A Christmas Story

A long time family favorite, "A Christmas Story" from 1983, was the inspiration behind my latest greeting card entry. Young Ralphie sporting his least favorite Christmas gift:

Available in a set of 5, here: The Painted Peep Show

New Christmas Cards!

Here's a set of 4 Christmas cards (2 from last year, and 2 that I completed this morning):

You can see the set (and more) by clicking the images below...

Etsy thePaintedPeepShow

Halloween, Christmas, and everything in between

The dust from Halloween has settled and it feels like a new year. I've started working on new Christmas cards, which will hopefully be available later this week. The EtsyGreetingsTeam is doing a Great Greetings Giveaway, which I'm participating in. You can find details, here or in my shop announcement. But, back to the party... my cousin came up from D.C., most everyone dressed up, the decorations were great. The day after Halloween is always a bit sad for me, but I now have a whole year to start planning my next costume and party! But first, some photos from the event:

My cousin Lindsay (as Rachel from Glee), me as Satan (or a satyr), and my roomie Leslie (as

Vampira)

Marie Antoinette, Seaweed, a Jellyfish, and a skeleton.

Me, a scary lady, and Tyler as a werewolf... you can't see it, but he has hair all around his hair, chest and coming out of his sleeves.

A better pic of Tyler and Leslie
The jellyfish (again, though slightly deconstructed now), Superman, and my cuz.

The Witches Pantry

To help you witches get ready for Hallowe'en, I've put together an Etsy Treasury of potions, appendages, and other accessories for conjuration. The perfect starter kit for any witch-in-training or even the more seasoned spellbinders. Take a look!

The Witches Pantry - Treasury

For more from Halloween items, find my store here: The Painted Peep Show

New Niece and New Cards!

Today is my birthday so I won't spend much time typing. I think the images speak for themselves.

My brand new niece, Addilyn:

In addition to the new family member, I have three new sets of dog cards available in my store.

Etsy thePaintedPeepShow

Featured on Etsy Greetings Blog!

My shop, The Painted Peep Show, is this weeks featured shop on Etsy Greetings Blog! You can read the interview here.

Meanwhile, I'm back in Oklahoma visiting family... my new niece (pics to come soon, I'm sure), and Taco Bueno.

Also, you can expect some new dog note cards up sometime next week.

New Halloween cards listed! Finally!

After searching (endlessy, it seemed) for a decent printing service, I finally decided to purchase my own decent printer. I now have new merch in my store! AND, it's not just any merch, it's Halloween cards! My favorite time of year is approaching. I've listed a set of 4 brand new cards, and reprinted/relisted last years cards on a matte card stock. I will be listing another set of spooky cards next week.

Make sure to check them out, or I'll put a spell on you!

Etsy thePaintedPeepShow

For more cards, prints, watercolors, head over to my store!

The Painted Peep Show

Original Watercolor for sale!

I've listed my first original illustration for sale in my Etsy shop. I've had such a difficult time finding a decent print service (that doesn'tovercharge), that I wanted to do something quick so I could have some fresh inventory. I've broken down and finally purchased a nice Epson printer, so hopefully I can get some new Halloween cards up next week.

Sunday Girl Tea Party

For more, check out my Etsy shop!

The Painted Peep Show

Feline Portraits - Etsy Alchemy

A dear friend of mine requested custom anthropomorphist portraits of her cats. She sent me several photos along with detailed personality descriptions.

Here is Twiggy. She's shy, but loves observing people, and won't stop talking once she's got your ear. She's prissy and loves to be adored (but only by those she's comfortable with). Madame Twiggy:

And here is Brick. She is very social, but only speaks when she has something important to say (i.e. feed me, pet me). She's also a bit of a tomboy, but a great companion. Without further ado:

The Painted Peep Show

Robyn & Kelis "All Hearts Tour"

A music post, for a change of pace. We went to see Robyn & Kelis perform at Webster Hall in Manhattan last night, and the show was amazing. The only downside was between sets when my cousin almost collapsed due to lack of food and too much heat. This is why the video is taken from further away when Robyn took the stage.

Robyn performs her new single, "Hang With Me", live for the very first time!

Kelis performs (flawlessly, I might add) with a cold she caught from her one year old.

And, I won't overlook the great performance from opening act, Dan Black.

They look good enough to eat!

I've posted four new prints in my shop (relisted my dachshund print as well). A series of three ice cream prints, which I created for my (brand new) nieces' nursery, and an illustration I had done previously for a greeting card. They are done in gouache, with either a watercolor or ink underpainting. Every time I look at them, I get hungry... mmmmm

Three scoops of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry

One scoop of pistachio ice cream in a cake cone

Two scoops of vanilla with hot fudge, whip cream, and a cherry on top!

And a slightly more abstracted scoop of brightly colored ice cream with sprinkles in a waffle cone.

For more prints and greeting/note cards, stop by my shop The Painted Peep Show

Sleepover Games

Continuing from my last post. Here is another illustration I've completed, which I'll be addingto my store shortly. This series is based on games children play, which are generally considered harmless fun, but to a child can be quite scary. This is Bloody Mary.

Here is (a detail of) the completed illustration:

For more:

The Painted Peep Show

The Haunted Tea Party?

Here's a sneak peek at a little project on which I've been working (for no particular reason, other than the fact that it's what I wanted). It started out as a sketch. A little girl having a tea party with her stuffed teddy bear. Inspiration came from a vintage photo of a young girl having a tea party.

Cute, right? But, it quickly morphed into something else. Something a little more... sinister. I lost the teddy bear, added another little girl, a Ouija board, and...

I'll be turning it into a print, or a card, or both for Halloween this year. I've also completed another illustration in the series, and am in the process of a third. Stay tuned!

