl

ART & GALLERY SHOWINGS BY:
- Rheanna Fancypants
- Nathaniel Milljour
- Michael R. Barrick
- Elaine Foster
- Shelly Forget

Something on MySpace actually rocked my world.

2008-10-29T18:38:10Z

I felt like ASS last night, couldn't get to sleep and so ended up doing boring things on the computer at 1am like updating my Google Sitemap feed for AoA. For fun I checked the info which lists which other websites out in the world that have links to my store pages (I only check the store splash page stats though, it has the most links). During my search I found this in someone's MySpace blog:

March 8, 2008
Product endorsement.....

There aren't a lot of products or stores that I love quite so instantly as http://www.artofadornment.ca

This store is out of Canada and they have some of the best Victorian style gothic stuff I've seen. I went to their store and was skeptical. Hot Topic and other stores have gone down hill where getting the good stuff is concerned, and some online stores rape you with their shipping. Not these guys

I got in my order today of 6 pieces. There were 4 necklaces, a ring, and a lace fan. Not ones to throw their stuff in a box haphazardly, I pulled out a neatly wrapped red bundle from the box. Inside was a letter thanking me for my business and an Art of Adornment magnet. Everything in the bundle was neatly wrapped/packaged and nothing was damaged. Everything was as beautiful as it had been in the website photos.

A warning, their stuff is not generally made for larger necks. I had one piece that I could order to size, but the other three necklaces I knew would be small. (they give you measurements on site). I've added an inch or two of chain to each backing and it should make up for it.

If you do the gothic style when you go out, I suggest that you check out this store. With everything sorted into collections by color and their prices low. (Most necklaces under 20, a few under 30, and the really opulent pieces are still under 40), you can't go to this site and not find something.

Angel

*SQUEE* I found this especially groovy because frankly there are WAY cooler sites out there that sell far more elaborate Vic-Goth designs than me (she probably just hasn't found them yet). One thing that bothered me was her remark about larger sizes. She must have missed the text at the top of the category pages that says the pre-made stuff can be lengthened for free. I've made the text size on those pages a bit bigger so hopefully that will make it more noticable (actually it was pretty tiny, now it matches my other store pages a bit better anyway).

But still, finding that made me feel a hundred shades of awesome. Sure, this lady's young (age 23 according to her MySpace profile) and perhaps also a bit of a Hot Topic fiend, but that's good - it's nice to know that for a moment I was able to draw someone away from the mass-produced stuff they would nomally buy. YAY for independant fashion!

2009 Calendar Sale!

2008-10-27T03:33:17Z

Get 40% off custom calendars from now through October 31, 2008 at 11:59pm PST. Just enter this code in the check out: CALENDARSAVE

Fine art & Art of Adornment calendars available here. Discount applies to any calendars on Zazzle.com - so feel free to shop around, too! The rest of my gallery can be seen here.

KIM - I HAS WAT U NEED

2008-10-02T19:10:20Z

--->POWERTHIRST!!<---

Now in GUN FLAVOR!!

(thanks ashbet!)

I think I hurt myself.

Zombie Walk

2008-08-21T16:55:53Z

Just wanted to share a couple photos of us from the Zombie walk. Unfortunately you can't see the sticks and dead leaves in my hair. Dang.

Pic by mbarrick --> more on Gothic BC

Pic by _disdain_ --> more on Disdeinen.net

I like the icon I made. Could be useful for my "insanely dumb question" Ebay posts. :P

PS: Speaking of needing brains, I got a really funny phone call from Tawny at Gothic Beauty magazine (advertising manager). Ever have one of those days where you're so tired you stumble over your own words and even omit some? What's worse is that I was so distracted (OMG I'm busy!!) it actually made sense to me. Does that mean I'm just used to being brain dead?!? LOL! We had a good 2-minute solid uncontrollable laughing fit before finally getting down to business. Sorry about the long distance bill, GB.

Some things I have learned about art and opportunities

2008-07-09T18:24:24Z

Over the past few months I have have been asked to participate in a few things, some of which I have leapt on and some I haven't, often to the bafflement of people around me. From placing print ads to consigning my work, to loaning stuff out to photographers to being involved in fashion shows, my decisions have been carefully made based on one simple principle:

Just because it's an opportunity doesn't mean you should take it.

That's not pessimism or laziness, that's common sense. True, there are some opportunities I've turned down that might have made some progress, but then again they might have cost a lot for very little gain. And as the experiences of my peers (some fortunate and some disastrous) have punctuated to me tacitly over the past few years, it is very, very important to be careful with what opportunities you choose.

So. How can you be artsy-farsty and practical (read: an ass-coverer) at the same time?

1.) Look before you leap. If you must rely on someone else, find out what credentials or experience they have and what that experience has led to. Do they have a history of losing money to frivolous causes? Have they worked with anyone in your field before, and if so, scewed anyone over? What is the common opinion of this person/venue/publication etc.? Do your research first, and do it casually so your sources don't bias themselves by getting defensive and thus not delivering useful details. It may be considered inappropriate to "look a gift horse in the mouth", but it won't be if you do it when no one can see you looking. :P

2.) If the person/organization has no "presence" in the field you're in (being a brand new venue for example), a) don't invest a large sum of money, b) don't rely on them to do absolutely *everything* that needs to be done (have a back-up plan or an alternative contact available), and c.) make sure you live nearby so they will be easy to find if things go sour. Yes, all three things apply, not jut one or the other. Just because they're doing something for free doesn't mean they still can't screw things up.

3.) Don't get your hopes up until the project is concrete (contracts are signed, the issue has gone to print, you've hung your paintings, etc.). In other words, "believe it when you see it."

4.) Be flexible. The more people that are involved with a project, the better chance it has of being altered (or delayed) along the way - so the less you picture what the final outcome will be, the better. Remain positive of course, but don't expect everything to fall into place exactly the way you think it will (or was first promised).

5.) Don't involve friends and money unless your friends have a few years of successful experience running a business which they OWN, or working for a financial institution. Nothing teaches professionalism with money more than having to be fully accountable for it.

6.) If is costs you (next to) nothing, requires very little time/energy investment on your part, allows you some degree of control over the outcome (which images will be published, where your work will be distributed, etc.), preserves your copyright, and will result in a decent amount of public exposure to a relevant audience, go for it. Even if it's just a free banner ad somewhere or a Flickr page, do it.

7.) People involved in the arts (and by this I mean stage, screen, fine art, fashion, literature, music, etc.) are flakes. Not all of them, but most of them. The sooner you realize this the better. Go into a project knowing that you'll end up having to play either cat-herder or bankroll, and you'll be just fine. People, I am speaking from experience in more than one field here. Flakes never, never, NEVER do everything they say they will, they never follow up, and they will NOT tell you in advance that they can't. Either you will end up taking on more of the project yourself than you first planned, or you will end up getting the short end of the stick, it's that simple. Relying on them 100% and getting exactly what you expected out of the project is a RARITY.

8.) Make sure the project is going to really benefit you. Will your name be mentioned? How many people are going to see this article/show? Will they be a sympathetic audience, or are they so removed from your genre that they will use your segment to take a bathroom break (or your article to line the bird cage)? Is your work so similar to everything that will be around it that no one will even notice it (or totally confuse it with someone else's)? Will your work be priced realistically so as to encourage your target audience to buy it? And how will it be displayed? Will people even be able to see it?

9.) Try to avoid burning bridges. If something doesn't sit right with you, listen to your gut and back out gracefully. Diplomacy can't save rejection entirely, but it's better than having a massive screaming fight in the end if the project went south.

10.) And besides, it's not what you know, it's not *who* you know, it's who knows YOU that is the ticket to fame. Sure, you went to the same high school as Dave Navarro and chat with him briefly at reunions and such, so yeah, you know him. But does he know you? Does he ask you to do the cover art on his upcoming album? Does he buy your jewelry as gifts for his female friends? Does he recommend your photography to his arts column editor pal at the New York Times? Anyway, I think you get my drift - if someone who matters in the public eye likes you, suddenly you'll matter to the public eye too. All the ass-kissing in the world can't buy someone's genuine appreciation (and recommendation) for you, whether it's a celebrity or not. So if no one famous likes you, you've got a lifetime of hard work to do just like the rest of us.

Even if you're good at doing all the things I've listed, there are no guarantees of course. But the point is to try, and try cautiously I think. With every success and failure I see around me, that notion is driven home repeatedly. I've listened to the horror stories my friends have told me - the idea being that others should learn from their mistakes (and hopefully I won't have to the hard way).

OK, so let's talk about this la-de-da "voice of experience" I'm using here. Who am I to talk? I am certainly not hugely successful in the business world but I'm at a level I am comfortable with, and after all I do make a living off it full-time. I suppose there are things I could do to whore myself more or people I could shamelessly suck up to if I wanted to ass-kiss myself to stardom, but I have no desire to "use" people or make myself into something I'm not. I like the pace at which I am progressing. As each month and year passes I get a little more workload, a little more daring with it, and a little more recognition for it. I can handle it. Sure, I'd love to be on the cover of Vogue. But for what? Jumping on bandwagons, not being able to keep up with my own orders and pissing people off? I'd rather go down in history for being a rock than a flake.

And you know, I think people respect that - they can tell when you're desperate for success and attention or alternatively, comfortable in your own skin and reasonably confident in your abilities. I think that's why some artists appear to succeed without really trying. It's not that they're "not trying", it's that they are being careful about how they flaunt their work and they are not rushing to do it. They take the odd chance but then again don't take every single one that comes along. And that's the kind of artist I am leaning towards being, I think. I know I will never experience overnight fame, nice though it would be (in theory anyway). I will always have to work my ass off to get anywhere, and rely on the goodwill of friends and strangers for an exchange of support (which is far preferable than relying on the whims of mainstream media). But the trick is, I know I am going to have to rely on my work ethic and I am comfortable with that. The successes my artistic friends have had only inspire me to work harder and do better at what I do, even though from time to time I do admit to feeling a bit jealous. But if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have the hunger to push myself and be creative. If they can do it, so can I! And I will do it with a level head so I don't put myself in the poorhouse OR the doghouse, thank you very much.

Cleaning House

2008-06-14T18:41:25Z

Help me out here guys, this stuff has GOT TO GO!!

The following items can be picked anytime before June 29th (noon)

["obo" = "or best offer"]

$30 each - two professionally framed SinCity Fetish Night posters from first year, plain slim black metal frame, conservation quality glass/matting/backing, good condition. Ditch the art and re-use the framing if you want.

$5 each - two black box purses or make-up cases, SOLD ~~one wood (left)~~ and one metal (right, has inside mirror), OK condition.

$500 obo (seriously - make me an offer!) - Sears "Osgoode" black leatherette sofa (not quite a full sofa, not quite a loveseat - brilliant size for apartments). Not cheap vinyl - looks and feel exactly like real leather. 2 red microfibre cushions included, barely 2 months old, excellent condition. Retail price $599.99 new.

$40 obo - Sony AM/FM/CD car stereo, great condition, includes dashboard mount, detachable faceplate with carry case, remote, owners' manual & installation guide, approx. 6 yrs old but only used for 2.

$1-$10 each - assorted plush toys and other stuff, good condition.

$10 - solid pine coffee table, glossy black legs with antiqued natural stain top, OK condition.

$5 - black veneer IKEA "Lack" style end table, some scratches.

$10 - repainted glossy black wood side table, OK condition.

$10 - Citizen black portable boom box, plays single CD and single cassette with AM/FM radio, 10 years old, good working condition.

No pics, but feel free to drop by and take a look at the following:

- CD holder racks $2, small (great for desk), stackable, IKEA black metal/wire, great condition (2 available)

- BBQ or bicycle cover, $20 obo, reversible black (other side olive green), heavy-duty, flannel lined, HUGE - currently used to cover my bike on the balcony! Excellent condition, 3 months old.

- S-video cable $10, 6' long, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- wall clock $5, round plastic, black rim with white face, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- double-size quilt/comforter $5, mauvey-purple on one side and funky purple/blue/black striped pattern on the other, comes with matching mauve fitted sheet (great for futon), good condition.

- assorted fabric remnants, $1-$5 (black velvet, red faux fur, etc.), at least 1 sq.yd. each

- assorted small black metal picture frames and framed art $2-$10

- assorted cookware, votive holders, glasses & dishes $1-$5

- assorted items of clothing include 1 pair of black suede flats (6 1/2), 1 black stretch crushed velvet minidress (S/M), a couple of handbags (no, I didn't make them) and whatever else ends up getting jettisoned when I finish going through my closet.

- hardcover books: $10 Voltaire's "What Is Goth?", $5 Poe's "Complete Tales & Poems"

- "The Sims" PC CD-ROM game $5, includes Deluxe Edition, House Party, Hot date, Unleashed & Superstar, excellent condition.

* * * * * * * *

Also up for grabs but CANNOT be picked up until between 10am June 28th - noon June 29th. Applies to ALL ITEMS LISTED BELOW.

- iron $5, white, very basic steam model, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- FREE! queen-size mattress/boxspring/metal frame, budget model, 8 years old, good condition. Must take as a set!

- utensils $5, budget 40-piece set (complete), stainless steel, includes white plastic tray, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- electric kettle $5, white, Tefal, 1.5 litre, auto shut-off, 10 years old, good condition.

- microwave $50 obo, white, Kenmore, quite small (great for under cupboards or top of fridge), 2 months old, excellent condition.

- toaster $5, white, 2 wide slots, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- laser printer $60 obo, HP LaserJet P1005, monochrome, 2 months old, has new ink cartridge installed, excellent condition.

- flatbed scanner $60 obo, Epson V200, includes plates for transparencies/negatives and can handle thick books, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- hot melt glue gun $5, Canadian Tire, full size, 2 months old, hardly used - excellent condition.

Anything not sold/picked up by noon on the 29th will be donated to charity.

Pre-Yard Sale (June 28th) Teasers

2008-06-02T00:35:49Z

[I'm re-posting this because I've had to change the date and add new items, plus a few items have already sold]

In anticipation of moving again (June 29th), I'm getting rid of a *lot* of things to lighten my load (furniture, decor items, cookware, dishes, clothing, computer stuff, and more). They will mostly be of interest to local folks only, because there's a lot of large items:

...including my brand-new sofa, a rotary tool kit, canister vacuum, end tables, and more...

The following items must be picked up on or before June 28th!! If you want to come by and see them let me know; if you want something you can always leave a deposit and arrange transportation to pick them up later.

"obo" = "or best offer"

Asking $20 obo - repainted vintage armchair. Glossy black legs and frame with beige diamond-tufted velvety fabric, OK condition.

Asking $10 - black wrought iron IKEA candelabra. Needs wax cleaned off (yeah, I'm being lazy), otherwise in great shape.

Asking $30 obo - solid pine coffee table, glossy black legs with antiqued natural stain top, OK condition.

Asking $30 obo - matte black veneer (IKEA?) dresser, some scratches.

Asking $5 - black/brown veneer IKEA "Lack" style end table, some scratches.

Asking $10 - repainted glossy black wood side table, OK condition.

Asking $60 - professionally framed Rocky Horror Show (stage play) poster. Plain slim black metal frame, conservation quality glass/matting/backing, good condition. Ditch the art and re-use the framing if you want.

Asking $15 obo for table, solid pine, repainted black legs, legs only a little dented in places but tabletop in rough shape (could use a good resanding), 43" diameter, great as a work table or just always keep a tablecloth on it. Chairs $10 each, 3 available, black/brown IKEA "Stefan" style, 1 black microfibre chair pad included for each, some scratches and dents, one has a crack in one leg. Or, take the whole works for $40 obo.

Asking $500 obo - Sears "Osgoode" black pleather sofa (not quite a full sofa, not quite a loveseat - brilliant size for apartments). 2 red microfibre cushions included, barely 2 months old, excellent condition. Retail price $599.99 new.

Asking $40 obo - Jobmate rotary tool kit (compatable with Dremel brand parts), multi-speed 10,000-35,000 RPM, 2 months old, hardly used, excellent condition, includes basic wrench and collets/cutting/polishing tools, black storage/carry case

Asking $20 obo - Citizen black portable boom box, plays single CD and single cassette with AM/FM radio, 10 years old, good working condition.

Asking $40 obo - Eureka yellow/grey small canister vacuum. Comes with crevice tool, bare floor head and (my own addition) a vintage 1950's carpet brush head, hose and sectioned shaft separate to store the whole works within a 2'x2'x2' space, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- CD holder racks $2, black metal/wire, great condition (2 available)

- S-video cable $15 obo, 6' long, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- double-size quilt/comforter $5, mauvey-purple on one side and funky purple/blue/black striped pattern on the other, comes with matching mauve fitted sheet (great for futon), good condition.

- assorted fabric remnants, $1-$5 (black velvet, red faux fur, etc.), at least 1 sq.yd. each

- assorted small black metal picture frames and framed art $2-$10

- assorted cookware, votive holders, glasses & dishes $1-$5

- assorted items of clothing include 1 pair of black suede flats (6 1/2), 1 black stretch crushed velvet minidress (S/M), a couple of handbags (no, I didn't make them) and whatever else ends up getting jettisoned when I finish going through my closet.

- assorted toys $1-$10 (plush black cats, plush black ant, mechanical flying bat, etc.)

- hardcover books: $10 Voltaire's "What Is Goth?", $5 Poe's "Complete Tales & Poems"

* * * * * * * *

Also up for grabs but CANNOT be picked up until June 27 or 28th, applies to ALL ITEMS LISTED BELOW:

(I still need to use some of these things - this is a heads-up so I don't have to freak out about being stuck with them at the last minute. So if anyone wants them they can either reserve with a small advance deposit and pick them up later, or come on the 28th and just see what's still available)

- utensils $10, budget 40-piece set (complete), stainless steel, includes white plastic tray, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- iron $10, white, very basic steam model, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- electric kettle $5, white, Tefal, 1.5 litre, auto shut-off, 10 years old, good condition.

- wall clock $5, round plastic, black rim with white face, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- queen-size mattress/boxspring/metal frame $60, budget model, 8 years old, good condition. Must sell as set.

- microwave $60, white, Kenmore, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- toaster $10, white, 2 wide slots, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- laser printer $60, HP LaserJet P1005, monochrome, 2 months old, has new ink cartridge installed, excellent condition.

- flatbed scanner $60, Epson V200, includes plates for transparencies/negatives and can handle thick books, 2 months old, excellent condition.

- DVD/VCR player $50, Magnavox, grey colour, 4-head VCR recording, 3 months old, excellent condition.

- hot melt glue gun $5, Canadian Tire, full size, 2 months old, hardly used - excellent condition.

Whatever's left unsold will be available at the "indoor yard sale" inside my apartment (71st and Granville area) on Saturday, June 28th. PayPal/credit card (fees will apply) and cash accepted. Sorry, no cheques. Address and time will be posted closer to the day.

Anything not sold by the 28th will be donated to charity.

Ring

2008-05-09T02:31:48Z

It was hard to photograph because I had to twist around to focus the camera but:

Yes, it's a heart-shaped garnet. Michael, you are awesome.
:)

Gothic Beauty Magazine

2008-04-11T18:41:00Z

Also for mbarrick and kitsune_13: Issue #25, p.33 (highlighting by me)

Simply awesome.
Sincere thanks to acid_poptart! Although I'm not sure why the "i" in "pirate" is capitalized (actually I kinda like it - hey baby, I put the "I" in pirate! arr arr arrr!), but hey, we're in print, dammit!!!

*squee*

[Aside to A: Should you ever feel like printing something about me again my voodoo darling, I have some pretty groovy new images for you! See the store blog for a taste.]

I love this photo

2008-04-06T17:25:10Z

(sorry about the x-post, some of you have already seen this in my store blog)

JK Potter shot (and manipulated) this photo for a recent shoot for my store:

I'm always thrilled to see how different people "interpret" my work - both the models and photographers. I think I've got to more of this sort of thing, not dictate what look I want and how. Just let 'em do their stuff the way they see fit, and see what I get. And I think this one has a lot of character. In fact I'm contemplating printing this one out at 13" x 19" as a poster for myself. :)

Photographer: JK Potter. Models & make-up: Jennifer Potter, Katzen.