Hello and welcome to this week’s installment of things you can do from a randomly name piece of furniture!
@nightwatchstudios makes some pretty cool things and I have ordered from them in the past. I like their used of bright neon color choices and beautiful pieces on art on shirts, hats, bags and even blankets:
They are currently offering a discount code when you order from their store and to learn more about their shop the link is below:
@vhsgirl makes some pretty amazing art and is a wonderful friend. I have a lot of her art because they are truly unique and it is hard just to have one piece of her art on your wall:
She is currently having an amazing sale on her art and you can view the pieces that are currently available at her esty store:
Each Mini he post are more interesting than the last. His work and dedication in painted these truly show in these posts. I always look forward to them!:
To add his account or learn more the link is below:
@betamaxx2000 has one of the best vinyl collections I have seen on social media. Along with his son he shares a glimpse of his amazing vinyl collection of some of my favorite music from bands and movies.
He always drums up in me some memories of when I was listening to a particular song from a vinyl he post or makes me try to remember the last time I watched a certain movie. To add him on Instagram the link is below:
Hello I decided to make some quick link recommendations in my wordpress of the some interviews I conducted over the years. I will do an update blog post later on:
Hello and welcome to the second installment of Hidden Muppets part 2! Where I talk a little about lesser known muppet characters. Last summer I did part one: Hidden Muppets?
And decided to do a follow up piece discussing some more not well known muppets and so in no particular order:
Seven-Foot-Tall Talking Carrot: He made only one appearance in Muppet history. He appeared with Gilda Radner signing a couple of duets together in season three of the Muppet Show.
For a carrot he was a little pushy but funny nonetheless! Gilda wrote to be pair with a seven foot tall talking parrot and due to the confusing handwriting she got a seven-foot-tall talking carrot instead.
Mean Mama: She first appeared on the Muppet show when she was protecting her baby from Don Knotts and his show “Beast of the Week”:
Sometimes she goes by the name “Big Mama” and has appear a couple of times in Muppet history. Although no one on the screen has outright said her name with the Muppet Workshop she is known as those two names.
She is a rare Muppet because she goes back and forth in shape as either a hand puppet or a Muppet in full human size.
Emily “Ma” Bear- she is the mother of Fozzie Bear and only made a handful appearances in the Muppet world. However she is mention in conversation by her son Fozzie so at least she is brought up in conversation. She had a couple of central roles in A Muppet’s Family Christmas when Fozzie took the whole Muppet gang to visit her at the house at a farm.
She was also in The Muppets at Walt Disney World (NBC, 1990) a long forgotten special that has been on my watch list for years!
Thog-is a sweeter kind of Muppet. Coming in a over in nine feet he is mostly in the background of most of the time in the muppet world but he is a great dancing partner.
He also made a memorable appearance on the Dick Cavett show (and also one of my favorite Dick Cavett episodes! ) with Jim Henson in 1971.
Thog is also known as a “Frackle” which means he was part of a group of Muppets that appeared on a special called “The Great Santa Claus Switch.” (1970).
Jill, Gil and Bill- this trio first made their appearance in one of my favorite movies: Manhattan Melodies. They worked at a place called
They needed help for their Ocean Breeze campaign and Kermit shortly became part of their ad group:
They aren’t frequently used characters in the Muppet world. They appeared two more times in Public Service Announcement for the National Wildlife Federation in 1991:
What are your favorite Muppets? I might do a part 3 in the future? Did you know or remember any of the ones that were mention in the blog posts? If so comment below!
Welcome to this installment of artist’s spotlight. This time I interviewed @gibbykain
Tell me a little about yourself.
“I live with my husband and cat in Los Angeles. Mostly I draw weird, scary, and gory things on Instagram. ”
2. What is Chainsaw and Tits? How did you come up with the concept? What been your favorite trash movie that you have discussed on it so far?
“Thank you for asking! It’s called Chainsaws & Tits, and I’m very proud of it. My husband is the one who thought of that name. It’s no secret, we really love movies. My favorite trash movie we’ve talked about would have to be “Basket Case.” It’s a hilarious fever dream filled with puppets, mayhem, and boobs. What more can an audience ask for?”
3. How long have you been making art? What are the top 3 pieces you created and why are they your favorite?
“I’ve pretty much always made art. I was constantly drawing as a kid. I went to art school for my BFA, and to be honest, my favorite class was always figure drawing. My drawings are like my children, so I’m not technically supposed to have favorites (but I totally have favorites just like any parent).
If I had to pick, my favorite drawing I’ve done is Guritz the orc. He’s from Lord of the Rings (Return of the King) and I love him because of that incredible helmet with a human skull mounted on top. Very cute.
My second favorite is my Leatherface portrait. I’m pretty obsessed with texture, and boy howdy he’s got plenty! I was able to work in more contrast with this piece, and I was so happy when it came out. His little stitches are just the best.
Lastly, my third most favorite without a doubt would be my Robocop drawing. Hello handsome! I’m obsessed with that movie. Verhoeven is the master of satire, and Rob Bottin in the master of fx makeup. Basically, it’s a match made in futuristic dystopian heaven. ”
4. If you had to make a list of your top 4 movies that best describes that current situation that is happening in the world right now. What movies would you pick and why?
“Oh what a good question! I say it once, I’ll say it again, Robocop! We live in a society where capitalism massively dictates politics. The villains of our 1980’s entertainment have managed to find themselves calling the shots in this country, and the irony is not lost on me. A few movies come to mind that describe the health crisis are Quarantine, Outbreak, and naturally, Alien. Why Alien you may ask? Remember in the beginning when there’s a crucial decision made by Ripley to deny entrance to a crew member? You follow that protocol baby, you quote that handbook. “
5. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?
“There is a new episode every week of Chainsaws & Tits. This week we have a pairing that’s really awesome, and I think you guys are going to love it. I know you have the time (we quite literally all do right now) so don’t be shy, and check us out! Add it to the pile of podcasts that keep ya’ll distracted. Also, if you like my art, I’ve been hosting a lot of live drawing sessions, and that isn’t about to stop. So swing on by my instagram @gibbykain and I’ll draw you up something nice and gooey.”
Some of my favorite books were turned into movies and today I would like to share with you some of my favorite versions.
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann:
Over a decade ago I found a copy of this book in the clearance section of an Urban Outfitters store. The pink cover with pill shaped cutouts caught my eye and for the ultra low price of $3.99 I thought why not? I automatically started reading it and was totally ADSORB! And read it in less than a week and it wasn’t until a couple of months later did I learn their was a movie version of the book.
I know not a lot of people are fans of this movie but I LOVE IT!! The fashion, the over the top personalities and even Jacqueline Susann made a short cameo appearance in it as a reporter! It stared Patty Duke, Sharon Tate and Barbara Parkins.
I immensely enjoy both the book and movie as equals and I tend to watch and reread it over couple of years. Needless to say that Jacqueline Susann is one of my favorite authors. I have read most of her books and most of them are hard to track down.
Today I will mention two of Ira Levin books since he is one of my favorite authors. This short novel I remember first reading all the way through when I had a hair appointment. Such a simple concept of looking part the exterior of a person because the interior of them might likely be a robot. I know they are two version of this book in movie form . However my favorite of the two is the one that came out in 1975 starring Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss and Peter Materson.
This is another Ira Levin book that totally absorbed my mind. Once I picked up the book I did not put it down until I was finished with it. Although I only watched part of the actual movie when I was little. I actually did not watch the whole film until I was much older and after I finished reading the novel. This was the first book I read where the movie adaptation kept everything in the book. My favorite and most preferred version of this was the one that Roman Polanski directed in 1968. It starred Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon.
This movie also has one of my favorite movie posters:
Rhoda Penmark has been one of my forever icons for as long as I can remember. She ranks high as one of the most evilest book characters that I have ever read in my long reading book history. The movie version that came out in 1956 starring Patty McCormack is one of my favorite movies to watch when I am in the mood of watching a dark comedy.
This book by Judith Rossner was my obsession during the summer of 2012. It was based on true events and I also read the the more indepth book about this one called “Closing Time: The True Story of Looking for Mr. Goodbar Murder” by Lacey Fosburgh. If you are into true crime mixed in with fiction I definitely recommend this book. But also if you are like me who likes to dig in deeper I would recommend reading both books. A couple of years after I read both books Netflix randomly had the 1975 movie version of the movie streaming on instant view and I watched it. It stars Richard Gere and Diane Keaton and it is as dark and sad as the book.
So they used to play the movie version of this when I was seven and it totally took over a summer for me.
I did not know who Joan Crawford was at that age but my small child mind thought Faye Dunaway was actually Joan Crawford! I read the book about ten years ago and I took it everywhere with me. I would read it on my breaks or waiting in line because it was so interesting to me.
Not only did I read the book but when I finished it I also heard the audio version. This book goes way into depth into some characters backgrounds than in the book. I felt a more personal connection to the book characters rather than the ones on the screen.
Hello and welcome to this week’s welcome to the Insta-hood! This week I interviewed fellow Instagram account person: @rjcity
Tell me a little about yourself:
“I’m a comedian, writer and wrestler, but I like to just say I’m a raconteur, since nobody seems to be using that term anymore. I know it sounds like I’m multi-talented, but I’ve just figured out how to apply the same level of idiocy to different places. It’s essentially the same immature magic trick, just with slightly different lighting.”
2. How and what inspire you to do wrestling?
“At no point in my life do I remember NOT wanting to wrestle. But almost every kid wants to be a wrestler, the same way they wanted to be a Power Ranger or a firetruck. Unfortunately, only one of these dreams has a training school. The real question is why did I STILL want to be a wrestler after everyone else I knew grew out of that phase? Firstly, I blame my supportive parents, who naturally assumed I WOULD grow out of it. Secondly, I did (and still do) see some sort of platform in it that I can’t get anywhere else. It is so inherently ridiculous, but I constantly wonder how I can continue bringing a unique voice to it, how I can use it to reach people that wouldn’t enjoy it otherwise and how I can tear down it’s walls of hyper masculinity from the inside – which is probably my revenge against the world for having to grow up.”
3. Can you talk a little bit about your YouTube channel? What made you start it and how do you come up with the interesting themes for it?
“9:30am on Sunday mornings, I make coffee in my underwear live on YouTube. Naturally, it started out as a complete joke until a friend suggested I might as well, there’s certainly worst shit out there. So I said to myself that I’d just do ONE and see…and I’ve now done it every single Sunday for over 2 years. Obviously the underwear was a cheap ass hook, but I spend each episode conversing with viewers about a bevy of trivial topics (because nothing is important anymore). Most of the time, I go live without an idea in my head, but my viewers are genuinely interesting people that enjoy some Sunday morning stimulating conversation, so they really drive the show into the best directions. Now that I’m monetized, it’s slowly becoming my main gig, as it should be. I’m the new Dick Cavett.”
4. If someone wanted a good personality description of you in the shows you watch(ed) (can be from any decade and theme!) what would be the top 3 shows you would tell them and why?
“1. The Muppet Show – I have an obsession with old (and preferably dead) celebrities.That world does not exist anymore, but Zero Mostel with a felt frog just makes so much fucking sense.
2. SCTV – This show is basically pop culture throwing up on itself in sketch form and I honestly can’t think of a funnier show. Sometimes I watch it and I go PAST the point of laughing, I just shake my head in awe. It was the ultimate encouragement that you shouldn’t have to think about doing what everyone will like or making references that everyone will get, that mentality just stifles your authenticity. Don’t worry, just do and then see what takes shape.
3. Strange Paradise – it’s a ‘70s Canadian ripoff of Dark Shadows. A daily soap opera that they wrote as they went, and it’s fucking terrible, which means it’s also great. Youtube takes me to dark places.”
5. What is a interesting or weird fact that not a lot of people know about you?
“What more do you want from me? Are my previous 4 answers not interesting or weird enough? Is this your interview style, just suck the life out of your subject until there is nothing left? I’m exposing my soul out here and all you can do is ask for more? Shame on you.”
6. Do you have any exciting news or events that you would like to share?
“In normal circumstances, I would have, but a good 2/3rds of my life got unceremoniously cancelled.
“I’m in a new doc called You Cannot Kill David Arquette (chronicling his return to wrestling and general annoyances)
Hello and welcome to this round of “Things to do from your ottoman!”
Fellow friend and IG account @lawnguylandryan has a tip of what he has been doing during this time:
“Since the coronavirus is keeping us all indoors, I’ve discovered more about myself than ever. As a person with high anxiety and OCD, I’ve found this to pe the perfect time to reasses my mental state and clutter. Nothing can change but your mindset, so you can wallow or get moving.
Aside from catching up on movies, I’ve been doing a lot to clean my abode. It truly feels productive to pare down unneeded items, it’s almost a form of meditation!
And speaking of meditation, now is the PERFECT time to concentrate on not letting anyone else but yourself control YOUR emotions. Download a free app and just try.”
Thank you Ryan for the wonderful advice. He is such a good friend and totally worth following, His account is @lawnguylandryan
Bleeding Skull is one of my favorite go to for everything involving unique trash horror gems! The movies they discuss and release are more unique than the previous one! With the last couple of years they have combined forces with AGFA and brought out many amazing releases on DVD. Right now during the stay at home time frame a lot of those movies are available to watch through TUBI. AGFA is also accepting donations to keep them running in the meantime since the majority of the business involves them booking their movies through theaters.
If you want to sign up to their newsletter and get the latest news of their trash horror movies link to their website is here. You can also buy their movies and pre-order their latest release (which I already did!):
I remember that this was one of the first instagram accounts I started following when I joined instagram. It highlights the vintage comic book ads and comic book panels that one needs in life! (in my belief)
If you are a fan of true crime history then this is a must add account. I often find myself looking for more information after one of his posts wanting to learn more about it. This Instagram totally absorbs you in their feed!
Also in regards to my blog I will link some of my favorite blog posts that I wrote over the years below:
Hello I had the privilege to had interviewed Joshua Shame (Ig: @_rockrollrepeat_ )who owns and designs a clothing label called Rock Roll Repeat
Tell me a bit about yourself.
“I’m basically an aging punk who’s worked in the merch/music industry in some form for half my life. I worked my way up from cleaning screens to designing, and then art directing, at a major music merchandiser here in Oakland. If you bought a Misfits shirt between 2002 and 2013, I either stacked it next to the press to get printed, stocked it onto a shelf, packed it in an order, mocked it up in a presentation for retailers, or designed it.
But I’m a transplant, before all that I grew up in the south listening to Ritchie Valens and Jerry Lee Lewis, and by high school it was the mid nineties and I was deep into punk rock and that was a good time. Things were thoughtful, hardcore was smart, and as a white male growing up in the south (with all the baggage that entails), it was also the first time I started taking inventory of my role in the white sausage fest that is punk and its place in sexism, racism, and homophobia.”
2. Where did you get your idea to start your clothing line Rock Roll Repeat?
“Rock Roll Repeat started as a button design, a 1-2-3 list. When I first got to Oakland I made these button boards and would take them to Telegraph Ave and the thrift shops (RIP Sharks) would let me put them on the wall. People could take buttons for free. But shirts started happening after the merch company I was working for moved to LA and I was left freelancing and working the counter at tattoo shops. To support my family I needed to evolve and shirts was all I knew.
I still have (had, thanks to Covid-19) a 9-5 at a union print shop, but the brand is finally starting to take shape. I’ve gone from lyric based tees to collaborating with people who have huge roles in punk and rock history, whether people or know it or not, and using fashion (I use that word lightly) to keep the history alive and people physically in touch with it. A shirt is the biggest most affordable flag you can fly to support a band, artist or movement.”
3. What are you 3 favorite design concepts you came up with and why?
“Without a doubt Abort Unwanted Presidencies is number one. As the 2016 inauguration was kicking off around the same time as the first Women’s March I just had to do something. I read a quote that said it’s the artist’s job to make the revolution irresistible, so, after a day of completely being distracted, pretending to work when I was actually scribbling ideas all day, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Kathleen Hanna saw the statement as depending on your perspective.”
Kathleen Hanna actually tweeted about it, Bust posted about it on IG, and it took off and I was about to raise a ton of money for Planned Parenthood. After the march happened I was searching the hashtag and saw one or two people actually had signs that said it too. Maybe they saw my shirt, but I think it was one of those things where I tapped into something, and of course others equally motivated would arrive at that same conclusion, tapping into that same outrage and hit on it too. So I’m super proud of that.
Duff McKagan Photo by Katarina Benzova
Street Walkin’ Cheetah would be next, I came up with that while I had down-time at the tattoo shop and listening to the Stooges a lot. I think it’s resonated with the most people, you see it and instantly feel raw power, and it’s still one of my most successful designs. Jimmy Webb, who is also a huge Iggy fan, saw it and got in touch years ago and we’ve been great friends ever since, one of the sweetest people I know, true blue friend, I owe a lot to his support and his friendship to that tee! He got it into the hands of
Duff McKagan who wore it on GnR’s last tour as a matter of face. Anyhow, I still have the original art, all photocopied, each letter taped into place…
Last but not least, Rock Roll Repeat. I’m sure you’ve seen the iconic punk directive: ‘This is a chord. This is another. This is a third. Now form a band.’
That inspired the 3 steps button that became the shirt, and where the button used typewriter lettering the shirt version was inspired by the big bold lettering of The Damned, The Who, and old 45 record labels. Someone once pointed out it reminded them of The James Gang haha.”
4. Can you talk about your most memorable collaboration.
Karlheinz Weinberger portrait from the Rebel Youth Collection
“I think the most memorable would be my collaboration with the Karlheinz Weinberger estate which actually began almost 3 years ago.
This was my first attempt to do what the brand is currently evolving into now: turning people on to artists and musicians that I love, in a tangible way, that they might not have known much about. I feel like I’m making artifacts more than licensed merch.
Karlheinz Weinberger portrait from the Rebel Youth Collection
This collaboration is just that. Weinberger’s photos of rockers in 60’s Zürich have influenced fashion for decades, they’ve reached cult status. If you see them you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about: dangerous girls with bouffants, guys with giant belt buckles with Elvis on them, chain necklaces and bolted zippers… Just in the last 10 years he’s been written about or cited in Dazed & Confused, AnotherMan, Fader, The New York Times, Mui Mui based an entire collection on his photos, I know of two music videos that borrowed these kids’ style…on and on. John Waters even wrote the intro to one of his most famous and out of print books, Rebel Youth! (That’s also the name of the collection I released with the estate.) But most people couldn’t tell you his name if they saw his photos!
His story is amazing, there really should be a documentary about him; his work has been on fashion designers’ mood boards for decades. He was unabashedly gay in a dangerous time for such a man, and teen subcultures and outlaws accepted him into their world to document it for years. Just a 9-5 factory worker, man. He figured his real life began on the weekends when he was shooting film.
It was unreal that the estate had never worked with a brand before.
I regularly wrote to the archive’s manager in New York to try and get a deal to do shirts, and for two years was politely turned down. I think, being that KHW’s work was known on-sight but not substantially celebrated, that the archive didn’t have the infrastructure or enthusiasm to dive into a merch line, contracts, providing scans, etc. Most of this stuff was (and is) still in boxes, on slides, in Zürich. And I don’t blame them, after years of influencing major fashion houses and getting just an article here and there, would you you jump at the chance to work with an unknown brand run some guy out of his house?
But I didn’t give up, and I ended up finding and contacting the owner of the KHW estate, pitching my idea, and a couple of weeks later the archive manager wrote me back and Rock Roll Repeat became the first brand to ever partner with the Karlheinz Weinberger estate, right then and there.
It took 6 months of picking the best shirts, deciding which photos, design approvals and sampling, before we could move into production, and they are incredible. It’s by far the most intense thing my brand has ever done, and I’m honored as hell to be a part of Karlheinz’s story and to bring it to others in a way that they can touch and feel.”
5. Do you haven any exciting news or events that you would to share?
“Yes! Pandemic permitting:
New collaborations with Disgraceland podcast, punk photographer Jim Jocoy, new Jenny Lens designs and few others I shall not name just yet.
But more importantly: Because of the health crisis people are hurting financially and I’m using my platform to try and help. I lost my 9-5 because of the lock-down in CA, so my shirts are my only income right now. But there are others who don’t have a side hustle to fall back on.
So, every week I’m donating 10% of the profits from each shirt I sell to a charity or organization that is helping those affected by the health crisis. The first week we raised over $100 for Bay Area Workers Support which has an emergency relief fund for sex workers affected by the crisis. Week two we’re raising money for East Oakland Collective, they provide food and sanitary supplies to the homeless and vulnerable members of our community.
And to make it easier all around I’ve also made a code, NOTMEUS, that takes 10% off of each shirt you buy so you can save a little and help a little, too.
You can find out which charity I’m sponsoring each week by following me on IG: @_rockrollrepeat_
If you like more information on Joshua and his clothing line. He is available through the following outlets:
ladycultblog 