ThePaintedPeepShow

Christmas in July SALE!

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been workin' like crazy! I've two part time jobs and have also been working on a couple of illustration projects (some of which you'll see soon...think Halloween!). But, the purpose of this post is to let everyone know that I'm having a Christmas in July sale in my Etsy store for the next week or so. It's a Buy-One-Get-One sale. Check out my shop announcement for details, and tell your friends!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

Cyndi, Cyndi, Cyndi!

Hey, all!

I've been workin' like crazy the past week, and won't have a day off for another week and a half! I'm exhausted, but excited about the great news I have to share today! Cyndi's single "Just Your Fool" was released on Amazon and iTunes today for digital download. Check it out (I mean BUY IT)- id371601729

Additionally, her label is offering a FREE download of another new Cyndi song (featuring Jonny Lang), which you can download HERE!

Even better is the news that she's performing at NY's legendary Town Hall theatre in July! Tickets go on sale this friday and I will be purchasing tickets for the best seats I can find because I'm taking my Flip camera, so I can record as much as possible.

Anyway, I've been filming all of the concerts I've gone to, so I may post some clips soon... if I don't forget! I'm also trying to get back into the illustration swing, but this full time work thing is really sapping my energy, but hopefully soon!

New York!

I'm in New York now, well, Brooklyn, but that's where all the cool kids live. :) I've been going to lots of shows/concerts since I've been here. All have been under $10 and a few have been free. I found out about Cyndi Lauper's new cd preview party and was, somehow, able to get on that list. There were about 25 people in the room, most were in the music industry, and we were able to preview 5 new tracks from her cd, Memphis Blues, which comes out on June 22nd. After the show, I was even able to speak with her.

Last night, I won two free tickets to see Gossip perform live. If you aren't familiar, you should check them out. Beth Ditto is large and in charge, and she has an amazing voice and stage presence.

Kelis (remember the song Milkshake?) performed some of her new music in a nightclub, so we went to see that, which was amazing. Pardon the crazy angles in the video... I'd had a couple of beverages and thought I was being creative... hahaha. I loved her lace one-sy and bedazzled tiara with cat ears. Her light-up mic stand was pretty rad, too.

We also went to see Dragonette perform, but I forgot to take my camera along, so there's no video from that show. One of my roommates friends puts on a weekly show with new/upcoming bands, so we've been going to those every week as well. In other words, I love NY. Yesterday, I heard back from a job interview at CB2 and was hired part time, so that takes some of the stress off. Anyway, I hope to continue going to shows and taking more video soon.

Sorry Casey

Found these old Halloween pics and I just had to post them for all to see! But, to show that I'm a good sport, I even threw in a pic with me. I call this, my tragic period.

Here we are... Casey (dressed as an 80's hooker), Rachel (um... wearing a pink wig is something, right?), me (dressed as I usually did when I wasn't in school uniform), Wes (looking like he's trying to channel the spirit of Papa Smurf).

Here's Casey again... showing her True Colors!

And, here she is getting ready to meet up with her john.

Unleashing her most seductive look:

High in fiber

I've completed another set of cards. They were pretty fun to paint, but kept giving me severe cravings for all things unhealthy. This is bad news when you're painting at 2am. I wanted to create cards for some of the most unhealthy, nasty, and delicious things of which I could think (Does that sound way too proper coming from me? Didn't want to end with a preposition). Anyway, at least the cards are high in fiber. (see below - second row/second column)

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

I've been feeling uninspired since I've completed this set and am hoping to get motivated here realllllly soon. While I wait inspiration to wash over me, I'll be treating myself to Alice In Wonderland this afternoon. I've heard mixed reviews and my expectations are low, but I hope I'll enjoy it nonetheless.

A Taste of Things to Come...

This post is a jumble of sorts. First things first. One image from my next series of note cards:

Moving on... being the eve of the Oscar's, I thought I'd put in my two cents about "A Single Man."

The film was directed by famed designer (Gucci) Tom Ford, and stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, et al. Perhaps, more interesting than most Hollywood films because of the artistic approach to, well, just about everything. Nominated for an Oscar, Colin Firth should win for this performance (although Jeff Bridges is more likely). Set in 1960's L.A., it's a story about a man whose recent loss has driven him to contemplate suicide. The story (adopted from a novel written by Christopher Isherwood) actually takes place during the day of the aforementioned suicide. Amazing performances, soundtrack, and story deserve a view, or two. It manages to maintain a balance between self-revelation, grief, beauty, and sexuality without becoming too heavy and without any sex scenes (though there are plenty of butt shots). My favorite film of the year, so far.

Uncle!!!

I'm going to be one! My brother and his wife recently told the family that they are going to have a baby, and we just found out they're having a girl. I've never been a baby-crazy person... don't get me wrong, I think they're great and cute, but I don't really like to be around children because they're so tiny, sticky, smelly, and just strange. Anyway, I'm excited about having a niece. AND, I know there are a few of you who are having babies (or grand-babies) in the near future. Babies are everywhere! I wanted to share this Etsy store that has some really cute baby things.

I'm sooo getting my niece a monkey hat.

New Cards & Prints! AND a Blog Feature!

So, I've been m.i.a. for a couple of months. I suppose the holidays are partly to blame for breaking my habits. Anyway, I'm back.

While I haven't had much of a presence here, I have been working on new cards and prints (yes, I have prints now) for my Etsy shop. I've been branching out and working with graphite, ink, and gouache (which I love). My new fave items are the birthday cards, dachshund graphite cards/print, and my I-Love-You/anniversary cards:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade thePaintedPeepShow.etsy.com

I've also been featured on LoveClayBlog... give them some love,

In case you don't know, you can follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaintedPeepShow